Chapter 13: The Akatsuki Organization  

At this time, Sasuke saw a middle-aged man with the distinctive pale eyes of the Hyuga clan approaching him. The man walked directly toward Sasuke and Hinata.

Hinata quickly hid the dango she was eating behind her back and whispered, "Father..."

Hinata's father, Hiashi Hyuga, ignored her attempt to conceal the snack and addressed Sasuke. "Young Uchiha, I heard you defeated Neji today?"

"It was just luck," Sasuke replied modestly.

Hiashi shook his head. "It wasn't luck. Neji, with his Byakugan, doesn't allow room for luck. You defeated him because of your skill. I also heard that you've mastered Shisui's Body Flicker Technique?"

Sasuke nodded silently.

"It's a shame about Shisui," Hiashi said with a hint of regret. "Once a prodigy, now a traitor—all because of Danzo."

Hiashi then turned to his daughter. "Hinata, come with me. And no more sweets."

As he spoke, one of the Hyuga clan members knocked the unfinished dango out of Hinata's hand. They then took her by the hand and led her away.

Hinata's eyes welled up with tears, not because of the lost dango, but because of her father's stern disapproval and lack of understanding.

After they left, Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Naruto, have you ever eaten at Ichiraku Ramen?"

Naruto's face lit up, but he hesitated. "No, I haven't. I've always wanted to, but..."

"Don't worry about it," Sasuke interrupted with a grin. "Let's go. My treat."

Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

Sasuke nodded. "Of course. The Uchiha clan has plenty of money."

Taking Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen was a small price to pay to earn his friendship—an investment Sasuke considered well worth it.

At Ichiraku Ramen, Sasuke ordered two bowls of Teriyaki Tonkotsu Ramen. As Sasuke tasted the famous dish, he found it decent, though not much different from the instant noodles he remembered from his previous life. The ingredients were just fresher.

But when Naruto took his first bite, his eyes widened in delight. "Thank you, Sasuke! This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten!"

As evening fell and they parted ways, Naruto felt an overwhelming emptiness wash over him. He returned home to his cold, lonely apartment.

The room was messy, with a faint smell of decay lingering in the air. On the table, there was still some expired milk that Naruto had been given by the Konoha Infirmary. Though it was expired, Naruto had no choice but to drink it.

Lying on his bed, Naruto covered his eyes with his arms as tears streamed down his face. His quiet sobs soon turned into uncontrollable cries.

After all, Naruto was only five years old. He had lived alone his entire life, shunned by the villagers who blamed him for the destruction caused by the Nine-Tails.

They called him a demon, saying he was living to atone for his sins. The whisker-like marks on his face were a constant reminder of what they believed him to be.

Seeing other children with parents, with families, made Naruto's heart ache with loneliness. As his emotions overwhelmed him, a faint red chakra began to seep out of his body, unnoticed by Naruto.

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''Meanwhile, in the Hidden Rain Village, where the rain never ceased...''

Shisui Uchiha walked through the village, wearing the black cloak adorned with red clouds, the symbol of the Akatsuki. Though he had lost his eyes, his vision was clearer than ever.

The Akatsuki's goal was to use power to bring about world peace. Having witnessed the horrors of war firsthand, Shisui understood the necessity of their mission.

The Akatsuki believed that by collecting the Tailed Beasts, they could force the ninja world into peace—much like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had attempted during the Warring States Period.

Initially, Shisui had despised the Akatsuki, viewing them as nothing more than a group of rogue ninja. But as he spent more time with them, he realized he had been wrong. Even Orochimaru, who had disappeared from the world for so long, was now a member.

Shisui touched the [Suzaku] ring on his finger, feeling a moment of hesitation. But before he could dwell on his thoughts, he sensed a presence approaching.

Orochimaru appeared before him, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "Shisui, the leader has summoned you as well?"

"Orochimaru," Shisui replied, recognizing the chakra signature immediately.

Orochimaru's smile widened as he licked his lips. "Shisui, I'm curious... where are your eyes?"

"My eyes were taken by Danzo," Shisui said coldly. "I've told you this before."

"Ah, but why would Danzo want you dead?" Orochimaru's voice dripped with malice.

Shisui's heart raced. "Are you in league with Danzo?!"

Orochimaru's laughter was chilling. "League? We are mercenaries, after all. The Akatsuki prioritizes its interests. Danzo made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He wants me to kill you, take one of your eyes, and leave your body for him. So... I'm sorry, Shisui."

With that, a swarm of yellow-brown snakes appeared, coiling around Shisui.

Reacting quickly, Shisui formed a series of hand seals, and seven shadow clones materialized around him.

Orochimaru chuckled. "An S-rank forbidden technique, the Instant Shadow Clone? Impressive, but I've anticipated this."

The snakes constricted, wrapping around each of the shadow clones until only one remained.

Orochimaru advanced on Shisui, but suddenly, a kunai whistled through the air, embedding itself in Orochimaru's shoulder. He turned, spotting Shisui perched in the treetops. "So, that's the real one?"

But Orochimaru felt a sudden surge of chakra behind him. Green chakra enveloped Shisui's body, forming a massive skeletal structure that quickly developed into a green, armored Susanoo.

Shisui stood within the half-formed Susanoo and declared, "This is the real one!"

Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock. "A Susanoo... without the Mangekyō?!"

Without hesitation, Orochimaru slammed his hand onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu: Manda!"

In a puff of smoke, the giant purple snake appeared, coiling its massive body.

"Manda, why have you summoned me, Orochimaru? I expect a hundred sacrifices this time!"

But Manda's bravado faded as it sensed the menacing presence of Shisui's Susanoo. Its scales bristled in fear. "Orochimaru, you fool! We're done for!"

Orochimaru quickly leaped into Manda's mouth. "What are you waiting for? Run!"

Shisui's Susanoo drew a massive chakra blade and brought it down on Manda. In an instant, the giant snake vanished in a cloud of smoke as Orochimaru used a Reverse Summoning Jutsu to escape.

As the green Susanoo faded, Shisui fell to his knees, gasping in pain. "It seems... using Susanoo without the Mangekyō is too much for me... But my body still remembers it, even if my eyes do not."

Shisui knew that the Mangekyō Sharingan was merely the key. Once Susanoo had been awakened, the Uchiha blood in his veins retained the knowledge to summon it again, though at a great cost to his life force.

He had used Susanoo to drive away Orochimaru, knowing it was the fastest way to pass crucial information back to the Uchiha clan. But the price was steep.

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