"Do you really know where the beheading sword is?"
On the way, Suigetsu asked eagerly.
"Something like that," Sasuke replied.
Three years ago, Team 7 had gone to the Land of Waves on a mission. Haku had died, but Zabuza had survived. Now that Haku's death anniversary was approaching, Sasuke believed Zabuza might appear to pay his respects. That would be their best chance to seize the beheading sword.
"Come to think of it, one person isn't enough to form a real team. Got anyone else in mind?" Suigetsu asked casually.
The first two people who came to Sasuke's mind were Morkel and Naruto. Both had left Konoha as well. If he could build an organization with them...
But it was just a thought. With Morkel around, Sasuke knew he wouldn't be the one in charge.
"I've already got two people in mind: Karin from the Southern Hideout and Jūgo from the Northern Base," Sasuke answered.
Suigetsu blinked, surprised. "Are you sure about those two? They're not exactly easy to work with. Especially that red-haired girl—ugh."
"That's right."
Speaking of red hair, Suigetsu asked, "Sasuke, you used to be from Konoha, right? Do you know Morkel, the red-haired genius who can use Wood Style?"
Sasuke frowned slightly at the mention of that name. "We were on the same team during a mission once."
Suigetsu's eyes lit up. "Then you must know him well! Can you get me his autograph? I admire that guy so much! I heard he's even collected Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword!"
"Not familiar," Sasuke replied coldly.
Even Suigetsu could tell Sasuke wasn't fond of Morkel. "Don't tell me... were you bullied by him?"
Sasuke fell silent.
It wasn't just the past. He still felt bullied—just by existing in the same world as Morkel.
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'm not taking you to find the sword," Sasuke snapped.
Suigetsu backed off quickly. "Alright, alright! I won't talk about it anymore!"
A few seconds passed.
"...I really want to meet that red-haired genius. If I get the chance, I'd love to fight him!"
"Didn't you just say you weren't going to talk about him?!"
Just then, Sasuke noticed two figures approaching through the forest.
That presence—if it wasn't Morkel and Naruto, who else could it be?
Sasuke knew that if Morkel was looking for him, there was no hiding. So he stopped in his tracks and sighed.
"Suigetsu, the person you wanted to see is here."
As soon as he saw Sasuke, Naruto shouted cheerfully, "Hey! Sasuke!"
Sasuke lowered his eyes and muttered, "So annoying. Still can't shake him off."
Morkel and Naruto walked closer, and Sasuke's heartbeat quickened.
He still remembered clearly how Morkel had beaten him up last time. He barely survived that fight.
"Aren't you going to greet your old friends?" Suigetsu nudged him playfully.
"Mind your own business," Sasuke snapped.
Suigetsu ignored the warning and waved at Morkel.
"Hey! You must be Morkel and Naruto from Konoha! It's an honor to meet you!"
Then he looked at Sasuke and gestured toward the sword at his waist.
Sasuke nodded slightly but warned him, "If he kills you by accident, don't blame me."
"Relax! You've forgotten what clan I'm from?" Suigetsu grinned.
In the blink of an eye, Suigetsu unsheathed his sword and charged at Morkel!
Morkel frowned.
What kind of lunatic greets people by trying to kill them?
Instead of drawing the Kusanagi sword from his back, Morkel summoned an ice-blue crystal blade from his wrist using his Crystal Style.
Suigetsu's eyes widened. "Wood Style, Ice Style, and now Crystal Style?!"
Even Sasuke was stunned. He'd seen Morkel grow from someone with just Wood Style, to someone who had learned Ice Release from the White Queen—and now Crystal Style?
This guy really was the true "Copy Ninja."
Only he didn't copy jutsu—he copied entire bloodlines and somehow did it better than the original.
And he had Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan, perfectly fused with his own chakra.
His power level had become completely uncatchable.
While Sasuke was still trying to wrap his head around all this, Morkel's crystal blade had already met Suigetsu's sword.
Clang!
The crystal blade sliced right through half of the Kusanagi sword!
Sasuke cried out, "My sword!"
Then Morkel followed up with a clean kick to Suigetsu's chest.
Bang!
But something was off—kicking Suigetsu felt like stepping into water.
Morkel narrowed his eyes. "The Hozuki Clan?"
Indeed, Suigetsu's liquefied chest confirmed it.
Morkel had learned a lot during his travels with Jiraiya.
The Hozuki Clan could liquefy parts of their body to avoid damage using Water Style techniques.
So that's what this kid was.
"Correct," Suigetsu said, smiling. "As expected of Morkel—smart and strong."
Morkel's foot was still stuck in Suigetsu's chest, but his mind was racing.
He activated his Sharingan and used his chakra perception to observe Suigetsu's liquid form closely.
Learning was good, but mastering was better.
After a moment, Morkel pulled his foot back and muttered, "I see. Not that difficult."
Suigetsu felt a chill. "D-Don't be mad, Mr. Morkel. I was just excited..."
Morkel gave him a flat look.
"Excited? So you try to kill people?"
Their eyes locked.
And in the next instant, Suigetsu's consciousness was dragged into a genjutsu space by Morkel.
He was tortured for what felt like three days and nights.
After that, Morkel turned to Sasuke.
"Sasuke. Long time no see."
Sasuke looked embarrassed and unsure of how to respond.
Their last meeting hadn't exactly ended in his favor.
Morkel noticed and asked, "Where's Orochimaru?"
"I killed him," Sasuke said bluntly.
Morkel nodded. He wasn't surprised.
Ever since Sasuke said he would "cut off his bonds," Morkel had guessed something like this would happen.
Sasuke's path was clear: become stronger, and take revenge.
Naruto, who had been quiet until now, suddenly looked serious.
"Wait—Sasuke killed Orochimaru?!"
He looked at himself in doubt.
The original Team 7 had three members.
Morkel was unbelievably strong. And now Sasuke had even taken down one of the Sannin.
Was he... the weakest one?
Morkel looked to Sasuke again. "What's your next move?"
Sasuke answered without hesitation. "I'm forming a team. We're going after that man."
The "that man" was clearly Itachi.
Morkel said nothing. Itachi had saved him once—releasing a genjutsu crow to block Danzo.
Morkel knew there was more to the Uchiha massacre.
"Need help?" he asked.
"No. This is my burden," Sasuke replied firmly.
Morkel nodded, then turned to Naruto. "Coming with me, or going with Sasuke?"
Naruto hesitated. "Sasuke needs help right now."
He clenched his fists. "You're stronger than both of us, Morkel. If I follow you, I'll only be in the way."
"I'll go with him."
Morkel gave a small smile. "Alright."
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha…
"What? Sasuke killed Orochimaru?!" Tsunade shouted, stunned.
Shizune nodded. "Hard to believe, but it's confirmed."
"And… during Morkel's battle with Deidara, he used his ultimate technique. Now both Morkel and the Three-Tails are missing."
Tsunade folded her arms, confident. "That kid will be fine."
"As for the Three-Tails... he probably took it with him."
Shizune blinked. "Wait—Morkel can seal tailed beasts?"
Then she shook her head, remembering who she was talking about.
Of course he could.
---
In the Rain Village, Jiraiya stood before the Akatsuki tower.
If the leader of Akatsuki was really Nagato, his former student, then it was time for answers.
A woman appeared before him in a black cloak adorned with red clouds.
Blue hair, paper wings—Konan.
Jiraiya smiled, but it was bittersweet.
"Konan. You've grown into quite the woman."
"So the leader is really Nagato, huh?"
"You should've sent word that you were alive. I mourned you for years."
"Jiraiya-sensei. Long time no see," Konan said coldly. "But you're too late."
"What's your goal, collecting tailed beasts across the world?" Jiraiya asked.
"For peace," Konan replied seriously.
Jiraiya was taken aback.
Peace?
This wasn't the ideology he'd taught them.
"Your thinking hasn't changed at all, Jiraiya," Konan said, lifting her hand.
Paper formed wings behind her, and countless sharp sheets shot toward him.
Jiraiya dodged and shouted, "Toad Oil Bullet!"
Konan's paper, soaked in oil, lost its strength.
"You've become an angel to these people… but still chose to attack your own teacher," Jiraiya muttered.
A voice echoed from above. "Jiraiya-sensei. We walk different paths now."
Jiraiya looked up. Orange hair. Rinnegan.
"Nagato?"
"No. I am Pain. A god."
A giant crab burst through the wall behind him, washing the toad oil off Konan.
Jiraiya summoned Toad Jian.
But the moment they thought Pain was caught in the Lion Mane Jutsu—
He vanished.
Reappeared atop a summon.
Then more Akatsuki members appeared—each with the same Rinnegan.
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"Six of them… all Rinnegan?"
And far away, Morkel quickened his pace.
"Damn it. Why can't I sense the Flying Thunder God mark I left on Jiraiya-sensei?"
Something was wrong.
And in that moment—
He swore he felt Jiraiya ruffle his hair, just like old times...
---