Sasuke Visits Relatives

A girl's heart is far too delicate.

Since taking on a key position at the Konoha Hospital, Kushina Uzumaki had no time to educate Naruto at home, and Minato Namikaze was even busier, rarely finding even a moment to use the Flying Thunder God to speak with Naruto.

Could one really judge from this that they did not love Naruto?

"Can't sleep, right? How about we go to Ichiraku Ramen for a bowl?" Naruto searched his pockets and actually fished out a few bills: "My treat."

Hinata blinked and smiled: "I want two bowls."

Happiness and laughter, so simple.

Near Guy's home.

Kakashi and Guy were leaning on each other, walking with a staggering gait.

Lee jumped in front of them from behind, released his hands, and the corpse of the thug dropped to the ground.

"We haven't finished drinking yet, Kakashi, why are you lying on the ground?" Guy was truly drunk, muttering nonsense.

Kakashi used his foot to flip the body over, saw the Kumogakure forehead protector that had fallen off, and asked: "What happened?"

Lee replied: "This man tried to abduct Hanabi using genjutsu. After Hinata discovered it, she notified Naruto and me. I used too much force in the back mountains and killed him, but I saved Hanabi. Naruto told me to report this to Teacher Kakashi, and that is all."

Kakashi beckoned: "You support Teacher Guy."

Lee immediately swapped positions with Kakashi.

Kakashi crouched down and carefully inspected the body: "This man's eyes are somewhat special. Lee, you don't need to worry about what happens next. Help Teacher Guy get home; I will handle this."

Lee nodded: "Understood. If a witness is needed, I will certainly step forward."

Kakashi grabbed the body with one hand and vanished along with it.

Konoha Interrogation Department.

Kakashi met with Ibiki Morino: "A spy from Kumogakure. Check which clan from the Land of Lightning he belongs to. Especially his eyes; I seem to have seen them in a classified document."

Ibiki Morino, wearing his ninja cap, his face covered in scars left by enemy torture, and dressed in the flak jacket of the Konoha Interrogation Department with a black trench coat over it, said expressionlessly: "Kakashi, wait a moment."

It took Ibiki some time to search through the files before he found information on the Kekkei Genkai of the eyes in the ninja world: "This man's pupils are blood-red, and he comes from the Land of Lightning. He is likely from the Chinoike Clan. This is called the Ketsuryūgan, known for its ocular jutsu. Once caught in its genjutsu, it is difficult to escape."

Kakashi paced around: "So the Chinoike Clan has defected to Kumogakure. The Raikage really knows how to hide his strength; his methods are truly beneath contempt. I am going to report this to the Fourth Hokage. You can arrange for someone to continue researching the Kekkei Genkai of the Chinoike Clan."

Ibiki still had other prisoners to interrogate: "No problem. Give my regards to the Fourth Hokage."

Uchiha Sasuke had been standing at his own doorstep for an hour.

A small black-furred puppy lay at Sasuke's feet, panting to dissipate heat.

The closer one gets to home, the more anxious the heart; it is human nature.

Sasuke reached out and placed his hand on the door: "Just one look at Mother, then I'll leave."

With a slight push, the door opened.

Uchiha Mikoto had always kept the door home open for her two children.

Sasuke felt a sting in his nose; the layout of the house was exactly the same as it had been in his childhood.

It was as if nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.

Sasuke sat in his own room for a while, then walked into his brother Itachi's room, where he immediately found the letter Itachi had sent home.

In the letter, he asked if his father and mother were in good health. He was always searching for his younger brother Sasuke, and if he found him, he would surely teach him a harsh lesson before dragging him home to keep their father and mother company.

He shared only happiness, yet between the lines, the letter was filled with longing for his family.

"Brother, why don't you come home yourself?" Sasuke's eyes welled with tears as he slowly packed the letter away.

Finally, Sasuke gathered the courage to enter his parents' bedroom.

They were both asleep.

Fugaku Uchiha lay flat on his back, his hands resting on his stomach; he was bald, and three wrinkles had appeared on his forehead.

Uchiha Mikoto slept on her side, her face showing little change, though the bite mark of a giant snake was still visible on her neck.

Sasuke stood beside Mikoto for a long time.

"I'm sorry, I am not yet strong enough. Orochimaru is a contradictory person, and I am a contradictory person as well. The only thing we share is our obsession with power. Before I achieve this goal, I don't know if what I am doing is right or wrong, but I am living a full life."

"Mother, I also have many interesting things to tell you. Orochimaru has established his own ninja village called Otogakure, but Orochimaru is tone-deaf when he sings; it's a bit embarrassing."

"I have two new partners. One is Jugo, who loves nature, and the other is Hozuki Suigetsu, who is a bit of an idiot. Their strength is decent, but compared to a genius of the Uchiha like me, they are far behind, of course."

After finishing his story, Sasuke gently held Uchiha Mikoto's hand and left the house once more.

"The Scroll of Seals, I must obtain it tonight."

Sasuke's second purpose for returning to Konoha was the Scroll of Seals; many of Orochimaru's research projects were closely related to the forbidden jutsus within it.

To determine the location of the Scroll of Seals, Orochimaru had turned the ambitious Mizuki.

Ultimately, it was decided that Sasuke would be the one to steal the Scroll of Seals for one reason only: Hiruzen Sarutobi, who felt guilty toward Uchiha Itachi, would likely not make things difficult for Sasuke.

Orochimaru understood his teacher, who appeared tough on the outside but always had a soft spot in his heart, very well.

Sasuke arrived at Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence, thought for a moment, transformed into a small black cat, and leaped over the wall.

The Scroll of Seals was placed quite casually on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. Sasuke, having returned to his original form, pulled the Scroll of Seals out directly and slung it over his back.

Third Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the image in the crystal ball and sighed, "Everything is fate. The Scroll of Seals is known as an omen of misfortune; the Second Hokage met an untimely death shortly after compiling it. Now that it has been taken by the Uchiha Clan, or rather, by Orochimaru, perhaps fighting fire with fire will turn out to be a good thing for Konoha."

"Take it all, Orochimaru. The forbidden techniques the Second Hokage stored within the Scroll of Seals are not so easily mastered."

Sasuke activated his Sharingan to scan the room, "Mizuki, do with him as you please."

Mizuki had been discarded as a pawn.

Receiving Sasuke's reminder, Hiruzen Sarutobi shut off the crystal surveillance, "Why does this child not know how to make it harder for the Konoha Anbu to uncover the truth? Or does he want me to send the Anbu after him to test his abilities?"

But Hiruzen Sarutobi did not notify the Anbu. He let out a yawn, sleepiness washing over him, and prepared to go to bed.

Sasuke left through the back door, turned a corner, and arrived at the most bustling district in Konoha, where the lights were still burning bright.

Snack streets, amusement shops—everything one could possibly want was there.