On the boat, the sea breeze gently swept across the deck, carrying a cool salty scent.
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, still half asleep.
He rubbed his temples, and his vision gradually became clear. He saw Arisu standing straight at the bow with his hands behind his back, looking toward the distant horizon like a calm statue.
"Teacher... didn't you sleep last night?", Sasuke sat up and asked.
Hearing that, Arisu slowly turned around and calmly glanced at Sasuke.
"I did. Your teacher just gets up early. There's food on the table. Eat it while it's still hot."
Sasuke answered with an "Oh" and looked at the wooden table nearby.
A steaming breakfast was laid out on it: golden fried fish, fragrant rice, several light vegetable dishes, and a bowl of soup that looked rich in nutrition.
The color, smell, and presentation were all excellent. It was obviously prepared with care.
The corners of Sasuke's mouth lifted slightly, and a trace of warmth rose in his heart.
"Teacher's cooking is amazing..."
Without saying anything else, Sasuke quickly washed up, sat down, and started eating.
Every bite carried a familiar taste, making him eat even faster.
After eating and drinking his fill, Sasuke felt refreshed all over, and his spirits lifted.
———
After an unknown amount of time, the boat finally reached shore.
The two of them arrived at a hidden valley. Before them stood a magnificent waterfall.
Arisu stood beneath it with his hands behind his back and turned toward Sasuke.
"Next, I'll teach you Sage Art."
Sasuke's eyes immediately lit up, and his heartbeat quickened.
Although the Flying Thunder God, Lightning Cutter, Chidori, and other jutsu his teacher had already taught him had greatly increased his strength, he still felt it wasn't enough when facing Naruto, Wanzhao, and the others.
He needed even greater power.
"Sage Art..."
Sasuke repeated quietly, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
Arisu didn't waste any words and immediately began teaching.
With a wave of his hand, several black feathers appeared out of thin air. Like living things, they accurately pierced several acupoints on Sasuke's body, his shoulders, back, arms, and legs.
The feathers were as black as ink. They had all been taken from the Yatagarasu and naturally contained rich sage power.
"This is the Yatagarasu Sage Art."
"Carefully feel the flow of nature's power.", Arisu said to Sasuke.
Sasuke felt a strange energy flow into his body through the feathers. It was unfamiliar, yet strangely attractive.
He took a deep breath and looked up at Arisu.
Arisu gave a slight nod.
"Begin your training. With me here, you don't have to worry about losing control."
Hearing that, the last trace of worry in Sasuke's heart disappeared.
He nodded gently to his teacher, then closed his eyes without hesitation. Sitting cross-legged, he began focusing on the sage power awakening inside his body.
The valley was left with only the sound of the waterfall and the boy's steady breathing.
———
[Meanwhile, Inside The Hokage's Office]
Arisu wore the Acting Hokage's white robe. With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked around the spacious office.
Just then, the office door was gently pushed open, and a familiar blond figure walked in.
"Teacher, I'm back!"
Minato Namikaze's voice carried a hint of apology. He had just returned from the hospital and looked almost fully recovered.
Arisu stopped walking, turned around, and smiled slightly.
"So, the Seventh Hokage has finally returned. I've been Acting Hokage for almost a year now. Dealing with all these documents and village affairs every day has given me a headache."
Minato scratched the back of his head awkwardly and showed his usual gentle smile.
"I'm really sorry for making you work so hard these past days, Teacher... I'm much better now. Thank you for holding Konoha together during this time."
Arisu waved his hand, telling him not to say more.
"Sit down. There's something I want to discuss with you."
Seeing his teacher's serious expression, Minato immediately put away his smile. He sat down across the desk with his back perfectly straight.
"What is it?"
Arisu walked to the window, his back facing Minato as he looked over the village.
"It's about the masked man from the Akatsuki."
Minato's expression changed instantly. His face became serious, and his pupils shrank slightly.
"Teacher... is there new information about the masked man?"
Arisu didn't answer immediately. With his hands behind his back, he spoke meaningfully.
"Do you remember when the man claiming to be Uchiha Madara took me away? We fought... and in the end, I broke his mask."
Minato suddenly stood up, his voice tense, "Under the mask... was it really Uchiha Madara?!"
Arisu turned around and looked at Minato's slightly pale face, which was filled with shock.
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he spoke in a subtle but clear enough way.
"Minato, you should know better than I do... people from Uchiha Madara's era have long been buried by history."
"The real 'Madara' probably wouldn't appear like that. Besides... someone who was believed to have died long ago, yet is still active under the name 'Uchiha,' and is so familiar with the Nine-Tails and Konoha... perhaps his identity isn't the 'Uchiha Madara' we imagined."
After a brief pause, Arisu added with meaning, "Especially that person's eyes..."
The atmosphere gradually became heavy.
Looking at Minato, Arisu continued, "Minato, I actually met that masked man once before, during the Third Great Ninja War. Do you remember Rin and Kakashi's mission to the Hidden Mist?"
The moment he heard that, Minato's eyes darkened.
After a long silence, he spoke with obvious guilt.
"How could I forget... That mission cost Rin her life."
"Obito died during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge... and Rin died during that Hidden Mist mission. Kakashi completely lost himself after that."
"I only hate myself for not getting there sooner... If I had arrived earlier, maybe none of it would have happened."
As he said this, regret filled Minato's face.
Back then, only he and Kakashi remained from Team Minato.
Arisu nodded slowly and continued.
"The masked man was there too. He was the one who took Rin's body away. And when I arrived as reinforcements, the masked man had already killed everyone... except Kakashi."
Arisu's words could not have been any more direct.
Minato wasn't a fool. He instantly understood the subtle yet unmistakable hint his teacher was giving him.
For a while, the office was so quiet that only the heavy breathing of the two of them could be heard.
Then Minato frowned tightly, his face filled with disbelief.
"That's impossible... If the masked man really is Obito, then how do you explain the night of the Nine-Tails' attack? Even if Obito had survived, how old would he have been then? His height, his voice, his chakra... none of it matches."
"How could he suddenly become strong enough to fight me on equal terms and even control the Nine-Tails...? Besides, I don't believe Obito would ever attack Kushina and me."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/XenosX
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining. You can also read advanced chapters there.🥰