The four Oto-nin exchanged glances, none of them eager to make the first move. They weren't stupid; Uchiha Sasuke wasn't some nameless shinobi. Even if he wasn't at their level yet, he carried the bloodline that made him valuable.
Tayuya, however, had no patience for staring contests. With an irritated scoff, she shoved Jirōbō forward, her sharp tongue cutting through the tension like a kunai.
"Oi, fatass, you go first. Test him out before we waste any effort."
Jirōbō let out a slow, exasperated sigh, barely sparing her a glance. "Tayuya, you're a girl, you know. Maybe try acting like one for once instead of barking orders."
Tayuya rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't fall out of her skull. "And you're a fat pig, so maybe try acting like one and stop running your mouth."
Jirōbō grumbled under his breath, but her insult had done its job. He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders as he sized Sasuke up. The terrain was perfect—solid ground, no obstacles. He couldn't have asked for a better setup.
"Earth Style: Earth Prison Hall!"
With a deep rumble, thick walls of earth erupted from the ground, sealing off Sasuke and Sakura in an instant. Dust billowed in the enclosed space, and the trap was set before either could react.
Tayuya scoffed, arms crossed as she watched. Was this really the guy they were supposed to recruit? He looked like an idiot, getting caught this easily. The Kage had made a big deal about bringing him in, but from what she was seeing, he didn't seem all that special. Sure, the Sharingan was rare, but raw talent mattered just as much.
Jirōbō smirked, leaning casually against the outside of the earthen cage, his voice dripping with mockery. "And this is the guy who's supposed to be strong enough for revenge? Pathetic." He shook his head, feigning disappointment. "You talk big, Uchiha, but in the end, you're just another weakling trying to play tough."
But Jirōbō wasn't just here to taunt Sasuke. Placing both hands against the earth wall, he closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh as he began to drain Sasuke's chakra, savoring the sensation like a feast. His stomach practically growled in anticipation.
Sakon's lip curled in irritation. They had a mission to complete, and here Jirōbō was, getting distracted by his gluttony.
"Tch. Pointless," he muttered, unimpressed.
"Talking to a fat pig is a waste of time," Tayuya sneered, flicking her braid over her shoulder. "This mission's already boring as hell. Let's wrap it up and get outta here before he makes us all dumber."
Jirōbō ignored them, too engrossed in draining every last drop of chakra he could.
Their location was critical. This was the only path leading to Konoha, meaning if they ran into any Jōnin, a fight was unavoidable. The last thing they needed was to get bogged down in some drawn-out battle.
Tayuya had no patience for delays. If it were up to her, they'd crush any obstacles and move on before the Hokage's lackeys caught wind of their presence.
Inside the Earth prison, Sasuke and Sakura hadn't expected to be trapped so easily.
Sasuke immediately tested the walls, slamming his fist into them. The earth cracked under his strength, but just as quickly as he struck, the dents began to seal themselves. His Sharingan flickered to life, scanning the structure, analyzing every detail.
Regenerating Earth? He had never seen anything like it before.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue in annoyance. Fine. If brute force won't work…
Chakra surged through his arm, lightning crackling violently. "Chidori!"
The jutsu roared to life, illuminating the enclosed space with its blinding glow. Sasuke thrust his hand forward, driving it into the earthen wall with full force. Sparks erupted on impact, and for a brief moment, the wall trembled.
But then, just like before, it repaired itself, sealing the hole as if nothing had happened.
A low, mocking chuckle rumbled from the other side.
"Seriously? That's all you've got?" Jirōbō's voice dripped with amusement. "Pathetic. And here I thought the Uchiha name actually meant something."
Sasuke's fingers twitched. He ignored the taunt, eyes narrowing as he charged another Chidori, intent on carving his way out. Again, he plunged it into the wall—again, the barrier cracked—again, it mended itself.
And then, he felt it.
His chakra was draining.
Sakura's breath hitched. Her training under Tsunade had taught her the fundamentals of medical ninjutsu, chakra manipulation, and how certain barriers functioned. The moment she saw the energy being siphoned away, the realization hit her like a kunai to the gut.
"Sasuke, stop!" she yelled. "This wall—it's absorbing chakra! Every time you use Chidori, you're feeding him!"
Jirōbō smirked, pressing his palms against the structure, relishing the rush of stolen energy flowing into him. He had expected an easy meal, but Sasuke's chakra? This was something else entirely. Rich. Potent.
He ran his tongue across his lips, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Not bad..." he murmured, savoring the taste. "I could get used to this."
On the outside, Tayuya scoffed, arms crossed as she watched Jirōbō indulge himself like some gluttonous pig.
"Oi, dumbass, quit stuffing your face and finish the damn job," she snapped. "Unless you wanna sit here all day sucking off an Uchiha like some desperate fangirl."
Jirōbō exhaled through his nose, clearly annoyed, but he didn't argue. Sakon, standing nearby, simply shook his head.
"Tch. He's so damn predictable," he muttered, unimpressed.
Outside, the rest of the Sound Four watched with amusement, but they weren't just here to toy with Sasuke. They had a mission.
Sakon leaned lazily against a nearby tree, arms crossed, his smirk razor-sharp. His voice was calm, almost conversational, but every word was laced with intent.
"If you want to take down Uchiha Itachi, you know you're not strong enough," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Stay in Konoha, and you'll just keep running in circles, wasting your time. But if you come with us…" His smirk widened. "Our leader can give you real power."
He wasn't lying. That was the truth of the shinobi world—power didn't come from blind loyalty or ideals. It came from those willing to reach out and take it.
If this had been the Sasuke from before, left alone with his bitterness and thirst for revenge, there was a real chance he would have listened. The relentless pressure, the gnawing frustration, the whispers of power just out of reach—it would have been enough to make him turn.
But things were different now.
Tatsuya had guided Sasuke with an unyielding hand, pushing him forward, challenging him, and making sure he saw through empty temptations like this. Sasuke had learned control. He wasn't someone who could be manipulated by pretty words or illusions of strength anymore.
A heavy silence hung between them, right before a deafening crack shattered it.
The earth prison exploded outward, a storm of shattered rock and dust billowing into the air. The Sound Four barely had time to react as Sasuke stepped through the debris, sword gleaming in his hand.
He hadn't escaped on brute strength alone.
Sakura emerged behind him, standing firm. With her sharp analytical mind and her deep understanding of medical techniques, she had pinpointed the precise structural flaw in Jirōbō's earth barrier, and Sasuke had exploited it perfectly.
They weren't just surviving. They were fighting back.
Tayuya clicked her tongue in annoyance, crossing her arms.
"Tch. Fatass is the weakest link," she sneered, not bothering to hide her contempt.
Jirōbō's eye twitched. "Oi, Tayuya, shut your damn mouth!" he snapped, fists clenched. He was irritated enough that Sasuke had broken free—he didn't need her rubbing salt in the wound.
Kidōmaru let out a low whistle, his six arms stretching slightly. "Didn't think they'd bust out that fast," he mused, clearly intrigued. "Guess the little Uchiha's got some brains in that pretty head of his."
Sakon narrowed his eyes, his smirk fading slightly. This wasn't part of the script.
They all knew the weak points in Jirōbō's jutsu, but for Sasuke to recognize and exploit them this quickly? That wasn't just talent. That was calculated.
And that meant one thing.
Their earlier words—about his weakness, his lack of power—were meaningless if they didn't put him back in his place.
Sakon cracked his knuckles, stepping forward.
"Well, well," he murmured, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Guess we'll just have to remind you why you're not strong enough yet."
But Sasuke had no intention of playing their game. His Sharingan gleamed, analyzing every movement, every breath. Then, he moved.
In a blur, he weaved through their ranks, slipping past their defenses with calculated precision. He was everywhere at once, shifting positions in rapid succession, leaving them no room to counter.
And then, he struck.
Shishi Rendan!
A devastating flurry of kicks and strikes crashed into Sakon. The Lion Barrage—a technique Sasuke had refined after observing Rock Lee's raw speed and power—wasn't as polished as the original, but it didn't have to be. His attacks weren't just fast. They were lethal.
The final blow sent Sakon slamming into the dirt. A cloud of dust billowed around him.
Sasuke straightened, adjusting his grip on his sword. His gaze never wavered. That should've put him down.
But then—
A slow, mocking chuckle cut through the silence.
"Heh… Not bad."
Sakon sat up, unbothered, wiping a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth. His expression was infuriatingly amused.
"You've got energy, I'll give you that," he mused, rolling his neck with a series of sickening cracks. "But you're not the only one who likes to play rough. Let's see what kind of sounds your body can make."
Before Sasuke could react, Sakon's mouth twisted open unnaturally wide.
And then—
Dō!
A deep, resonant note ripped through the air.
The force hit Sasuke like a sledgehammer. A brutal shockwave tore through his body, his muscles locking up, nerves screaming in protest. His breath hitched as his ribs felt like they were about to cave in.
He staggered back, barely keeping his footing. His fingers twitched at his side. What the hell was that?
Sakon smirked, adjusting his stance like he was just getting started.
"Ahh," he sighed mockingly, tilting his head. "Your body produces bass. That sound fits this scene perfectly."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, forcing his body to move, but before he could react—
Rui!
The next note slammed into him.
His vision blurred. Pain lanced through his shoulder, white-hot and blinding, as if the bone itself had been fractured. His right eye swelled shut.
If this kept up, he wasn't going to stay on his feet much longer.
Sakura's hands tightened into fists, glowing with healing chakra.
She had seen enough.
"This isn't a fight we can afford to drag out," she muttered under her breath. Her decision was made.
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