Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

He turned around and looked at Sasuke, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Sasuke, we..."

He paused, his tone carrying a weariness he himself was unaware of, "It's time to go help the people in the village."

No matter how dark the village was, no matter how it had treated his father, there were still companions he needed to protect there, and bonds he could not sever.

This is a responsibility that has long been ingrained in his bones as Kakashi Hatake and as a Jonin of Konoha.

However, Sasuke didn't even turn his head.

He simply raised his hand and gently ran his fingertips along the cold blade of "Indra," as if soothing a falcon that had just finished its hunt.

"Help them?"

He asked a question in return, his voice soft but carrying a chilling undertone.

Kakashi's heart sank.

Sasuke slowly turned around, his dark eyes calm and undisturbed in the sunlight.

Why should I help them?

He looked at Kakashi, a cold smile curving his lips.

What I need to do now is...

"They must have destroyed the village."

He said this so casually, as if he were stating something perfectly normal.

But every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Kakashi's heart hard.

Danzo is dead; next, it will be his beloved older brother's turn.

He would never forget that in that choice between his clan and Konoha, Itachi chose the village without hesitation.

Since that's the case, then let's completely destroy what he cherishes most.

Just like when he slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan in front of him back then.

Only then will those Mangekyou Sharingan, which are always so aloof, reveal true despair.

"Sasuke... what are you saying?!"

Kakashi Hatake's voice became somewhat hoarse. He subconsciously took a step forward and looked at the twelve-year-old boy in front of him in disbelief.

"Are you betraying Konoha?!"

"betray?"

Sasuke seemed to have heard something amusing and couldn't help but chuckle, his laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm.

He raised his eyes and looked directly into Kakashi's eyes, which were filled with shock.

"Betrayal is based on belonging. I have never considered myself to belong to Konoha, so how can I talk about betrayal?"

These words were like an insurmountable abyss, completely separating the two of them.

Kakashi Hatake swayed slightly. He wanted to refute, to say something, but he couldn't utter a word.

Uchiha Sasuke didn't look at him again and slowly sheathed "Indra".

Of course, he certainly won't destroy Konoha right now.

For no reason whatsoever, it's just that...

It would be so boring if the destruction of Konoha didn't happen in front of Itachi Uchiha.

He turned around and started walking.

The shadow of that thin body stretched long in the sunlight, appearing lonely yet resolute.

"..."

Kakashi Hatake stood there alone, frozen in place.

He looked in the direction Sasuke had left, then turned back to look at the village still burning in the distance. An unprecedented sense of powerlessness swept over him.

Did he win?

He witnessed firsthand the demise of his father's killer.

But he lost too.

A crushing defeat.

He watched helplessly as his most valued student walked step by step into an even deeper, more unfathomable darkness.

But there's nothing I can do.

Finally, Kakashi Hatake slowly raised his hand, covered his eyes, and let out a suppressed chuckle.

Their gaze turned to the war-torn village.

With a flash, he transformed into a streak of silver light and plunged into the chaos.

The paths are different.

Then let's each go our own way.

Chapter 79 The Hokage's Apology? Too Late, and Too Light (4K)

Above the arena, a purple barrier, like an ominous cage, shut out all the noise and screams.

Kakashi Hatake's figure appeared silently on the rooftop at the highest point of the arena.

Before he could catch his breath, his gaze was fixed on everything in front of him.

Within the barrier, fire and earth-based escape techniques, along with wood and water escape techniques, surged.

In the center of that battlefield, the Third Hokage's aged body was locked in a fierce battle with two legendary figures who should have long since passed away.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was panting heavily, his already tattered combat uniform stained with dust and blood.

Kakashi's heart sank.

Immediately, his gaze unconsciously shifted to the other end of the roof, where he immediately spotted the figure that had already arrived.

Uchiha Sasuke stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a protruding chimney, indifferently looking down at the battle that was isolated by the barrier.

Kakashi's feelings were complicated.

At this moment, they seemed to have become the most familiar strangers.

Each stood at one end of the rooftop, separated by an invisible abyss.

"Ugh......"

Kakashi let out a silent sigh in his heart.

He looked at the flowing runes on the barrier wall, and at the scene outside where several Konoha Jonin were attacking the barrier in vain, only to be easily repelled.

Four Purple Flame Array...

The advanced barrier set up by the Sound Four is virtually impossible to break from the outside unless it is broken from within.

Kakashi comforted himself inwardly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to save them; it was that the barrier was blocking him.

Kakashi's eyes became somewhat vacant, as if he were trying to find a reasonable excuse for himself.

That's right, I can't get in.

It's not that I don't want to save them, it's that I can't.

Lord Sandaime...

Please, you must survive.

But this was just a convenient excuse, a reason for him to stand there with a clear conscience as a bystander.

He knew this very well in his heart.

However, Sasuke was standing opposite him.

But what he was thinking about was something else entirely.

His gaze was also fixed on the area within the barrier.

He could sense that the Third Hokage's aura had weakened to its limit.

And Orochimaru...

Sasuke's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

If this guy can't even handle an old man who's about to die.

Sasuke snorted inwardly. He didn't mind personally seeing the Third Hokage off to the Pure Land to keep Danzo company.

After all, the "Hokage" who tacitly approved of the Uchiha tragedy and Danzo's existence was also on his kill list.

His gaze left the two Hokage who were being controlled by the Impure World Reincarnation.

Finally, it slowly descended and landed on another battlefield below the arena.

The battle there seemed to have just ended.

Gaara, the red-haired boy who was the Jinchuriki of Sunagakure, was currently bound tightly by countless strands of long white hair and unable to move. Beside him lay the corpse of a Sunagakure Jonin.

Jiraiya stood to the side, panting heavily; clearly, this battle was no easy feat for him either.

A hint of regret flashed in Sasuke's eyes.

In the end, we were still a step too late.

I had originally planned to take advantage of the situation after dealing with Danzo to meet this so-called "tailed beast" and test its strength myself.

"Tailed Beasts..."

He murmured to himself, a thought flashing through his mind.

Naruto's body contains the Nine-Tails, while this Sand Ninja's, according to intelligence, should contain the One-Tails.

Does having more tails mean you're stronger?