Deep within a hidden underground chamber, the air was thick with suffocating darkness. Jagged stone walls caged the room like a tomb, and in the center, a lone figure hung in silence Sasuke Uchiha. His body was bound by an eerie web of tendrils that seemed to pulse like living veins. His once-proud face was pale, his breathing shallow, and his clothes tattered from months of unconscious imprisonment.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor slow, deliberate steps that carried the weight of absolute control. Draven emerged from the shadows, his dark hair framing his sharp, confident features. He paused just before Sasuke's body, studying him with cold amusement.
"It's time to test the limits of your power… Uchiha Sasuke."
With a flick of his fingers, a surge of black mist spiraled from Draven's hand, engulfing Sasuke's entire body. The tendrils twisted, crawling into his skin like snakes. The darkness dug into Sasuke's mind, corrupting his thoughts and pulling him into a twisted realm of suffering.
Sasuke's unconscious body twitched violently.
Then —
"Aaaaahhhh!!"
His scream tore through the silent chamber yet no one heard him but Draven. His eyes snapped open, the familiar glow of the Sharingan spiraling wildly. His body trembled as power coursed through him, yet the fire in his gaze had dimmed.
Draven smiled.
"That's better…"
Sasuke stood now, swaying like a puppet on strings. His Sharingan glowed with four tomoe, marking its twisted evolution. His gaze no longer showed willpower or defiance — only the void of submission.
Sasuke's New Abilities
1. Susanoo — Abyss Form
His Susanoo has mutated into a monstrous black entity with six glowing red eyes. Its armor appears jagged and twisted, with dark tendrils snaking out from its body to ensnare and crush enemies.
The Susanoo can now manifest a shadow blade that extends endlessly, slashing through dimensions like a tear in reality itself.
2.Blood Link — "Curse of the Uchiha"
Anyone wounded by Sasuke's blade becomes bound to him. Their movements, chakra flow, and even their heartbeat fall under his control for a limited time.
Draven examined his new creation, admiring Sasuke's corrupted power.
"You've spent your whole life chasing power, Sasuke… I wonder if you'll regret what I've given you."
---
Three days had passed since Draven had turned Sasuke Uchiha into his puppet.
A portal opened in a corner of the room.
Draven stepped out and walked straight into Ada's house in Konoha. No one noticed, no one sensed a thing. He had made sure of that.
Ada was sitting on the couch. Her legs folded, her brother Daemon sleeping on her lap. She didn't react to his arrival. She didn't look up. But her mind was somewhere deep in thought.
Draven sat down across from her on the other sofa. He leaned back slightly, one hand resting on the armrest.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then Draven spoke.
"So… what decision did you make, hmm?"
Ada looked up, her voice quiet.
"I'll tell you. But first… tell me something. What is love? Just what is it? I've never been able to find it, even with my powers."
Draven stared at her and spoke without pause.
"Love, huh… It's a complicated subject. But to be clear — it's not fixed. It changes from person to person."
He sat up.
"Let me give you an example. The Hokage — all of them — died for this village. People say it's out of love. Maybe. Or maybe it was fear. Or maybe they were just brainwashed by the system they protected."
"Shinobi sacrifice themselves for the village. But if they run, their families suffer. So they stay. Some die willingly. Some die out of fear — fear of being remembered as cowards. They kill, die, and call it honor."
"But there are people who break free. Rogue ninjas. Defectors. Even they get hunted. So where's the love in that?"
"The Fourth Hokage died with his wife to protect this village. He was killed by his own student. Obito Uchiha. A guy who was supposed to be dead."
"And Naruto, the Fourth's son, grew up in the same village his father died for. The villagers hated him. He still wanted their love. Still fought for them. Because Sarutobi made sure he believed the village came first."
"He chased the title of Hokage to earn love from the same people who despised him. In the end, he got it. But was it worth it?"
"Obito gave up everything over one girl — Rin. She died, and he blamed the world. He killed his teacher. Destroyed villages. Said it was revenge. That's how far love twisted him."
"Love is powerful. It can make you fearless. But once it turns dark, no one can save you."
"To fall in love doesn't mean you know how to love."
"You can fall in love and still hate that person. You can crave them, need them, and still resent them. That's real. That's how most people break."
"Love is just another kind of power. And like all power, most people don't know how to handle it."
Ada looked down. For a moment, her expression twisted — like a craziness flashing through her eyes — but it faded just as quickly.
She looked up at Draven. "Then what do you think is between me and Kawaki?" she asked. "I don't want to die for Kawaki or anyone. So does that mean it's not love?"
Draven replied calmly, "You don't really love Kawaki. You just like him. To be precise, you were drawn to his actions — killing Jigen or killing Isshiki Otsutsuki. You thought it was cool. He was the only one not affected by your ability, and Boruto was too young. So you chose Kawaki, hoping to feel what love is."
He leaned back. "But that's not love. Real love doesn't fade with time. It only grows. What you feel is just liking something — maybe a face, maybe a behavior, maybe just the thrill. It's not deep."
Ada nodded slowly. "You're right. I decided to bet on Kawaki because he killed Jigen. That made him look cool to me. But now, he's boring. A coward, hiding in the village. Rough. Barbaric. I don't like that type."
She put a finger to her lips. "So I guess you already know my answer. This isn't fun anymore. I'll stick with you for now."
Draven stood up. "Oh? I see."
Daemon shifted on the couch, yawned, but didn't wake up. Just turned and went back to sleep.
Draven walked up to Ada. His face was just an inch from hers.
"I'm not Kawaki. Not Isshiki. Not Amado," he said flatly. "I don't tolerate betrayal."
He pinched her cheek lightly.
"It'd be a shame for a beautiful woman like you to die for something so petty," Draven said — then vanished through a portal.
Ada rubbed her cheek where he touched her.
"…Truly interesting," she said with a small laugh.