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At the Konoha Hospital, Sasuke Uchiha emerged, his face dark and sullen.
His wrist, broken by Itachi Uchiha, had healed, but the image of his own weakness and helplessness against Itachi was deeply seared into his mind.
“Sasuke, why didn’t you tell us you were being discharged?” Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno rushed over, Naruto complaining to Sasuke.
Sasuke didn’t even look at Naruto or Sakura, merely walking past them coolly.
“HEY! Sasuke, What’s with the attitude?” Naruto, seeing Sasuke ignore him completely, fumed.
“Naruto, quiet down. Sasuke must be feeling terrible right now,” Sakura said, punching Naruto.
“Violent woman…” Naruto muttered under his breath, not daring to let Sakura hear.
Sasuke returned alone to his residence, which was still within the Uchiha compound, now located on the outskirts of Konoha.
“Who’s there?”
Suddenly, Sasuke Uchiha sensed someone following him. He stopped and looked back.
“Sasuke-kun, it’s been a while. Orochimaru-sama misses you very much.”
Kabuto Yakushi appeared, a benign smile on his face, though it looked somewhat artificial.
“So it’s you. Orochimaru’s lackey.” Sasuke recognized Kabuto. During the Konoha Crush, Kabuto was the one who had helped Orochimaru escape.
Kabuto’s face turned grim, a flash of killing intent in his eyes as he looked at Sasuke Uchiha. Even though Kabuto considered himself patient, being called a “Lackey” still infuriated him.
“Though I may be a lackey, you’re not much better—the Uchiha Clan’s only surviving stray dog.” Kabuto stated flatly. Knowing Sasuke’s strong pride, Kabuto didn’t mind retaliating verbally.
“Do you have a death wish?” Sasuke, enraged, didn’t hesitate.
“<Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!>” He formed hand seals and spewed a large fireball towards Kabuto.
Kabuto frowned, using a Ninjutsu to block Sasuke’s attack, then instantly flickered to Sasuke’s side.
“So fast!” Sasuke’s eyes widened. He immediately activated his Sharingan, trying to track Kabuto’s movements, but it was too late.
By the time Sasuke activated his Sharingan, Kabuto had already struck the back of Sasuke’s neck with a hand chop.
Sasuke Uchiha fainted. Kabuto unhesitatingly grabbed Sasuke and quickly departed.
Kabuto was here on Orochimaru’s orders—to capture Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke’s earlier Ninjutsu attack might attract Konoha’s Anbu; Kabuto had to leave as quickly as possible.
Unlike the original story where Orochimaru lured Sasuke into defecting, this time Orochimaru had ordered Sasuke to be captured directly.
After hitting a wall with Shin, Orochimaru was in a particularly foul mood. Unable to heal his arms, Orochimaru’s temper had become volatile.
Furthermore, having lost the Sound Four, Orochimaru was short on usable subordinates and had no time to play games with Sasuke Uchiha.
Once Sasuke was brought back, Orochimaru had ways to persuade him. Itachi Uchiha was Sasuke’s greatest weakness; Orochimaru had seen through that long ago.
Kabuto’s skills were impressive. He easily captured Sasuke Uchiha and spirited him away from Konoha.
After leaving Konoha, Kabuto rushed towards Otogakure. He knew that if Konoha discovered Sasuke’s abduction, they would definitely send pursuers.
Kabuto didn’t have much time; he had to return to Otogakure quickly to ensure his own safety.
To avoid any accidents, Kabuto gave Sasuke Uchiha a drug that would keep him unconscious for a day.
——
Not long after, Kabuto Yakushi returned to Otogakure, to Orochimaru’s secret base hidden within the village.
“You’re back? Did you complete Orochimaru-sama’s mission?” Kimimaro looked coolly at Kabuto.
“Of course.” Kabuto threw Sasuke Uchiha, whom he had been carrying on his back, onto the ground.
Actually, Kimimaro had initially wanted to undertake this mission himself, to alleviate Orochimaru’s troubles.
However, Orochimaru had ordered Kabuto to go, while Kimimaro was to remain and guard the base. Kimimaro could only obey Orochimaru’s command.
Kimimaro was extremely loyal to Orochimaru. Even if Orochimaru ordered him to die—he probably wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
Kimimaro picked up Sasuke and brought him into the base, presenting him to the weakened Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was somewhat weak because he had recently performed the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique, transferring to a new body.
Having failed to get Shin’s help in the Land of Whirlpools, Orochimaru had no other choice but to use this method to restore his arms.
It proved effective, but Orochimaru was very weak after the reincarnation, his soul considerably damaged.
This was why Kimimaro hadn’t been sent on this mission; Kimimaro was left behind to protect Orochimaru.
Orochimaru knew Kimimaro was completely loyal. As for Kabuto Yakushi, Orochimaru didn’t trust him 100%.
“You’ve brought Sasuke-kun back. Good work.” Orochimaru looked at the still unconscious Sasuke Uchiha and smiled sinisterly.
A prime vessel was ready. However, Orochimaru didn’t plan to reincarnate immediately.
The reason was simple: having just undergone reincarnation, Orochimaru lacked the strength for another transfer.
“Kabuto, wake him up,” Orochimaru instructed Kabuto.
“Yes, Orochimaru-sama.” Kabuto had the drug to knock Sasuke out; naturally, he also had the antidote. He administered the antidote to Sasuke, and Sasuke quickly regained consciousness.
“Where… is this?” Sasuke, just waking up, was a bit disoriented.
“Sasuke-kun, we meet again.” Orochimaru’s cold, sinister voice reached Sasuke’s ears. Only then did Sasuke’s gaze focus on Orochimaru.
“Orochimaru!” Sasuke immediately became wary.
This man was capable of throwing Konoha into crisis. Though Sasuke sometimes lacked intelligence—he wasn’t foolish now.
Orochimaru didn’t care about Sasuke’s wariness. Having been brought here, could Sasuke Uchiha possibly escape? Obviously not.
Besides, Orochimaru, having thoroughly studied Sasuke, knew persuading him wouldn’t be particularly difficult.
Perhaps Sasuke would even willingly stay here.
“Why did you bring me here?” Sasuke Uchiha questioned Orochimaru.
“Sasuke-kun, do you yearn for great power? The power to defeat Itachi Uchiha?” Orochimaru chuckled, asking Sasuke.
Orochimaru was confident of victory; Sasuke Uchiha was already his.
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