Sasuke stood before a small mailbox, his eyes flickering with hesitation. He had changed significantly over the past three years, both physically and mentally. Because of this, he had never opened the letter.
Emotions are the shackles of strength.
That was the belief he had clung to. As an avenger, he had to sever all ties with Konoha, discard all distractions, and focus solely on gaining power.
He refused to let the words of his former companions weaken his resolve.
But as he stared at the unopened letter, something inside him wavered.
He had long understood why Orochimaru had taken an interest in him. It wasn't out of goodwill. The Sannin coveted the power of the Uchiha—his eyes.
Not long ago, through whispered conversations among Orochimaru's subordinates, he had learned a cruel truth.
He was not Orochimaru's first choice.
Morkel was.
Sasuke was merely the backup, a second-rate option should Orochimaru fail to obtain Morkel's body.
That realization ignited a deep fury within him.
Every time Orochimaru spoke of Morkel, there was a dangerous gleam in his eyes, a hunger that burned with desire.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
He refused to be someone's second choice.
He despised Morkel for unknowingly overshadowing him.
He swore that one day, he would surpass him.
One day, he would be the strongest.
Determined to rid himself of the past, Sasuke ignited a small flame on his fingertip, ready to burn the letter.
But just as the fire was about to touch the envelope—
A strange sensation coursed through him.
In an instant, the letter disintegrated into tiny pieces.
A shadow loomed over him.
Morkel appeared out of nowhere.
Since Sasuke was half-lying down, Morkel's sudden arrival had him straddling Sasuke's stomach.
Sasuke: …
Morkel: (light and steady)
Then, Morkel noticed something odd beneath him—heat.
Looking down, he saw the flames licking at the corners of his cloak.
"Oops!"
With a swift motion, he extinguished the fire and jumped off Sasuke, landing smoothly on the edge of the bed.
From beginning to end, Sasuke had been frozen in place, staring blankly at Morkel like a fool.
After several seconds, he regained his senses.
His stiff finger pointed at Morkel's face.
"Wha—"
Morkel smiled. "Long time no see, Sasuke."
Sasuke: "...Indeed, it's been a long time."
A bitter twist of fate.
Unbeknownst to Sasuke, Morkel had drawn a Flying Thunder God mark on the letter, a precaution for his own safety.
If he had known this earlier, he would have destroyed the letter immediately.
Now, faced with Morkel, how could he talk about cutting off connections?
Morkel's expression turned serious. "Why haven't you sent any news to the village in all these years?"
Sasuke lowered his gaze, silent.
After a moment, his eyes hardened, the same determination as when he had first left Konoha.
"Because I was determined to sever all ties with Konoha. With you."
He looked straight at Morkel.
"I told you before—I am an avenger. Our paths are different."
Morkel studied him, as if looking at a stubborn child.
This again?
He smirked. "I usually use Flying Thunder God when I travel, so any route works for me."
Sasuke frowned. "You don't understand."
"I do."
Morkel's expression darkened as he watched Sasuke slowly reach for the hilt of his sword.
"In order to become stronger… for revenge… there is nothing I wouldn't do."
His voice turned cold, like ice scraping against metal.
"If killing you and Naruto is the only way to solidify my resolve, then so be it."
Morkel lifted his hand.
Smack!
A powerful slap landed on Sasuke's face.
The force sent him flying.
Yet even in midair, Sasuke drew his sword and slashed at Morkel.
Fierce. Relentless. Deadly.
Morkel didn't flinch.
"Expansion Jutsu."
Bang!
Morkel's left leg expanded instantly, launching a devastating kick that sent Sasuke crashing into the wall.
He walked toward him.
"What did you say?"
A bright red palm print marked Sasuke's face, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. But his eyes held defiance.
"I said… if killing you and Naruto makes my revenge stronger… I will do it!"
Morkel exhaled.
"Then I have no choice but to strike first."
He kicked the wall—
Boom!
Sasuke was sent crashing into the corridor outside.
The commotion alerted the guards in Orochimaru's base.
Morkel formed two Wooden Golem clones.
The guards didn't stand a chance.
Morkel turned back to Sasuke.
Time to teach him a lesson.
Meanwhile, in Orochimaru's Laboratory…
Orochimaru and Kabuto were in the middle of a secret experiment.
The Sannin grinned, shaking a test tube.
"Just a little more… and the experiment will succeed."
This formula would inhibit Morkel's power.
If successful, capturing him during the next Living Corpse Reincarnation would be easy.
Then—boom!
The ceiling trembled.
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
"What is that brat doing up there?"
Kabuto hesitated. "Lord Orochimaru… I should tell you something."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Sasuke… knows you plan to take his body. He's been looking for ways to kill you."
Orochimaru chuckled.
"As expected. But as long as he stays under my watch, he's no threat."
Just then—
Crash!
The ceiling collapsed.
Dust settled, revealing Morkel.
He held Sasuke's swollen face against the ground, pinning him.
Orochimaru: (Shocked.)
Kabuto: (Terrified.)
Morkel grinned.
"Oh, I didn't expect to see you so soon."
Orochimaru reacted instantly.
"Shadow Snake Hand!"
A mass of snakes lunged at Morkel.
He countered effortlessly.
"Ice Shield."
The shield materialized, blocking the attack.
Kabuto threw kunai—then turned and ran.
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
"Don't leave me behind, Kabuto!!"
Morkel smirked.
"You're not getting away."
"Quagmire Technique."
The ground transformed into deep mud, trapping Orochimaru and Kabuto.
Then—
"Thunder Field!"
Electricity surged through the swamp.
Orochimaru screamed.
Yet, with a grotesque slithering sound, he shed his paralyzed body—reborn.
Morkel: …Seriously?
Orochimaru bit his finger.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom!
A massive, purple-scaled snake emerged.
"Orochimaru, you dare summon me without a hundred sacrifices?"
Morkel raised a hand.
A massive Chakra Scalpel formed, slicing through the snake's tail.
It screeched in agony.
Orochimaru fled.
The snake panicked.
"Wait! I'll make a deal! I'll be your summoning beast instead!"
Morkel smirked.
"Deal."
He placed a hand on the snake's head, forming a new contract.
Orochimaru was abandoned.
The snake trembled under Morkel's oppressive presence.
"You're my summon now. No eating humans."
The snake gulped.
"…Understood."
Morkel grinned.
"Good. Next time, I'll visit Ryūchi Cave myself."
And with that, the battle ended.