Naruto: I Am Uchiha Sasuke!?

Boom!

The Great Fireball exploded violently, sending a scorching heatwave through the forest. The flames devoured the trees where "Naruto" had stood moments ago, reducing them to ashes.

Yet, there was no body in the fire—only a discarded, charred shell.

"This is... the Orochi-ryu Body Replacement Technique?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. The speed of escape and the way the body was left behind—it could only be that jutsu.

"Oh, that was close!"

A voice echoed from a nearby tree as Orochimaru emerged from its trunk, his signature smirk intact. He gazed at the scorched battlefield, his expression momentarily solemn.

"Sasuke, you exceeded my expectations."

The intensity of that Fire Style attack… Had he miscalculated and taken a direct hit, even he might have been seriously wounded.

Sakura tensed up, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Who... are you? How do you know Sasuke's name?"

Orochimaru chuckled. "Little girl, does it really matter? Isn't your goal to get the scroll?"

He casually tossed an Earth Scroll into the air.

Sakura's breath hitched. That's it! If he has the Earth Scroll… and we have the Heaven Scroll…

"Then, let's enjoy the battle."

Before she could react, Orochimaru's aura exploded outward, a suffocating wave of killing intent crashing down on them.

Sakura's knees buckled. Her vision blurred, and her mind filled with grotesque images—bodies piling up, blood splattering, death surrounding her.

"What... what is this?! An illusion?"

Her heart pounded in terror. So strong... I can't move!

But standing beside her, Sasuke remained unfazed. His lips curled slightly.

"So it's true... After entering the Waning Moon Chapter of the Five Forging Gods, my mental strength isn't far from his."

Unlike Sakura, he could withstand the crushing pressure of Orochimaru's killing intent.

"Go."

Orochimaru casually waved his hand.

Rustle!

A massive yellow-brown serpent slithered from behind him, its fangs bared as it lunged at them with terrifying speed.

Sasuke reacted instantly. "Tch!"

He grabbed Sakura and leaped away just as the snake's jaws snapped shut where they had stood.

"Oh? You resisted my aura?" Orochimaru mused, watching Sasuke's composed expression.

"Such an excellent vessel… I can hardly wait."

Sasuke and Sakura landed behind a massive tree, catching their breath.

Sasuke shot her a glance. "Sakura, stay back. This guy… he's on a completely different level."

Sakura clenched her fists. "No! I want to fight too!"

But Sasuke pushed her away, his voice firm. "No. Leave."

His eyes sharpened. "He's coming!"

Shing! Shing! Shing!

Kunai shot out from the shadows, striking from multiple blind spots.

Sasuke flickered out of the way, his body moving with precise agility.

Boom!

A massive snake head crashed down where he had just been.

"Tch, missed again."

Orochimaru stood atop the snake's head, his golden eyes narrowing. "Your Body Replacement Technique is surprisingly fast. Even I didn't catch it right away."

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"

Sasuke appeared mid-air, exhaling a roaring fire dragon that spiraled toward Orochimaru.

Whoosh!

Orochimaru leaped, dodging gracefully, but his snake wasn't so lucky. It screeched as flames engulfed it, writhing in agony before collapsing.

Orochimaru landed on a tree branch, studying Sasuke. "Even at your age, you've already mastered Fire Style's Nature Transformation..."

His smirk widened. "As expected of an Uchiha. You're just like Itachi..."

Then, his expression darkened. "I suppose it's time to get serious."

Whoosh!

He vanished.

"Tch—he's fast!"

Sasuke barely reacted before Orochimaru was right in front of him, his fist swinging toward his ribs.

Sasuke dodged, but suddenly—

Shff!

A mass of writhing white ropes shot from Orochimaru's sleeve, ensnaring his arms and legs.

Sasuke's eyes widened in feigned shock. He struggled, but the bindings only tightened.

Orochimaru smirked. "Your ninjutsu is impressive, but your taijutsu is still lacking."

"Konoha will only stifle your potential, Sasuke..."

He weaved a hand sign.

Whoosh!

His neck extended unnaturally, his mouth opening wide—

Chomp!

His fangs sank into Sasuke's neck.

"Arghh!"

Sasuke writhed in pain as three black magatama markings spread across his skin. His body trembled violently.

Orochimaru pulled back, licking his lips. "This Heaven Curse Seal is my gift to you."

He chuckled. "If you truly desire power… seek me out, Sasuke."

With that, he melted into the tree trunk and vanished.

Silence fell.

Sasuke's body convulsed, seemingly struggling against the curse mark's effects.

Not far away, hidden under another tree—

A shuriken poofed!

Sasuke's true form appeared, smirking.

"Hmph, this perfect Transformation Technique is really something. Even a Kage-level ninja like Orochimaru couldn't detect it."

The "Sasuke" writhing in pain? A mere Shadow Clone.

In this battle, Sasuke had only shown a fraction of his power.

He had refrained from using Chidori, his advanced Lightning Style techniques, Ice Release, Sharingan illusions, and even his Tailed Beast power.

"If I reveal too much now, Orochimaru might get impatient and make his move too soon."

Right now, Sasuke couldn't afford to destroy Orochimaru. Not yet.

If Orochimaru perished here, the Konoha Crush plan wouldn't happen.

And that would disrupt his plans.

"Still… getting the Curse Mark isn't bad."

He crouched down, pressing his fingers to the cursed seal.

"Curse Marks are just a degraded version of Sage Mode…"

Even so, it boosted his ninjutsu and taijutsu.

But Sasuke wasn't just interested in using the Curse Mark.

"If I use it as a foundation…"

His eyes gleamed.

"I can create something even stronger."

At that moment—

"Sasuke!!"

Naruto and Sakura burst through the trees.

Sakura ran toward him, frantic. "Are you okay?! Where did that creepy ninja go?!"

Sasuke smirked.

"Now… the real games begin."

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(A/N: Advance Chapters Are Available On My Patreon... Please Think Of Joining It)