Chapter 68, Chapter Sixty-Six
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Inside the Orochimaru branch base.
"Kabuto, where is Orochimaru?"
Approaching them was a slender woman wearing a high-necked robe. Her gaze first fell on the silver-haired youth standing before her. The youth had delicate features, with black-rimmed glasses perched above his black eyes, and his silver hair was tied back in a low ponytail.
Kabuto recognized her immediately upon meeting her at the Tenchi Bridge—Uchiha Yuki, the person who had rescued him from the battlefield and brought him back to Konoha. He was surprised that someone of her stature would remember him.
This left him momentarily at a loss, but outwardly he simply adjusted his glasses.
Compared to the turmoil in his heart, his voice was surprisingly calm.
"Senior Yuki, if you wish to see Lord Orochimaru, this way please."
Xue frowned slightly; it seemed the other party didn't want to acknowledge her as their relative...
After all, she only took him to the orphanage, and the promise to see him never came true.
“I know you went back to the orphanage to find me.”
The young man's voice rang out, and as they stopped, they arrived in front of Orochimaru's room where he was recuperating.
Xue paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, is that so... I'm sorry, I couldn't make it to see you."
Dou was silent for a moment, then placed his hand on the doorknob.
He said, "That's enough."
-
In the dimly lit stone chamber, on the hard stone bed, Sasuke lay on his side. Yuki could only see the Uchiha clan's fan emblem embroidered on his clothes behind him. The flickering candlelight on the wall crackled softly, and Yuki, remembering Sasuke's childhood grumpy mood, called out softly, "Sasuke."
With his back to the snow, Sasuke opened his Sharingan with three tomoe in the darkness.
He had so many questions for her: why she didn't stay back then; why she appeared in the Akatsuki organization three years ago; why she didn't come back to find him; and whether, to her, Uchiha Yuki truly placed him on the same level as Uchiha Itachi—
After receiving no response for a long time, Xue lowered her eyes and turned to leave.
Sasuke sat up and grasped her wrist. Even in the dim candlelight, the boy's appearance was still excessively handsome.
His long, raven-feather-like eyelashes cast shadows beneath his eyes, fluttering like butterfly wings.
Compared to three years ago, he seems to have matured a lot, but he still has a little baby fat on his face.
"You went to Orochimaru's place, and you smell disgusting."
The boy's delicate brows furrowed, his face full of irritation.
Xue paused for a moment, then took off her outer robe.
Her slender figure was clad in thin, short chainmail, and her lower body wore shorts that allowed for easy movement, revealing her thin arms and legs. Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on her flat stomach, then he reached out and grasped her other wrist, pulling her onto his lap. Yuki looked at Sasuke with a puzzled expression as he placed his hand on her stomach; Sasuke's voice sounded strangely hoarse to her.
"What's wrong, Sasuke?"
Sasuke frowned, the candlelight illuminating his features with an exquisite, almost painterly quality.
"How many times have you had sex with Itachi?"
Snow:......
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she just frowned and bit her lower lip.
"Why did you abandon me back then?" After a long pause, Sasuke finally asked the question he wanted to ask.
Xue lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "I lost my memory, that's why I joined Akatsuki."
"So you left Itachi and came to my side after regaining your memories?"
Xue raised her eyes and looked directly at Sasuke. Their two pairs of dark pupils met, each reflecting the other's image.
"No, I came to break the seal on my body. And, I killed... the murderer." And I also kept Itachi a secret from you...
Sasuke smiled and said, "Then, Yuki and I share the same goal."
"However, the one who kills Itachi must be me. I will personally end the life of the man who murdered the entire clan."
Xue held her breath. If Sasuke knew she knew the truth but hadn't told her, would he hold a grudge against her after Itachi's death? But even so… Itachi had to die. Then, she changed the subject somewhat awkwardly.
She asked calmly, "Orochimaru's reincarnation is imminent. Do you want me to help you kill him?"
Sasuke gazed at her thoughtfully. The boy's skin was as white as snow, his hair as black as ink, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes had deep pupils that seemed to have no bottom.
"Snow only needs to rely on me, because I am strong enough—"
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Sasuke killed Orochimaru while he was at his weakest and took Uchiha Yuki with him.
On the way out, Xue asked, "Aren't you going to take Dou with you? He's not weak."
Furthermore, he possesses the strength of an elite Jonin to some extent, making him Orochimaru's strongest support. Yuki recalled the look of despair on Kabuto's face when she left, a look of loss of faith on his face, and she felt a pang of worry.
She was worried that Dou would hinder her plans.
Sasuke glanced at her first, noticing that she didn't have any particular expression on her face.
Xue tilted her head slightly, and Sasuke then replied, "He was too deeply influenced by Orochimaru."
Killing and dealing with Itachi means that Yuki will face the Akatsuki members again. This also means they will have to confront the Akatsuki head-on while evading wanted posters from various countries and pursuers from Konoha.
Snow was recorded by ninjas from Konoha and Sunagakure during a previous mission to capture Jinchuriki.
Orochimaru is now dead, but the seal has not been broken, so they need to recruit new teammates.
Sasuke had to start assembling his own team as soon as possible, and the first member was Suigetsu, who was hailed as a genius prodigy of the Hozuki clan.
The Hozuki clan is naturally drawn to water, and their water-based abilities grant them immunity to most physical attacks.
When Suigetsu was young, she was captured by Orochimaru and used as a test subject, and sealed in a container in the experimental base.
Sasuke smashed the glass container with his Kusanagi sword, and water gushed out of the life-sized container.
A silver-haired, purple-eyed boy slowly emerged from the water, his serrated teeth faintly visible as he spoke.
"Finally out. Thank you, Sasuke."
The boy, known as Shuiyue, stood up from the water, his body completely smooth.
Xue took off her cloak, and Shuiyue took the cloak that was handed to her and put it on.
“Let’s start with you, Suigetsu. Come with me.” Sasuke sheathed his sword.
Shuiyue raised her head slightly, her bewitching purple eyes narrowing: "So, besides me and the woman standing next to you, there are other people."
Yuki caught up with Sasuke and stood beside him.
Sasuke said coldly.
"There are two more people. I will bring Jugo from the northern base and Karin from the southern base."
"—Stop dawdling, let's go."
Shuiyue chuckled and said, "You're really boastful."
Suddenly, he appeared between Yuki and Sasuke, pressing his fingertip against Sasuke's temple, claiming that Sasuke's victory over Orochimaru was purely due to luck. This action instantly chilled Yuki's expression, and the coldness emanating from her made Suigetsu glance at her slightly. Soon, Suigetsu lowered his hand, saying nonchalantly, "Alright, I was just joking. But I did hold back just now."
"Consider the debt of gratitude for saving me wiped clean, Sasuke."
"I finally gained my freedom, and I can do whatever I want."
“Is that so? That’s a real shame,” Sasuke said.
Shuiyue, wearing a cloak, walked away. Xue frowned and looked at Sasuke: "Aren't you going to stop him?"
Sasuke remained silent.
On the way to the northern stronghold, Shuiyue appeared on the road in the dense forest.
There was a large puddle of water, and he was swimming in the middle of it.
Sasuke and Yuki stopped in their tracks.
"Speaking of which, it was you in Konoha's squad who defeated my senior, Zabuza Momochi, right? I wonder how Zabuza's sword is doing. Hey—how about this, you tell me where Zabuza's greatsword is, and if I can get my hands on it, I'll follow you, okay?"
Sasuke agreed. Yuki looked at the boy who emerged from the water and surrounded Sasuke. She felt that Suigetsu was a very awkward child.
"Hey, miss, what's your relationship with Sasuke?" Suigetsu, like a puppy, shifted his attention from Sasuke to her. He stroked his chin, his cloak revealing his bare chest. He said, "I've wanted to ask from the beginning, but—looking at you now, you and Sasuke do look a bit alike."
“Uchiha Yuki,” Yuki said.
"You're also a member of the Uchiha clan?" Suigetsu raised an eyebrow slightly, looking somewhat surprised.
"Um."
"So what is your relationship with Sasuke?" Suigetsu leaned closer to her, their noses touching, feeling a cool sensation.
Xue subconsciously looked at Sasuke, who stopped and turned to look at her.
She slowly uttered, "Family—"
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On their way to the Land of Waves to retrieve Zabuza's Greatsword, they camped out in a town near the Land of Hot Springs.
Shuiyue changed his clothes in town. His slender figure was clad in a purple sleeveless vest and long pants suitable for ninja movement, with white bandages wrapped around his legs. His striking silver hair and light purple eyes seemed somewhat out of place with his personality, making him appear too unconventional.
I also bought a lot of scrolls and a water cup from a ninja tool shop I passed by.
"Hey, Yuki, I want some cheese, buy it for me." Mizuki pointed to the popular desserts at the teahouse in town. Yuki had just opened her purse when Sasuke stopped her. His expression was icy, and he shot her a glare. Mizuki couldn't help but shrink back, muttering under her breath, "Fine, don't buy it then—so stingy, Sasuke!"
Back at the inn, the three of them shared a room. Suigetsu glanced at Sasuke, who even slept with his arms around Yuki, and pouted.
Family? Shuiyue's eyes darted around, then he lay down on the tatami mat on the other side of Xue, looking at Xue's sleeping face.
Well, judging from his appearance, he's not that much older than her. Shuiyue licked her exposed sharp little tiger teeth in the dimly lit room.
How did Yuki wake up? A slight stinging sensation came from her face. Half of her body was being held by Sasuke, while the other side was encircled by Suigetsu. She turned her head slightly, and in the dark room, Suigetsu's purple pupils shone brightly. Yuki frowned slightly and whispered, "It hurts."
"But didn't Sasuke also leave marks on Yuki?" Suigetsu's tone was half innocent and half teasing. He lowered his voice and laughed, "Yuki's face is like cheese, soft and delicious."
Even though the two of them were speaking in hushed tones, Sasuke, who was a light sleeper to begin with, surprisingly didn't fly into a rage when he saw Suigetsu smiling. He simply said something coldly.
"Don't make a sound, Shuiyue."
Then, he turned the snow in his arms around so that they were facing each other, and closed his eyes.
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