Naruto: Sasuke's return

[Chapter Size: 1100 Words.]

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Sasuke lowered his head, lost in a trance. In his dazed vision, the blurred face so close to him gradually became clear as his thoughts and reality intertwined.

It was an extremely familiar and gentle face to the reborn Sasuke!

Naruto lay quietly on his back in the water, his body covered in bruises, and his orange clothes stained with dirt.

Sasuke, in pursuit of power to avenge Itachi, he deserted the village and joined Orochimaru. Naruto relentlessly chased after him, leading to a battle at the Valley of the End!

After the clash of their beliefs, Naruto fell!

"This really is a rebirth, an impartial one that goes back forty years."

"Looking back, the first person I saw, it was still you, Naruto…"

Sasuke smiled, then laughed until tears streamed down his face. He had wished, more than once, to see his best friend again. He originally thought it was a luxury beyond his reach, but now, his best friend was right in front of him, alive!

He reached out and touched his best friend's face, thinking about the bonds he had once lost, the ones he lacked the power to save, yet somehow, they had survived until now. The gods had shown him mercy, allowing him to start over. He cursed in front of his best friend's face.

"I swear... I will never let that future happen again!!!"

Deep within his soul, the emotions of love and separation, repressed for decades, were far more powerful than the mere pain of witnessing a loved one's death!

A special chakra surged, affecting his optic nerve!

The three hidden magatamas appeared, spinning before his eyes as they completed their transformation into a hexagram!

Forty years in the past, Sasuke had been reborn, awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan the moment he returned!

The rain continued to fall, causing ripples to form endlessly on the water's surface. Returning from the joy of rebirth and seeing his best friend again, Sasuke stood up. With his mission in mind, he now faced his first choice.

Would he return to Konoha with Naruto and take things slowly, or would he become a rogue ninja once again and seek out Orochimaru?

Although reluctant to part ways with Naruto, he quickly made his decision!

"Orochimaru is the key to changing the future. Setsuna will awaken in thirty years. I must use those thirty years to bridge a gap spanning thousands of years in the foundation. From now on, every second counts!"

"It seems I'm destined to become a rogue ninja once more..."

Naruto's ninja way was a gospel for times of peace, and until now, Sasuke had never denied that!

But the facts had proven that Naruto's path alone could not save the Ninja World from the threat of the Otsutsuki god!

Sasuke looked at his best friend's sleeping, peaceful face and once again tied the forehead protector symbolizing a rogue ninja around his chest. However, unlike before, this time he took Naruto's hands and gently placed them flat against the metal plate. Then, he leaped from the water to the top of Hashirama Senju's statue, glancing back at his best friend.

He knew, from the moment he chose to defect from Konoha again, the battle at the Valley of the End was destined to be reenacted!

But this time, the faith and purpose in his eyes were completely different.

"Naruto, this time, this time will be different. Wait for me..."

Sasuke departed resolutely.

…

Four Days Later – Orochimaru's Hideout.

He had changed into a pure white kimono, dark blue pants, and wrapped a purple rope belt around his waist. Just like before, he arrived before Orochimaru, guided by Kabuto.

A meeting that, in his past life, had taken place four days later, but after forty long years, it had finally happened again.

Four days ago, during their farewell under the distant starry sky, Orochimaru's intellectual voice and appearance were still fresh in Sasuke's mind.

Yet at this moment, under the dim candlelight, Orochimaru's sinister face made Sasuke feel as if he were in another world.

Sasuke knew very well that the Orochimaru standing before him was merely using his thirst for vengeance against Itachi, seeking to turn him into a vessel for reincarnation. This was not the Orochimaru whom he had come to respect as a mentor and almost as family!

His goal now was to defeat Orochimaru and implant the chakra light orb containing the future Orochimaru's knowledge, memories, and emotions into his body!

During the invasion of Konoha, the Third Hokage had used the Shiki Fūjin to seal Orochimaru's soul within both his hands, rendering him incapable of using ninjutsu. However, just a few days ago, he had successfully reincarnated using an experimental subject!

Orochimaru greeted him with a smile. "Sasuke-kun, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"..." Sasuke lowered his head, saying nothing.

Nearby, Kabuto adjusted his glasses and said, "Look up and let Lord Orochimaru see you."

Slowly, Sasuke lifted his head, meeting Orochimaru's gaze, and in that instant, something from deep within Sasuke's soul sent a chilling sense of wrongness through Orochimaru's entire body, making his hair stand on end!

"Huh!?"

Orochimaru's pupils suddenly shrank. "Sasuke-kun's eyes, they are completely different from before!!!"

How could he have known, that within the young body standing before him resided a soul whose power had once rivaled that of the Six Paths himself?

Though Orochimaru did not understand the specifics, his instincts screamed that this Sasuke was extremely dangerous!!!

"Kabuto…! Get away!!"

"What...!?"

Before Kabuto could react, a massive, dark purple monster emerged from the depths, grabbing him fiercely with a massive hand!

"Genjutsu?! But this chakra. What is happening?"

"Thud!"

Kabuto's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground!

"Chirr!"

Sasuke's eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan!

Orochimaru immediately understood. "I see, those eyes. It seems you've killed Naruto and gained the same eyes as Itachi. This is beyond my expectations..."

"Chirr!"

The power of the Cursed Seal on the back of Sasuke's neck was unleashed, lightning crackling in his palm as he launched a sudden attack on Orochimaru!

"Whoosh!"

Even with his hands disabled, Orochimaru was still fast. With just a glance at Kabuto, he disappeared from his seat in an instant!

"Boom!"

As the walls cracked, the two burst into the open air!

At that moment, Sasuke had already activated the second stage of his Cursed Seal. His entire body darkened to a shade of grayish-black, and bat-like wings sprouted from his back as he hovered in the air!

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