Unending Bonds

Josuke took a few steps back, evil chakra appearing on his body. Truly worthy of being called an evil Uchiha brat, he thought. That was the power of the cursed mark, Stage 2 cursed mark, activate!

It was Orochimaru's improved cursed mark. Three years ago, Josuke had already mastered Stage 2.

It could only be said to be very good. Compared to Sasuke's chicken wings, Josuke's Stage 2 cursed mark was divine.

As the chakra was released, even Naruto couldn't help but be startled.

What an evil power!

Wrapped in black chakra, Josuke's entire body was covered in armor. Being a rogue ninja is really great, hehe. This coverage was complete, from the helmet to everything else. A sword was connected to his right hand.

(What does it look like? (⊙o⊙)... It's like Japanese samurai armor, and a sword is connected to the right hand.)

I have to admit, the person who invented Orochimaru is truly a genius!

Josuke was so cool. Compared to the original cursed mark, the improved cursed mark crushed the normal cursed mark in terms of appearance, power, and speed.

But!

It wasn't without its drawbacks.

The consumption of Bloodline Power would be even more intense than Stage 1, and the after-effects would be even greater.

For Josuke, being able to maintain it for three minutes was already his limit. If you don't understand, ask: Josuke, are you Ultraman? Cough, cough, Josuke's transformation was complete.

Josuke felt the power surging within him. He raised his right hand and pointed at Naruto.

"Come on, let me see your strength!"

Saying that, Josuke didn't hesitate and charged at Naruto, slashing at Naruto's tail with the sword in his right hand!

Naruto's outer robe, the tail, was cut off just like that. Naruto was greatly alarmed and swiped his fox claws at Josuke's armor, leaving a very deep scratch.

Is this the power of the Nine-Tails?

Too weak, Josuke shook his head inwardly. But it's only the Stage 2 form after all. What more do you expect from them? Heh, I can't beat your perfect form.

Isn't it a complete stomp right now?

He grabbed Naruto with his left hand and stabbed Naruto with the sword in his right. The tail-beast cloak he was proud of was pierced by Josuke's sword, xuyên through Naruto's chest, but he wasn't dead.

After all, the massive vitality of a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki was undeniable.

But Naruto was still plunged into a death-like coma from the pain.

No!!!!

Naruto's consciousness was pulled into his mental space, where evil chakra condensed into a bubble-shaped fox.

"Do you crave power?"

The Nine-Tails' voice tempted Naruto.

"I want it! I want it!"

The Nine-Tails looked at Naruto with satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted, a step-by-step descent until his body was controlled.

"Good, then I'll send you off!"

Outside the mental space, Josuke had already dropped the unconscious Naruto and was preparing to leave. However, a cannonball exploded behind Josuke. Fire and light erupted, and Josuke felt his armor being pierced from behind!

Josuke turned around, spitting a mouthful of blood.

The Three-Tails?

Still going to fight. The shattered armor behind him gradually recovered under the enhancement of the cursed mark.

Swing!

Josuke charged at Naruto like a cannonball. Naruto's second Tailed Beast Bomb was directly choked in his mouth. Josuke severed one of Naruto's tails with a single sword strike.

Naruto retaliated, clawing off Josuke's left shoulder armor. Josuke's left shoulder was also mangled and bloody. At this point, neither of them had any fancy moves left.

It was just the most primitive combat.

Josuke's cursed mark time was only one minute left. He had already severed all of Naruto's tails, but his armor was completely destroyed, and he was covered in injuries of all sizes.

Especially his back, which had been injured by Naruto's Tailed Beast Bomb once, and then attacked by Naruto again, injuring his back. If Josuke's guess was correct, his back must have been torn apart long ago.

Let's finish this with one final blow, Naruto!

Chakra gathered in his left hand for Raikiri, and his last bit of chakra activated the Sharingan.

"Naruto!"

Naruto, in his Three-Tails Tailed Beast form, looked over and roared back at Josuke!

He also charged forward, just like the battle at the Valley of the End back then, but it was far more brutal than that battle.

Take this, Naruto, this is the final Raikiri!!

Getting closer and closer to Naruto, the Sharingan activated!

Naruto was trapped by genjutsu for three seconds, and Raikiri pierced through Naruto's Tailed Beast defense!

Naruto, defeated!

Josuke's Stage 2 cursed mark immediately deactivated. Not a single part of his body was intact. His left shoulder looked like it had been torn by an animal, with a large chunk ripped out.

After only a few steps, Josuke spat out a mouthful of blood. He wouldn't die, but if he didn't receive timely treatment, he would be left with after-effects, the consequences of which were unimaginable.

The scroll indicated Orochimaru was getting closer. Josuke threw his Konoha forehead protector next to Naruto and, forcing himself up, went to meet Orochimaru.

Deep within the dense forest not far away, Orochimaru had already shaken off Kakashi and was following the scroll's direction to find Josuke.

The ten-plus meter distance felt like fifteen minutes. Finally, a man riding a snake appeared before him, and Josuke collapsed with relief.

Orochimaru arrived beside Josuke, looking at the injured Josuke and the collapsed Naruto. He had absolutely no interest in Naruto.

Using an unknown scroll, he extracted some Chakra from Naruto's body, then turned to check on Josuke. Kabuto, his subordinate, had apparently arrived at some point.

He simply cleaned Josuke's wound.

"The situation is not optimistic. Lord Orochimaru, what do we do now?"

Orochimaru glanced at Josuke's injuries. It would be a lie to say they weren't serious, but they weren't severe enough to be fatal.

Thinking of something, he let out a dry, cold chuckle.

"Kabuto, the improved Hashirama Cells. Aren't we just lacking a clinical trial now?"

A hint of madness flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. He was a ninja, but even more so, a scientist!

"This----"

Kabuto had some reservations.

But Orochimaru's authority didn't allow him to hesitate. After a simple dressing of Josuke's wound, the three of them rushed to a nearby base without delay.

If Josuke didn't receive timely treatment this time, he would be permanently disabled.

Josuke, oh Josuke. While I desperately desire your body, Sasuke is my vessel, so you'll have to make do. (You ask why I didn't choose Josuke? I wanted to say the author didn't allow it.)

He took out a small, wriggling meatball from a cryogenic chamber.

He fused it with some unknown solution and the improved Hashirama Cells, then applied it to Josuke's body.

The moment the cells touched Josuke, they began to fuse with his own. However, the fusion wasn't going smoothly; the powerful vitality of the Hashirama Cells was reluctant to merge with Josuke's cells, resisting the process.

The improved Hashirama Cells were more than twice as advanced as the regular ones. Moreover, they possessed an advantage the ordinary cells lacked: their color could blend with the host's skin tone.

As for the drawbacks-----

(Marking this spot. In a later chapter, there will be some descriptions of this event involving Naruto and Josuke, mainly to give Josuke a power-up, cough, add combat power, not a cheat.)