Having just mastered the Flying Thunder God, Fujiwara Kirito flew back to Konoha overnight using his Purple Cloud Wings, intending to leave a mark so that he could visit his wife and children more conveniently in the future.
However, as he arrived, his Observation Haki detected several of Orochimaru's subordinates sneaking around within his wife's territory. He immediately deduced that Orochimaru was likely struggling with the effects of the Shiki Fūjin and was attempting to abduct Sasuke ahead of time to take over his body.
Without Naruto's interference, and defecting a month earlier than in the original timeline, Orochimaru would most likely be able to hold out just long enough for Sasuke's arrival.
With Sasuke's current mental strength, he was definitely no match for Living Corpse Reincarnation.
To save his stepson's life—and to prevent his future from becoming too boring—Kirito sent a shadow clone to intervene, ensuring Sasuke would defect a month later. This way, Orochimaru would lose the chance to immediately take over his body.
At present, this was just a shadow clone at work—his real body was being thoroughly drained by Tsunade.
"Fine." Without much hesitation, Sasuke agreed and turned to the Four Sound Ninjas. "Come back for me in a month."
"But what about Lord Sasuke and Lord Orochimaru?" Sakon, who arrogantly proclaimed himself "the strongest among the Sound Four," began to object.
Before he could finish his sentence, a cold light flashed.
With a sickening thud, the head that had been hidden inside his back rolled to the ground.
It was his brother, Ukon.
"B-Brother!" Sakon's pupils widened in horror as he let out a strangled cry.
The remaining Sound Ninjas immediately covered his mouth and restrained his limbs before he could do anything reckless.
"I believe I already said this—the choice is Sasuke's to make," Kirito spoke in a calm but menacing tone, a chilling glint still lingering on his palm. It was clear that he had just executed a precise hand strike.
Tayuya and the others swallowed hard, their throats tightening. One of them hastily picked up Ukon's severed head, while the other two hoisted up Sakon—who had nearly lost his mind from grief—and quickly fled.
Sasuke ignored them and turned to Kirito, his eyes burning with anticipation. "Fujiwara Kirito, when do we start?"
Kirito's eyes narrowed slightly, and a smirk spread across his face—one that made Sasuke feel instantly annoyed.
"What did you just call me?" Kirito asked, his tone playful.
Sasuke stiffened. He knew exactly what Kirito was getting at. His mouth twitched in irritation, and though his pride screamed against it, he begrudgingly muttered in a voice barely above a whisper, "...Dad."
Kirito cupped a hand to his ear. "Oh? I didn't quite catch that."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Dad."
Kirito tilted his head, looking amused. "Still can't hear you."
Sasuke's patience was wearing thin. "Dad."
Kirito's smirk grew wider. "Say it three more times."
"Hey! Don't push it!" Sasuke's face turned red with anger and embarrassment.
"Well, if you're not interested, you can just chase after the Sound Ninjas. I was going to teach you a jutsu that could defeat Orochimaru, but…" Kirito turned as if to leave.
Sasuke's heart jumped. A technique that could defeat Orochimaru?
Suppressing his shame and frustration, he clenched his fists and forced himself to shout, "Dad! Dad! Dad!"
Kirito patted Sasuke's spiky head, treating him like an obedient pet. "Good boy."
"Alright, now teach me that jutsu," Sasuke growled, shaking off Kirito's hand.
Kirito shrugged. "I already did."
Sasuke blinked in confusion. "...What?"
He instinctively checked his body—there was no change. Had Kirito planted a seal or some hidden enhancement on him? But he didn't feel anything unusual.
Kirito explained casually, "It's a very special technique—it allows you to endure for a month. After that, you go to Orochimaru and train. Three years later, you'll naturally be strong enough to defeat him."
Sasuke's face darkened. "Are you messing with me?"
Without warning, he began forming hand seals, preparing to summon his Green Snake using Summoning: Beast Control.
Before he could complete the technique, thick wooden tendrils suddenly erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around his limbs.
An illusion—Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind Death.
"I'm not joking," Kirito said nonchalantly. "I'm saving you. Surely Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the others have already told you—Orochimaru doesn't give power for free. He wants your body."
"Orochimaru developed a jutsu called Living Corpse Reincarnation, which allows him to take over another person's body. However, he can only perform it once every three years, and his new vessel's spiritual power must be weaker than his own. If the target is too strong, the process might backfire and destroy him instead."
"Right now, his body is deteriorating—his arms were sealed away by Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shiki Fūjin, leaving him in constant, agonizing pain. His body is literally falling apart. If you go to him now, he'll possess you on the spot."
"With your current level of mental strength, even your Sharingan won't be enough to resist him."
"But if you wait a month, it'll be different. Orochimaru's body won't last that long. He'll be forced to reincarnate early, and you'll have three years to train under him without the immediate risk of being taken over."
"Three years from now, you'll be sixteen. If you still can't defeat an Orochimaru who no longer has functional arms, you might as well just die."
Sasuke was silent for a long moment. Then, realization dawned on him. "I should've known Orochimaru wouldn't just be 'helping' me."
"So?" Kirito smirked. "Still think I'm messing with you?"
Sasuke shook his head. He finally understood Kirito's reasoning.
Kirito released the genjutsu, and Sasuke hesitated before speaking again.
"Fine… What now?"
Kirito smirked. "For now, just return to Konoha and don't let anyone find out you were planning to leave. You're no match for the village's Jonin right now. A failed defection will only make things worse for you."
With that, Kirito's shadow clone dispersed with a puff of smoke.
Sasuke stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space where Kirito had been.
Then, as the realization hit him, his face twisted in frustration.
"Damn it… He tricked me into calling him 'Dad' more than ten times!"
—
Meanwhile, in the Land of Fire, Kirito—his real body—was lying in Tsunade's embrace, enjoying her warmth.
As the memories of his shadow clone flooded his mind, he suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Tsunade lifted her head, her flushed face full of curiosity.
"Nothing, just remembering something amusing." Kirito smirked as he used Observation Haki to listen in on Sasuke's frustrated ranting. His grin widened.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Are you up to something?"
"Me? Never." Kirito feigned innocence.
Tsunade wasn't convinced, but before she could question him further, she smirked and activated Byakugō no Jutsu.
That night, Kirito ended up eating another Senzu Bean.
(End of this chapter)
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