The confirmation from Ranmaru was all the justification Sasuke needed. His gaze swept over the assembled group of rough-looking individuals, their faces a mixture of shock and dawning hostility. They were all Raiga's loyal followers, individuals likely complicit in his exploitative control over the Katabami Gold Mines. There were no innocent villagers caught in this web of allegiance.
With a swift, decisive movement, Sasuke plunged the twin Kiba blades into the earth before him, the serrated edges biting deep into the soil. A surge of his own chakra coursed through his body, intertwining with the residual electrical energy still humming within the captured weapons. He focused, recalling the intricate patterns of Raiga's Jutsu.
"Lightning Burial : Banquet Of Lightning"
His Sharingan's visual memory replaying the technique with perfect clarity.
However, instead of the chaotic eruption of lightning that Raiga had conjured, Sasuke aimed for a more focused and amplified assault, utilizing the Kiba blades as conduits. The ground around the embedded swords began to tremble, a low rumble echoing through the clearing. Dark clouds, seemingly drawn by the immense electrical energy, gathered rapidly overhead, obscuring the last vestiges of twilight.
Then, it began. Violet lightning erupted not only from the ground around the Kiba blades, but also tore down from the darkened sky in a furious barrage. The two streams of electrical energy converged upon Raiga's followers, trapping them in a deadly crossfire.
The screams were short-lived. The sheer intensity of the amplified Lightning Burial, channeled through the unique properties of the Kiba blades, was devastating. The thirty or so individuals were caught completely off guard, their bodies convulsing as the potent electrical currents coursed through them.
Some collapsed instantly, their forms charred and lifeless. Others let out choked cries before succumbing to the overwhelming power. The air filled with the acrid smell of ozone and burnt flesh.
Ranmaru, who had been standing a short distance away, watched the spectacle unfold with wide, disbelieving eyes. The raw, untamed power of the Lightning Burial, a jutsu that Raiga had spent years honing, was being wielded by this teenage shinobi as if it were second nature. The sheer scale and lethality of the attack left the young boy speechless, a mixture of fear and awe swirling within him.
As the last of Raiga's followers fell silent, Sasuke deactivated the Lightning Burial, the violet energy receding back into the Kiba blades and the clouds slowly beginning to dissipate. He pulled the swords from the earth, the metal still humming faintly.
'That jutsu is incredibly potent,' Sasuke thought, assessing the aftermath. The clearing was now littered with lifeless bodies, the ground scorched and blackened. 'But I couldn't maintain it at Raiga's level, and the spread wasn't as wide.' He could feel the drain on his chakra reserves, a significant portion having been expended in replicating and amplifying the Lightning Burial.
He mentally checked his chakra levels. The indicator confirmed his assessment – his reserves were barely a third of their total capacity. 'Fighting a Jonin-level opponent like Raiga, even with strategic use of clones and Genjutsu, takes a considerable toll,' he mused. 'I had to resort to higher-chakra cost jutsu like the Great Fireball and the Double False Surroundings to gain an advantage.'
A standard Fireball Jutsu and the basic False Surroundings Genjutsu would have been less taxing, but against Raiga's skill and Ranmaru's perception, they likely wouldn't have been effective enough.
He turned his gaze towards Ranmaru, who was still visibly shaken by the display of power. The boy flinched under Sasuke's intense stare, his earlier fear returning. Sasuke softened his expression. "There's a place where you can be safe," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.
He then reached into his pouch and retrieved a storage scroll. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he unsealed it and carefully placed the Kiba blades inside before resealing it.
As dusk deepened into night, Sasuke led Ranmaru towards the small village associated with the Katabami Gold Mines. He found a modest inn and secured a room for the night. The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Sasuke prepared to depart. He led Ranmaru out of the village, following a path that led away from the mines.
A short distance before the village, nestled beside the winding road, was a small, unassuming curry shop. The aroma of spices hung in the air, a comforting scent in the otherwise tense atmosphere. The place Sasuke has eat curry before going after Raiga.
Sasuke recalled the information he had remembered from original storyline about this region – the old woman and her grandson who ran this shop, a place where Rock Lee had a particular fondness for the curry. This, he realized, was likely the same shop.
"This is where you can stay," Sasuke told Ranmaru, gesturing towards the cozy-looking establishment. "They are kind people. You will be safe here." He offered the boy a small pouch of ryo. "This should help you for a while."
Ranmaru looked up at Sasuke, his expression a mixture of gratitude and lingering apprehension. He clutched the pouch tightly. "Why… why are you helping me?" he asked softly.
Sasuke simply offered a small, enigmatic smile. "Sometimes," he said, "even those who walk a dark path can choose not to cast shadows on the innocent." With a final nod, he turned and began his journey back towards Konoha, leaving Ranmaru to find his own path at the curry shop.
As he walked along the road, the silhouette of Konoha growing closer with each step, Sasuke's mind raced, contemplating the ramifications of the events that had just transpired. The acquisition of the Kiba blades, the elimination of Raiga and his followers, and his decision to spare Ranmaru – these were significant deviations from the original timeline.
'How much will this alter the future?' he wondered. The absence of Raiga and the Kiba blades would undoubtedly change some future encounters. As this event supposed to be happen quite some time in future from now.
More importantly, what unforeseen consequences would his actions have on the larger events of the ninja world? The Akatsuki were still out there, their plans still in motion. Orochimaru, though weakened, was still a threat. The sands of time had shifted, and Sasuke knew, with a certainty that resonated deep within his soul, that the future he once knew may no longer guaranteed. He would have to forge his own path, stronger and more prepared than ever before. The Kiba blades, now safely stored, would be a valuable asset in that endeavor.