Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"It's an honor, little brother Sasuke." Mei Terumi smiled brightly, her body trembling, and she pronounced the last two words with exceptional gentleness.

After apologizing and thanking Sasuke again, Ao instantly left. He needed to report everything that had happened to Elder Yuanshi immediately so that they could decide what to do next.

Mei Terumi personally led Sasuke and Orochimaru into Kirigakure.

The village was indeed less prosperous than Konoha, and even more desolate than some of the bustling towns in the Land of Fire.

“This village has experienced some very bad things in the past,” Terumi Mei said softly as she led the way. “It has only recently recovered somewhat after years of recuperation.”

"However, in the end, it still can't compare to those countries on land."

She paused for a moment before finally steer the conversation to its core.

"What kind of place in a small village like ours could attract someone like you, Sasuke, to come here in person?"

"Just taking a look around." Sasuke's voice was calm. "To see what Kirigakure and the Land of Water are like, and how they differ from the Land of Fire and Konoha."

He paused, then added.

"By the way, I also want to ask Kirigakure for something."

Mei Terumi's heart sank the moment she heard the word "demand".

Sure enough, there was a clear purpose behind it.

Moreover, the word used was "demand" rather than "buy" or "exchange," which implied a strong stance that made her wary.

But what exactly does he want?

Her mind raced.

The most precious thing in Kirigakure...

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?

Two Jinchūriki?

But now, almost all of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have defected, leaving only one sword behind, which is still a child prodigy who hasn't fully grown up.

The Six-Tails Jinchuriki also defected and disappeared without a trace; his whereabouts are unknown.

The Three-Tails can be said to still be under the village's control, but the vacancy of a Jinchūriki has never been filled.

Currently, Wuyin is at the bottom of the "Five Great Nations".

In other words, the Land of Water is located on the sea, almost isolated from the world, and protected by natural barriers.

Otherwise, it would have been divided and swallowed up by the other four major powers long ago through war.

"I wonder what exactly Sasuke wants to ask for?"

She took half a step forward, closing the distance between herself and Sasuke. A faint fragrance wafted out with her movement. "Anything I can decide, I will certainly offer it to you."

However, Sasuke did not react as she expected.

"Isobu, do you think it should still remain in Kirigakure's hands?"

"..."

Mei Terumi's heart, which had been pounding, strangely calmed down the moment she heard that name.

So they really came for the tailed beasts?

She smiled bitterly to herself. This was perhaps the worst of all the possibilities, but it was also the most direct one.

But her face still maintained that calm smile, without revealing the slightest turmoil in her heart.

"So you came here for the Three-Tails."

Mei Terumi covered her mouth and chuckled, as if it were not a big deal. "But this is indeed not something I can decide immediately. After all, it is an important strategic resource that concerns the safety of the village."

She bowed slightly to Sasuke, her posture very humble. "Please rest here for a while, little brother Sasuke. I need to go and discuss something with the village elders."

She turned around and hurried away.

However, she had not yet taken her first step.

"No need."

A calm voice made her, who was about to leave, freeze in place.

In the next instant, Sasuke appeared in front of her like a ghost.

They were so close that Mei Terumi could even see the three slowly rotating black tomoe in the other person's eyes.

"......you?"

Mei Terumi's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to back away instantly.

But it was too late.

At this moment, vision began to distort, consciousness was gradually swallowed up, and the light in his eyes began to fade little by little.

.........

Inside a solemn meeting room in the Water Shadow Building.

The few remaining high-ranking elders of Kirigakure sat upright.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Sitting in the very center was an elderly man, with a withered body and almost all his teeth missing.

He was the master of Kirigakure, the most senior member of the village.

"...That's how it happened."

Qing's voice was low as he recounted the confrontation that had occurred at the village entrance not long ago to the elders present.

"Your White Eye was injured in an instant?" An elder with a scar on his face frowned, his voice full of doubt. "Qing, weren't you too careless?"

"Or is that Uchiha brat even more sinister than the rumors suggest?" another person chimed in.

"We don't know his purpose, what should we do now?"

“How about…” one of the youngest-looking Jonin hesitated before speaking, “that Lady Terumi Mei find an opportunity, under the guise of a ‘sparring match,’ to test his strength?”

"If he is truly as powerful as the rumors suggest, then we should treat him as an honored guest and befriend such a future powerhouse. There's nothing wrong with that."

"But what if he's just a figurehead..."

He didn't say anything more, but the murderous intent in his eyes was self-evident.

This suggestion elicited expressions of approval from many present.

The strong should be treated like the strong, while the weak have no reason to exist.

This is the simplest yet cruelest rule passed down from the era of the "Village of Blood Mist".

"I object."

Qing's calm voice rang out at that moment, interrupting everyone's discussion.

"Why?" The young Jonin looked at him, puzzled.

"You all know the Uchiha clan. If Mei Terumi can win, then everything will be fine."

Ao's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice becoming more serious, "But if we can't win, given the nature of the Uchiha clan, do you think he'll treat it as a mere 'sparring match' that ends in a draw?"

"The outcome at that time will be beyond our control."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

After a long while, Master Yuan's aged voice rang out again.

"Let Mei Terumi choose for herself."

He tapped the ground gently with his snake-shaped wooden cane. "She is the one who will lead the future of this village. She must have this judgment."

Just then, the tightly closed door was hurriedly pushed open by a member of the secret service.

"Report! Lady Terumi Mei has left the village with those three outsiders!"

"What?!" All the elders present stood up at the same time.

"Which direction did they go?!" Qing demanded sharply.

"Yes, yes..." The ANBU member's voice trembled, "It's the lake where the Three-Tailed Isobu is!"

"what?!"

"Damn it! Has she gone mad?!"

All the Jonin present instantly erupted in chaos.

The scarred elder cursed and turned to rush out, shouting, "What is she thinking?! How dare she bring an outsider to a place like that!"

"Stop right there, all of you."

The master slammed his wooden staff down, instantly silencing all the commotion.

He looked at the ANBU member, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes. "Mei Terumi isn't such a reckless person. She must have her own reasons for doing this."

"Don't forget the role that the Uchiha clan's eyes can play when facing tailed beasts."

These words calmed everyone down.

"You mean..." Ao's one eye suddenly lit up, "Lady Terumi Mei wants to use that Uchiha Sasuke's power to try to tame the Three-Tails again?!"

"That's possible."

Genshi nodded. "The Three-Tails' power is too immense, and since Yagura, no one in our village has been able to become a qualified Jinchuriki."

"Rather than letting it remain an unusable resource as it is now, it would be better to..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood.

yes......

One of the Jonin thought to himself, if he could really use this opportunity to give the village a perfect Jinchuriki again, it would be worth it even if he had to send Mei Terumi away.

Unfortunately...

A deep sense of regret flashed in his eyes.

Since the "Village of Blood Mist" era, when the Fourth Mizukage Yagura brutally purged the village's bloodline limit ninjas, Kirigakure has not only lost top-tier bloodline limits like the Sharingan, but even those of slightly lower quality have long been slaughtered.

As a result, the strength of Kirigakure plummeted.