On the training field.
Having successfully unleashed his "Susanoo," Sasuke wore a look of satisfaction. It was a feeling he'd never experienced before, as if the entire world was in the palm of his hand.
Rumble, rumble.
As he continuously channeled his dojutsu power, the "Susanoo" enveloping him swung its arms, tearing through the surging sea of trees.
Under the immense strength of "Susanoo," branches and vines were swiftly ripped apart. The surging tree sea was like waves crashing against a reef—blocked and shattered.
For a moment, the entire field shook, wood chips flying everywhere!
"Is this the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Beneath his "Susanoo," Sasuke's face was alight with excitement.
The tree sea, which he once found unstoppable and could only flee from in panic, he could now face head-on without dodging or retreating!
And he felt he had strength to spare, able to keep pushing his "Susanoo" further.
On Yakumo's side.
Contrary to what many might expect, when faced with Sasuke suddenly activating his Mangekyo Sharingan and unleashing "Susanoo," she wasn't surprised.
Instead, as the battle continued, the confusion hidden in her eyes grew heavier.
"This shouldn't be right. Could it be because he only just awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan and hasn't fully adapted yet?"
Clearly.
Sasuke aimed to gauge his strength against Akatsuki's 'B' by challenging Yakumo. Naturally, Yakumo compared Sasuke to 'B' as well.
And that comparison revealed the problem.
Yakumo not only wielded "Wood Release" but also possessed the "Koryugan," a dojutsu surpassing the ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan in power. Through the insight of her "Koryugan," she noticed that Sasuke's "Susanoo" was not only smaller than 'B's, but its chakra volume was also far inferior.
At that moment, Yakumo glanced around with the corner of her eye.
Seeing that the academy students had been swiftly evacuated and the training field's perimeter was now fortified with a sturdy earth wall raised by Earth Release, she had no more reservations about holding back to avoid collateral damage.
Sasuke, also scanning his surroundings, smirked broadly.
He had noticed the influx of Hidden Leaf Village's top brass. Under the precise perception of his Mangekyo Sharingan, he could even discern the subtle expressions of shock, astonishment, and even fear on their faces.
"It's time!"
Sasuke's gaze sharpened.
With even the Third Hokage present, the audience to witness the Uchiha clan's resurgence was sufficient. It was time to make good on his bold claims and take down Yakumo in one fell swoop.
Thus, he held nothing back, pouring every ounce of his remaining dojutsu power into his "Susanoo." He roared, "Yakumo, this is the Uchiha clan's 'Susanoo'! Surrender!"
Roar.
With another thunderous bellow, Sasuke's skeletal, half-formed "Susanoo" rapidly expanded. Its interior filled with muscle, then donned armor!
Seeing the transformation of Sasuke's "Susanoo," Yakumo's heart tightened. She didn't dare take any chances and immediately channeled all her chakra, shouting, "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"
Boom!
In a massive crash, "Susanoo" and "Wood Release" collided once more.
Unlike their earlier probing exchanges, this time, with Yakumo unleashing her full power, the scale and might of her "Wood Release" surged tenfold.
Countless vines sprouted from the ground, transforming into towering trees in the blink of an eye, assailing Sasuke's "Susanoo" from all directions.
However, Sasuke's purple "Susanoo," now clad in armor, didn't grow further into the hundred-meter-tall, full-bodied form that Akatsuki's 'B' had displayed, as many had expected. Instead, it stalled.
One side's scale and power had increased tenfold, while the other had only slightly grown and donned armor. The moment they clashed, Sasuke's armored, half-formed "Susanoo" was instantly engulfed by Yakumo's tree sea.
Sasuke's "Susanoo" struggled, but when it raised its left arm, countless vines entangled it. When it lifted its right, the tree sea bound it tightly, leaving no room to break free.
Yakumo's tree sea grew denser, binding ever tighter. Amid the grating "creak, creak" sounds, Sasuke's "Susanoo" began to falter, its armor cracking and shattering.
"Damn it, how… how could this happen?!"
Sasuke was shocked and furious, immediately preparing to channel more dojutsu power.
But the moment he tried, a searing pain shot through his newly awakened Mangekyo Sharingan, unbearable and overwhelming!
"Argh, damn it!"
Clutching his eyes, Sasuke dropped to a half-crouch in agony.
Crack!
At that moment, a massive shattering sound echoed across the training field!
To everyone's astonishment, Sasuke's purple "Susanoo" was crushed under the grip of Yakumo's "Wood Release"!
The sudden pain in his eyes had shaken Sasuke's focus.
His "Susanoo" was already no match for Yakumo at full power, and his lapse in concentration sent the situation spiraling downward!
Clutching his eyes, Sasuke looked up in a daze, his face full of disbelief. "My… my 'Susanoo'… shattered?!"
Having crushed Sasuke's "Susanoo" with her "Wood Release," Yakumo didn't press the advantage with more "Wood Release." Instead, she halted her technique, darted forward, and personally lunged at Sasuke, throwing a fierce punch.
"You—"
The destruction of his "Susanoo" left Sasuke stunned. Only when Yakumo closed in, her fist inches from his face, did he react.
Boom!
Without any complication, Yakumo's unremarkable punch landed squarely on Sasuke's face, sending him flying.
The blow sent Sasuke crashing through several trees before he slammed into the earth wall erected by the village's elite shinobi, barely coming to a stop.
Yakumo stared at Sasuke, thinking to herself, "Hmph, that punch was for Shinji!"
Pfft.
Sasuke, smashed against the wall, tried to steady himself, but a surge of blood welled up, and he spat out a mouthful of crimson!
"Damn it, how could I lose?!"
Unwilling to accept defeat, he struggled to keep fighting, but his chakra and dojutsu power were utterly depleted. Unable to continue, he took one step forward, his vision darkened, and he collapsed unconscious.
Swish, swish, swish.
In an instant, the Third Hokage and other village leaders rushed to Sasuke's side.
Tsunade crouched down to check Sasuke's condition, then said, "Just some superficial injuries and overexertion. He'll be fine after some rest!"
The Third Hokage let out a sigh of relief, but his expression soon turned peculiar. He thought to himself, Strange… how is Sasuke's 'Susanoo' so weak?