The serpent's pupils

Whoosh!

In the woods.

A swirling vortex suddenly appeared before Sasuke and his companions as they rested. Though the timing was slightly different, the masked Obito still appeared before Sasuke!

He greeted him in a low voice. "Yo, Sasuke..."

Sasuke, Karin, and Suigetsu rose to their feet at once!

Karin frowned. "That guy's chakra suddenly appeared. How is that possible?"

Suigetsu drawled, "Well, well, what terrible timing!"

Sasuke was cold. "How did you know I was here?"

Obito replied calmly, "Don't underestimate me. I have abilities for that, too~."

Kamui's spatial travel also used marks. Unlike Flying Thunder God's marks, Kamui's could be left with the eyes, making them more convenient. Neither kind could be erased [except by Yin-Yang Release].

Sasuke said coldly, "Why are you still showing up in front of us? Taka has already left the Akatsuki. We have nothing to do with each other anymore!"

Obito said gravely, "I told you, betraying the Akatsuki means death. You broke our agreement!"

Sasuke frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Obito said, "Capturing the Tailed Beast."

Karin said, "Didn't we already capture the Eight-Tails for you?"

Obito said, "That was only a substitute. In other words, you failed..."

"!?" All three were stunned.

Obito said, "The Eight-Tails completely played you... Honestly, I couldn't be more disappointed in you."

Sasuke recalled the battle in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. I checked with my Sharingan. He never had a chance to use a clone...

He suddenly remembered one detail: when he had severed the Eight-Tails' tentacle with Chidori Sharp Spear, that tentacle had sunk into the river!

Could it have been... right then!?

Suigetsu stood his ground. "Even so, what else do you want from us? We have nothing to do with you anymore!"

Obito said, "No, I just want you to finish what you started and complete the task the Akatsuki gave you. That said, forget about the Eight-Tails. There's something else I want you to do today."

Sasuke said, "And if I refuse?"

Obito continued without answering, "I came here to find you because I don't want you going to Konoha anymore..."

"Looks like I'll have to use force!"

Sasuke lunged with Chidori... only to pass straight through Obito!

"!" Sasuke was startled, remembering what had happened back when he fought Deidara. My attack passed through him again, just like last time. Is this his ability?

Obito glanced sideways. "I've heard about your objective, too. Unfortunately, you won't get your wish..."

Sasuke turned around. "What do you mean?"

Obito said, "Konoha is gone..."

"!?" The three were stunned once again.

Karin said, "What happened?"

Rustle, rustle, rustle. Just then, Zetsu emerged from the ground beside Obito.

Karin went on guard. "That's..."

"Don't worry. He's my companion." Obito lowered his eyes toward White Zetsu. "Who became Hokage?"

Zetsu said, "That fellow Danzo."

Obito said, "Pretty much what I expected..."

Sasuke frowned. "Danzo became Hokage...?"

Obito said, "That's right. One of the members of Konoha High Command who drove your brother away has become Konoha's new Hokage."

Only then did Sasuke ask, "What exactly happened to Konoha?"

Obito looked at the two behind Sasuke. "Where's that subordinate of yours named Jugo?"

Suigetsu said, "He went to fetch water. Come to think of it, he's taking a while..."

Karin adjusted her glasses. "Every last one of you is a pain!" Her expression was stern, but inside she swooned. Sasuke, hurry up and fire them so you can elope with me. Hehehehe~~~~!

Suigetsu spread his hands. "It's your fault, Karin. If you're thirsty, why not just drink the water from my body? Jugo went to get water for you, you know~."

Karin clenched her fists, a vein bulging on her forehead. "Who would drink water from an idiot like you? What if drinking it turns me into an idiot, too!?"

Her imagination ran wild. And there are my future children with Sasuke to think about, too. Hehehehehe~~...

Suigetsu quipped, "You're already not that bright. A little more won't make much difference..."

"You bastard~~~!!"

Thud!! Karin punched Suigetsu's head into water, then kicked him as he screamed over and over...

Sasuke sighed helplessly. "Stop fooling around, Suigetsu, Karin."

"..." Watching this farce, Obito looked utterly speechless as well. He returned to the subject. "Never mind. If he's not here, he's not here. It won't affect what we're about to discuss... My subordinate Pain destroyed Konoha. Sasuke, you and Pain have both been far too conspicuous. Now even the Five Kage are finally making their move!"

Sasuke's eyes darkened. "The Five Kage..."

Obito said, "The Five Kage Summit is about to convene..."

Zetsu spoke up. "Let me explain the rest~!"

News that Naruto had deserted Konoha and ruthlessly killed his fellow shinobi reached the village through Root, causing an uproar.

Root had already spread rumors that the Akatsuki leader Pain's attack on Konoha had been a staged performance, coordinated with Naruto from within to win the villagers' trust. But after Danzo saw through the scheme, Naruto had fled the village overnight.

At first, people had only half believed those rumors. After all, Naruto had spent more than a decade earning their trust, step by step, through earnest actions.

But the bodies of Tokuma Hyuga and his two companions, along with the scroll Anko had left behind, were indisputable facts.

The people of Konoha gathered in front of the temporary tent used for meetings among the leadership, waiting for news.

Once the contents of the scroll were confirmed to be true, public opinion turned completely against him...!

"The Nine-Tails really is the Nine-Tails, after all..."

"That cancer Naruto hid his true colors far too well!"

"He fooled all of us!!"

"That vile Naruto should be put to death...!!"

Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound of a cane rang out, and the crowd fell silent.

Danzo approached, his voice steady. "Konoha has never shown mercy to rogue ninja. It was only the Fifth Hokage's indulgence that allowed matters to reach this point..."

"But I, Shimura Danzō, will put an end to this crisis and give everyone in Konoha an answer!"

After a brief silence, thunderous cheers erupted. "We pledge our lives to supporting Lord Danzo's leadership!"

No one noticed the smile curling beneath Danzo's Hokage hat, the smile of a man whose scheme had succeeded.

Naruto and Konan were in the cave where they had first stayed.

Konan asked, "Are you ready to begin?"

Naruto said, "Yeah. Let's get started."

Konan lifted Mitaraishi Anko. "I still find it hard to believe. Can something like this really be done?"

Naruto said, "The essence of the Cursed Seal Orochimaru developed is an independently existing consciousness. As long as the Cursed Seal exists, he can never die... But awakening him requires the original template for the Cursed Seal. I already obtained that earlier, from Jugo."

Naruto stepped forward and pressed his left hand against the Cursed Seal on the back of Anko's neck!

Whoosh! The Cursed Seal's sage power that he had absorbed from Jugo flowed into it.

Naruto slowly raised his hand. Rustle, rustle, rustle... A white snake poked its head out of Anko's Cursed Seal. Its jaws opened, revealing Orochimaru's striking figure.

Thump! Anko collapsed to the ground, still unconscious...

"..." Naruto and Konan both took a step back.

Orochimaru rose from the pool of viscous slime, his slit pupils fixed on the blond boy before him. His husky, sensual voice rang out. "Hehehe, what a surprise. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the person who brought me back into this world would be you... Naruto."