Candlelight flickered back to life in the dim, cavernous lair. Orochimaru had his wish—Sasuke was now his firmest ally.
"First order of business," Orochimaru's voice slithered through the gloom. "Retrieving my hands from the Reaper's belly."
As the witness to Orochimaru's previous method of breaking the Reaper Death Seal, Sasuke knew the entire procedure by heart.
Which was why he voiced his doubt. "If I recall, you just performed the Living Corpse Reincarnation a few days ago. So how do you plan to escape being sacrificed to the Shinigami?"
A mysterious smile played on Orochimaru's lips. "I am not the man I once was either. So… I have my methods. Once Kabuto wakes, we depart."
That settled it for Sasuke. Mostly. His eyes flickered toward the still-unconscious Kabuto.
Kabuto was a variable. Even if Orochimaru told him the whole truth, Kabuto lacked the visceral, firsthand experience. His path forward was uncertain.
Orochimaru's take was different. "That child… all he needs is a place to belong. The destination doesn't matter to him, so long as he is by my side. But this… disparity is simply too shocking. Accepting it in a short time won't be easy for him."
"He was raised as a spy, you know. Grew up surrounded by lies and betrayal. He used them to survive, yet despises them to his very core… especially deception and betrayal from those close to him."
"To gain his willing cooperation, we must hold nothing back. Tell him everything. Then, let him verify it with his own eyes. Only then can we prevent him from spiraling into extremity again. Don't you agree, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke replayed Kabuto's life from his previous timeline, weighing Orochimaru's words. He reached the same conclusion.
"Fine. We'll do it that way, then."
Kabuto woke.
I remember… Sasuke used a genjutsu on me. Then I fell. Ah—no! Lord Orochimaru—!
"You're awake, Kabuto."
That voice… Lord Orochimaru!
He looked. There sat Orochimaru, perfectly fine. But what shocked Kabuto… was Sasuke, who had just tried to rebel against their master, sitting calmly not far away… sipping tea!
What… what in the world is happening?! Did Lord Orochimaru subdue Sasuke?
No matter… I lost my composure in front of Lord Orochimaru. That is fact!
He prostrated himself on the ground. "Lord Orochimaru! Forgive me! I was disgraceful! Knocked out by Sasuke without putting up any defense!!!"
"Look up… Kabuto." Orochimaru's voice was calm.
Meeting those deep, vertical pupils filled Kabuto with dread. "Lord Orochimaru…"
"What I am about to say," Orochimaru began, his tone low, "you may find it hard to believe. But I grant you the right… to question me."
"Lord Orochimaru!! Please, don't say such things! Your words are absolute authority to me!!"
"Hear me out first. Then decide."
By the time Orochimaru finished speaking, Kabuto was rooted to the spot, mind blank.
Sasuke-kun… is from the future? And the future Lord Orochimaru… is behind this?!
What horrified Kabuto wasn't just the sheer absurdity of the tale. It was that… upon hearing it, a seed of doubt toward the master he worshipped had truly sprouted deep within him.
"N-no. Impossible. It's too ridiculous. Lord Orochimaru, I… I…"
Kabuto's reaction was exactly as Orochimaru predicted. His gaze slid sideways.
"Sasuke-kun. Use your genjutsu. It's more… intuitive."
Sasuke set down his teacup. "Kabuto. Look at my eyes!"
Kabuto met the gaze of the Mangekyō!
— Genjutsu: Sharingan!
Thump.
Kabuto collapsed, sweat pouring. "Unbelievable… This is… the future? The real future?"
"Kabuto," Orochimaru coaxed gently. "First, accept reality. Not the reality of the future. Accept the reality that you doubted me. Only then… can you free yourself from this distress."
"A-ah… huff… huff…"
Kabuto breathed heavily, desperately trying to steady his mind. Finally… his wildly shaking pupils stilled.
So… even with my devotion to Lord Orochimaru, I can still doubt him. But the source of that doubt is…
Orochimaru continued. "Your doubt, Kabuto, stems from missing the interaction between Sasuke and me while you were unconscious. Deep down, you cannot eliminate the possibility that I might have been influenced by Sasuke's persuasion… or even his genjutsu. Correct?"
Kabuto was honest. "Yes… That is precisely my fear. Forgive my insolence, but with all your jutsu sealed by the Third Hokage… the possibility of you losing to Sasuke-kun is not zero. So I must ascertain the basis for your firm belief in this 'future'!"
"The basis is… I received a legacy of knowledge and memories from my future self."
Summoning his courage, Kabuto looked Orochimaru directly in the eye. "Lord Orochimaru… forgive my impertinence. Can you… prove this?"
A knowing smile touched Orochimaru's lips. Every bit of groundwork had been laid to elicit this very question.
"Once I retrieve the souls of my hands, I can naturally prove it to you. At that time, I will respect your choice to stay or leave."
Kabuto's voice was firm. "If your words are indeed true, then I will dedicate myself to following you… and Sasuke-kun!"
Orochimaru glanced to the side. "Sasuke-kun," he said teasingly, "Kabuto says so."
Sasuke rose steadily. "Let's go. I know the way."
Five days later, they stood atop a mountain in the Land of Fire. From its peak, the distant Hokage Monument was visible. For Sasuke, the sight stirred the most complex emotions.
Forty years later… reborn, he stood once more overlooking his homeland.
So this is what they mean by 'the closer to home, the more timid you feel.'
The mask of the Shinigami synchronized with the Reaper Death Seal was located in the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Hall, at the very edge of Konoha. To achieve their goal, a trip to the village was unavoidable.
The last time he'd come here, it was during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Konoha's forces were all deployed to the front. Getting in and out had been like walking through an empty village.
But now… with the Fifth Hokage Tsunade in charge, Konoha's defenses were tight. Obtaining that mask would inevitably require some trouble.
The one who best understood Sasuke's mood was Orochimaru. He offered, considerately, "Sasuke-kun. Shall I handle it?"
This time, Sasuke declined the offer.
"No. What must be faced… will be faced."
Swish.
Mountain winds whipped. White robes snapped. Sasuke shot forward like lightning, streaking toward the familiar walls of his hometown.