He begins his small training arc.

[3rd POV]

The wild breeze was his only companion and dark clouds loomed over him. His feet did not make a sound as he walked on the jungle road. His steps were calm and his stride was measured, as if he thinks carefully before he took each steps. 

He wore a black cloak that covers his whole body. Not letting anyone know what weapons he hide under that black fabric nor giving them information about his body - was he muscular, fat, skinny? one could only guess.

His hair would move under the influence of the wind, giving it the illusion of being alive and his strange purple eye that he covered with his bangs would be revealed when that happens.

No expression hung on his face, it was stoic - almost robotic - yet his face was one that carried no flaws, he was handsome.

It has been three days since Sasuke had left the village. Three days since he last saw what he considered now as his home.

During this span of time, Sasuke had gotten himself familiar with the Flying Thunder God.

The space-time ninjutsu was simple enough for him. The only thing required of him was to learn the seal and have basic understanding of fuinjutsu - which was easy because his rinnegan was basically able to comprehend complex codes like seals as if they were ABC.

The true requirements to learn the Flying Thunder God was insane reaction speed, monstrous reflex and godlike spatial awareness. Sasuke had all these in spades and more - He had a very high affinity with space and time due to his rinnegan.

So the only thing he needed to put effort on was learn how to write the seal correctly and learn some basic fuinjutsu.

The fuinjutsu allowed him to mark anything as long as he touches it without having to write down a seal to mark a target.

..

With all these advantages coupled with his genius talent, it took no time at all for him to get the basics down. He could teleport from one place to another quite easily now, but using it during fights was still another thing.

He would have to heavily modify his fighting styles, it would take a long time to do that and even longer time to completely master it, but he was satisfied with the results for now.

It should not be mistaken that since Sasuke was able to learn it easily that other people would be able to do it as well. Sasuke`s reaction speed and his ability to easily comprehend codes like fuinjutsu alone was something only he possessed.

It was almost like the technique was made for him, which was ironic considering it was made with the intention to kill an Uchiha. 

---__---__---__---

Sasuke was already beyond the Fire country and he was wandering in the thick jungles of the Country of Rain. He was searching for something.

He made his way through the thick jungles with abundant moisture in the air. There were many insects and especially mosquitoes seems to thrive around this jungle.

This part of the forest is not disturbed by humans as the thick vegetation made it hard to navigate and because there were rumors that a monster lived in these parts.

Forget normal people even bandits avoided these area.

He walked for few more miles in that thick jungle before he made it to a cave. It was well hidden with the tall trees and hills but Sasuke knew he was in the right place.

..

Sasuke entered the cave and even before he went 10 meters inside, a hissing sound echoed through the cave. 

 *hiss~

It was a chilly sound that would make any normal man freeze on the spot, but Sasuke showed no reaction.

Then out of the deep darkness of the cave, two slit eyes - like that of a snake - opened. The distance between the two eyes was enough to tell anyone that the creature with those eyes was humongous.

The creature hissed again and slowly moved towards Sasuke. His form became visible and it revealed a giant red snake.

Sasuke was still like a statue the whole time, then his right eye briefly turned red. There was a blood red glow for a moment before the huge snake collapsed on the ground with a thud.

Sasuke observed the fallen snake for a bit before walking past it and enter deeper into the cave.

He did not walk for long and the end of the cave soon became visible. But among the stone wall there was a door, a steel door.

Sasuke did not even need to reach the door before it opened up and a figure stepped out. It was someone who played an important role in shaping what he was now as a shinobi. 

"What might bring you all this way here, Sasuke." said the figure, his voice held amusement and friendliness that made Sasuke tense up a bit.

Orochimaru.

The irony, he wanted to laugh at himself. He was sure that he would never need anything from this slimy psychopath again.

Almost 4 years ago he went to him, seeking power. 

Now he came back to him again in search of the same thing.

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[Sasuke`s POV]

Orochimaru did not say another word and he only gestured me to follow him. Beyond the steel door lies a dimly lit corridor that seems to stretch far beyond the eye could see.

There were other doors on the side of the wall which lead to different room and facilities. We walk together in silence before Orochimaru opened one of the doors and went in.

My heartbeat slowed down, and my body was prepared to respond to anything. I cautiously went inside as well.

I went in, the place was like a laboratory, everything a doctor could possibly need was thightly fitted inside. I scanned the room, making sure there are no traps.

Orochimaru sat on a chair and he leaned sideways on a table in a laid back manner. An smile hung on his lips - obviously amused at my vigilance around him.

'That snake...' I knew I was stronger and could possible take on anything he could throw at me. But it was just natural to be vigilant around him - like in the presence of a snake.

He was enjoying how he could still put me so on edge by his mere presence. But he was also careful to not push me in the wrong buttons.

"So, what would be the purpose of your visit? I reckon it`s not because you missed me?" He said in his slimy voice.

This guy has a natural talent for creeping people out. "I require some things from you."  

"Ohh~ and what might that be?" he asked with a glint in his snake like eyes. I could see how his mind works on how he could benefit from the situation. It was me who needed things from him after all.

I gathered my thoughts and waited for some time, then I said what I wanted from him. "All the jutsus that you have, be it ninjutsu, taijutsu, fuinjutsu, kenjutsu or genjutsu."

He tilted his head in wonder, wondering why I would ask for that. He was in for another surprise when I said my next demands. "A new sword, another Kusanagi or something at that level. And finally...."

"The location of Ryuchi cave." I could also try to reverse summon myself if he disagreed but to learn sage mode, I think it was necessary to find it and pass the three trials.

He paused for a while, his brain connecting the dots before he burst into a hysterical laughter. 

"Kukukukukuh...You still haven`t change do you Sasuke." He shook his head, laughter still slipping out of his throat.

I needed power in order to kill before, but now I needed power to protect.

They may be fundamentally different but I needed the same thing in both cases which was power.

So I guess he's right, I haven't changed in that regard.

I am still the power hungry Sasuke.

"Can you do it or not."

He stopped, looking at my eyes he inched forward a bit, "I could, but why should I?"

My lips curved a bit, "Because then, you get to keep your life?" I said or more like asked.

That seems to amuse him greatly. "No one can kill me Sasuke, you should know better."

I do. I was not sure if he would die even if I rip his soul from his body - which I could with the Rinnegan.

But if he did not die, I would just be making an enemy - a very annoying enemy.

It's just not worth it.

"I am one of the most competent shinobi to have ever existed, I possess the legendary Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and the Rinnegan. I`m sure I have something you want, be it information, service etc."

He smiled and meaningfully licked his lips.

Eww.

"I`m sure we can, Sasuke." He literally hiss those words out.

---__---__---__---__

[Sasuke's POV]

We had a talk - which lasted way shorter than I was expecting - before we came to a same agreement. I noticed that Orochimaru was very reserved in his demands, was it because he was trying to be nice or maybe because of our difference in strength? I did not know.

But in the end we came to an agreement that I had no problem with. In exchange for what I needed, he asked me for information about my eyes, he had one mission for me (which I can refuse if I don`t like the mission), and finally my blood.

All of these were okay with me.

Giving information about my eyes, especially the Rinnegan seems unwise but I don`t think it would make much of a difference if he knew about its abilities. I will not tell him about the 7th path or the special ability I acquired with my eyes, but sharing the basic abilities such as the six paths was no problem for me.

Next was the mission, I had no problem with that as long as it does not involve the assassination of innocents.

The third and the thing I was most worried about was giving my blood. I was afraid of him cloning me and other stuff but in the end the thing that made me who I am was never my body.

I did not have insane body like Hashiram and Naruto, what made me special had mostly always been my chakra and genius, which cannot be acquired using my blood. He also already had my blood from when I was under him and I was sure my blood will just be like that of any other Uchiha. So in the end I agreed to give him my blood.

They were very mild requests considering what I asked for but maybe it`s because in a twisted way he considers me his student or maybe he wanted to win my favor. Either way, it had served to benefit me.

We finalised our deal and Orochimaru called someone on a strange device which was on the table.

Only 10 seconds later the door was slammed opened and Karin entered the room. Her heavy breathing indicate that she ran here as fast as she could. 

Her eyes immediately found mine and and they shook - like a fish caught in a net, struggling yet could not move away.

I also looked at her, emotions swirling in the deepest depth of my dark eyes. Memories of the time I spent with her flash in my mind and I can`t help but think.

'I was a jerk.'

But it seems that all the bad things I did to her, she did not hold me responsible because she gave me a sweet smile.

She hid the tears that welled up on her eyes and shyly moved close to me, "Sasuke~'

"Why don`t you tell me you were coming." She said in a tone that could not be further away from hating me.

I did not know how to respond, and before I even I find out how, Orochimaru said, "Show Sasuke the way to the jutsu library."

Karin nodded at Orochimaru`s orders then her eyes widened, she asked with little excitement, "Are you staying Sasuke?"

Both of them looked at me for answer.

I thought about it for a while and decided to stay here in seclusion while I train before going back to Konaha for my arm. "I will stay for some time." I said with a nod.

Karin beamed a smile at me and for some weird reason so does Orochimaru.

Karin then took me to the room where there were many scrolls, she was all smiles when she was around me.

She told me about which part contains genjutsu, ninjutsu etc. and she showed me the different parts of the room.

She really enjoyed being around me but after some time she reluctantly had to leave.

The place was lit brightly by glowing orbs on the wall. Mountains of books were stacked on top of each other and scrolls were neatly arranged in shelves.

It was quiet, I suspected that the walls must be sound proof but I could be wrong and it could just be that it was naturally quiet. I don't think many people lived here, I could only sense around 5 people in the whole base

I looked around at the room and noticed the open space which could be used to try out new jutsus. 

Good.

I took a deep breath, and with a light hearted chuckle, I said...

"Let the training arc begin."

---__---__---__---__---__---__