Naruto: Destroy the Sarutobi Clan At the Beginning

"How can this guy have such great strength?" Sasuke let out a soft sigh and activated Chidori Stream, shaking off Karin's grip, which held strange power. He then infused lightning chakra into the Kusanagi Sword and slashed as he explosively retreated.

Clang clang!

In the empty cavern, Sasuke's figure kept flickering. The Chidori Blade and the Diamond Chains repeatedly collided, and the high-friction impact of chakra and metal caused continuous sparks to burst.

What surprised Sasuke was that the Chidori Blade, which he had thought was unstoppable, seemed to meet its natural enemy. Not only could it not cut through the chains, but the moment it touched them, the lightning chakra was forcibly suppressed, and it reverted to its original Kusanagi Sword form.

"What the hell is this thing?" Sasuke's face turned grim.

Then he heard Karin say, "Uchiha Sasuke, right now you're using the Chidori Blade—infusing lightning chakra into your weapon. And just a moment ago, you were preparing to use Chidori Current, coating yourself in lightning to try to shake off Naruto and me, am I right?"

Sasuke didn't respond. He focused on dodging the chains, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

But as Tsunade's disciple who had spent nearly three years eating, sleeping, and training alongside Chinatsu—and occasionally receiving pointers from Fujiwara Kirito—Karin had picked up a lot, including a sharp tongue. She mocked, "Too naive. I don't know Lightning Release, but Chinatsu does."

"Chinatsu?" Sasuke's pupils contracted as he recalled the moment three years ago when he was defeated by Chinatsu.

"Compared to Chinatsu, your Lightning Release is child's play." Karin knew Kirito's battle philosophy—target the enemy's weak point. While Sasuke was distracted, she manipulated her five diamond chains to spread in all directions, completely sealing off Sasuke's escape routes.

"Shut up!" Sasuke was furious. The curse mark on his left neck rapidly spread across his body as he entered his Cursed Seal Second State.

He unfolded his two grotesque wings and charged straight at the diamond chains.

But he had still underestimated their power.

This was the Vajra (Diamond) Chain—a chain strong enough to restrain even a Tailed Beast. In less than a moment, Sasuke's Cursed Seal Second State was forcefully suppressed, and he couldn't move at all.

Seeing Karin easily bind Sasuke, Naruto was stunned and quickly yelled, "Sasuke, stop already!"

"Shut up." Sasuke's body trembled as he struggled violently. He looked utterly disheveled, cold sweat pouring from his forehead. He no longer carried the arrogance he had before.

"Stop being so stubborn, Sasuke! You'll die if you keep going like this. Don't you understand that Orochimaru is using your body?" Naruto shouted, still trying to reason with him.

But Sasuke interrupted coldly, "Then let him. Whether it's me or Orochimaru, neither of us is a match for that man."

"I'm an avenger. As long as I can kill that man, I'll do anything—even merge with Orochimaru. If you insist on dragging me back to Konoha, then be ready to kill me."

"You're too arrogant. Do you really think that by merging with Orochimaru, you can defeat Uchiha Itachi? You're being naive," Karin snapped, tightening the Vajra Chains even more.

Sasuke, now bound tightly like a rope twist, lost his balance and fell hard to the ground.

"Sasuke!" Sakura, who hadn't moved at all until now, finally reacted and rushed forward.

Karin looked at Sakura speechlessly, then turned to Yamato. "Captain Yamato, I'll leave the rest to you. Orochimaru and Kabuto are headed this way. We need to retreat."

"I understand." Yamato nodded and began forming hand seals. "Wood Release—"

Before he finished speaking, Sakura, who had just walked up to Sasuke, suddenly straightened, her head lowered halfway, her eyes hidden by shadows. Without warning, she threw a punch directly at Karin.

"Sakura, what are you doing?!" Yamato was shocked. He redirected his Wood Release, originally aimed at Sasuke, to restrain Sakura's arm.

"Sakura, stop!" Naruto shouted in confusion.

"What else could it be? She's fallen under Sasuke's Genjutsu." Karin was a bit angry. Though Sakura hadn't studied Genjutsu formally, she had a rare innate talent for resisting it—an ability most couldn't match.

She should've been able to break out of it easily.

Now that she was caught so easily, there was only one explanation: she let herself be caught.

"Haha, that's right! She's under my illusion." Sasuke, still restrained on the ground, burst into laughter. "That idiot—she knew I had the Sharingan, yet still looked me in the eyes."

"The Sharingan is really difficult to guard against. Naruto, hold Sakura down quickly. I'll dispel the Genjutsu," Yamato said, rubbing his temple in frustration.

"Got it." Naruto nodded.

But before either of them could move, Sakura suddenly raised her unrestrained hand and clutched her own neck.

Sasuke's voice came coldly, "Don't get close. If you do, I'll kill her."

"Sasuke, are you insane?! That's Sakura—our comrade! She did all this for you!" Naruto shouted anxiously.

"Shut up. I'm an avenger. I'm not obligated to like her—and I sure as hell don't owe her any affection. If you know what's good for you, let me go. Otherwise, I'll kill this foolish woman."

As he spoke, Sasuke tightened his grip on Sakura's neck, and a sickening crack echoed from her throat.

"Sakura!" Naruto cried out in panic.

"Then tell the red-haired girl to release me," Sasuke said indifferently.

Hearing this, Naruto and Yamato both turned to Karin. She sighed and reluctantly released the diamond chains that bound Sasuke.

Sasuke seized the chance to leap out of the pit.

"You won today. But next time… I won't hold back. I'll kill you without hesitation."

With that, he vanished from everyone's sight in a puff of smoke.

At that moment, Sakura finally returned to her senses. She fell to her knees with a thud, gasping for breath. Once she caught it, she looked up and asked frantically, "Where's Sasuke? Where is he?!"

None of the three answered.

Naruto knelt silently, despair on his face. Deep inside, he cried, mourning his failure to bring Sasuke back.

Karin and Yamato exchanged glances, both showing helplessness and disappointment toward Sakura.

This mission had ended in complete failure.

Above the sinkhole, Fujiwara Kirito and Pakura had watched the entire fight between Sasuke and Karin.

Seeing Sasuke's pathetic retreat, Kirito grinned. "Looks like Sasuke lost miserably."

(End of this chapter)