Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"Please grant me permission to go to Konoha with you."

These words caused Orochimaru's eyes to flicker. He remained silent for a moment, then his voice surprisingly warmed: "There's no point in you going with me now."

"Lord Orochimaru, please allow me to shine a faint light for you in the final moments of my life," Kimimaro pleaded once more.

Orochimaru looked up and glanced at Kabuto Yakushi: "Kimimaro, I really wish you were a healthy person."

“I am willing to pay a heavy price for this, even if it means sealing my feet again.”

Kimimaro was truly one of his most satisfying subordinates.

Loyal and powerful.

Moreover, it possesses the extremely rare bloodline limit "Shikotsumyaku," which is comparable to the "Sharingan."

It's a pity.

He was suffering from a serious, incurable illness that even he himself was helpless against.

"Lord Orochimaru," Kimimaro said gravely, "it is my useless body that has burdened you."

Orochimaru stopped speaking and remained silent, deep in thought.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

"Since you're so prepared, let's go together."

Chapter 141 Have I Become Meaningful to You? (5k views)

The Hokage's office in Konoha.

Kakashi Hatake slumped in the chair that symbolized the highest power in the village, staring blankly out the window.

In the days since he became Hokage, he felt like his head was twice the size of his own.

He was put into this position without any preparation.

It's one thing to be unprepared.

Unfortunately, at such a critical moment, troubles seemed to arrive one after another as if by prior arrangement.

Jiraiya took Naruto and Karin on a trip, ostensibly to "find the Child of Prophecy," but in reality, he dumped the biggest mess on them.

After finally returning, Lady Tsunade handled some handover matters briefly before leaving Konoha again under the pretext of "finding herself."

Kakashi's gaze swept over the series of troublesome scrolls.

Negotiations with Sunagakure regarding post-war reparations for the "Konoha Crush Plan" have reached a stalemate.

Messengers from Kumogakure and Iwagakure also arrived one after another, their words filled with probing about the current state of Konoha, their covetousness almost undisguised.

The most troublesome place is Kirigakure.

They somehow learned of Zabuza's whereabouts and took the opportunity to send people to put pressure on him, urging him to hand over Zabuza Momochi and the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai beside him.

Now all these things need to be handled by him.

War was imminent, and the slightest misstep would result in bloodshed.

The only saving grace is that the village has managed to maintain a semblance of stability.

Jiraiya's support before he left cleared many obstacles for him to ascend to this position.

With his public support and his title as a "fourth generation disciple," the Jonin team, despite some complaints, remained relatively calm under the suppression of team leader Nara Shikaku.

As for the two advisor elders, although they were reluctant, they had no choice but to accept it reluctantly in the current situation.

Kakashi was trying to muster his energy to work on the next document.

"Knock knock."

There was a knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and Xiaochun from the next dormitory walked in.

"It seems the Fifth Boss isn't having an easy time." Her voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.

Kakashi put down the scroll in his hand, revealing a listless, dead fish-like look. "If you're here to admire my pathetic state, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

However, Koharu Utatane ignored his joke and simply placed an urgent intelligence report that had just been delivered by the Anbu on his desk.

Kakashi took the scroll, his brows furrowing instantly.

He slowly unrolled the scroll, and when he saw the few words of information on it, his pupils suddenly contracted.

[S-rank rogue ninja Uchiha Sasuke has been confirmed to have returned to Konoha Village this morning, accompanied by S-rank rogue ninja Orochimaru.]

House seemingly endless rain.

Kakashi felt his head start to ache again.

"What's so difficult about this?" Xiaochun, who was turning the dormitory, snorted coldly as she looked at his troubled expression.

Kakashi looked up curiously.

"Didn't Tsunade return safely?"

Koharu Utatane's tone was full of the decisiveness that a superior should have, "Immediately issue an order in the name of the Hokage to withdraw the S-rank rogue ninja warrant for Uchiha Sasuke, and declare to the public that his previous actions were at your behest, and that he is in fact still a ninja of Konoha."

"As for what they want to do..." She paused, her voice growing colder, "Send the order down to all the ninjas not to interfere, to pretend they didn't see anything."

Kakashi glanced at her in surprise.

"Is there a problem?" Xiaochun, who was switching dorms, asked.

Kakashi gave a wry smile.

This is a huge problem!

Can Sasuke still be considered a Konoha ninja? His grudges with Konoha cannot be resolved by this so-called removal of the rogue ninja.

Not to mention that Orochimaru was with him!

"You're the Hokage now, so straighten your thinking, Kakashi."

Koharu Utatane saw through his thoughts and her tone became stern, "You need to consider this from the village's perspective. Konoha can't afford any more disruption right now!"

"If they don't intend to harm the village, then let's pretend we didn't see anything. What he and Orochimaru do is none of our business. That's the best option for the village!"

"......I see."

Kakashi finally nodded and reluctantly agreed, knowing that this was the political choice that best served the village's interests.

Is this what Naruto is like?

The position I admired when I was young, the person my best friend longed to be.

So that's how it is.

Do I have the ability to change this village? To make it better?

he does not know.

However, just as he was about to issue the order to withdraw the arrest warrant, another figure from the secret service appeared urgently in the center of the office.

"Lord Hokage!"

"Urgent intelligence! Team 3 has encountered Uchiha Sasuke and Orochimaru in the woods on the western outskirts of the village!"

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and he abruptly stood up from his chair.

Third class...

Aren't those Kai and his friends?!

Without hesitation, Kakashi's figure left an afterimage as he disappeared from the Hokage's office.

Only a hurried command remained, echoing in the air.

"Summon all standby ANBU! Proceed immediately to the woods on the western outskirts of the village!"

..........

Not long ago, in the woods on the western outskirts of Konoha.

"Yoshi! Today's youth is as fiery as the burning sun!"

Matt Kai's figure darted swiftly along the forest path, his signature watermelon haircut and thick eyebrows standing out prominently in the sunlight.

"You're absolutely right, Mr. Kai!"

Another equally energetic voice followed, also dressed in a green bodysuit, with the same smile as Kai.

"To catch up with Teacher Kai's figure, I will give it my all today!"

"As expected of my disciple, Li!"

"Teacher Kai!"

"plum!"

Tian Tian, ​​who was following behind the two, sighed helplessly and covered her face with her hands.

"Honestly, can't these two just be a little quieter...?"

Neji Hyuga, walking beside her, appeared much calmer, merely glancing around indifferently, already accustomed to this daily farce.

As if it had discovered something, the pupils of its white eyes contracted sharply.

"Stop." Neji's voice rang out, and the two green figures in front of him instantly stopped in their tracks.

"What's wrong, Neji?" Guy turned around, his smile fading.

He understood his disciple's character and knew he would never speak without reason.

"Ahead..."

Neji's voice became extremely solemn as he stared intently at the seemingly peaceful dense forest ahead. "There are several very strong chakras."

"It feels familiar, yet strange, like..."

Before he could finish speaking, four figures slowly emerged from the forest path ahead.

Leading the group was none other than Uchiha Sasuke, who had recently been classified as an S-rank rogue ninja.