The man's voice came in fits and starts, low and slow. The word "death" made me shudder all over. It was as if the tightest string in my heart had snapped, sending me crashing straight down into an endless abyss.
Death?
Was I going to die?
I raised my head, staring blankly as the gleaming blade tip moved above my chest--
Then suddenly plunged down!
My pupils shrank. Terror reached its peak, and, from who knew where, a surge of strength came over me. I actually raised Murasame to block!
Between life and death, the bloodstained blade in my hand suddenly trembled!
"Clang!"
A curtain of blue lightning unfurled over the blade! Like a shield, it guarded my body and blocked the Kusanagi Sword's lethal strike!
At that moment, sparks crackled and burst across the curtain of light! The sound was like a swarm of snakes hissing in warning, their fangs bared as they sent terrifying lightning surging toward Orochimaru. Yet it avoided the area below, as if protecting the blade's owner!
"Hm?"
Orochimaru's voice held a note of surprise. He clearly hadn't expected this to happen. He withdrew the Kusanagi Sword and slowly reached out, trying to touch the blue curtain of light around the blade.
With a sharp sizzle, blood sprayed everywhere! Orochimaru looked at his battered palm, but his eyes shone with excitement.
"The chakra has undergone a change in nature all by itself. A quantitative change has led to a qualitative one!" It seemed he'd finally found what he'd been looking for. A trace of madness crept into Orochimaru's voice.
"Incredible!"
As for me, I could no longer make out what he was saying.
I only sensed vaguely that the blade in my hand had suddenly become incredibly easy to wield. It was as if it were no longer a lump of iron, but a part of my body, as if it had become flesh and blood, merging with the chakra inside me.
I tightened my grip on Murasame. Before I could figure out what was happening, I heard another rush of wind!
"Clang!"
The Kusanagi Sword struck Murasame, scattering chakra of two different colors. The searing energy grazed my cheek, leaving several thin lines of blood.
My eyes bloodshot, I rolled over and sprang to my feet. The light on the blade in my hand flickered, then suddenly blazed with dazzling electricity!
In an instant, I went from defense to attack!
Orochimaru looked at me, his gaze sinister, his eyes gleaming with an odd light.
"That look in your eyes... You want to kill me? Go on, I'm right here. Try to kill me, my dear student—"
Kill?
Kill him?
Yes. Kill him!
It was as if something had taken control of my mind. I didn't even realize that Murasame seemed to come alive, joining with the chakra inside me. Its indigo light seeped into my bones, veins, and sinews, holding up my near-broken body!
The moment Orochimaru spoke, I was already charging at him!
Better to kill you first than be killed!
I'd long since stopped caring about defense—or even my own life! I grew faster and stronger, and my stamina drained far more slowly. My body, which had been barely clinging to life just moments ago, now moved like a streak of lightning. I not only had the strength to dodge, but could even counterattack now and then!
The more blood I lost, the brighter the lightning blazed. The chakra that had been gentle and smooth now gave powerful support to my bones and muscles!
Amid the crackling lightning, Murasame and I were one, advancing and retreating together!
"This is getting more and more interesting." Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and suddenly lunged at me!
The next instant, my figure vanished. Orochimaru didn't even see me. His left hand moved instinctively to block with the Kusanagi Sword. A sharp clang rang out, and lightning burst through the air! My figure appeared, trailing a blue streak. It wavered in midair, then vanished again in the very next instant.
I was moving so fast that the human eye could no longer follow me.
Orochimaru froze for a moment, and for the first time, his expression changed. He looked utterly thrilled, as if he were gazing at something through me.
A genius—an unparalleled genius!
It was a bloody battle.
The clash of blades rang almost without pause. Bright red blood dripped onto the earth, forming brown spots that spread into a vast stain!
After a brief flurry of dust and sand, the two blades crossed for the third time, trembling violently!
This time, my eyes were wide open. I didn't retreat. Instead, I gripped Murasame with all my might and followed my instincts, drawing on every last bit of chakra in my body! Murasame hummed, its lightning growing brighter as a blue curtain of electricity burst forth and slammed downward!
It had happened again—the chakra's nature had changed!
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
If the first time had been a fluke, then this time, it had happened in response to my will!
What kind of chakra was this? What kind of control?
"Get down!" I roared, putting all my strength into it. The skin between my thumb and forefinger nearly split!
With a thunderous boom, the ground beneath Orochimaru's feet cracked and caved in under the pressure of the lightning curtain.
Orochimaru's expression changed. His brows drew together, and a cold glint shone in his eyes, giving him the merciless air of a battlefield veteran!
The child before him had been roused to bloodlust. Those large, innocent eyes now brimmed with murderous intent. Cold lightning flickered across his delicate little face. Cruelty and childish innocence clashed within him, giving rise to something called madness.
This was definitely not the usual Uchiha Akatsuki!
Now, he was like a beast, born to kill!
Orochimaru was exhilarated as he swung his sword and charged! Uchiha Akatsuki raced forward like a madman, both blades aimed straight at the other's vital points. In the blink of an eye, they would pierce two bodies!
It was a deadly situation, yet neither of them stopped. Neither backed down!
After all, in this world, it was always kill or be killed!
But just before the blades pierced flesh, they both stopped at the same time!
The next instant, the lightning went out!
The child staggered forward a few steps. The cold-blooded look in his eyes lingered for a few seconds before giving way to confusion and hurt. His little body struggled a few times, then toppled face-first onto the ground like a little dumpling, going limp as if he'd melted away...
The blood-soaked blade clattered to the ground.
The moment its owner passed out, it too went dark and sank into a deep sleep.
Orochimaru, whose fighting spirit had just been roused, fell silent.
"Hmph. He's run out of chakra."
After a long while, he sheathed the Kusanagi Sword, and his killing intent slowly faded.
He should have given him more medicine.
He looked at his handiwork, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, then bent down and gently lifted the child from the ground.
"I only meant to test your limits. I didn't expect to see something even more fascinating."
What other surprises do you have for me, Akatsuki?
He leaned close to the child's face, seemingly about to do something, when the air beside him stirred. Orochimaru frowned, displeased at the interruption.
"Is everything taken care of?"
"Yes, sir."
A black shadow appeared out of thin air. He answered, his gaze briefly flicking over the unconscious child before settling quietly on the ground.
"They're all dead. It's been made to look as though they died in battle."
"Hmph. If the missions hadn't increased lately, those useless fools would have been dead already." With the unpleasant business out of the way, Orochimaru looked at the child in his arms, his expression brightening again. "Take him for treatment, then call Kusama Shigeo here."
"Yes." The shadow turned to leave, but Orochimaru stopped him.
"You don't need me to tell you how to handle him, do you?"
The shadow nodded, indicating that he understood.
"Hmph." Orochimaru smiled, his expression sinister. "Also, we can begin the plan now. You know exactly what to do."
"Yes. Everything is ready."
The man slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the child in Orochimaru's arms.
"Everything is ready for your final instructions, sir."
Before you continue