On a steep cliff, high above the land, a massive Thunder Condor basked in the sunlight. Its sharp beak, curved like an iron hook, tore effortlessly into the giant fish it was devouring.
Under the golden rays, its deep blue feathers gleamed with a metallic luster, shimmering as if forged from steel. Its black talons—razor-sharp and glinting like tempered iron—occasionally clenched, sending faint sparks flickering in the air.
The majestic beast stood tall, its golden pupils exuding an air of dominance and cold indifference. Its piercing gaze swept over the land with arrogance befitting a ruler of the skies.
Occasionally, it flapped its enormous wings, generating violent gusts of wind that sent loose rocks tumbling down the cliffside.
Hiding behind a boulder, Sasuke observed the creature with fascination.
"What an incredible beast... Its aura alone is overwhelming."
This was no ordinary summoning creature—its sheer size and presence rivaled even the greatest of summons. This wasn't just a bird; it was a skyborne king.
The Thunder Condor tore through the massive fish with frightening efficiency, swallowing the bulk of its meal within moments.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He was preparing to cast an illusion when—
"Come out, kid. I know you're there."
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the air.
Sasuke's breath hitched.
"It can talk?"
Even more shocking, it had detected him despite his careful concealment.
Stepping out from behind the rock, Sasuke met the condor's gaze.
The massive bird tilted its head slightly. "Huh. Didn't expect a brat."
Then it sneered—if a bird could sneer. "You look surprised. After years of training, I've developed the ability to sense chakra. Otherwise, how do you think I've managed to evade all you ninja for so long?"
Its words weren't mere boasts.
Despite its monstrous power, the Thunder Condor had remained a free spirit, soaring above the lands without being captured or subdued. Many had tried, but none had succeeded.
It had outmaneuvered countless shinobi, even those from powerful nations.
"Perception, huh?" Sasuke thought.
A speaking, highly intelligent summons was rare. The only ones he could compare it to were the legendary beasts of the Three Great Summoning Lands—Mount Myōboku's toads, Ryūchi Cave's serpents, and Shikkotsu Forest's slugs.
But this one...
It was wild. Untamed.
And that made it all the more valuable.
"If I can subdue it, it'll be a tremendous asset."
The condor's physique alone was on par with legendary summons like Gamabunta. Perhaps, in sheer power, it even surpassed them.
Its strength could rival a tailed beast.
"Boy, if you value your life, leave now. Every shinobi who has tried to claim me has ended up in my stomach!"
The Thunder Condor's words were laced with chilling malice.
Sasuke, however, simply smirked. His previous tension melted into amusement.
"Oh? Pushing me away so quickly... Could it be that you're afraid of me?"
The condor flinched.
Sasuke's guess had been right.
Despite its arrogant demeanor, the beast had sensed the terrifying chakra within Sasuke and was wary of engaging him.
Sasuke crossed his arms. "Let's make a bet. If I defeat you, you become my summon. If I lose, I'll never bother you again."
The condor scoffed. "And why would I agree to such a deal?"
"Simple," Sasuke replied, activating his Sharingan. "You know that as time passes, I'll only get stronger. You can't evade me forever. Eventually, you'll have no choice but to submit."
The condor's golden eyes darkened. "Those eyes... You're an Uchiha?"
For the first time, it hesitated.
The Uchiha name carried weight. Legends of Madara Uchiha still echoed through the world, and even this mighty bird knew better than to underestimate his clan.
"Fine."
It spread its wings.
"Let's see if you're worthy, brat!"
Thunder rumbled across the sky. A bolt of lightning, thick as a tree trunk, crashed down toward Sasuke!
Boom!
"Fast!"
Sasuke's instincts kicked in. A Lightning Chakra Cloak surged around his body just in time. The electric blast engulfed him, scorching the ground black.
As the smoke cleared, Sasuke stood unharmed, an amused grin on his face.
"Not bad. But you're going to need more than that to bring me down."
The Thunder Condor narrowed its eyes. "You survived? Interesting."
The beast had slain countless shinobi with that move. But Sasuke had barely flinched.
"Alright then, let's take this up a notch!"
With a piercing shriek, it lunged, talons glowing with Wind Chakra—razor-sharp and deadly.
Sasuke tensed, dodging swiftly as the claws slashed through solid rock like paper.
Then, the condor inhaled deeply. A massive Wind Chakra sphere condensed in its beak—
And then—
Boom!
It fired like a cannonball!
Sasuke flickered backward, barely avoiding the blast. The Wind Chakra detonated, unleashing a shockwave of countless razor-sharp wind blades.
They sliced through the terrain like a hurricane of swords.
Sasuke raised his arm. A dark red chakra cloak flared to life, shielding him from the barrage.
His eyes gleamed. "Wind Style too, huh?"
A Lightning-Wind dual-affinity summon. This creature wasn't just fast—it was deadly.
Most shinobi would've been shredded by that attack.
"No wonder no one's tamed it before."
But Sasuke was not like other shinobi.
He surged forward.
"My turn."
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
"Yuehua Realm."
The Thunder Condor's eyes glazed over.
In the illusion, it soared freely above a boundless ocean. With a single flap of its wings, the waters split and mountains crumbled.
It opened its beak, and fish flew toward it by the thousands.
Everything was perfect.
"So... beautiful..."
Then—
Crackle!
Reality shattered. A surge of Chidori Nagashi struck the condor, sending violent tremors through its body.
The sheer pain snapped it out of the genjutsu, but—
Sasuke was already beside it, hand crackling with lightning.
The condor flapped desperately, retreating. "Damn it... He's strong!"
"Running away?" Sasuke smirked. "You won't escape."
The beast roared, its body sparking with lightning. It shot into the sky at insane speed, leaving behind only a thunderous boom.
"Hah! Catch me if you can, human!"
Sasuke chuckled.
Then—
He disappeared.
The condor, believing itself free, sighed in relief.
Then—
A familiar voice. "Hey, we meet again."
Sasuke sat calmly on its back, smirking.
"Impossible!"
Panic flashed through the condor's eyes. It tried to shake him off, but a second later—
Sasuke reappeared on its back again.
"You can't escape me."
His eyes gleamed with power. The golden patterns of his Celestial Forge surged to life.
The skies rumbled.
Thunder and lightning gathered into a colossal golden Kirin.
The air trembled with divine wrath.
Sasuke's voice was calm, yet absolute.
"Surrender… or die."