บท 242: Chapter 242: Sasuke: Fourth Hokage is Naruto's Father?!
Root Base.
Uchiha Sasuke saw a group of people.
When he saw this group, Sasuke felt an even greater shock than when he had just seen his clansmen. His heart almost leapt out of his chest.
These people...
Were actually the past Hokages...
Sasuke had never imagined he would see four deceased Hokages, those heroes who had sacrificed themselves long ago and were memorialized on the Hokage Rock, appearing here at the Root Base!
"First, Second, Third Hokage..."
Sasuke's eyes widened as his gaze landed on the only one he recognized, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I am here too..."
Minato smiled as he reached out his hand towards Sasuke: "I am Naruto's father. When I was resurrected, I secretly observed you. Thank you for taking care of him during your missions..."
"Naruto's father! The Fourth Hokage..."
Sasuke's pupils dilated in an instant!
He recalled his clumsy friend, who had been ostracized by the villagers since childhood, known to everyone as an orphan...
But...
Never would he have imagined...
Uzumaki Naruto's father was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha!
The comrade he thought was rejected by the village was actually the son of the village hero, the Fourth Hokage!
However...
Weren't these Hokages already...
As Sasuke stood in shock and confusion, Karin answered his question: "These past Hokages were resurrected using the Edo Tensei technique by Lord Kagura..."
"Lord Kagura was always worried that Orochimaru might resurrect the past Hokages to become enemies of Konoha, so he resurrected them first. The past Hokages responded to Lord Kagura's summons. Even though they are dead, they still wish to protect Konoha tirelessly..."
The expressions of the four Hokages present were somewhat subtle.
Karin sure knows how to spin a tale!
Yet, Sasuke actually believed it!
Karin extended her hand gently: "Now you must learn the Flying Thunder God Technique here. Once you master it, Lord Kagura will assign you an S-rank mission. This technique will ensure your safety during missions..."
"Is the Fourth Hokage going to be my future teacher?"
Sasuke felt a peculiar sense of destiny.
His Jonin instructor was Hatake Kakashi, who had also learned the unusual Flying Thunder God Technique. Kakashi occasionally mentioned the Fourth Hokage, Minato, whose signature technique was the Flying Thunder God Technique!
"No..."
Karin shook her head and indicated to Tobirama beside her: "The Second Hokage is the creator of the Flying Thunder God Technique. He will be your future teacher..."
Sasuke's face immediately fell.
He had met Tobirama before in the Land of Waves, and that encounter had been quite unpleasant. Sasuke did not have a good impression of Tobirama.
"A naturally evil Uchiha brat..."
"Perhaps you do have the spatial-temporal talent to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Tobirama looked at Sasuke's familiar face and felt a hint of absurdity in fate, as if the spirit of the deceased Uchiha Izuna was haunting him.
"Tobirama, he really does resemble Izuna!"
Hashirama, who had not seen Sasuke before, was surprised when he saw him this time.
The First Hokage found it odd and cautiously glanced at his somewhat displeased brother, Tobirama, knowing the deep-seated grudge between Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna, lifelong mortal enemies since childhood...
"Who is Izuna?"
Sasuke couldn't help but frown.
"Uchiha Izuna."
Tobirama did not shy away from his past and said coldly: "In the Warring States Period, he was an Uchiha I killed. He always boasted about his Sharingan but was slain by my Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Sasuke's face turned even darker.
He could clearly feel Tobirama's deep-seated malice towards him, indicating a strained relationship with the Second Hokage.
"Can I change my teacher?"
Sasuke immediately looked at Karin.
Karin gently advised him: "The Second Hokage is the best person to teach you the Flying Thunder God Technique. Lord Kagura does not recommend changing teachers..."
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, was indeed proficient in the Flying Thunder God Technique, but that did not mean he was adept at teaching it. He had not successfully taught it to Kakashi, after all...
Moreover...
The Fourth Hokage's personality was somewhat erratic.
"I can also help you learn."
Minato, oblivious to his inadequacies as a teacher, patted Sasuke on the shoulder with a smile: "This technique is quite simple. I believe you can master it..."
Sasuke nodded, feeling reassured.
"First, create a unique Flying Thunder God mark..."
As Minato began teaching Sasuke, he first instructed him on aesthetics, even demonstrating with his kunai: "I can help you name your Flying Thunder God mark. This way, you can feel the connection between you and the mark..."
"Fourth, do not mislead the student!"
Tobirama glanced at Minato, feeling that this erratic Fourth Hokage was misleading the student, which he found intolerable: "The Flying Thunder God mark is just a symbol. The important thing is to find a spatial-temporal coordinate..."
Tobirama looked at the thoughtful Sasuke and scolded: "Evil Uchiha brat, what are you standing there for? Follow me and learn how to find your own spatial-temporal coordinate!"
"I understand!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
A night passed.
In the end, Sasuke acknowledged Tobirama's teaching skills.
Although Uchiha Sasuke felt a bit of a clash with Tobirama, compared to Minato, the seemingly trustworthy Fourth Hokage, Tobirama's abilities were far superior. At least, if Sasuke could endure it, he felt he could understand Tobirama's teachings.
As for Naruto's father...
He didn't seem very good at teaching others.
However, Naruto's father was really good at comforting people...
Whenever Sasuke was scolded harshly by Tobirama and felt he couldn't master the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato would step in to comfort him, like a gentle father comforting his child.
The next day.
In the early morning.
Sasuke had already preliminarily mastered the steps to condense the Flying Thunder God mark. He encountered the same difficulty as Kakashi, but with his superior space-time aptitude, he easily found the presence of the space-time coordinates.
The next step for Sasuke was to try to turn his Flying Thunder God mark into a Uchiha clan fan symbol, a style that greatly displeased Tobirama.
"As expected of an inherently evil Uchiha brat! I thought you would at least leave a mark symbolizing Konoha like Kagura!"
"Second Hokage!"
Sasuke didn't care much and was extremely dissatisfied with Tobirama's attitude towards the Uchiha: "Isn't the Uchiha part of Konoha?"
"..."
Tobirama was momentarily speechless.
"You can leave during the day."
Karin came to check Sasuke's progress, sending him away from the Root base, and warned him softly: "The secrets of the Root base must not be leaked at all..."
"I understand."
Sasuke was very clear about the need for secrecy.
Whether it was the four deceased Hokages at the Root base or the surviving Uchiha clan members, these secrets must never be known to outsiders and must be kept in his heart.
However...
This was truly a torment.
Because during the day, when Sasuke was on missions with Naruto and Sakura, he felt a bit guilty towards the always carefree Naruto.
This guy...
His parents sacrificed themselves when he was born...
He hasn't met his father until now, right?
"What's wrong, Sasuke?"
Naruto noticed Sasuke's somewhat sympathetic gaze.
"Nothing."
Sasuke shook his head.
The matters of the Root base couldn't be disclosed to anyone.
Inside the Root base.
A group of Hokages was discussing Sasuke.
Although Tobirama was very displeased with Sasuke, he had to admit Sasuke had exceptional space-time talent for learning the Flying Thunder God Technique...
Another summer had arrived.
Through diligent training, thirteen-year-old Sasuke had become even more proficient in the Flying Thunder God Technique than his teacher Kakashi. He was then taken by Karin to meet Akihara Kagura.
"Your mission."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Sasuke and said softly, "Leave Konoha, become a rogue ninja, and join Orochimaru to monitor his every move for the village..."
"!!!"
Sasuke looked up in disbelief.
"Do you have any objections to the Root's mission?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Sasuke with some confusion, seemingly not understanding why Sasuke was shocked by this task.
"No..."
Sasuke was still a bit at a loss, realizing for the first time the terrifying nature of Root missions: "If I become a rogue ninja..."
"The village will hunt you down."
Akihara Kagura casually stated the consequences of becoming a rogue ninja but added, "But don't worry, I'll keep your information here. After completing the mission and returning to Konoha, you will become an official member of the Root."
"And my position in Team 7..."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, reluctant to leave the comforts of Team 7.
Because of Akihara Kagura's influence, Sasuke had gained significant power in Konoha, feeling that staying there would bring his revenge within reach, making him hesitant to leave the village and Team 7.
"Reluctant to leave Team 7?"
Akihara Kagura looked at the conflicted young Sasuke with interest.
"No!"
Sasuke quickly lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "I will carry out the mission, defect from the village, join Orochimaru, and monitor him..."
"Orochimaru is my ally."
When Akihara Kagura said this, there was a strange feeling, but he continued: "I want you to join Orochimaru to monitor our alliance and also to train under him..."
"Isn't Orochimaru..."
Sasuke looked up at Akihara Kagura, seemingly unable to believe his ears: "Isn't he a rogue ninja of the village..."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and continued: "You will soon be a rogue ninja too. There are differences among rogue ninjas... And this is the darkness of the Root."
"Yes, I understand!"
Sasuke lowered his head again.
Although Sasuke didn't yet understand the situation with Orochimaru, his rogue ninja status was just to execute an S-class undercover mission...
Is this the darkness of the Root?
The members of the Root are always buried underground, never seeing the light of day. If it weren't for a lucky coincidence, he would never know what kind of people Root ninjas were...
"People need to grow."
Akihara Kagura looked at the young Sasuke kneeling before him, seemingly reminded of his own youth: "Everyone has their own path to follow. By relying on the darkness of the Root and drawing strength from it to kill Itachi, Sasuke, are you sure about this path?"
"Yes!"
"Then go."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand and said softly: "I will inform Orochimaru. He has always been interested in your body. Soon, someone will come to pick you up. Learn well under him. He will teach you how to kill Itachi..."
"Yes!"
Sasuke bowed deeply and hesitated before asking, "I will handle matters with Team 7 during this time, but the reason for my defection..."
"For power."
Akihara Kagura looked at Sasuke, providing him with a reason in advance: "Kakashi has always been worried about you losing yourself to vengeance and power. Use the reason of seeking power from Orochimaru to defect from Konoha!"
"Yes..."
Sasuke lowered his head, clenching his teeth, suppressing his emotions: "I will go say goodbye to them..."
"Do not reveal any secrets of the Root."
Akihara Kagura looked at the slightly trembling Uchiha Sasuke, sighed, and said, "Sasuke, you have already surpassed Uchiha Itachi on his first Root mission because you possess a humanity that is more precious than his…"
~~~
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