Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Crushing the Sound Ninja

"Sasuke-kun...

Y-you're okay...?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke, whose body was half-covered in glowing Cursed Seal markings, and asked in a trembling voice, her heart skipping a beat.

It was the first time she had seen Sasuke radiating such a violent aura...

Though there was nothing wrong with his tone or attitude, she somehow found him strangely sinister...

"Don't worry. This power isn't enough to make me lose my mind..."

Sasuke's gaze turned cold as he smiled faintly and formed Hand Seals while staring at the Sound Ninja.

Knowing the true nature of the Cursed Seal's core, he naturally would not become arrogant just because Seal One enhanced his power...

This power could not even defeat the current Gaara. What was there to be proud of?

As for the temptation from Orochimaru's consciousness within the Cursed Seal space, Sasuke naturally scoffed at it.

That was also why he had awakened earlier than Naruto!

He had retained his self-awareness while accepting the power of the Cursed Seal transformation...

"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Before Sakura's astonished eyes and the shocked gazes of Ino-Shika-Cho and Rock Lee...

With Sasuke's explosive shout, two puffs sounded as two Sasuke Shadow Clones appeared...

"What??"

"Isn't that Naruto's Shadow Clone Technique?"

"How does Sasuke know this jutsu too??"

Sakura, Ino, and Shikamaru cried out again at the sight.

Sakura especially knew that Sasuke had once failed to learn the Shadow Clone Technique!

How had he succeeded now?

Could it be that Sasuke-kun had been secretly training hard too!!

Damn it, even someone as amazing as Sasuke-kun was secretly training.

She really had not been working hard enough...

[Task complete. Reward obtained: Naruto-style Multiple Shadow Clone Technique...]

As everyone stood dumbfounded, a System Prompt sounded in Sasuke's ear at the same time.

"Hmph, you think turning into three people means you can defeat us?

Trash is still trash. No matter how many clones you make, it'll be the same..."

The Sound Ninja Zaku sneered, the sound-blast device in his palm poised to fire.

Dosu, on the other hand, looked solemn but was not overly concerned...

It was only a Cursed Seal. There was a limit to how much stronger a Genin could become after receiving its enhancement.

But what exactly did Lord Orochimaru mean by this??

"Trash??

Hmph, I was only trying out this jutsu..."

Sasuke's original body snorted again. The two Shadow Clones narrowed their eyes and charged separately at Zaku and Dosu.

He had indeed remembered that system task triggered by Naruto in his rage!

So he might as well give it a try...

"Don't look down on me..."

Seeing the Shadow Clone rush at him, Zaku roared and spread his arms, about to unleash the Extreme Air Cutting Wave.

But Sasuke's Shadow Clone was faster...

"Lightning Release: Swift Lightning Arrow..."

Taking advantage of One-Handed Hand Seals, the Shadow Clone had already completed its Hand Seals while moving and launched the attack first.

A blue lightning arrow arrived in an instant with blinding speed, striking Zaku's body before he could react...

"Aah..."

With a shrill scream, Zaku collapsed to the ground, his entire body crackling with electric arcs. It was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique..."

Almost at the same moment, the Shadow Clone facing Dosu erupted as well.

A powerful pillar of flame spewed from his mouth, giving Dosu no chance to close in.

But Dosu was an experienced elite Genin. At the critical moment, he released shockwaves from both hands and scattered the fire pillar.

He immediately dodged aside, intending to close the distance and attack with sound waves...

Yet instead of being alarmed, the Shadow Clone was delighted. He instantly rushed forward, his pair of scarlet Sharingan fixed tightly on Dosu.

This is bad...

The moment Dosu saw those Sharingan, he sensed something was wrong and tried to channel Chakra to launch a sound-wave attack.

But just as he moved, his vision blurred, and the Shadow Clone's face turned into Orochimaru's!

At the sight of that face he feared to the utmost, Dosu's complexion instantly turned deathly pale...

Hell Viewing Technique, successful...

Seeing terror in Dosu's eyes, the Shadow Clone thought to himself and viciously kicked Dosu in the head with a Chakra-coated foot.

With a bang...

Dosu's eyes bulged as he fell to the ground...

"Original body, this is for you..."

The Shadow Clone bent down, found the Book of Earth on Dosu, and tossed it over before vanishing with a puff.

The other Shadow Clone also dispelled himself at the same time.

"S-so amazing!!"

Watching the battle end in less than two breaths, Rock Lee swallowed hard in utter shock...

Was this the strength of Sasuke Uchiha??

The three-man Sound Ninja team that had left him in such a miserable state had been dealt with so effortlessly!!

Damn it...

How was he supposed to defeat Sasuke and confess to Miss Sakura now...

"Sasuke-kun is amazing...

He defeated those awful guys in just a few moves..."

Ino cried out and immediately rushed over, throwing her arms around Sasuke with a face full of admiration.

She did not mind Sasuke's Cursed Seal transformation in the slightest!

If anything, she found him even more charming...

"Ino-pig...

Don't think you can take advantage of this!!"

Sakura had been about to ask about the Cursed Seal, but at this sight, her anger flared as she reached out and shoved Ino away.

"Sasuke, is that thing on your body really okay?

Why hasn't Naruto woken up yet??"

Shikamaru helplessly shrugged at the two girls fighting for attention, then stepped forward and asked.

Who knew which one of them had just said they would stand together as sisters against the Sound Ninja? Now they were fighting again...

Women really were troublesome creatures...

"Munch... munch..."

Though Choji said nothing and continued eating chips, the concern in his eyes was just as clear.

"You don't need to worry about this...

Thank you, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino."

Sasuke closed his Sharingan and smiled faintly. The Cursed Seal markings on his body rapidly flowed back toward the Heaven Cursed Seal as though they were alive.

Then Sasuke turned his gaze toward Naruto...

Perhaps because of the Nine-Tails or something else, the Chakra radiating from Naruto's body was crimson.

Even now, Naruto showed not the slightest sign of waking up...

"I hope he can make it through..."

Thinking of Naruto's dark childhood as a Jinchuriki, Sasuke sighed sincerely.

But he was not too worried...

With Naruto's mentality, which allowed him to overcome even his own evil thoughts, Orochimaru's temptation should not be a problem.

As long as the Nine-Tails did not interfere...

"Wait, Naruto..."

Sakura, who had been bickering with Ino, suddenly came to her senses upon hearing that. She hurried over to replace the wet towel on Naruto's forehead.

After Sasuke and Naruto had fallen unconscious with high fevers, she had watched over them like this until the Sound Ninja appeared!

"Shikamaru...

We don't need this. Do you want it?"

Watching Sakura's busy back, Sasuke turned and tossed the Book of Earth in his hand to Shikamaru.

They already had the Book of Earth, so it was useless to them...

"Is that so?

Then we won't stand on ceremony, Sasuke-kun..."

Ino's eyes lit up at once, and she immediately thanked Sasuke sweetly.

This meant they had finally collected both Scrolls!

"That Ino..."

Shikamaru could not help rubbing his forehead and sighing, speechless at his love-struck teammate.

They were competing opponents right now. How could she casually reveal their information!

If Sasuke had any other intentions, they would be in danger...

Still...

Thankfully, Sasuke was a trustworthy companion too!

Tch, had he been overthinking it...?