Naruto: Konoha's Kanpu

Holding the orange he got from the Hokage's Office, Kanpū peeled and ate it as he descended the stairs. By the time he reached the outside of the Hokage Tower, only two small segments of the orange were left.

"Here."

Kanpū was not embarrassed, and generously distributed the two segments to Naruto and Karin.

"Kanpū-sensei."

Naruto swallowed his piece in one bite, chewing as he asked, "Is that guy Sasuke coming or not?"

"Sasuke won't be coming. Today, it'll just be the three of us."

Kanpū waved his hand and said, "Let's go pick a mission."

"Oh! Awesome!!!" Naruto was overjoyed, as he finally got rid of Sasuke.

"Big brother, is Sasuke-kun okay?" In contrast, Karin looked worried.

"Fortune or misfortune, one cannot escape fate." Kanpū replied cryptically.

"What do you mean, big brother?" Karin was puzzled.

"It means to go with the flow and not to force things." Kanpū explained carelessly.

Karin frowned, still somewhat confused. However, Kanpū couldn't explain further. After all, the matter involved too many secrets that Karin wasn't privy to yet.

Afterwards, every time Karin tried to ask more questions, Kanpū would change the subject. Eventually, Karin, feeling wronged, stopped asking altogether.

After selecting their mission, the three left Konoha.

…

In an underground research base located in the southeastern coastal region of the Land of Fire, Tobi's figure emerged from the base entrance. He then opened up his body and released Sasuke.

"We're here."

Tobi said with a smile, "Orochimaru is inside."

Sasuke glanced at him and coldly asked: "I thought you had nothing to do with Orochimaru? How do you know his exact location?"

"Well…" Tobi's grin stiffened, feeling uncomfortable.

"Hmph!"

Sasuke snorted coldly, turning towards the steel doors at the entrance of the base. Then, he shouted loudly, "Orochimaru, come out!"

"Hehehehe..."

A cold, hoarse laugh echoed from behind the doors. With a clanking sound, the steel doors split open, revealing Orochimaru's thin, cold face, "Isn't this Uchiha Sasuke? Long time no see."

"Cut the crap, tell me how to evolve my Sharingan into the Mangekyo!" Sasuke demanded directly.

"Uchiha Sasuke, are you an idiot?"

Orochimaru said with a mocking smile, "Don't forget, we are enemies. You should be grateful I haven't killed you, and yet you dare to make demands? How naive!"

"If you didn't want to tell me, why go through all the trouble to bring me here?"

Sasuke retorted with a confident smirk on his face, "If I'm not mistaken, you want to use me for some undisclosed purpose, and the price you can pay is the method to evolve into Mangekyo Sharingan. Am I right?"

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and stared at him so intently.

"Stop wasting time!"

Sasuke said impatiently, "A legendary Sannin acting so indecisively, how ridiculous!"

"Hehehe, Sasuke-kun, I suddenly found out that I may have underestimated you."

Orochimaru said, turning and walking into the base, "Come in."

Sasuke followed him without hesitation.

"It seems like my part here is done." Tobi then burrowed into the ground and went to watch on Konoha again.

Inside the underground base, Sasuke followed Orochimaru through a labyrinth of corridors until they arrived at a small lounge.

"Sit." Orochimaru said softly.

Sasuke plopped down, his impatience was evident.

Orochimaru smiled and asked, "Do you know why Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi refused to tell you the way to evolve to Mangekyo?"

"Why?" Sasuke's expression turned serious.

Orochimaru chuckled and said, "The answer is very simple. Because the method to evolve into Mangekyo is… to kill your closest kin with your own hand!!"

"What?!" Sasuke's eyes widened in shock, and he instantly lost his expression management.

Orochimaru sneered and said, "Your father won't tell you because he's afraid you'll kill him to awaken the Mangekyo, and your big brother won't tell you for the same reason! They are both afraid and cautious, worried they might become stepping stones for your evolution. This is the truth about the Uchiha Clan, hehehe."

"Impossible! Impossible! You're lying to me, that can't be true!!!"

Sasuke felt as if the most sacred and vulnerable part of his heart was being ruthlessly trampled and defiled. The chaotic emotions such as anger, disbelief, and fear swallowed up his sanity like a stream, then he took out kunai and charged at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru calmly clenched his fist, his right hand immediately covered by a dark green steel: Steel Release: Snake Strong Fist!

Bang!

With a single punch, Sasuke's face was distorted, and his entire body was flung against the wall like a piece of cotton, finally slumping to the ground after a while.

"Think carefully about the path you want to take next, Uchiha Sasuke." Orochimaru smiled as he walked out of the lounge.

…

The Land of Rivers.

Inside a mountain crevice.

As the last bit of Biju Chakra was extracted from Gaara's body, the Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals that lasted for several days finally ended.

Kisame, Kakuzu, and Deva Path Pain, Konan, Hyōketsu, Hidan, Sasori, Deidara's mental projections all opened their eyes simultaneously.

Then, Deva Path Pain formed a hand seal, and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path behind everyone suddenly disappeared without a trace in the huge light smoke.

"Next is Nibi."

Kakuzu looked around and asked, "Who's going to capture it?"

"Leave it to me!"

Hidan said with a grin, "I haven't given Jashin-sama a sacrifice for so many days, and he must have been displeased. The Nibi's Jinchuriki will definitely please him!"

"Don't drag me into your nonsense." Hyōketsu grumbled dissatisfiedly.

He was paired with Hidan, so if Hidan took on the mission to capture Nibi, he would naturally have to go along.

"If you're scared, you can stay behind." Hidan said.

"Since you're seeking death, I'll accompany you to the end." Hyōketsu said with a sneer.

"We'll see who dies by then, hmph." Hidan said.

"Alright, then Nibi will be left to you."

Deva Path Pain made the decision, and then formed another hand seal. Shortly after, another mind projection appeared, it was Zetsu!

"Zetsu, any news about Three-Tails?" Deva Path Pain asked.

"There is."

Black Zetsu didn't inquire about what had happened here, and directly reported, 'Orochimaru allied with Kirigakure, Sunagakure, the Land of Sky, and Otogakure to invade Konoha. During the battle, both Sanbi and Hachibi appeared."

"You're saying the Sanbi and Hachibi are both in Konoha's hands?" Konan asked.

"Yes, and if you add Kyubi, Konoha now has three Biju!" Black Zetsu said.

"Konoha is not easy to deal with. Pain, can we skip the Sanbi and capture Yonbi and Gobi first?" Kakuzu asked.

Konan shook her head and said, "The Biju must be collected in order. After Ichibi comes Nibi, and after Nibi comes Sanbi."

"So after I capture the Two-Tails, we'll be targeting Konoha?"

Hidan became excited, "This is really a big deal, invading Konoha …"

Deva Path Pain said calmly, "First, we capture Nibi. We'll discuss Sanbi later. Today's meeting is over. Dismissed."

When the words fall, everyone's mental projections instantly dissipate.