Turning Against

"Chibaku Tensei!"

Inside Susanoo, Sasuke raised one hand. In the instant Kurama was still enduring Kirin's intense Lightning Release Chakra overload, its body paralyzed and unable to move, a pitch-black core shot from Sasuke's palm and soared straight toward the sky above Kurama's head.

The next moment, the earth split apart. Countless massive boulders and shattered sections of crust were torn from the ground by that irresistible gravitational force, lifting even the earth beneath Kurama's feet. Rocks, soil, broken trees, building debris—all of it crazily converged toward that black core!

Kurama's enormous body was forcibly ripped from the ground. A massive sphere, like a second moon, slowly formed in the sky, completely sealing Kurama within the center of layer upon layer of rock.

"What's wrong, Mai? Keep going!"

Sasuke's voice came from within the complete Susanoo. He knew these tactics could not truly trap Mai, but after she had been sealed inside the Chibaku Tensei, there was no sign of her breaking free. That only made him more restless.

"This can't possibly hold you! What are you waiting for? Come out!"

"...What exactly do you want?"

Mai's voice came from deep within the Chibaku Tensei. Sealed at the center of countless layers of rock, she did not struggle. Her voice was calm, yet puzzled.

"What are you trying to prove? I don't think what you're doing now is meant to prove that you're stronger than me."

She understood Sasuke. He was arrogant. If he wanted to prove he was stronger than someone, he would challenge them openly and defeat them head-on while they were at their peak.

He would never take advantage of someone after they had already gone through a grueling series of battles.

"Of course I don't want to prove something like that." Sasuke stood within the diamond-shaped