189

Chapter 189: Are You the Hunter or the Prey? (1)

“Nine-Tails, have you forgotten?”

Sasuke’s expression remained unchanged, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan locking eyes with the Nine-Tails.

“I know everything about you!”

*+1000 (500)*

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes flickered again. They didn’t increase further, remaining at the same level as before.

Huh?  

Sasuke felt a hint of confusion.

According to the system’s usual logic, the points should have increased here.

Why are they staying the same?  

“Who exactly are you?”

The Nine-Tails’ fox-like face turned serious. Even Madara Uchiha never knew its true name.

Yet this Sharingan-wielding brat in front of it knew.

“I am Sasuke Uchiha.”

Sasuke didn’t provide an answer that would surprise the Nine-Tails. Instead, he simply and calmly stated his name.

Then, extending a single finger, Sasuke waved it nonchalantly in front of the Nine-Tails, assuming an air of cold dominance.

“Don’t forget it again!”

*+1000 (500)*

The numbers flickered once more but stayed at the same level—no increase at all.

A ceiling?  

Sasuke suddenly suspected he had reached the system’s point-increase cap. Maybe the maximum points for a single act of posturing were limited to this.

Or perhaps…

This was the maximum number of points he could earn from showing off in front of the Nine-Tails!

“…”

The Nine-Tails said nothing.

Who doesn’t know you’re Sasuke Uchiha? You’ve been here so many times!  

How could anyone forget?  

“Nine-Tails.”

“Originally, you nine-tailed beasts were one entity.”

“The Sage of Six Paths split the Ten-Tails’ chakra into nine parts.”

“This created the nine-tailed beasts.”

“You, the one with nine tails, were named Kurama.”

“I’m not wrong, am I?”

Sasuke spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the Nine-Tails. Whether the points would increase or not no longer mattered—this was the best opportunity to gain points.

He had to earn as many as possible!

The points were desperately needed to make the road ahead easier!

*+1000 (500)*

The numbers flickered again—1,000 points. No increase.

At that moment, Sasuke realized:

This is the MAX!  

“Who are you, really?”

The Nine-Tails’ eyes widened, its entire fox form frozen in utter shock.

Such knowledge!

This wasn’t something a mere human like Madara Uchiha could know!

It pertained to its very creation! Unless Sasuke had gathered this information from the other eight-tailed beasts…

But who would waste time telling Sasuke such trivial things?

“I am Sasuke Uchiha!”

Sasuke repeated his name, paying no mind to the Nine-Tails’ astonishment.

The more shocked the Nine-Tails was, the more pleased Sasuke became.

“Then…”

“When the Gold and Silver Brothers fought you, they were swallowed into your stomach. They stayed inside you for two weeks, gnawing away at your flesh and blood. In the end, you couldn’t take it anymore and spat them out!”

“I’m not wrong, am I?”

*+1000 (500)*

---

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes flickered once again. It was still the same number, but Sasuke was no longer surprised.

“Stop talking already!”

Kurama shook its head. It had realized by now that the young boy in front of it knew about its past.

As for how he knew...

It had no idea.

But...

What came next was utterly humiliating!

“And then…”

Sasuke showed no mercy, giving Kurama no room to save face. He launched into a relentless verbal assault, dismantling its pride with precision.

“Madara Uchiha used his Mangekyō Sharingan to control you!”

“And then took you to attack the Hidden Leaf Village.”

“You fought against the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!”

“But even with your full-body Susanoo armor, you were still shattered by that Thousand-Armed Kannon!”

“Am I wrong?”

+1000 (500)

Sasuke’s words were like daggers, each one piercing directly into Kurama’s heart.

“Enough! Stop it!”

Kurama’s voice had grown furious. Sasuke’s few sentences had dragged it back into a painful, shameful past.

A past it wanted to forget more than anything.

Memories that could have been left buried alongside Hashirama and Madara...

But why?

How did this Uchiha brat know?!

Why!!!

Kurama roared internally, seething with frustration. It didn’t want to be reminded of such useless stories, stories that left it deeply unsettled.

“And that’s not all…”

Sasuke showed no intention of stopping. It was as if he’d hit the mute button on Kurama, ignoring its growing anger entirely.

“Hashirama Senju thought you were too dangerous!”

“So he sealed you inside Mito Uzumaki!”

“From that moment on…”

“You were bound to a life of being controlled, sealed, and used as a tailed beast!”

“Am I wrong?”

Sasuke laid it all bare, dragging out every painful truth Kurama didn’t want to hear. In reality, Sasuke didn’t know much more, but he didn’t need to.

Knowing just enough to hit where it hurt was plenty.

+1000 (500)

The numbers in front of Sasuke flickered once more, the points climbing steadily higher.

“That’s enough!”

Kurama roared angrily at Sasuke, who stood just beyond the bars of its cage. The massive fox was teetering on the brink of collapse.

“Stop talking already!”

“What do you want?!”

“Name your terms!”

Kurama had given up. It didn’t want this conversation to continue any further. It couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Alright, I won’t say another word,” Sasuke said with a nod. He’d said all he needed to. There wasn’t much else he knew anyway.

“…”

Kurama hadn’t expected Sasuke to actually stop. It froze, its expression suddenly blank and a little confused.

“I’m leaving.”

Sasuke turned and began walking toward Naruto. Time was running out, and it was time to wrap up this encounter.

“???”

Kurama’s mind was a whirlwind of questions.

What was the purpose of this?

What was the motive?

Why had he come at all?

“Sasuke, what are you after?”

Unable to suppress its frustration any longer, Kurama roared at Sasuke’s retreating figure.

“I just wanted to see you. That’s all, Kurama. Until next time!”

Sasuke’s voice was calm, and he didn’t even look back.

And with that...

Sasuke activated his Sharingan, and in an instant, he and Naruto disappeared from Kurama’s sight. The world around them warped and twisted, and they reappeared back in the forest.

+1000 (500)

The numbers in front of Sasuke flickered once more, climbing higher as he bid farewell to Kurama. It was a high score to cap off the encounter.

“Sasuke…”

Naruto stared at Sasuke, his head spinning with questions. He had heard everything Sasuke had said earlier, but he hadn’t dwelled on it much.

“I’ll take you back,” Sasuke said.

His eyes reverted to their dark black hue as he grabbed Naruto by the arm. In an instant, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and reappeared in the high tower’s main hall.

Swish!  

Sasuke and Naruto materialized directly beside Sakura.

“That was quick!”

---

Chapter 189: Are You the Hunter or the Prey? (2)

--

Sakura was startled; she had assumed those two would be gone for quite some time. To her surprise, they returned so quickly.

"I'm heading back to continue hunting," Sasuke said.

Without paying any attention to Sakura’s astonishment, Sasuke immediately activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and returned to the forest where he had been earlier.

He opened the system panel.

Sasuke wanted to check the fruits of his labor during this time.

*Current System Points: 21,571.*

Seeing his accumulated points, Sasuke’s pupils trembled slightly.

*Unbelievable!*

He had already tried to set his expectations high, but he never imagined that the total would exceed 20,000 points.

*“The Nine-Tails really is amazing!”*

Sasuke was certain that most of these points were earned from dealing with the Nine-Tails.

If he hadn’t confronted the Nine-Tails, he doubted he’d even reach 10,000 points!

Now, this was incredibly satisfying!

*“Should I go chat with the Nine-Tails some more?”*

The thought of spending five days in deep conversation with the Nine-Tails briefly crossed Sasuke’s mind.

Of course, it was just an idea.

Eagerly, Sasuke opened the *[Kekkei Genkai Shop]* interface again.

Suddenly, a pair of eyes appeared on the system panel.

These eyes, glowing with a six-pointed star and shuriken patterns, were identical to Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Between the eyes, there was a crossed line with a small box above it.

The box displayed a purple icon.

He clicked it.

*[Eye Ability]: Current Status: Susano’o (Level 2) (Available for purchase: "1")*

*Click to purchase now.*

*Available for purchase: Susano’o (Level 3) (5,000 points).*

*Buy it!*

Spending points to upgrade Susano’o was always worth it!

-5,000 points.

As Sasuke made the purchase, the numbers on his screen started to shift.

*Current System Points: 16,571.*

*“Ding!”*

Immediately, the system’s electronic notification chimed.

*"Congratulations, Host! You have unlocked [Susano’o] Third Form."*

*"Third Form: Builds upon the original Susano’o with additional raven tengu armor, significantly enhancing defense. It also unlocks a wider array of weapons!"*

*"Note: Exclusive weapon unlocked – Totsuka Blade!"*

*"Enjoy showing off, Host!"*

*“Ding!”*

With the final notification, the purchase process was complete.

*Let’s buy more!*

Sasuke shifted his focus back to the pair of eyes on the panel.

However...

Sasuke furrowed his brows slightly.

*[Eye Ability]: Current Status: Susano’o (Level 3) (Available for purchase: "0")*

“What’s going on?”

Sasuke stared at the screen, completely baffled.

Susano’o was only at Level 3.

Why couldn’t he purchase the next level?

He was already at the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan stage!

Reluctantly, Sasuke opened the locked purchase option.

Inside was a blacked-out message, indicating the item was unavailable.

*Unavailable for purchase: Susano’o (Level 4) (5,000 points) (?).*

---

---

There was a small question mark at the end.

Sasuke clicked on it.

He tapped directly on the question mark.

“Ding-dong!”

“Purchase Notes for Susanoo (Level 4) Activated.”

*Notice:* The chakra consumption for Level 4 Susanoo is extremely high. To use it, the attributes of Strength, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu must reach SS level!

After seeing the notification, Sasuke immediately understood.

So the system had set a prerequisite!

Currently, upgrading these three attributes to SS level would require roughly 15,000 system points.

*“No rush!”*

Sasuke quickly made up his mind. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t upgrade now—Level 3 Susanoo was sufficient for the moment, and the rest could wait for later.

As things stood, if he were to fully upgrade the attributes, there wouldn’t be enough points left to purchase Level 4 Susanoo.

For now, during this stage—

The Chunin Exams—

Level 3 Susanoo was more than enough.

*“Let the hunt begin!”*

Sasuke leaped forward, darting swiftly through the forest, his ears tuned to every sound.

He was searching for signs of other examinees.

At this moment—

In the Forest of Death, the examinees were dodging wild beasts while searching for the corresponding scrolls. None of them could have expected a demon king to be lurking among them.

…

Meanwhile—

Outside the Forest of Death—

The chief examiner, Anko, was eating dango, thoroughly enjoying herself.

With delicious food in hand, she was completely at ease.

“Mmm…”

After finishing the last skewer of dango, Anko nodded in satisfaction and tossed the sticks into a trash bag.

“Dango always pairs best with red bean soup!”

With that, Anko jumped down from her seat, looking at the barbed wire fence in front of her. Now that she’d finished eating, she planned to check on the situation inside.

Swish!  

At that moment, a ninja appeared before her, dressed similarly to the other proctors.

“Chief Examiner Anko, we have an emergency!”

Swish!  

This proctor looked flustered, cold sweat streaming down his face as panic overtook his entire demeanor.

“What happened?”

Anko asked casually while chewing, her face showing little concern.

After all—

In her experience—

What could possibly happen in Konoha Village?

“We found three corpses!”

The proctor immediately reported, his voice filled with urgency and dread.

“Corpses?”

Anko stood up at once, frowning slightly, her eyes glinting with a look of contemplation.

“Please come and take a look. These three corpses… the way they died is bizarre and highly suspicious!”

The proctor urged anxiously.

“Bizarre, you say?”

Anko pinched her chin, deep in thought, as she followed the proctor.

At the edge of a grassy area—

Near a stone statue—

Three bodies lay sprawled on the ground, twisted in grotesque positions, with blood staining the earth.

When Anko arrived—

She carefully examined the corpses.

Several other proctors were standing nearby.

“Based on the personal items and identification they carried, they appear to be Grass Ninja who registered for this Chunin Exam.”

One of the proctors explained.

“But…”

The proctor suddenly paused, lowering his voice.

“Their faces are completely gone, as if they’ve been melted away.”

In an instant—

Anko’s pupils contracted sharply, and a shiver ran down her spine, goosebumps covering her entire body as she stood frozen in shock.

“Exactly!”

---

Chapter 189: Are You the Hunter or the Prey? (3)

---

"There’s no mistake!"

"This is his ninjutsu!"

"Why would he come here?"

Suddenly, Anko’s face was covered in cold sweat. Her heart began to beat uneasily as she quickly shouted toward a nearby proctor ninja.

"Let me see their photos!"

"Yes!"

The proctors immediately responded. They quickly retrieved the registration information for the three Grass Ninjas.

Anko looked at the three photos, searching her memory.

In an instant—

Anko's pupils shrank sharply.

"These three have already infiltrated the Forest of Death!"

"This is trouble!"

"Quickly, go inform Lord Hokage!"

"Request at least two teams from the Anbu for support!"

"I’ll chase after them right now!"

After speaking, Anko's figure swiftly headed toward the entrance of the Forest of Death.

Panic!

She was deeply unsettled!

The reason was simple.

The one who had come here was none other than her former teacher—Orochimaru!

Anko never imagined this.

Orochimaru had come to the Chūnin Exams!

---

*The Forest of Death*

Sasuke was moving swiftly through the trees when he suddenly heard the sound of someone rapidly approaching in his direction.

The speed was incredible!

It was definitely not the speed of a Genin!

In that instant—

A smirk appeared on Sasuke’s face. He stopped in his tracks, standing on a tree branch, waiting for the "prey" to arrive.

"It seems... the biggest prey has come!"

He didn’t have to wait long.

After about ten minutes—

A figure appeared before Sasuke, standing on the ground. The person wore a straw hat, and beneath it was the headband of the Grass Ninja.

"How did you notice me?"

The Grass Ninja stood there, one hand adjusting the straw hat while the other was behind their back. Around their waist was a tightly wound snake-like sash. Their posture was perfectly composed.

*Orochimaru!*

This person was none other than Orochimaru!

Sasuke was well aware of the identity of the individual before him. The appearance of a Grass Ninja was merely a disguise.

"Do you think you’re the hunter or the prey?"

Sasuke didn’t answer Orochimaru’s question. Instead, he threw the question back at him, his tone cold and merciless.

*+20 (10)*

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes flickered again.

The Forest of Death was his hunting ground.

Gaara was prey!

Kabuto was prey too!

But…

The biggest prey was Orochimaru!

"Interesting!"

Orochimaru gave Sasuke a deep look.

As expected of Uchiha Itachi’s younger brother!

Even his arrogance knew no bounds, regardless of the situation!

"And what do you think? Am I the hunter or the prey?"

Orochimaru didn’t answer Sasuke’s question either, instead tossing it back to him.

"Prey!"

Sasuke replied without hesitation. His arrogant face radiated confidence.

*+30 (15)*

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes flickered again, reflecting an increase in his score.

"Hahahahaha!"

Orochimaru tilted his head back and laughed. His purpose here was simply to meet Sasuke and plant a "seed" within him before leaving.

He didn’t expect Sasuke to be so intriguing.

Things were becoming even more entertaining!

"You’ve obtained the Scroll of Heaven, haven’t you?"

As Orochimaru spoke, he pulled out a Scroll of Earth from his hand, clearly marked with the character "Earth."

Then—

---

---

A long tongue stretched out.

It wrapped around the Earth Scroll and swallowed it directly.

“Well then…”

After swallowing the Earth Scroll, Orochimaru’s eyes fixed on Sasuke, and his entire aura erupted.

“If you want the Earth Scroll, you’ll have to kill me!”

Orochimaru appeared serious, but in reality, he was merely toying with Sasuke. Against a mere genin like Sasuke, he didn’t need to take the fight seriously.

He was one of the legendary Sannin, after all.

There was no way he would fully commit to a fight with a genin.

He could afford to take it easy.

Orochimaru bit his finger without hesitation, smearing blood onto the palm of his left hand.

Then, with a swift sequence of hand seals—

“Summoning Jutsu!”

He slammed his palm onto the ground, instantly creating complex patterns that spread across the surface.

These patterns radiated spatial energy.

Buzz!  

In an instant, three massive serpents appeared, each covered in black spots. These weren’t Orochimaru’s most powerful summons, like Manda, but mid-level serpents instead.

If he summoned Manda directly, Sasuke would likely have been eaten on the spot!

Orochimaru’s goal wasn’t to kill Sasuke but to evaluate his potential as a future vessel.

The three serpents opened their massive jaws and lunged at Sasuke, intent on swallowing him whole.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

Sasuke stood nonchalantly on a tree branch, which was just about the same height as the raised heads of the serpents.

If he didn’t dodge, he could easily be devoured by one of the snakes!

+40 (20)

In a perfect version read at Book Bar 169, no mistakes!

Numbers flickered in front of Sasuke’s eyes, indicating he’d successfully pulled off another act of bravado.

The counter was steadily rising.

From what Sasuke understood about the system, it was incredibly lazy!

No matter the kind of posturing, unless it was outrageously impressive, the system would always give incremental rewards.

So...

The best strategy early on was to start small and build up the momentum. No need to go all out from the beginning.

It had to progress step by step!

You had to start shallow to build up depth. Without contrast, how could there be any impact?

“Why don’t you handle these three snakes first? If you can’t even deal with them, there’s no point in making big claims,” Orochimaru said, assuming a spectator’s stance.

He was testing Sasuke’s strength, aiming to gauge both his current abilities and his awareness of his own limitations.

From his intel, Orochimaru knew that a seed of vengeance had already been planted in Sasuke’s heart.

Itachi Uchiha’s strength was overwhelming.

For Sasuke to achieve revenge on his own was nearly impossible!

“Mere snakes.”

A faint smirk curved Sasuke’s lips as he watched the three massive serpents with their gaping jaws closing in.

He didn’t even bother to dodge.

Disdain flickered deep in his eyes.

+50 (25)

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

The serpents, however, were visibly enraged. As summons from Ryuchi Cave, they could understand Sasuke’s words and feel the scorn behind them.

Snap!  

The lead serpent lunged forward, biting the tree branch Sasuke stood on and swallowing him whole.

This scene…

Left Orochimaru completely dumbfounded.

The other two snakes were just as stunned!

“What just happened?”

Orochimaru’s eyes twitched as he stared at the serpent that had swallowed Sasuke.

Gulp!  

The serpent made a swallowing motion, and a bulge slid down its body.

“You actually ate Sasuke?!”

Orochimaru was utterly baffled.

What was going on?

Was it really that easy?

No backup plan?

Was it over already?

No way!

Orochimaru couldn’t believe Sasuke was this weak. This was embarrassing for the Uchiha clan!

For a moment, he was at a complete loss.

---

Chapter 189: Are You the Hunter or the Prey? (4)

---

Orochimaru stared intently at the massive snake, his eyes filled with anticipation.

He was eagerly waiting for Sasuke to appear!

This couldn’t end so easily with the snake swallowing him whole!

However...

As time ticked by, second by second, Orochimaru could no longer sense any trace of Sasuke.

It was completely gone!

Did he really get eaten?

"Spit Sasuke out!"

Orochimaru's expression shifted dramatically as he glared furiously at the snake that had devoured Sasuke.

"I... I can’t spit him out," the snake said, sounding pitiful.

"Then don’t blame me for what happens next."

Orochimaru opened his mouth and spat out a snake, which in turn opened its mouth and revealed a sword—

the Kusanagi Sword.

Gripping the sword in his right hand, Orochimaru swung it fiercely at the snake.

"Orochimaru-sama, please, no!" the snake exclaimed, its eyes widening in terror as it sensed death approaching.

But...

The snake's pleas no longer mattered.

With one swift motion, Orochimaru’s sword slashed down, slicing the snake cleanly in two. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

The fate of the slain snake sent shivers down the spines of the two other snakes nearby. They trembled and felt fortunate that they hadn’t been quicker to claim their prize earlier.

Boom! Boom!  

With two resounding pops, the other snakes vanished back into Ryūchi Cave, unwilling to linger any longer.

Orochimaru brandished the Kusanagi Sword.

One slash.

Then another.

He cut through the snake’s flesh over and over, searching for any trace of Sasuke.

After countless swings, the sword struck something solid—a branch.

Could it be?!

Orochimaru’s eyes lit up. At this point, he didn’t even care if Sasuke was as useless as he suspected; he couldn’t let him die like this!

He immediately dissected the snake.

But when he pried it open...

Orochimaru’s brows furrowed deeply.

Inside the snake’s body, there was only that branch. There was no sign of Sasuke anywhere.

"What’s going on?"

Question marks filled Orochimaru’s mind as he suddenly realized something strange had just happened.

Hiss... hiss... hiss...  

At that moment, Orochimaru heard a faint sound and quickly turned his gaze to the snake’s innards. There, on the back of the branch, he spotted a row of explosive tags attached to it.

"Not good!"

Orochimaru leapt backward.

Boom!  

The snake’s body exploded just as Orochimaru retreated, scattering blood and flesh in all directions. Some of the blood even splattered onto Orochimaru.

"Uchiha Sasuke!"

Orochimaru’s eyes widened as realization dawned—he had been tricked.

Looking at the snake blood covering him, his face twisted with displeasure.

He had only come here to humor a child, yet he was treated like a fool!

Whoosh!  

As Orochimaru called out Sasuke’s name, Sasuke appeared not far from him in a flash.

"Is something wrong?"

Sasuke’s lips curled into a faint smile, clearly amused by everything that had just happened.

+60 (30)  

The system's counter in Sasuke’s vision ticked up, recognizing his act as showing off.

"How did you escape earlier?"

Orochimaru fixed his gaze on Sasuke, voicing the question that lingered in his mind.

Earlier, he had been watching Sasuke the entire time.

There was no sign of a clone, and it definitely wasn’t a substitution technique.

Sasuke had been swallowed by the snake right before his eyes.

Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn’t have been so hasty in cutting the snake apart.

Although he had been tricked, Orochimaru’s curiosity was piqued. He had to know how Sasuke pulled it off.

"That’s a secret!"

Sasuke wagged his finger at Orochimaru, showing no intention of revealing anything.

+70 (35)  

The counter in Sasuke’s vision ticked up again.

It was a simple principle, really.

---

---

Just as the giant snake's mouth was about to close around him, ready to devour him, Sasuke used the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly escape from the snake's jaws.

This technique was executed only after the snake's mouth had fully closed.

He didn’t take advantage of the moment the mouth was shutting to flee.

So...

Neither Orochimaru nor the massive snake that was already sacrificed to fate realized what had happened—they all thought Sasuke had been swallowed whole.

“No need to explain,” Orochimaru said nonchalantly.

He calmly gazed at Sasuke, biting his finger to draw blood, then swiftly slashed a streak across his hand.

Forming hand signs.

He slammed his hand onto the ground.

“Summoning Jutsu!”

In an instant...

Accompanied by Orochimaru’s voice, the entire ground trembled. A massive snake's head emerged, its dim, yellow eyes exuding an overwhelming, domineering presence.

Orochimaru stood atop the head of this enormous serpent.

*Manda!*

Orochimaru’s strongest summoning beast!

“Now... let Manda have some fun with you!”

A wicked smile played on Orochimaru’s lips. His heart was surging with excitement.

Just moments ago, he had thought Sasuke was nothing more than trash—easily swallowed by a mere snake!

Now that he realized Sasuke had tricked him, Orochimaru was initially angered but soon that turned into admiration.

Such talent was worthy of being possessed by him!

The more Orochimaru looked at Sasuke now, the more he liked him. He could hardly wait to perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique. However...

The process had to be completed first! Orochimaru felt that Sasuke still needed to be “raised” properly.

Manda, cold and indifferent, fixed its gaze on Sasuke. Unlike the three previous snakes, Manda didn’t immediately open its mouth to swallow him. This serpent appeared far more composed.

“One snake isn’t enough? Now you’re sending a bigger one!”

Sasuke stared at the serpent with cold, unfeeling eyes.

This snake could have lived longer!

But fate had taken a different turn.

Unfortunately...

Instead of extending its destiny, it had been shortened!

If Manda didn’t emerge at this moment, there wouldn’t have been anything to block Deidara’s C3 explosive later.

*+80 (40)*

A string of numbers flashed before Sasuke’s eyes again, registering as points in the system for "showing off."

However, this amount felt insignificant compared to what Sasuke had just earned during the fight with the Nine-Tails.

“Attack!”

At Orochimaru’s command, Manda lunged toward Sasuke, its massive body churning the ground in its path.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...  

Manda charged at Sasuke at full speed, not attempting to devour him with its mouth but rather intending to crush him with its enormous bulk.

“Sasuke, what will you do now?”

Orochimaru stood atop Manda’s head, watching Sasuke intently—not mocking, but with anticipation.

He was eager to see Sasuke display even more impressive abilities.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

Sasuke spoke again, standing on the ground as calmly as before, showing no concern for Manda’s charge.

*+90 (45)*

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision jumped again.

Whoosh, whoosh...  

Manda moved incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, it was right in front of Sasuke.

“Sasuke, are you going to use the same technique as before?”

Orochimaru, still atop Manda’s head, kept his eyes locked on Sasuke, determined to figure out how he escaped earlier.

Now he could observe from a close distance.

As he spoke...

Manda’s massive body was about to crash into Sasuke.

At that moment...

Sasuke suddenly raised his right hand.

He positioned his palm directly in front of Manda’s charging head, meeting its force head-on, and smacked it heavily.

“Sorry.”

“To deal with you...”

“There’s no need to use the same jutsu twice.”

As Sasuke spoke, his right hand collided with Manda’s head, producing a resounding impact.

*+100 (50)*

---

Chapter 189: Are You the Hunter or the Prey? (5)

---

Sasuke watched as the numbers before his eyes began to jump once again.

Zzz... Zzz... Zzz...

The ground beneath Sasuke's feet started to churn, forming two deep grooves as he was pushed forward.

At the same time...

Manda was forcefully halted by Sasuke!

“What incredible strength!”

Manda hissed, his snake eyes filled with astonishment. He could hardly believe that such a small human could stop him.

*S-Class Power!*

The force was overwhelming!

*+110 (55)*

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision continued to jump, steadily increasing in scale.

“This snake can die now.”

As Sasuke spoke, his left hand extended outward, aiming a seemingly casual slap at the snake’s head.

The entire action appeared effortless, almost lazy.

*+120 (60)*

Once again, the numbers in Sasuke’s view climbed higher.

“Is that so?”

Orochimaru licked his lips with a sly grin, his eyes filled with intrigue as he gazed at Sasuke.

“This is Lord Manda!”

“Sasuke,” Orochimaru continued, “how could you, on your own, hope to kill Lord Manda?”

“Pretending to be strong is fine,” he sneered, “but overdoing it just makes it laughable!”

Standing atop Manda’s head, Orochimaru looked down at Sasuke with a condescending smirk, exuding an air of superiority.

Even at this moment, Orochimaru still considered Sasuke nothing more than an ordinary Genin.

Perhaps Sasuke’s strength had reached the level of a Chūnin, but to Orochimaru, he was still just a child.

Manda, too, showed ridicule in his eyes. While Sasuke’s earlier act of stopping him had been surprising, it wasn’t enough to make him take Sasuke seriously.

After all, Manda hadn’t been using his full strength. When Orochimaru summoned him, he’d been warned not to harm this boy.

Otherwise, Sasuke would’ve already been devoured.

Manda thought to himself, This kid must be Orochimaru’s next vessel. Knowing Orochimaru would offer other sacrifices, Manda wasn’t interested in this particular human.

However...

Just as Sasuke’s left hand was about to strike Manda’s head, his entire body began to turn transparent, glowing with a pulsating bluish-purple light.

Zzz... Zzz... Zzz...

Electric sparks crackled wildly around Sasuke, enveloping him in a dazzling aura of lightning. In this instant, his entire being transformed into a mass of pure energy.

*Lightning Transformation!*

In his fully lightning-transformed state, Sasuke’s physical form was indistinguishable, appearing as nothing more than a bolt of electricity.

The Lightning Transformation also enhanced all lightning-style attacks.

Zzz... Zzz... Zzz...

Sasuke’s aura surged explosively as he activated *Chidori*.

*Lightning-Enhanced Chidori!*

In a flash...

Sasuke’s body became a streak of lightning, surging forward with overwhelming chakra. At such close range, he cut through Manda like a thunderbolt splitting the heavens.

Boom!  

The deafening roar of thunder echoed as Sasuke, like a flash of lightning, tore through Manda’s massive body. The terrifyingly enhanced Chidori ripped from Manda’s head to his tail.

Zzz... Zzz... Zzz...

Amid the chaotic sound of crackling lightning, Sasuke’s figure slowly reappeared, standing motionless behind Manda.

Thud!  

Manda’s eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn’t even felt pain before the light in his eyes dimmed. Blood poured out in torrents.

Crash!  

Manda collapsed heavily to the ground, smashing the terrain below and sending rocks flying. His massive body lay still, lifeless.

Thus...

Manda fell.

*+130 (65)*

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision leaped again, the increases becoming more significant with each moment.

“You... killed Manda?!”

Orochimaru stared at Manda’s lifeless body, his eyes wide with shock.

Suddenly...

A realization struck Orochimaru.

Uchiha Sasuke!  

He’s stronger than I ever imagined!  

Whether it was his previous encounters with Jiraiya and Tsunade against Hanzo of the Salamander or his conquests on countless battlefields, Manda had never failed him before.

But now...

---

---

*Manda was so easily defeated, and it was at Sasuke's hands.*

Unbelievable!

Orochimaru stared deeply at Sasuke's figure as he emerged from the flickering lightning. His expression grew serious.

*"Uchiha Sasuke,"*

*"It seems you possess many mysterious abilities."*

*"I'm growing more and more intrigued by you."*

A slight smirk appeared at the corners of Orochimaru's mouth. His gaze toward Sasuke was filled with greed.

Yes, greed!

Orochimaru's desire to claim Sasuke's power intensified even further.

*"Forget about Manda!"*

Sasuke turned around, his cold eyes fixed on Orochimaru. His aloof face was full of confidence.

*"Even if it were you, Orochimaru, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you!"*

+140 (70)

As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, the numbers before him surged. His voice echoed through the forest, cutting through the silence with sharp clarity.

Orochimaru froze for a moment.

His eyes remained locked on Sasuke.

He didn’t say a word.

After a brief silence, Orochimaru burst into laughter.

*"Hahahahaha, Sasuke, so you figured out my identity long ago!"*

As he spoke, Orochimaru suddenly raised his right hand and peeled away the skin of his face, starting from the eyes.

At that moment, his pale skin turned a sickly green.

His pitch-black eyes became narrow, snake-like slits.

The mask fell away.

Orochimaru’s true appearance was revealed to Sasuke.

*"Sasuke, you’ve truly impressed me!"*

Excitement tinged Orochimaru’s voice. He sounded like someone discovering that his prized investment had appreciated in value. Yet his demeanor remained condescending.

*"Orochimaru, you’ve chosen the wrong person."*

Sasuke shook his head nonchalantly and began walking toward Orochimaru step by step, utterly unshaken.

+150 (75)

The numbers before Sasuke continued to climb.

*"Oh?"*

Orochimaru regarded Sasuke with amusement, unsure of what Sasuke was trying to convey. He decided to humor him and asked, *"Are you saying you’re not Sasuke?"*

*"I am Sasuke."*

Sasuke nodded, answering Orochimaru directly while continuing his advance.

However, Manda was incredibly long.

It would take a while to walk from its tail to its head.

*"If you’re Sasuke, then I didn’t choose wrong."*

A grin appeared on Orochimaru’s face, as if Sasuke’s reply satisfied him.

*"However..."*

*"Sasuke,"*

*"seeing your strength fills me with boundless excitement!"*

*"You and Itachi truly are brothers!"*

*"From you, I can sense a potential that far surpasses Itachi’s!"*

As Orochimaru finished speaking, a surge of chakra suddenly bound Sasuke.

*Binding Technique!*

Sasuke abruptly halted, completely immobilized, forced to watch as Orochimaru demonstrated his moves.

*"Hahahahaha!"*

Seeing Sasuke rendered helpless, Orochimaru let out another burst of laughter before forming hand seals.

In the next moment, Orochimaru’s neck extended unnaturally, becoming long and flexible.

He opened his mouth wide.

Sharp fangs, venomous and deadly, emerged, aiming straight for Sasuke’s neck.

*"Orochimaru."*

Suddenly.

Just as Orochimaru’s fangs were about to sink into Sasuke’s neck, Sasuke’s voice rang out. It carried an eerie, commanding power.

+160 (80)

The numbers before Sasuke surged again.

*"I told you, you’ve chosen the wrong person!"*

Sasuke's pitch-black pupils suddenly changed. Crimson six-pointed stars emerged, paired with shurikens in both hands. A terrifying ocular power burst directly into Orochimaru's snake-like eyes.

+170 (85)

The numbers in front of Sasuke flickered again.

Whoosh!

The positions of their bodies switched.

Sasuke appeared in Orochimaru's original position.

Orochimaru appeared where Sasuke had been, his neck bending at an impossible angle to bite into his own neck.

"You should go after Itachi!"

"Because..."

"Dealing with him..."

"Is far easier than dealing with me!"

---

(End of chapter)