Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Orochimaru's face immediately lit up with interest. "I didn't expect Sasuke-kun to know anything about this technique."

"That's right, this is my improved 'Impure World Reincarnation'."

He pointed to the young man with light-colored long hair and introduced him, "Kato Dan, Tsunade's first love, was once a famous Jonin."

He then pointed to the young boy.

“Nawaki, Tsunade’s only younger brother and the eldest grandson of the First Hokage, is also a child with extraordinary talent.”

He paused, a hint of regret in his voice, "What a pity, this woman is very stubborn. After this, I'm afraid she will never help me again."

"What do you plan to do next time?" Sasuke asked calmly.

Orochimaru raised his arms, a mad glint in his snake eyes. "To revitalize the withered nerves, we must find the source that was taken away."

Sasuke's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, awaiting what would happen next.

"I must find that 'Grim Reaper' and personally retrieve the part of my soul that he has taken from me."

Chapter 135 Will the Two Worlds Be Related? (Seeking monthly votes? Extra chapters starting for National Day!)

"grim Reaper......"

Sasuke Uchiha slowly spoke, breaking the silence, "You have a lead?"

He was very curious about the enormous phantom that appeared behind the Third Hokage.

"The Corpse Demon Seal..."

Orochimaru muttered the name of the forbidden technique in a hoarse voice, a hint of fear flashing in his snake-like eyes. "That's the best sealing technique I know of, bar none."

"And its root cause..."

Orochimaru's gaze swept over Sasuke imperceptibly. "He likely comes from an ancient clan that has long since perished, renowned for its mastery of sealing techniques."

"The Whirlpool Clan".

“Uzumaki…” Sasuke’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

“That’s right.” Orochimaru’s voice held a hint of fanaticism.

"A family with extremely tenacious vitality and godlike talent in the field of sealing techniques."

"The Vajra Sealing Technique that their bloodline can unleash is enough to easily suppress the Tailed Beasts, and the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique on Danzo's body is also a forbidden technique originating from their clan."

"But it is precisely because of this power..."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a cold smile. "During the Second Shinobi World War, the surrounding nations, fearing their immense power, rose up against them, and ultimately..."

"With the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki clan also disintegrated."

Sasuke's breath hitched at that moment.

Its immense power instilled fear in everyone, ultimately leading to its destruction...

How familiar this ending is.

Orochimaru took in all of this, and the smile on his face became even more delighted.

"In the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, which have long since turned into wasteland, there may still be clues to the 'Grim Reaper'. If you are interested, we can go and take a look together."

"How is it, Sasuke-kun?"

Although he didn't know why, Orochimaru could clearly see that Sasuke was very interested in that thing called the Grim Reaper.

Sasuke did not answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head.

"Sure." His answer was crisp and decisive.

"Heh... I knew it."

Orochimaru seemed unsurprised by Sasuke's decision, nodding in satisfaction and giving a slight nod to Kabuto Yakushi beside him.

Kabuto understood and took out a scroll that he had prepared beforehand from his pocket, handing it to Sasuke.

"This is?"

"A small gift."

A hint of amusement flashed in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes. "Didn't you have a very bold idea about those tailed beasts before?"

He pointed to the scroll, "This is the Four Symbols Seal, one of the top sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan, and also the basis of the technique that Minato used to seal the Nine-Tails."

"If you want to imprison those big guys inside your body, this thing might be able to help you."

"..."

Sasuke didn't stand on ceremony and reached out to put the cool-feeling scroll into his pocket.

But what he cares about more is still the original question.

What is the true nature of that so-called "Grim Reaper"?

Is it a "technique" created by the Uzumaki clan, or something they summoned from some unknown place?

Considering that he can travel between two worlds, could this thing called Death... really be related to that world?

Meanwhile, at the other end of the stone chamber, that reunion belonging to the past was gradually coming to an end.

"Sister..." Rope Tree's childlike face still held pure joy.

He moved closer to Tsunade, tilted his head back, and looked up at her with curiosity about the future in his eyes.

"The village must have become even more amazing while we were gone!"

As Orochimaru listened to that innocent question and looked at that face that was exactly the same as in his memory, a rare, barely perceptible trace of guilt flashed in his snake eyes.

He recalled a long time ago, in that war-torn era, when Tsunade was still a young girl, and the trust in her eyes when she entrusted her most cherished younger brother to him.

But in the end, I failed to live up to that trust.

"...I'm sorry, Nawaki."

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse. He slowly squatted down and bowed his head to the boy who had died young. "Back then, I failed to protect you."

“Teacher…” Upon hearing this, the smile on Nawaki’s face faltered slightly, as if he did not understand the meaning of the apology.

Kato Dan, standing to the side, appeared more sober. He looked at Orochimaru, then at Tsunade, who was still immersed in the joy of their reunion, and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

“Tsunade…” He walked up to Tsunade, his voice gentle, “We are already dead, we shouldn’t be here.”

"The dead should no longer interfere in the world of the living; our final destination is the Pure Land."

"No!"

However, Tsunade's reaction was far more intense than he had imagined.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes bloodshot and filled with an almost childlike willfulness, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

"I do not want!"

Tsunade, tears streaming down her face, shook her head violently like a helpless child, "I don't want to..."

She looked at the broken tree, then at the rope tree, her voice choked with pleading, "I don't care about the living or the dead! I just want to stay with you a little longer... even if it's just for one more day..."

Seeing the tears in her eyes and hearing her suppressed sobs, Kato Dan's last shred of reason crumbled.

He sighed helplessly, and slowly reached out his cold hand to wipe away the tears on her face.

"......it is good."

After receiving this promise, Tsunade's emotions calmed down a little.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to return to a normal posture, and then her gaze fell on the silent, black-haired boy.

Tsunade strode up to Sasuke, her eyes cold as she demanded, "Uchiha brat, where's that woman in black?"

"woman?"

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.

A woman? He had never seen a woman around Sasuke before. Could it be... that ninja cat that always liked to perch on his shoulder?

When confronted with Tsunade's questioning, Sasuke merely gave her a cold glance.

"It's none of your business."

"You bastard..." Tsunade's emotions, which had just calmed down, instantly became turbulent again.

However, before she could react, an innocent voice had already spoken up first.

"Sister, is he from the Uchiha clan?"

Nawaki had somehow gotten to Tsunade's side, curiously looking at Sasuke, his empty eyes sparkling with a childlike excitement.

"He has two swords on him! He's cooler than any Uchiha I've ever seen!"

He walked around Sasuke once, his face full of undisguised curiosity.

"The Uchiha must be incredibly powerful now, right?! They're a large clan that co-founded the village with our Senju clan. They must be much stronger than us, the declining Senju, now, right?"

He tilted his head back and asked Sasuke in a matter-of-fact tone, "Your clan's Sharingan is so cool. Who's the strongest Uchiha right now? Is it still your clan leader?"

"Is he still in charge of village security, just like before?"

These innocent yet envious words were like salt rubbed into Sasuke's deepest wound.

Sasuke's face darkened in that instant.

His aura suddenly turned cold and dangerous.

He slowly raised his right hand, preparing to teach this ignorant brat a lesson.

However, his wrist was pressed down by another pale hand a moment earlier.

It's Orochimaru.

He slowly shook his head at Sasuke, a complex emotion in his snake-like eyes.

Sasuke met his gaze for a moment, then finally lowered his raised hand.

Tsunade took in everything. She looked at Sasuke and Orochimaru, took a deep breath, and made a decision.

Orochimaru.

She turned around, her voice resolute, "I'm going to take them away from here."