Naruto: Binding Uchiha Sasuke, Hundredfold Return

At Ichiraku Ramen:

"Two of your biggest bowls of seafood ramen!"

"Alright! Two of the biggest seafood ramen… Oh! Naruto, it's been a while!"

"Long time no see, Uncle Teuchi! Hehe!"

"Naruto-kun! It's been a while!"

Hearing Naruto's voice, Ayame came out to greet him. Influenced by her father, she was one of the few villagers who didn't harbor resentment toward Naruto.

"Long time no see, Ayame!" Naruto replied with a grin.

"Where have you been this past year?" Ayame asked, preparing the noodles as she chatted with him.

"I've been training!" Naruto threw a thumb over his shoulder toward the man beside him. "This is my teacher, the Pervy Sage!"

"Pervy Sage?" Teuchi and Ayame exchanged puzzled glances, making Jiraiya wince in embarrassment.

"Haha! He's joking! You brat, stop spouting nonsense!" Jiraiya quickly clamped his hand over Naruto's mouth to prevent him from further damaging his reputation.

Fortunately, Teuchi didn't seem bothered and soon realized who Jiraiya was.

"Aren't you Lord Jiraiya? You're back in Konoha!"

"Haha, yes, that's right."

"Naruto, you have quite the mentor!"

Naruto didn't argue with that. Despite his eccentricities, the Pervy Sage's strength was undeniable. They continued to enjoy their ramen, happily chatting with Teuchi and Ayame. Teuchi praised Jiraiya's contributions to Konoha, confident that Naruto's training with Jiraiya would make him an outstanding ninja.

After finishing their ramen, the two strolled through Konoha's lively streets. Even at night, the village was bustling with activity—shops were crowded, and laughter filled the air.

"Konoha sure has changed!" Naruto remarked, hands behind his head, smiling brightly.

"Yes, in the past, Konoha would be quiet by this hour," Jiraiya replied, admiring the lively atmosphere.

As they continued walking, Naruto spotted familiar faces. "Hey, Chōji, Shikamaru, Ino! Long time no see!"

"Naruto?!"

"When did you get back?"

"It's been a while!"

Naruto greeted his friends enthusiastically, and Jiraiya watched, arms crossed, feeling genuinely happy to see Naruto surrounded by comrades. But then, Jiraiya's expression changed as he felt an unsettling sensation. His gaze scanned the crowd, eventually landing on a young man.

The boy wore a blue robe and had long hair, but his skin was unnaturally pale—so white it seemed freshly painted. His eyes, single-lidded with golden pupils, gleamed with a serpentine intensity.

The young man sensed Jiraiya's gaze and turned to meet it. For a tense moment, they locked eyes, and Jiraiya felt his muscles tighten as recognition dawned.

It's him. There's no mistake—Orochimaru!

But why was he here? Could he be planning another attack on Konoha?

Dozens of thoughts raced through Jiraiya's mind, his heart filled with unease. This Konoha, his ideal Konoha, couldn't be allowed to come under threat. Though he no longer officially belonged to Konoha, he still felt the duty to protect it.

Orochimaru seemed amused by Jiraiya's tense stance, his lips curving into a smirk as he walked into the crowd. Without hesitation, Jiraiya followed, barely giving Naruto a chance to notice his absence.

"Huh? Where did Pervy Sage go?"

…

Orochimaru wove through the crowd, making sudden turns until he disappeared into a secluded alley. Jiraiya hesitated at the entrance before stepping in, only to find the alley empty and silent.

"Did he escape?" he muttered, disappointed.

"Looking for me, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya whirled around to find Orochimaru standing there, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Orochimaru?"

"After all this time, you can't even recognize me?" Orochimaru chuckled.

"What are you doing here? Are you planning to harm Konoha again?" Jiraiya asked, immediately on guard.

Orochimaru looked slightly disappointed, shaking his head.

"The world has changed, Jiraiya. Today, Konoha and I share a... cooperative relationship."

"Cooperation? You're an S-rank rogue ninja. Why would Konoha cooperate with you?" Jiraiya's disbelief was evident, but Orochimaru's next words made him pause.

"There are no permanent enemies in this world, only conflicting interests. If I bring benefits to Konoha, and Konoha returns the favor, why shouldn't we cooperate?"

Seeing Jiraiya's skepticism, Orochimaru continued, amused.

"Besides, just look at me—no one even recognizes me as Orochimaru."

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "Is this body… not just a Transformation Technique?"

"Want to check for yourself?" Orochimaru spread his arms, as if inviting Jiraiya closer.

But Jiraiya wasn't about to trust him.

"You stole this life for your own gain. This twisted pursuit of immortality will bring you ruin!" he said sternly.

Orochimaru scoffed, his smile faintly mocking.

"How naive, Jiraiya. This world is cruel, no life is truly ours to control. If they were fated to die, why not let their deaths serve my eternal life?"

"Immortality? You've achieved it?" Jiraiya's shock was palpable.

"Yes, Jiraiya," Orochimaru laughed, savoring his horror. "Two years ago, I revealed my success to Sarutobi. The look in his eyes was just like yours—shocked and terrified. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Orochimaru, you've lost yourself to madness," Jiraiya said coldly.

Orochimaru had a serene smile.

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg