Inside Sasuke's room at the Butterfly Mansion.
He sat cross-legged on the tatami, his eyes closed.
Even the air around him seemed to warp slightly.
Chakra dozens of times greater than before lay quietly dormant within him, like a sleeping deep sea.
It was an unprecedented feeling of fullness and power.
[Early Shippuden Sasuke Template]
It was not just a massive increase in his chakra reserves.
More importantly, countless pieces of new knowledge had been branded into his mind.
Chidori Stream: releasing Lightning Release chakra from his entire body to form an electric current that combined offense and defense.
The Kusanagi Sword: techniques and memories of wielding that legendary divine weapon.
And deeper applications of genjutsu.
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes.
His right eye was still a two-tomoe Sharingan.
But the power behind those eyes was now entirely different.
"Knock, knock."
A soft knock sounded at the door.
"Lord Uesugi, the Master requests your presence."
It was the voice of a girl from the Butterfly Mansion.
Sasuke stood up and draped his own haori over his shoulders, the one that had yet to be embroidered with the character for "Lightning."
He knew the final test had come.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, the Ubuyashiki estate.
It was the same sunlit courtyard, but this time, the Nine Hashira with their deadly air were absent. Only Kagaya Ubuyashiki was there.
He smiled as he "looked" toward Sasuke and spoke gently.
"How has your recovery been, Sasuke?"
"I'm fine now," Sasuke answered calmly.
In fact, the moment the template unlocked, that immense life energy had completely washed away all his fatigue and hidden injuries.
"That's good."
Ubuyashiki's smile remained unchanged, but a trace of gravity entered his voice.
"I have a special mission for you."
"Please go ahead."
"Three days ago,