Konoha Village.
Two figures, weary from a long journey, entered the village.
They were none other than Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto, returning after years of training.
Naruto dropped his bag and climbed up a tall, sturdy utility pole, overlooking the scenery of Konoha Village.
"So nostalgic…"
Naruto spread his arms wide, reminiscing about the scenery with a fond smile: "The village hasn't changed much!"
"Hmm…"
Jiraiya stroked his chin.
"Naruto!"
A slim young woman, Haruno Sakura, ran over with three young genin from Konohamaru's squad. They were Naruto's former followers, now all genin of the village.
"Sakura!"
Naruto leaped down from the pole, joyfully greeting his old friend: "Long time no see, Sakura…"
"..."
Sakura gazed at the now-grown Naruto.
The young blond man before her had a calm demeanor, completely different from his unruly childhood self, as if he had become a different person in just a few years.
"Naruto-nii, Sexy Jutsu!"
Konohamaru proudly used the Sexy Jutsu taught by Naruto, transforming into a naked, voluptuous woman and blowing a kiss to everyone!
"How is it?"
Konohamaru boasted: "How is it, Naruto-nii, isn't this sexy and enchanting enough?"
"Konohamaru, I'm not a kid anymore…"
Naruto chuckled softly, advising gently: "You shouldn't use such a low-level jutsu anymore…"
Konohamaru looked downcast, a heavy atmosphere enveloping the group as they all felt a sense of melancholy over the passage of time.
Indeed…
Children do grow up…
However, in the next second, Naruto's calm demeanor vanished as he clenched his fist: "Your Sexy Jutsu is not refined enough, let me show you my new version developed during my training!"
Just as Naruto was about to demonstrate his new Sexy Jutsu to Konohamaru, Sakura punched him away in anger!
While this side was lively, the other side was particularly quiet.
Two hooded figures passed by them, seemingly uninterested in the commotion, walking by without a glance.
"Huh?"
Naruto, with a bloody nose from the punch, curiously looked back as if he had seen a familiar face: "Hey, wait…"
"Shh!"
Sakura raised her finger, hastily stopping Naruto from provoking those two: "Don't talk, those two with hooded cloaks and Root's symbol on their backs, they are Root ninjas, don't mess with them!"
"Root?"
Naruto recalled Root and Akihara Kagura, and asked in surprise: "Weren't they Kagura's subordinates…"
"Yes."
Sakura's expression turned serious: "Root is now the most powerful department in the village, even taking over the police force's authority, overseeing all the ninjas in the village, and can arrest anyone at any time without restraint…"
"..."
Jiraiya frowned.
"Let's go see Lady Tsunade first."
Sakura's eyes showed a trace of worry.
On the other side.
The two hooded figures continued their low-voiced conversation.
One of them removed his hood, smiling and asking: "Sasuke, how does it feel to see old friends?"
"Hmph…"
The other person refused to remove his hood, a smirk forming on his lips as he sneered: "That guy… still an idiot as ever…"
"Let's go back to Root."
Kabuto smiled, leading Uchiha Sasuke back to Root.
They hadn't needed to pass through here but had decided to after seeing Naruto and Jiraiya return to the village.
Meanwhile, inside Root's base.
When Akihara Kagura saw Uchiha Sasuke, he beckoned him to remove his cloak, revealing the curse mark on his neck: "Alright, you've passed your trial, let me examine the curse mark left by Orochimaru…"
"Huh?"
Sasuke curiously looked at Kagura.
The curse mark had greatly enhanced his jutsus, and Sasuke hadn't noticed any hidden dangers within it.
"Dispel Curse Seal."
Kagura extended his palm, injecting his chakra into the curse mark, and a long snake immediately emerged from it.
The snake opened its mouth wide!
Orochimaru crawled out from the snake, his eyes freezing upon seeing Kagura, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
"What is going on?"
Sasuke was shocked!
Having killed Orochimaru and absorbed his chakra, Sasuke couldn't fathom how Orochimaru could resurrect in this manner!
"This fight was also a trap set by Lord Orochimaru."
Kagura glanced at Orochimaru, explaining to Sasuke: "Due to the curse mark on you, Lord Orochimaru was never truly killed by you, hiding within you. The Living Corpse Reincarnation requires the consent of the caster for a perfect transfer. He can always lurk inside you, waiting for the chance to take over your body…"
"You always ruin my plans…"
Orochimaru took a deep breath, filled with dissatisfaction towards Kagura.
After failing to take Sasuke's body, Orochimaru had hidden within Sasuke, planning to seize his body as Kagura described, but had been exposed as soon as he hid.
"!!!"
Sasuke was about to draw his sword.
"Enough."
Kagura restrained Sasuke's hand, commanding: "When I arranged for you to go to Lord Orochimaru, it was in preparation for this trial. I anticipated this outcome, which is why I urged you to kill him quickly and return to Konoha…"
"Wait…"
Orochimaru squinted, scanning Sasuke and Kagura's faces: "Kagura, I have a question. When I took Sasuke from Konoha…"
How did these two end up together?
What did Kagura's arrangement mean?
"It was pre-arranged by me."
Kagura nodded, not denying it: "Sasuke was arranged to feign defection, acting as an informant by your side, reporting your movements to me…"
"This was to avoid Lord Orochimaru's suspicion of Kabuto, so Sasuke became another hidden assistant by your side…"
"What a crafty plan…"
Orochimaru smiled bitterly, at a loss for words.
However…
Having experienced worse, Orochimaru felt less despair in his heart.
"Just a small maneuver."
Kagura shook his head, placing his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, imprinting his curse mark: "My curse mark should be safer than Lord Orochimaru, you should quickly master it. Keeping Orochimaru's curse mark was to avoid his suspicion. Adapt to it and ask if you have any questions…"
"Yes."
Sasuke nodded slowly.
"You may leave now."
Kagura waved Sasuke off: "I will arrange a trial for you in the afternoon and then assign you a new mission…"
"Yes."
Sasuke nodded and asked: "When can I kill Itachi? His intel…"
"Your next mission might involve encountering him."
Kagura's words filled Sasuke with anticipation.
"Yes!"
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with determination, adding: "Orochimaru's base still has two others, Suigetsu and Jugo, who I think are suitable to…"
"Do as you see fit."
Kagura looked at Sasuke, smiling as he offered encouragement: "I've heard you and Karin are competing for the future leader of Root. Because of your excellent performance on this mission, Sasuke, from today, you are qualified to compete with Karin…"
"If you become the leader of Root in the future, you will need your own team. But keep Root's matters from them for now, let them follow you."
"Yes!"
Sasuke felt reassured.
It seemed his performance on this first mission had made Kagura look at him differently, even allowing him to compete for Root's future leadership…
"Alright, go and adapt to the curse mark."
Kagura waved Sasuke away, softly reminding: "Karin has already mastered the curse mark to its fullest extent, don't fall behind your opponent."
"Yes."
Sasuke clenched his fist tightly.
The future leadership of Root would be his!
However…
The competition would be fierce.
Because Karin, raised by Kagura from a young age, had always exhibited outstanding talent, always ahead of Sasuke…
"Kagura, your methods are becoming more terrifying…"
Orochimaru smirked as he watched Sasuke leave: "You promise nothing, yet make it seem like you've done a lot…"
"I have done quite a bit for him…"
Kagura shook his head with a smile, turning his gaze to Orochimaru: "Of course, I've also done a lot for you, Lord Orochimaru…"
"No need for such false goodwill."
Orochimaru scoffed, not believing a word from Kagura.
"Rest assured."
Kagura soothed his ally: "After Sasuke kills Itachi, I won't interfere with your and Sasuke's matters…"
As long as…
At that time…
Orochimaru could still defeat Sasuke.
"Lord Orochimaru, greater turbulence is coming."
Kagura warned: "This turbulence will engulf the entire ninja world. If you leave Root, I fear you might meet an unfortunate end. Staying in Root will give you a good place to rest and conduct experiments with Kabuto and Karin…"
Kagura sighed: "The ninja world is abuzz with news of your death by Sasuke. You're already over fifty, you raised me, and now it's my turn to take care of you…"
"..."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with coldness.
This bastard taking care of him?
Orochimaru doubted he'd live past sixty!
At fifty-something, still robust, not yet at retirement age, he suspected Kagura wanted to imprison him in Root!
"I mean it."
Kagura's eyes showed sincerity: "I received intel on the Akatsuki, they're about to take action…"
"Akatsuki?"
Orochimaru became alert, recalling something: "Wait, I remember you have ties with Nagato…"
"Hmm…"
Kagura nodded, sighing: "I have a meeting at the Hokage Tower this afternoon, then I'll leave Konoha tonight to discuss Akatsuki's plans with Nagato…"
"You have quite a few roles…"
Orochimaru's smile was sarcastic, mocking Kagura's ties with various forces in the ninja world.
"This can't be helped…"
Kagura picked up his forehead protector, calmly tying it on: "But once the real plan is in motion, these burdens will be lifted…"
~~~
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