Sasuke Uchiha's Outburst

Sasuke Uchiha opened his eyes.

But they were not ordinary eyes. His pupils had turned blood-red, black tomoe slowly rotating within them. The black curse mark on his neck spread like a living thing, crawling up his cheeks and throat.

The Curse Mark of Heaven had erupted.

Sasuke Uchiha slowly rose to his feet, purple, ominous chakra coiling around his entire body. His expression twisted, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as nearly crazed brutality filled his eyes.

"Sasuke!" Sakura was shocked and relieved, but even more worried—she had never seen Sasuke Uchiha like this before.

Sasuke Uchiha's gaze swept over Zaku, Kin, and finally settled on Yunju.

"Was it you... who hurt her?"

Yunju said nothing.

The next instant, Sasuke Uchiha moved.

Fast—so fast that Zaku had no time to react.

Sasuke Uchiha appeared before Zaku and drove a fist into his abdomen. The force behind it was absurd; Zaku doubled over as though struck by lightning, saliva and blood spraying from his mouth together.

But it was not over.

Sasuke Uchiha grabbed Zaku's arms and twisted hard—

Crack.

Two crisp sounds of breaking bones rang out almost simultaneously.

Zaku's hands bent at impossible angles, his air ducts shattered, and blood gushed from the broken bones. He did not even have time to scream before passing out cold.

Kin stumbled back in terror and launched a sound-wave attack. Sasuke Uchiha tilted his head aside to evade it, then brought his hand down in a chopping strike against Kin's neck—her body went limp, collapsing to the ground.

Less than five seconds.

Zaku and Kin were both down.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino watched the scene unfold, their grim expressions turning to shock.

"This guy..." Shikamaru swallowed. "Is he a monster?"

Sasuke Uchiha turned around, his blood-red Sharingan fixed on Shikamaru.

Shikamaru raised both hands. "Relax, we're here to help."

Sasuke Uchiha stared at him for two seconds. The violence in his eyes faded slightly, but the black markings of the curse mark still spread across his face.

"Sasuke!" Sakura ran forward, reaching out to support him. "Calm down, the curse mark—"

"Don't come closer." Sasuke Uchiha's voice was low and icy, but he was not snapping at Sakura—it was more as if he were trying to restrain himself.

His breathing was heavy, and his body trembled faintly, as though he were enduring immense pain.

Sakura stopped, her eyes reddening, but she did not dare approach any closer.

Yunju stood where he was and watched it all.

His left eye slowly turned beneath the bandages, taking in every detail—Sasuke Uchiha's speed, strength, the Sharingan's reactions, the changes in his chakra after the curse mark erupted, and the way that girl, though clearly afraid, still wanted to get close to Sasuke Uchiha.

The data collection was complete.

If he kept fighting, he would have to face not only Sasuke Uchiha with an active curse mark, but also the cooperation of three Konoha genin. He was not confident he could retreat unscathed without exposing his true strength.

More importantly, he did not want to make sacrifices.

Not for Orochimaru, not for Zaku and Kin, and certainly not for this meaningless test.

He did not want to get hurt.

Yunju raised his left hand. Lightning Release chakra gathered and compressed in his palm, then he thrust it forward.

"Lightning Release: Flash."

The sphere of light flew from his hand and exploded in the center of the clearing.

Blinding white light swallowed everything.

Everyone instinctively closed their eyes.

Once the intense light faded, only the spots where Zaku and Kin had been lying remained in the clearing—both of them were gone.

Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan had lost its targets in the flash as well. He scanned the area. The lingering afterglow of Lightning Release chakra remained in the air, but the bandaged Sound Ninja had completely vanished.

"He took them..." Shikamaru said quietly.

Sasuke Uchiha dropped to one knee.

The black markings of the curse mark began to fade from his face, but his breathing grew heavier and heavier, as though he were enduring terrible pain. He braced himself against the ground with one hand, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Sasuke!" Sakura finally ran over. This time, she did not hesitate, reaching out to support his shoulder.

Sasuke Uchiha did not shake her off.

With his head lowered, he panted heavily. Once the curse mark receded, his body felt completely drained, so weak that he could barely stand.

Yet he still raised his head and looked in the direction Yunju had vanished.

"Those Sound Ninja..." Sasuke Uchiha's voice was low, carrying his usual contempt. "They're nothing but jumping clowns."

Sakura bit her lip and said nothing. She could feel Sasuke Uchiha's body trembling. She knew he was only putting on a brave front.

Shikamaru looked at Sasuke Uchiha's back without speaking.

"Sakura." Sasuke Uchiha's voice had returned to calm. "Take Naruto, and let's go."

"But your injuries—"

"I won't die."

Sasuke Uchiha supported himself against a tree trunk and stood. Though his legs still trembled slightly, his back was ramrod straight.

Sakura did not argue. She walked over to Naruto, helped the unconscious Naruto up, and slung him over her shoulder.

With his back to Shikamaru and the other two, Sasuke Uchiha offered no thanks and no farewell. He merely said coldly:

"Thanks for today."

Then the three of them vanished into the depths of the forest.

Shikamaru watched their backs and sighed.

"What a drag," he muttered. "How did the Chunin Exams turn out like this...?"

Choji silently put away his chips and brushed the dust from himself. Ino walked to where Sakura had been standing and picked up a bloodstained scrap of cloth from the ground, clenching it in her hand.

"Sakura..." she whispered.

Shikamaru raised his head and looked toward the canopy overhead. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, falling over the clearing covered in traces of battle.

"Let's go," Shikamaru said. "We should head for the Central Tower too."

The three of them vanished into the forest as well.