Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

In his palm floated a small, transparent bottle, inside which was soaking a scarlet eyeball.

"The Hokage of Konoha has such limited capacity."

The masked man let out a contemptuous sneer, his voice hoarse, "I thought it would take a lot of effort."

"Well then, goodbye."

He took a step back, his body becoming ethereal again, merging into the re-emerging distorted vortex.

"Lord Hokage!"

Shikaku quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee beside Kakashi, his eyes filled with seriousness.

He quickly scanned Kakashi's injuries, and his heart sank.

Although there were many wounds, and they looked gruesome, they all cleverly avoided vital points and were not fatal.

Compared to his physical injuries, Kakashi's current state is more like his soul has been emptied out.

Kakashi's eyes were vacant as he stared blankly at the ceiling, unresponsive to anything around him.

I think I'm...

After a long while, Kakashi murmured as if in a dream, "I know who he is."

Shikaku was stunned. He leaned down, trying to hear more clearly: "What did you say? During the battle just now, did you find any symbols that could prove his identity?"

Kakashi didn't answer, but just muttered to himself.

"His Mangekyou Sharingan is exactly the same as the one I have."

"Exactly the same?!" Shikaku repeated incredulously, his brain momentarily blanking out.

"My eyelid also has a kaleidoscope effect."

"After Sasuke left, I tried to explore the deeper power of that eye."

"Unexpectedly, I mastered it very easily."

"It seems to have awakened a long, long time ago, but it wasn't until that time that I truly became aware of its existence for the first time."

Kakashi's voice was filled with an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

"The exact same pattern."

"His is his right eye, and mine is his left eye."

"The Mangekyou Sharingan I awakened also possesses space-time ninjutsu."

He turned his head to look at Lu Jiu, his voice hoarse.

"Tell me, is there any other possibility besides it being the same person?"

Lu Jiu remained silent, unsure of what to say.

The origin of Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan is known to almost every Konoha ninja of any standing.

His gaze fell on the desk that had already been tilted over.

During the fight just now, the picture frame on the table was shaken and flipped over.

At this moment, the group photo lies quietly amidst the chaotic pile of documents.

The figures of three of the four people in the photo are somewhat blurry due to the reflection.

Only on the far left, the black-haired boy wearing goggles had his smile clearly visible in the sunlight.

That was Kakashi Hatake's former teammate, Obito Uchiha of the Uchiha clan.

Why did he...?

Kakashi's voice trembled, "It's going to turn out like this?"

He suddenly raised his hand and gripped Shikaku's sleeve tightly, his eyes filled with bloodshot eyes and pain.

"If it really is him..."

Kakashi's voice was a near-collapsed wail, "So he wanted to harm the teacher's newborn child!"

"It was him who killed Minato-sensei that night!"

........

Meanwhile, Sasuke and his group returned to the borders of the Land of Fire.

"Sasuke-kun." Kabuto Yakushi quietly appeared beside Sasuke. "We just received the latest intelligence from Konoha."

Sasuke nodded, signaling him to continue.

He pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his voice low, as if he were watching a good show.

"The Fifth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake, was attacked in the Hokage's office."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow slightly, but still didn't turn around.

Kabuto continued, his tone grave: "According to official Konoha news, the Hokage is seriously injured but not in mortal danger, however..."

"But his Sharingan, which he transplanted from the Uchiha clan, was taken away."

These words finally made Sasuke stop in his tracks.

"Who did this?"

"A man wearing a swirling mask."

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses. "Based on the Hokage's own identification and the highest-level arrest warrant subsequently issued by Konoha, the man's identity can now be confirmed."

"It's Uchiha Obito."

"Uchiha Obito?"

Sasuke repeated the unfamiliar name in a low voice, his brows furrowed slightly. In his memory, there seemed to be no one in the Uchiha clan with this name.

"Yes, Obito Uchiha."

Kabuto, clearly having done his homework, began to explain in detail.

"This person was a student of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and a companion of Kakashi Hatake."

"During the Battle of Kannabi Bridge in the Third Shinobi World War, he was crushed by a boulder while protecting his comrades and was declared to have died in the line of duty."

He paused, then added, "It is said that Kakashi's Sharingan was transplanted to him by Obito as a 'Jonin's gift' before his death."

"After the battle, Konoha did not find Obito Uchiha's body when they were cleaning up the battlefield."

Kabuto's voice became meaningful, "But at the time, the battle was chaotic, and everyone believed that Iwagakure took the bodies with them in order to obtain the secret of the bloodline limit."

"At the time, it was on the battlefield, and such things were not uncommon, so Konoha simply announced his death unilaterally and did not pursue the matter further."

"His name was simply engraved on the memorial stone."

"But now it seems..."

Dou adjusted his glasses and gave his final conclusion, "It seems that the hero from back then didn't really die."

"..."

Sasuke paused for a moment, then his voice returned to its usual calm: "What about Itachi Uchiha? Is there any news about him?"

"Have."

This time, Kabuto's answer was even more straightforward: "Intelligence indicates that he recently entered the Land of Fire alone."

He looked at Sasuke and added, "The exact location is still unclear."

Sasuke nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

He knew where Itachi would go.

That place that holds all of the Uchiha's memories.

Nanga Shrine.

He will be there, waiting for me.

"gone."

Sasuke uttered two words, his figure blurred, and he sped away.

.........

Dusk at Nanka Shrine.

The setting sun, like blood, stained the ancient shrine's torii gate with a poignant beauty.

Sasuke stood alone at the foot of those familiar steps, gazing up at the building that held all the glory of the Uchiha clan.

He could feel that familiar aura deep within the shrine.

he came.

Sasuke took a deep breath and started walking.

"Little brat."

Yoruichi sensed the barely perceptible restlessness emanating from Sasuke and spoke in a low voice.

"I'll go with you."

Sasuke's body stiffened, and he finally shook his head.

"No need, this is between him and me."

"I don't need anyone's help in this matter."

You came all by yourself?

Yoruichi frowned, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. "You're not acting right right now. Are you really okay?"

Sasuke didn't answer immediately, but silently looked at her.

After a long while, he nodded, turned around, and walked forward.

"fine."

He spoke those two words very softly, yet they made Yoruichi's heart sink for no reason.

“Little Sasuke…” He stepped forward, wanting to say something more.