Shinigami in the Ninja World

In the corner of the Konoha Village.

The abandoned Uchiha residence.

Sasuke sat in the courtyard.

According to his usual routine, this would be the time for taijutsu training.

But at this moment, he had no mood for it.

He simply lifted his head, staring blankly at the half-crescent moon.

The rain earlier in the day had wiped the sky clean, not a cloud could be seen.

Yet, in a daze, he seemed to always catch sight of a golden figure drifting about.

That was Naruto's shadow.

Standing in the sky, leaving without regard for the Konoha Village's opinions...

The villagers were helpless, only able to agree.

These were all brought by immense power.

But...

How did Naruto gain such tremendous power?

Even if he developed his Sharingan to the "Three Tomoe," he might still be unable to catch up with Naruto.

He furrowed his brow.

Suddenly, he turned his head towards a shadow not far away: "Who's there, come out!"

"Sasuke, your perception isn't bad." A man in a black robe slowly stepped forward, "You noticed me so quickly."

Sasuke sprang up, drawing a kunai: "It's you..."

"Kabuto!"

"Showing up in the Konoha Village at this time, you're quite bold."

The man removed his hood, revealing a plain face with glasses, mixed with a fake smile: "I'm not bold at all, but I barely managed to seize this opportunity."

"Right now, the entire focus of the Konoha Village is on that person."

That person.

Sasuke was stunned, several names flashed through his mind.

After a moment, he finally confirmed which one and spoke: "Naruto?"

Kabuto nodded: "Yes, the Jinchuriki. He just returned to the Konoha Village, causing quite a commotion."

"He went to the hospital for a while, then left again."

"I thought the Konoha Village would at least try to stop him."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, not continuing the conversation but sternly demanded: "Enough nonsense, state your purpose."

He didn't need to ask "why Naruto went to the hospital."

The answer was clear.

It was to treat Rock Lee.

Compared to Naruto's matters, he was more concerned about why this person sought him out.

"Naruto is indeed powerful." Kabuto turned his head to look into the distance, "I've been constantly worrying, only daring to come to you after confirming he left the village."

"You seem to be... three months older than him?"

Sasuke remained silent.

He knew Naruto's birthday, October 10th.

It was over two months after his own, born on July 23rd.

"Do you desire great power?" Kabuto turned his head back, smiling at him.

Sasuke lowered his hand, still on guard: "The Jinchuriki?"

"You all call Naruto the Jinchuriki."

"Is it because of that identity, the Nine-Tails sealed within him, that he became so strong?"

Kabuto chuckled lightly: "How naive, Sasuke."

"That kid from the Sand Village, Gaara, is also a Jinchuriki."

"But the difference between him and Naruto..."

He clicked his tongue, not giving a definitive answer.

Sasuke also made his judgment.

Gaara was indeed strong. At this age, it was hard to find many who could match him, but the gap with Naruto... was like the chasm between a ravine and a mountain peak.

"Do you want to catch up to Naruto?" Kabuto raised his hand, extending it, his expression sincere.

Sasuke shook his head, looking him up and down: "With just you?"

His tone was disdainful.

On the day of the Konoha Village's destruction plan...

He had seen Kabuto in action, alongside some Sand Village ninjas, able to jointly fight against Kakashi and others.

Naruto's judgment wasn't wrong.

This guy was indeed not to be underestimated.

But he was only on Kakashi's level, perhaps even less.

"Of course not." Kabuto pointed upwards, "Have you forgotten about the one above me?"

"Are you talking about... that guy named Orochimaru?" Sasuke was surprised.

Kabuto nodded.

Sasuke frowned, "Wasn't he already killed by Naruto?"

"To have a dead man teach me..."

"You can actually say something like that."

Kabuto's face maintained a false smile. "Even I initially thought that Orochimaru-sama was truly dead."

"But... Orochimaru-sama's methods far exceed our imagination."

He recalled returning to Orochimaru's base to deliver the news of his "death" to the man Orochimaru trusted most. That man, however, calmly stated that Orochimaru-sama wasn't dead and ordered Kabuto to bring Sasuke back to prepare for Orochimaru's resurrection.

Kabuto grinned, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips. After a pause, he continued, "Death is merely an illusion."

"After all..."

"Compared to falling into the hands of the Konoha, death is a more acceptable outcome."

Sasuke's expression shifted.

Orochimaru isn't dead?

"Come with me, Sasuke," Kabuto extended his hand again, "The Konoha isn't suitable for you."

"That Jinchuriki kid should just destroy this place."

"Along with the darkness lurking beneath this village, all should vanish like smoke."

"You won't grow stronger here."

"You'll only be swallowed by the darkness."

Sasuke stood straight, hands in his pockets, "Even if Orochimaru isn't dead, so what?"

"What can he teach me?"

"How to play dead and escape my enemies?"

"I need power to kill my enemies head-on, not power to run away."

Kabuto retracted his hand and gently pushed up his glasses. "Does killing the Third Hokage not prove Orochimaru-sama's strength?"

"Just killing an old man." Sasuke shook his head, rejecting the idea decisively.

Orochimaru...

When he first appeared in the Forest of Death, he indeed brought immense pressure.

But in Sasuke's eyes, Orochimaru did not deserve the title of "strong."

It seemed like he wanted to do something to Sasuke, but was quickly beaten back by Naruto.

He struggled to kill the Third Hokage, who was already nearing death.

Then he was immediately killed by Naruto.

Such a person...

This meager strength is not enough to attract Sasuke's interest in learning.

Leaving the Konoha to seek someone who was killed by Naruto?

He might as well stay in the Konoha, follow Kakashi for now, unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan, and then consider other options.

"Is that so? So that's how Orochimaru-sama appears in your eyes," Kabuto sighed softly, "However... even if you temporarily misunderstand Orochimaru-sama."

"Orochimaru-sama will always welcome you."

"If you change your mind."

"Come to the Sound Village."

Sasuke did not respond, coldly watching as Kabuto disappeared into the shadows.

He only lifted his head to continue staring at the moon when he could no longer sense Kabuto's presence or chakra.

His fist tightened in his pocket.

Power...

...

Naruto had left the village. He hadn't gone far when he sensed a presence closely following him.

It was a familiar chakra.

He stopped and stood on a tree, waiting.

The person soon caught up—it was Jiraiya.

"Chasing me like this, what do you want?" Naruto looked at him, his tone calm.

Jiraiya scratched his head and began speaking, though his voice lacked confidence. "There are two jutsu I want to teach you."

"One is the Summoning Jutsu, with a contract with the Great Toad of Mount Myōboku. We can use it to communicate."

"The other... is a jutsu called Rasengan."

Naruto shook his head.

He didn't need more jutsu right now; these wouldn't significantly increase his power.

"These were jutsu your father once mastered," mentioning Namikaze Minato, Jiraiya spoke with more conviction, "Rasengan was a jutsu your father developed, a technique without hand seals."

"Do you..."

"Want to learn them?"