MTL NOVEL Chapter 12: Entwined
Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan blazed to life, casting an eerie, blood-red glow across the surrounding foliage. The air seemed to vibrate with an aura of intense power and foreboding, as if the very fabric of reality was being warped by Sasuke's dojutsu. With a sudden burst of speed, Sasuke launched himself off the branch of the towering tree, his body a blur as he hurtled towards the suspected location of the pursuer.
The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath Sasuke's feet served as a stark reminder of his incredible agility and speed. The pursuer emerged from the underbrush, their movements eerily swift and silent. In the blink of an eye, they appeared behind Karin, who was standing frozen on the same tree branch Sasuke had just vacated. Karin's voice trembled as she cried out for help, "Sasuke, help!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in alarm as he took in the scene before him. "What the...how did they move so fast?" he muttered, his brow furrowed in concern. Suigetsu and Jugo were equally stunned, their faces pale and their eyes fixed on the pursuer. Suigetsu's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his Kubikiribocho, the massive, cleaver-like blade gleaming in the dappled light filtering through the trees. The wind whistled through the leaves, and the twigs shook ominously as Suigetsu readied himself for combat.
Sasuke's gaze narrowed as he demanded, "Just who the hell are you?" The pursuer's silhouetted face slowly came into view, revealing the unmistakable features of Kabuto Yakushi. However, his appearance was altered, his body encased in the eerie, snake-like patterns of his Snake Cloak robe, which seemed to shift and writhe like living serpents.
Sasuke's eyes, along with Suigetsu's and Jugo's, widened in shock as they took in Kabuto's transformed appearance. Kabuto's voice was low and smooth as he reassured them, "I might look a bit unrecognizable, but relax, Sasuke, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin—it's me, Kabuto." Karin struggled to break free from Kabuto's grasp, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Kabuto, then let me go!" Kabuto's grip, however, remained unyielding as he responded, "Not so fast..."
Sasuke's voice dripped with condescension as he drawled, "Let her go now." He casually pulled out his sword, its blade glinting in the dappled light, and placed it next to his hip, his hand resting on the hilt. Kabuto, unfazed by Sasuke's menacing tone, pushed Karin away from himself with a dismissive gesture, his eyes glinting behind his glasses as he adjusted them.
"I have a proposal for you, Sasuke Uchiha," Kabuto announced, his voice laced with a nonchalant tone. Suigetsu's eyes narrowed, his grip on his Kubikiribocho tightening as he growled, "First, you stalk us and take Karin hostage, and now you claim to have a proposal?" Kabuto's smile was a thin, chilly line as he retorted, "I wasn't talking to you, Suigetsu. I was talking to your boss, Sasuke."
Suigetsu's face twisted in a scowl, but before he could respond, Kabuto continued, his voice dripping with amusement, "That wasn't a question, either. That was a statement. Besides, if I wanted to kill Karin, I could have easily done so—and you, as well." Kabuto's smirk was a masterclass in arrogance, his eyes glinting with a knowing light.
Sasuke's eyes flashed with anger, and in a blur of motion, he appeared behind Kabuto, his sword pressed against the other man's shoulder. Kabuto didn't flinch, his expression unchanging as he said, "So, Sasuke, would you like to hear my proposal or not? It would be in your best interest not to kill me yet until you hear what I have to say first."
Sasuke's voice was laced with disdain as he drawled, "Well, how long are you going to stall? Talk already." Kabuto's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement as he began, "So impatient. Oh, well. I suppose I shouldn't waste more time. I have now achieved a perfected version of myself, the one I wished I could have been for a long time ago, while working under Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto's gaze seemed to bore into Sasuke's very soul as he continued, "I have a goal that aligns with yours: to take revenge on Konoha. For reasons that I would not like to get into right now, but I have a reason to believe that you already know the truth regarding Itachi and the events that led to the extinction of your clan."
Sasuke's eyes flashed with rage, his face twisted in a snarl as he spat, "Me, work with you? That's never going to happen. And one more thing: my goal is mine only, and I don't need any help from a weak individual like yourself. Now, die!" Sasuke's sword flashed in the sunlight, its blade biting deep into Kabuto's neck, but the other man managed to dodge at the last second, the blade slicing through his Snake Cloak to reveal a minor gash on his neck.
Kabuto's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement as he said, "How smug of you, Sasuke. Then perhaps I should demonstrate to you just how much I've evolved." Suigetsu charged forward, his Kubikiribocho flashing in the sunlight, but Sasuke's voice rang out, "Suigetsu, wait! Don't be reckless; he's certainly gotten faster than before."
Kabuto's laughter was a low, menacing sound as he said, "I see, so you've taken a little notice, but still, you're not convinced just how my power could be useful in the extermination of Konoha." Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan gleamed with intensity, its tomoe swirling with power as he growled, "Make no mistake, I still think you're weak."
Kabuto's smile grew wider and the gash on his neck began to vaporize, the wound healing at an alarming rate. Suigetsu's attack was effortlessly evaded, and Kabuto backed away, his eyes glinting with amusement. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just witnessed. "How did he heal himself?" he thought to himself. "I don't recall him having a jutsu like that. Unlike Karin, he healed himself instantly."
Kabuto's hands began to weave a complex pattern, his fingers dancing in the air as he started to perform the Edo Tensei. The air around him seemed to ripple and distort, like the surface of a pond struck by a stone. A dark, eerie glow began to emanate from the ground, and a massive, wooden casket started to rise from the earth. The casket was adorned with ancient symbols and markings, pulsing with a malevolent energy. As the casket emerged, the air grew thick with the stench of death and decay.
Sasuke's eyes widened in confusion, his mind struggling to comprehend the nature of the jutsu. "What the hell is that?" he thought to himself. Karin's voice was shrill with anxiety, "Sasuke, don't just stand there, do something!" Sasuke's response was curt, "Just shut up, Karin. Suigetsu, fall back now." Suigetsu retreated to the safety of the tree branches, but Sasuke charged forward, his sword flashing in the sunlight. He appeared before Kabuto in a blur of speed, but Kabuto's smile never wavered.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation Jutsu," Kabuto announced, his voice dripping with confidence. The tree branches and spikes around Sasuke began to twist and writhe, charging towards him with incredible speed. Sasuke's eyes widened in alarm, but he quickly retaliated with a blast of flames. "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" The fireball erupted from Sasuke's mouth, but Kabuto was prepared.
"Water Style: Water Serpent Jutsu," Kabuto countered, summoning a massive serpent composed of water. The serpent wrapped itself around the fireball, extinguishing the flames and leaving Sasuke momentarily stunned. The animated tree branches and spikes took advantage of Sasuke's momentary lapse, ensnaring him and encasing him in a prison of living wood.