https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-123-S-Rank-Mission-Retrieve-Uchiha-Sasuke/12553350/
Chapter 124: The Kaleidoscope Sharingan?
Chapter 124: The Kaleidoscope Sharingan?
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two dark figures sped swiftly through the forest, leaving only fleeting shadows in their wake.
While the plan was to stir up a hornet's nest, it didn't mean that they had to wait for Uiwaku Gengetsu and Sasuke to trek endlessly through the heart of the Land of Fire on their quest for senjutsu.
Senjutsu, or the manipulation of natural energy, was most famously practiced by the three great holy lands in the ninja world.
Aside from them, there were also a few individuals or forces who, by chance, had acquired the ability to utilize natural energy.
Jugo and the monks of the Fire Temple with their innate talent for senjutsu were examples of this.
The next stop on Uiwaku Gengetsu's journey was a place where people had also mastered the use of natural energy and had even developed incredibly powerful jutsu. Konoha had deemed these techniques forbidden and prohibited their practitioners from spreading their knowledge.
Konoha had even gone as far as to forge an alliance with them, promising to send aid should their clan ever come under attack.
"I hope this trip bears fruit," Uiwaku Gengetsu said, gazing up at the towering mountain that loomed at the end of his line of sight.
This trip had multiple purposes: to divert Konoha's attention and prevent them from discovering the secrets of Lock Front Village, to gain a deeper understanding of the Kaleidoscope Sharingan and faster decipher the Yin-attribute chakra, and also to find a solution to the problems encountered in the development of senjutsu.
While the Senju Clan's talent was named after the word "sage," it did not refer to the Sage Mode.
Although he had gained some inspiration from them, it was far from sufficient.
Now, his gaze was fixed on Mount Kazuraki in the distance.
Uiwaku Gengetsu quickened his pace, rushing towards the mountain. Sasuke followed silently behind him.
Fire Temple.
When Kakashi led Team 7 and Team 8 from Konoha to this place without rest, the first thing that greeted them was the sight of the famed sealing iron wall, once known throughout the ninja world for impeding many intruders, now reduced to ruins.
As Asuma's girlfriend, Kurenai Yuhi, who had often heard about the Land of Earth and the Fire Temple from him, fully understood the might of the sealing iron wall.
Looking at the scene before her, she solemnly reminded the group, "The person beside Sasuke who was able to break through the sealing iron wall head-on is not to be underestimated."
No one would suspect Sasuke of being responsible.
He had only left the village less than a year ago, and it was impossible for his strength to have grown so rapidly.
"An Uchiha, then," Kakashi thought to himself as he nodded in agreement. Leading the group into the Fire Temple, they were guided by a monk to meet the head monk, Chiriku.
Aside from appearing somewhat dispirited, Chiriku seemed physically unharmed as he greeted them with his hands clasped in front of him.
Kakashi and the other veteran jonin of Konoha were familiar to Chiriku.
Without wasting time on pleasantries, Chiriku spoke up, "I had expected Asuma to be leading the team this time."
Kakashi, understanding the relationship between Asuma and Chiriku and knowing that Asuma had usually led missions to the Fire Temple in the past, didn't take offense.
"Asuma's team is on another mission and won't be back for a while. Due to the information about the Sharingan ninja, I'm leading the team on this occasion," Kakashi explained.
"So, Chiriku, can you confirm that the person accompanying Sasuke is indeed an Uchiha, as the intelligence suggested?" Kakashi asked gravely.
Hearing this, Chiriku's mind flashed back to the moment he had locked eyes with the masked man. He nodded firmly and said, "I witnessed it with my own eyes. There's no doubt that his eyes were the Sharingan. With my training in the Senju Clan's talent, I can resist most genjutsu. But when facing that man, I'm ashamed to say that in just an instant, I fell under his genjutsu and couldn't break free even after he left."
Even a strong warrior like Chiriku had been unable to put up any resistance?
Kakashi turned to the master of illusions beside him, Kurenai Yuhi.
Understanding Kakashi's unspoken question, Kurenai shook her head slightly to indicate that even she couldn't accomplish such a task.
"A powerful Uchiha illusionist? Someone like Itachi? Or perhaps a Mangekyou Sharingan user?"
Kakashi's mind raced with possibilities.
If it were the latter, then things were about to get very complicated.
Recalling the outcome of his battle with Itachi Uchiwa, Kakashi's heart sank slightly.
He then proceeded to inquire with Dilu about the physical characteristics of the Uchiha clan members.
Dilu shook his head, explaining that the man had always worn a white spiral mask, making it difficult to identify him beyond the fact that he was likely an adult male.
However, thanks to the monks they had encountered, who eagerly described their previous encounters with Sasuke, Kakashi and his team now had a very clear understanding of Sasuke's abilities.
"A three-tomoe Sharingan, lightning-attribute chakra control, and the Chidori ninjutsu. You've made remarkable progress in a short time, Sasuke."
Kakashi's feelings were complicated as he acknowledged Sasuke's growth.
Suddenly, he found himself empathizing with Sasuke's actions.
"As expected of your disciple, Kakashi!" Gai, standing beside him, patted Kakashi's shoulder in consolation.
Kakashi felt helpless. "Gai, you didn't have to say that out loud."
Although he knew Gai meant well, Kakashi felt that he couldn't take the compliment.
"A three-tomoe Sharingan user would be difficult to handle without the help of another jonin." Shino finally spoke up, pushing his sunglasses up as he scanned the surroundings, only to find that no one had responded to his statement.
"It's like this again."
Shino quietly lowered his head, retreating into his shell.
While no one had immediately responded to Shino, what he said was true.
Kiba, however, scoffed and boasted that he alone could take Sasuke down.
As jonin who had witnessed the power of Uchiha ninjas in battle, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai were all too aware of the threat posed by a three-tomoe Sharingan user.
"Looks like we'll have to change our battle strategy," Kakashi declared.
The original plan had been for the three jonin to take on the masked Uchiha while the rest of the team handled Sasuke.
However, Sasuke's abilities far exceeded their expectations.
Now, it was imperative to assign a jonin to Sasuke to ensure the mission's success.
Gai readily agreed to follow Kakashi's lead, and Kurenai had no objections.
Thus, after quickly revising their battle plan, Kakashi and his team bid Dilu farewell and set off in the direction that Sasuke and Uiwaku Gengetsu had taken.
"Byakugan!"
Hinata activated her Byakugan, swiftly searching for any traces or clues within a one-kilometer radius.
"Hinata."
Neji, seeing the unprecedented seriousness in Hinata's eyes, realized something and also activated his Byakugan, his expression turning grave as he joined her in the search.
They weren't alone in their efforts; Kiba and Akamaru, guided by the scents they had picked up at the Fire Temple, scoured the area, while Shino summoned his army of bugs to search in all directions.
This was precisely why Tsunade had specifically instructed them to bring Team 8 along.
As the tracking team, this was their forte.
It didn't take long for the trio to find some clues.
Led by Team 8, the group quickly set off, chasing after Uiwaku Gengetsu and Sasuke in a direction that largely aligned with their departure path.
(End of Chapter)
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