Sasuke escaped the barrel that he had in as he was goign to be transported to Orochimaru. However he wasn't anywhere near where Orochimaru was. He was in a room that was strange. A room that was empty and void of anything as the ground and sky blended together as they were both completely white.
Looking around Sasuke saw a man, a man of middle age, with long brown hair that had streaks of gray. Sasuke thought he was the father of Kaza and Ace but he wasn't sure. He hadn't paid much attention to the news after recent events. Sasuke looked at the man who was sitting with his legs crossed in front of him at a small table.
While Sasuke had an idea who he was, what he didn't know was that this man was him was the leader of Konohagakure, Ryota Togusa. Ryota had taken the barrel containing Sasuke into a secret room, hidden away in the old Togusa Shrine. He wanted to ensure that no one interfered with the conversation he was about to have and to prevent Sasuke from escaping.
"So, you came out of the barrel—that's good. Glad to see you're back in the land of the living, Sasuke," Ryota commented as he looked over at Sasuke, pouring a couple of cups of tea. "This place is hidden away, a special place that holds many secrets, some even I don't fully know. I brought you here to talk and discuss the future."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he looked at the older man. He was dressed in a simple white robe, with teal and purple colors. He looked like a priest which different. Sasuke kept a composed look to himself as he wasn't at all sure what was going to happen. He looked closely at the man. He didn't give off any clue where he was or why he was brought here. Sasuke needed to know something, which meant he had to ask.
"Why would you bring me here?" Sasuke's voice was cold, edged with suspicion. "I have no interest in talking about the future. My future is already decided."
Sasuke clenched his fist as he thought about everything that had happened. How those memories drove him forward to want revenge for what had happened to him as a child. He looked at this man, and paused for a moment, "Now old man, if you are here to talk me out of my plans, then you're wasting my time. I have things do, and I am not some weak willed, soft-hearted person who will give them up cause of some stupid words."
Sasuke looked at Ryota almost challenging him to say that he was trying to keep in him in the village and that he was going to try to change his ways. Those stupid words, he was used to hearing and would predict that another person would tell him once again. "After all my future has been decided and I know just what I am going to do."
"Kiddo, do you know how many times I've heard that comment—'My future is decided, my future is going to be this or that'?" Ryota said with a smile as he poured a second cup of tea. "How many times have those 'decided' futures changed? Quite a lot, my young friend. So, if you're so resolved to your future, what's the harm in a little curiosity, in taking an interest in the situation?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening. "You don't get it," he said coldly. "My future isn't something that's just going to change. It's not about curiosity or interest. It's about revenge. About doing what needs to be done. I don't care what you've heard or seen before. My path is set, and I'll do whatever it takes to get there. No distractions, no detours."
Sasuke stared at Ryota for a moment, his gaze unwavering. "It's simple," he began, his voice laced with anger and pain. "My entire clan was wiped out—every single one of them—by my own brother. He took everything from me. My family, my home, my future... all gone because of him. My purpose, my only goal, is to kill him. To make him pay for what he did."
Sasuke clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he continued. "This isn't something you can just talk away. It's not some fleeting emotion. It's the only thing that matters."
"I would never say you're wrong, and I would never say this is a fleeting thing. Your emotions are legitimate; wanting revenge on your brother for killing your family is understandable," Ryota mused. "I lost all my siblings within four days during the last war. I saw the burning corpse of one brother and the pincushion my other brother was turned into, just to identify the remains. I understand the need for revenge as much as anyone else."
Ryota paused for a moment. "Eighty-seven people—that's how many I killed in one night because of my desire for revenge. Age, status... none of it mattered to me that night. I went out there, and I killed them in cold blood while they were retreating from this village. I got my revenge, but it never felt quite right."
"For your brother, that whole situation never felt quite right to me," Ryota continued. "There's some really messed up stuff that happened in that. And I've never been able to figure it all out. I have serious questions about the motivation your brother had. I also wonder if he was the only one who did the deed or if he was working with someone at the time. I have a lot of questions."
Sasuke listened, his expression hardening. "You think you know something about Itachi that I don't?" he asked, his voice cold. "I don't care what his reasons were. He slaughtered our clan. He took away everything I cared about. Whatever his motives were, it doesn't change what he did. My path is set, and no one is going to convince me otherwise."
"I would never say that your feelings aren't legitimate or that this is a fleeting thing," Ryota mused, his brown eyes focused on Sasuke. "Wanting revenge on your brother for killing your family is understandable. I lost all my siblings within four days during the last war. I saw the burning corpse of one brother and the pincushion my other brother was turned into—I had to identify the remains. I understand the need for revenge as much as anyone else."
Ryota paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Eighty-seven people. That's how many I killed in one night because of my desire for revenge. Age, status... none of it mattered to me. I went out there and killed them in cold blood while they were retreating from this village. I got my revenge, but it never felt quite right."
He looked at Sasuke, his expression somber. "As for your brother, that whole situation never felt quite right to me. There's some really messed-up stuff that happened in that, and I've never been able to figure it all out. I have serious questions about your brother's motivation. I also wonder if he was the only person involved, or if he was working for someone at the time. I have a lot of questions."
"Those questions don't matter to me, they don't change my goal and my future," Sasuke said with a narrow glance as he clenched his fist more tightly. "I don't care about Itachi's reasons, he killed my family, he destroyed my future, and I won't rest until I have my revenge," Sasuke declared his voice cold and hard, as well as very determined to achieve his goal.
"Kid, I'm not trying to convince you otherwise," Ryota said with a shrug. "You're set and determined to go your course. The problem is that you're moving toward working with Orochimaru. That guy is just a cheap snake."
Ryota paused for a moment, considering his next words. "You must realize by now that you're not strong enough to fight your brother and beat him. I have an offer for you. I'm not going to try to stop you from killing your brother if that's what you want. When you're strong enough, we'll figure that out. What I'm offering you is something remarkable."
Sasuke's eyes focused completely on Ryota, as he processed Ryota's words, his arms crossed in front of himself. "You don't think I haven't thought about that. I know that I must get stronger, that is why I am willing to do what it takes to get stronger in the first place," Sasuke commented with a matter-of-fact tone to his voice."
Sasuke looked at this man, he was Kaza and Ace's father right, if he was stuck here, he might as well hear what he had to say and then retort him after he dismissed it. "What exactly are you offering? And why should I trust you any more than I trust him?"
"You might not realize this, but I am the Hokage," Ryota said with a confident smile, "I am not Hokage because I am weak, in fact, I am rather strong. I was trained by the best, and I am the best, I am pretty sure I could defeat Orochimaru. So, you want to get stronger, and will do whatever it takes to do so, even work with Orochimaru who wants you for your body to steal. I will take you on as my own student, and I will teach you everything I know. Your training will be hellish, harder than any even Orochimaru can give you, I will teach you how to fight your brother, make you into a master of swordsmanship and when the time is right, help where I can in going after your brother."
Sasuke stared at Ryota, his expression hardening as he considered the offer. His dark eyes flickered with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "You're the Hokage, huh?" he muttered, almost to himself. "And you think you can make me stronger than Orochimaru?"
He paused, weighing his options. The idea of training under the Hokage was tempting, especially if it meant surpassing Itachi and avenging his clan. But trust was not something Sasuke gave easily, especially after everything he had been through.
"If you can really make me stronger, stronger than Orochimaru, stronger than Itachi… then I'll consider your offer," Sasuke said, his voice firm. "But understand this: my only goal is to kill my brother. If you can't help me achieve that, then I'll find someone who can."
"I know very well, and my goal as your teacher, Uchiha Sasuke, is to make you into a strong man, who is able to stand up for himself and in time defeat Uchiha Itachi in a fight, and one who can have his day of vengeance for his family, then maybe after that you can find a new path, but that is not today, and time changes us all, my young friend," Ryota said raising the tea up as he gave him a firm look that showed no real emotions. "This room is quiet, away from disturbances, it is as I told you a hidden room. We will train here, and we'll work to make you the great avenger you are set on. I will be a harsh teacher, I will not take any slacking or cutting corners, and I will make this training hard. The question is for you. Sasuke, can you take the training or will it be too harsh for you."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he listened to Ryota. The determination in his gaze didn't waver, even as he absorbed the weight of the Hokage's words. The idea of rigorous, unforgiving training didn't intimidate him—it was exactly what he wanted, what he needed. He was willing to endure anything if it meant he could become strong enough to defeat Itachi.
"I don't care how hard it is," Sasuke replied, his voice cold and resolute. "I'll do whatever it takes to get stronger. If you think you can push me to that level, then I'll take your training. But don't expect me to back down or give up. I won't stop until I've killed Itachi, no matter what."
His words carried a sense of finality, as if nothing else in the world mattered to him except achieving that goal.
"Good, then after this tea, we start, prepare yourself Uchiha Sasuke," Ryota said as he sipped his tea pausing for a moment, "For we shall test just how strong you are and how must strength you must gather to achieve what you wish," Ryota said putting down the tea as he stood up.
Walking away from the table, he stood in the endless void, preparing to spar with the youngster. He knew that if he left for Orochimaru, then there was no chance for the kid. At least if he trained him over time while training him he would have other work, and he would slowly find himself more tempered and focused. Ryota figured by even being in the same village as others who cared about him would be a better net outcome than him working for Orochimaru.
Sasuke watched Ryota closely, finishing his tea in silence. The calm before the storm lingered in the air, each of them knowing that what was about to begin would be grueling. But that was exactly what Sasuke wanted—he needed to be pushed to his limits and beyond.
He stood up, his expression serious and focused. "I'm ready," Sasuke said, his voice steady, betraying no fear or hesitation. This was the first step toward his goal, and he was determined to prove himself worthy of the training Ryota offered.
As he moved into position, his Sharingan activated, the tomoe spinning as he prepared for the upcoming spar. He knew this was more than just training—it was a test, not just of his physical abilities but of his resolve. And Sasuke was determined not to fail.