Morkel shook his head slightly. "Ninjas can't act alone. If I search for Sasuke by myself, it'll be difficult to find him…"
At that moment, Akamaru barked twice while sitting on Kiba's shoulder.
"Woof woof~"
The Inuzuka clan, having lived alongside ninja dogs for generations, could understand their language perfectly.
Kiba's expression sharpened as he listened to Akamaru's response. "You picked up their scent? Sasuke and the others… heading north?"
After getting Akamaru's confirmation, Kiba rushed ahead. "Follow me! Akamaru has locked onto Sasuke's location!"
In an instant, several figures sprinted through the dense forest, racing against time.
Morkel, finding their speed too slow, quickly formed a hand seal. Summoning Jutsu!
A massive cloud of smoke erupted, and from it emerged the formidable Toad Boss, Gamabunta.
As the colossal toad landed, shaking the earth, Morkel wasted no time. "Bunta, I need your help. This is an emergency mission."
Gamabunta glanced at him, then gave a deep nod. "Hop on."
Shikamaru, Neji, and Kiba stared in awe.
They had ridden horses and carriages before, but this? This was next-level.
Summoning such a massive and powerful toad just to travel faster?
That was the kind of luxury only the rich could afford.
With a powerful leap, Gamabunta shot forward, covering hundreds of meters with each bound.
At this speed, it didn't take long before Akamaru's sharp bark signaled their arrival.
Morkel immediately released the summoning, sending Gamabunta back to Mount Myōboku.
As the toad vanished, the four ninjas plummeted from the sky. Morkel quickly formed a hand seal—Water Style: Spiraling Current! A controlled whirlpool formed beneath them, cushioning their fall.
Once they landed, their eyes locked onto their targets—the Sound Four.
The moment the Sound Four saw who was leading the pursuit, their expressions twisted in fear.
It was him.
During the Chūnin Exams, they had witnessed Morkel's terrifying strength firsthand.
That power was beyond human.
It was as if a god had descended upon the battlefield.
No matter how they looked at it, they weren't a match for Morkel.
However, Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Instead, one of the Sound Four carried a large coffin on his back.
"A coffin?" Morkel's sharp eyes narrowed. "Could it be… Sasuke is already—"
The Sound Four exchanged silent glances.
Even though they were terrified of Morkel, their loyalty to Orochimaru was absolute.
Their decision was immediate—one of them would stay behind to stall the Konoha pursuers while the rest escaped with Sasuke.
"Jirōbō, we're counting on you."
Sakon and the others patted Jirōbō's shoulder before dashing away with the coffin.
Jirōbō nodded firmly, gripping his fists. "Make sure Lord Orochimaru gets his new vessel!"
But before they could get far—
"Who said you could leave?"
Morkel's voice was cold.
The next moment, his figure vanished.
Sakon barely had time to react before Morkel appeared right in front of him.
"How is he so fast?!"
Sakon's face twisted in horror.
This wasn't Flying Thunder God—Morkel had no teleportation marks placed.
This was just… pure speed.
"You're strong, but too arrogant!" Tayuya scoffed, pulling out a flute.
She pressed it to her lips and played a quick tune.
But before she could complete the melody—
Her movements froze.
She wasn't the only one.
The entire Sound Four were locked in place.
They turned in shock to see Shikamaru squatting on the ground, their shadows connected to his.
Shadow Possession Jutsu.
"Damn shadow kid!" Tayuya gritted her teeth, struggling against the technique.
Shikamaru's grip on them wouldn't last long, so he called out urgently, "Morkel, hurry up!"
Morkel didn't waste time.
He pulled a massive sword from his waist.
"Sniff sniff!"
The air was filled with the scent of blood.
By the time everyone processed what had happened, the ground was littered with severed limbs and the agonized screams of the Sound Four.
"That swordsmanship… so fast." Neji had activated his Byakugan, but even he hadn't caught Morkel's movements.
With the Sound Four immobilized, Morkel quickly used Wood Style: Binding Vines! Thick vines sprouted from the ground, restraining them completely.
Then, he turned towards the coffin.
Raising his sword, he prepared to shatter it.
Crack!
Before he could swing, the coffin split open on its own.
Inside—Sasuke.
But his appearance had changed.
His skin had darkened to a strange gray-black hue. His hair was no longer its usual color—it had shifted to a blue-gray shade, and his face bore the eerie markings of the Curse Seal.
Sasuke's transformation wasn't complete. His back muscles twitched and bulged—something was about to burst out.
Morkel narrowed his eyes. "So this is the fully awakened Curse Mark form…"
In a way, it resembled Sage Mode.
Then, Sasuke raised his head, his red Sharingan locking onto Morkel's gaze.
"Don't stop me."
His voice was calm, but resolute.
"Leaving Konoha was my own decision, Morkel. I have to do this."
Morkel had suspected something was off with Sasuke for a while, especially after Naruto's warning.
But he hadn't expected this.
"You… hurt Naruto?"
Sasuke nodded. "Yes."
"I have to become stronger—fast. And I have to discard anything that slows me down… even my emotions."
As he spoke, Chidori crackled to life in his hands, but the lightning was darker—black and white energy intertwined ominously.
Then, he lunged.
Before he could land a hit—
BANG!
Morkel's foot smashed into his chest, sending him flying.
Just as Sasuke was about to crash into the ground, Morkel formed hand seals.
Wood Style: Wood Dragon!
A massive wooden dragon erupted from the earth, slamming into Sasuke and launching him high into the air.
In mid-air, several Morkel clones appeared—delivering a merciless beating.
Sasuke's screams echoed through the forest.
Shikamaru winced. "Morkel, maybe that's enough? He'll die at this rate."
Morkel smirked. "Relax. I'm a medical ninja. I know exactly how much pain to inflict without hitting vital points."
Shikamaru shivered. That was even scarier.
Meanwhile, Sasuke lay motionless, fury boiling inside him.
No matter how much power he gained, he was still nothing compared to Morkel.
Why?
How?
How did he—someone so mediocre before—become so strong so quickly?
"Morkel, you don't understand!" Sasuke roared.
"You're just a puppet of this village! But I can't be! I need to be stronger—to kill that man!"
Morkel exhaled.
"If you hadn't left, I was planning to teach you ninjutsu."
Sasuke froze.
Just then—
A white shadow flickered from the forest.
"Ten Finger Drilling Bullets!"
A barrage of hardened bones shot toward Morkel!
He swiftly countered, his blade deflecting each projectile.
As the attack ceased, a white-haired man emerged from the woods, gripping a bone blade.
Kimimaro.
"No one will stop Lord Orochimaru's plan."
Lightning flickered around Morkel's hands.
He smirked.
"Sasuke… watch closely. I'll show you my latest technique."
Thunder roared in the sky.
"Kirin."
The heavens shattered with lightning.
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