Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Without the slightest hesitation, he unleashed his Sage Chakra without reservation.

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

Jiraiya suddenly unleashed a Fire Release technique, while Fukasaku, the sage on his shoulder, puffed out his cheeks and spewed out a hurricane, while Shima, the sage, spat out sticky toad oil from his mouth.

Wind fanned the flames, and oil fueled the fire!

The three forces merged in an instant, transforming into a sea of ​​fire that covered the entire sky, sweeping towards the two departing figures in the air.

However, faced with this earth-shattering scene, the two figures in the air did not even turn their heads.

It was just a calm voice that slowly rose from before the sea of ​​fire.

"The Eighty-One of the Binding Paths".

"Sever the Void!"

The moment the words were spoken, time seemed to stand still.

Only one enormous, semi-transparent light barrier, made of spiritual energy and seemingly capable of blocking out the sun, appeared out of thin air, silently standing before the sea of ​​fire like an insurmountable chasm.

The fiery inferno slammed violently against the invisible wall, then spread wildly to both sides like waves crashing against rocks.

The already dilapidated buildings lining the streets were silently swallowed up by the raging fire.

The two figures behind the light barrier didn't even flinch.

Finally, against the backdrop of that fiery light that could dye the heavens and earth crimson, the two figures calmly disappeared into the horizon.

Chapter 132 is great! It's Tsunade bondage play! (More updates during National Day holiday, please give me double monthly votes!)

The rain came without warning.

At first, it was just fine drizzle, which slanted in the wind and wove into an endless gray net, covering the continuous mountains and wilderness.

Soon, the rain intensified, and the raindrops pounded on the ground, forming muddy streams that meandered deeper into the valley.

Inside a secluded cave, a small campfire quietly rose in the dim light.

The orange-red flames flickered, casting a long, lonely shadow.

Uchiha Itachi sat quietly in front of the campfire, his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, motionless, his eyes reflecting the dancing flames before him, his thoughts unreadable.

Rainwater dripped down the rock wall at the cave entrance, forming a small puddle that rippled outwards, mirroring his state of mind at that moment.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely at this moment.

"Splash..."

A tall, imposing figure walked in, blocking out most of the remaining light.

Kisame Hoshigaki leaned the massive Samehada sword on his shoulder against the rock wall at the cave entrance, shook the rain off his head, and a hint of impatience appeared on his shark-like face.

"This weather doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon," he complained hoarsely, and sat down by the campfire.

Itachi remained in that position, offering no response.

Kisame was already used to this. He moved closer to the fire and stretched out his hands towards the warm firelight.

After a moment of silence, Kisame seemed to suddenly remember something, turned his head, and a playful glint flashed in his small eyes.

“Speaking of which, Mr. Itachi,” he said in a low voice, “I just heard some very interesting information from Zetsu.”

"It's about your adorable little brother."

The crackling of the campfire seemed to become clearer at this moment.

Itachi remained motionless, but his usually calm and unwavering eyes twitched almost imperceptibly.

Kisame grinned, revealing a set of sharp teeth, and said slowly in a gloating tone, "Just recently, Konoha officially listed Uchiha Sasuke as an S-rank rogue ninja."

"..."

The campfire was still crackling.

"I heard it's to steal one of the legendary Sannin, Tsunade."

Kisame continued to add the information he knew, "For this, he did not hesitate to confront Jiraiya face to face, and finally left calmly with his men."

"Tsk tsk."

Kisame shook his head and exclaimed in admiration, "Truly remarkable! How long has it been? He's already grown to the point where he can rival the Sannin. He truly lives up to his reputation as Itachi's younger brother."

Uchiha Itachi remained silent, but his hands, which should have been relaxed on his knees, quietly clenched.

Kisame took in everything and continued to ask, "So, Itachi-san?"

"How does it feel to have your own younger brother, just like us, officially embark on this path of betraying the village?"

For a long, long time.

Just when Kisame thought he would remain silent, a sigh finally escaped Itachi's lips.

"...His path has been cut off."

"Huh?" Kisame frowned, completely failing to understand this seemingly nonsensical statement.

But he didn't press the matter further. He was just a companion responsible for wielding the knife; some things were best left unsaid and not his concern.

Inside the cave, silence reigned once more, broken only by the increasingly dense sound of rain outside.

Uchiha Itachi slowly stood up, his wide sleeves slipping down, and walked unhurriedly towards the cave entrance shrouded in rain.

"Hey, Mr. Itachi."

Kisame watched his retreating figure as he was about to step into the rain and subconsciously said, "The rain is still heavy; getting wet isn't good for your health."

However, Itachi Uchiha did not stop.

He walked out of the cave, out of that only light, and completely merged into the cold rain.

The dense rain instantly soaked his long, jet-black hair, strands of which clung to his cheeks and slid down his jawline.

He stood there quietly, slightly raising his head, gazing up at the endless gray sky.

No one could see his expression at that moment, nor would anyone know what he was thinking.

Inside the cave, Kisame Hoshigaki sat alone by the warm campfire, staring blankly at the lonely figure standing in the rain at the cave entrance, and shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.

He knew that he could never truly set foot in Itachi's world.

But he also stood up, walked to the cave entrance, and sighed softly to his companion in the rain. His usually hoarse voice even carried a rare touch of tenderness at this moment.

"I have no idea what you're thinking right now, you cold-hearted person..."

He paused, his eyes reflecting the image of his somewhat frail companion in the rain.

"But, Itachi-san, from my perspective..."

"You look like you're crying."

As soon as he finished speaking, Itachi's body paused almost imperceptibly, but not because of Kisame's words.

He slowly raised his left hand, and a ring engraved with the character "朱" (zhu) was emitting a faint chakra fluctuation on his ring finger.

It was a summons from the leader.

Itachi slowly turned around and walked back into the cave through the rain.

"What's wrong, Itachi-san?" Kisame asked, instinctively gripping Samehada beside him as he looked at him.

"leader."

Itachi gave a brief explanation, then formed hand seals in front of his chest.

"Oh? Is it that troublesome technique?" Kisame pursed his lips, but also began forming hand seals.

The Illusionary Body Technique.

This is a unique ninjutsu of the Akatsuki leader. Using the rings on each member's hands that represent their respective identities as a medium, the chakra of members thousands of miles apart is forcibly transformed into a special spiritual energy body, and then projected together in one place.

As the final seal was completed, their bodies remained unchanged, but their consciousnesses had already traversed thousands of miles to reach another space.

It was a dark and empty cave.

Before Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki's figures materialized in this place, several similar figures had already quietly stood in the darkness.

Each figure was distinct in form, but the sense of oppression was the same.

At the very center of all the figures was a figure whose face was covered with black iron rods and whose eyes were filled with eerie purple ripples.

Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki organization.

"Everyone is here."

A cold, emotionless voice came from the figure: "Then, the meeting begins."

His gaze swept over every projection present, finally settling on Itachi Uchiha's calm figure.

"Not long ago, Jiraiya appeared in Tanabata Town, accompanied by Sasuke Uchiha and a mysterious woman."

"According to Zetsu's information, a battle broke out between them, but Jiraiya was ultimately unable to stop him, while Uchiha Sasuke calmly left with Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin."

These words caused a subtle ripple in most of the people present.

"Uchiha Sasuke..."

Payne's voice rang out again, "His strength has exceeded our expectations. Such a talent should be put to use by Akatsuki."

“I propose that we recruit him into the organization,” Payne stated, revealing the crux of the meeting.

Itachi remained silent, offering no response.

"Huh? Just a brat who hasn't even grown up yet, what right does he have..." Scorpion's hoarse voice was full of disdain.

"I agree!"

A blond figure, however, seemed unusually excited and spoke up very proactively, "Leader, give me this task!"

"Deidara".

"Yes!"

"Your task is to invite him, show him the power of Akatsuki, and then bring him back."

Deidara seemed to have thought of something, a wild smile spreading across his face as he tilted his head and asked, "Then, leader, if..."