Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"The price is the user's soul..." Orochimaru repeated in a low voice, then let out a soft laugh, "A very fair deal."

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly meaningful, "But what's truly interesting is this sentence."

Orochimaru's finger touched the text at the bottom of the stone tablet.

"...its origins are ancient, predating the Six Paths of Reincarnation..."

Prior to the Six Realms...

"..."

Sasuke frowned deeply as he looked at the line of text, a huge sense of contradiction welling up inside him.

He turned his head and stared intently at Orochimaru, his voice tinged with uncertainty: "The Sage of Six Paths is the legendary progenitor of chakra; he brought chakra into this world."

“That’s right.” Orochimaru nodded; the version of the myth he knew was the same.

"If this myth is true..."

Sasuke's speech quickened, his thoughts racing. "That means everything about chakra must have appeared after the Sage of Six Paths."

"Therefore, the 'Death God' summoned by the 'Reaper Death Seal' which is based on chakra cannot exist for longer than the Sage of Six Paths."

The logical paradox caused Sasuke to furrow his brow.

Is there an error in the records about the Uzumaki clan?

Sasuke's first thought was this, but he quickly dismissed it.

The inscription clearly states that the Sage of Six Paths was their ancestor, so there's no reason to make a mistake on such a fundamental matter of faith.

Sasuke's heart skipped a beat, and an absurd thought uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

unless......

The "chakra" and "Sage of Six Paths" of this world are merely later additions.

The being known as "Death" originates from an even more ancient power, just like in another world.

This explains why spirit particles exist in this world.

Similarly, the reason he and Yoruichi could use the power of the Shinigami without restraint in the ninja world was because their spiritual energy could be replenished in this world.

This explanation connects everything.

"pity."

A hint of regret flashed in Sasuke's eyes. He exhaled a breath of stale air and muttered to himself, "The Land of Whirlpools perished too soon."

Otherwise, we could get clearer and more certain information directly here, instead of making wild guesses like we are now.

"What are you planning to do next?" Sasuke turned his head and asked Orochimaru, who was also deep in thought beside him.

The souls of the man's arms are still imprisoned inside the belly of "Death".

There are clearly no more valuable clues here.

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru turned his gaze away from the ancient stone tablet, a slightly weary smile appearing on his face.

"What else can we do?" He patted the dust off his hands and muttered hoarsely to himself, "Of course, we have to find that so-called 'Grim Reaper' first."

"Based on the intelligence I gathered earlier, it seems that a special item is needed to break the 'Dead Demon Seal'."

"A death mask originating from the Uzumaki clan."

He looked up, surveyed the desolate ruins, and shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.

"I didn't have high hopes of finding it here. I just came here to try my luck and see if I could find any other clues."

"But now it seems that this place has been looted too thoroughly."

Orochimaru looked around, but there was little disappointment in his eyes. "However, I have remembered another place."

Sasuke's gaze met his, and the same name surfaced in both of their minds.

"It seems there's still a shrine belonging to the Uzumaki clan preserved in Konoha," Sasuke said calmly.

“That’s right.” Orochimaru nodded.

After the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, Konoha, as an ally, recovered a portion of the Uzumaki clan's legacy and then rebuilt a secluded shrine for them on the outskirts of the village.

The most central building is a repository that houses the sacrificial masks of the Uzumaki clan throughout history...

Namen-do!

If the 'Grim Reaper Mask' really still exists, then the most likely place for it to be is there!

"Of course, it cannot be completely guaranteed."

Orochimaru knew very well that Konoha was not the only one involved in dividing up the Land of Whirlpools' heritage back then.

"After all, too many countries coveted that power back then, and no one can say for sure whether that mask has already ended up somewhere else."

This "elsewhere" is clearly a reference.

For example...the Hidden Cloud Village, which just sent people to recruit them.

Sasuke nodded slightly. Since the clues about the "Death God" pointed to Konoha, it was necessary for him to go back.

Just now.

"Ok?"

Sasuke suddenly stopped, abruptly raised his head, and his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as he stared intently at the distant sky.

Orochimaru noticed it almost at the same time, a hint of amusement flashing in his snake eyes.

"Hehe... It seems we have new guests."

Sasuke strode forward, saying, "Let's go see who it is."

..........

Ruins of Wochao Village.

Under the cold moonlight, the broken walls and ruins cast jagged shadows, silently telling the tragic story of the past.

A giant white bird circled silently, with two figures wearing long robes with black backgrounds and red clouds on its back.

"This is the once famous Land of Whirlpools, huh."

Deidara looked down with great interest, marveling, "I can't imagine what a prosperous scene it must have been when it was intact."

"Deidara".

The bulky and strange figure beside him slowly turned its head and asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you think you can find Uchiha Sasuke by just flying aimlessly like this?"

"Don't be in such a hurry, Master Scorpion."

Deidara looked up at the crescent moon in the sky, a wild smile spreading across his face. "Isn't it true that that kid has a strong sense of perception? If he can detect Zetsu, then he can definitely detect us too."

"Prey will actively seek out the hunter, hmm."

"Why do you think he won't run away?" Scorpion asked thoughtfully.

Deidara didn't reply immediately. He felt from the bottom of his heart that the Uchiha clan was arrogant, whether it was that damned Itachi Uchiha or Sasuke Uchiha.

Therefore, he believed that as long as Uchiha Sasuke sensed his presence, he would definitely show himself instead of running away.

His deep-seated sense of family pride wouldn't allow him to do that.

A moment later, Deidara suddenly turned his head to the left and then smiled.

"It seems my judgment was correct, Master Scorpion."

There stood a half-collapsed pillar, and a black-haired boy stood atop the pillar.

His black robe fluttered in the night wind, and the twin swords at his waist reflected a cold light in the moonlight.

The moon's phase was perfectly reflected behind him.

It forms a scene resembling ukiyo-e prints.

You were right.

Hiruko narrowed her dim yellow eyes, and quietly raised her hands hidden beneath the puppet. "Uchiha Sasuke really came to us of his own accord."

On the stone pillar, Sasuke looked up at them, his voice piercing the silence of the night.

"Is he deliberately waiting here to choose an auspicious burial site?"

The moment he finished speaking, a tremendous spiritual pressure erupted from his seemingly frail body.

The stone pillar beneath their feet groaned under the immense pressure, and fine cracks spread instantly.

But the two men only changed their expressions slightly.

Under his own pressure, he did not back down, nor was he greatly affected.

"That brat's audacity..."

Deidara grinned, his shock quickly turning into a predatory smirk. "Zetsu said before that he overwhelmed an elite Jonin of the Cloud Ninja with just his aura. I thought that part of the information was false."

"So it really does have such a powerful aura, hmm!"

He exchanged a glance with Sasori, then leaped off the back of the giant clay bird, landing heavily on the other side of the ruins, facing Sasuke from afar.

"No wonder he had the courage to show himself."

Sasuke also leaped lightly, landing gracefully from the collapsing stone pillar. He crossed his arms and calmly surveyed the two people before him.

"To be able to stand so easily in front of me, one must indeed have some magnanimity."

As the distance closed, he could see more clearly.

The blond boy wore a headband from Iwagakure on his forehead, but a deep scratch on it completely destroyed the symbol of the "village".

And another one...

Sasuke's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The bloated puppet body appeared empty to him.

Without the clearly visible spiritual energy of a normal person, it's like an empty shell... without a soul.

interesting.

Sasuke's gaze lingered on the puppet for a moment before shifting away, finally landing on Deidara's face.