Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 505 An Unbreakable Bond (Part 1)

The Five Kage Summit, which was originally expected to maintain peace and stability, was abruptly halted by the mysterious masked man's sudden declaration of war. This unexpected event was like a bombshell dropped into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples and plunging the entire ninja world into unprecedented chaos.

Faced with such a dire situation, even the once powerful and confident Five Great Shinobi Villages now seemed somewhat overwhelmed. They had no time to concern themselves with the unrest caused by various lurking, restless forces, because the threat of war posed by the man calling himself "Uchiha Madara" was simply too immense and terrifying. Just how unfathomable was the strength of this mysterious enemy? And why did he challenge the entire shinobi world? Countless questions swirled in everyone's minds, but the most urgent task at hand was to concentrate all their efforts on the impending life-or-death battle.

Every ninja village knew that in this battle for survival, the slightest negligence could lead to catastrophic consequences. Therefore, they mobilized all available resources and prepared for war with all their might, hoping to achieve final victory in this brutal war and protect the peace of their homes and the lives of their clansmen.

When the other ninja villages learned that Danzo Shimura had been brutally murdered by Sasuke Uchiha, the entire ninja world was shaken. None of the villages dared to be negligent, and they immediately relayed detailed information about Sasuke Uchiha back to Konoha.

These intelligence reports, like bolts of lightning, shattered the once peaceful sky of Konoha. They clearly outlined Uchiha Sasuke's current image—a dangerous figure who had drifted further and further away from Konoha and had even become a key accomplice of the masked man.

The high-ranking officials of Konoha Village passed around the intelligence reports with grave expressions, each feeling as if a heavy boulder was pressing on their hearts. Once, Uchiha Sasuke was the pride of Konoha, his immense strength and unique Sharingan drawing attention. But now, he stood on the opposite side of the village, undoubtedly posing a tremendous threat to Konoha.

Upon hearing the news, the villagers were thrown into panic and discussion. Some were furious at Sasuke's betrayal, accusing him of ingratitude; others were deeply worried about the future safety of Konoha. A mix of emotions quickly spread throughout the village.

For those who had known and loved Uchiha Sasuke, this news was like a hammer blow. They could hardly believe that the kind and brave boy they once knew had become like this. But regardless, the facts were undeniable, and Konoha had to face this harsh reality: Uchiha Sasuke was no longer the Konoha's son they knew, but an enemy who needed to be guarded against and confronted.

Meanwhile, his actions stirred up a storm throughout the ninja world. People discussed Sasuke Uchiha's behavior extensively, with various speculations and rumors spreading like wildfire. Some said he did it to gain greater power to fulfill his ambitions; others believed he was seeking the lost glory of his clan.

However, regardless of external opinions, one thing is undeniable: the Uchiha clan's reputation has been greatly enhanced as a result. Once considered heretical and ostracized, the Uchiha clan is now once again in the spotlight. Their mysterious and powerful bloodline limit, along with their astonishing ninjutsu, has rekindled people's awe of this ancient family.

As time went by, Sasuke Uchiha's name gradually spread to every corner of the ninja world. Whether it was the ninja villages of the Five Great Nations or the forces hidden in the shadows, everyone began to pay close attention to this young Uchiha clansman. His every move affected the entire ninja world, as if he had become the key figure determining the future course of events.

Against this backdrop, various factions in the ninja world were stirring with ambition and secretly vying for power. Some attempted to win over Uchiha Sasuke, hoping to use his strength to achieve their own goals; others were wary of him, fearing he might threaten the existing balance. Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke himself remained immersed in his post-surgery recovery, oblivious to the commotion around him. But it was foreseeable that when he opened his eyes again, a completely new world, full of challenges and opportunities, awaited him.

In the peaceful and tranquil Hidden Leaf Village, when Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno learned of the shocking news, the pain they endured was unparalleled. It's important to understand that Sasuke Uchiha was not merely an ordinary member of their team; he shared a deep and inextricable bond with them.

For Kakashi, Sasuke was like his lost best friend Obito—possessing immense talent and potential, yet always drawn to dark forces. As his teacher, he had always tried to guide Sasuke onto the right path, but this sudden turn of events left him feeling deeply guilty and helpless.

And Naruto? From the very beginning, he regarded Sasuke as his most important friend and rival. The two went through countless battles and adventures together, growing together. The feelings between them, a mixture of competition and mutual respect, had long transcended the realm of ordinary friendship. So when he heard the news that Sasuke had left the village, Naruto felt as if his entire world had collapsed.

As for Sakura Haruno, her deep-seated love for Sasuke caused her immense heartache. Sasuke's departure not only took away her hope but also plunged her into profound self-doubt and pain.

Kakashi Hatake stood in the conference room, listening quietly to the Konoha leaders' accounts. They discussed the recent events with grave expressions, all of which were related to Sasuke Uchiha. Kakashi's heart grew heavier, a profound and indescribable weariness settling within him.

As someone who regarded Uchiha Sasuke as his successor, Kakashi was undoubtedly the one who had the most frequent contact with Sasuke. He personally witnessed Sasuke's growth from a naive boy into a powerful ninja, and naturally understood the emotional changes deep within Sasuke's heart.

Kakashi had always known that Sasuke harbored a burning hatred within him, but he firmly believed that as long as Sasuke could control this hatred and prevent it from completely consuming him, this power could become a strong driving force for Sasuke to continuously strive and improve his strength. However, to Kakashi's utter surprise, the hatred in Sasuke's heart, which was originally directed at a personal individual, had now subtly shifted, its target now aimed directly at the entire Hidden Leaf Village!

This sudden turn of events shocked Kakashi, prompting him to reflect on whether his past guidance of Sasuke had gone astray. Had he placed too much trust in Sasuke's self-regulation abilities, thus overlooking certain potential warning signs? Or perhaps, were the complex political struggles and power entanglements within Konoha Village the ultimate cause of Sasuke's complete change of attitude? Countless questions flooded his mind, leaving Kakashi feeling dizzy and momentarily at a loss for how to handle the situation.

Even Kakashi Hatake, a Jonin without a clan background, knew very little about the annihilation of the Uchiha clan. Although his keen intuition sensed many inconsistencies, he didn't investigate further for various reasons. After all, he was still grieving the deaths of his friends and teacher and had no interest in playing political games with the Konoha leadership.

At that time, the Konoha leadership had completely sealed off all relevant information, keeping it airtight. If Kakashi insisted on investigating the truth, he would likely anger those in high positions of power. Weighing the pros and cons, he chose silence and observation. However, what he hadn't anticipated was that Konoha had fallen to such a dark state—they were actually ruthless enough to massacre the powerful ninja clans within their own village!

Now, Sasuke Uchiha is filled with hatred for Konoha, and Kakashi is powerless to stop it. After all, it's an entire Uchiha clan! Not only were there countless innocent children, but also many peaceful civilians, yet none escaped the brutal massacre. This clearly demonstrates the ruthlessness and depravity of Konoha's leadership.

Now that the Konoha leadership has learned that Sasuke Uchiha is directing his revenge at them, instead of showing remorse, they are attempting to make the entire village bear the brunt of their heinous sins. Such selfish and immoral behavior is truly despicable.

However, Kakashi Hatake never truly understood the source of Sasuke Uchiha's boundless hatred. He wasn't sure if Sasuke's hatred extended to the entire Hidden Leaf Village, or was limited to the high-ranking officials who had ordered the massacre of the Uchiha clan. The more crucial question was whether Sasuke's target for revenge was the entire Hidden Leaf Village, or those high-ranking officials who, like parasites, had eroded its foundations. If Sasuke's sole aim was revenge against those who had ordered the extermination, Kakashi had no desire to fight his beloved disciple. After all, in recent years, these parasitic high-ranking officials had repeatedly disrupted the village's normal development. Eliminating them through Sasuke's actions might, in effect, be a profound purification of the Hidden Leaf Village. However, if Sasuke views the entire Hidden Leaf Village as an enemy and seeks to destroy it, then as a loyal ninja of the Hidden Leaf, Kakashi Hatake will not hesitate to step forward, even if it is against a disciple he personally taught. He knows that he cannot allow anyone to disrupt the peace and stability that the Hidden Leaf Village has painstakingly achieved.