Konoha: Gu Master

Land of Rice Fields, an Izakaya.

Uchiha Sasuke sat across from Hatake Kakashi, observing him curiously.

He had wondered how Kakashi, with his ever-present mask, would drink or eat during missions. Yet Kakashi remained motionless, not moving at all.

"Sensei," Sasuke asked with a puzzled tone, "why are we in an izakaya?"

Sasuke didn't drink, and neither did Kakashi. Were they here just to rest? That seemed like a waste of time.

Kakashi didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gestured with his finger twice to his left.

Sasuke followed his gaze and noticed a young woman with orange hair. She was one of the servers at the izakaya.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly.

She was a ninja.

A ninja working in a tavern? Now that was suspicious.

"Before Otogakure was established, the Land of Rice Fields had no ninja villages, but it did have ninja clans," Kakashi said in a low voice. "The most prominent of them was the Fūma Clan."

"She's from the Fūma Clan?" Sasuke asked as he pieced things together.

"Her name is Fūma Sasame," Kakashi said after a pause. "After the establishment of Otogakure, the Fūma Clan aligned themselves with Orochimaru."

"What's the plan?" Sasuke asked. "Should I use the Sharingan?"

"Play along, and keep eating," Kakashi replied, raising his hand to call the server. "Check, please."

"Coming!" Sasame quickly ran over and glanced at the table. "That'll be 430 ryō."

"Let's move, we need to rush to Otagakure," Kakashi said after paying, nudging Sasuke to follow.

"My apologies," Sasuke said, setting down his chopsticks as he followed Kakashi out of the izakaya.

Sasame stood in place, her eyes glinting.

Ten minutes later, Kakashi and Sasuke reached the outskirts of the city.

As they passed through a small forest, the sound of wind rustling through leaves grew louder.

Sasuke turned unhurriedly to face the source, spotting three kunai hurtling toward him.

The one who threw the kunai was none other than Fūma Sasame. This time, she wore a mask, revealing only her eyes.

Sasuke sidestepped swiftly, evading the kunai and appearing directly in front of Sasame.

"You…" Sasame froze momentarily, startled, and instinctively stepped back.

Scarlet light flickered in Sasuke's eyes.

Sasame's expression dulled, her gaze becoming vacant.

"Why did you attack us?" Sasuke asked calmly.

"My cousin, Fūma Arashi, was lured into Otogakure by Orochimaru and hasn't returned. I want to know his whereabouts," Sasame answered in a monotone voice.

"She mistook us for Otogakure ninjas," Kakashi murmured thoughtfully. "What about the other Fūma Clan members?"

"Kagero, Kamikiri, and Jigumo don't trust me. They only believe in Orochimaru, thinking he can restore the Fūma Clan's glory," Sasame continued. "Their mission is to attack any outsiders who enter Otogakure."

"Good," Kakashi nodded. "Take us to them."

"Understood," Sasame said, turning to lead the way.

…

Under Sasame's guidance, Kakashi and Sasuke arrived at a secluded valley. 

Scattered buildings dotted the area.

"How far is Otogakure from here?" Kakashi asked, scanning the surroundings.

"Just over that mountain," Sasame replied, pointing to a nearby peak.

"With Otogakure so close, a fight here will surely alert them," Kakashi said, his tone growing serious. "Sasuke, get ready for battle, but focus on dragging it out."

"Understood," Sasuke replied with a nod. In other words, he shouldn't end the fight too quickly.

Kakashi glanced over his shoulder, waiting briefly before receiving a signal from the Anbu unit.

"Sasame, call the others here," Kakashi instructed, looking toward the valley buildings.

"Yes," Sasame said, walking into the structures.

Shortly after, the sound of footsteps echoed. Kakashi and Sasuke found themselves surrounded by three ninjas—the remaining jōnin of the Fūma Clan.

Fūma Kagero, Fūma Kamikiri, and Fūma Jigumo.

"You're not from Otogakure. You're from Konoha," Kamikiri said, his gaze landing on the headbands of Kakashi and Sasuke.

"Sasame not recognizing the headbands is understandable," Kagero said in a gruff voice.

"Konoha ninjas are even better!" Jigumo exclaimed with excitement. "Handing them over to Lord Orochimaru will surely bring us great rewards!"

"Let's begin," Sasuke said flatly.

"Arrogant brat! I'll kill you first!" Jigumo shouted, forming hand seals before spitting out a white substance that expanded into a massive spider web.

Sasuke suddenly thought of Kidōmaru.

There was a flash of white light.

With a single swing of his sword infused with Lightning Chakra, Sasuke sliced the spider web into four pieces.

"What?!" Jigumo exclaimed, startled.

"Attack together!" Kamikiri shouted, leaping into the air. He swung a large pair of scissors at Sasuke, aiming to decapitate him.

Meanwhile, Kagero completed a series of hand seals. The ground beneath him erupted, forming a barrage of rock spears that shot toward Kakashi and Sasuke.

An intense battle erupted.

…

Otogakure, underground base.

Orochimaru sat on a chair, deep in thought.

For years, he had been searching for a way to restore his hands. Eventually, he narrowed his focus to the Reaper Death Seal.

After extensive research, he devised a method to undo it.

The process involved three steps:

The first step was to go to the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Temple to retrieve the mask of the Shinigami.

The second step was to Summon the Shinigami and have it possess the user before committing seppuku to release the souls trapped within its belly.

The third step was to perform Living Corpse Reincarnation right before his death to circumvent the otherwise fatal outcome of the Reaper Death Seal.

The issue was that Orochimaru hadn't found a satisfactory vessel.

The cooldown for Living Corpse Reincarnation was three years, too short a period to avoid damaging the soul.

In the original storyline, Orochimaru had used Living Corpse Reincarnation out of desperation due to losing the use of his hands, which prevented him from making Uchiha Sasuke his vessel immediately after the latter's defection. Instead, he trained Sasuke for three years.

Now, however, Sasuke hadn't defected, and the three-year mark was nearing.

Orochimaru could feel his body rejecting him.

His current vessel, hastily secured by Kabuto, wasn't a perfect match for his soul. Thus, rejection had occurred after only three years.

Orochimaru's ideal vessels were Uchiha Sasuke and Shinho Aburame.

But both were difficult to obtain.

Unless… another Konoha Crush Plan could be executed.

Orochimaru sighed.

Although he had refined the Impure World Reincarnation, it still couldn't restore the full strength of those resurrected.

This limitation had been evident when the previous reincarnations of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju couldn't fully overpower Hiruzen Sarutobi, despite Orochimaru's support.

With Hiruzen Sarutobi now dead, Konoha's leadership had shifted to Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the newly appointed Hokage, Shinho Aburame.

Orochimaru had heard of Shinho's exploits, defeating the likes of Raiga Kurosuki and Moryo.

Having fought Shinho himself, Orochimaru knew firsthand the incredible strength he wielded, it was no less formidable than Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.

In short, this time the situation was far more dire than during the Chūnin Exams.

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

"Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto Yakushi entered, adjusting his glasses. "I've just received news—the Fūma Clan has encountered Uchiha Sasuke."

"What?!" Orochimaru instinctively stood up.

"Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Sasuke were passing through the Land of Rice Fields and stopped at an izakaya. There, they were spotted by Fūma Sasame," Kabuto said, "She deceived them into following her to the Fūma Clan's stronghold."

"Hehehe."

Orochimaru's lips curved into a dangerous smile, a low chuckle escaping him.

Was the world helping him after all these years?

"Could it be a trap?" Kabuto asked after a brief pause.

"Even if it is, what of it?" Orochimaru licked his lips. "I must have Sasuke!"

"I'll send Guren, Jūgo, and Suigetsu to support the Fūma Clan," Kabuto said; he knew Orochimaru's obsession full well and refraining from making further objections.

"They won't be enough. I'll go myself," Orochimaru said, shaking his head.

Orochimaru's most capable subordinates, the Sound Four led by Kimimaro, had been captured during the Chūnin Exams and were now missing or dead.

Though Guren's Crystal Release and Jūgo's Cursed Seal transformations made them powerful, their combined strength was unlikely to suffice against Kakashi and Sasuke. 

As for Suigetsu, his abilities were limited.

No matter how he looked at it, they wouldn't be able to capture Sasuke alive.

"To be safe, prepare the Edo Tensei," Orochimaru said with a sinister grin. "I'll have to trouble the two Hokage again."

He couldn't afford to lose this time.

"Understood," Kabuto replied with a nod.

Moments later, Guren, Jūgo, and Suigetsu gathered.

"You have only one purpose, to capture Sasuke alive," Orochimaru instructed them before heading out himself.

"Sasuke?" Garen had a look of reluctance in her face.

After Kimimaro, she was supposed to be Orochimaru's next vessel. She had lived her whole life trying to be of use to Orochimaru, and was content that she could serve her life's purpose, but now Saske had came along and had thwarted her dream.

But still, she would do her utmost.

"Shinobi of Konoha" Jugo gritted through his teeth. 

He was enraged. Kimimaru was his most important friend, even his spiritual support, and yet…

Suigetsu was the only one who was calm among the group, he was originally from Kirigakure and had became Orochimar's test subject.

In order to survive, he had became loyal to Orochimaru.

They followed Orochimaru.

…

Fūma Clan Stronghold.

Shinho stood silently atop a mountain, observing the battle in the valley below.

His primary thought was how much of a struggle Kakashi and Sasuke were facing.

The pair was cautiously locked in a difficult fight holding back their strength against the three jōnin of the Fūma Clan, all without activating their Sharingan.

Shinho even worried they might accidentally kill their opponents.

"Kakashi never fails to impress," Might Guy remarked enthusiastically, occasionally offering commentary.

Meanwhile, Tsunade had her eyes closed, using sensory techniques.

A few minutes later, her brow furrowed slightly.

"Orochimaru is coming, along with three of his subordinates," Tsunade said.

"Finally," Shinho murmured, then asked, "Is Kabuto with them?"

"No," Tsunade replied. 

She had encountered Kabuto before and recognized his chakra. The three subordinates this time had unfamiliar chakra signatures.

"He's likely preparing Edo Tensei," Shinho speculated.

"I won't let him get away this time!" Tsunade said, her expression taking on a cold sheen.

Orochimaru's previous use of Edo Tensei to summon Hashirama and Tobirama Senju had already pushed her to her limits. 

If he attempted it again, the consequences would be dire.

"Kabuto and Edo Tensei will be your responsibility. Don't kill Kabuto though, he's useful," Shinho advised after some thought. "As for Orochimaru, leave him to Team 7."

"Fine," Tsunade agreed after a brief hesitation. "We'll finish quickly and come to assist."

"No need to rush. Safety first," Shinho replied, meeting her gaze. "If he really summons those two, you'll be in greater danger than us."

Their eyes locked for a moment before Tsunade smiled faintly. "Then I'll let them see the gift you gave me."

Shinho was momentarily dazed.

He knew Tsunade was referring to the Wood Charm Gu, but her phrasing carried a peculiar undertone; almost as if she was going introducing him to her family.

He nodded.

With Tsunade and Might Guy's strength, even if they couldn't defeat Hashirama and Tobirama, they could at least hold them off. 

Shinho would then join after dealing with Orochimaru.

Besides, it wasn't certain that Hashirama and Tobirama could be summoned.

In the original timeline, their souls had been sealed by Hiruzen's Reaper Death Seal.

However, Shinho couldn't discount the possibility of a butterfly effect altering the situation.

A minute later, four figures descended from the sky.

"It's Orochimaru-sama!" Fūma Jigumo exclaimed in delight.

"You're finished!" Kamikiri retreated confidently, certain of victory.

The battle paused.

Kakashi and Sasuke remained calm as they looked at Orochimaru.

"Just the two of you?" Orochimaru asked, licking his lips, his expression unperturbed.

He knew the capabilities of the three Fūma Clan jōnin, as well as those of Kakashi and Sasuke.

The fact that the Fūma trio had lasted this long without injury was suspicious.

Most notably, neither Kakashi nor Sasuke had used their Sharingan.

"Orochimaru, it's been a while," a voice called out.

A gust of wind blew past, and Shinho appeared before Orochimaru.

"It's you!" Orochimaru's voice trembled with excitement.

Though Shinho had changed significantly, Orochimaru recognized him instantly.

So it was a trap!

But Orochimaru didn't care, he was happy to have stepped on it.

Shinho and Sasuke were nearly untouchable within Konoha, but here in Otogakure, the odds were far more favorable toward him.

"Looks like my luck has turned," Orochimaru said, his smile widening into a grin.

"Luck?" Shinho raised his hand.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, growing wary.

Though confident, he knew Shinho's strength was nothing to underestimate.

"Arrogant bastard!" Guren, as Orochimaru's fangirl, couldn't contain her anger. "Who do you think you are?!"

She stepped forward abruptly, a crystalline blade forming on her arm as she swung it at Shinho.