But I still showed no signs of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Sasuke's gaze darkened slightly. After four years of meditation and carving practice, he could indeed feel a marked increase in his spiritual power. If he wished,
he could maintain the Three Tomoe Sharingan for long periods in everyday life, and could even use Sharingan genjutsu to enter the Nine-Tails' cage within Naruto's body.
This was something his original self had only managed after defecting to Orochimaru for three years, under his careful guidance, through the practice of various secret arts, and with all sorts of body modifications.
Yet Sasuke still felt no sign whatsoever of awakening the Mangekyō.
And without question, the best thing for dealing with Orochimaru was the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Kakashi assessed Sasuke's current strength as Jonin level. Sasuke estimated that if he used the Sharingan, he should be considered Elite Jonin level.
The current Sasuke stood on the same level as Sasuke from the original timeline three years later, though he might not be able to win if they fought.
After all, that Sasuke had mastered far more secret arts and possessed vastly greater combat experience than his current self.
Still, in theory, both of them were at the Elite Jonin level.
Even so, Sasuke would not assume that he could fearlessly face Orochimaru simply because his original self had killed Orochimaru with Three Tomoe Sharingan at Elite Jonin level in the original timeline.
The current Orochimaru was at his peak, with an intact body and complete soul. The Orochimaru whom Sasuke killed in the original timeline had been missing part of his soul, had his hands sealed, and was on the verge of physical collapse—he had been extremely weakened.
Even then, Sasuke from the original timeline had nearly failed when he "killed" Orochimaru.
Besides, many