Hyuga Gakuya took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he looked directly at Sasuke.
"Sasuke, you're still young. A lot of things aren't as simple as you think. Everything I've done has been in pursuit of a long-term, peaceful solution."
Sasuke clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.
"You're too naive, Gakuya-senpai! Those people in Konoha will never change unless they're forced to feel true fear and despair. That's the only way they'll reflect on what they've done."
"You once said it yourself—destruction is the path to rebirth!"
Gakuya shook his head and sighed.
"Sasuke, going down this road will only lead you into an endless abyss… one you won't be able to escape from."
He was actually very satisfied with Sasuke's current mindset—but for the sake of the script, he had to at least pretend to offer some advice.
Sasuke sneered. "So what if it's an abyss? If it gets me to my goal, I'll gladly be shattered into pieces."
"As for forgiving Konoha… that'll only happen after I've burned it to the ground."
...
Orochimaru, watching from the side, gave a mocking smile.
"Looks like the show's just getting started. Things are getting more and more interesting."
Gakuya shot a sharp glare at him.
"Orochimaru, shut your mouth. This isn't your place to comment."
Orochimaru shrugged and fell silent, but the eerie, unreadable smile on his face remained.
Jiraiya added, "If you're going to stop him, now's your chance."
Gakuya looked at Sasuke again and slowly shook his head.
"Everyone walks their own path. It's not my place to interfere."
"If you're set on continuing down this road, then why come here?"
Sasuke's tone softened slightly.
"I came, of course, to take my revenge on Konoha. And while I'm at it, to clean up some trash. I only ask that you don't get in my way—for Itachi's sake, if nothing else."
Gakuya sighed. "Fine. I won't stop you. But don't underestimate them. That kind of thinking will get you killed."
With that, his body turned into a streak of light and vanished into the clouds above.
...
The others watched Gakuya disappear without much reaction—in fact, many of them looked relieved. The last thing they wanted was for him to switch sides.
Keeping him neutral was already the best possible outcome.
Sasuke gave a confident grin.
"It's not that I underestimate them… it's just that I've grown powerful enough to take on an entire nation!"
Under Gakuya's arrangements, Sasuke had not only evolved his Mangekyō Sharingan, but also progressed his Sage modifications to the third stage. His control over Wood Release ninjutsu had become vastly more formidable.
Tsunade stared at the boy, whose eyes were filled with hatred. To her, Sasuke was just another product of Hiruzen Sarutobi's era of rule—one more time bomb left buried in Konoha's foundations.
How many disasters had that man planted?
Furrowing her brows, Tsunade said firmly,
"Sasuke, revenge won't solve everything. Yes, Konoha made mistakes… but wanton destruction will never bring about true peace."
Sasuke scoffed. "Save your breath. Konoha's sins are unforgivable!"
Jiraiya stepped forward, voice resolute.
"Sasuke, think about it. If you really destroy Konoha, how many innocent people will suffer? Is that the outcome you truly want?"
Sasuke's eyes wavered for just a moment—but then the hatred returned.
"Innocent? And who was responsible for my suffering all those years?"
Tsunade took a step closer, raising her voice.
"Sasuke, revenge only breeds more revenge. If you can let go of your hatred, we can find a better way forward—together."
Sasuke's fists trembled. He shouted,
"Enough! Your pretty words mean nothing! If you want me to let go of my hatred, then bring my family back!"
...
Orochimaru chuckled from the sidelines.
"Don't waste your breath, Tsunade. The boy's too far gone. Hatred's clouded everything he sees."
Ōnoki snorted.
"Hmph. Konoha really is full of troublesome geniuses. First it was Uchiha Obito, then Hyuga Gakuya… and now Uchiha Sasuke. You really know how to pick them."
"If you hadn't kept them all in Konoha, maybe the shinobi world wouldn't be such a mess."
Mei Terumi added, "Konoha does seem to have a knack for producing powerful—and problematic—individuals."
Tsunade frowned. She could hear the sarcasm in their words, but forced herself to stay composed.
"This isn't the time for jokes. Right now, we need to focus on how to handle the threat Sasuke poses."
Gaara spoke calmly.
"We can't let internal conflicts divide us. Sasuke may be driven by vengeance, but if we can stabilize him for now, we might be able to join forces against the Ten Tails."
Ōnoki frowned. "Stabilize him? Easier said than done. The kid's consumed by hatred—he won't listen to reason."
Mei thought for a moment.
"Then maybe we should offer him something. Promise to investigate what happened back then—give him a proper answer."
Tsunade felt her heart sink. Almost everyone involved was already dead. The main culprits—Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo—were long gone. There wasn't even anyone left to take the blame.
...
As the others continued to argue, Sasuke snapped.
"Stop wasting your breath! No one's stopping me today!"
That's when Kakashi, who had remained silent until now, finally stepped forward.
"Sasuke, wait. Just hear me out."
Seeing Kakashi, Sasuke's rage only intensified.
"Don't you dare show up pretending to be a teacher again. I don't want to hear anything about letting go of my hatred!"
"I've said it already—bring my family back, and I'll stop."
He couldn't hold it in anymore. The fire of vengeance within him exploded.
His hands flew into a seal.
"Tsunade… since you're a member of the Senju clan, let's see if you recognize this move!"
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Massive trees burst from the ground, twisting and growing at an insane pace, instantly engulfing the entire meeting grounds.
Everyone was caught off guard, scrambling to unleash their own techniques in response.
Kakashi frowned. "Sasuke! This will only drag you deeper into the abyss of hatred!"
Tsunade formed hand seals and used her monstrous strength to shatter the oncoming trees.
"You've lost yourself completely, Sasuke!"
Jiraiya summoned a massive Rasengan and smashed through swaths of trees.
Gaara raised a wall of sand, shielding against the wooden onslaught.
Ōnoki took to the skies and unleashed Dust Release, attempting to wipe out large sections of forest.
Mei used Lava Release to melt the trees closing in on her.
As for Orochimaru—he had already retreated to a safe distance, watching the chaos unfold with a calculating gaze.
He wasn't fleeing. No, he still had grander ambitions. Perhaps… something along the lines of becoming the Sage of Six Paths himself...
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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