The Land of Fields, b the northern edge of the Land of Fire, was ohe birthpce of Otogakure—the Hidden Sound Vilge. I years, however, with the dee of the Sound Vilge, it has faded from the attention of most shinobi.

  A small, insignifit nation like this has instead bee fertile ground for the roots of evil to take hold.

  Deep within the dense forest, surrounded by wetnds and ss, lies a secret fortress. Its entrance leads underground.

  The walls are a ahered, their texture exuding a sense of age. Snake-shaped debras are symmetrically pced along both sides of the corridor, their dim light barely illuminating a five-step radius. Every thirty steps, another pair of debras stands, the interpy of light and shadow adding an eerie atmosphere.

  The corridor twists and turns like a byrinth, filled with hidden traps and meisms. Those who rashly venture in often find themselves uo return.

  The maze leads to the deepest part of the underground fortress—a massive human experimentation b.

  The b is vast, yet the dim tones make it feel oppressively fined.

  Transparent gss tainers lihe walls, each filled with a strange liquid that suspends various experimental subjects: humans, snakes, half-human-half-snake hybrids, and grotesque, malformed creatures of all kinds.

  Rustle! Scratch!

  At the ter of the b, a man busily worked over an experiment table.

  His figure was cloaked in a dark robe, with his head cealed beh a hood.

  Hiss, hiss. Two white snakes extended from beh his robes, flig their tooward the space behind him.

  "Heh, heh, heh," a sinister ugh echoed, chilling the silent air. "The world outside is starting to get lively again."

  "Well, I suppose it's not surprising. After all, when you've spent so much time in the darkness, talking to yourself bees a reasonable pastime."

  "That Naruto... Not only did he defeat your trusted subordinates, but he also took the eyes that should have beloo you."

  "Those eyes are crucial to your future pns, aren't they? That's why you're hesitating, afraid of losing everything."

  "I know. Your inal pn was to stir up flict at the Five Kage Summit, wasn't it?"

  "You inteo stop hiding in the shadows and, with the power you've amassed, openly seize the Eight-Tails and ails!"

  "It's a very logical strategy—effit and direct!"

  "I even prepared a little surprise for that moment."

  Swish! As he spoke, a pair of vertical pupils fshed, gng toward a coffin in the er.

  "But since you've ged your pns, I 't reveal my trump card too early."

  Shaking his head, he muttered, "What a pity. I was really looking forward to seeing the ridiculous expression on your face beh that mask."

  "But at this point, it doesn't matter anymore. After all, this war has nothing to do with me. My only goal is to take Sasuke back from you."

  "pared to cooperating with you—a roundabout, uable method—I’ve found a much better bait for Sasuke. Yes, for the sake of revenge, Sasuke will iably go after Danzō."

  He lowered his gaze to the experiment table before him. "Though it seems... I may have gone a bit overboard."

  Oable y Danzō, now transformed into a genuine monstrosity.

  The face of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, was grafted all over his body!

  Each of Hashirama's faces had its eye sockets filled with Sharingan!

  Heh, heh, heh. A sinister chuckle apanied dangerous words. "No longer just a single arm... I've impnted Shin Uchiha's anti-reje cells throughout Danzō's body to enhance his patibility with Hashirama's cells!"

  "Then, through iations with Shin, I obtained one hundred of his es. Using ing teology, I mass-produced Mangekyō Sharingan—two hundred in total—and imphem all!"

  "Additionally, Danzō's new right eye... is a special surprise I've reserved for you."

  Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh! Hahahahaha!!

  Throwing back his hood, Kabuto Yakushi revealed his fad tilted his head ba maniacal ughter. "Go ahead, Sasuke, seek your revenge! I'll ehat you taste an unpreted defeat at Danzō's hands. When your resolve is crushed, when you fall into fusion and despair, you'll seek eveer power! Naturally, just like three years ago, when you turo Orochimaru-sama, you'll e to me!"

  "And then, under my guida as Orochimaru-sama, but as someone who has surpassed him—I will fe a being that transds even the legends of the Uchiha! Yes, Sasuke, in my hands, you will surpass that legend. You will surpass Uchiha Madara!"

  As his ughter faded, Kabuto adjusted his gsses with a fihe refle of light on the lenses obscured his eyes, and in the silence, he revealed his true purpose.

  "In doing so, I will prove to the world the meaning of my existence."

  ---

  The obsessions and madness of individuals did not disturb the quiet rain-soaked vilge.

  Iower of Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Vilge...

  After receiving treatment, Konan's fever had subsided, and she now rested peacefully.

  "Phew." Shizune posed herself and stepped out of the room.

  Naruto smiled and said, "Thank you, Shizune-san."

  Shizune nodded faintly but spoke seriously. "Naruto, I o talk to you."

  Naruto interrupted her. "If it's about why I left the vilge, I'm afraid I 't tell you."

  Hearing this, Shizune's expression darkened.

  Naruto added, "I only assure you that I won't do anything to harm the vilge."

  "Tsunade-sama has already woken up. After learning what happened in the vilge, she's practically overwhelmed! I don't uand—why, this time of all times, are you unwilling to discuss anything with us? You know, no matter how reckless you’ve been in the past, Tsunade-sama has always stood by your side!"

  Shizune spoke urgently, closely Naruto's rea. Yet, she found no trace of the emotional response she had hoped for.

  Naruto's eyes held only crity ah. Calmly, he expined, "This isn't something that be resolved through discussion. Without absolute evideo vince everyone, even gaining the trust of a few would lead to signifit resistaer on."

  "Rather than dragging others into the pressure with me, it's more effit for me to act alone."

  "This is a clusion I've reached after careful sideration. Even if it's not the best approach, it's at least the most cost-effective one."

  Naruto pced a hand on Shizune's shoulder.

  Swish!

  In a fsh of light, he transported Shizuo the outskirts of Konoha, handing Tonton back to her.

  Shizune looked bewildered. She could no longer see through Naruto.

  After a moment, she asked, "What happeo you? you tell just me? I promise I won't tell anyone else."

  Naruto smiled. "Shizune-san, just go back."

  Sigh. Realizing she would get no answers, Shizune sighed softly, holding Tonton as she walked toward the vilge in the distance.

  As she left, Naruto called out, "Oh, by the way, deliver a message to Granny Tsunade for me."

  Tap.

  Shizuopped iracks.

  Naruto's gaze glimmered with cold light as he said, "Tell her that no matter what happens, I will not allow Danzō to return to Konoha alive. She should prepare to resume the position of Hokage."

  Shizune remained silent. After a moment, she tinued walking.

  Once Shizune was gone, Naruto slowly turned his gaze to the side aended his hand.

  Banshō Ten'in!

  "Argh!!!" A White Zetsu hiding in the shadows screamed as Naruto pulled it toward him.

  Naruto smiled faintly. "Well, what a ce. You guys really are everywhere, huh?"

  White Zetsu growled, "Why are you flying around at night instead of sleeping?!"

  Naruto replied, "That's my question for you. But I have a faster way to get answers."

  ch!

  Naruto gripped the White Zetsu's head, his left eye—his Rinnegan—glowing as he closed it.

  Human Path!

  In mere seds, Naruto extracted all the information about Akatsuki's pns from White Zetsu's mind.

  "So that's their move..." Naruto opened his eyes. "Akatsuki's deployment, huh?"

  Whoosh!

  With a pull of his hand, he extracted a glowing white orb from White Zetsu's head.

  The sequence of the Human Path: the loss of one's soul.

  "Looks like I'll o prepare my own termeasures."

  Swish! With a swirl of his cloak, Naruto disappeared into the misty dawn.

  AnnouMy Patreon chapters have been updated to Chapter 110. Your support for my work is greatly appreciated!

  patreon./DarkGolds