In a secluded chamber within the Central Tower.
Kakashi looked grave, pale blue chakra glowing around his fingertips as he concentrated on tracing a complex sealing formula-the Evil Sealing Method-around the three-tomoe cursed seal on the back of Sasuke's neck. Bare-chested, Sasuke gritted his teeth, enduring the even fiercer backlash as the cursed seal was suppressed, along with the bone-chilling force of the sealing jutsu.
The air seemed to freeze. Only the faint hum of chakra and Sasuke's ragged breathing remained.
Just as the sealing reached its most critical stage, with Kakashi's attention entirely focused-
"Hehehe... Kakashi, do you really think such crude sealing jutsu can suppress my masterpiece?"
A cold, rasping voice, laced with mocking amusement, rang out without warning from the shadows in a corner of the chamber!
Kakashi's pupil contracted. He whipped around, instantly activating his Sharingan! Orochimaru slowly emerged from the shadows like slime seeping out of the wall, his golden snake eyes studying the ongoing sealing ritual with interest.
"Orochimaru!" Kakashi shouted, horrified. This man had infiltrated the tower's barrier-protected chamber with such ease!
"Relax, Kakashi." Orochimaru licked his lips, but his gaze passed over Kakashi to fix hungrily on the suffering Sasuke. "I merely came to see how my adorable vessel was doing. Hmm?"
His gaze suddenly sharpened, a flicker of surprise crossing his golden snake eyes. Not only did he sense the active power of Sasuke's cursed seal, but he also detected a lingering trace of exceptionally unusual chakra, brimming with vitality-the faint presence Karin had left behind when she eased Sasuke's pain earlier.
"This is..." Orochimaru's eyes instantly blazed with a greed even greater than when he looked at Sasuke, like a researcher discovering a rare specimen. "Such pure, tremendous vitality... and something familiar about it... the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline? Of such