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Following Sasuke's past life memories, the three drifted on the outer seas of the Ninja World for nearly a month before finally arriving at the phantom island that did not exist on the Ninja World map—Azure Moon Island.
This was a land that had never been discovered for thousands of years in the current world, offering excellent concealment.
The island was shrouded by a dense fog with a radius of several hundred nautical miles, within which even compasses would fail; if Sasuke hadn't forcefully memorized the spatial coordinates with his Rinnegan in his past life, it would have been impossible to find this place.
The island's area was roughly equivalent to three Konoha Villages, surrounded by mountains, with about eighty percent of the area covered by dense forests, and more than a dozen natural inland lakes distributed throughout, ensuring ample food and water.
Looking at the azure moonlight above, Sasuke's expression was reminiscent: "Just like when I came here back then…"
Orochimaru's vertical pupils were deep: "This place is isolated from the world, yet it's not a different dimension, so the Azure Moon comes from sensory projection, not reality, similar to the principle of Genjutsu. Azure Moon Island must hide an as-yet-unrevealed truth, hmph, perhaps it can be a research topic for me after tea…"
After a short rest, the three built a few wooden houses in a clearing on Azure Moon Island as their dwelling.
Sasuke asked: "Orochimaru, aren't you going to transfer the experimental equipment scattered across your various bases?"
Orochimaru said: "The old experimental equipment is no longer suitable for my current technology, and transferring it would be useless. As for new equipment, I will find a way to resolve that myself. Sasuke-kun, just focus on your own matters…"
In the following days, Sasuke underwent daily training to adapt to the White Curse Mark, and Kabuto naturally became Sasuke's sparring partner.
At first, Sasuke was hesitant, afraid of hurting Kabuto.
But after Kabuto obtained hashirama cells, his Chakra and physical abilities significantly improved, and with Medical Ninjutsu, ordinary wounds could be easily healed.
Butō Tōmei's Dojutsu gave him overwhelming mobility!
When he got serious, he could even put some pressure on Sasuke!
Thus, Sasuke could also let loose a bit!
On the twenty-seventh day of settling on the island, the training approached its halfway point.
—Fire Release: Kagutsuchi!
Boom…!!!
The fire ball gushing from Sasuke's mouth suddenly extended exaggeratedly into the sky in a columnar shape!
Kabuto was astonished: "This kind of shape transformation!?"
Sasuke: "My current Kagutsuchi can not only manipulate Amaterasu but also ordinary flames!"
Boom…!!
In the sky, after the pillar of fire exploded, it transformed into countless meteor-like flames, raining down!
Yakushi Kabuto: "This range!!"
Sasuke: "Unless you directly escape the battlefield using Butō Tōmei, you won't be able to avoid this 'Meteor Fire Shower'!"
Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses and smiled: "Is that so? Not necessarily…"
—Butō Tōmei!
Whoosh! His right eye released a vortex, which actually teleported Sasuke in front of him from a distance!
Butō Tōmei, as the blueprint for Uchiha Shin's ocular power, could achieve mutual transmission between 'marked objects', meaning it could not only project oneself remotely but also grab a target remotely to one's side!
However, while Butō Tōmei was convenient, it also had many weaknesses. The ocular power mark could only be left by touch, it was visible, and it could be erased by physical means, which made it far inferior to Kamui and Amenotejikara!
Sasuke: "This move again!! I clearly removed the mark on my body before going to bed last night. Did you mark me again when I wasn't aware?!"
Yakushi Kabuto smiled: "You don't have my mark on you, but the meal you ate this morning was prepared by me!! I've tested it, mere stomach acid can't eliminate the mark!!!"
Boom…!!
Because he was within the affected range, Sasuke had no choice but to control the fire rain to deviate from its trajectory. Boom, boom, boom… flames exploded all around!
He sighed: "Kabuto… no matter when, you're always a heavy-handed guy!"
Kabuto took pride in it: "You flatter me, Sasuke-kun…"
Sasuke's lips, however, curled slightly upwards at this moment: "Kabuto, you seem to have misunderstood something. You marked the food, not me. If you used Butō Tōmei, shouldn't you have teleported out the food residue from within me?"
!!!!
This astonishing fact struck Kabuto like lightning!
"No, could it be that you…?"
Sasuke: "That's right, I noticed you tampered with the food early on. I secretly spit it out after eating it. I didn't remove the mark on my body!"
Yakushi Kabuto: "You…!!!"
"This is called being too clever by half…"
Whoosh!
—Wood Release: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!!
Sasuke extended his left hand, and the 'snake hand' transformed from Wood Release from his sleeve bound Yakushi Kabuto!
This Jutsu was an improvement Sasuke made through the Wood Release: Great Forest Jutsu!
Gurgle gurgle gurgle…!
Kabuto: "This wood… is absorbing my Chakra!?"
After a moment of hesitation, Kabuto knew he had lost the initiative. If it were a real battle, it would have been enough for Sasuke to kill him three times.
Orochimaru, watching the battle from the sidelines, was pleased: "Although Sasuke-kun's Wood Release is limited at this stage, it's truly remarkable that he completed this innovation in such a short time…"
Clap, clap, clap!
He clapped his hands and walked forward: "Today's training ends here."
Yakushi Kabuto: "Sigh… counting today, it's my twenty-seventh consecutive defeat, isn't it?"
Kabuto's current strength was not weak, not even below that of an Akatsuki member. The real reason he couldn't be a proper opponent was their familiarity; they inevitably held back, and the atmosphere couldn't be serious…
There were only three days left until the first battle.
As night fell, Sasuke purified himself in the lake.
Under the moonlight, Yakushi Kabuto and Orochimaru conversed.
"Orochimaru-sama, the date is approaching. Have you decided on Sasuke-kun's opponent for the first battle?"
"You should be familiar with this person; he is one of the current official members of Akatsuki…"
"You mean, could it be…?"
"The Akatsuki's Maiden, Sasori of the Red Sand…"
Years ago, while Kabuto was a spy in Sunagakure, Sasori placed a brain-controlling Jutsu on him. Orochimaru had undone that Jutsu, and Sasori was completely unaware of this at the moment.
Kabuto pushed up his glasses and smiled: "This has a bit of personal grudge, doesn't it?"
Orochimaru said: "Not entirely. Sasori's strength is very high, and Sasuke had never met him in his past life, so there's a blind spot in information. He's perfectly suited as an opponent for the first battle. What interests me even more is that Sasori has always held back. Even during the Akatsuki's assessment, when he was defeated by Konan, he didn't use that hidden scroll. I'm always intensely curious about the unknown…"
Kabuto: "Understood. I'll be responsible for luring Sasori. So, where will the battle take place?"
Orochimaru looked at the moon with vertical pupils, his expression slightly reminiscent.
After a long while, he slowly said: "Tenchi Bridge."
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