Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

He raised his hand without hesitation when his name appeared on the battle board.

A knowing glint flashed in Sasuke's eyes.

really.

This guy is most likely an inside agent planted by Orochimaru in Konoha.

The following matches were rather dull.

Sakura Haruno failed to pass the preliminary rounds and "died together" with Ino Yamanaka.

Hinata Hyuga's duel with Neji Hyuga did catch his eye slightly.

Fratricide within the same clan, the main family and branch families—a fate bound by the "Caged Bird" curse...

This reminded him of the Uchiha, who were also bound by bloodline and destiny.

But it was only a fleeting thought; Hinata's weak resistance and Neji's arrogant indulgence in fatalism failed to pique his interest whatsoever.

Naruto's victory was entirely within his expectations.

He knew better than anyone else about the progress that idiot had made over the past four years.

What truly changed Sasuke's expression was that duel.

"The lotus of Konoha will bloom once more!"

Rock Lee's figure transformed into a green lightning bolt, almost invisible to the naked eye, using pure taijutsu to corner the Jinchūriki of Sunagakure.

That determination to risk everything for a fleeting moment of brilliance did indeed dazzle even Sasuke for a moment.

However......

When the giant claw formed from sand mercilessly crushed Rock Lee's left hand and left foot, the slight ripple in Sasuke's eyes turned into mockery.

It was a beautiful spark, but also so fragile that it could be easily shattered.

He wasn't mocking Rock Lee's failure, but rather the naiveté of betting everything on "effort".

In this world, effort sometimes seems utterly ridiculous in the face of absolute talent.

Inside the tower, the final lottery ceremony was taking place in a tense atmosphere.

On the battle board, the names of [Naruto Uzumaki] and [Gaara] slowly appeared.

Naruto looked at the name, then glanced at the gloomy red-haired boy not far away. Instead of showing any fear, he grinned and revealed a smile.

"Hey, I'm talking to you, you guy with the gourd on your back."

He nudged Shikamaru beside him and asked in a low voice, "Is he strong?"

Nara Shikamaru yawned, glanced at him with an expression as if he were an idiot, and answered listlessly.

"He's more than just strong, he's a monster. You'd better be careful, he's a real pain."

“A monster…” Naruto murmured the word.

From the railing on the second floor, Uchiha Sasuke took in everything.

Just as he expected, the most reliable person Konoha could send to deal with Gaara was Naruto, who was also a Jinchuriki.

The next twenty days or so are the final preparation time left for the victors.

……

Nanga Shrine.

Sasuke sat cross-legged on the cold stone steps, with "Takemikazuchi" lying across his lap, his eyes closed, his consciousness sinking into the deepest part of his soul.

He was trying to touch the door to the realm called "Bankai".

The plan to assassinate Danzo must be foolproof.

Therefore, he needs greater strength.

He tried to bring Takemikazuchi to life, in an attempt to gain his approval.

However, each time, it ended in failure.

"Isn't that enough?"

Sasuke awoke from deep meditation, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.

“Bankai…” he murmured, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes.

For an ordinary Grim Reaper, it would take decades or even centuries of training to achieve this in just a few years; it is indeed wishful thinking.

……

On the other side of Konoha Village, Naruto's training presented a completely different picture.

"I say, you lecherous immortal!"

At the waterfall outside the hot spring inn, Naruto Uzumaki, shirtless, held a water-filled balloon in his hands, his face full of impatience.

"Is it all just about making this balloon explode? Is that considered cultivation?"

Jiraiya sat leisurely on a nearby rock, holding a pen and paper, claiming he was "looking for inspiration for his next work," but his gaze kept subtly drifting towards the hot spring.

"Idiot! This is the most basic of basics!"

Without turning his head, he lectured, "You'll only be considered a beginner when you can smash it with one hand!"

Without the deliberate interference of the Nine-Tails' chakra, Naruto's control over his own chakra is now far superior to what it used to be, but the precise control required for the Rasengan still gives him a headache.

"Damn it! I don't believe it!"

Naruto gritted his teeth and poured his chakra into the balloon again and again.

But several hours of failures exhausted his already limited patience.

"If one isn't enough, then I'll do it a hundred times!"

A simple and direct thought flashed through his mind. He quickly formed hand seals and shouted, "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

"Bang bang bang—!"

Hundreds of Narutos instantly appeared on the open ground under the waterfall, each holding a water balloon, and the scene immediately became chaotic.

Jiraiya looked at the chaotic scene and was about to reprimand the brat when his eyes suddenly flickered, and he stopped talking.

Finally, just as Naruto's main body chakra was about to give out, he released all the shadow clones.

At the very moment of release.

"Whoaaaaaahh ...

Naruto suddenly clutched his head and squatted down, letting out a piercing scream.

Hundreds of failed experiences, along with the accumulated fatigue of all his clones, flooded his mind at this moment.

The theory is that the experience gained from a shadow clone will be fed back to the original body after the clone dissipates, but no one has ever dared to use it for training because the mental impact would be enough to break a ninja.

But Naruto endured it all.

It took Naruto a long time to recover from the splitting headache.

"I see! That's what it feels like!"

Naruto shouted excitedly, and he suddenly opened his right hand, channeling chakra into his palm.

"Snapped!"

The water balloon burst with a sound.

Since then, Naruto's training progressed by leaps and bounds, and he completed the remaining training in just one week.

In the days leading up to the finals, a deep blue chakra ball had already taken shape steadily in his palm.

"Very good. Now that you have mastered the Rasengan, the next step is the final training."

Jiraiya led Naruto to the edge of a cliff, his expression serious. "Summoning Jutsu, this is the power you must master from now on."

After explaining the hand seals and the contract, he pointed to the bottomless abyss beneath his feet and revealed a malicious smile.

"There is only one way to learn it in a short time."

Before Naruto could react, Jiraiya kicked him, sending him tumbling off the cliff.

"That is, in the moment of life and death, to unleash the full potential within you!"

"Aaaaaah—!!!"

Naruto's shrill screams echoed through the valley.

During his rapid descent, he frantically formed hand seals, trying to summon a spirit beast, but each time he only managed to summon some tadpoles the size of a fist.

"Damn it, why is it still not working!"

The wind howled in my ears, and the shadow of death drew ever closer.

Naruto's mind went blank; all his fear transformed into a desire to live.

"How can I die here? I haven't become Hokage yet! I haven't... earned Sasuke's approval yet!!!"

Driven by this intense will to survive, he bit his thumb again and pressed his blood-stained hand heavily into the air.

"Spiritual communication!!!"

An unprecedentedly huge plume of smoke exploded in mid-air above the valley.

As the smoke cleared, a toad, its body as large as a mountain and a huge dagger at its waist, clung tightly to the cliff face, halting its descent.

On top of that giant toad's head, Naruto Uzumaki was kneeling, panting, with an excited smile on his face, as if he had survived a disaster.

Chapter 75 Lord Danzo, Please Guide Me (4,000-word chapter)

The highlight of the Joint Chunin Exams has finally begun amidst much anticipation.

The stands were packed with people, waving their arms and cheering for the upcoming match.

These genin, who have passed the brutal preliminary selection, will fight here representing their respective villages.

Sasuke crossed his arms and leaned against the shadows at the highest point of the stands, his gaze fixed on the tall figure in the VIP section.

The Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure has arrived.