I just returned to Konoha and found that my entire clan was gone.

His face contorted in rage, his muscles spasmed, and the Sound Concealment headband he was wearing fell off, causing the veins on his forehead to bulge instantly.

Even the rigorously trained Kabuto couldn't help but scream in agony, his body convulsing as he nearly lost consciousness.

"You know what? The thing I witnessed most after joining the Dark Division was how the Torture Division tortured people."

Sasuke spoke coldly, showing no sympathy whatsoever for Kabuto.

"Sasuke, stop! He'll die if this continues!"

Seeing Kabuto's miserable state, Karin re-evaluated Sasuke. She didn't want Sasuke to become a heartless person, and finally couldn't help but speak up.

Sasuke's slightly cold gaze began to clear, and he stopped releasing the electric current.

Looking at Dou, his eyes were unfocused, and drool was drooling from the corner of his mouth, making him look like a madman.

How did I become like this? Sasuke couldn't help but wonder to himself. Although he did dislike Kabuto, there was no need to torture him so severely. This was not in his nature.

"Hmm, it seems we can't ask questions anymore."

Kisame looked Kabuto up and down and said that, in his opinion, what Sasuke did was not so bad; it was just interrogation for information. He had seen far more of the darkness in the ninja world than Sasuke had.

"There's nothing we can do but wait until they wake up before asking them."

Sasuke didn't expect Karin to bring any information; the real information was probably with him, as Kabuto had said. Neither Guren, who could somewhat resist Kisame, nor this strange woman before him likely knew anything.

"Well, actually, there's no need to go to such lengths. I know some medical ninjutsu, which can help them regain consciousness quickly."

Chapter 156 New Members

"You know medical ninjutsu?"

Sasuke glanced at Karin in surprise. Karin, who seemed to be the least useful member of the trio, actually had this skill.

Karin extended one hand, emitting a soft green light; it was the Palm Healing Technique, a medical ninjutsu.

At Sasuke's prompting, Karin first walked towards Guren.

Under the effect of the Palm Immortal Technique, the wound on Honglian's back began to heal visibly, and Honglian's originally pale face became rosy.

In fact, Karin learned the Palm Healing Technique from Orochimaru; she actually had even more effective medical methods.

Just bite her directly; this heals faster than the Palm Healing Technique, though it's rarely used nowadays.

Honglian's wounds slowly healed, and she opened her eyes as she regained consciousness.

He recalled the last memory before losing consciousness and realized that he had become a prisoner.

He sat quietly to the side, saying nothing.

"Okay."

The clever Karin did not completely cure Guren, but only restored her consciousness.

The process was the same; Karin also helped Kabuto regain consciousness.

Kabuto, upon waking, looked at Sasuke with some apprehension. He hadn't expected Sasuke to have changed so much since leaving Konoha. He was certain that the Sasuke of the past wasn't the kind of person who would torture prisoners.

Sasuke didn't explain anything, and continued to ask.

"Speak, I don't want to waste my time."

"The research on the Sharingan was actually provided by that guy Danzo. You know, Danzo and Lord Orochimaru have collaborated several times, and part of what they did was the Sharingan."

Kabuto quickly considered the matter and decided to attribute the origin of the Sharingan to Danzo. Orochimaru had told him not to reveal the existence of the mysterious man before he arrived.

When Orochimaru wanted to capture Sasuke, he did cooperate with Danzo, so that explanation is somewhat plausible.

Sasuke snorted coldly. Even though Danzo was dead, the dislike for him wouldn't lessen much; that reason was plausible.

Kabuto Sasuke, having temporarily accepted this reason, continued, "I don't know if you remember, but Danzo had many Sharingan eyes transplanted into his body."

"The reason why the Sharingan doesn't have a Caged Bird Seal like the Byakugan is not only because of the Uchiha's personality, but also because the Sharingan itself is not suitable for other ninjas."

Kabuto is right. Even a genius like Kakashi couldn't resist the side effects of the Sharingan. He was constantly consuming his own chakra to supply the Sharingan.

"In order to use the Sharingan, Danzo actually came up with a plan, which was to transplant the cells of the First Hokage."

Sasuke nodded slightly, recalling the Wood Release technique Danzo used that day.

"The First Hokage's cells have an extremely strong activation ability. In addition to Wood Release, they also have a very strong fission ability. If they were transplanted directly, ninety percent of them would be directly engulfed by these cells."

Kabuto's tone quickened, "But the Sharingan and these cells have created a strange balance. As long as the Sharingan and these cells are transplanted at the same time, their side effects can cancel each other out."

Sasuke recalled Danzo's performance that night. Indeed, Danzo had transplanted so many Sharingan eyes, but unlike Kakashi, he didn't exhaust his chakra by casting a few ninjutsu.

Using the kaleidoscope before the water stopped was effortless, and it's possible that, as Kabuto said, there's a wonderful relationship between the two.

"However, you can't obtain the cells of the First Hokage with your current abilities, can you?"

Sasuke calmed down. Danzo must have kept this thing tightly in his hands. Even if he was dead, it was very likely that Tsunade had sealed it away, and they had no chance of getting it.

"That's why Lord Orochimaru instructed me to contact you."

Kabuto has given up hope of bringing Sasuke back to Orochimaru; the kid is no longer so easily fooled.

The deaths of Danzo and Itachi led to a transformation in Sasuke; he was no longer the naive boy who was solely focused on revenge and believed everything he was told.

Another point is that Sasuke also obtained some information after joining Akatsuki.

That is, Orochimaru fought Itachi before leaving Akatsuki. The outcome is unclear, but according to several senior members of Akatsuki, Itachi was unharmed.

"Is that really why you came here?"

Sasuke didn't immediately believe Kabuto's information; instead, he turned around and asked Guren and Karin.

"Lord Orochimaru didn't give me many instructions, only telling me to protect the two of them as much as possible."

As Kabuto said, Guren didn't understand any of this; she was just playing the role of a henchman.

"I... I don't know anything! I'm just a sensory and medical ninja, and Orochimaru didn't tell me anything."

Karin, seeing Sasuke asking her a question, replied somewhat nervously.

It seems that the truth is indeed as Kabuto said; Orochimaru only told Kabuto.

"Go back and tell Orochimaru to stop coveting the Sharingan, or one day I will personally deal with him."

Realizing he couldn't extract any more information from them, Sasuke had no intention of killing them, but merely issued a warning.

Kabuto revealed a barely perceptible smile, no longer arguing with Sasuke, understanding that his mission was complete, and that Orochimaru wouldn't blame him even if he hadn't brought Sasuke back.

Sasuke's strength has increased dramatically, and Orochimaru would need to personally intervene for him to have any chance; they are no longer a match for him.

"Let's go."

Sasuke called Kisame and decided to leave the Land of Rice Fields, which was Orochimaru's territory. Although he had wanted to find the successor of the Fuma clan, he had now given up on that idea.

"Um, can I leave with you?"

Karin mustered her courage and walked up to Sasuke, speaking directly to him.

Sasuke's face showed a strange expression. Regardless of Karin's performance just now, he never trusted her. After all, she was Orochimaru's subordinate, and no matter how outstanding she was, he had no intention of recruiting her.

"I was captured by Orochimaru, and I haven't been here long. Also, I really hate that guy!"

Karin pointed to Kabuto, who had already stood up, and said.

Medical skills, sensory abilities—all the things we know about this woman indicate that she is an exceptional ninja.

Sasuke hesitated. Their mission was to recruit talent, which was exactly what Akatsuki desperately needed. However, he was somewhat wary of Orochimaru's former subordinates.

“Let’s go together then. This girl’s medical ninjutsu is pretty good. I saw that the village has set up a medical department, so it’s a good idea to have her go.”

At this moment, Kisame opened his mouth. In his opinion, that person from Akatsuki was no more terrifying than Karin. Even Orochimaru couldn't cause any trouble, let alone his subordinates.

Sasuke finally nodded, agreeing with Kisame's assessment; such talent was indeed rare.

Meanwhile, Kabuto narrowed his eyes in the distance. He had heard Kisame's words: the village had established a medical department. This statement contained a great deal of information.

It's worth noting that Kabuto once had some kind of seal placed by Sasori inside his body, and he knew a bit about Akatsuki. Now it seems that Akatsuki's purpose may have changed somewhat.

Chapter 157 Each with their own thoughts

"I see. Karin has already left."

After listening to Kabuto's report, Orochimaru said with some regret.

He could tell that the girl had some inexplicable thoughts, but he didn't expect it was because of Sasuke. In this way, another talented person was wasted.

"Your subordinate is useless. I never expected Sasuke to have grown to this level."

Kabuto was kneeling, and what bothered him most about the whole thing was not being interrogated by Sasuke, but being defeated by Sasuke in just one exchange.

"If you're not satisfied, then train hard, Kabuto. If all else fails, I can also teach you the power of the cursed seal."

Orochimaru said in a sinister tone.

"That won't be necessary. I will do my best, Lord Orochimaru."

Kabuto could not maintain his composure in front of Orochimaru. The fatality rate of the cursed seal made him hesitate, and he really had no confidence that he could overcome it.

"It's a real pity. Your talent is actually much greater than this, Kabuto."

It's already quite remarkable that Kabuto, who has no lineage from a major family and is just a war orphan, has come this far. Orochimaru thinks Kabuto could actually take another step forward.

After Orochimaru raised his head, Kabuto left the room.

The air began to distort, and within a vortex, Obito's figure appeared.

Obito has changed his mask; it's no longer the one-eyed mask he used to wear.

The pattern hasn't changed much; it's still a vortex shape. The only difference is that the two exposed holes are shaped like tomoe, through which Obito's two red Sharingan eyes can be seen.

"It seems your plan has failed, Orochimaru."

"Plans can always go wrong. It seems that Sasuke or Ye Lan have the ability to resolve the side effects of the Mangekyou Sharingan."

After a brief analysis, Orochimaru understood why Sasuke wouldn't venture deeper into this area.

First, this is Orochimaru's territory, and it's unclear what dangers might lie ahead. Sasuke, no longer impulsive, wouldn't go there easily. Second, the temptation isn't strong enough. Based on Kabuto's description of Sasuke's attitude, Orochimaru has already guessed most of what's going on.

"Black Zetsu was observing when Sasuke made his move. Although it was only a small amount, his feeling was correct: Sasuke possesses the ability to control natural energy."

Orochimaru had also seen the Black Zetsu that Obito mentioned, but he was more interested in dissecting the creature to see what its structure was.