Chapter 117: The First Glimpse of the Moon
Ren hadn't walked more than a hundred meters from the secluded training ground when a raw, agonized scream tore through the forest's silence. It was a sound of pure, unadulterated anguish, followed by an explosive surge of chakra so potent it made the very air vibrate. He paused for only a moment, a faint, knowing smirk touching his lips, before he continued on his way without looking back.
*Hehe... the seed has been planted,* Ren thought, the smirk widening. *I've given you the push, little brother. The fertilizer of grief and rage. Whether it blooms into the Mangekyō... that's up to your own fortune now.*
He felt no worry for Sasuke's safety. The system's "Grief and Resentment" package was designed to stimulate the Uchiha psyche, not destroy it. The worst outcome was a failure to awaken, a waste of 50,000 points—a trivial loss in the grand scheme. He was certain of the result. Sasuke's pride, his all-consuming hatred, would not allow for failure.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Ren felt a distinct, sharp pressure at the edge of his senses. A presence, once familiar but now honed to a razor's edge, was tracking him from the canopy above. The change was palpable; the chakra signature was denser, colder, and thrumming with a new, volatile power.
*Impressive,* Ren admitted inwardly. *The transformation is complete.*
A dismissive click of a tongue sounded from a thick oak tree behind him. A moment later, a figure dropped from the branches, landing silently on the path ahead, blocking Ren's way. Discover more novels at novel-fire.net
It was Sasuke. But it was a Sasuke remade. He stood with an unnerving stillness, his posture radiating a confidence that bordered on arrogance. A faint, contemptuous smile played on his lips. The frantic, desperate energy that had always clung to him was gone, replaced by a chilling, focused calm. In the span of an hour, he had seemingly evolved from a talented jōnin to something approaching an elite jōnin, his very aura demanding acknowledgment.
"Enjoying the power surge?" Ren asked, his tone light and teasing, a deliberate contrast to Sasuke's new intensity. "I can feel the difference from here. I take it the experiment was a success?"
Sasuke didn't answer with words. Instead, he slowly, deliberately, closed his eyes. When they opened again, the world seemed to sharpen around him. The three tomoe were gone. In their place was a complex, six-pointed pattern, spinning slowly with a malevolent purple hue. The Mangekyō Sharingan. It was identical to the one Ren had first shown Orochimaru, a perfect, deadly flower blooming in his gaze.
Yet, Ren knew this was not a system-bestowed copy. This was a true awakening, born from the crucible of Sasuke's own manufactured trauma. Its unique abilities would be a reflection of his will, his deepest desires.
Sasuke let out a cold, humorless laugh. "I tried to track your movements from a kilometer back. I couldn't. Even with these eyes... you're still a blur. Just how strong are you, *brother*?"
"Strength is a relative term," Ren deflected, his playful smile not fading. "Worry about your own path. You'll reach the heights you need in time. For now, we have business to attend to."
"Fine," Sasuke said, the Mangekyō fading back to his normal onyx black. The air felt lighter without its pressure. "Who are these people we're recruiting?"
"Three of them. Guren, at the western stronghold. Karin, at the southern outpost. And Suigetsu Hōzuki, held at the northern facility."
A flicker of recognition crossed Sasuke's face. "*Them*?"
"You know them?" Ren feigned mild surprise.
"Of course," Sasuke replied, his voice flat. "When I first came to Orochimaru, I assessed every capable ninja under his command. I marked them as potential assets. It seems our thinking aligns."
"Great minds, little brother," Ren said with a theatrical shrug, though internally he scoffed. *Or one mind with the benefit of a script.* "You know the locations. Lead the way."
With a curt nod, Sasuke took the lead, his movements now fluid and unnervingly efficient. They traveled in silence, a pair of shadows flitting through the dense forest, the unspoken tension of their new dynamic hanging thick between them.
After a journey of several hours, Sasuke slowed, gesturing towards a cleverly concealed entrance in the side of a rocky cliff face—one of Orochimaru's many hidden laboratories. "This is it. The northern stronghold."
They entered without challenge. Orochimaru's orders had clearly been disseminated: the Uchiha brothers were to be given unrestricted access. The base was a sterile, cold place, smelling of antiseptic and damp stone. Sasuke led them unerringly through a series of corridors lined with eerie, glowing tanks containing various biological specimens, finally stopping before a large, central vat.
"Well? Which one is he?" Ren asked, glancing at the rows of identical tanks.
Sasuke didn't answer. He simply walked up to one specific tank and stopped. The liquid inside was a murky green, bubbling slowly. For a moment, it seemed empty.
"Is that you?" a voice, distorted by the liquid, echoed from within the tank. It was languid, almost bored. "Uchiha Sasuke. I didn't think you'd have the guts to kill Orochimaru so soon. So... to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"The time for your freedom is now," Sasuke stated, his voice devoid of emotion. His hand went to the hilt of the chokutō at his waist.
A flash of steel cut through the gloom. There was a sharp *crack* as the reinforced glass split open. The nutrient-rich fluid gushed out, flooding the floor in a stinking wave.
"Hehehe~~" A low chuckle emerged from the spreading pool. A head, formed from water itself, rose from the liquid. "I don't know what's going on, but... it's about damn time." The head solidified into the smirking face of Suigetsu Hōzuki. "Thanks for the jailbreak, Sasuke."
"Don't thank me yet. You're just the first," Sasuke said coolly. "We're also retrieving Karin from the south and Guren from the west."
"First, huh?" Suigetsu's watery form began to coalesce into a more solid, human shape, rising from the puddle. He was completely naked, his body seemingly made of translucent liquid. He grinned at Sasuke, a taunting glint in his eyes. "Not exactly my favorite people, but fine. So, you're springing all of Orochimaru's 'special' prisoners. What's the grand plan, Sasuke? Building your own little army?"
"Stop talking. Get dressed. Follow me," Sasuke commanded, turning his back dismissively.
In an instant, the puddle on the floor vanished. Suigetsu reappeared directly behind Sasuke, his form still glistening and unclothed. He pressed a single, watery finger against Sasuke's temple.
"First," Suigetsu's voice was a sly whisper, "let's establish our relationship. You're not Orochimaru. So, what are you to me? The new boss? Or just the guy who broke me out?"
Sasuke didn't flinch. He didn't even turn his head. He simply stood there, his silence more intimidating than any retort.
Ren watched from a few steps away, his arms crossed. *This,* he thought, *is going to be interesting.*
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