"Are you obsessed with the Uchiha name? Especially when one Uchiha is fighting seven?"
"Orochimaru, stop talking nonsense and just tell me where he's hiding."
Inside Orochimaru's base, Sasuke's voice carried a rare trace of impatience and cold steel.
Orochimaru chuckled lightly.
"Ah, after all these years, Sasuke, you still haven't changed that personality of yours."
He paused, a sly smile curving his lips.
"Well, if you can capture that troublesome man, it'll benefit me as well. Besides, I still owe Naruto a small favor."
Then, turning his gaze toward Naruto, he changed the subject.
"Naruto, how's Mitsuki doing in Konoha? Is everything going well?"
Naruto smiled.
"He's doing fine in Konoha."
Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction.
"That's good to hear."
Then he began to share detailed information about Uchiha Shin's whereabouts with Naruto and Sasuke.
Outside the base, just as Sasuke and Naruto were about to leave, a familiar voice called out behind them.
"Sasuke?"
They turned around to see a red-haired woman with brown glasses hurrying toward them — Karin.
She was clutching several folders of research data in her hands, clearly fresh from another base where she'd been delivering Orochimaru's experiment records.
She hadn't expected to run into Sasuke here.
"Karin..." Sasuke said softly.
Karin ran up to them, smiling.
"Sasuke! Why are you here? And Naruto — you too?"
Before Sasuke could answer, Orochimaru spoke first.
"Sasuke's daughter and Naruto's son were captured. They came here looking for information."
"What? Sarada was captured?" Karin's face paled in shock.
She turned to Sasuke, disbelief written across her face.
Sasuke nodded solemnly.
"We already know where he's hiding. We're going to rescue them now."
"Sasuke, please let me come with you," Karin said firmly.
"After all, I was the one who delivered Sarada into this world. I can't just stand aside."
Without hesitation, she handed the research files to Suigetsu, who had been silently observing from nearby.
Sasuke was quiet for a long moment, emotions flickering briefly in his eyes.
Finally, he nodded.
In an instant, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan in Sasuke's left eye began to spin, while the six-tomoe Rinnegan in his right eye gleamed with renewed power.
A deep purple chakra surged around his body, forming the massive spectral armor of his Susanoo. Within seconds, half of the complete form had materialized.
"Sasuke, your eye power's recovered?" Naruto asked in surprise.
Sasuke nodded.
"Get on. Time is short."
Naruto and Karin quickly leapt inside the Susanoo.
The giant warrior flared its chakra wings and soared into the air, slicing through the clouds like purple lightning — racing straight toward Uchiha Shin's hideout.
Meanwhile, deep within the abandoned base, a strange, crab-like creature whispered to itself in the dark.
"They betrayed Father… they killed him…"
It was one of Uchiha Shin's mutated clones — a grotesque genetic deviation, but one that still inherited his abilities.
Just as it began to move, its body froze mid-step.
"W-What's happening? Why can't I move?" It cried in panic.
An invisible gravitational force was pulling it toward Boruto, who stood a short distance away, calm and unmoving.
The suction dragged the creature through the air like a leaf caught in a storm.
"Let me go!"
It screamed, but it was already suspended helplessly in front of Boruto, unable to move even an inch.
Sarada glanced at it warily.
"That's the creature that used its space-time jutsu to teleport us here. Could it be another clone?"
Boruto nodded.
"Yeah. A genetic mutation during cloning probably created this one."
As he spoke, a bright silver-white orb of chakra condensed in his palm — the Reincarnation Spirit Ball.
The crab-like clone trembled in fear.
"W-What are you going to do?"
Boruto smirked.
"What else? I'm taking you in… as my dog."
Without hesitation, he pressed the glowing orb into the creature's chest.
Its eyes went dull instantly, as if its soul had been erased.
"From now on, your name is Krab," Boruto said, releasing his gravity hold.
The creature landed softly on the ground and bowed.
"Yes, master."
With Uchiha Shin's death, his clone army turned their attention toward Boruto and Sarada.
Boruto frowned.
"A pity these clones don't have emotions… otherwise, they'd fill up my Pain progress bar in no time."
[Host: Uzumaki Boruto]
[Role: Tendo Pain (Nagato)]
[Progress: 51%]
"I only need five million more progress points to fully awaken the Rinnegan. Then I'll have both the Rinnegan and the Jōgan Eye…"
The clone army surrounded them, weapons raised.
"Boruto..." Sarada called softly, watching the encirclement tighten.
"It's okay," Boruto said calmly. "Dad's already here."
"Huh? Dad?" Sarada turned, scanning the area.
At that very moment, the stone wall beside them exploded — dust and rubble flying as a colossal purple figure burst through.
A titanic, armored Susanoo descended from above, radiating raw power and divine authority.
Sasuke's complete-body Susanoo had arrived — carrying Naruto and Karin within.
The battlefield trembled under its weight, the sheer density of chakra distorting the air.
"That's... Dad's Susanoo?" Sarada's eyes widened, awe and disbelief flashing across her face. "A Perfect Susanoo..."
Even the Uchiha Shin clones froze. Though emotionless, they instinctively halted under the overwhelming pressure of Sasuke's power.
Naruto and Karin jumped down from Susanoo as it towered protectively over the battlefield.
"Sasuke," Naruto called, "don't kill them."
Sasuke's lips curved faintly.
"Naruto, you're still too naive."
He glanced around until his gaze landed on Sarada. Relief flickered briefly in his expression — his daughter was safe.
Naruto and Karin approached Boruto and Sarada.
"Boruto, Sarada — are you two okay?" Naruto asked.
Boruto shrugged, smirking.
"What could happen to us? You came too late, Dad. If you'd taken any longer, I'd have gone home myself."
Naruto sighed, rubbing his forehead helplessly.
"Boruto..."
Meanwhile, Karin smiled softly at Sarada.
"Sarada... you've grown so much."
Sarada looked back, a little tense, her thoughts swirling.
So, this is the woman... from Dad's old photo.