The silence that followed the brutal clash with Team Sound was heavy, thick with the lingering scent of blood and the raw, untamed energy of the Curse Mark.
Kabuto, concealed within the dense foliage, watched Team 7 with an intensity that belied his calm exterior. His eyes, sharp and analytical, traced Sasuke's every movement, every subtle shift in his posture, every flicker of his Sharingan.
Sasuke, his expression unreadable, stood amidst the carnage, the dark pattern of the Curse Mark pulsing on his neck.
He wasn't cold, not in the same detached way as his original counterpart. A storm raged within him, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The raw power of the Curse Mark was intoxicating, a dark symphony of strength that whispered promises of dominance.
But the memory of the soul fragment's destruction, the strange, silent obliteration, left a chilling unease.
'What was that?'he thought, his mind racing.
'The system… it acted on its own. It obliterated Orochimaru's… essence?' He couldn't shake the feeling of something alien, something beyond his comprehension.
The Curse Mark, now free of Orochimaru's influence, pulsed with a raw, untamed energy, a power that both thrilled and terrified him.
He tried to analyze the changes in his Chakra Reserves and control, the subtle shifts in his internal energy, but the raw, chaotic power of the Curse Mark made it difficult to focus. He was both excited and scared of this new power.
Naruto stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. He groaned, his hand reaching up to rub his throbbing head. "What… what happened?" he mumbled, his voice thick with confusion. He looked around, his eyes widening as he took in the carnage. "Sasuke… what did you do?"
Sakura, her face pale, tried to maintain a semblance of composure. "He… he eliminated them," she said, her voice strained. "Quickly." She avoided Naruto's eyes, not wanting to describe the brutal efficiency of Sasuke's actions.
Kabuto analyzed the remnants of the Curse Mark's chakra, noting the complete absence of Orochimaru's signature. 'It's totally gone', he thought, his brow furrowed. 'Completely eradicated. What could have done that?'
He considered the implications, the potential consequences of this unexpected development.
Orochimaru's plans, his carefully laid schemes, had been disrupted, and Kabuto, ever the pragmatist, knew that this could lead to unforeseen complications. He also knew he should be cautious, for he could be next.
'I need to report this', he thought, his eyes narrowing.
'To Orochimaru-sama. But… how do I explain this? Moreover orochimaru-sama already get the gust of it.'
He decided to observe further, to gather more information before reporting to his master. He would subtly guide them, steer them towards the center, all the while keeping a close eye on Sasuke.
As Team 7 continued their journey, Kabuto subtly manipulated the environment, leaving barely perceptible clues, adjusting the flow of chakra in the air, creating subtle illusions that guided them along the correct path.
He remained an unseen observer, a silent puppeteer, his motives hidden beneath a veneer of detached curiosity.
Team 7 came upon a clearing, in the middle of it was a large tree, and a small scroll placed at the base of the tree. Sakura picked up the scroll, and her eyes widened. "This... this is it," she whispered. "The center."