As the Ninjutsu took effect, the earth beneath Sasuke's feet softened and collapsed.
His entire body was wrapped in soil, leaving only his head exposed.
This was the Ninjutsu Kakashi had used on Sasuke during the Bell-Stealing Battle.
It seized the enemy from underground and dragged them beneath the earth to restrain them.
Though he had claimed he would show no mercy, he had clearly held back.
Otherwise—
This time, he would have simply used a Kunai to slit Sasuke's throat.
Unfortunately, Sasuke did not seem to realize that.
"This move is useless against me now!" He stomped down fiercely.
This was part of the Sword-Drawing Technique, using a heavy stomp to explosively accelerate one's body.
Combined with Sasuke's current strength—
He forcibly shattered the ground and burst free.
Leaving behind a circular crater more than two meters wide.
Naruto and Sakura were both stunned.
Compared to their earlier clash, witnessing this kind of raw force firsthand was far more shocking.
Sasuke—
Had truly become ridiculously strong.
Was this kind of strength all because he had bought Jars?
Naruto clenched his fists.
He felt so unwilling. He wanted to become stronger too.
Even Naruto, who had yet to experience a life-and-death battle, already possessed a strong desire to grow powerful and earn recognition.
Yet in the current battle, breaking free from his restraints did not allow Sasuke to mount any meaningful counterattack.
Because the fight had changed completely.
His neck, waist, heart, kidneys—every vital point in his body was within Kakashi's attack range. The force behind Kakashi's blows was even greater than before, and every collision left Sasuke's muscles aching. Most importantly—
That eye!
He knew the Sharingan could see through movements.
But he had not expected Kakashi to always find the best angle to evade even his profound sword techniques and powerful footwork, then launch a sharp counterattack.
"Too slow, Sasuke!"
Kakashi still seemed to have strength to spare. He even seized a brief opening.
Hypnosis Technique!
After only a moment of hesitation, Sasuke felt a violent pain in his jaw. Then the world spun, and he was sent flying.
Kakashi did not even give him a chance to catch his breath. He chased after him and unleashed a barrage of punches, every blow landing solidly!
"Why?! Why is this happening?!" Sasuke resisted with difficulty. The pain in his body was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.
That kind of eye—he had seen it on that man as well.
And his was even stronger!
Sasuke could not even resist Kakashi's Genjutsu, much less that man's.
"Fights between ninja are nowhere near as simple as you imagine." Kakashi landed a heavy left hook on Sasuke's face, followed with a side kick, then rushed in and continued beating him while launching a verbal assault. "If you go looking for Itachi Uchiha like this, you'll only be walking into death."
Sasuke felt as though his internal organs were in agonizing pain.
He could not win. There was simply no way he could win!
Suddenly—
Shen Mo's words surfaced in Sasuke's mind.
Sword Intent could break through all methods!
I see. In the end, I still haven't grasped the true essence of Swordsmanship.
"Ahhh—Gale Quick Sword!"
Sasuke suddenly shouted and unleashed one of his hidden trump cards. His sharp sword swept madly around his body like a gale, its one hundred and eight forms whirling like a storm, stirring up a razor-sharp hurricane.
Even Kakashi could only retreat for the moment.
There was actually such a move?
Kakashi did not even know whether he should be shocked. He was genuinely fighting Sasuke as if Sasuke were a Jonin.
Did that mean he really had to use his ultimate move?
Kakashi seemed somewhat hesitant.
But Sasuke would not hesitate. Veins bulged on his neck as he forced Kakashi back and took a deep breath.
In an instant—
His aura changed.
Not only Kakashi—even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade's expressions changed slightly.
Because in their eyes, Sasuke now seemed to have become a divine sword carved from white jade!
The corners of his clothes and his hair fluttered without wind. His entire body radiated a sharpness that seemed to freeze one's marrow. Sasuke's appearance had not changed, but his temperament made him seem like a completely different person in an instant.
"Is he using an ultimate skill?" Shen Mo murmured.
"Ultimate skill?"
Tsunade asked, but she did not look at Shen Mo. Her eyes remained fixed on Sasuke.
Kakashi became even more cautious.
Because his Sharingan could see that the Chakra within Sasuke's body was surging uncontrollably toward the sharp sword in his hand.
At this moment—
It was no longer Sasuke controlling the sword. The sword was controlling him!
"This is..."
Sasuke murmured, but before he could finish, his body was already pulled high into the air by the sword in his hand.
Wrapped in the surging Chakra—
Sasuke seemed to have completely merged with the sword in his hand.
Kakashi already felt as though he had been locked onto.
"What kind of move is this?"
He gritted his teeth beneath his mask. Explosive thunder gradually crackled in his right hand. At this point, he could no longer afford to hold back.
In fact, his instincts were correct.
This sword strike carried flawless Sword Intent.
Once unleashed, even Sasuke would be unable to control it.
This was—
Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens!
Sasuke only felt as though everything within him, whether Chakra or stamina, had been drained away, then violently pulled outward.
To the others—
It looked like a rainbow-like streak of sword light, charging fiercely toward Kakashi with a brilliant and unstoppable force.
"Not good!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed drastically.
He could sense it.
Kakashi might be able to withstand this move, but he could not guarantee Sasuke's safety.
However—
There was no longer time to form hand seals.
He could only watch helplessly as the strike, like Thor's furious wrath, collided head-on with Kakashi's Chidori.
Naruto and Sakura could not help closing their eyes. The light erupting from the two of them was simply too blinding.
Suddenly—
A soft shout rang out.
"That's enough."
With those words, both the shriek of Sword Aura tearing through the air and the roar of lightning vanished in an instant.
Naruto opened his eyes.
Only to discover that Sasuke and Kakashi, who should have already collided, were frozen in midair in strange poses.
That was right.
Shen Mo had acted.
He stood with his arms crossed, making no movement at all, yet a faint green glow radiated from his body. An invisible, formless force of indescribable strength forcibly held Kakashi and Sasuke in place. With a slight movement of Shen Mo's fingers, even their Sword Aura and thunderous lightning were crushed into nothingness.
He had temporarily strengthened himself with Trading Points.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Shen Mo in astonishment.
He had stopped the two so casually at such a critical moment?
And what kind of power was this?
Shen Mo ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression. He merely sighed, then waved his hand again. Sasuke's body flew over and was steadily set down on the ground.
Sasuke gasped heavily.
Most of his Chakra and stamina had been consumed by that skill.
"Sasuke, you lost this battle completely." Shen Mo raised a hand and lightly tapped him.
Sasuke felt the Chakra within his body—and even his injuries—recover instantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing nearby, could only twitch at the corner of his eye again.
Before you continue