Chakra Fluctuations, a mixture of life's vitality and Natural Energy, enveloped Setsuna's soul like a warm tide.
Setsuna's spiritual body floated above a forest. Sensing the familiar and dearly familiar atmosphere of this world, long absent, he nodded with satisfaction.
His physical body had been destroyed, losing its 'anchor' connection to this world.
But unexpectedly, his experiences in the Bleach World had made his soul strength ten times, a hundred times stronger than when he first entered that world.
A soul of this strength, needing no physical body as a 'beacon', relying solely on the soul's 'weight', had allowed him to pinpoint the Naruto World once again.
The joy of return slightly subsided, and a real and pressing question rose in his mind… revival.
"Rinne Tensei Technique? No." Setsuna immediately dismissed this seemingly most direct means of revival in the Ninja World.
"My current strength is too great. Even if the Sage of Six Paths personally performed Rinne Tensei Technique, it might not truly revive me."
Therefore, he had to consider a more reasonable and customized revival plan.
"Reincarnation is an idea, but the risk is uncontrollable, and the growth period is too long."
"The best method is to actively create a perfect container, enough to bear all my power, and with even greater potential."
Setsuna had already formed a general idea back in the Bleach World:
"Go to the Dragon Ball World, find Dr. Gero, and have him tailor-make a Strongest Embryo for me, fusing all excellent genes and potential, like nurturing Cell."
This was his original plan, but at the last moment, he found he could pinpoint the Naruto World again, so he temporarily changed his itinerary.
He wanted to retrieve the [God Tree] from the Naruto World before initiating the [Strongest Embryo] plan.
The fighters of the Dragon Ball World possess world-destroying combat power, but in terms of lifespan, aside from a few races or special individuals, most are not particularly long.
"If I can incorporate the [Chakra Fruit] into my custom-made Strongest Embryo..."
"Then, the reborn me will simultaneously possess the terrifying combat potential of the Dragon Ball System, and the nearly eternal source of life granted by the Chakra Fruit!"
Having set his long-term goal, Setsuna began to drift towards the direction of Konoha Village as he remembered it.
At the same time, he silently perceived the mystery of his own soul.
'The Eighth Sense - Arayashiki is truly powerful.' Setsuna marveled inwardly. 'I can clearly perceive the attraction and call of this world's [Pure Land] for me, but I am completely unaffected.'
'Even outside an environment like Soul Society or Hell, which is rich in Reishi, I can endure for a long time. There's no need to worry about the Six Paths exerting influence on me through the Pure Land.'
However, when Setsuna flew over Konoha Village and saw clearly the battle happening below...
The calm expression of everything being under control on his face was instantly replaced by thick bewilderment and confusion.
Below, on Konoha's river, a fierce battle was underway.
On one side were Kakashi, Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai. On the other side were Itachi and Kisame.
'This familiar combination, this classic scene... wasn't this the first encounter between Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame infiltrating Konoha Village and Kakashi and the others, as depicted in the original work?'
Setsuna was completely stunned.
'Where did All-World Pearl drop me? Is this still my original Konoha?'
An absurd thought crossed his mind: 'Could the 'corrective force' of the world's will be so twisted that it forcibly bent the plot, which I had changed beyond recognition, back onto the right track?'
But immediately, a more reasonable explanation emerged: 'No, this should be a parallel space-time.'
'Because I 'died', losing the 'physical anchor' to the original Naruto World, so, in fact, I still haven't returned to the original world.'
Having figured this out, Setsuna couldn't help sighing inwardly, his emotions somewhat complex.
'In that world, I painstakingly corrected the error-ridden, tragedy-filled Ninja World, little by little, guiding it towards a better direction...'
'And as a result, with my death, it's back to the starting point? Or the starting point of another parallel world?'
But upon second thought, Setsuna's mindset quickly adjusted, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes: 'However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Two worlds means double the resources.'
'In my original world, I already stole Jigen's Ten-Tails and became an incomplete Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.'
'Unfortunately, in the final battle of the Saint Seiya World, the Ten-Tails was destroyed along with my physical body.'
'But in this parallel world, I can steal from Jigen again!' Thinking of the pitiful Jigen, Setsuna couldn't help but smile.
'Not only that, last time, due to insufficient strength, I couldn't control my power and directly killed Jigen, causing the Ten-Tails to lose its growth catalyst.'
'But this time, I can completely capture Jigen alive and feed him to the Ten-Tails, letting the Ten-Tails truly mature and evolve.'
Setsuna paid no attention to the battle below, which had already ended. He continued thinking:
'No matter what, I currently have no body. Even though my current strength is more than ten times, a hundred times greater than when I fought Jigen back then...'
'But to ensure the capture of an Otsutsuki, skilled in Space-Time Ninjutsu and with extremely strong survival abilities, so that he can't even escape, relying solely on a spiritual body might still carry some risk.'
'Therefore, I need a qualified temporary container. Moreover, according to the transmigration rules, I need to stay in this world for at least one year.'
'I can't just wait around doing nothing for this year. Why not use this time to do something interesting, like nurturing a disciple?'
He was too lazy to remake the Ninja World again, but planting an interesting seed in this seemingly right but actually wrong world would be a not bad attempt.
As for the disciple candidate... Setsuna directed his gaze towards the corridor of an inn on the outskirts of Konoha.
While he was thinking, Itachi had already shaken off his pursuers and met Sasuke.
Sasuke was slammed heavily against the wall, grunting, with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
He struggled to get up, the hatred in his crimson Two-Tomoe Sharingan burning as if it would incinerate his very soul.
"Uchiha Itachi, I'll kill..."
But before he could finish, Itachi punched him in the stomach, and he collapsed on the ground.
Itachi's expression was emotionless, but inwardly, he was puzzled: 'I've humiliated Sasuke like this, given him pressure. Why is his Sharingan still only two tomoes?'
'Is it because the pain and hatred I've given him aren't thorough enough?' Itachi sighed inwardly. He believed he needed to use stronger medicine.
"You are too weak." Itachi's voice was cold. "Too weak to be worth killing. I left you alive just to test my own capacity, and... to appreciate how far this powerless hatred of yours can take you."
"Ahhhh!" Sasuke let out a beast-like roar, charging forward recklessly again, the kunai in his hand gleaming coldly.
Itachi easily sidestepped and kicked him away again.
"Tsukuyomi."
The pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan suddenly rotated in Itachi's eyes. An invisible Spiritual Energy instantly enveloped the fallen Sasuke.