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After Kakashi was found by the Anbu who rushed to the rescue in the Hall of Faces, he was immediately sent to the Konoha Hospital. That night, Kakashi woke up, and the news of Sasuke's return to Konoha also reached Tsunade.
Then, while Kakashi was recuperating in bed, a special visitor arrived.
That person, claiming to be a white-haired child, was sitting elegantly on the edge of the window, enjoying the night breeze, and listening to Kakashi recount yesterday's terrifying experience.
Kakashi said with lingering fear, "That's how it went. Although I was careless, I don't think Sasuke's current strength is below mine..."
Jiraiya did not rush to a conclusion. He stroked his chin, thought deeply for a long time, and then slowly said, "I've heard rumors about that pair of eyes. It's said that one can only awaken them by killing their closest friend, but Naruto is still alive and well, which proves that something we don't know about must have happened to Sasuke, right? Think about it, are there any details you've overlooked? Even the smallest thing is fine."
Kakashi recalled their brief exchange, "Although I'm not entirely sure, the aura Sasuke gave off seemed different from before..."
"An aura, huh? That's a rather abstract concept..."
Jiraiya mused, "Generally speaking, strength can be improved in a short time, but an aura requires years of cultivation. Do you think Sasuke is still Sasuke?"
Kakashi stared, "If it's not Sasuke, then..."
Jiraiya said gravely, "The worst possibility is that Orochimaru has taken over Sasuke's body!"
Kakashi clasped his hands together, repeatedly confirming the impression in his mind, "Perhaps I was prejudiced, but if that was Orochimaru, I always had an indescribable sense of incongruity. And if it was Orochimaru, would he need me to relay those words to Naruto, merely to mislead and conceal the fact of taking over the body? He doesn't seem to have a reason to do that..."
"Hmm." Jiraiya nodded, "That makes sense. Then this matter remains to be discussed. I'll find a suitable time in the future to meet him personally, and perhaps then I'll find out the truth..."
Kakashi said, "All in all, Sasuke's strength is no longer what it once was, and he will only get stronger in the future. If Naruto is truly determined to bring Sasuke back... I'm afraid hope is slim."
Jiraiya chuckled, "It's impossible to make him give up."
Kakashi sighed, "That's true..."
Jiraiya laughed, "Don't worry, I'll never let him throw his life away!"
"Oh, right..." Kakashi took a scroll from his pocket and threw it out the window.
Jiraiya reached out and caught it. It was an image display scroll specially used by Ninja to reproduce mental images.
After unrolling the scroll and infusing it with Chakra, the image within the scroll was directly imprinted in Jiraiya's mind, and then the scroll was destroyed.
The image projected in his mind was a 'mask'.
Kakashi said, "The mask Sasuke specifically came to Konoha to retrieve, I sketched it from memory. The Whirlpool Clan's Hall of Faces... The Third Hokage recently used the Whirlpool Clan's Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru's hands. It's hard to believe there's no connection. Following this lead might be the breakthrough to unraveling the mystery surrounding Sasuke now..."
"Indeed, this information is quite valuable..."
Saying that, Jiraiya took a blue-covered book from his pocket and threw it into Kakashi's hand!
"This is the final work of my Make-Out series, not yet officially released. Consider it a special get-well gift for you~!"
"Oh, oh oh oh~~~~~ !" Kakashi received it as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Well, then, you can slowly savor its mysteries..."
Jiraiya smiled knowingly, jumped out of the window, his wooden clogs landing on the soft earth!
"Lord Jiraiya."
Kakashi walked to the window, called out to Jiraiya, and earnestly entrusted him, "Naruto, I'm counting on you from now on!"
Jiraiya waved with a smile, leaving behind a heroic silhouette.
...
On a bench on the outskirts of Konoha, where the lights were dim, Naruto stared blankly at Sasuke's rogue Ninja headband.
The sound of wooden clogs came from afar, and the streetlights cast a shadow of one person on the bench, which then became two.
Naruto could not hide his distress, "Perverted Sage, Sasuke has been officially listed as a rogue Ninja by Granny Tsunade. From now on, the Village will hunt Sasuke down..."
Although Sasuke had defected before, he was not on Konoha's hunt list, thanks to Tsunade's special consideration for Naruto. However, Sasuke re-infiltrated the Village and injured Kakashi, and has now been deemed a major threat by Konoha's higher-ups. Tsunade, both emotionally and rationally, could no longer protect him.
"Is that so." Jiraiya's gaze lowered slightly, "Don't blame Tsunade, she has her difficulties..."
Naruto gently placed the headband on his lap, "I understand. Granny has told me the whole story from beginning to end!"
Jiraiya said earnestly, "So you understand, right? The current Sasuke is someone even Kakashi is no match for. If things go wrong, he might even become stronger than me in the future. Even so, do you still plan to bring him back to Konoha?"
Naruto clenched the headband, stood up abruptly, waving his fists, and said emotionally, "Of course!! It has nothing to do with how strong he is! He is my most cherished comrade! Even if I'm torn to shreds, I will definitely bring him back to Konoha! This is my promise to Sakura! And it's my responsibility to my best friend! Nothing can shake it, dattebayo!!!"
"Good, in that case, you must be prepared for what's to come!"
Jiraiya said, "I will compress the three years of training I originally planned for you into one year. After one year, depending on the situation, I will decide whether to take you to that legendary holy land to undergo the same training as me!!"
Naruto instantly became excited, "Eh?? Holy land? Training like the Perverted Sage, it must be a super powerful jutsu, dattebayo! I can't wait, tell me quickly, what kind of jutsu is it, dattebayo!!!"
Jiraiya chuckled, "It's still too early for you to know about these things..."
Naruto circled Jiraiya, constantly whining, "Perverted Sage, why are you like this? Just tell me~!"
Jiraiya had a smile on his face, but an unspeakable bitterness in his heart.
He had originally planned to spend more time with Naruto during the three-year training period to make up for Naruto's lost childhood, and on that basis, improve Naruto's qualities as a Ninja... But now, it seemed this journey was destined not to be too easy or peaceful.
But after all... there was nothing that could be done about it.
The streetlights elongated the shadows of the master and disciple. Without saying goodbye to their familiar people, Jiraiya, carrying a huge scroll, and Naruto, with his backpack, embarked on a training journey that was destined to be extraordinary.
...
Three days later, at dawn, in the Land of Rice Fields, in a sunless underground lair.
Yakushi Kabuto, after a painful transformation, finally completed his metamorphosis.
During this period, Kabuto was nearly devoured by the hashirama cells several times, but he narrowly escaped death each time with his tenacious will and excellent aptitude. The process was truly extremely dangerous...
Afterward, Kabuto said with lingering fear, "This pain is probably comparable to childbirth for a woman. I really don't want to experience it a second time..."
Orochimaru chuckled, "The power of Senju Hashirama is not so easily controlled. What's more cruel is that all hashirama cells recipients are destined to only come close to, but never truly match, the power of the original. Even Madara back then was the same."
"The White Curse Mark I custom-made for Sasuke-kun is unique. After the Ten-Round Battle, he will obtain the complete power of Senju Hashirama in his Uchiha body. This will lay the most solid foundation for him to transform into the most optimal Ōtsutsuki..."
Next, Kabuto underwent the transplantation of his right eye. With the hashirama cells, this was a natural progression. After the optic nerve connection, his right eye transformed into a Mangekyo Sharingan containing 'Butō Tōmei'!
Everything was ready.
Sasuke, "Let's go. To Azure Moon Island, to prepare for the first battle of the Ten-Round Battle!"
Orochimaru, "Azure Moon Island is located in the outer sea near the Land of Water, so departing from a port in the Land of Fire would be more efficient..."
Kabuto's right hand lightly covered his right eye. Through the gap, his pupil glowed.
"The Butō Tōmei's space-time mark doesn't seem to disappear with transplantation. This means all the marks left in the past can be used directly. What an unexpected surprise! With a mark not far from the destination, we can greatly shorten our travel time..."
—Butō Tōmei!
Whoosh! A black vortex was released from his right eye, and Kabuto sucked Sasuke and Orochimaru, along with himself, into it!
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