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Jirōbō took a deep breath and addressed the three of them: "If you choose to come back with me, I can pretend this never happened. I can spare all three of your lives. That's right, just come back with me."
"Impossible," Sasuke shook his head. "I don't belong to you or Orochimaru. I don't belong here. I am Uchiha Sasuke of Konohagakure! Anyone who tries to stop me from returning to Konoha, I will kill them!"
"Kill me?" Jirōbō's lips curled. "Are you even capable?"
Just as Sasuke was about to retort, the young man stopped him. "You two, go."
"You'll die!" Karin shook her head.
"If you stay, will I not die anyway?" the young man retorted. "It just means we all die together."
"Number 19, is this your choice?" Jirōbō asked.
"Since we can't escape, if I can buy time for two people to get away, I can accept that!" Number 19 clenched his fists and punched Jirōbō in the face.
Karin and Sasuke's eyes lit up.
They knew perfectly well how powerful Number 19's punches were.
He could crush a human head with one punch, and he had punched through a 10-centimeter thick iron door.
Now, Number 19's fist had connected directly with Jirōbō's head. Wouldn't it smash his skull to pieces?
"It seems you have great confidence in your fists."
Hearing Jirōbō's voice, Karin and Sasuke looked on in shock. The next moment, Number 19 was sent flying.
"Why are you still here? Run!" Number 19, seeing Sasuke and Karin still there, was furious. "Don't let my death be in vain!"
"I..."
Just as Sasuke was about to speak, Karin grabbed his hand and pulled him, running into the darkness.
"You're very annoying," Jirōbō frowned, staring at Number 19.
"Sorry, even if it's just delaying you for one minute, I have to try," Number 19 tore off his shirt. "I don't want to live like this anymore."
"Then die. And by the way, just so you know, you won't last a minute. I'm pressed for time." Jirōbō licked his lips, as dark markings spread from his neck across half his body.
He needed to end this fight as quickly as possible, so he activated the "Cursed Seal of Earth."
Sasuke and Karin didn't dare stop, but for some reason, their legs felt like they were filled with lead, making it impossible to run fast. Yet, they had to keep going.
This escape time was bought for them by Number 19 with his life.
Suddenly, an object flew from behind, hitting Sasuke hard in the back. He was sent flying, and the object that hit him rolled to his side.
Sasuke picked up the spherical object. Thick, warm liquid dripped onto his hand, startling him so much he immediately dropped it.
A head... it was Number 19's...
Just moments ago, he was still...
Sasuke felt bile rise in his throat but forced it down.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Karin, who had run ahead six or seven meters, quickly turned back and came to Sasuke's side.
"He... he's dead..." Sasuke covered his mouth.
"What!?" Karin immediately looked around, but it was pitch black, no sign of anyone. "Let's get out of here!"
Sasuke nodded, but as he stood up, a black shadow flashed before his eyes. The next moment, a hand tightly clamped around his neck.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jirōbō whispered in Sasuke's ear. "He died because of you."
"Let him go!" Karin rushed at Jirōbō, but he kicked her away.
"Number 19 only lasted 30 seconds. How long do you think you two can last? I've given you plenty of chances. Don't disappoint my goodwill." Jirōbō chuckled lightly.
Sasuke remained silent.
Jirōbō was about to ask if he was scared out of his wits when he suddenly felt Sasuke's skin become scalding hot, causing him extreme discomfort.
"This... how are you..." Jirōbō quickly let go. Sasuke curled up on the ground, emitting painful moans from his nose.
Karin, enduring the pain in her abdomen, crawled to Sasuke's side and tightly grasped his hand. His palm was drenched in sweat.
"What... what's happening?" Karin lowered her head, about to check on Sasuke, but Jirōbō grabbed her and threw her aside.
"He's triggered the 'Cursed Seal of Heaven' and is enduring the agony it brings. If he can withstand it, he'll gain power beyond ordinary reach. If he can't, it just means his talent ends here, and Lord Orochimaru misjudged him." Jirōbō slung Sasuke over his shoulder and looked back at Karin. "Come back with me, and I'll let you live. Otherwise, your fate will be the same as Number 19's."
Karin clutched her abdomen, watching as Jirōbō turned around. After thinking it over, she finally gave up on escaping.
There was simply no way to escape. Neither she nor Sasuke were a match for Jirōbō.
Karin sighed and followed behind Jirōbō.
'Dammit, we were so close.'
Karin felt regretful, but then Jirōbō in front of her stopped.
'Why did he stop?' Puzzled, Karin walked around Jirōbō and looked ahead.
The sky had turned a grayish-black by now; dawn wasn't far off. The faint light from the crescent moon allowed her to barely make out the scene ahead.
A person clad in a black robe, wearing a mask, stood before them.
"You're not thinking of stopping me, are you?" Jirōbō asked.
"I'm not interested in you, but I want the boy on your shoulder," the masked man said.
"Who are you?" Jirōbō looked suspiciously at the masked man.
"You don't need to know, and you aren't qualified to know," the masked man replied.
"Then this makes things difficult for me..." Jirōbō put Sasuke down and activated the second state of his "Cursed Seal of Earth."
In this form, both his attack and defense power increased significantly.
He had a feeling the person before him was very strong, and he needed to end this quickly.
Sprinting at full speed, he reached the masked man in an instant, throwing a powerful punch.
Blood splattered. Jirōbō's fist went straight through the masked man's face.
Jirōbō's lips curled slightly. Not so tough after all.
However, he then noticed the masked man's blood suddenly turned into ropes, winding up his arm towards his neck, tightening relentlessly, almost suffocating him.
As he struggled fiercely, his chest was hollowed out by a punch. Blood gushed out, and he slowly collapsed to the ground.
Karin stared, dumbfounded. Everything that had just happened was too bizarre.
Jirōbō had been throwing punches at the air, and then the masked man had torn out his chest.
Watching the masked man approach her, Karin's legs felt weak.
Escape?
Against someone with this level of strength, she had no chance.
"You... what do you want?" Karin asked.
"I only want him. As for you, you won't live," the masked man said.
"Let her go!" Sasuke, lying on the ground, struggled to stand and shouted at the masked man.
"Watch closely as this woman dies," the masked man raised his hand high, aiming to smash Karin's skull.
"No! Run, get away!" Sasuke cried.
It had been nearly two years since he had a friend.
Whenever he got close to anyone, that person would be killed by Orochimaru the next day, right before his eyes.
He hated this feeling. He didn't want to lose another friend.
The masked man didn't listen to him and struck with lethal intent.
Karin closed her eyes, awaiting her fate.
However, the hand stopped just one centimeter from her forehead.
Not only was Sasuke surprised, but the masked man also seemed taken aback—someone had tightly grasped his wrist.
"Yoshida Shin, this has nothing to do with you. You have no right to interfere," the masked man looked displeased at the person who had stopped him.
"Are you telling me what to do? Madara." Midorima, who had just arrived, smiled as he looked at Obito.