[Wasabi Izuno]: Dragon Sage Mode… okay, that's a pain.
[Boruto]: Don't panic—Sasuke-sensei's got this!
[Iwae Kōhai]: Boruto, you don't have to hype him that hard…
[Naruto (youth)]:cough, cough
Kabuto slithered out of a mass of serpents, slick with viscous fluid, a manic gleam in his eyes.
"Even Lord Orochimaru never reached this state—a perfected Sage Mode…"
Sasuke's lip curled. In his mind, Mangekyō trumped everything.
To him, Kabuto was just a mid-boss with extra dialogue.
Most viewers watching the sky-screen agreed: with Itachi + Sasuke, this should be a clean win.
Kabuto rose, voice turning cold.
"I'm no longer a snake… I've shed my skin. With full sage power, I've ascended as a dragon."
A gale rolled through the cavern. The pressure alone made Itachi and Sasuke narrow their eyes.
[Mitsuki]: Mom always told me—Uncle Kabuto was terrifying when he was young. Looks legit.
[Boruto]: Wait, Mitsuki—your mom is Orochimaru? But the textbook says he's—uh—
[Sarada]: …
Awkward silence. New problem unlocked: Is Orochimaru a "he" or a "she"?
[Jiraiya]: Orochimaru, you gender-bending menace!
[Tsunade]: Can you not be this gross for once?
[Orochimaru (as Rasa)]: Heh. I'll prepare a surprise for you both…
Kabuto nicked his retina—opening with White Rage.
A howling crimson dragon erupted, wheeling overhead before the world went blinding white.
The shockwave slammed outward.
Sasuke clutched his head, pain spiking like a thousand needles, body refusing to move.
Even Itachi froze for a beat—he hadn't expected this much bite.
A shadow lunged through the wash of white—
Itachi's mind clicked a step ahead. Susanoo—deploy.
A red shield blossomed, shouldering the blast and covering Sasuke. The glare fell away; the cave returned to murk.
Kabuto blinked.
He hadn't expected Itachi to feel out his line of attack that fast.
[Rasa]: He can sense Kabuto's position?
[Hashirama]: Good! Then victory's leaning Itachi's way?
[Tobirama]: Not exactly. He predicted Kabuto would hit Sasuke first and raised the shield in advance.
[Sarada]: So cool… as expected of Uncle Itachi!
[Boruto]: As expected of my sensei's big bro!
[Sasuke]: Hmph. Not a big deal.
The light died. The cave breathed in darkness again.
Kabuto rubbed his chin, thinking fast.
If Itachi had broken Edo control, he shouldn't be able to sense Kabuto… so how?
"Going to lie to me again, Itachi?"
"I never said I sensed you," Itachi replied, voice even.
He laid it out: If Kabuto struck first, it would be at Sasuke. Sasuke was still living flesh; Itachi's Edo body would regenerate. Protect the weak link, and the opening closes.
The audience went quiet—then a ripple of awe spread.
So this was a senpai's battlefield brain.
In the Academy era—
"Unbelievable… that's Sarada's uncle?" Wasabi whispered.
"Right? Her uncle's kinda… amazing," Namida added.
All eyes slid to Sarada. She dabbed at the sweat on her forehead, suddenly very aware of being the main character's cousin in homeroom.
"I want Sharingan too," Boruto muttered, jealous and honest.
"Heh, too bad," Sarada sniffed. "No Uchiha blood, no tomoe."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, studying Itachi.
"You're the only Uchiha who truly wields ocular power—who reads hearts, steals intentions, and turns them into victory."
His smile sharpened. "Which means… you're a liar. A shinobi who lives by lies. A total fraud."
Sasuke bristled and snapped a Chidori Eisō forward.
Kabuto vaulted to the ceiling with a disdainful glance. To him, a last-minute brother-duo had no chance against his "earned genius."
Itachi, unruffled, stepped forward.
"Sasuke… remember that time with the wild boar?"
Sasuke nodded. "That one. I remember."
Kabuto frowned. What were these two talking about now?
[Iwae Kōhai]: Wild boar? Are they calling Kabuto a pig?
[Kochō]: Wait—wasn't Kabuto the orphanage director?
[Himawari]: The big brother from the orphanage seemed so gentle… I didn't know he was this strong when he was young!
Across the new generation, jaws dropped.
The sunny director who taught kids to be kind… was currently pressuring two Mangekyō users at once. Worldview: shattered.
[Naruto (youth)]: This video's leaking so many secrets…
[Sasuke (youth)]: Looks like there's no stopping it.
[Boruto (youth)]: …
Sparks crackled quietly between the three in the cave—
Dragon Sage vs. Two Mangekyō—
and in the hush before the next clash, you could almost hear the past turn its page.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/MugiwaraTL