At such close combat quarters there was little point in maintaining even the smaller of Susano'o's sheltering form, especially when it became clear that the water jutsu couldn't be maintained while physically attacking: Sasuke dropped it, feeling the pain of the jutsu vanish into the now-familiar lingering ache.

It was clear from his awkward sword stance that the redheaded one was hardly a threat -- the one behind him reacted with the speed of someone accustomed to combat, however, and Sasuke turned his focus to him. Just in time to leap back and out of the way as lightning chakra (no: it still wasn't chakra, however close it was) sprang out from his spear.

But lightning was no stranger to him. He landed on a nearby wall, still smoking and steaming with the recently-stopped flames, and flicked the handful of kunai he had at the inhabitants of this illusion -- all crackling with lightning chakra of his own and capable of temporary paralysis on contact.