He just thought that Yoruha would be like the Sage of Six Paths, with a lifespan similar to humans. But what if Yoruha wasn't bound by human lifespan?
Perhaps Ōtsutsuki Urashiki had considered this, but was unwilling to let such a situation occur.
The battle had ended. The Nine-Tails chakra within Sora had been completely absorbed.
However, his skin was severely burned by the chakra of the Nine-Tails.
Sakura appeared beside Sasuke. Coming back to his senses, Sasuke said to Sakura, "Sakura, please, don't let him die."
Sakura wanted to ask Sasuke about the power he had just displayed, but seeing Sora's dire state, she decided to heal him first.
Before long, the others arrived at Sasuke's location. They looked at Sasuke with eyes full of shock and admiration. They had witnessed Sasuke's battle clearly.
That level of combat was beyond their ability to participate in. Moreover, Sasuke's strength was far superior to that of a Tailed Beast-transformed Naruto.
Especially the jutsu Sasuke used at the end—it was terrifying.
In an instant, he had turned a forest into a crater. That power was comparable to a Tailed Beast Bomb. Naruto walked over, glanced at Sora, and then looked at Sasuke.
He wanted to ask Sasuke what had just happened. Naruto was well aware of Sasuke's strength, and the power just now was definitely not from the Sharingan. "Sasuke, what was that just now?"
Sasuke glanced at Shikamaru and the others, not mentioning Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, and instead said, "A new jutsu. I wasn't sure if I could use it, but it turned out to be somewhat useful." Naruto didn't believe him.
He knew Sasuke was definitely hiding something from him.
When Naruto wanted to ask more, Sasuke ignored him and said, "I need to report the situation here to the Hokage. Naruto, take Sora to the hospital for treatment."
With that, he vanished from the spot. Shikamaru, who had been observing Sasuke, naturally knew Sasuke was hiding something from them.
But Shikamaru didn't question Sasuke. He understood that every ninja has secrets, even those from the same village, and they must not be revealed.
Shikamaru was well aware of this, so he wouldn't pry.
He also believed that Sasuke would not betray the Leaf Village. Naruto, on the other hand, was puzzled about what kind of power Sasuke had used.
Just thinking about Sasuke's current strength, which far surpassed his own, left him feeling defeated.
When he returned after three years of training, he thought he was confident enough to defeat Sasuke.
But even without using that power, Sasuke's strength was above his. Just the complete form of Susanoo was difficult for him to handle.
Complete Tailed Beast transformation was possible, but at that point, only the consciousness of the Nine-Tails would remain, meaning Sasuke could easily use the Mangekyō Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails.
In the face of those Mangekyō Sharingan eyes, his strongest move became his weakest. Now, Sasuke had mastered some mysterious jutsu, and its power was terrifying.
Even Naruto, who was just watching from the side, could feel it. Sasuke had effortlessly dealt with the rampaging Sora, which meant he could easily deal with him as well.
The gap between him and Sasuke was now even greater than it had been three years ago.
The Hokage could completely understand. In Naruto's mind, Yoruha wasn't considered a normal person. But Sasuke was always someone he saw as a rival to surpass.
Yet, why was the gap between them growing wider? On the battlefield's edge, Kakashi muttered to himself,
"The Rinnegan, could it be the power of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki? Has Sasuke mastered his power?"
Kakashi knew that Sasuke had sealed Ōtsutsuki Urashiki within himself. Moreover, Sasuke had just used the Rinnegan, and that power far exceeded Sasuke's usual strength.
Given Kakashi had witnessed Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's power before, he naturally speculated that Sasuke had just tapped into Urashiki's power.
Standing next to Kakashi, Yamato awkwardly remarked, "Sasuke managed to take down that guy so easily. Truly, each generation surpasses the last.
Kakashi-senpai, Sasuke's strength should be catching up to Yoruha's now, right?" Kakashi glanced at Yamato, lost in thought. Then he replied, "Probably."
Of course, what Kakashi was really thinking was that Sasuke would never catch up.
Sasuke could barely use a portion of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's power, while Yoruha had subdued Urashiki three years ago.
With such a terrifying gap in strength, Sasuke might never surpass Yoruha in this lifetime. Yamato nodded.
He felt that Sasuke's performance just now should be on par with Yoruha's.
The pressure from Sasuke's power reminded him of the night Yoruha used his Wood Release. Sasuke returned to Konoha and immediately sought out Tsunade.
He reported on the situation outside the village and mentioned his ability to use Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's power. Of course, the latter part was meant for Yoruha.
Though Yoruha wasn't in the Hokage's office, Sasuke was sure Yoruha could hear him, as Yoruha was Tsunade's bodyguard and nearby.
Hearing that Sasuke could use Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's power, Tsunade was shocked. She stood up and asked, "How is that power? Is it strong?"
Sasuke replied seriously, "Extremely strong, and I can only use a small portion of it. There's even greater power that I can't yet wield because my body can't handle it."
"But even the portion I can use feels like dozens of times my previous strength." Tsunade was stunned.
"Dozens of times your previous strength?!" "That's already far beyond the power of a Hokage." "How can the Ōtsutsuki clan's power be so terrifying?"
What shocked Tsunade even more was that such a powerful Ōtsutsuki Urashiki had been sealed by Yoruha.
Just how strong was Yoruha, especially since he sealed Urashiki three years ago? Judging by Yoruha's recent display of strength, he couldn't be weaker now.
After her initial shock, Tsunade smiled, "Not bad, not bad. You and Yoruha are now the strongest in Konoha."
"It reminds me of my grandfather and your Uchiha clan's predecessors." "I believe Konoha can surpass the era of my grandfather with you two."
Sasuke knew exactly which Uchiha predecessor Tsunade was referring to. He replied earnestly, "I won't be like him and betray the village."
Tsunade chuckled, "I know, I was just saying your strengths are comparable to theirs."
"I've always trusted you, just like I trust Yoruha." "Whether you or Yoruha becomes the Sixth Hokage, Konoha will be strong."
"And knowing Yoruha's personality, I bet he'd let you become the Sixth Hokage."
Since it was just Tsunade, Sasuke, and Shizune, who was busy with paperwork, in the Hokage's office, Tsunade spoke openly.