Sasuke's True Goal?

"I never expected Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin and a disciple of the Third Hokage, to defect."

In the Soul Space.

After Elder Nobuhiko sighed, he felt a little disappointed by the Third Hokage's deliberate decision to let Orochimaru go. "What a shame..."

In his mind, a fight that left both sides badly wounded would have best served the Uchiha Clan's interests.

Understanding what Elder Nobuhiko meant, Sasuke spoke up. "The Third Hokage's physical abilities haven't declined much yet. He's still in the prime of his life, and his strength is at its peak. Orochimaru as he is now can't possibly be his match."

Ten years later, the Third Hokage's physical abilities had declined drastically, and he was already frail with age. Yet he still managed to seal away both of Orochimaru's arms while fighting three opponents at once. That spoke for itself.

"That's true..." Elder Nobuhiko naturally knew nothing of what would happen ten years later, but the image of the Third Hokage's imposing figure in his memories was enough to make him agree with Sasuke.

Meanwhile.

Cell No. 1.

The scene of Orochimaru's defection was playing out here as well.

As a proper landlord, Sasuke had to arrange some entertainment to keep his tenants from getting too bored.

"Using his comrades for human experiments? Orochimaru went too far."

"The Third Hokage shouldn't have gone easy on him. He could become a great threat in the future."

As a former Hokage, Minato Namikaze offered commentary from time to time.

Sasuke spoke up. "Yeah... After all, Orochimaru was his most beloved disciple. How could he bring himself to kill him?"

"His most beloved disciple?" Kushina was taken aback.

If that were true, why hadn't the Third Hokage chosen him to become Hokage?

And yet, the Third Hokage's actions now seemed to confirm what Sasuke had said.

Minato fell silent.

Sasuke continued, "The deeper the love, the greater the pain. Human emotions are complicated. Maybe he felt guilty."

As a proper landlord, it was important to chat with his tenants now and then to keep them entertained.

"Guilty?" Kushina's heart stirred. "You mean..."

"That's right. He turned him down twice when he asked to become Hokage..."

"Why did the Third Hokage turn him down?"

"Because Orochimaru really did understand what it took to be Hokage..."

Kushina looked at Minato in shock...

Minato took a deep breath. "I'm not happy with some of the Third Hokage's actions either, but Sasuke, you really don't need to assume the worst about every decision he's made."

Sasuke laughed. "So, did I hit a nerve with your precious pride?"

"..." Minato was at a loss for words.

Faced with a master of sarcasm like Sasuke, he had no idea how to argue back.

Kushina, however, was growing anxious. "Sasuke, explain yourself. Are you saying Minato...?"

"Ah, I didn't say that."

"But you can ask your Minato: when he was in office, did he really hold all the power in Konoha?"

Kushina looked at Minato. He could only explain, "I was young and inexperienced, so I let the Third Hokage..."

"That's right. The Third Hokage controlled the Anbu. Utatane Koharu controlled the finances. Mitokado Homura handled the channels to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire and other officials, as well as foreign affairs. Even Danzo had Root's armed forces at his disposal, free to kill as he pleased!"

"Minato, as a former Hokage, what authority did you actually have?"

"Handling paperwork in your office?"

"A figurehead who could make decisions on minor matters, but had to consult the Third Hokage and the advisors on anything important?"

"How is that any different from being a puppet?" Kushina's pupils contracted. She turned to Minato in disbelief. "Is that true, Minato?"

Minato was silent.

Deep down, he didn't believe he had been a figurehead.

But Konoha's division of power had been exactly as Sasuke described, without a single detail out of place.

And considering the entertainment Sasuke had arranged for them to watch lately, along with the Third Hokage's return to power and everything else that had happened, Minato couldn't help but grow suspicious...

"How could this happen?" In Kushina's eyes, Minato's silence was as good as admitting that Sasuke was right. She, who had always been so proud of him, couldn't accept it. "So when you said Orochimaru really understood what it took to be Hokage, you meant..."

"That's right. Orochimaru was the Third Hokage's disciple, and he'd been hailed as a genius since childhood. His commoner background also made it easy for him to earn the goodwill of villagers and ordinary shinobi."

"At a time when the clans held sway and controlled Konoha's power, he wasn't just an idol to the younger generation—he was a symbol of hope for ordinary shinobi."

"He understood politics, had a strong reputation, countless supporters, and a solid foundation. Almost every shinobi in Konoha believed he would become the Fourth Hokage."

"But that was also where the problem lay..."

"When power changes hands, the older generation usually steps aside and the younger generation takes over."

"If he became Hokage, it would mean a complete turnover of Konoha's power structure."

"The Konoha High Command, which held power at the time, couldn't accept that..."

Kushina's pupils contracted. "So..."

"That's right. To protect their positions, they just needed to choose someone without any support base, someone who would have to rely on them, to become Hokage..."

Hearing this, Kushina looked at Minato with sympathy and clasped his hand tightly.

Minato shook his head.

He knew Sasuke's words were somewhat one-sided, but he couldn't deny that they made sense.

"So, Sasuke, why did you deliberately show us all this and tell us these things?"

"I told you..."

Are you trying to help us? Minato glanced at Kushina beside him and Naruto in another scene, then fell silent.

Meanwhile.

Outside.

Kakashi blocked Orochimaru's path at the exit of the underground passage.

Unfortunately,

Kakashi ten years in the future wouldn't have been Orochimaru's match, and the Kakashi of today was even less of one.

If not for the contingency plan the Third Hokage had put in place, Kakashi would have died here.

After their earlier clash, he understood just how wide the gap was. Even facing a badly wounded Orochimaru, he didn't have the courage to intercept him again.

Meanwhile.

Inside Cell No. 1.

Seeing that the scene hadn't followed Orochimaru as he left, but had instead remained fixed on Kakashi, Minato's heart tightened. "Sasuke, what are you going to do to Kakashi?"

"Ah, you noticed?" Sasuke's amused voice rang out. "It's a rare opportunity. I just want to take back something that belongs to the Uchiha Clan."

The Sharingan?!

Minato's pupils contracted.

So Sasuke's real goal wasn't to watch some heartwarming scene between master and student. It was Kakashi!

But why would a single Three-Tomoe Sharingan be worth going to so much trouble for?

Before he could figure it out, what happened next made his face change instantly. He stared, stunned and disbelieving!

Sasuke suddenly appeared. Perhaps thinking Orochimaru had come back, Kakashi spun around sharply—only to meet a pair of scarlet Mangekyo. A powerful eye technique seized control of him at once!

Then!

A White Fox Summon appeared out of thin air behind him. Its sharp right claw flashed like a point of cold light and plunged into his back!

Schhk!

The claw pierced his heart, then twisted violently and pulled free!

Bright red blood, mixed with chunks of his heart, gushed out like a spring!

The searing pain broke Kakashi free of the control. He lowered his head mechanically and stared at the gaping hole where his heart had been...

Am I... going to die?

Maybe... this is... my punishment...

His eyes gradually lost their light. He collapsed to the ground...

Obito... Rin...

"Ding!"

"Hatake Kakashi's soul has been successfully collected."