Hokage's Office
When Sasuke arrived at the Hokage's office, he found the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting alone.
Sasuke initially thought he might be assigned a mission, but the Third Hokage kept making small talk, avoiding any direct mention of a task.
Finally, after a lengthy round of casual conversation, the Third Hokage's demeanor shifted. He looked at Sasuke seriously. "Sasuke, what is your goal?"
Hiruzen suspected Sasuke would likely say his goal was to kill Itachi Uchiha. If that was the case, the Third Hokage was prepared to guide him, to steer him away from the abyss of revenge.
"I want to protect the people I care about," Sasuke replied after a moment of hesitation. Resurrecting his family was something he needed to keep secret, at least until he acquired the Edo Tensei. Orochimaru was a prime example of why secrecy was crucial.
After that, the restoration of the Uchiha clan. If resurrection was possible, that goal wouldn't be too far off. As for killing Itachi, it had fallen to the bottom of his priorities. Sasuke didn't want to voice that directly, so he borrowed Sakura's dream, repurposing it for his own answer.
Perhaps that was what Sasuke truly desired, but he was too embarrassed to admit it was his own aspiration. So, he convinced himself he was simply borrowing Sakura's dream, not claiming it as his own.
"Oh?" The Third Hokage was surprised. He'd observed that Sasuke constantly exuded a hunger for power. As for why he craved that power, Hiruzen had a pretty good idea. Another of his goals in mentoring Sasuke was preventing him from being consumed by that very desire.
Sasuke's answer caught him off guard. However, the Third couldn't just directly ask, Don't you want revenge?... Regardless, hearing Sasuke express such a sentiment brought the old Hokage some measure of relief.
"Hm... Tomorrow, I will be stepping down from the position of Hokage," Hiruzen said, a look of contentment on his face as he gazed at Sasuke. "I'm thinking of mentoring some of the village's newer generation after I retire. What do you say? Are you interested?"
"Uh..." Sasuke was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected the Third Hokage's reason for summoning him to be an offer of personal tutelage.
Perhaps if Sasuke wasn't aware of the possibility of resurrection, he'd have been ecstatic. But even now, upon hearing the Third's offer...he was ecstatic.
Sasuke's excitement stemmed from the fact that he was one step closer to the Edo Tensei. He'd been racking his brain for ways to obtain the forbidden jutsu, considering applying to join the ANBU and exploiting his position to sneak a peek at the Scroll of Seals. Now, with the Third offering to become his mentor, all that effort seemed unnecessary. He could simply ask the Third directly.
"Well? Will you accept my guidance?" the Third Hokage asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he observed Sasuke's barely concealed excitement.
"I will," Sasuke replied without further hesitation. This was a golden opportunity, a chance to get closer to the Scroll of Seals.
"Good. Tomorrow, after the Fifth Hokage's inauguration, you'll begin your rigorous training under me. Are you sure you can handle it?" The Third Hokage's expression turned serious.
"Hmph. Bring it on," Sasuke scoffed, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Very well. Be prepared for tomorrow's training."
"Yes, Third... Sensei," Sasuke corrected himself mid-sentence.
"Good. You're dismissed."
Later, Sakura, full and content, lay sprawled on the tatami mats in Sasuke's home. Her eyes widened in surprise as Sasuke casually mentioned the Third Hokage's offer to take him on as a pupil.
"Say what? Say that again," Sakura asked, unable to quite believe the nonchalant way Sasuke had delivered the news.
"It's nothing. Starting tomorrow, the Third Hokage will be training me," Sasuke repeated, maintaining his casual tone.
Naruto had already eaten his fill and returned home, leaving Sakura alone with Sasuke. Sasuke seized the opportunity. "Now, tell me the next step."
"Huh? Did the Third Hokage give you the Scroll of Seals?" Sakura tilted her head, a quizzical look on her face.
"No," Sasuke answered.
"Then why are you in such a hurry if you haven't gotten the Edo Tensei yet?" Sakura countered.
"Hmph. I'll have it soon enough," Sasuke retorted, turning his head away stubbornly.
"Burp. Come find me when you actually have the jutsu," Sakura said with a loud belch.
"Hey, aren't you going home? Tomorrow's the Fifth Hokage's inauguration ceremony," Sasuke asked, looking at Sakura, who was still sprawled on the tatami.
"Hooo~~~~~ Hooo~~~~~~~" Sakura lay on her back, exaggerated snoring sounds emanating from her nose.
Seeing the barely suppressed smile on her face and the obviously fake snores, Sasuke's lip twitched.
Ignoring Sakura, Sasuke cleaned up the mess Naruto had left behind and then headed to the Bone Forest to test his current strength.
After the previous night, Sasuke felt he had gained a better, more intuitive control over the Cursed Seal. He wanted to gauge his current capabilities.
Sasuke wouldn't blindly pursue Orochimaru's power, but neither would he outright reject it. Right now, his priority was finding a way to resurrect his family, not sheer power. Therefore, he wasn't overly obsessed with Orochimaru's strength. Besides, with the Third Hokage about to train him, Sasuke was confident his own power growth wouldn't fall short of what Orochimaru could offer.
Sasuke stood in the Bone Forest, calmly sensing the power within the Cursed Seal. Slowly, flame-like patterns spread outwards from the tomoe marks on his neck.
But Sasuke felt no discomfort, only a surge of power coursing through his body.
Feeling no adverse effects, he finally released the Cursed Seal's power completely.
Suddenly, he felt two bulges erupt from his back, extending outwards, no longer confined. His clothes ripped instantly.
Sasuke felt as though he could control the things on his back as easily as his own arms. He gently flapped the wings, and he lifted off the ground.
His skin had turned black. Feeling the power surging through him, he formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The fireball that erupted was several times larger and more powerful than before, yet Sasuke's expression remained unchanged.
He then flew to the outer edge of the Bone Forest, gazing at the bone walls that served as a perimeter. Sasuke took a deep breath and formed hand seals.
He'd heard the patrolling ninjas mention that Sakura had initially broken these bone walls. He'd even tried to break them himself in secret, but to no avail. Thus, Sasuke decided to use these bone walls to truly test his limits.
"Chidori!"
A piercing, crackling sound accompanied a flash of blue light as Sasuke's left hand slammed into the bone wall.
He saw a hairline crack in the wall, but it didn't shatter. Sasuke couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
"It's fine. One day, I will surpass you," Sasuke muttered, his gaze fixed on the crack, his resolve hardening.
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