UK:GSW Chapter 341 – Karin: Lord Orochimaru, you're not dead?!
Yes—what Uchiha Kei was using was an illusionary "game" effect activated directly through his eyes, and the most basic function of this technique was that if the target's level was too high, it wouldn't work; but once it did work, the target could not escape from the illusionary game world created, relying only on their own strength.
A classic "technique for identifying the strong," and now that Uchiha Kei possessed the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan—along with having consumed every stamina- and energy-enhancing potion or item he could get his hands on over these days—he was already far beyond what he once had been.
For Sasuke, who had not awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and only possessed the Three Tomoe Sharingan, this move from Uchiha Kei was unresolvable. He was instantly caught and fell into it.
What Kei prepared for the three boys was the same—a scene of the Old Ones awakening and bringing a Cthulhu-style apocalypse. How long they could last depended purely on willpower and resistance.
Clearly, Suigetsu Hozuki and Jugo couldn't withstand it; they fell almost immediately. Uchiha Sasuke, however, was still struggling in that terrifying apocalyptic world.
How long he could last—was anyone's guess.
Either way, Kei could clearly see through his administrator privileges that Sasuke was currently fighting.
Yes—fighting the monsters of the Cthulhu Mythos.
Of course, the targets were just ordinary monsters, and small fry like zombies.
As for the evil gods themselves—those were the kind where just one glance could cause your head to explode. Sasuke, with his Sharingan activated, was doing his utmost not to look at those mountain-sized, terrifying eldritch beings. The last time he glimpsed one, he had almost died on the spot. If not for his prior training in mental defense—specialized fortifications against such attacks—he would have been done for.
This training was originally meant to be used against Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyo Tsukuyomi, and indeed, in the original timeline, he did succeed—most likely not because Itachi went easy, but because Sasuke genuinely broke through it.
After all, Sasuke had taken that damage from Tsukuyomi twice in childhood, each time causing massive trauma and irreparable damage to his young heart. And although he wasn't a Saint Seiya, he was not about to keep taking the same hit without fighting back—especially with Orochimaru helping him develop a countermeasure.
Undoubtedly, in this area Sasuke was still very strong—worthy of the name "genius." Even with just the Three Tomoe Sharingan, his actual combat ability was formidable, and his potential to become a "second Uchiha Madara" was unquestionable.
However… this kind of excellence wasn't exactly a good thing right now. When Sasuke's companions had already succumbed to "peaceful slumber" within their own personal Cthulhu illusion-game worlds, Sasuke was left to suffer continuously in that hopeless, indescribably horrifying world.
Sometimes, being too strong isn't a blessing.
And Sasuke was even trying to break the illusion through his own means.
Yes—he knew this was genjutsu. Even though the sensory realism far surpassed Itachi's Tsukuyomi, he still knew it was genjutsu.
After all, before coming here, he clearly remembered it was that mysterious Uchiha who had sent him into this world. How could he not know?
Yet, even using the method he and Orochimaru had developed to counter Tsukuyomi, he could not dispel the illusion-game effect. All he could do was endure the dual physical and mental damage.
Sometimes, trying too hard really is a tragedy.
In the end, in his first-ever "illusion game," Sasuke struggled for a long time—only to end up in extreme doubt about reality. When no method could free him, and every sensation felt utterly real, he began to suspect that everything he was experiencing was actually happening.
Sometimes, effort does not guarantee reward—it might even backfire, leaving only psychological scars.
Indeed, after this ordeal, the despair and madness of the Cthulhu world were destined to leave a deep, lasting scar in Sasuke's heart.
But that was for later. For now, Sasuke had joined his teammates in deep, peaceful sleep.
"Well, now that this kid is also peacefully asleep, we can talk when he wakes up. I imagine after this experience, he'll understand the power gap between an ordinary Sharingan and the Mangekyo, and won't just arrogantly rush off to seek out Uchiha Itachi and throw his life away."
Looking at the unconscious Sasuke, Kei smiled with satisfaction, pleased with the result, speaking like a senior Uchiha giving a heartfelt lesson to a conceited junior—preventing Sasuke from becoming the infamous "Sunny Day Helper" of the original story.
Karin could only sweatdrop at this, wanting to speak but stopping herself, her face showing she desperately wanted to comment but didn't know where to start.
At this point, Karin knew that Uchiha Kei bore them no malice. Even though he had taken down her teammates, he had not truly threatened their lives.
She had checked herself—her teammates were merely asleep, with no signs of mental damage. In the ninja world, genjutsu that causes mental harm leaves the victim even in unconsciousness sweating, feverish, and in obvious distress—like Kakashi and Sasuke after suffering Tsukuyomi in the original.
The three Kei had knocked out, however, slept peacefully—as if in the best rest they'd had in ages.
This was even good for them. Constant travel and danger had kept their minds from relaxing, and though their young ninja bodies could endure it, a deep rest was still a great benefit to both mind and spirit.
So Karin wasn't worried about their condition, even though they'd been taken down.
Still… Kei's expression of "I'm doing this for the juniors' own good—an elder's love in the form of a beating" was hard to bear. Karin felt like there were so many things to roast him for, but didn't know where to start.
In the end, she could only put on an awkward-but-polite smile and ask, "Um, senpai… what now? Do we wait here for Sasuke and the others to wake up?"
For someone like Karin—used to being wild and without much formal etiquette—this was very polite indeed.
What could she do? The mysterious Uchiha before her, claiming to be her "godfather," had just taken down her three teammates in one move.
If he hadn't claimed that title, he might have taken her down as well—and from his demeanor, Karin could tell he was an "equal-opportunity fighter" who would beat opponents regardless of gender.
Kei smiled kindly, like an elder, and said: "Of course I won't let you keep camping out here. Didn't I say earlier? I'll take you to see your young mother. Of course, rather than 'mother,' Kikyo would prefer you call her 'sister' or 'younger sister.'"
Karin tensed. "So… you're taking me away?"
Kei shook his head with a smile. "Of course not. I'll take all of you together. And as I've said, besides you, I also came here today for Sasuke."
"And, I'm taking Sasuke to meet other clansmen."
Karin's eyes widened. "Other clansmen? You mean… there are other Uchiha alive?"
Kei: "You'll know when we get there."
He paused, leaving Karin wondering what he was doing—in fact, he was contacting Minato via WeChat.
A moment later, Namikaze Minato appeared.
Seeing Minato, Karin was startled and tensed, fearing an enemy.
But Minato's warm smile and sunlike chakra quickly reassured her—and Kei's calm attitude confirmed they were allies.
She studied Minato, finding him oddly familiar, though she couldn't recall why. Minato was in his true form, with no disguise—after all, the White Zetsu who could leak intel had already been turned.
The reason Karin didn't recognize him as the Fourth Hokage was simple: she'd only ever seen records and portraits, never a photo, and he'd been dead for over ten years.
Before she could think further, Minato entered his golden form and, under Karin's shocked gaze, teleported them.
She then trembled in fear—for they had arrived at the Time-Space Gate base in the ruins of Roran.
And here… she saw Orochimaru.
At that moment, her legs went weak and she shook uncontrollably, like someone seeing a ghost: "L-L-L-L-L-Lord Orochimaru, y-you're not dead…?"
Her intense reaction drew everyone's attention, and Orochimaru and the others looked on curiously.
Although they had vast intel from White Zetsu, it was too much to study in detail, and the Snake Team hadn't seemed important enough for thorough review.
Orochimaru gave a refined smile. "Oh? You know me? Hmm… red hair—you're a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan of this world? Looks like the me of this world left quite the impression on you."
Karin froze. The Orochimaru in her memory was terrifying, dangerous, his chakra cold and cruel like venom.
But the one before her was refined and warm in demeanor, and though still serpentine in presence, it was that of a calm, gentle great serpent—not a cruel, cold one.
Yes—a great serpent.
Judging by chakra alone, this Orochimaru far outclassed the mad scientist she remembered.
"Is this really Lord Orochimaru?"
Her doubt grew—everything seemed unreal.
And then she noticed what Orochimaru had said.
This world? The me of this world?
What did that mean? Was this Orochimaru not from her world? And he didn't even seem to recognize her.
Her mind spun—her limited imagination and knowledge unable to process it.
Before she could answer, Kei spoke up: "This girl is Karin Uzumaki, the daughter of this world's Kikyo. I met her while visiting one of the last surviving Uchiha bloodlines of this world."
"Oh, and in this world, Orochimaru-senpai—you're dead. Killed by your disciple, this boy here—Uchiha Sasuke."
He pointed to the still-slumbering Sasuke.
Orochimaru froze, as did the others—then exchanged strange looks. Sasori and the female form of Tobirama Senju (currently calling herself Chiko) immediately settled in to watch the drama unfold.
Clearly, Kei had "educated" Tobirama well—once, she would have scoffed "Uchiha are inherently evil" in such situations.
Orochimaru's gaze fell on Sasuke.
But he showed no anger—apparently indifferent to the other him's death—and instead studied Sasuke curiously, wanting to know how it had happened.
Being sharp, Orochimaru suspected there was much more to the story—no way was it a simple case of disciple killing master. Kei's amused tone proved it; if Sasuke were truly just an ungrateful disciple, Kei would have spoken with contempt and malice.
Thus, Orochimaru guessed the other "him" had probably brought it upon himself.
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium