Sasuke, Are You Willing to Take Me as Your Master?

Valley of the End.

A huge array was being carved before Danzo Shimura.

Several Root ninjas skilled in Sealing Techniques and space-time ninjutsu were investigating something within the array.

"Lord Danzo! There are indeed traces of spatial fluctuations here!"

"And... this spatial power is extremely strong! Far beyond our current level of understanding!"

The Root-masked man before him could not stop his voice from trembling.

Danzo Shimura's expression also looked somewhat grim.

Rather than believe that visitors had come from a parallel universe, he would have preferred to believe that Jiraiya's intelligence was merely a mistaken fantasy.

But the bloody reality had completely shattered that last sliver of hope in his heart.

Still, now that it had happened, he was not the type to run away.

"Can you seal this place and ensure that no summoning creature can enter or leave?"

Although these were visitors from another world, ultimately, it was still a spatial blockade against summoning creatures.

"No problem. Researching a channel for reverse teleportation is difficult, but sealing it won't be a problem!"

The Root ninja specializing in Sealing Techniques quickly contacted the others and had them set up the Heaven and Earth Sealing Array.

In an instant, even the Chakra in this place stopped flowing.

After repeatedly confirming that there would be no further problems, Danzo Shimura breathed a sigh of relief.

"Next, it's time to catch the turtle in the jar..."

"Heh heh heh... Ninjas from another world? I wonder what powerful knowledge and ninjutsu you'll bring me..."

Danzo Shimura had already begun imagining himself invading the Other World, making great contributions, and becoming Hokage.

Within the Empire, Fire Province, Konoha University.

As the former coordinates of Konoha Village, this place undoubtedly had the richest natural environment and the most convenient transportation.

At this moment, countless Orochimarus and Yakushi Kabutos were pacing beside the teleportation array in one of Konoha University's vast plazas.

The two men, who had been infused with Six Paths power and Hashirama Cells, had long since achieved complete freedom with their Chakra. To ensure that their Chakra would not be cut off midway, Lord Senju had recently sealed the Nine-Tails inside Orochimaru.

After gaining freedom with his Shadow Clones, he drove away all the talents and interns in Konoha University, leaving only Yakushi Kabuto behind to study under him.

With countless Orochimarus assisting him, he advanced the project much faster, and his own rate of accumulating knowledge had also increased tremendously.

Looking at the increasingly perfect Cross-World Teleportation Project, Orochimaru's eyes were filled with delight.

"Everyone, put in more effort! The Emperor said that once our cross-world project is nearly complete, he'll capture the Otsutsuki Clan for us to study immortal cells!"

Orochimaru's face was filled with excitement.

Earlier, Emperor had brought out a set of scientific theories to make him work for him.

At the time, he had barely been convinced. He had no choice—he could not refuse if he wanted to stay alive.

As for why he had later become completely devoted and transformed into a workaholic?

He still remembered the night when Emperor gave him a drop of blood.

Apparently, it belonged to Emperor's most mysterious wife, who had always been as elusive as a divine dragon appearing and disappearing without a trace.

After studying that drop of blood, Orochimaru was utterly shocked. Immortal cells! Genuine immortal cells!

For that reason, he had submitted to Emperor without hesitation and worked like mad for more than ten years.

Of course, that was not the only thing that had moved him.

It was Emperor's extraordinary talent and his far-reaching vision.

Emperor was willing to devote the resources of an entire nation to a field he considered extremely important. That was what Orochimaru admired most about him.

Compared with those short-sighted old fossils, Emperor was the truly suitable person to be a leader!

What was a leader? Someone whose word was law!

A true leader should be responsible for making decisions!

Not someone who spent all day in the village scheming to balance one faction against another.

That was not called leadership. At best, it made one a pest who stirred up trouble while balancing the various factions!

"Lord Orochimaru, the Interdimensional Teleportation Array seems to have run into a problem. It's become somewhat dim, and we can no longer locate or confirm the positions of those three people!"

Orochimaru glanced at the teleportation array and instantly determined the source of the problem.

"It's simple. We just need to modify the coordinates of their descent."

Kabuto hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

"Are you afraid the new coordinates won't be in this world?"

Kabuto nodded.

"Then isn't it simple? Have someone go check the original coordinates and see what happened. We can change them back afterward."

Kabuto suddenly understood.

Just after the coordinates were changed, Kabuto received a message from Kakashi.

"Lord Orochimaru, there's news about the Other World! It was sent by Kakashi!"

"Oh? Let me see it. You go contact the Emperor first."

"Yes!"

In the Valley of the End, Danzo was still burying himself in work and wincing over the countless resources being consumed. He had no idea that the coordinates had already been changed before he had even finished setting up the sealing array.

Land of Waves.

Kakashi cast a disdainful glance at Obito.

"I compiled the information here into a report and sent it to the Empire long ago. Otherwise, if I relied on you, the daylilies would have withered by now."

"We've currently lost contact with the Empire. It may be because of the spatial channel. For now, we should wait for further news from the Empire!"

Obito gave a sheepish laugh. No wonder Kakashi was the captain—he was always one step faster at getting things done!

Still, it was strange. When had he sent the message? Why didn't Obito know about it?

"Senior Obito... this is everything I know. About what you promised me..."

Sasuke looked at Obito and Kakashi, afraid that the two of them would deny the promise they had just made.

Seeing Sasuke's wary gaze, Obito burst out laughing.

"Kid, don't worry. We're both members of the Uchiha Clan, so of course I want our family to grow stronger!"

"As for the reward I promised you, go ahead and tell me! No matter what you want, I'll do my best to make it happen!"

Obito patted his chest and made his promise with great enthusiasm.

Sasuke's face lit up with fervor.

"I need... power! The power to let me take revenge and kill Itachi!"

Obito was stunned when he heard this, then let out a loud Uchiha-style laugh.

"Good! Damn it, what kind of madness possessed the Itachi of this world that he slaughtered our entire clan? This is beyond absurd!"

"Kid, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Obito's joy was practically overflowing from his face.

Heh heh heh, he had been saddled with the titles of fool and dead last within the Empire for far too long.

Not even the smarter dogs in the Uchiha Clan were willing to follow him. If his ocular power had not been strong enough, he probably would not even have graduated from university.

Now he could take away the reincarnation of Indra from this world. On top of that, Sasuke was the last surviving member of this world's Uchiha Clan. Once he trained him into a worthy talent, Obito would surely be able to return to the Empire and hold his head high!

Although the Empire had changed its substitute-teacher system so that three children no longer followed a single teacher, it had also introduced a more complete master-and-disciple system.

As long as one took on disciples—and the more disciples one took on—the more rewards one received in the Empire. Whether ninjutsu, forbidden techniques, or senjutsu, they could all be exchanged with the contribution points earned from taking disciples.

Although Emperor had given the three of them nearly all known ninjutsu, senjutsu, and forbidden techniques before they came, those techniques were of little use to Obito, who could not learn them. Instead, the sense of honor he would gain from raising Sasuke into a worthy talent was what truly excited him.

"Hmph, the reincarnation of Indra in this world should also be Sasuke. Even if the reincarnation of Indra has poor talent, he shouldn't be that bad. This kid grew up alone, so it makes sense that he awakened the Two-Tomoe. It probably isn't because of poor talent..."

"Once I train this kid into a worthy talent, let's see who still dares say that Obito is nothing but a pair of eyes..."

Obito could not help imagining the Uchiha clansmen fighting to send their children to him and acknowledge him as their master. He grinned wickedly as drool trickled from the corner of his mouth.