Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"That place is likely a vast space where one can only enter and not leave, used to seal the souls of all the dead."

Sasuke raised his head and looked directly at Urahara and Yoruichi.

"In our world, it is very likely that the so-called cycle of souls does not exist at all."

"Only in, no out..."

Kisuke Urahara murmured to himself, then suddenly stood up from the tatami mat. "I understand! I see!"

"Miss Yoruichi! Sasuke-kun! This might be the root of the balance in that world!"

"Our world is a 'closed-loop' system with a constant total amount of resources!" Urahara spoke rapidly. "Therefore, the loss of any link will lead to the collapse of the entire system!"

"And it doesn't care about your world at all."

"Your world is an 'open', or you could say a 'semi-open' system!"

“The soul can be forcibly pulled back from the Pure Land by the technique of ‘reincarnation,’ or it can be returned to the Pure Land’s seal.”

"The so-called Pure Land is not a simple destination at all."

"It's more like a massive backup database of souls!"

"Even if some souls disappear because of your erasure, it will not be a big deal for the world as a whole!"

"Because the database contains billions of souls from ancient times to the present! It can be replenished and accessed at any time to maintain the balance of the entire world!"

Chapter 160 Transmigration, Hogyoku Experiment

"...a vast database of backup souls."

Kisuke Urahara sat cross-legged, his folding fan long since stopped waving.

They created a "pure land" where only the souls could enter and not leave, sealing away billions of souls within it to completely avoid the risk of "soul imbalance"...

This concept, this style...

"Can human power really do this?" he murmured, as if asking himself, or perhaps the two people beside him.

Yoruichi remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice carrying a hint of solemnity: "If what Sasuke said is true, that world was once of the same origin as us, then that Pure Land may not be the work of humankind."

She turned her head to the side, her cat-like eyes looking at Sasuke. "Perhaps there's a difference between the two worlds, and this existed from the very beginning of that world?"

“That possibility cannot be ruled out.” Sasuke’s answer was calm, but another answer emerged in his mind. “But it is more likely that it was done by the Sage of Six Paths.”

"The Sage of Six Paths..."

Kisuke Urahara repeated the name softly, his eyes filled with even greater infatuation.

If such a being truly exists, capable of accomplishing something even the Spirit King couldn't do single-handedly...

"Then this great power truly lives up to the name of 'immortal'." He exclaimed with heartfelt admiration.

After praising him, Kisuke Urahara's expression turned serious, and his gaze fixed on Sasuke.

"Miss Yoruichi already relayed your goal to me, Sasuke-kun."

He paused, his tone becoming meaningful, "I'm quite curious, what are your plans regarding 'liberating the Spirit King'?"

Sasuke glanced at him, somewhat impatient with the question.

"I don't know, I don't have any specific plans yet."

"I'll find a way to deal with that when I return to that world next time."

"That's quite a nonchalant answer," Kisuke Urahara said, fanning himself, seemingly unsurprised by Sasuke's casualness.

He changed the subject and continued, "So, regarding Aizen, you should already know his true purpose, right?"

"Hmm." Sasuke nodded slightly.

It's nothing more than replacing the Spirit King, who has long been a figurehead, and taking his place on the throne that has been vacant for ten thousand years.

Just then, Kisuke Urahara stopped waving his fan, sniffed the air lightly, and a subtle expression appeared on his face.

"Speaking of which, Sasuke-kun..."

Kisuke Urahara lowered his voice, "I've been smelling a very familiar scent on you since just now."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed instantly. He could clearly feel Urahara's gaze fixed squarely on his waist.

That's where the Hōgyoku is located.

"Aizen gave that thing to you, didn't he?" Kisuke Urahara's voice was devoid of emotion.

"Yes." Sasuke's answer was crisp and decisive.

"Why did Aizen give it to you?" Urahara followed up with his question.

“Hey, Urahara.” Yoruichi sat up straight, a warning glint in her eyes. “Don’t talk to this brat like you’re interrogating him.”

Sasuke, however, did not seem to care. He simply recounted Aizen's words about the "possibility of evolution" in a concise manner.

"That does seem like something he would do."

Kisuke Urahara slowly sat back down, his folding fan swaying lightly again, as if he were processing the information or pondering something.

After a long while, he raised his head again, his signature smile returning to his face, and said in a negotiating tone, "So, Sasuke-kun, could I borrow that stone to study it for a bit?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Yoruichi's cat-like eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing those words, and she glanced at Sasuke instinctively, only to see his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.

"..."

Sasuke didn't speak, he just calmly looked at Urahara.

But a hint of cold hostility had already surfaced in those dark eyes.

"Oh dear! Don't be so nervous!"

Kisuke Urahara immediately raised his hands, a smug smile on his face, and hurriedly waved them to explain, "I didn't mean to steal anything from you! Absolutely not!"

Seeing Sasuke's still unwavering vigilance, he sighed helplessly and finally dropped his shrewd businessman's facade.

"Alright alright."

Kisuke Urahara put down his fan, his expression becoming slightly serious. "Actually, I just had a sudden idea."

"An idea that might allow you to return to that world in a stable way."

The suggestion made Sasuke's eyes flicker slightly, but his hand remained on the hilt of his sword.

"However, this idea is still very immature. There are some key technical problems that I haven't figured out yet."

Urahara looked at Sasuke, then glanced at the pocket at his waist. "Perhaps we need to use the power of the Hogyoku to perform some auxiliary deductions and verifications."

Sasuke looked at him quietly, his face still expressionless.

But his eyes held undisguised suspicion.

"..."

Seeing his unyielding attitude, Kisuke Urahara finally had no choice but to surrender.

"Sigh, there's just no way around it."

He stood up from the tatami mat and beckoned to Sasuke. "I know you don't believe me. In that case, come with me."

Kisuke Urahara turned and walked towards the backyard of the shop. "I'll let you see for yourself, and you'll understand."

"My experiment might offer some insights that could slightly change your perspective."

Having said that, he offered no further explanation and walked straight toward the secret door leading underground.

Sasuke remained silent for a moment, then finally released his grip on the hilt of the sword and followed.

Yoruichi followed closely behind, also with light steps.

........

Kisuke Urahara walked at the front of the way to the underground training ground.

Sasuke followed silently behind him, while Yoruichi reverted to her cat form and gracefully perched on his shoulder.

"Speaking of which, Sasuke-kun, you must have thought about those amazing trips of yours, right?"

Sasuke didn't stop walking; he simply gave a calm "hmm."

"So, in your memory, are there any commonalities among each of these time travels?"

"For example, a specific time, a specific place, or a specific 'trigger'?"

Urahara's tone seemed casual, as if he were conducting an ordinary academic discussion.

"......No."

Sasuke was silent for a moment, the scenes of each time he traveled through time flashing through his mind, but he finally shook his head. "Each time was so sudden, there was no pattern to it, it seemed more like randomness."

From the streets of the present world to the hospital wards of Konoha, from the reverse membrane of Hueco Mundo to the future Konoha...

Each scene was completely unrelated, and each opportunity came unexpectedly.

Is it really random?

Kisuke Urahara stopped in his tracks, turned around and stared at Sasuke with a smile, denying his statement, "I don't think so."

"Based on all the clues I've heard from you so far, every time travel experience points to the same phenomenon."

"—There are forces from two worlds as the trigger, or a collision between two worlds."

"Collision?" Sasuke frowned.

"Yes."

Urahara spoke slowly, as if guiding Sasuke to think along with him, "You said that once you clashed with a being with a huge amount of chakra inside someone's heart, and then you returned here."

"Even your return from that world only happened after the Hollow of the 'Dead Demon Seal' went berserk and collided with your power."

"You're always in the eye of the storm, aren't you?"

These words made Sasuke's eyes flicker slightly. Only after Urahara's reminder did he belatedly realize this detail that he had been overlooking.

but......

"No, your theory has flaws."