"No need to be so surprised... He really is stronger than me. Especially that teleportation jutsu... combined with Lightning Release, it's the worst matchup for any close-range fighter. My Forest of Bones couldn't trap him at all."
He turned to look at Sasuke, a hint of approval in his eyes.
"Sasuke... you're strong. Much stronger than I expected."
Sasuke stood where he was, his chest rising slightly as sweat ran down his forehead, but the corners of his mouth curled into a smile he couldn't hold back.
It was the first time he had combined Flying Thunder God, Chidori Stream, and lightning so smoothly in real combat. The thrill of such a one-sided victory made him look full of spirit.
The aura of a genius had returned to him once again.
Arisu looked at Kimimaro and said, "As for the current situation in the Hidden Sound Village, I can give you a way to live. Are you willing to come with me?"
Kimimaro paused for a moment after hearing Arisu's words. A trace of surprise flashed across his pale face.
He instinctively thought the other man wanted to recruit them into Konoha, so he slowly shook his head.
"Lord Hokage... we are completely loyal to Lord Orochimaru. His fate is still unknown. We want to stay in the Hidden Sound Village and protect the place he built with his own hands."
Kimimaro's voice was hoarse but firm.
As soon as he finished speaking, Sakon, Jirobo, Kidomaru, and Tayuya all nodded as well. The shock from the battle still lingered on their faces, but their loyalty to Orochimaru had not wavered in the slightest.
"Lord Kimimaro is right. We may not be strong, but our loyalty to Lord Orochimaru will never change."
"Yeah... we're willing to stay here forever."
"Lord Orochimaru was the one who raised and trained us."
Hearing that, Arisu's eyes showed even more appreciation.
Looking at Kimimaro, who remained honorable even in defeat, he thought to himself, 'If this kid had been born a few hundred years earlier, I would have personally taken him to Mount Myoboku and trained him well. He might have become another powerhouse capable of shaking the ninja world.'
If Kimimaro had an Otsutsuki body, it even felt like he could awaken All-Killing Ash Bones far beyond Kaguya's.
Then Arisu smiled slightly, "I never said I wanted you to join Konoha. What I meant was... I'll take you to see Orochimaru."
"?!"
Everyone froze at once. Their expressions changed instantly, and their eyes filled with tension and caution.
Kimimaro's pupils shrank slightly, while the Sound Four instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
They had clearly misunderstood.
In their eyes, Orochimaru was probably already dead. Arisu, as the Hokage, said he would let them "go see" Orochimaru, which meant...
The air instantly grew heavy.
The moment Arisu saw their expressions, he knew they had misunderstood. He waved a hand and said calmly, "Don't misunderstand. I have information about Orochimaru."
The moment those words came out, Kimimaro and the Sound Four's eyes lit up.
The Acting Hokage had no reason to lie to people like them.
Kimimaro took a deep breath and was the first to kneel on one knee. His voice carried a trace of excitement.
"...We're willing."
Sakon and the others immediately knelt as well.
"We're willing!"
Arisu nodded and looked across the group.
"Get yourselves ready. I'll send someone to find you in a few days. Until then, guard the Hidden Sound Village."
After saying that, Arisu turned to Sasuke beside him with a slight smile.
"Let's go, Sasuke. Our training journey isn't over yet."
Sasuke put away the fighting spirit in his eyes and silently followed.
This battle had really satisfied him. At last, he was no longer the weak person who only relied on the Sharingan, Great Fireball, and shuriken in battle.
Sasuke looked excitedly at Arisu walking ahead of him.
'Teacher, I'm liking you more and more.'
'I like Teacher so much. You're my favorite, Teacher!'
Back then he hadn't understood, but after spending more time with his teacher, Sasuke realized just how perfect he was.
Walking in front, Arisu suddenly felt a burning gaze on him and turned his head slightly toward Sasuke.
Sasuke immediately hid the look in his eyes and returned to normal.
"Teacher, what's wrong?"
Arisu smiled gently.
"Nothing."
Late at night, the river was completely quiet. Only the soft sound of water hitting the boat could be heard.
The wooden boat drifted forward slowly as moonlight scattered across the river in tiny silver ripples.
Arisu sat at the bow, holding a fishing rod steadily as he calmly watched the float.
The night breeze was cool, and the boat was peaceful.
Beside him, Sasuke had been sitting cross-legged, but sleepiness gradually overtook him, and his eyelids grew heavier.
Half asleep, Sasuke swayed slightly.
Without realizing it, he leaned to the side until his whole body rested gently against Arisu's shoulder.
Arisu's body stiffened slightly. He turned to look at the boy leaning against him.
Sasuke's breathing was steady, and under the moonlight his face looked especially peaceful.
That youthful face slowly overlapped with the image of the young Indra in his memories.
A complicated look flashed through Arisu's eyes, and countless thoughts rose in his heart.
During these days of teaching Sasuke, he often felt as if he were teaching Indra all over again.
Back then, Indra had also fallen asleep like this, tired yet at ease, leaning against his shoulder. His young face had been full of trust in his master.
———
In the blink of an eye, a thousand years had passed.
'Time really flies... It feels like it was only yesterday.'
Arisu let out a quiet sigh. He moved very gently. Instead of pushing Sasuke away, he simply adjusted his posture so the boy could lean on him more comfortably.
The "sleeping" Sasuke suddenly opened his eyes halfway and secretly watched his teacher's reaction.
When he realized Arisu had not pushed him away and had instead let him keep leaning there, a burst of secret delight filled his heart.
The corners of Sasuke's mouth lifted slightly on their own, showing a faint smile of satisfaction.
Then he closed his eyes without the slightest guilt, and his breathing gradually became long and steady.
The river breeze brushed past them as the boat rocked gently.
The corners of Arisu's mouth twitched into a helpless smile with a bit of warmth.
Looks like this kid Sasuke... really likes him.
Just like Indra back then.
Looking down at the peacefully sleeping boy resting on his shoulder, a trace of mixed emotion rose in Arisu's heart.
He really wondered what Sasuke's reaction would be if he ever learned that it was Arisu who had forced Uchiha Itachi to massacre the hawkish clan members and infiltrate the Akatsuki.
Would he both love and hate him?
Or would he end up hating him completely?
Arisu gently shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
Seeing that Sasuke's breathing had completely settled and that he was sleeping soundly, he reached out and slowly picked the boy up.
Sasuke was very light. Arisu moved carefully, afraid of waking him. He gently laid him on the clean little bed inside the cabin and pulled a thin blanket over him.
After finishing all that, Arisu returned alone to the bow.
He stood there with his hands behind his back and looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.
The cold moonlight fell over him, stretching out a long shadow.
The river was like a mirror, reflecting the moonlight. It was as if only he remained between heaven and earth.
Arisu rubbed his forehead.
The days that had passed were truly gone forever.
"I'm really getting old. I'm always remembering the past..."
Arisu slowly crouched down and let his hand glide through the river water.