Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

The sky was so high and distant it seemed otherworldly, and the air was filled with a rich, natural energy.

"..."

Sasuke instinctively raised his hand, and to his astonishment, he discovered that he could actually see things again.

His vision is clear, almost the same as before he went blind.

"This is not true seeing."

The White Snake Immortal's voice echoed in his heart, "Everything you perceive now is merely a projection of my memories."

"Here, you see the past etched into the earth."

Sasuke's heart sank. So that's how it is.

He looked around and saw Yoruichi, Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and the phantom souls of the three tailed beasts materializing around him.

The scroll of memory unfolds from here.

They saw a man dressed in a white robe, holding a tin staff, with several black spheres floating behind him, who was imparting a philosophy called "Ninjutsu" to the still ignorant creatures on earth.

He taught people how to connect their chakra with each other, and how to use this power to understand, rather than fight.

That man was, without a doubt, the Sage of Six Paths.

He was always accompanied by two very different teenagers.

The eldest son has long, dark hair, sharp eyes, and was born with the Sharingan.

No matter how complex the technique, he could master it after just one look; his talent was so dazzling that it inspired envy.

The second son, however, was quite the opposite.

He was of mediocre talent, even somewhat clumsy, but he always had a warm smile on his face and was willing to use his not-so-powerful strength to help everyone in need. He was always surrounded by laughter and joy.

"The man who fought Ashura was Indra." Kurama frowned as he looked at the familiar figure and introduced in a low voice, "They are all the children of the Six Paths Elder."

The White Snake Immortal silently poked his head out.

She witnessed history.

But witnessing is not the same as understanding.

The images flow.

They witnessed how, in Indra's hands, "Ninjutsu" gradually evolved into a more lethal technique.

I saw how Ashura, with his clumsy "love," united more and more of his companions.

We also saw the Sage of Six Paths, on his deathbed, pass on the position of successor to his second son, whom no one believed in.

"Then why did they fight?" Sasuke asked, looking at the brothers who had turned against each other.

"It seems that it's because Indra is jealous of Ashura being chosen as his successor." Kurama tilted his head, a look of displeasure on his face. "But I'm not quite sure of the more specific reasons."

"I was arrested without any reason."

It was because his place of residence was a little close to the battlefield that he was casually taken away by Asura.

Upon hearing this complaint, a hint of a smile flashed in the White Snake Immortal's snake eyes.

The memory ultimately focuses on that earth-shattering final battle.

The purple, fully-formed Susanoo clashed violently with the golden, three-headed, six-armed giant on this land.

Mountains crumbled and rivers flowed backward.

After an unknown amount of time, all the images receded like the tide.

All we got was the information above.

Just as the White Snake Immortal said.

At that time, it was very cautious and did not make contact with that group of people.

Everything was observed from afar.

"Thank you for your generosity in showing us so many precious things."

Orochimaru, who was standing to the side, was the first to come to his senses. He looked up and thanked the White Snake Sage, "As for the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave, if possible, I hope you can teach it to Sasuke-kun without reservation."

"After all, making that child stronger is what you wanted to see, isn't it?"

These words were spoken flawlessly.

He both praised the White Snake Immortal and made his own request.

The White Snake Immortal shook his head. "It's not that I'm stingy, but his talent is truly unparalleled in my thousands of years of experience, enough to live up to the name of an immortal."

"But whether he himself is willing to take this power depends on his own efforts."

This ambiguous statement caused Orochimaru to frown slightly. Seeing that Sasuke remained silent for a long time, he couldn't help but urge Sasuke on.

"What's wrong? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Sasuke finally snapped out of his reverie and nodded slightly.

"I need this strength."

"very good."

The White Snake Immortal was not surprised by this answer, but then it shook its head, "But it's not that I'm stingy."

"The inheritance of immortal arts may be somewhat different from what you think."

"The immortal arts of our three holy lands are all interconnected in essence, all guiding you to perceive and utilize the natural energy flowing between heaven and earth."

"The reason for the difference is simply that the three of us have different ways of helping contractors get started."

"The method?" A hint of inquiry flashed in Sasuke's eyes.

"The immortal modes of the three holy lands are essentially the same."

The White Snake Sage continued to explain, "The toads of Mount Myōboku use a special toad oil to apply to the contractors."

"That oil can forcefully open the pathway between the human body and nature, helping them to better feel the flow of natural energy."

"It sounds like some kind of convenient anesthetic," Yoruichi said, pursing her lips.

As for this old woman...

The White Snake Immortal grinned as he said this, "I prefer to use the most direct and efficient method to select the truly qualified successors."

Its enormous body slowly moved in front of Sasuke, finally stopping less than a meter away from him.

A strong, fishy smell wafted towards me.

"I will inject my venom into you."

"My venom is a crystallization of pure natural energy in this world, and it will forcibly transform your body."

"If your will and body are strong enough to survive this erosion, then congratulations, you will be qualified to be in harmony with nature."

"But if..."

His voice turned cold, “If your will is devoured by that violent power, then your flesh and blood will turn into stone, and your soul will forever be trapped here, becoming a new collection of Ryuchi Cave.”

"White Snake Sage, are you joking?" Yoruichi's voice turned cold.

"joke?"

The White Snake Immortal let out a hoarse laugh, "Didn't you yourself glimpse the path to immortality through this very method?"

“That’s different!” Yoruichi immediately retorted.

"What's the difference?"

"I..." Yoruichi's breath hitched slightly.

She knew the White Snake Immortal was right; cultivating immortal arts in Dragon Cave was a gamble between life and death.

Only those with strong willpower and vitality, who can find a balance with the energy of nature amidst the extreme pain of the venom corroding their souls, can survive.

The losers, on the other hand, will be completely consumed by the venom.

Yoruichi herself only managed to survive thanks to her extraordinary physique and willpower.

But Sasuke...

As Yoruichi looked at Sasuke's youthful figure, she couldn't suppress the worry in her heart no matter what.

"..."

The atmosphere in the air seemed to freeze slightly.

Sasuke shook his head and calmly said, "I refuse."

These words stunned everyone present.

"...Why?"

The White Snake Immortal's voice betrayed confusion.

It couldn't understand it.

Why would this young man, who clearly has such a pure desire for power, choose to back down at this final hurdle?

"To entrust one's life to the charity of others..."

Sasuke raised his head, his voice turning cold. "I cannot accept this kind of training that involves completely entrusting one's life to the hands of others."

Yoruichi stared blankly at Sasuke's profile, and suddenly she understood.

Sasuke refused, not because he was afraid of the pain and the risk of death.

He simply didn't want to let others decide his fate.

After all, no one knows what the White Snake Immortal injected into his body.

"Hehe... Hahahaha..."

The White Snake Immortal looked at the young man before him, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

He withdrew his fangs, which were about to drip venom, and his massive body once again sat atop the throne of the altar.

"Fine."

The White Snake Immortal's voice held a hint of compromise: "Dragon Cave has been waiting for far too long, far too long, for an interesting successor like you."