The aftershocks of the energy storm gradually subsided, and the dust filling the sky slowly dispersed, revealing the utterly transformed terrain and two figures at the bottom of the enormous crater.
Sasuke knelt on one knee in the center of the pit, his body covered in wounds slashed open by tiny moon blades, his blood soaking his tattered clothes. The forcible destruction of his Complete Body Susanoo had inflicted tremendous backlash on him, leaving both his chakra and ocular power nearly exhausted.
He panted heavily. Every breath tugged at the wounds all over his body, sending waves of agony through him. Two trails of bloody tears ran from his eyes from overusing his dōjutsu, and even his vision had grown somewhat blurry.
But his back remained perfectly straight.
Several dozen meters away, Kokushibo was in an equally horrific state.
He stood, but that was merely the last vestige of a warrior's pride. The left half of his body, from his shoulder to his waist and abdomen, along with his cumbersome left arm and three eyes, had been completely vaporized by the terrifying heat and penetrating power of Indra's Arrow. Not a single cell remained.
The inextinguishable black flames of Amaterasu burned along his wounds, constantly, stubbornly preventing his body from regenerating. His regenerative ability, arguably the strongest among the Upper Ranks, had become extremely sluggish, barely managing to keep his injuries from worsening.
He looked at Sasuke. No trace of murderous intent or jealousy remained in his three surviving eyes, only a pure respect that came from the depths of his soul.
It was the acknowledgment of a worthy opponent, the respect one warrior held for another who had reached the pinnacle of strength.
"Your... name."
Kokushibo spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse from his severe injuries, yet exceptionally clear.
Sasuke