Tenchi Bridge, battle one-an explosive clash!

Sasuke's rebirth from the future was like a stone cast onto the waters of the Shinobi World. Once the ripples faded, the surface grew calm again.

Until the next turning point arrived, the world would naturally follow its prevailing course.

Drip!

Deep inside a lair lined with stalactites, the members of Akatsuki gathered as projected apparitions!

Nine Akatsuki Robes wove a dark curtain, their shadowy hues exuding solemnity, menace, and mystery! Even though their identities, abilities, and pasts were no longer secrets, in this age when the Six Paths were still revered as ancient mythology, they still had a place on the dark stage!

Zetsu said, "Heh heh, everyone's here. Our last gathering was seven years ago, when Orochimaru left Akatsuki!"

Deidara said, "I heard Orochimaru got his hands on a Sharingan. Itachi, is it your little brother?"

"..." Itachi stared calmly into the darkness with his Sharingan, saying nothing.

Red Sand Scorpion said, "No rush. We'll kill Orochimaru someday, though I can hardly wait already..."

"Speaking of which, we only have three years left. Can everyone meet the minimum requirement?"

Pain's Deva Path swept his Rinnegan over the others.

"Yes... our goal is to bring every tailed beast, including the Nine-Tails, into our grasp!"

After the projected apparitions vanished.

A thousand miles away, in the Land of Wind, figures wearing Akatsuki Robes and conical hats emerged from the dunes.

They were none other than Red Sand Scorpion, the Jade Maiden of Akatsuki, and Deidara, the Azure Dragon of Akatsuki!

Akatsuki's current objective was to amass money. Before formally beginning their hunt for the tailed beasts, its members operated in pairs, undertaking missions with hefty commissions.

At the end of their gathering, Pain had also assigned them a mission: destroy a small nation in the southern desert of the Land of Wind!

The two headed toward the south of the desert.

"Orochimaru. That unpleasant name again..."

Sasori's true body was hidden inside the puppet Hiruko, and resentment seeped into his voice.

Deidara asked, "Old man Sasori, I'm curious. What exactly happened between you and Orochimaru?"

Sasori said darkly, "We cannot exist under the same sky!"

"His research into prolonging living flesh indefinitely is a blatant desecration of my eternal art. How could I possibly tolerate his existence?!"

Though ordinary people could never understand such feelings, Deidara shared them. "Hmm! So he's a heretic of the same art! But if you ask me, eternity isn't art at all. Only a fleeting explosion deserves to be called true art!!!"

Sasori said, "Hmph... in any case, Orochimaru and I can never coexist in the same era. And he will be the one to fall!"

Deidara said, "Hmm. The likes of Orochimaru hardly matter. But Sasuke Uchiha, Itachi's little brother—I'd really like to give him a taste of explosive art!"

"You just want payback for what Itachi did to you... hmm?"

Hiruko stopped and looked up at the messenger bird overhead.

"It's from the informant I planted at Orochimaru's side..."

The messenger bird landed on Hiruko's arm. After removing and reading its message scroll, Sasori's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Finally, I've got him!!"

Deidara asked, "What's going on?"

Sasori said, "Orochimaru will arrive at Tenchi Bridge in Kusagakure tomorrow!"

Deidara said, "Hey... doesn't that mean—!"

Hiruko's mechanical hand tightened around the scroll. "I've waited a long time for this opportunity!"

Deidara said, "Sasuke Uchiha will definitely be with him!"

Sasori said, "Probably. I have no interest in brats."

Deidara said, "He may be a brat, but he's Itachi's little brother. I can't wait. Let's hurry!"

Sasori said, "No need. I'll go to Tenchi Bridge myself. Akatsuki's mission cannot be delayed. You're more than capable of wiping out a small nation like that on your own!"

Deidara grumbled, "Damn it... why did the leader have to give us that blasted mission at a time like this? Old man, why don't you wait here a little? I'll be back in no time!!!"

"No thanks. I hate waiting for people, and I hate making people wait. Once we've each finished, we'll meet at the usual place..."

With that, Sasori had already turned back.

Deidara shouted, "Hey... old man, leave Sasuke Uchiha alive! He's my target!!!"

Amid the swirling sand, Sasori's retreating figure grew ever more distant.

"No idea whether he listened..."

Deidara smiled helplessly and pulled his hat lower.

Poof!

He mounted a large white bird made of clay and swept through the sky toward the southern desert!

"Feel honored, chosen nation! You'll be elevated through the art of a fleeting explosion, hmm!"

The next day, at Tenchi Bridge in Kusagakure.

Whoosh! Blade Reversal's vortex swirled, and Sasuke arrived in the dense woods at the northern end of Tenchi Bridge, accompanied by Orochimaru and Kabuto.

Only the night before had Orochimaru told him who his opponent in the first battle would be.

Red Sand Scorpion was someone he had never met. He only knew of the man's existence from Sakura, his wife in his previous life. Apparently, like Kankuro, he had been a puppeteer from Sunagakure, and he was a member of Akatsuki with the codename Jade Maiden.

As for Sasori's specific abilities... Sasuke had no way of knowing.

After all, who would take an interest in the abilities of someone who had long since left the stage for good?

Still, the "Ten Battles" were meant to accelerate the absorption of the White Cursed Seal. Anyone Orochimaru personally deemed suitable as an opponent would surely be someone capable of forcing Sasuke, at his current strength, into a life-or-death battle!

Sasuke did not dare underestimate his opponent and stood fully prepared.

He had only one purpose in being reborn: to grow stronger, stronger than anyone else!

It was the same goal as in his previous life, but its core was no longer the shallow conviction of growing stronger for revenge. Instead, he sought to protect this Shinobi World from the gods and make the future he had envisioned beneath the distant stars a reality!

—"Orochimaru, Kabuto, promise me that no matter what happens in the coming battle, even if I face certain death, neither of you will intervene!"

The heat radiating from Sasuke's resolute fighting spirit seemed to scorch the surrounding air!

Sasuke-kun's resolve is deeper and firmer than I imagined!

"All right. I promise..."

Kabuto Yakushi focused his gaze. "He's here...!!"

Warblers flew over the growing grass, and wind stirred at the bridgehead!

A man shrouded entirely in darkness slowly approached from the woods on the other side!

Shing!

Sasuke charged out, sword in hand. He was so fast that he reached the bridgehead in the blink of an eye. Buzz! As he sprinted, three tomoe spun into view in his eyes!

The sudden development brought Hiruko to a halt in the middle of Tenchi Bridge. Red Sand Scorpion's eyes widened. "Those eyes, you're...!!"

"Sasuke Uchiha, here to challenge you!!"

Beyond announcing his name, no further introduction was needed!

Sasuke leaped above Hiruko's head and swiftly brought his gleaming blade down, lightning crackling along its edge!!

"!!!"

A steel scorpion tail lashed out from the mechanism at Hiruko's rear!!!

Clang...!!

Battle one... Sasuke Uchiha versus Red Sand Scorpion erupted!!