Three days later, in Mount Myoboku.
"Are you really decided?" Jiraiya looked at Sasuke, who was dressed for travel, and asked with some concern.
"Yes. Jiraiya-sensei, you have shown me great kindness. This small matter is something I should do." Sasuke bowed slightly, his expression humble.
The current him had long shed his former cold and aloof exterior, becoming much friendlier.
But beneath the smiling face, lay a heart more indifferent than anyone else's.
"Ah... if it weren't for the fact that Konoha needs my help, I wouldn't have to ask you to... Forget it. Remember to be careful. Don't forget, you are the Child of Prophecy who will save the world." Jiraiya looked at Sasuke, his words trailing off.
In the end, he could only sigh lightly and nod.
Sasuke's emergence this time wasn't for anything else.
It was a personal matter for Jiraiya.
During the Second Shinobi World War, he had taken in three war orphans.
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.
The three were highly talented, rare even in Konoha.
Yahiko was optimistic and outgoing, Konan was calm and intelligent, and Nagato, who seemed withdrawn, possessed eyes that even the Great Toad Sage found astonishing…
The Rinnegan.
Legend said the Rinnegan was the eye of the Sage of Six Paths.
The one who bore this Kekkei Genkai would surely change the world.
Jiraiya once regarded Nagato as the Child of Prophecy and nurtured him carefully.
However, he was, after all, a Konoha's Shinobi and couldn't be a nanny forever.
Before leaving, Jiraiya did his best to teach Nagato kindness, guiding him towards peace, friendship, and universal harmony.
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.
After meeting Sasuke, the true 'Child of Prophecy', Jiraiya couldn't help but feel worried about Nagato.
If the one destined to save the world was actually Sasuke,
Then what about Nagato, who possessed the power to change the world… the Rinnegan?
Would he walk the path of evil?
Thinking of Naruto's recent defection and being hunted by Konoha, the more Jiraiya thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
Even Naruto, who inherited the hero's bloodline, the son of the Yondaime Hokage, could turn dark.
Why couldn't Nagato, an orphan deeply scarred by war, turn dark?
And so, Jiraiya had no choice but to ask Sasuke to go to Amegakure to inquire about Nagato and the others.
He himself had to participate in Konoha's plan to capture Naruto and couldn't get away.
"Understood. I will definitely relay the news of Nagato and the others back to Mount Myoboku. Don't worry, Jiraiya-sensei." Sasuke waved, smiling brightly.
But after turning around, a strange curve lifted the corner of his mouth.
Only he himself knew.
The purpose of going to Amegakure wasn't to gather information at all.
It was the Rinnegan!
The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, a Kekkei Genkai possessing power enough to change the world.
If he could seize them, how much stronger would he become?
For the sake of revenge, Sasuke didn't care whether he used the Sharingan or the Rinnegan.
As long as he could kill that man…
The man who slaughtered everything, the man he held a sea of blood and hatred for.
That man possessed the ultimate form of the Sharingan, with the combat talent he could hardly reach.
Relying solely on the Sharingan, no matter how hard he tried, he could at most match Itachi, not surpass him.
But the Rinnegan was different.
"As long as I obtain that power, Itachi, the village, everyone... will feel the screech of my hatred." Sasuke's face contorted instantly.
Leaving the mountain, he headed to Amegakure.
His target: Nagato's Rinnegan!
...
Meanwhile, outside Ryuchi Cave.
Naruto looked at the intelligence given by the White Snake Sage, silently thinking and analyzing.
"The White Snake Sage said Orochimaru's sensory abilities are extremely strong. Using ordinary methods to infiltrate will definitely be discovered."
"The only time he lets his guard down is when he's facing test subjects."
Naruto clenched his fist, looking towards the distant, misty horizon.
"What I need to do is kill a test subject, then use the Transformation Senjutsu to take that person's appearance, and slowly uncover the secrets inside Orochimaru's hideout."
The Transformation Senjutsu was a relatively basic method of utilizing Senjutsu Chakra in the Ryuchi Cave lineage.
Transforming into another's appearance to achieve concealment, disguise, and stealth effects.
Combined with the Senjutsu 'Invisibility', which could conceal Chakra presence, it was an almost perfect assassination method.
"But, the only troublesome part is Orochimaru's Cursed Seal."
Looking at the information on the scroll, Naruto's brow furrowed slightly.
According to the White Snake Sage's knowledge, Orochimaru would implant a Cursed Seal on test subjects he valued.
Although Naruto could conceal his form and Chakra through Senjutsu, and temporarily seal the Kyubi's aura, as an Uzumaki, his innate talent and bloodline couldn't be hidden.
Faced with such an excellent test subject, Orochimaru would surely treat him like a treasure and implant a Cursed Seal.
That would put Naruto in a much more passive position.
'There's no other way.'
'I could only ask the Group Owner Mister if there was any solution.'
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: @Dark Group Owner, Group Owner Mister, do you know Orochimaru? Do you have a way to remove his Cursed Seal?]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: @Dark Group Owner, Group Owner, do you know Nagato? Do you have a way to transplant his Rinnegan?]
[Dark Group Owner: ???]
Looking at the two messages that suddenly appeared in the group chat, Hattori's eyes widened, his face full of surprise.