Rewinding time a bit, before the Kumogakure army pressed on the border.
As the territory of Otogakure, the Land of Rice Fields naturally faced the pressing Kumogakure army as if facing a formidable enemy.
Orochimaru couldn't conduct his research in peace either. While mobilizing the forces within the village, he also sent a request for help to Kageyama Kogetsu.
It had to be said that Orochimaru's brainwashing techniques were truly impressive.
Although the Kumogakure army had an absolute advantage, the Otogakure ninja showed no fear. They clamored to make Kumogakure pay the price, the atmosphere was quite fervent, and they were utterly unafraid of death!
After the Konoha army assembled, Orochimaru, as the commander-in-chief, led the Otogakure forces to merge with the Konoha forces and headed for the border of the Land of Rice Fields.
With most of Otogakure's personnel gone and only a few left to guard, this was undoubtedly a godsend opportunity for Obito Uchiha and Black and White Zetsu.
The two secretly infiltrated the Otogakure tower, heading straight for Orochimaru's research area, ignoring all other research areas.
They split up to search and spent some time finding the secret room where the research materials related to the Impure World Reincarnation technique were stored.
The safe was high-grade, and Orochimaru had specifically placed advanced sealing jutsu on it.
Given Orochimaru's mastery of sealing jutsu, few ninja in the world could undo it. However, Obito Uchiha and Black and White Zetsu were not among the few.
It took them some time to break the sealing jutsu, but they faced a dilemma with the safe itself.
They worried that if they forced the safe open, the contents would be destroyed. But taking it away to study slowly would alert the enemy.
After studying it for a while, Black Zetsu turned into a liquid state and slowly seeped in through the combination lock and nearby imperceptible cracks. After figuring out the structure, he successfully opened the safe.
Obito Uchiha picked up the documents in the safe with his right hand to examine them and soon found the research materials related to the Impure World Reincarnation technique.
Just as Obito Uchiha was about to put the unwanted documents back into the safe, all the documents in his hand suddenly fell to the ground...
"What are you doing?" Black Zetsu asked strangely.
"Orochimaru is truly insidious. He actually coated the documents with poison."
Obito Uchiha's face darkened. He formed his left hand into a blade, chakra surging at the edge of his palm, and sliced off his right arm below the shoulder.
"I see. Then I'll take them, and you take pictures," Black Zetsu agreed.
"Alright."
With that, Obito Uchiha raised his palm, cut off White Zetsu's arm, and attached it to himself.
They took pictures of the materials related to the Impure World Reincarnation technique, picked up the documents, organized them, put them back into the safe, restored the combination lock's position, re-applied the sealing jutsu, and cleaned up the traces they left.
It took them a lot of effort to get it done, and finally, they left secretly.
After returning to the Mountains' Graveyard, Obito Uchiha and Black and White Zetsu immediately split up. One stayed behind to study the Impure World Reincarnation technique, while the other led numerous White Zetsu to collect the genetic material of deceased powerful ninja.
...
Obito Uchiha's group went into hiding, and Konoha and Kumogakure did not fight. The ninja world fell into a state of superficial calm with undercurrents surging.
Ninja forces, big and small, were accumulating strength for the coming changes.
Three months later, Konoha, in the side hall of the Kageyama residence's front courtyard.
Kageyama Kogetsu sat on an armchair. Sasuke, wearing a white shirt with a thick purple rope belt around his waist, the Sword of Kusanagi hanging from it, and black pants, walked into the side hall, looking dashing and handsome.
The Sword of Kusanagi was a birthday gift from Kageyama Kogetsu, obtained from Orochimaru. It was the same Sword of Kusanagi that Sasuke used in the original story.
"Father." Sasuke bowed respectfully.
From their appearances, the godfather and godson looked more like brothers. It seemed awkward, but in reality, Sasuke, Naruto, Neji, and Karin didn't feel anything inappropriate about it.
"Mm, sit down and have some tea," Kageyama Kogetsu said with a chuckle.
Sasuke picked up the teacup, took a sip elegantly, and put it down. His usually cool face was full of smiles, and his tone was close and warm.
"Father, did you call me for something specific?"
"Mm. You can go find Itachi now. Team 7 will go together."
Sasuke was slightly stunned, then overjoyed. "Really? You acknowledge my strength? As long as I perform normally, I have a sixty percent chance of winning against Itachi."
It didn't matter if he didn't win; there would be no danger to his life anyway.
"Thank you, Father, for your guidance all these years." Sasuke stood up and knelt on one knee.
"Rise. Among my three godsons and one goddaughter, you are my favorite. You have the demeanor I had in my youth."
"Keep Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan safe. It concerns the improvement of your strength in the future."
"Hehe, Naruto's strength has already surpassed yours, hasn't it?"
After standing up, Sasuke said solemnly, "Thank you for your favor, Father. I will definitely surpass Naruto and be Father's most powerful son!"
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled. "Mm, I believe in you."
"After you come back, go to the Police Force and serve as a vice-captain. Your Aunt Pakura and Aunt Nonō will teach you well."
"When you can handle the affairs of the Police Force with ease, you will become the captain."
"In the past, the head of the Police Force was always the head of the Uchiha clan. After you return, the position of clan head, which has been vacant for so many years, should also be filled."
"It's up to you to wash away the past shame of the Uchiha clan and restore its glory."
"Do well, and don't disappoint me."
Sasuke said with utmost solemnity, "Please rest assured, Father. Even if I have to risk my life, I will not disappoint you!"
"Haha, that won't be necessary. If you die, how sad would your mother be?" Kageyama Kogetsu chuckled.
Over the years, Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin had all learned about the relationship between their mothers and their godfather. But the three of them had no dissatisfaction; on the contrary, they were happy to see it.
That way, they were truly a close-knit family.
"Yes. As for Mother..."
"I'll talk to your mother. You just go ahead and do what you need to do boldly."
"Yes, then your son will go prepare now."
"Mm."
After the heroic-looking Sasuke left, Mikoto Uchiha, with a voluptuous figure radiating mature charm and looking about thirty years old, walked out from behind the hall with a worried expression...
"Try to be open-minded. This is unavoidable," Kageyama Kogetsu said comfortingly with a smile.
Mikoto walked gracefully to Kageyama Kogetsu's side and sat down, saying grumpily, "Don't try to coax me. If you persuade Sasuke, he will definitely listen to you."
"He listens to you more than he listens to me."
Kageyama Kogetsu didn't mind the sourness in her words and explained with a smile, "I can't persuade him. The Uchiha clan members who died back then need an explanation."
"Compared to dying at the hands of others, dying at Sasuke's hands is the best choice. This is also for the sake of Sasuke and the Uchiha clan's future."
"Besides, Itachi has contracted an incurable disease, and it's already terminal. He won't live much longer."
"Recently, Itachi has been urging me repeatedly. I really can't drag it on any longer."
"What?" Mikoto covered her mouth in shock, her eyes misty with tears welling up. "My poor Itachi."
Tch, what's so pitiful about Itachi? It's only because he intervened. The innocent people who died in the original story were much more pitiful than him.
Kageyama Kogetsu was disdainful inwardly, but he comforted her gently. After all, as a mother seeing brothers killing each other, such words were normal.
"This is Itachi's dying wish. And even if he weren't sick, Itachi was determined to die at Sasuke's hands."
"To solve the hidden danger of the Mangekyō Sharingan, to improve Sasuke's strength, and to allow the Uchiha clan to stand proudly in the world with a clean slate."
"Try to look on the bright side."
"Sob, sob, sob..."
Mikoto threw herself into Kageyama Kogetsu's arms and wept softly...
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