Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

That look, that aura, and those unknown powers...

Is he really just a genius?

But as Ban said.

Even if he's strong, could he possibly be stronger than Madara Uchiha and the legendary Hashirama Senju combined?

That's true...

That's unlikely... right?

The land of rain.

Sasuke looked at Nagato, who had returned from the Pure Land, or rather, at his eyes.

"It's still the Rinnegan..."

Madara did indeed gouge out Nagato's eyes after his resurrection, but those eyes were still preserved in Nagato's soul.

"Is it because of the special nature of the Pure Land?" Sasuke wondered to himself.

The Pure Land is the final resting place for the soul. Perhaps there, the soul exists in its most "perfect" or "most profound" form?

Or perhaps Nagato used those eyes for so long that his soul was tainted by them and came to regard them as a part of himself?

"What are you looking at?"

Nagato seemed to notice Sasuke's gaze and looked up to ask.

"It's nothing." Sasuke withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly, "I'm just a little curious about how much power you can still unleash now."

Nagato looked at his hands, his fingers lightly clenched.

“I feel better than when I was alive,” he answered honestly. “Having gotten rid of that broken body, I feel lighter than ever before.”

"That's good."

Sasuke nodded slightly, and just as he was about to say something more, a soft sound of footsteps approached.

"It seems I've disturbed you?" Orochimaru stepped out of the shadows.

Orochimaru...

Nagato's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Don't look at me like that, Chief."

Orochimaru shrugged, looking completely innocent. "I'm Sasuke's most loyal ally now."

He looked at Jiraiya and let out a soft, ambiguous laugh.

"Hehe... What a rare guest, Jiraiya."

"I never expected that we would meet again in a place like this."

Jiraiya looked at his former best friend with a complicated expression.

"Orochimaru..." he murmured the name, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes, "You're still the same, you haven't changed at all."

"Change?" Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice mocking. "If a person changes easily, then he is no longer himself."

"But you are Jiraiya."

His gaze swept over Jiraiya's attire and the blond boy peeking out from behind him.

"Are you still playing this kind of ninja game?"

"Humph."

Jiraiya snorted coldly and turned his head away, clearly not wanting to dwell on this topic any longer.

"Sasuke-kun."

Orochimaru turned his gaze to Sasuke, his smile fading and his expression turning serious.

"Although I don't want to spoil your enjoyment, I have some terrible news to tell you."

Sasuke didn't turn around, but simply asked, "What news?"

“The five great ninja villages have united.” Orochimaru walked to Sasuke’s side. “They have already assembled a ninja alliance of more than 40,000 people in the Land of Iron.”

"The target is you."

"Orochimaru, what did you say?!"

Jiraiya strode forward, grabbed Orochimaru by the collar, and said urgently, "The Five Great Nations uniting? To attack Sasuke? How is that possible?!"

"Has Konoha agreed?!"

"Let go, Jiraiya."

Orochimaru wasn't angry. He just sneered and said, "Kakashi's situation isn't very good right now."

"Although he strongly opposed it, even threatening to resign as Hokage in protest, you know that this level of decision is beyond the control of a single Kage."

"This is the common will of the five daimyo."

Orochimaru's voice was full of sarcasm.

“Those fat pigs sitting in high positions were terrified by Sasuke’s statement about ‘abolishing the daimyo’.”

"They'll do anything to keep their pitiful power and status."

"Although Konoha and Kirigakure refused to send troops, they could not prevent the formation of the Allied Forces."

"in other words......"

Orochimaru turned his head to look at Sasuke, his expression becoming somewhat serious.

"Sasuke, right now you can barely be considered to be an enemy of the entire ninja world."

Jiraiya stood there, stunned, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He knew Sasuke was very strong, ridiculously strong.

But those are the five great nations!

Can one person really stand against the whole world?

"Oh?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow slightly. "Forty thousand people...?"

"After witnessing my power, how could they still have such courage?"

"Perhaps I should praise them?"

"No, Sasuke-kun, that's not courage."

Orochimaru shook his head, a mocking smile on his face.

"It is fear, and it is greed."

Orochimaru's voice turned deep, "As I just said, this is the will of the Daimyo."

"They fear your power, but they fear even more the new world you have described."

"That's why they're acting like madmen, desperately trying to nip you in the bud."

"Even if it costs the lives of all the ninjas, I will not hesitate."

At this point, Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.

"Although it's somewhat laughable, in a sense..."

"These daimyo are indeed prepared to perish together with you."

"So, Sasuke-kun."

Orochimaru looked at him and asked seriously, "What do you plan to do?"

"Should we temporarily avoid the limelight, or...?"

Sasuke scoffed, interrupting him.

Does an ant colony become scary?

"and......"

Sasuke raised his head, his gaze fixed on the distant Land of Iron. "This is a good opportunity, isn't it?"

"Since they're so eager to come and die, I'll grant their wish."

"It's much easier to solve all the problems at once than to deal with them one by one."

"Sasuke, what are you planning to do...?"

Nagato tilted her head slightly, looking at the figure bathed in sunlight.

Sasuke nodded, without denying it.

"I have no intention of playing hide-and-seek with them."

"They don't have the patience to wait here for them to come to them."

He turned around to face the crowd, his white robe fluttering even without wind.

"Since they want to fight, let's just settle it once and for all."

"To avoid trouble later."

Orochimaru smiled excitedly. "I knew you would choose this. I'm really looking forward to it."

"Orochimaru, Nagato."

Sasuke looked at the group and asked calmly, "Do you want to come along?"

"of course."

Orochimaru nodded without hesitation, "How could I miss such a historic moment?"

Nagato and Konan exchanged a glance and nodded firmly.

"Now that we've decided to follow you, we'll go together no matter where we go."

"I'm not going."

Jiraiya's voice was somewhat muffled as he looked at Sasuke with a complex expression.