Nebula's Echo (a Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter 49

Ceiren POV

I let the sharingan recede from Sasuke's eyes as I slowly sidestepped a thick tree. These trees were unnatural and thick, overflowing with chakra. Wood style, I noted dully. I absently realized what that implies; the First Hokage. I was suddenly a tiny bit embarrassed, feeling the slight heat on Sasuke's cheeks as I realized I had completely forgotten about Orochi's reanimation jutsus. Honestly, very interesting things. Allows you to converse with people from times long past. I felt excitement sparkle in my eyes at the thought, my eyes raking over the area searching for Orochi with more enthusiasm.

In our head, Sasuke was surprisingly quiet. I thought he'd make a lot more trouble as I'd not only stolen his thunder and blocked his view but also pronounced that he'd be the snake-creeps student. Somehow, I think it was the last bit that made him quiet down. Honestly, I should have known Sasuke wouldn't mind. He was powercrazy, and wouldn't be picky with who he'd get said power from, or how. And Orochi wasn't in any sense weak, so it was understandable. Should have also been predictable, considering Sasuke actually also joined Orochi canonically. Though if memory serves me right, not quite this early on.

I was broken out of my musings by a sudden deep chill in the air, a chill that managed to raise even the hairs on my neck. Eyebrows furrowing, I followed sudden voices, apprehension tugging at the corner of my mind. Then I saw them.

Orochimaru and the Third Hokage were standing close together. Orochimaru was pale and cursing the Third out, while the Third was in his armor, a glowing blue blade piercing right through him, sweat running down his face as he focused. They hadn't noticed me yet.

Narrowing my eyes at them, a burning purple flashing past the dark onyx of Sasuke's eyes, I opened the link to Sasuke, allowing him to see through our eyes again. He didn't curse me out nor make a fuss, only haughtily asked,

Finally. What is going on here, Ren?

I wasn't sure. The chill didn't want to leave me alone, so I stepped forward. Sarutobi noticed me first, and his face paled.

"Sasuke? What are you doing here, leave, NOW!"

I completely disregarded the old man, derision not entering my eyes only because he had actually been a rather sweet one to me, back when I was my own person in the leaf village. So I just gave the worrying to death man an encouraging smile and stepped even closer, casting a glance at Orochi to point out to Sasuke his new sensei. By this point Orochi had noticed me too, and his eyes lit up in greed, before he grunted in pain, immediately ripped from his momentary distraction by some injury?

As I was getting confused, I suddenly felt that chill grow stronger. And suddenly, I had an epiphany. Looking up, I felt my purple shining slightly through Sasuke's onyx, and then I finally saw it. The spirit. It looked like an asura, a demon dressed fully in white. It had a spirit sword raised high in one hand, ready to chop. The other hand was stabbed through the Third Hokage's chest, and was grabbing and pulling something from Orochimaru. My eyes widened minutely when I realized what was going on.

It's grabbing his soul. That should be a summoned Shinigami, a God of Death.

Sasuke remained silent after hearing me, mulling over the situation in front of his eyes.