Jiraiya pondered for a moment before offering his suggestion.
"In that case… we'd better not circulate this intelligence for now."
His expression turned serious as he explained, "If this gets out, the factions eager to obtain an 'inheritance'—or eliminate potential threats—might resort to extreme measures. That could trigger unnecessary bloodshed and turmoil. Especially at a sensitive time like this."
Tsunade nodded in full agreement. "Exactly. The less we do, the fewer mistakes we make. Right now, joint investigation teams from the Five Great Nations are everywhere, along with spies from other factions. If this 'Demon Child' makes another big move, she'll be discovered soon enough."
"Mm." Jiraiya sighed helplessly. "If the village weren't short on high-level combat power and I didn't need to stay here, I'd go gather information myself."
At that moment, Tsunade seemed to recall something. Her tone turned solemn.
"Right. Under no circumstances can Sasuke find out that Uchiha Itachi sent this intelligence back."
Jiraiya nodded at once. "I understand."
He knew how fixated Sasuke was on Itachi. Any news about his brother could provoke impulsive behavior.
The tangled account between those two brothers was not something outsiders should meddle in lightly.
On the training grounds behind the village, sweat soaked into the earth.
Sasuke shook his numb, aching arm irritably. His handsome face was clouded with gloom and frustration.
Too slow.
This rate of improvement was crawling like a turtle.
The suffocating impatience threatened to swallow him whole.
And the source of it all was the Heavenly Curtain that had once hung high in the sky.
After three broadcasts, what had Uchiha Sasuke become?
Beaten down by a world-destroying Naruto. Overshadowed by Haruno Sakura's divine techniques.
Those two had once been so weak he could have taken on ten of them!
How could his pride as an Uchiha endure such a stark contrast—such a future of being completely crushed?
"I absolutely will not… become that version of myself!" Sasuke clenched his fists so tightly his nails nearly dug into his palms.
Right now, the most direct shortcut to power seemed obvious—
Divine techniques.
Sasuke now understood that inheritances chose specific individuals; they could not be forced.
But he had heard that the village had even considered taking Haruno Sakura to Rogue Island in search of clues, only postponing it because of the serpent incident.
That meant obtaining an inheritance in advance was not entirely impossible.
Recently, Sasuke's attitude toward Sakura had undergone a subtle yet unmistakable shift.
As for Naruto?
Sasuke shot a glance at the loudmouthed dead last in the distance, still clumsily practicing chakra control. Unconcealed disdain flashed through his eyes.
'A dead last will always be a dead last. Even with dumb luck, the stupidity in his bones won't change.'
Sasuke snorted inwardly.
And yet…
Because of the future revealed in the Heavenly Curtain, Sakura had become the apprentice of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
That idiot Naruto, while still as reckless as ever, was being personally trained by one of the Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya. His improvement was visible to the naked eye.
And what about himself?
Still assigned to Kakashi.
Kakashi was strong. He taught him diligently.
But comparisons were cruel.
Compared to Tsunade and Jiraiya, Kakashi fell short in both reputation and sheer power.
If the Uchiha clan still existed, would I need to rely on outsiders?
The development of the Sharingan. Fire Release. Uchiha taijutsu…
Everything that should have been his.
Now, all gone.
"…Am I really left with only that path?" Sasuke's brows knit tightly as Orochimaru's cold face and greedy gaze surfaced in his mind.
In the future shown by the Heavenly Curtain, he had indeed defected to Orochimaru and gained power from him.
That path was undeniably a shortcut to strength—dangerously tempting.
But…
Sasuke shook his head sharply, forcing the thought away.
"It's different now… everything is different."
Back then, the idea of seeking out Orochimaru had been solely for the power to kill Uchiha Itachi.
Hatred for Itachi had been the core that drove him.
But now?
The Heavenly Curtain had exposed the shadow of Konoha's higher-ups behind the Uchiha massacre—especially the nauseating face of Danzō.
Though the truth remained murky, Itachi's image in his heart was no longer that of a cold-blooded clan slaughterer. It was shrouded in something far more complex and painful.
To gain power by submitting to Orochimaru—who clearly had his own agenda—only to kill a brother he could no longer purely hate?
He couldn't do it.
At least, not until he uncovered the full truth.
"…Haa." Sasuke exhaled slowly. The confusion in his eyes gradually gave way to something sharper—more focused. Killing intent.
If Orochimaru's path was set aside for now, another target burned with crystal clarity in his mind.
Shimura Danzō.
The man who, in the Heavenly Curtain, had driven Sakura's parents to their deaths. The one who coveted divine techniques. The one filled with malice toward the Uchiha clan—and one of the masterminds behind its destruction.
"One step at a time…" Sasuke's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. "But that man… Danzō must die."
Just as Sasuke sank deeper into his thirst for power and murderous intent toward Danzō, a loud, energetic shout shattered his thoughts.
"SASUKE—! Let's fight! I'm definitely sending you flying today!!"
Naruto charged across the training ground like a golden cannonball.
Sasuke froze for a split second—then irritation flared instantly.
This dead last!
Interrupting him at the worst possible moment!
And that idiotic "I'm going to beat you" look on his face only made it worse.
"Dead last! You've got a death wish!" Sasuke barked, dropping all pretense and immediately taking a fighting stance.
"Sasuke!!"
"Naruto!!"
Like explosives igniting, the two collided in a storm of fists and kicks, dust billowing into the air.
Not far away, Kakashi leaned lazily against a tree trunk. He flipped a page of Make-Out Paradise without even lifting his eyelids.
He cast a brief sidelong glance at the "intense" battle and muttered vaguely,
"Ah, youth. Such passionate bonds."
When Naruto was once again swept off his feet by a simple trip from Sasuke and landed face-first in the dirt—
Kakashi calmly withdrew his gaze and immersed himself back into Jiraiya's masterpiece.
Kids will be kids, he thought idly.
A little roughhousing only strengthens their bonds.
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