"Alright, try moving it now. It shouldn't affeobility anymore," Link said, using chakra for basic healing before applying a Delicate illness Extra Teique. This method articurly effective—uhe injury was too severe, this bination could heal most wounds to a funal level.

  The Delicate illness Extra Teique, though slorecise, was an excellent plement for standard chakra-based healing, ideal for tidying up lingering damage.

  Sasuke Uchiha rotated his arm, testing it, and said, "Still feels slightly off, but it won't hinder bat."

  "Take a break," Link advised, not pressuring Sasuke to join him for further battles.

  Sasuke’s decision to remain in the vilge wasn’t out of loyalty to Konoha. It was simply that he didn’t want to abandon the bonds he had formed. Toward the vilge and others, however, his demeanor remained cold.

  "About Danzo..."

  Looking at Sasuke, Link said, "I'll find an opportunity soon."

  "Leave it to me," Sasuke replied softly. "Whether it's him or Itachi, I'll kill them both with my own hands."

  "Don't rush. You're still far behind them," Link said, refraining from discing him. Leaving Danzo and Itachi to Sasuke had always been part of his pn.

  The Uchiha massacre had its plex reasons, but the two main culprits, Danzo and Itachi, couldn't escape bme.

  Itachi's image was more plicated for Sasuke, but ultimately, a frontatioween the brothers was iable. Sasuke might overlook the broader flicts between Konoha and the Uchiha , but his focus on personal revenge was unshakable.

  Still, Link couldn't help but think Sasuke’s determination to carry everything alone mirrored Itachi's misguided ideals.

  With a gentle smile, Link said, "Whatever you pn to do, there's o bear it alone."

  "Hmm."

  Sasuke looked into Link’s bright eyes, his cold demeanor softening. He stood up and began walking toward the academy. "Let's finish this quickly. We still have training to do."

  Trust really is a terrifying on, Link thought, watg Sasuke’s babsp;

  And my gains this time... quite substantial.

  Reag into his pouch, he touched a pre-prepared scroll. This scroll, when infused with chakra, could seal items pced on it. Link had prepared it before the in Exams to collect a few mementos.

  Sealing the items wasn’t difficult, but retrieving them required summoning. His own summoning jutsu, however... best left unsaid.

  Fortunately, he wasn’t g in allies—be it Iris, Ami, or even Sasuke. All were reliable partners.

  Now, what to do with the Tailed Beast chakra...

  Link mused. Based on the manga, it seemed possible to absorb it. But then again, only freaks like the Gold and Silver Brothers had successfully done so over the years. Perhaps cooking it first?

  The absurd thought made him chuckle.

  No, sealing teiques are the key. I’ll need someone skilled in fūinjutsu.

  If summoning with Sasuke bring forth Fugaku Uchiha, perhaps summoning with Naruto could summon Minato Namikaze or Kushina Uzumaki—both sealing experts.

  If not, ing to the Third Hokage or the vilge might be my best option. After all, with this victory, I should at least be promoted to Special Jonin if not a full Jonin.

  …

  In the Forest Outside Konoha

  "Orochimaru-sama, I’ve failed," Kabuto reported, his expression devoid of guilt. "Sasuke Uchiha has already awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan, and—"

  "It’s fine."

  Despite his pn’s utter failure—failing to kill the Third Hokage, destroy Konoha, or capture Sasuke or Link—Orochimaru wore a smile, showing no signs of anger or frustration.

  "You didn’t want Sasuke to fall into my hands anyway, did you, Kabuto?" Orochimaru exposed his subordirue thoughts.

  "Still, right now, her Sasuke nor the Sharingan matter anymore," he tinued, ughing softly. "Link-kun keeps surprising me. With his personality, I imagine he’ll target us again soon."

  Kabuto, puzzled by Orochimaru’s i, asked, "Should we pn to capture him?"

  "No." Orochimaru dismissed the idea with a chuckle. "At this point, our current strength isn’t enough to capture him. Besides..."

  "Until I fully uand that peculiar seal of his, there’s o provoke him."

  "Don’t be greedy, Kabuto. We only o take what we handle," Orochimaru said cryptically.

  As someone who had lived this long and sought immortality, he uood the principle: don’t tempt fate.

  The allure surrounding Link only made him more dangerous. The boy could destroy curse marks, sever chakra, and harness natural energy. He was a gehreat to Orochimaru’s life.

  Given the risks, Orochimaru wouldn’t act rashly. Instead, he would bide his time, observe from the shadows, and unravel Link’s secrets slowly.

  "Uood," Kabuto replied.

  They silently watched Konoha from a distance. Moments ter, an Anbu ninja in a mask appeared before them, tossing a scroll toward Orochimaru.

  "Thud!"

  Orochimaru caught it deftly, then threw another scroll back. Smirking, he said, "Tell Danzo I’m very satisfied with this deal."

  "Let’s go, Kabuto."

  …

  On Konoha’s Walls

  Itachi Uchiha stood silently, gazing at the vilge as the fighting subsided.

  "Didn’t expect the Third Hokage to be this powerful," Kisame Hoshigaki said with a grin. "The-scale jutsu... pretty terrifying, huh?"

  "Looks like it’s over..."

  Kisame observed civiliaurning to the streets, the Sunagakure ninja retreating, and a massive toad suppressing the giant snakes he vilge gate.

  He added with i, "Itachi, you must be relieved the vilge survived. But it seems our mission might fail because of it."

  Itachi said nothing, his figure vanishing as he leapt off the wall.

  Kisame chuckled and followed him without further ent.

  Jutsu that seal someone’s ability to form hand seals? Now that’s something worth iigating...

  Bleam