UCHIHA KING OF THE SOULS

There are countless geniuses in the ninja world.

Some believe that Sasuke gained nothing from training under Orochimaru, but this is a complete misconception.

Without Orochimaru's tutelage, the power gap between Sasuke and Itachi would have been insurmountable.

Sasuke's abilities across eight categories—Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Senjutsu, Strength, Speed, Chakra, and Sealing Techniques—were overwhelmingly inferior to Itachi's in all aspects except for chakra reserves. But sheer chakra volume is meaningless without mastery of its application.

Particularly in Genjutsu, Sasuke originally had only three techniques, whereas Itachi had ten. This was a critical disadvantage, as Itachi favored illusions as his primary combat approach.

On a hypothetical battle rating scale of 80, Itachi boasted an overwhelming score of 71, while Sasuke was at a mere 45.

During his three years under Orochimaru's training, Sasuke's skills in Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, Sealing, and Summoning underwent rigorous development, elevating his score from 45 to 63. This was no minor improvement—his Genjutsu proficiency alone increased from 3 to 8.

While the Sharingan possesses natural hypnotic abilities, its Genjutsu effectiveness does not scale automatically with its evolution; proper training is required to maximize its potential.

In the Databook, even with his three-tomoe Sharingan, Sasuke was still classified as a Genjutsu novice. Notably, during his fight against Naruto at the Valley of the End, he didn't attempt to use illusions, highlighting his lack of proficiency at the time.

Orochimaru's training significantly remedied this gap. As one of the few shinobi with a perfect Genjutsu stat in the Databook—alongside Itachi, Kurenai Yuhi, Tayuya, and Hiruzen Sarutobi—Orochimaru was an unparalleled instructor in this field.

Orochimaru's swift defeat against Itachi was not due to a lack of Genjutsu skill but rather his weakened soul following multiple reincarnations, rendering him vulnerable to Itachi's Tsukuyomi. Similarly, Kurenai Yuhi, despite her expertise, was also neutralized by Itachi in an instant.

Data alone doesn't determine a ninja's full potential. Some reach their limits even with high scores, while others, despite modest ratings, continue to evolve.

Sasuke's enhanced Genjutsu allowed him to counter Orochimaru and later engage in an even Genjutsu battle against Itachi at the start of their fight. His improvements in Ninjutsu and Speed were also substantial, reaching elite levels of 10 and 9, respectively.

His most iconic Ninjutsu development was the evolution of the Chidori into the Chidori Nagashi and Chidori Senbon techniques.

Although Sasuke had already learned the base Chidori under Kakashi, and Orochimaru did not specialize in Lightning Release, this did not mean he was unable to guide Sasuke's development.

Consider Naruto's training with the Wind Release Rasenshuriken. Despite neither Kakashi nor Yamato being Wind Release specialists, they provided essential guidance by leveraging Asuma's expertise, creating a structured training environment, and refining Naruto's nature transformation skills.

Orochimaru functioned in a similar manner. With his mastery over all chakra natures and his reputation as Konoha's most prodigious genius, recognized by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, his ability to nurture talent was unquestionable.

Could his instruction truly be considered inferior to that of Kakashi and Yamato?

As for Sasuke's exceptional physical abilities, they were a combination of his innate talent, the enhancements from the Cursed Seal, and Orochimaru's direct influence.

During his first battle at the Valley of the End, Sasuke had already mastered the Cursed Seal of Heaven, but its full potential had yet to be realized. Orochimaru's training further refined its applications, allowing Sasuke to compensate for gaps in raw ability.

For instance, while Sasuke's hand seal speed could not match Itachi's, the Cursed Seal granted him enhanced reactions and chakra control, enabling him to close the gap in combat.

Sasuke's Taijutsu also advanced significantly, rising from a score of 5 to 7. Unlike Ninjutsu, which can be copied, Taijutsu relies on rigorous training and practical experience.

Under Orochimaru, who controlled the entirety of Otogakure, Sasuke had access to a vast array of skilled sparring partners.

Additionally, Orochimaru's unique "electrotherapy" training method bolstered Sasuke's close-quarters combat proficiency, though he still remained inferior to top-tier Taijutsu users like Killer Bee.

Sasuke's growth also extended to Summoning Techniques.

The serpents of Ryūchi Cave may not possess the diverse abilities of the toads of Mount Myōboku, but they are highly effective when utilized correctly.

Sasuke's mastery of snake summons frequently saved him in battle, most notably when he escaped Deidara's suicide explosion using Manda.

Another key ability was his mastery of the Orochi-ryu Substitution Technique, which allowed him to shed his skin to evade attacks, proving invaluable against Amaterasu.

Kirin, Sasuke's ultimate lightning technique, was devastating enough to shake Itachi. Notably, Itachi's initial reaction to its appearance was one of genuine alarm—he was not simply "acting."

Sasuke's dramatically improved fundamentals in Genjutsu, a stable spiritual core, and the refined utilization of his three-tomoe Sharingan prevented him from succumbing to Tsukuyomi like Kakashi had.

Ultimately, after three years of rigorous training under Orochimaru, Sasuke transformed from a fighter utterly outmatched by Itachi into a shinobi capable of standing against him.

The claim that Susanoo would have "instantly killed" Sasuke from the outset is unfounded. Ninja battles rarely escalate to their peak immediately; they begin with probing exchanges.

Given Itachi's limited chakra reserves and deteriorating health, Sasuke's endurance gave him a critical advantage—if he could outlast Itachi, victory was possible.

Moreover, the half-formed Susanoo had a constrained attack radius, while Sasuke's speed and array of evasion techniques allowed him to avoid its strikes.

The Totsuka Blade, though powerful, was not an automatic homing attack. Even if it were, Sasuke's Orochi-ryu Substitution Technique provided an effective means of escape.

Orochimaru himself was only sealed because he was arrogant and caught off-guard, failing to execute the technique in time.

Sasuke's transformation was the result of a combination of innate genius, relentless training, and Orochimaru's meticulous instruction. It cannot be dismissed with a simple phrase like "Itachi let him win."

Uchiha Gen believed that Itachi was genuinely impressed by Sasuke's growth. Even if the battle did not meet Itachi's highest expectations, it was certainly not an undeserved outcome, let alone an outright surrender.

Dismissing Sasuke's three years of grueling training with phrases like "holding back" or "throwing the fight" is an oversimplification that ignores the depth of his development.

Orochimaru's ability to cultivate talent was undeniable. Who wouldn't want to be stronger in every possible way?

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"I look forward to seeing your abilities."

With that, Orochimaru launched an attack, surging forward like an unleashed arrow, aiming a powerful punch at Uchiha Gen's face.

Gen dodged, grabbed Orochimaru's wrist with his left hand, and countered with a kick to the stomach.

Orochimaru twisted his arm unnaturally and reversed the grip, attempting a counterhold.

Gen struck his forearm, forcing him to release.

Their movements were fluid, precise, and relentless—dodging, flipping, striking with rapid exchanges. The clash of fists and feet echoed through the battlefield.

Even with his two-tomoe Sharingan, Uchiha Gen found himself struggling to keep up. Recognizing his limit, he unsheathed his sword.

Orochimaru, unbothered, withdrew the Kusanagi from his throat, smirking as he resumed the battle.

The sound of metal on metal filled the air as sparks flew from their swordplay.

Two minutes in, Orochimaru feinted, summoning four venomous snakes toward Gen's vital points.

With a glance, Gen cast a Genjutsu, redirecting the snakes' attack.

Seizing the opening, he lunged forward with a precise stab.

Orochimaru deflected the strike. "Impressive. Your Taijutsu and Kenjutsu are respectable, but your true strength lies in illusions."

"You have an extraordinary talent for Genjutsu."