A borrowed move to burn your chakra clean

Gorō Satoru turned his gaze away from the direction Kabuto Yakushi had left.

This person is probably planning to leave.

It's better that they've left.

It's really annoying to be constantly being stared at.

But even though that guy is gone, Orochimaru will still be watching this place from some nook and cranny in Zhou Kingdom.

This is fucking a pain.

Fortunately, the person they were eyeing wasn't him.

He really couldn't handle this sticky, slippery, cold-blooded thing; he didn't even want to touch it.

Let Sasuke enjoy this exclusive favor by himself.

Wu Chiwu this without a care in the world.

Before long, the candidates had all stepped aside, and the preliminary round was about to begin.

The Gekko Hayate swept across the candidates below like a gust of wind, and then it spoke.

"The preliminary rounds begin now, followed by one-on-one individual battles."

To put it bluntly, it's about having a real, real fight.

"Exactly twenty-six people, let's play thirteen matches."

The winner advances to the third exam.

There are no rules.

"The fight isn't over until one side is dead, unable to get up, or has to admit defeat."

"So those who are afraid of dying should surrender now."

He paused for a moment.

"However, if I feel the outcome is already decided, I will intervene to stop you in order to save a few lives."

Next, this electronic bulletin board will determine your luck.

It will randomly select two people to face off.

"Now let's reveal the two unlucky ones in the first round."

The words on the big screen flipped around for a while, then stopped.

Akado Yoroi, Sasuke Uchiha.

"Please, these two, come forward."

As the person walked into the center of the field, Gekko Hayate added another sentence.

"First match, Akado Yoroi versus Sasuke Uchiha, any problems?"

Sasuke and Akado Yoroi both shook their heads.

Gorō Satoru rested his chin on his hand, too lazy to even lift his eyelids; there was no need to watch this fight at all.

In the original story, Sasuke, even with his Cursed Seal and grotesque appearance, could still beat this guy to a pulp. Now that this guy is full of energy, it's even less of a problem for him.

The outcome was already decided.

As soon as Gekko Hayate announced the start, the field immediately sprang into action.

Akado Yoroi stared blankly at Sasuke Uchiha opposite him.

This kid?

Whom did Lord Orochimaru ask him to keep an eye on?

It doesn't look particularly special.

But since the adults have taken a liking to his body, why not just plant a Cursed Seal on him?

Instead, he asked me to probe his background?

Akado Yoroi muttered to himself.

Orochimaru was huddled among the crowd, his eyes fixed on the match.

The Akado Yoroi was a move he had planted in Konoha long ago.

This person's skill is Chakra Absorption Technique; he can draw energy from anyone he touches, leaving them weak in the knees and dizzy.

Originally, he planned to use the Akado Yoroi to test the quality of the Uchiha after they were marked with the Cursed Seal.

Unexpectedly, a guy named Wu Chiwu appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything.

Afterwards, he was busy working on the Konoha Plan and didn't get a chance to make a move.

But it's alright, he smelled the scent of new prey.

As for the Akado Yoroi, this discarded piece is perfectly suited for use here.

Let him see what kind of tricks Sasuke Uchiha's sword can pull off when it encounters someone who specializes in absorbing Chakra.

A fierce glint flashed in Orochimaru's golden snake eyes.

The game is very intense.

Sasuke Uchiha's face darkened as he stared intently at the ninja opposite him.

This person's methods are too wicked.

He can draw Chakra out by simply placing his hand on it.

Sasuke pressed his limp arm, his eyes so deep they could wring water out of them.

This is troublesome.

I wasn't paying attention just now, and most of my Chakra was absorbed.

Sharingan is almost giving out now.

It seems we can no longer rely on the Sharingan and Ninjutsu to win the battles to come.

We need to think of another way.

This ability is naturally effective against close-quarters combat.

Unless you discard all your Cursed Technique and Sharingan and rely solely on Taijutsu to fight him, you'll be at a disadvantage no matter how you fight.

What to do?

He raised his head, staring at the Akado Yoroi opposite him, his mind racing.

His gaze shifted to the side and happened to fall upon Gorō Satoru.

It was as if a string in his mind had been suddenly plucked; Sasuke's eyes lit up instantly, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile.

Yes.

There's another method we can try.

Thanks, second brother.

Sasuke turned his gaze back to the Akado Yoroi.

The Akado Yoroi immediately caught him in that moment of distraction.

His face fell, and he spoke with a cold laugh.

"You still have time to look elsewhere?"

After finishing speaking, he lunged at Sasuke.

Sasuke Uchiha didn't utter a sound, but in the gaps between his dodges, he unleashed a barrage of Kunai.

Naruto, watching from the sidelines, scratched the back of his head.

"Why does it look so familiar?" he muttered, his mind full of questions.

I feel like I've seen this somewhere before.

Gorō Satoru leaned half his body against the wall, watching the commotion in the arena.

Isn't this the same method he used to set up lightning and electric nets?

Gorō Satoru's eyes curved slightly, and he quickly revealed a knowing smile.

You've memorized that?

Not bad.

Gaara and his group nearby were also watching this scene.

"Isn't this the move that the white-haired guy used?" Temari blurted out.

She saw right through Sasuke Uchiha's scheme.

His gaze shifted from Sasuke to the boneless Wu Chiwu opposite him.

They suffered greatly from this tactic a while ago, and they remember it very clearly.

Far from it.

"This is nowhere near as good as what that white-haired guy did," Gaara said coldly, glancing at it.

He was a firsthand witness to being locked in that lightning cage for quite some time; he figured it out at a glance.

They all look like a trap, but a professional's method is slightly different, and the result is completely different.

Temari and Kankuro thought for a moment in silence, then nodded in unison.

That being said, dealing with that ninja on the other side would be more than enough.

Orochimaru's side also noticed something amiss.

His snake-like eyes suddenly narrowed to slits, and a chilling smile appeared on his lips.

interesting.

Isn't this the same trick that white-haired kid used when we fought last time?

How could they actually move it here?

That brat Sasuke Uchiha.

Could it be that everything that happened back then was etched into his mind by his Sharingan?

That talent is truly enviable.

However, the fact that they were able to think of that guy's move first at such a critical moment shows that these two guys are really close.

Who knows, we might be able to work on this in the future.

Orochimaru suppressed the murderous intent and excitement that surged up when he thought of Gorō Satoru, and calmly watched the audience.

"What the hell are you up to?" Akado Yoroi had lost his patience and his tone was extremely irritated.

"Stop running around, come out and have a proper fight."

That kid is like an eel, impossible to catch or touch, it's infuriating.

"Fine," Sasuke snorted.

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly stopped, flipped into the air, and threw out a dense barrage of Shuriken.

Lightning Release.

A powerful electric current instantly flowed through the Kunai, locking the Akado Yoroi within.

Akado Yoroi's expression changed instantly, and he turned to look around.

His entire body was tightly bound by blue lightning.

My whole body felt numb, like I'd been electrocuted; I couldn't move a single finger.

Damn, we've fallen for it.

Sasuke, seeing this, didn't dare to breathe a sigh of relief.

The trap he set wasn't like his second brother's, which could hold for quite some time.

It will only take a few seconds at most.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique."

A burst of Kakkō erupted, and a massive pillar of flame hurtled towards the chest of the Akado Yoroi.

After the fire, the Akado Yoroi collapsed to the ground, instantly losing his fighting ability.

"That was close." Sasuke gasped for breath.

At least it's done.

He raised his hand to wipe the fine sweat from his forehead and slowly lowered back to the ground.

The blue tribal robe, stained with a bit of dust, shimmered softly in the sunlight.

On the examiners' observation platform, several people watched the scene and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"He's quick-witted; this kid's got a sharp mind."

"Another promising young talent has emerged."

"They really are from the Uchiha Clan."

"A naturally gifted individual."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded several times as he stood to the side.

Sasuke is practically a carbon copy of his older brothers.

Young in age, but very capable.

Being too shrewd can easily backfire; being too clever isn't always a good thing.

Just like that Uchiha Clan back then...

He gasped sharply, lost in the heavy weight of his past.

A hint of surprise flashed across Mitarashi Anko's face.

His expression gradually darkened.

This technique.

It was strikingly similar to the move he used to trap Orochimaru in the exam hall that day.

The image of Orochimaru immediately popped into her mind.

Could that person be Sasuke Uchiha?

wrong.

The difference in power is enormous.

Those two moves they just made weren't even enough to trap Orochimaru, let alone tickle him.

Besides, Sasuke Uchiha aren't even close to that level.

"That's some serious brain work." Kakashi touched his Forehead Protector and slowly remarked.

Is this even allowed?

However, he felt something was off.

This approach doesn't seem like something Sasuke would use.

This underhanded approach of digging a pit for someone to jump into, then burying them after they've settled, is completely at odds with Sasuke's straightforward personality. Logically, he wouldn't use such a tactic.

This is really weird.

It seems to be the work of the original person.

Thinking of this, a strange, unreadable expression flickered in Kakashi's eyes.

Isn't it said that evil deeds live on for a thousand years?

But he never expected that Uchiha Satoru would be so... young...

It took him a long time to regain his composure.

Just as I came to my senses, I bumped into Anko next to me with a strange look on her face.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Mitarashi Anko shook her head and said in a low voice.

You saw what happened just now.

"Yeah, I saw it." Kakashi scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

"It was a pretty good fight."

What happened?

Mitarashi Anko hesitated for a moment before slowly beginning to speak.

"I bumped into Orochimaru in the exam hall in the Forest of Death."

"He was trapped there by a net woven from lightning."

Kakashi listened thoughtfully and responded with a sound of understanding.

"Yes, you mentioned it."

"Is this the same thing as the lightning net you saw back then?"

He immediately recognized its flavor.

"Not entirely." Mitarashi Anko nodded.

"But some parts are just so similar."

"So, this person is also one of the candidates in this batch?"

"He knows Sasuke Uchiha?"

That little brat in Orochimaru's mouth...