[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Don't worry, Group Owner Mister. I can still distinguish what's more important between Taijutsu and overall strength.]
Naruto looked at the group chat, typing with conviction.
His greatest wish was to retrieve his parents' remains during the chaos and resurrect them using a perfected Impure World Reincarnation.
To achieve this goal, what he needed was mastery of Senjutsu and the ability to enter Sage Mode.
Things like Taijutsu were, at best, a hobby.
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: I will use the Uchiha Clan's eyes to defeat that man. Taijutsu is just one part of improving my strength.]
In Amegakure, Sasuke spoke coldly.
…
Unlike the lively atmosphere in the group chat, the Konoha's forces were already feeling the oppressive tension before the storm.
"The overall defensive layout of Otogakure is roughly like this."
Tsume stood before the Shinobi Forces, handing a detailed intelligence report to the Sandaime Hokage.
Their reconnaissance team's primary duty was 'reconnaissance'.
The kind of reckless action Guy took actually violated Shinobi rules and could have unexpected consequences for their forces.
"Hmm… Orochimaru's management over these years has made it as solid as a fortress."
Sandaime looked at the intelligence report in his hand, silently contemplating while murmuring to himself.
Among the Sannin, Orochimaru was the one he had held the highest hopes for back in the day.
Unlike Tsunade's innate talent but careless nature, or Jiraiya's incredible luck but slightly poorer comprehension... Orochimaru could almost be called a perfect Shinobi.
Talent, comprehension, personal effort, intelligence, and political acumen.
One could say, if Orochimaru hadn't died or defected, he was almost the designated successor for Hokage.
Unfortunately…
Because of the war, this man had no interest in the Hokage's position and felt no sense of belonging to the village.
Throughout his life, he pursued only one thing.
Eternal Life.
Only with eternal life would the pain of war never befall him.
"If possible, I wouldn't actually oppose this ideal of yours..."
"Even if you use missing Konoha's Shinobi for experiments, I could turn a blind eye. After all, you have your own Shinobi Way."
"But, Orochimaru, your one unforgivable mistake was touching the village's bottom line!"
Sandaime muttered, his gaze gradually sharpening.
He might be cold, indifferent, even cruel.
But towards the village, he was absolutely one hundred percent loyal, considering the village's interests with his whole heart and soul.
Orochimaru stealing a few Shinobi was one thing.
But if he tried to steal the village's foundation… Naruto, the Kyubi's Jinchuriki...
"Vanguard forces, heed my command! According to the instructions on this defensive distribution map, launch the first round of assault!"
"Konoha will surely break through Otogakure's first line of defense within three days, behead Orochimaru, and recapture the Kyubi!"
The forehead protector on Sandaime's head fluttered, like the enduring Will of Fire, waving in the wind.
…
Amegakure, a deserted corner.
Sasuke, wearing a hood, looked coldly at the man before him with his black pupils.
"Kisame, why did you ask to meet me alone?"
That's right, the man before him was none other than the partner of the one he constantly thought about, Uchiha Itachi… Kisame.
"Heh heh, no reason. Just a feeling that you seem... a bit different from those Root guys." Kisame stared at Sasuke, letting out a low chuckle.
As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kisame had more dealings with Konoha's Root than anyone else in Akatsuki.
Especially after partnering with Itachi, he became even more familiar with the Root's aura.
These people who served the shadows were inherently low-key and cold by nature.
Something like cooperation... it was hard to imagine being handled by a Root's member.
"Think what you will. Danzo-sama's has a multitude of talented people under him. It's not strange that you haven't encountered them all." Facing Kisame's doubts, Sasuke remained expressionless, speaking calmly.
After his darkening, he was no longer that easily startled teenager who liked to act profound and edgy.
Now, his goals were clear, his actions meticulous, leaving not even the slightest flaw.
This line was also one Sasuke had rehearsed in his mind long ago...
If Kisame pressed further, he could even mention a fabricated Root's squad number, a squad whose members were all skilled negotiators.
"Oh, is that so…"
However, Kisame didn't continue questioning as Sasuke had imagined.
Instead, he looked at the youth with interest and silently left.
Before leaving, he only said one sentence.
"Regardless, kid, there's one thing I should remind you."
"Don't let your hostility towards that man be too strong."
"His sensory abilities far exceed your imagination."
As the words fell, Sasuke's dark eyes instantly contracted, feeling as if cold sweat might trickle down his temple.
'That man… huh.'
Since infiltrating Amegakure, he had always thought he was hiding well.
Even if his hatred for Itachi occasionally surged, almost overflowing, by daytime, he could still perfectly suppress it, not letting it show at all.
Yet even so, that elusive 'hostility' was still detected by him.
After all, that person was Itachi, the Uchiha Clan's most talented genius.
'However, since he sent Kisame to warn me, he probably hasn't discovered my true identity, mistaking me for someone from another Konoha's faction.'
After calming down, Sasuke silently speculated.
If Itachi knew he was Sasuke, given Itachi's personality, even if it meant offending Nagato, he would definitely send him back to Konoha.
For Itachi, both Konoha and his younger brother were the most important.
The two of them absolutely could not become enemies.
He alone would bear the sin.
'Hah, what a childish, what a fragile way of thinking.'
Sasuke snorted coldly, hatred and complexity intertwining in his eyes.
The meaning of his existence had been determined from the moment he witnessed that truth.
Revenge, revenge against everything!
The brother who slaughtered the clan, the Hokage who gave the order, the rotten Konoha at the root, the world that fostered it all...
Perhaps…
When he reached that final step, the only redemption left for him would be the group chat.