Three days after awakening his Mangekyo, Sasuke stood in an isolated training ground far from Sound Village.
His eyes still ached from the transformation, but he needed to understand his new power completely. Takama-ga-hara and Ame-no-Sakahoko were his unique abilities—gifts from his soul's nature as a collector and hunter.
But Mangekyo Sharingan came with standard abilities too. Ones that every MS user could access.
"Orochimaru mentioned it once," Sasuke muttered, remembering a conversation from months ago. "Susanoo. The ultimate defense. Manifests only when both Mangekyo are awakened."
He activated both eyes. The spiral patterns blazed—still showing only the single red node from Ryota's absorbed Sharingan, but the structure was there. Complete. Functional.
Sasuke focused on the concept. A warrior of chakra. An armor made manifest. Protection that surpassed physical limits.
His chakra flared. Then something else—something deeper. The Mangekyo's power responded to his will.
Purple chakra erupted around him.
Ribcage first. Skeletal structure forming from nothing. Then more—arms, skull, the outline of a warrior taking shape.
Within seconds, Sasuke stood at the center of a massive skeletal construct. Purple chakra bones towering over him. Empty eye sockets staring outward.
Susanoo. The third power of Mangekyo Sharingan.
He tested it. Moved one skeletal arm—it responded to his thoughts. Formed a fist. The construct mimicked the motion perfectly.
"Incomplete," Sasuke observed clinically. His transmigrator knowledge told him Susanoo had stages. This was the first—skeletal, defensive, but vulnerable. "But functional."
He dispelled it. The chakra drain had been immense—maintaining even the incomplete Susanoo for thirty seconds had consumed a significant portion of his reserves.
"Not practical for most combat," he assessed. "The chakra cost is too high for extended use. But as a defensive trump card..."
He activated it again. This time forming the construct faster, more efficiently. The skeletal warrior materialized in under three seconds.
Better. But still expensive.
Over the next hour, Sasuke practiced. Summoning Susanoo. Dispelling it. Testing its defensive capabilities against his own techniques.
When he fired a Great Fireball at the construct, the flames washed over the skeletal structure harmlessly. When he threw kunai enhanced with lightning chakra, they deflected off the ribs.
"Effective defense against most techniques," Sasuke concluded. "But..."
He activated Ame-no-Sakahoko in his right eye while maintaining partial Susanoo in his left.
Could his own defense-breaking ability pierce Susanoo?
The black-red crystalline chakra formed around his hand. He struck at the Susanoo's ribcage from inside—
The construct fractured. His anti-defense ability worked even against his own Susanoo.
"As expected. Ame-no-Sakahoko breaks all defenses. Even this one."
Which meant other defense-breaking techniques could potentially harm Susanoo too. It wasn't invincible.
He dispelled the construct entirely. Sat down to rest. His eyes throbbed from the intensive chakra usage.
"Susanoo is a tool. Like Takama-ga-hara and Ame-no-Sakahoko. Each serves a specific purpose."
Takama-ga-hara: Collection and absorption Ame-no-Sakahoko: Offense and defense-breaking
Susanoo: Protection and overwhelming force
Three abilities. One complete arsenal.
But Susanoo's chakra cost made it impractical for regular use. He'd reserve it for situations requiring absolute defense or intimidation.
"Once I achieve Eternal Mangekyo," Sasuke said to himself, "the chakra drain will decrease. Susanoo will become more viable."
He stood, deactivating his Mangekyo. The training session was complete.
Now he understood his full capabilities. And he could plan accordingly.