Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

The convenience store owner, consumed by rage, was clearly unaware of what had happened and was only preoccupied with the useless broom.

He raised his head, about to continue his cursing, when he suddenly realized that a blade was pressed against his throat.

The blade was extremely thin, gleaming with an ominous light; with the slightest movement, it could slice through his throat in the next instant.

All the curses the shop owner choked in his throat. He looked at the child in front of him in horror, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

Sasuke didn't look up at him, but said in a low voice, "Swinging a weapon at someone weaker than yourself... how ugly."

"You..." The shop owner's teeth began to chatter, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty as he struggled to understand this inexplicable statement.

Sasuke's gaze finally shifted slightly upwards, landing on his face, which was contorted with fear.

"You're noisy."

He stated a simple fact, and then, with a slight pressure, the blade pressed against the other man's throat, leaving a shallow bloodstain.

"If I ever hear your ugly roar again, or ever see your disgusting face again..."

Sasuke's voice remained calm, yet it made the shop owner feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"...I'll kill you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist, and the Zanpakuto returned to its sheath with a soft hum.

The damned sense of oppression vanished instantly. The shop owner's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, no longer daring to make a sound.

This is the most direct way of dealing with things that he learned in the Eleventh Division.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Sasuke never once glanced at Naruto on the ground.

After doing all this, he turned around and continued walking towards the Uchiha clan's territory, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

Only the shop owner, slumped on the ground, and Naruto Uzumaki, who was holding his head and secretly opening his eyes to watch him leave, were left behind.

-----------------

Smoke swirled around.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his large desk and took a deep drag on his pipe.

Before him floated a crystal ball, its surface clearly reflecting everything that had just happened on the street.

From the shop owner's roar to Sasuke's incredibly fast sword strike, and then to his cold threat behind him.

The Third Hokage's brows were furrowed, and his eyes held a complex expression.

When he saw Sasuke help Naruto, a sense of relief flashed through his heart.

"Even after such a tragedy, he still retains the instinct to protect his comrades? This is the embodiment of the 'Will of Fire'..." he muttered to himself unconsciously.

However, the next second, the image of Sasuke holding a knife to a villager's throat, and the unwavering words "I'll kill you," sank his heart again.

That didn't seem like protection; it was more like an act done on a whim.

And the long sword that appeared out of thin air in his hand—these were like sharp thorns piercing the Third Hokage's heart.

"Hiruzen, it seems you've seen it too."

A somber voice came from the shadows of the office.

Danzo Shimura, leaning on a cane, had appeared there at some point, the bandages wrapped around half of his face making him look even more sinister.

His gaze also fell on the crystal ball, but instead of the worries of the third generation, his eyes held an undisguised greed.

"A survivor of the Uchiha clan, filled with distrust of the village, and possessing a unique power."

"Such an existence is too dangerous."

Danzo's voice was hoarse, like a viper hissing, "He is like a blade without a sheath, which could hurt the person holding it at any moment."

He turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Leave him to me, Hiruzen."

“Only by working on the ‘roots’ can we completely erase the superfluous emotions in his heart and forge him into a weapon that is only for the use of Konoha. This is the most advantageous choice for the village.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, took another drag of his cigarette, and the thick white smoke almost completely obscured his face.

"Danzo, I refuse."

"Why?!"

Danzo's tone carried a hint of anger as he reminded him, "Are you still clinging to your naive ideas? The Uchiha clan is naturally prone to being driven by hatred, let alone this child who witnessed everything!"

"Letting him grow up freely will only create a second Madara Uchiha!"

“Precisely because he witnessed everything, we must not push him into darkness.” Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly put down his pipe and looked directly at Danzo’s exposed eye.

"He is a hero of Konoha, the son of Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto, and a member of the village."

“We have already wronged the Uchiha enough. We cannot use dark methods to treat this only survivor.”

"Innocent!"

Danzo angrily retorted, "Womanly compassion will only destroy Konoha!"

“I know what I’m doing.” Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Danzo, and looked down at the thriving village.

“I will send someone to guide him in the future. I believe that leaves can only grow strong under the sun. I will make him understand that Konoha is his home, not a prison.”

"You'll regret this, monkey!"

Danzo slammed his cane on the ground. "When this beast goes out of control and stretches its claws toward the village, you will regret your decision today!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn back.

"That's enough. I won't regret it. Remember, I am the Hokage."

boom!

Danzo remained silent in the shadows for a moment, then finally let out a cold snort and stormed out of the door in a fit of rage.

The office returned to silence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the empty gate and shook his head.

"Have someone replace the door. Also, put the money in Danzo's account."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his head and looked at the crystal ball again, but the worry in his eyes did not diminish at all.

He knew that Danzo's words were not entirely without merit.

The child's indifferent profile, and the ninja sword that appeared out of nowhere...

"I hope my choice... is the right one," he muttered to himself, picking up his heavy pipe again and looking towards the distant Hokage Rock.

"Teacher, everything that has happened these past few days is for Konoha, right...?"

Chapter 4 Light

Leaving the bustling streets, the surroundings gradually quieted down.

Sasuke walked expressionlessly toward the Uchiha clan's territory, his mind racing as he processed all the information he had gathered since his return.

The ambiguity of the Third Hokage, and the power belonging to the Shinigami deep within his soul...

Lost in his own thoughts, he instinctively ignored the deliberately soft footsteps behind him.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the person behind me suddenly made a erratic sound, as if stepping on a stone.

Sasuke suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned around, his eyes sweeping over a low wall.

Are they the monitors, sent by the Third Hokage?

The thought flashed through his mind, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he remained silent.

Behind the wall, Naruto's heart was pounding in his chest.

He was so focused on Sasuke's back that he completely forgot to watch his step.

When he saw Sasuke stop, he was so frightened that he immediately shrank back, pressing his back tightly against the cold wall.

"Didn't they find out?" Naruto muttered to himself.

He stayed in place for a while, and only after sensing that there was no movement outside did he cautiously peek out half of his head.

The streets were deserted; Sasuke had vanished from sight.

"Huh? Did they leave?"

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, then emerged from behind the wall with a hint of disappointment, scratching his head. "What a strange guy..."

Are you looking for me?

A cold voice rang out behind him without warning.

Naruto's hair stood on end instantly, and he stiffly turned his head to meet a pair of dark eyes.

Uchiha Sasuke had somehow appeared behind him, and to make matters worse, the long sword that had just severed the broom was now firmly pressed against his neck.

“You…” Naruto was startled, but strangely, he felt no fear.

"What do you want to do by following me?" Sasuke's tone was somewhat cold.

Most people would be completely bewildered in this situation, but Naruto's thought process is clearly different from others.

Completely ignoring the threat to his neck, his bright blue eyes gleamed as he shouted excitedly:

"Hey! What was that you just now?"

How did that sword appear in a flash? It's amazing! Can you teach me how to use it?!

"..." Sasuke's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Naruto seemed completely oblivious to his increasingly cold expression and continued to press, "And another thing, why aren't you afraid of those adults? That boss was super fierce, and you actually dared to point a knife at him, that was so cool!"

"Where did you get your knife?"

It's so noisy...

This was the only thought in Sasuke's mind.

This blond kid is so familiar with me, and what's even stranger is that I don't seem to dislike him at all.

With a flick of his wrist, his Zanpakuto instantly returned to its sheath.