[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Thank you, Group Owner. If you hadn't told me, I don't know how long I would have remained in the dark.]
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, his nails piercing his palms, blood flowing freely.
[Dark Group Owner: I only provide guidance. The real choices are up to you.]
[Dark Group Owner: So, Sasuke, your choice is…]
Sasuke looked at his palm.
Hatred, anger, the thirst for power…
All surged into his heart at once.
He was the last remnant of the Uchiha Clan.
Itachi's younger brother.
A Missing-nin of Konoha.
He was a demon born from hatred.
Born for revenge, to die for revenge.
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Please guide me, Group Owner. I want to become strong, as strong as Naruto. Strong enough to take revenge on everyone, including that man.]
Sasuke knew Itachi's strength all too well.
A man who could slaughter the entire Uchiha Clan in a single night.
Saying he possessed Kage-level power wasn't an exaggeration.
For Sasuke to defeat him, he had to grow faster, to a level surpassing the Kage.
[Dark Group Owner: The place Naruto is going to train is called Ryuchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Regions. You can learn an extremely powerful Sage Mode there.]
[Dark Group Owner: As for you, I also recommend a place, also one of the Three Great Sage Regions, called Mount Myoboku. Are you willing to go there to train?]
A strange smile appeared on Hattori's lips, a mischievous thought arising in his heart.
'In the original work, Jiraiya's student Naruto would train at Mount Myoboku with the Toad Sage.'
'And Sasuke, as Orochimaru's Cursed Seal bearer, would train at Ryuchi Cave with the White Snake Sage.'
Just thinking about it created a funny mental image.
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Mount Myoboku? I've heard that one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, trained there before.]
Sasuke had heard Itachi mention Jiraiya's name.
That Pervy Sage, after activating Sage Mode, possessed nearly limitless Chakra.
He could release immensely powerful Senjutsu without restriction.
His destructive power and strength were considered top-tier in Konoha.
'If I could reach that level myself...'
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Group Owner, I am willing to go to Mount Myoboku. Please guide me.]
After being threatened by Naruto, Sasuke's attitude towards Hattori had become much more respectful.
No matter what, this mysterious Group Owner who could gather so many people and possess so many secrets must possess strength beyond imagination.
[Dark Group Owner has sent the map for Mount Myoboku.]
[Dark Group Owner: @The Dead-Last Jinchuriki, You two are both members of the Darkening Chat Group. If your interests don't conflict, there is an opportunity for cooperation. I won't interfere with your choices. Whether to form an alliance is up to you.]
'An alliance?'
Naruto looked at Sasuke's cold face.
He laughed mockingly at himself and shook his head indifferently.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: I don't need any companions. The only thing I want to do now is master the Impure World Reincarnation as soon as possible and resurrect my parents.]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Same here. Companions? Just a disgusting and hypocritical term.]
The two glanced at each other unintentionally.
Then simultaneously turned their heads away with looks of disgust.
[Dark Group Owner: Uh, alright then.]
In reality, Hattori was already complaining a thousand times in his heart.
'These two tsunderes who talk tough but act honestly would definitely cooperate again, I guaranteed it.'
"Since the decision is made…"
Naruto released his grip, his demon fox eyes looking at Sasuke.
"Let's part ways here."
With that, he waved casually and walked towards the direction of Ryuchi Cave.
Sasuke watched Naruto's retreating figure.
In his heart, he felt an inexplicable sense of recognition.
An orphan like him.
Misunderstood by the world like him.
Walking the path of darkening like him.
Perhaps, the only one who truly understood him was this man with the lonely back.
"Hey."
Suddenly, Sasuke spoke up, his tone calm.
"Don't die before you achieve your goal, dead-last."
'Hah, dead-last, huh.'
Hearing this familiar yet strange address, Naruto's lips couldn't help but curve upwards slightly.
"You too, Second Pillar."
Damn it!
Sasuke's face instantly looked as if he had eaten something disgusting.
'What was that Group Owner thinking?'
'Such a stupid nickname like 'Second Pillar'…'
'Why did it have to be pinned on me?!'
…
Meanwhile, in the Digital World, on File Island.
"The first Dark Tower is complete."
Looking at the profound Dark Tower before him, a strange smile appeared on Taichi's lips.
"Absolute control over Digimon below the Ultimate Level. They cannot break free."
"For Ultimate-level Digimon, we can use enhanced Dark Spiral for control, but there's a fifty percent chance they break free. It's not very stable."
Agumon took off his goggles and reported to Taichi.
During his ten years in the Digital World, he had also learned many things.
Investigating and analyzing the principles of the Dark Towers was one of them.
"Is there any way to enhance the control, to perfectly control Ultimate-level, or even Mega-level Digimon?"
Taichi frowned slightly and asked in a low voice.
"There is a way, but..."
Agumon looked at the Dark Digivice in Taichi's hand, pondering slightly.
"We might need to ask that Group Owner-sama if there's a method to use the Crest of Revenge."
"I can feel a powerful dark power contained within it, sharing the same origin as the Dark Towers."