266-270

Chapter 266: The Aftermath of Orochimaru’s Death

"Orochimaru-sama is dead," Kabuto collapsed onto the ground in shock.

Suddenly, Kabuto felt the world spinning around him.

Orochimaru was dead.

For Kabuto, who had served as a spy for multiple nations from a young age, who was homeless, and who even felt estranged from the only close figure he ever had, his orphanage director, this was a shattering loss.

He felt as if he had once again lost his purpose and identity.

Although he was about the same age as Itachi Uchiha and Aizen Fujiwara, perhaps even a few years older, he neither possessed Itachi’s bloodline abilities nor Fujiwara’s remarkable skills in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.

The only person who gave him a sense of purpose—Orochimaru—was gone.

Kabuto’s mind was in turmoil.

"That’s just how it is," Sasuke said in a cold tone, glancing indifferently at Kabuto before walking away.

He didn’t bother to kill Kabuto, nor did he see him as worth the effort. Besides, Orochimaru’s child would need someone to care for them, and Kabuto’s loyalty meant he’d surely look after the child well.

Next, Sasuke would only need to hunt down everyone in this base who knew that Orochimaru had strengthened him and kill them.

Before long, the vast base was filled with cries of anguish.

In the end, only Mitsuki, Kabuto, and the child Orochimaru was carrying survived, unaware of Sasuke’s history.

This experience profoundly changed Kabuto’s mindset.

He recalled Aizen’s praise for him.

Then he remembered Naruto, who had found his true identity through his bond with the tailed beast during the Battle of the Heaven and Earth Bridge. Kabuto realized he could do the same.

Thus, he transplanted Orochimaru’s white-scaled serpent body onto his left side, hoping to inherit, and perhaps surpass, Orochimaru’s power.

Kabuto officially embarked on his journey to become one of the strongest.

---

*In the Hokage’s Office*

Tsunade summoned Naruto and Sakura, who hadn’t appeared in a while.

With her arms crossed, standing behind her desk, Tsunade spoke her first words as Naruto and Sakura arrived, "Orochimaru is dead."

Naruto and Sakura’s eyes widened, recalling Orochimaru’s menacing figure and feeling a chill run down their spines.

How could someone so powerful be dead? Could it have been Sasuke?

Tsunade quickly confirmed their suspicions, "It was Sasuke Uchiha."

"No way… that monster…" Naruto muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Standing to the right of Tsunade’s desk, Jiraiya added, "There’s no mistake. The information came from a reliable source."

"So… does this mean Sasuke can finally come back to the village?" Naruto swallowed hard, barely believing his own words.

Sakura looked on with hopeful eyes.

"Not a chance," Jiraiya shook his head.

"But why? Isn’t Orochimaru dead?" Naruto asked.

"Sasuke has been consumed by hatred. He’s solely focused on getting revenge on Itachi Uchiha," Jiraiya said. "According to trustworthy intelligence, Sasuke is currently recruiting people to form a team—he seems eager to take on Itachi."

At that, Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged a worried look.

During the Chunin Exams, Aizen had plastered Konoha’s walls with photos of Danzo with Sharingan implants and the cells of the First Hokage. They had narrowly prevented Sasuke from discovering these secrets.

If Sasuke ever found out, he might redirect his rage toward Konoha, and that was their worst fear.

Although the specifics weren’t yet clear, Sasuke’s ability to kill Orochimaru alone was enough to prove his danger.

Thinking about her estranged partner, Tsunade regretted her previous anger that had kept him from returning to Konoha for the past month or two.

If he were here, he’d surely know what was going on.

After a lengthy discussion—or, more accurately, in response to Naruto’s strong insistence—Konoha sent out Teams 7 and 8, led by Kakashi, to track down Itachi and thereby lure Sasuke out.

There were a few changes in Team 7, though. Since Danzo had been taken by Aizen, Sai remained in Root.

Sakura was reassigned to the medical team and couldn’t join the mission. Tearfully, she begged Naruto to bring Sasuke back.

She was replaced by Team 7’s new members, Chinatsu and Karin.

---

Meanwhile, the Akatsuki received news of Orochimaru’s "death."

In a dark, enclosed cave, flickering candlelight illuminated the projections of various Akatsuki members, though noticeably fewer than before—nine instead of the original eleven.

"You’re late, Itachi, Kisame," Pain said, glaring at Kisame and Itachi with dissatisfaction.

It was raining on Kisame’s end, and she had just captured the Four-Tails jinchuriki. Unlike Hidan’s loud complaints, she offered a polite explanation, "Just finished the capture, took a bit of time to make sure he wouldn’t escape."

"So, what’s the rush?"

"There’s news everyone needs to know," Pain announced. "Orochimaru has been killed."

At that, the flickering flames around the projections seemed to shudder, and the atmosphere turned serious.

Aizen thought, "So it’s finally happened, has it? It looks like Orochimaru’s fate couldn’t escape a temporary retreat." He wondered if Sasuke’s rage might even unleash his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Hah… finally dead, huh? He left Akatsuki seven or eight years ago. Saves us the trouble. And those ‘zombie duo’ members? I’m looking forward to their demise too," Kisame chuckled.

"Hidan and Kakuzu are our comrades—don’t speak like that," Pain reprimanded.

"Apologies," Kisame said, then turned to Aizen, "Still, that guy really pulled it off, killing someone who escaped Aizen-senpai’s clutches multiple times. Who was it?"

"Sasuke Uchiha," Pain answered.

As Itachi’s eyes briefly flashed with joy, pleased at his brother’s growth, Deidara, who idolized Aizen, was unimpressed. "What? That brat could never compare to Aizen! He must have caught Orochimaru off-guard!"

Hearing this, Aizen looked at Deidara with slight surprise—seemed his “little brother” was showing signs of cleverness.

"Perhaps, but he still killed Orochimaru, which is undeniable. Truly a brother of Itachi," Kisame said with a slight smile.

Itachi tried to keep a straight face but was inwardly thrilled. Yet, before he could enjoy the moment, Aizen’s words shattered his calm.

---

*Chapter 267: The Shocking Revelation from Sasuke - Shock and Disbelief*

"Hey, Kisame, you jerk!" Deidara clicked his tongue in annoyance and looked at Aizen. "Come on, Brother Aizen, say something! Right now, someone's practically stepping all over you, huh."

Aizen shrugged lightly. "Nah, I don't really mind. After all, he didn’t have an easy time killing Orochimaru this time. If I’m right, there’s a good chance Sasuke has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."

Both Obito and Itachi looked at Aizen in shock. Itachi’s eyes narrowed as he spoke, "What’s going on here?"

Hearing this, everyone else turned their curious and serious gazes on him. They were all familiar with the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan, especially Itachi, whose prowess in the Akatsuki was well-known.

The fact that Sasuke might now possess the Mangekyo Sharingan meant he had the potential to pose a threat to most of the Akatsuki members present.

This revelation made everyone in the Akatsuki take it seriously.

"It's actually not that surprising. A long time ago, Sasuke sought me out—no, to be exact, he came to me and asked to become my apprentice, hoping to gain the power to defeat his brother," Aizen explained calmly.

"So, what did you do, Brother Aizen?" Deidara asked, taken aback.

"Obviously, I agreed—only to turn him down later," Aizen replied, crossing his arms.

Everyone looked puzzled, question marks practically floating above their heads.

"Agreeing, then turning him down means making demands and then denying everything after they’re met," Aizen said with a smirk.

"What demands did you make?" Obito asked, intrigued. He was curious how Sasuke could have unlocked the Mangekyo without seeing someone he cared for die.

"Oh, nothing too crazy—just that he should call me 'father'," Aizen said, grinning in Obito's direction.

Everyone was stunned. "Father?"

They looked on in disbelief. Was this guy serious? Itachi and Sasuke were brothers, so calling Aizen "father" was almost like undermining Itachi’s role!

Pain and Konan, who knew Aizen's history with both Itachi and Sasuke, couldn’t help but twitch their mouths in frustration. This guy had a pretty twisted sense of humor.

Aizen gave a meaningful look at Obito, Pain, and Sasuke, then spread his hands and continued, "In this twisted world of ninjas, it’s become common to see people betray or kill their mentors or parents. And being a teacher has become a high-risk occupation."

"Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage, and now Sasuke killed Orochimaru—both perfect examples. Who knows how many similar cases have gone unnoticed."

"Only fools take on apprentices. Are you just asking to be killed?" Aizen’s words rendered everyone, including Pain, speechless. They couldn’t argue. Many of them had betrayed or killed their teachers or wouldn’t hesitate to if the situation called for it.

Such was the dark reality of the ninja world, a place where betrayal and power grabs were the norm.

"So, Sasuke..." Obito, still pretending to be Tobi, looked at Itachi and scratched the back of his head. "So, Sasuke awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan because of this, huh?"

"Do you remember that notorious incident three years ago, when Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura hosted their infamous gathering?" Aizen didn’t hold back any further. "At that time, I gave them a ‘special supplement,’ a concoction to boost their abilities in that area, alongside another stimulant."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" The Akatsuki members, many of whom had never been in relationships, were left baffled.

Even Pakura blushed slightly, thinking her man could be too much sometimes.

"Are you guys serious? You’re all single, huh," Aizen said sympathetically. "None of you have even experienced anything with a partner! I’m talking about, well, what people do after marriage."

"As for the ‘special supplement,’ it’s powerful stuff—whoever drinks it can become, well... pregnant, no matter if they’re a man or a woman."

"Danzo ended up pregnant multiple times after drinking it."

Konan shot Aizen a red-faced glare and whispered, "Can’t you be serious?"

Aizen chuckled, "Anyway, when Orochimaru found out about Danzo’s condition, he wanted to study it. During the Chunin Exams, he traded an S-rank jutsu for a sample."

"So Sasuke awakened the Mangekyo because Orochimaru used that stuff on him?" Deidara’s eyes lit up, like he’d discovered a new art form. The idea of someone like Sasuke carrying a child, while distasteful, almost seemed poetic to him.

"No, Sasuke was Orochimaru’s dream vessel after Itachi, so he wouldn’t have used it on him," Aizen said with a wicked smile. "But given Orochimaru’s... peculiar interests, I bet he wanted a Uchiha child for himself to use as a backup vessel."

"The Mangekyo Sharingan can only be awakened in moments of intense emotion, like rage or sorrow."

"If Orochimaru had used that supplement on Sasuke... well, Sasuke’s temper might have made it possible for him to unlock the Mangekyo in sheer fury."

Everyone fell silent again, staring at Aizen as if he were the devil himself.

Itachi looked like he wanted to murder someone. His beloved younger brother was stained and had even possibly conceived a child with Orochimaru. But then, remembering Sasuke’s future marriage to Sakura and their daughter Sarada, he sighed in relief. Orochimaru probably hadn’t succeeded.

"It looks like you’ve really put Sasuke through the wringer, huh, Itachi?" Obito added, savoring the drama. The Akatsuki’s goal of capturing the Tailed Beasts was almost complete, and he’d be happy to see Aizen and Itachi clash—it would remove a potential obstacle for him.

"But it’s all based on whether Sasuke’s awakened the Mangekyo yet. If not, well, no harm done; if he has, then it’s likely," Aizen laughed.

"Alright, enough gossip," Pain interrupted, feeling things had gone far enough. If Aizen kept talking, the Akatsuki would lose focus. "Anyway, everyone should keep an eye on Uchiha Sasuke from now on."

Turning to Zetsu, Pain said, "Zetsu."

"Hehe, I was just about to say," White Zetsu chuckled darkly. "That Uchiha kid’s gathering allies and searching everywhere for Aizen and Itachi. I get why he’d be after Itachi, but now I see why he’s after Aizen, too."

"Seems Sasuke may indeed have awakened the Mangekyo and has quite a grudge against Aizen."

*Chapter 268: Pain - Aizen, Go Capture the Eight-Tails*

"Aizen, Itachi—between the Mangekyo Sharingan and Orochimaru's curse mark, there’s real power in play. Be cautious from here on out. And everyone else, too—Uchiha Sasuke might start making trouble to get information about the two of them."

Pain looked around, speaking in a low voice.

"Well, Mangekyo Sharingan... that's something to look forward to."

Deidara extended his right hand, and the mouth in his palm licked its lips.

He dismissed the curse mark as unartistic and not worth his attention.

"Hey, Deidara-senpai, don’t get any strange ideas. I don’t want to be caught up in it! That Mangekyo Sharingan is the same as Itachi’s Mangekyo, after all."

Tobi tried to warn Deidara.

But Aizen could tell from Tobi’s tone that he wasn’t really discouraging Deidara—if anything, he seemed to be egging him on.

Everyone in the Akatsuki knew Deidara was still bitter about falling victim to Itachi’s genjutsu in the past. Tobi was clearly trying to push Deidara to challenge Sasuke, so he could observe Sasuke's ocular techniques firsthand.

After all, the Mangekyo’s powers were truly extraordinary.

No one could predict what strange abilities might emerge—examples like Tobi’s Kamui and Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami proved that much.

And, sure enough, Deidara took the bait. "Shut up! This time, I’ll use my art to beat that little brat. Hmm."

"Deidara."

"If that’s the case, I’ll act as the bait. I’m curious to see how far my ‘good son’ has come." Aizen volunteered.

"Aren’t you still looking for the Eight-Tails, Aizen?" Tobi glanced at him, frowning slightly beneath his mask.

In the future, Tobi would need the "brat" to balance out the instability that Aizen posed to him. He didn’t want Aizen to face Sasuke because he knew that, even with the Mangekyo, Sasuke would stand no chance against Aizen.

"I already found him. He’s in the Cloud Thunder Gorge in the Hidden Cloud Village," Aizen said casually. "Once we capture the remaining Six-Tails, we can start the operation."

"Cloud Thunder Gorge." Pain repeated and turned to Aizen. "Then, once I capture the Six-Tails, I’ll leave the Eight-Tails to you."

"The Eight-Tails... Looks like it’s me again," Aizen muttered, unfazed.

Pain exchanged a glance with Konan, who hesitated a moment before adding, "The Eight-Tails is the second strongest of the tailed beasts after the Nine-Tails. Pain will need to capture the Nine-Tails, and no one in the organization is better suited for this task than you."

"I actually think Kisame would be more suitable. With his chakra-absorbing abilities, he’s built to grow stronger in battle. Paired with Samehada, he could capture the Eight-Tails in human form with ease." Aizen shifted the responsibility to Kisame.

"And aside from the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki himself, we also need to consider Raikage and the entire Hidden Cloud Village. The Eight-Tails’ jinchuriki is Raikage’s brother, so we’ll surely cause a scene in fighting him. When that happens, Raikage and his Cloud shinobi will be a hassle."

"I think it would be best for Yagura and me to handle reinforcements from the Hidden Cloud, allowing Kisame to focus on capturing the Eight-Tails. That seems like the most fitting plan."

"I’m honored by your confidence, Aizen-san." Kisame looked surprised, then smiled in response. "I’m impressed you know my abilities so well, even though we’ve never fought."

"Of course—I spent a year in the ANBU in Konoha. I even found out about Danzo’s experiments with Sharingan and the First Hokage’s cells. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are famous in the ninja world; how could I ignore them?" Aizen crossed his arms.

"Heh." Kisame neither fully believed nor doubted Aizen’s words. He glanced at Itachi and then asked Aizen, "But why didn’t you include Itachi-san in your plans?"

"Tobi has to deal with his foolish younger brother. Let him survive first, then we’ll see." Aizen sneered. In his mind, this guy who killed his parents was as good as dead, whether by Sasuke’s hand or otherwise.

Kisame seemed to understand. "I see. Still, if Uchiha Sasuke faces Aizen-san, I doubt he’ll be so lucky with your strength—"

"That depends on Tobi. If he doesn’t mind me killing the brat," Aizen said playfully, glancing at Itachi.

Itachi’s brow furrowed. "I’ll handle it myself. Besides, there’s something he has that I need."

"See? Just like that," Aizen shrugged at Kisame.

Kisame nodded, his gaze toward Itachi becoming more complex. So, in the end, he can’t bring himself to harm his brother.

"Let’s wait until we finish sealing the first seven tailed beasts before we start the operation for the Eight-Tails. Itachi, Kisame, bring the Four-Tails to seal alongside the Three-Tails. Dismissed."

With that, Pain released his phantom presence.

Five days flew by.

The Akatsuki, Konoha, and Sasuke all moved according to their respective plans.

The Akatsuki sealed the Three-Tails and Four-Tails.

Konoha, led by Kakashi, sent a joint team from Team 7 and Team 8 to capture Uchiha Itachi, hoping to locate Sasuke through him.

Meanwhile, Sasuke gathered his team and set out to find the Akatsuki in order to get information on Itachi.

"Finally done. Days like these are tough to get through. Even with Yagura’s help, the Phantom Dragon’s Nine Seal took a lot of time," Aizen stretched lazily as soon as the tailed beasts were sealed.

"And you’re just a shadow clone complaining about hardship?" Konan shot him a disdainful look.

Five days ago, the moment Aizen heard they’d be sealing again, he used a ‘reverse summoning jutsu’ to head home and spend time with his wife and kids.

"Heh, you caught me?" The clone chuckled awkwardly. "How did you figure it out?"

"I’m a sensory ninja. You set up a barrier around your home, but the outside is unshielded. I couldn’t detect your family’s chakra all this time—they only stay in when you’re there." Konan rolled her eyes, guessing he’d been up to no good again.

Aizen smiled faintly, unbothered, and turned to Yagura. "So, how was it, Yagura? Your first time joining the sealing?"

"Five days without food or water, unable to move—it’s something no ordinary person could endure. I had to rely on chakra alone," Yagura sighed, grateful to have had a senzu bean, or she might have lost her mind.

"Of course, it’s exhausting, hmm," Deidara joined in, finding a sympathetic ear in Yagura, and launched into a string of complaints.

Chapter 269: Mrs. Mikoto’s Request

After a long conversation about various things, Pain finally intervened. "Thank you, everyone. I’ll be starting the capture of the Six-Tails soon. We’re entering the final stages of the organization’s plans. This is the result of everyone’s efforts, and peace is finally within reach."

“Here we go again,” muttered Deidara, disinterested in Pain’s speech. Being more focused on his techniques, he was less interested in peace and more intrigued by the recently awakened Sharingan of Uchiha Sasuke.

He quickly asked Aizen, “So, Big Brother Aizen, when will you carry out that bait plan you mentioned?”

“Anytime. I’ll just dispel my shadow clone to notify my true self,” replied the shadow clone, looking towards Aizen. “Yakura, please hold onto my ring temporarily. Then, after half an hour, use Reverse Summoning to bring me back.”

“I understand,” Yakura replied, aware that Aizen was concealing the Flying Thunder God technique. She nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, at the moment the shadow clone dispelled, the real Aizen, who was in Amegakure, received the information.

“So, it’s finally time?” Aizen glanced down at the sleeping Mrs. Mikoto in his arms and carefully laid her down before standing up.

Although he moved gently, it still woke up Mrs. Mikoto.

“What’s wrong, Aizen?”

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Mrs. Mikoto recalled the tiring events of the previous night, courtesy of Aizen.

Recently, she had learned from Aizen that Sasuke had killed Orochimaru and was safe. This had brought her peace, and she had considered her time with Aizen a reward for all he had done for Sasuke over the years.

“My shadow clone just relayed some news. My stepson, Sasuke, is currently gathering allies and hunting down the masked man. Meanwhile, a member of the Akatsuki who has issues with him wants to cause Sasuke some trouble. I’m going to check it out,” Aizen explained.

“So, it’s come to this, hasn’t it? How did things turn out this way?” Her gentle voice trembled, and, upon hearing that her youngest son intended to seek revenge against her eldest son, Mrs. Mikoto turned away, covering her face as her eyes welled up with tears.

“This was destined from the moment Itachi raised his blade against his family and slaughtered his clan,” Aizen continued. “Itachi now suffers from a terminal illness, relying on medication to survive. For him, every extra minute he lives brings both physical and emotional pain. He has to pay for his actions, and for him, perhaps dying at the hands of his beloved little brother would be a form of release.”

Aizen hugged Mrs. Mikoto from behind to comfort her.

At this point, Mrs. Mikoto understood there was no turning back. She turned to face Aizen, her eyes filled with tears, and pleaded, “Then, please, could I see Itachi one last time? Just once. Please, Aizen.”

Saying this, she moved back slightly and bowed deeply to him, performing a traditional kneeling apology.

Aizen’s gaze fell on her graceful figure, and he swallowed hard. Quickly lifting her up, he said, “Madam, what are you doing? We’re husband and wife, not strangers. Just seeing that ungrateful boy is no issue—I’ll make it happen.”

“Thank you, Aizen. Thank you,” she whispered gratefully, embracing him tightly.

“But you’ll have to promise me one thing,” Aizen added.

“One thing?” She looked at him, surprised.

Aizen smirked and leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Her cheeks instantly flushed red as she averted her gaze downward. After a moment’s hesitation, she parted her lips, mustered her courage, and lowered her head.

Initially, Aizen hadn’t wanted Obito to meet Mrs. Mikoto. Knowing she was alive would bring him a kind of salvation.

But given Mrs. Mikoto’s earnest request, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

Besides, he was quite eager to see Obito’s reaction upon discovering that his mother was now his own woman. That scene would be something to remember.

And, on top of it, he was gaining some “benefits” from Mrs. Mikoto in the process—why not enjoy it?

After half an hour, Aizen, thoroughly content, dressed and exited the room, greeting Izumi and Chiharu on his way out. He then used the Flying Thunder God technique to leave Amegakure.

Returning to Yakura’s side, he brought her along to the rendezvous with Deidara.

“You’re so late, Big Brother Aizen! You kept me waiting forever!” Deidara complained, crouched on a tree stump as Aizen landed gracefully with Yakura in his arms.

This was Obito’s first time seeing Aizen’s use of the Purple Cloud Wings. Assuming it to be a new jutsu that Aizen had developed, Obito felt even more intimidated by Aizen’s skills while playing up his role as the goofy "Tobi" character, genuinely admiring, “As expected of Big Brother Aizen! To develop such a great flying technique! This beats Deidara’s explosive clay bird by far. That thing’s unstable, breaks easily, and if you’re not careful, it’ll shatter and send you plummeting—so dangerous!”

Deidara’s forehead creased with annoyance. “Idiot, Tobi, are you questioning my art? Are you looking to die?”

“Of course not, of course not,” Tobi replied, scratching his head and smirking. “It’s just that I think Deidara’s art could use some improvement. It’s always the same stuff.”

“You jerk, you dare say you’re not doubting my art? I’ll kill you!” Deidara’s voice trembled with anger as he grabbed a handful of clay, transformed it into spiders, and flung them in Tobi’s direction.

The forest was soon filled with the sound of explosions as the two quarreled.

Watching them, Aizen smiled slightly, thinking to himself, perhaps this is what Obito would have been like if he hadn’t turned to darkness.

Then, activating his Mirror Flower, Water Moon technique, Aizen’s gaze shifted to the right side of the forest. “Come out now.”

“Oh dear, as expected, nothing escapes Lord Aizen’s perception,” said a voice as a black-cloaked figure emerged from the shadows. The figure, with half of his face concealed, was none other than Kabuto.

“Seems you’ve already transplanted Orochimaru’s White Snake cells,” Aizen observed coolly, sensing the unique chakra within Kabuto.

“Yes, Lord Aizen,” Kabuto confirmed, nodding deeply. To him, Aizen was a figure of great respect, second only to Orochimaru and his adoptive mother.

Kabuto’s reverence was partly due to Aizen being the first strong individual who had accepted and respected him as an equal.

He glanced at the still-squabbling Deidara and Tobi, surprised they hadn’t noticed him, then heard Aizen say, “Don’t worry. No one here, except Yakura, can see or hear you.”

Chapter 270: The Hole in Kabuto’s Heart

Kabuto sighed softly, “You really are as unfathomable as ever. These Akatsuki members, each one of them like monsters, are mere playthings in your hands.”

“So, it seems you’ve been waiting here for me.” Aizen looked calmly at Kabuto.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while now.” Kabuto nodded solemnly and took out a scroll from his cloak, offering it respectfully to Aizen. “Now that Lord Orochimaru is dead, you’re the only one left in this world I truly respect—the only one who makes me feel I still have a sliver of purpose. As thanks, I’ve completed the task you asked me to do last time.”

“It seems you put a lot of effort into this.” Looking at the scroll detailing the technique for Dust Release, Aizen realized that Kabuto had probably already begun using Edo Tensei to resurrect powerful ninjas.

Then, as if something occurred to him, Aizen put away the scroll and said with a smile, “Kabuto, you must be feeling quite lost right now, right? Like you’ve lost everything. For someone who’s been a spy for different nations and has no real home, it must feel like you’ve once again lost your purpose and identity.”

“Yes, Lord Aizen.” Kabuto did not deny it.

“Do you know why?” Aizen began, his voice persuasive like a skilled lecturer.

Kabuto’s mind flashed with memories from his past as Aizen continued, “It’s because you have a hole right here.”

Kabuto froze, his pupils shrinking as Aizen pointed at his heart.

Suddenly, the memory of his foster mother, Nono Yakushi, surfaced in Kabuto’s mind, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Clutching his chest, he asked in a trembling voice, “Then… what should I do?”

“Of course, you should fill it. Go see the one who made that hole in your heart.” Aizen said calmly.

“I can’t do that.” Kabuto’s eyes dimmed as he averted Aizen’s gaze, unwilling to desecrate his foster mother’s soul through Edo Tensei.

What’s more, due to Danzo’s interference, even if he resurrected her with Edo Tensei, she wouldn’t recognize him anymore, making it unbearable for him.

“I actually have a good idea.” Aizen’s face showed a mysterious smile.

Kabuto recalled the Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails who had been resurrected in the Hidden Rock Village, and quickly understood Aizen’s implication. He asked eagerly, “What do you want in return?”

He knew Aizen was not one to make deals without gaining something in return.

Aizen tossed him a kunai. “Hold on to this for now. I’ll tell you when the time is right. For now, just prepare for that person’s resurrection using Edo Tensei. After all, without a complete body, I can’t revive someone who’s been dead for so long.”

Kabuto glanced at the Flying Thunder God mark on the kunai in his hand and nodded, “Understood. I’ll take my leave for now.”

With that, Kabuto disappeared into the forest.

At that moment, Obito and Deidara, who had finished their squabble, walked over. The four of them officially set out to search for Sasuke.

---

*Uchiha Clan’s Weapon Shop, Grandma Cat’s Store*

After purchasing his battle supplies, Sasuke led his Snake Squad on their quest to find Uchiha Itachi and Fujiwara Aizen.

“Jugo, Suigetsu, and Dousan, everything is ready. Starting now, we’re officially pursuing Uchiha Itachi and Fujiwara Aizen. To increase efficiency, we’ll split up to locate Akatsuki’s hideouts and meet back at that mountain to the southwest by nightfall.”

Sasuke’s gaze swept over his three Snake Squad members.

Dousan, a large and muscular man, had recently joined after Jugo and Suigetsu. While he didn’t have much combat ability, he was an indispensable member, hired by Sasuke at a hefty price.

Unlike the original series, because Karin was taken by Aizen to be Tsunade’s apprentice, the squad lacked a ninja with sensory and medical skills. After much searching, Sasuke finally found Dousan.

“Well, well, are we finally getting started?” Suigetsu slammed his Executioner’s Blade into the ground and leaned on its hilt, eyeing Sasuke with interest. “But is this really alright? It’s one thing to go after Uchiha Itachi, since you have a grudge against him that can’t be reconciled, but Fujiwara Aizen is a whole different story.”

“Although I haven’t met him myself, his name echoes through the Five Great Nations. The Illusion God, the Clan Slayer Aizen, the Burier of Konoha—even Orochimaru spoke of him with dread.”

Suigetsu shrugged with a sigh, “Honestly, I don’t think we stand a chance against him. Besides, you don’t even have a real reason to hate him, do you?”

“No, it’s quite the opposite.” Sasuke clenched his fists, recalling those ten days of suffering Aizen had inflicted on him.

“So say it, then!” Suigetsu scowled. If it weren’t for his precious Executioner’s Blade, he would have fled long ago.

He turned to Jugo and Dousan. “Hey, don’t you two want to talk him out of this? He’s actually going after Fujiwara Aizen—Fujiwara Aizen!”

“Kimimaro’s will is my will,” Jugo muttered as he played with a small bird in his hands, showing no fear in his expression.

Dousan, meanwhile, shared Kakuzu’s love for money. While he wasn’t thrilled about facing Akatsuki, the price Sasuke offered was too enticing to pass up.

“You guys are impossible,” Suigetsu sighed. He was already making plans to escape once Sasuke killed Itachi and seized Samehada from Kisame.

He didn’t want to face someone even Orochimaru in his prime couldn’t defeat without any reward for himself.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, Kakashi’s squad—composed of Team 7 and Team 8—had also started their mission to capture Uchiha Itachi alive in hopes of drawing Sasuke out.

The eight-person squad was divided into six groups. Using his summoning technique, Kakashi called forth eight ninja hounds and sent them in five directions.

Kakashi himself traveled with Pakkun.

Hinata had two ninja hounds.

Shino also had two ninja hounds.

Kiba, of course, had Akamaru with him.

As Naruto was a Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, he had to remain with Karin and Yamato, who could suppress the tailed beast. With Karin’s strong sensory skills, Naruto was only assigned one hound.

As for Chika, she had two ninja hounds, but she wasn’t in a hurry to find Sasuke and Itachi. Her primary goal was to find Aizen.

After all, her mother had impulsively “scared” her father so much that he hadn’t dared to return home in months.

end