Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

There is never just one path to the top.

"Are you planning to go back, or stay?" Sasuke suddenly asked.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Yoruichi stretched, her purple hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, and chuckled, "Why go back? This place is much more interesting than Soul Society."

"I haven't forgotten that I still need to explore why this world has no wedges."

"So?" Sasuke calmly met her gaze.

"Of course I'm staying."

Yoruichi leaped up in front of Sasuke, lightly tapped his chest, and gave him a wild smile.

"It sounds much more interesting to witness firsthand the earth-shattering changes you will bring to this world and that world."

"Ah."

Sasuke nodded slightly, unsurprised by the answer.

He turned around, started walking, and headed into the distance.

"Hey."

Seeing his decisive and efficient back view, Yoru immediately followed and walked alongside him. "You're just leaving like that? You still haven't told me what you're planning to do next?"

"Go capture a tailed beast."

"Oh?"

Yoruichi's eyes lit up instantly, and her voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Is that the giant thing you mentioned before, made of pure chakra? I've been wanting to see it for a long time."

She turned to the side, lightly nudging Sasuke with her elbow. "Hey, I said, can I try out this opponent first?"

Sasuke glanced at her, looking at her eager expression, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded slightly.

"can."

"make a deal!"

Yoruichi snapped her fingers cheerfully.

After a puff of white smoke, the tall figure disappeared, replaced by a completely black cat.

With a light leap, she landed steadily on Sasuke's shoulder, the tip of her tail gently brushing against his cheek.

"Let's go, my personal mount."

Sasuke ignored her strange address and strode towards the distant sea.

Behind them, Orochimaru saw this scene and confirmed his earlier guess.

The black cat that always perched on Sasuke's shoulder was that purple-haired woman.

That's truly a strange technique.

He watched the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, and forcibly suppressed the curiosity he felt about the unknown terms such as "Soul World," "Zero Division," and "Soul King."

Orochimaru knew this was not the time to press for answers; Sasuke was far more unfathomable than he had imagined.

He had long since lost all bargaining power with him.

Being too eager for quick results will only provoke the other party's resentment.

That's it.

Orochimaru thought to himself that all he needed to do was quietly follow behind and be a competent ally.

Given Sasuke's personality, when he feels he needs to know those secrets, he will naturally reveal everything to himself without hesitation.

To qualify for this position, one must demonstrate sufficient value.

Having figured this out, Orochimaru gave a wink to Kabuto Yakushi, who was also remaining silent beside him.

The two of them then followed.

Three figures disappeared into the thin mist along the coast.

at the same time.

In the Land of Hot Water, in a remote village.

A vortex-shaped, distorted space appeared without warning, and a man wearing an orange spiral mask slowly emerged from it.

You're late.

The sound came from the ground beneath his feet.

Giant leaves, resembling those of a man-eating flower, burst open from the damp soil, revealing the distinct black and white character "绝" (Jue) slowly rising from within.

"I encountered some interesting little bugs on the way, so I cleaned them up while I was at it." The masked man's voice was deep and emotionless.

“Some bad news,” White Zetsu said in a relatively light tone. “Just recently, the Three-Tails from the Land of Water was captured by Uchiha Sasuke.”

Upon learning that it was the Three-Tails, the masked man's crimson Sharingan suddenly contracted beneath his mask, but that brief moment of loss of composure was quickly replaced by a low chuckle.

"What's so bad news?" The masked man's voice was full of arrogance. "It's just that we've moved it to a different place, and he's temporarily keeping it for us."

He paused, his voice turning somber, "However, the plan to collect the tailed beasts does indeed need to be put on the agenda."

Where did he go next?

"I don't know, I only know that they left Turtle Island not long ago." Black Zetsu's voice was solemn. "Ever since he detected me at the border of the Land of Fire, I have never dared to get too close."

"I only followed their auras from afar and confirmed that the Three-Tails' chakra ultimately disappeared into his body. This is still my deduction."

"Deduction..." The masked man's voice revealed a hint of anxiety and anger.

He hated this feeling of not being in control of the situation...

"How strong is he now?" The masked man's voice turned cold.

This time it was White Zetsu who answered, his tone unusually solemn: "...very strong, ridiculously strong."

"Although I hate to admit it, in your current state, you are probably no match for him."

"..."

The masked man fell silent.

"You should also find a chance to retract your other eye," Black Zetsu's voice hissed. "Having only one kaleidoscope isn't enough."

"..."

The masked man didn't speak again, but slowly nodded, and his figure disappeared again in a twist.

Several days later, in the Land of Lightning, in the Hidden Cloud Village.

The atmosphere inside the towering Raikage Building was tense and oppressive.

The Fourth Raikage, "A," stood with his arms crossed, listening quietly to the report from the Anbu in front of him, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

"...That's all the intelligence we can gather so far."

"you mean......"

Ai finally spoke slowly, his voice filled with anger, "Not only did Uchiha Sasuke force his way into Turtle Island, but he also slaughtered a large portion of the ninjas we were responsible for guarding it?"

“Yes.” The ANBU member lowered his head even further. “According to the survivors’ descriptions, that is indeed the case.”

"Hmph." Ai let out a disdainful snort.

The member of the Dark Division trembled violently and dared not utter another word.

"He didn't try to hide his whereabouts?" Ai continued to ask.

“Yes, Lord Raikage,” the Anbu replied immediately. “After leaving Turtle Island, they headed west and entered the Land of Wind yesterday.”

"The Land of Wind?" Ai's fingers began to tap lightly on the table. "Can we determine what his target is?"

"Unable to determine."

“Our third team, which was responsible for tracking him, would be attacked immediately whenever they tried to get within 100 meters of him, and several team members have died as a result.”

"Therefore, we can only rely on ordinary people without chakra to collect intelligence, but the intelligence we obtain is extremely limited and we cannot analyze their true objectives."

The ANBU paused for a moment, then offered his speculation: "However, based on his movement towards Sunagakure, I suspect his target might be a Tailed Beast."

Tailed Beasts...

Ai's fingers, which were tapping the table, stopped. He thought of the two Jinchūriki in his village who also possessed terrifying power.

This Uchiha Sasuke...

A complex light flashed in Ai's eyes.

"In the intelligence Darui sent back last time, was it confirmed that he said he would come to our Hidden Cloud Village?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, Lord Raikage."

"Is Orochimaru the only one with him?" A's eyes gradually filled with eager excitement.

"Yes."

Ai fell silent.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head and looked around at the other two people in the office.

"Since he's so ungrateful and rejected our Cloud Village's goodwill..."

"If he dares to set foot in the Land of Lightning again, we'll keep him here in our own way!"

What do you think?

The other two people in the office exchanged a glance upon hearing this.

One of the men, with medium-length blond hair and a handsome face, smiled and nodded: "I agree with Lord Raikage's decision."

Another one-eyed man with a thin build and dark skin calmly replied, "I agree as well."

"Hahaha! Very good!"

Ai slammed his hand on the table, making a deafening bang. "Since you don't object, it's settled then!"

"Two Sannin-level guys are indeed not to be underestimated."