Naruto: Strongest Shinobi System With a Glitch-Chapter 388 - Sasuke trapped!!

Five minutes earlier.

The Forest of Death lay carpeted in damp, rotting leaves.

Sasuke exhaled sharply.

A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, igniting the forest floor. Flames raced across the fallen leaves, spreading outward like a living tide.

Sakura stayed close at his side, eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, alert for any sudden counterattack.

"...Contact."

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed.

"The flames hit resistance about three hundred meters to the left."

Without hesitation, the two sprinted toward the disturbance.

"Kikaichū," Sakura said at once, kneeling beside several blackened insect corpses.

Before she could say more—

Boom!

A violent explosion detonated to their right, fire roaring skyward.

"Explosive tags," Sasuke said, a faint smile curling his lips. "Found them."

Those traps could only belong to Shino’s squad.

And Sasuke’s Fire Release had just forced their hand.

They veered right, plunging deeper into the forest.

The trees ahead thickened unnaturally, branches interlocking into a natural barricade.

"You’ve been discovered!" Sakura shouted.

No answer came.

"Stay here," Sasuke ordered as his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun to life.

He stepped into the shadows—

Whoosh!

A dense hail of shuriken burst from the trees.

"Hmph."

Sasuke vanished in a blur—slipping effortlessly through the attack.

A shrill, birdlike screech cut through the air.

Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon!

Sasuke snapped his arm forward.

Lightning shattered into countless glowing needles that tore into the forest.

Three figures flashed into view—then scattered.

Sakura reacted instantly.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

A roaring torrent smashed through the trees, splintering trunks as it surged forward.

The ground shook.

A massive Three-Headed Hellhound burst from the forest, jaws wide.

Three Earth Fang Bullets blasted from its mouths, slamming into the water dragon and obliterating it.

Sasuke’s gaze locked onto one figure.

Shino Aburame.

Without hesitation, Sasuke drew the Thunder God Sword and charged.

Shino raised his arms—A storm of Kikaichū erupted toward him.

Sasuke slashed.

Lightning exploded along the blade, frying the insects mid-air.

Just as he pressed forward—Something felt wrong.

The ground beneath him detonated.

Explosive tags erupted in a ring of fire.

Sasuke’s expression twisted as he leapt back.

A wall of rushing water surged up around him.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Sakura had reacted just in time.

Sasuke exhaled in relief—

Then his expression darkened.

Because of saving him, Sakura had left herself exposed.

"Human Bullet Tank!"

Choji barreled into her like a boulder, sending her flying.

Sasuke clenched his teeth.

He abandoned Shino without hesitation.

This was a team battle—losing a teammate would cripple their score.

Worse, without Sakura, he’d be facing three opponents alone.

Kimimaro was still flanking.

Lightning flared.

Sasuke flashed forward, appearing beside Sakura.

His sword slashed.

Electricity engulfed Choji, forcing Human Bullet Tank to collapse.

Choji yelped as his hair stood on end, spared only by his expanded body.

"Sakura—are you okay?"

"I—I’m fine," she said, dizzy but conscious.

Too late.

Earth Release: Consecutive Fang Bullet!

Kiba’s Cerberus roared, unleashing a barrage of compressed earth.

"Careful."

Sasuke’s blade flickered, lightning cracking as it shattered every projectile.

He sheathed the sword and inhaled.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

A blazing inferno surged forward.

Kiba cursed and dodged.

"Sasuke-kun—behind you!"

Sasuke spun—

A colossal shadow loomed.

Super Thrusting Hand!

Choji’s massive palms slammed down.

Sasuke vanished an instant before impact.

Choji redirected—Straight at Sakura.

Water Formation Wall!

She raised a barrier despite her dizziness.

It wasn’t enough.

Choji’s hands engulfed both her and the wall.

Sasuke flashed toward her—But someone cut him off.

Shino stepped into his path.

His body dissolved into a writhing mass of Kikaichū, surging forward like a living storm.

"Tch!"

Sasuke stabbed forward.

Lightning exploded outward, incinerating the swarm.

"Insect Clone...?" His eyes widened.

Only now did he realize—

That hadn’t been Shino’s real body.

Boom!

While Sasuke’s attention was momentarily diverted, Choji Akimichi’s Super Thrusting Hand slammed into Sakura.

Dust and smoke exploded outward.

In the chaos, Kosuke flashed in, scooping Sakura up and retreating at once.

His intervention saved her life—but it also meant her defeat.

Sakura was out.

Lightning crackled violently.

Lightning Release: Chidori!

Sasuke reacted instantly, surging toward Choji like a bolt of living lightning.

"Choji!"

Kiba shouted in alarm, spitting out three Earth Fang Bullets in an attempt to intercept him.

Sasuke ignored them completely.

Choji was in an awful position—hands braced against the ground, his massive body far too slow to evade.

Hidden in the shadows, Kurenai tensed, ready to intervene—

Then paused.

From the left, a dense swarm of bees burst into view.

As they closed in on Sasuke, they detonated mid-air.

Sasuke skidded to a halt.

The Chidori in his hand dispersed, transforming instead into Chidori Nagashi, lightning flooding over his body like crackling armor.

Seeing the opening, Choji immediately canceled Expansion Jutsu and leapt back.

Shino appeared beside him.

In an instant, Sasuke found himself surrounded—Shino, Choji, and Kiba forming a tight triangle.

"Shino," Sasuke asked coldly,

"Where’s your real body?"

Shino didn’t answer.

Instead, he calmly produced Kimimaro’s badge.

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed.

That certificate in Shino’s hand meant only one thing.

Kimimaro had been defeated.

—

Above, on the Wood Dragon’s viewing platform

"I didn’t expect things to turn out like this," Chen admitted, visibly surprised.

"I thought Sasuke’s squad had the advantage."

Hiruzen stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"To lose two teammates so quickly... truly unexpected."

"They lacked information," Kakashi Hatake said evenly. "That cost them."

"They underestimated Shino," Kitazawa added, shaking his head.

"The bees weren’t even secret anymore."

"You’re being harsh," Tsunade said with a grin.

"But Shino’s performance is outstanding. If this were the Chunin Exams, I’d promote him on the spot."

"Still," Chen sighed, "one against three... this is bad."

Hiruzen glanced at Kakashi.

"Do you think Sasuke can still win?"

"Hard to say," Kakashi replied after a pause. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"But there’s a chance."

"He learned your swordsmanship," Hiruzen murmured. "Hatake techniques can turn the tide."

Kiba and Choji might struggle to seriously injure Sasuke—but in a three-on-one, anything could happen.

Elsewhere, through Iruka’s broadcast

"That’s incredible!" Lee exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up.

"Is this the youthful power of Shino’s squad?"

"This has nothing to do with youth," Shikamaru corrected calmly.

"It’s strategy—and Shino’s insects."

"This is all Sensei Kitazawa’s influence," Ino declared proudly.

Yakumo nodded.

"Those mutated Kikaichū and bees changed everything."

"If we face Shino later," Tenten said seriously, "we’ll need to be extremely careful."

"It’s still undecided," Neji added quietly.

"Sasuke won’t fall easily."

Inside the Forest of Death

A tense standoff settled over the clearing.

"You have no teammates left," Shino said calmly.

"Surrender."

Choji and Kiba could hardly believe it—they’d actually cornered Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke gripped the Thunder God Sword, his expression utterly unreadable.

"The Uchiha don’t surrender," he replied. "And the ones who’ll lose... are you."

"As expected," Shino said quietly.

"Then we fight."

He formed hand seals.

Honey Technique!

Bees burst from his sleeves.

Sasuke’s Sharingan spun as he analyzed them instantly—wax-spraying bees, not the explosive type.

He advanced instead of retreating.

Lightning surged along his blade, frying the bees mid-air.

Before anyone could react—Sasuke vanished.

Genjutsu: Sharingan!

Choji froze instantly.

"Human Bullet Tank!"

Under Sasuke’s illusion, Choji barreled straight into Kiba.

Shino’s eyes sharpened.

He didn’t move to rescue them.

Instead—

Bee Senbon Technique!

Poisoned needles screamed toward Sasuke.

But Sasuke was already gone.

White lightning flickered along the Thunder God Sword as he appeared directly before Shino.

A single thrust.

Hatake Sword Technique.

Shino’s pupils shrank.

Secret Technique: Insect Wall!

A living barrier formed just in time. The blade stopped a hair’s breadth from his chest.

Lightning exploded outward.

Shino leapt back as Kikaichū scattered, but stray arcs locked his body in place.

Sasuke moved to finish it—

Then turned.

Kiba, recovering fast, unsummoned Cerberus and sent a clone to snap Choji out of the genjutsu.

"Fang Over Fang!"

Twin tornadoes roared toward Sasuke.

Sasuke abandoned Shino instantly.

Body Flicker.

He slipped between the vortexes and slashed.

Kiba vanished in a puff of smoke.

A clone.

The remaining tornado slammed into Sasuke——but he was already behind Kiba.

The Thunder God Sword stopped cold at Kiba’s throat.

"I... I surrender," Kiba said at last, voice tight with frustration.

The forest fell silent.

Fortunately, Sasuke’s remaining Shadow Clone had already snapped Choji out of the genjutsu.

Kiba dispelled his clone as well and, like Sakura, was forced to withdraw—reduced to a spectator.

Shino Aburame regained his footing. Together with Choji, he moved to box Sasuke in from the front and rear.

Yet neither of them felt confident.

Three against one—and they’d still lost a man.

Now it was two against one.

And somehow, the outcome felt even more uncertain.

’Could we actually lose...?’

Shino erased the thought instantly and raised his hand.

Summoning Technique!

A massive Queen Bee materialized with a thunderous buzz.

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed slightly—but he didn’t panic. This wasn’t the first time he’d faced Shino’s trump card.

The Queen Bee soared upward and spewed thick streams of sticky beeswax.

Bee Bomb Technique!

At the same time, Shino released explosive bees.

Partial Multi-Size Technique!

Choji’s arms and palms swelled to massive proportions—but he didn’t attack. Instead, he fixed Sasuke with a steady stare, waiting for an opening.

Three assaults—beeswax, explosions, and brute force—converged at once.

An ordinary shinobi would’ve been crushed instantly.

But Sasuke’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan captured every movement with brutal clarity.

Shadow Clone Technique!

Sasuke reacted in a heartbeat.

One clone darted toward Shino.

Another shot toward the Queen Bee.

Sasuke himself flashed straight toward Choji.

’Crush the softest target first.’

Wind howled.

The moment Choji spotted him, his enlarged palm came crashing down.

Konoha Style: Willow!

In that single exchange, Sasuke seized the opening.

Choji froze—immobilized completely.

The Thunder God Sword thrust forward, stopping just short of Choji’s heart.

Bang!

Bang!

Both Shadow Clones were destroyed.

But Shino felt no joy.

Choji was out.

Which meant—

A one-on-one.

And Shino knew how this ended.

A perfectly controlled situation had unraveled in seconds.

Still, he felt no resentment toward Kiba or Choji.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Lightning Release, and the Hatake Sword Technique were a lethal combination—feared across the ninja world.

Losing to that wasn’t shameful.

Even so, Shino didn’t surrender.

Sasuke had fought three opponents alone—his chakra had to be running low.

And Shino still had a chance.

Sasuke felt it too.

His reserves were thinning, which was why he leaned on the efficient precision of the Hatake Sword Technique.

Shino had seen it once before.

Almost reflexively, he formed seals.

Secret Technique: Insect Wall!

The Thunder God Sword was blocked.

Shino raised his hands again—bees spilling from his sleeves.

But Sasuke didn’t retreat.

Instead—

Leaf Great Whirlwind!

His kick smashed into the swarm.

The bees detonated instantly, spraying beeswax everywhere.

Shino recoiled in shock, instinctively retreating to avoid being trapped by his own technique.

He had planned to bind Sasuke at close range—but Sasuke had turned the trap back on him.

Sasuke released the sword.

Then punched the hilt.

The Thunder God Sword shot forward like a lightning-wrapped projectile.

At the final moment—

Kurenai appeared and caught it.

Shino froze, then slowly exhaled.

The match was over.

Sasuke dropped to the ground, drenched in sweat as though he’d been dragged from water—but his eyes burned with exhilaration.

One against three.

And he’d won.

"...So we still lost," Shino said calmly.

"You did exceptionally well," Kurenai replied warmly.

"You were only missing a bit of luck."

Had Shino chosen Kimimaro as a teammate, the outcome might’ve been very different.

Above, on the Wood Dragon’s platform

"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha’s squad."

Kitazawa announced it without delay.

"That strength already rivals a Jonin’s," Tsunade said with satisfaction.

She could already imagine how brutal the joint Chunin Exams would be in two years—for every other village.

"The synergy is impressive," Hiruzen remarked.

"Hatake swordsmanship, Lightning Release, and the Sharingan..."

What he didn’t say aloud was that Sasuke might one day surpass Sakumo Hatake himself.

Kakashi silently agreed.

Bloodline shinobi simply had higher ceilings.

And Sasuke’s talent was rare even among them.

"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa said, offering the draw box.

"Please pick the next match. I’ll go heal the students."

She nodded and drew two slips.

"Hyūga Neji’s squad versus Kurama Yakumo’s squad."

"Oh?" Hiruzen chuckled.

"Seems my squad drew a tough hand."

"Strength on paper means nothing," Kakashi replied evenly.

"Sasuke nearly lost earlier."

Kitazawa dropped from the platform, landing lightly.

Below, the Genius Class buzzed with excitement—many had expected Sasuke to fall, not dominate.

"Neji Hyūga’s squad, Kurama Yakumo’s squad—prepare yourselves. Match begins in fifteen minutes."

Neji’s expression sharpened as he turned toward the forest with Tenten and Tayuya.

From the opposite side, Yakumo, Ino, and Karin advanced just as calmly.

The next battle was about to begin.

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