Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

But his ultimate goal was neither to follow anyone nor to betray anyone.

But everyone, big or small, should have a goal in life.

Orochimaru yearns for truth, Sasori pursues eternity, while that brat from the Uchiha clan clamors to reshape the world.

And what about yourself?

Kabuto paused slightly in the shadows of the forest.

He remembered a long, long time ago, on that cold, rainy night, when the kunai in his hand pierced through the chest of the woman who had given him a "name" and an "identity".

From that moment on, he was lost.

He didn't know who he was, nor where he should go.

He kept imitating Orochimaru's ambition and Sasori's ruthlessness, trying to find a fragment from these powerful figures that could prove his "self" existed.

He just...

"I'm just searching for my true self."

Dou murmured softly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes behind his glasses that he himself didn't even notice.

Soon, that confusion was replaced by a gentle smile.

His figure once again disappeared into the darkness ahead.

After all, the real show has only just begun.

..........

Sasori's return caused a minor stir within Akatsuki.

After learning that Sasuke had killed Deidara, he, like Orochimaru, was officially added to the Akatsuki's kill list.

But Sasuke didn't care at all; in fact, he was even looking forward to it.

But what's even more ironic is Konoha's reaction.

Konoha did indeed list "Uchiha Sasuke" as an S-rank rogue ninja, but the wanted poster was essentially worthless.

No pursuing forces were dispatched from the village, not even a symbolic investigation team appeared.

This information is not difficult for Sasuke to obtain now.

He and Orochimaru did not deliberately conceal their whereabouts, and they traveled leisurely across the land of the Land of Fire. No fool dared to provoke them.

The latest information is that Tsunade has returned safely to Konoha, but left after a short stay, still refusing the Hokage position.

Ultimately, with the joint recommendation of the two advisors and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Kakashi Hatake became the Fifth Hokage.

"The Fifth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake..." Sasuke only let out a faint, ambiguous laugh when he heard the news.

He could almost picture the man looking at the mountain of mess in Konoha with a headache.

"How pathetic," Sasuke muttered to himself.

In the past few days, instead of rushing back to Konoha to find the "Grim Reaper Mask," he acted like a true traveler, visiting shrines and temples of all sizes along the way.

He needs some kind of answer.

"..."

Inside the ancient temple, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Sasuke stood quietly in front of a huge mural, his Sharingan taking in the mottled patterns on it.

The painting depicts a goddess draped in feathers with an indistinct face, descending from the clouds to bring a bountiful harvest and prosperity to the kneeling worshippers below.

"Konohana Sakuya-hime..." Sasuke murmured softly, but there was no trace of awe in his eyes.

"My lord."

Behind her, an old woman dressed as a shrine maiden, leaning on a cane, walked forward unsteadily, a devout smile on her face.

"She is the cherry blossom goddess who protects the mountains and rivers of this place. Legend has it that her existence is older than the earth itself."

Sasuke slowly turned his head and calmly looked at her.

"Older than the Sage of Six Paths?"

"..."

The old woman's smile froze for a moment, and she subconsciously avoided Sasuke's gaze, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

"That's how it's recorded in ancient books," she replied vaguely.

Sasuke didn't press further; he saw the lie in those evasive eyes.

This doesn't mean the content recorded on those murals is false; it just means she doesn't seem to believe these records in her heart.

This is not an isolated case.

In recent days, he visited several temples that enshrine ancient deities such as "Ōyamatsumi-no-Kami" and "Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto", and the answers he received were all the same.

People who make offerings to deities do not necessarily believe in them.

They simply used it as a profession to make a living, a means to appease believers.

As for the veracity of those myths... who cares?

This is yet another reality that Sasuke has come to realize during this period of time.

.........

The Land of Fire, a prosperous town.

Inside the tavern, the dim lights cast long shadows of the guests.

In a corner on the first floor, the atmosphere was somewhat somber.

"Orochimaru, are those things you mentioned true?" Sasuke pushed a cup of sake towards Orochimaru and asked in a calm voice.

"Hmm?" A hint of amusement flashed in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes.

“The ‘gods’ enshrined in those shrines.”

"Sasuke-kun, you seem quite interested in these long-forgotten things." Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely as he picked up his wine glass.

He downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his snake-like eyes.

"Those records should be correct."

“I have seen similar descriptions in some of the oldest scrolls,” Orochimaru said slowly.

"Legend has it that long ago, before the power of chakra existed, people and powerful beings used another power, and the gods were born by relying on this power."

"And those 'gods' you speak of are beings born from that ancient power."

"But with the appearance of the Sage of Six Paths, the era of chakra arrived, the old power system was replaced, and those ancient 'gods' and their power were gradually submerged in the dust of history."

He paused, a sly glint in his snake-like eyes. "Of course, some 'embers' will always be preserved, but they are confined to certain ancient shrines or secret groups that still worship the old gods."

Sasuke listened quietly, his knuckles tapping lightly on the table unconsciously.

"Speaking of which," Orochimaru said, a playful smile appearing on his face, "you should have seen the information about Hidan in the Akatsuki intelligence I gave you, right?"

"Hmm." Sasuke nodded slightly.

"That guy was once blessed by the 'god' he worshipped, which gave him the ability to be almost 'immortal'."

"Oh?" A hint of interest flashed in Sasuke's eyes. "What kind of god is that?"

Orochimaru grinned, revealing a wicked smile.

"A very interesting name..."

"—The Evil God." He looked at Sasuke, a hint of regret flashing in his snake-like eyes.

"After learning that the guy possessed 'immortality,' I spent a lot of energy investigating that so-called 'cult of evil gods.'"

“But unfortunately…” Orochimaru chuckled self-deprecatingly, “those believers who knew how to obtain ‘blessings’ seemed to have been sacrificed to their god by that madman Hidan in the end.”

"I left no useful clues, and in the end, all my efforts were in vain."

"..."

Sasuke remained silent.

An ancient power, predating the gods of the six realms...

All the clues seem to point to a mysterious past.

That past seems to be intricately connected to the power within him from "another world."

It seems that after going to Konoha to find the "Shinigami Mask," it's also necessary to personally verify these clues about the "gods."

In the silence, Sasuke suddenly raised his head and looked towards the door.

Two familiar chakras walked in.

It is Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro.

"Lord Orochimaru." Upon seeing Orochimaru, Kabuto immediately stepped forward to greet him.

Orochimaru stuck out his tongue, licked his lips, and said in a flippant tone, "You're back so quickly, Kabuto. Your performance really surprises me. I didn't think you would be such a loyal person."

"It really touched me."

Yakushi Kabuto forced a fake smile: "My loyalty to Lord Orochimaru is in no way inferior to that to Lord Kimimaro."

"hehe......"

Orochimaru sneered and didn't continue the topic. "In that case, let's make preparations. We should head to Konoha."

"Yes."

At that moment, Kimimaro, who had been silent all along, finally stepped forward.

"Lord Orochimaru." He knelt down on one knee before Orochimaru.

Orochimaru glanced at him, a hint of displeasure in his voice: "You should be resting right now."

"My body doesn't have much time left."

Kimimaro remained calm. "Kabuto examined me and said that even if nothing is done, I only have a few months to live."

"Rather than die in bed, I want to do more for Lord Orochimaru."