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The Five Kage Summit, convened to strike back against the Akatsuki after the Eight-Tails' demise, had its course irrevocably altered by Sasuke's intrusion.
Sasuke bestowed defeat upon the Five Kage and the gathered shinobi, setting a three-year deadline and using the looming threat as a whip to spur them forward.
This method wasn't necessarily the most brilliant, but one thing was undeniable: from this moment, the shinobi world was entering a new era.
Mei Terumī looked lost and troubled. "Three years from now, he'll restart the war. How are we supposed to hold him off then?"
The gathered shinobi instinctively turned their gaze to their pillar of support, Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage. The strategic mind and sense of responsibility he displayed during the battle had deeply impressed everyone present.
Though the leader of the samurai, Mifune understood that in the great tide of the shinobi world, samurai could no longer remain aloof. He spoke up. "Lord Tsuchikage. Please, give us guidance. What path should we take from here?"
Ōnoki's back was a study in solemn depth.
— "The Five Kage Summit is not yet concluded. We will remain here in the Land of Iron. We must wait for the Hokage, Kazekage, and Raikage to awaken, then discuss the matters of the war to come in three years' time."
…
Whoosh!
Beneath the pale moon, a vortex swirled. Sasuke and Kabuto Yakushi returned.
A moment later, Orochimaru flickered in via Flying Thunder God Technique, a smile on his face. "So, Sasuke-kun. How do you feel?"
Sasuke stared at his own palm, then slowly clenched it into a fist. "To be honest… I'm a bit unsatisfied."
Orochimaru nodded. "I thought you might be. After all, you had to hold back everywhere, careful not to truly take their lives."
Sasuke lowered his hand. "My eighth battle… won't be against a living person, will it?"
Orochimaru's smile widened. "What makes you say that?"
Sasuke scoffed. "It's obvious. There are plenty in this world who surpass a single Kage. But those who could defeat the combined Five Kage? Besides Might Guy opening all Eight Gates… I doubt there are any."
Orochimaru hummed. "Not necessarily. Itachi, with his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan awakened… his Perfect Susanoo and new ocular techniques would place him above the Five Kage."
"But Itachi can't give me the state of mind I need for a life-or-death battle anymore," Sasuke countered. "Therefore, I'm certain the eighth battle will be against an Impure World Reincarnation."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Why… couldn't it be Might Guy?"
Sasuke and Orochimaru both turned to look at him.
Orochimaru spoke slowly, deliberately. "The ten battles are life-or-death struggles, Kabuto. Not guaranteed death. You have some knowledge of the past, but do not underestimate that man. If Might Guy had been among the Hokage's guard detail today, I would never have allowed Sasuke-kun to take this risk."
Kabuto nodded. "I see. I understand… Oh, right. You successfully retrieved Fugaku's eyes?"
Sasuke's expression tightened slightly. "Yes. Thanks to Suigetsu and Jūgo. Though… it cost us Nagato."
Kabuto's eyes widened. "Nagato is dead!?"
"He died protecting Suigetsu," Sasuke said, voice low. "Obito's Kamui."
Kabuto let out a pained sigh. "How could this happen…!!"
Orochimaru spoke, offering context. "Nagato's legs were crippled long ago by Hanzo's Explosive Flame Array. Years of being unable to walk weakened the nerves in his legs. Even after using the Preta Path to restore his physical form, that lack of mobility was an immediate, insurmountable weakness. That was the root of Obito's opening. Otherwise, Obito might not have even gotten the chance to target Suigetsu."
Sasuke nodded grimly. "True. Nagato's mastery of the Rinnegan had reached a divine level. If he were the original owner of those eyes, able to use their innate powers… it's hard to say."
Just then, Karin, Suigetsu, and Jūgo emerged from the forest.
Karin's jaw dropped. "Sasuke… what is this look!?"
Sasuke glanced at his own form. "Ah, this. This is Stage Four. To be honest, I'm not fully used to it either. Especially these eyes…"
Jūgo stared intently at Sasuke, his expression complex. "You've obtained Kimimaro's power…"
Sasuke had gone straight from his fight with Obito to the Five Kage Summit. So the brutal clash Suigetsu and Jūgo had with Kisame and Killer B… had only been a few hours ago. Things had been too rushed for proper greetings.
Now, with the seventh battle concluded, Sasuke could finally speak his mind.
"Suigetsu. Jūgo. Thank you. You risked your lives to retrieve my father's eyes for me."
Suigetsu, uncharacteristically serious, waved him off. "Don't mention it. That was all Nagato's doing. If you want to thank someone, go thank him yourself…"
"You're right." Sasuke looked to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru understood. "Kabuto. Make the preparations."
Kabuto nodded. Moments later, he returned with a cloned White Zetsu.
Orochimaru deftly drew the seals, then produced a vial of Nagato's blood.
— Impure World Reincarnation!
Whoosh! A whirlwind of dust enveloped the Zetsu body, shifting its contours. Nagato was reincarnated in his prime.
Nagato looked at the utterly transformed Sasuke with the Rinnegan granted by the jutsu, a smile touching his lips. "Sasuke. Seeing you like this, I know your journey was worthwhile."
Sasuke offered a slight bow. "My apologies, for meeting again in this form."
Nagato shook his head. "It's fine. I had unfulfilled wishes in my heart. Being reincarnated like this… I welcome it. Uchiha Obito. He's still alive?"
"I inflicted a critical wound to his heart," Sasuke confirmed. "Tobi rescued him. Regrettably, my power at the time still wasn't enough to finish him for good. Your head and your Rinnegan are in his pocket dimension. If he finds a way to repair his shattered heart, the next time he appears, it may be with your Rinnegan transplanted, ready to command the Gedo Statue and return."
Nagato clenched his fist. "Those eyes and the statue… they ended up in his hands after all."
Sasuke's voice was firm. "When that time comes, I will stop him."
Nagato met his gaze. "And I will assist you. Ah, right. What about Itachi? Where is he? I'd like to see him."
Sasuke replied, "Itachi transplanted Shisui's eyes. He's currently in the process of fusing their ocular power."
Nagato recalled. "Ah… I remember. Eye fusion requires a bond between blood brothers, doesn't it? Is Uchiha Shisui… your and Itachi's actual elder brother?"
Sasuke said, "Both Itachi and I regarded Shisui as an elder brother. But we share no blood relation. Orochimaru made it possible…"
Nagato said with genuine admiration, "Lord Orochimaru. You truly are remarkable."
Orochimaru was characteristically modest. "You flatter me. It's nothing so grand. Merely turning two unrelated individuals into brothers."
"You are too humble…"
"Nagato," Orochimaru interjected, his tone shifting. "Would you like to regain full mobility in your legs?"
Nagato was taken aback. "Of course I would. But I'm… an Edo Tensei."
Shing!
Orochimaru entered his Shinigami Release Mode.
"That's not a problem. All it requires is a minor operation on your soul."
Nagato stared. "This form…!"
Fwoom.
A soft, white glow gathered in Orochimaru's palms.
"This is a medical ninjutsu I developed, targeted at the soul. My first significant research achievement after obtaining the Shinigami's power. I'm still not fully proficient, but it is more than sufficient to restore normal movement to your reincarnated legs."
A deep sense of emotion welled up in Nagato. He let out a quiet, heartfelt laugh. "Then I suppose… this is a blessing in disguise."
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