No...
This is not an illusion!
This is a sharp intuition between life and death!
How vast is this brat's Yin Attribute Chakra!
"Take me to see Kabuto."
Uchiha Sasuke's mental suppression receded like a tide.
"..."
Orochimaru finally felt the return of control over his body, with a mistaken sense of his soul returning to his body!
Orochimaru lifted his hand to support the large tree beside him, instinctively breathing heavily, savoring the beauty of still being alive...
That suffocating feeling of powerlessness...
Made Orochimaru feel as if his body was still exhausted!
This was an unprecedented feeling!
Orochimaru had fought the most terrifying leader of the Akatsuki Organization, Pain, and had never experienced this kind of suffocation before!
"Just a twelve-year-old brat..."
Orochimaru's breathing was somewhat weak, staring intently at the black-haired boy standing in front of him, unwilling to believe everything he was seeing: "How could he reach such a level..."
"Orochimaru."
"Better be quick."
Uchiha Sasuke raised his hand, nonchalantly emitting a thread of killing intent: "Although your name is well-known in Konoha, killing you would be no different than squashing a bug in the forest..."
After saying this, a half-meter long caterpillar happened to fall from the tree, and a flash of lightning in Uchiha Sasuke's hand formed a Chidori Thousand Needles, instantly nailing the caterpillar to the tree!
"..."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth in resentment.
This brat...
Was he threatening me?
This brat doesn't think that the outcome of a genjutsu battle is the outcome of a ninja battle, does he?
Orochimaru's eyes slightly shifted, his face quickly broke into a smile, seemingly unconcerned about the recent victory, and leisurely said: "Didn't expect you would want to see Kabuto, but finding Kabuto in this forest isn't easy..."
"Then you're worthless..."
The black-haired boy reached for the ninja sword on his back.
"Young people sure are impatient..."
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head, gesturing to Uchiha Sasuke: "It's just a matter of a little time..."
As Orochimaru spoke, he extended his hand to the large tree beside him, small white snakes slithered out from his sleeve, quickly dispersing throughout the Forest of Death.
These small white snakes moved with incredible speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye, evidently serving as Orochimaru's aides in finding people.
"They'll be back soon."
Orochimaru withdrew his hand, smiling at Uchiha Sasuke: "Until then, I'm curious, Sasuke-kun, why do you want to see Kabuto?"
"Just want to ask him some things."
Uchiha Sasuke glanced at Orochimaru, unconcerned about revealing anything because he knew this man was discreet, exploring any secrets on his own.
Uchiha Sasuke looked up, gazing through the forest at the azure sky: "I thought Kabuto would introduce me to a dragon worthy of admiration, but instead he showed me a snake crawling on the ground..."
"Seems like I disappointed Sasuke-kun..."
Orochimaru shook his head, the smile on his lips still radiant, but subtly turning dangerous: "However, snakes can be more dangerous than dragons at times!"
In the next moment!
Orochimaru's head suddenly extended!
The man's neck twisted like a snake, instantly stretching and biting onto Uchiha Sasuke's neck, injecting a mass of sinister Chakra into the black-haired boy's neck, leaving a tomoe-shaped curse mark!
This all happened so unexpectedly!
Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but widen his eyes, finding himself unable to react to Orochimaru's sneak attack, only feeling a burning sensation on his neck!
"You!"
In the instant the curse mark was injected into his body, Uchiha Sasuke's Chakra seemed to be thrown off balance, rendering his body immobile.
"Hiss..."
After the successful injection of the curse mark, Orochimaru slowly retracted his head, finally wearing a sinister grin, speaking somewhat delightfully: "No need to be afraid, Sasuke-kun, I've merely gifted you a new power..."
"Curse Seal."
"It's another strength I've researched."
Orochimaru watched Uchiha Sasuke touching his neck, narrowing his eyes to make those snake-like pupils even more intimidating: "Perhaps Sasuke-kun can't use Chakra yet, but if he can utilize the power of the curse seal, he will surely become stronger..."
Of course.
Orochimaru wouldn't tell Uchiha Sasuke.
The true purpose of the curse seal is to inject a part of his soul along with Chakra into Uchiha Sasuke's body, so the soul within the curse mark can invade Uchiha Sasuke's body...
The most crucial part is, if he dies one day, he could be resurrected through the curse mark on Uchiha Sasuke's neck.
This is advantageous in many ways.
Uchiha Sasuke furrowed his brow, touching the curse mark on his neck, feeling the searing power, nonchalantly speaking: "Didn't even attack, I thought you'd take the chance to kill me..."
"I'm reluctant..."
A trace of greed appeared in Orochimaru's eyes, staring intently at Uchiha Sasuke's eyes, slowly extending his tongue to lick his lips.