Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

"Is this the legendary Uchiha Madara? Only an opponent of this caliber is worthy of my art! Hmm!"

Scorpion, standing beside him, appeared much calmer, silently taking out one sealing scroll after another from the scroll.

"Boom bang bang-"

Accompanied by puffs of white smoke, hundreds of puppets of various shapes instantly filled the entire battlefield, densely packed and terrifying.

Crimson Secret Technique: Hundred Machine Manipulation!

Sasori's eyes were solemn, and hundreds of chakra threads were connected to his ten fingers, controlling this massive puppet army.

"Although I don't know how you were resurrected."

Scorpion's voice was hoarse, "But since you dared to break into Akatsuki's base, you must be prepared to pay the price."

Looking at these two arrogant juniors in front of him, a hint of contempt flashed in Madara's eyes.

"Clay bomb? Puppet?"

He sneered, crossed his arms, and Susanoo's form changed again, growing flesh and blood.

"These are just some underhanded tricks; do you think you can dance in front of me?"

"Come on, please me!"

.............

On the border of the Land of Fire, in a dense forest.

Jiraiya stopped and looked up at the gloomy sky.

"You lecherous immortal, what's wrong?"

Naruto was enthusiastically demonstrating his newly learned ninjutsu to Karin behind him when he saw Jiraiya suddenly stop and asked with some confusion.

"Something's not right."

Jiraiya frowned deeply, his expression turning serious.

These days, even while traveling, intelligence about the impending outbreak of war is pouring in like snowflakes.

The allied forces of the five great nations have assembled, and Sasuke Uchiha declares war on the ninja world...

Each and every one of these events foreshadows an unprecedented storm that is about to break.

"Naruto, we're afraid our training will have to be temporarily suspended."

Jiraiya turned around and said in a deep voice, "We must return to Konoha immediately."

"Huh? Why?"

Naruto pouted in dissatisfaction, "I've only just learned how to develop the Rasengan! Besides, didn't you say you were going to find Granny Tsunade?"

"Don't ask so many questions, this is for your safety."

Jiraiya was well aware that, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto was now the most conspicuous target in this storm.

Just as Naruto was about to argue a few more words, the space in front of him began to distort, emanating a chilling aura.

Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively shielded Naruto and Karin behind him, assuming a fighting stance.

The next second, a tall, slender figure slowly emerged from the distorted space in front of him.

Dressed in pure white divine robes, with long, silvery-white hair casually draped over her shoulders...

Although his appearance had changed drastically, Naruto recognized him at a glance because of that familiar aura that ran deep in his bones.

"S-Sasuke?!"

Naruto was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into a burst of wild joy.

"Is that really you, Sasuke?! What happened to you? You look so cool!"

He waved his arms excitedly, almost instinctively rushing forward, "Where have you been these past few days? I've learned so many new ninjutsu techniques, I was just looking for you..."

"stop!"

Jiraiya reached out and grabbed Naruto's shoulder tightly, forcefully pulling him back.

"Perverted Sage?" Naruto turned around in confusion, looking at Jiraiya with bewilderment.

But they found that the teacher, who was usually so unserious, had a cold expression on his face and his eyes were filled with unprecedented vigilance.

"Don't go over there, Naruto." Jiraiya's voice was low. "He's not the same comrade you knew anymore."

He also knew what Sasuke had been doing lately.

He disrupted the Five Kage Summit, openly declared war on the five great nations, and even threatened to overthrow the entire ninja world order.

More importantly, he is frantically collecting tailed beasts.

Naruto was the last Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Sasuke..."

Jiraiya stepped forward, completely shielding Naruto behind him. "You came here because of the Nine-Tails?"

“You should know,” Sasuke said calmly, his gaze sweeping over Jiraiya, who looked on with alarm. “You can’t stop me.”

"Hmph, we'll have to try and see!"

Jiraiya snorted coldly and quickly formed hand seals.

He was well aware that there might be a significant gap in strength between the two sides, but as a teacher and a Konoha ninja, he would never allow anyone to harm Naruto in front of him.

Even if it costs me my life!

But before he could finish his hand seals, Sasuke suddenly disappeared.

Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat, and before he could react, a cold touch pressed against his neck.

"..."

Jiraiya's body stiffened, his hands, which were forming hand seals, hung in mid-air, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Too fast...

It's so fast that even perception can't capture it, so fast that even thought can't keep up.

"If it weren't for Naruto's sake..." Sasuke's voice echoed in his ear, his tone disdainful, "you would already be dead."

Jiraiya swallowed hard. Although he didn't want to admit it, he knew Sasuke was telling the truth.

In that instant, if Sasuke had really wanted to kill him, he wouldn't even know how he died.

"Since you still care about Naruto..."

Jiraiya forced himself to calm down and gritted his teeth as he asked, "Then why did you come to take the Nine-Tails?!"

"You should know better than anyone that once a Tailed Beast is extracted, the Jinchuriki is doomed to die!"

"Are you trying to kill him?!"

“I have a way to keep him alive.”

Sasuke sheathed his sword, looked at Jiraiya, then at Naruto, and asked, "Besides, don't you think that tailed beasts are a burden to Naruto?"

"From childhood to adulthood, you should know better than me how many scornful looks and ostracism he has suffered because of this fox, right?"

These words left Jiraiya speechless for a moment.

Indeed, at present, the pain that Kurama has brought to Naruto is far greater than the power it has brought.

"Naruto, do you know the truth about those things?" Sasuke asked, looking at the blond boy who had been completely bewildered.

"Sasuke?" Naruto looked at his friend, who was both familiar and unfamiliar, filled with confusion. "What are you talking about? What truth?"

"Shut up!" Jiraiya, who was standing to the side, seemed to realize something, his expression changed drastically, and he shouted sharply, "Sasuke! Stop talking!"

Sasuke merely glanced at him coldly before continuing to speak.

"You've always wanted to know who your parents are, right?"

Naruto's body trembled violently, and his azure eyes widened instantly.

"Your father is the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."

Sasuke's voice was soft, "And your mother was the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki."

"During the Nine-Tails' rampage, they sacrificed themselves to protect the village and to protect you when you were just born, sealing the Nine-Tails inside you."

"this......"

Naruto was completely stunned; he believed Sasuke wouldn't lie to him.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

The Fourth Hokage...

Is he my father?

That person, regarded as a hero by the entire village, the one he had always admired and wanted to surpass...

It turned out to be his own biological father?

"Since I am the son of a hero..."

Naruto's voice trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened. "Then why, why does everyone treat me like this?!"

"Why didn't anyone tell me?! Why am I being treated like a monster?!"

The grievances and anger that had been hidden for more than a decade finally erupted at this moment.

Jiraiya looked at the devastated Naruto, his eyes filled with pain and guilt.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain that it was to protect him...

But these reasons seemed so pale and powerless in the face of Naruto's tearful eyes.

"This is what is known as the Will of Fire."

Sasuke watched this scene, his voice still cold, "For the so-called 'greater good,' you sacrificed your personal happiness, even concealing the truth, leaving you to live in lies and pain."

"Naruto, do you think a village like this is worth protecting?"

"What do you think of that father who sacrificed himself and his wife for the village, even turning his own son into a Jinchūriki...?"

Sasuke paused, then continued, "Does he really love you?"