Chapter 164: Unlearnable Lesson
Chapter 164: Unlearnable Lesson
"The Feudal Lord of the Wave Country has passed away?"
In the Fire Shadow's office in Konoha, the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, had just received news of the Wave Country Feudal Lord's demise. She expressed surprise but didn't seem too concerned.
"And he died from overdrinking? How pathetic."
Having grown up around sake barrels, Tsunade scoffed at the cause of the Wave Country Feudal Lord's death.
If you can't hold your liquor, don't force it.
After her comment, Tsunade was about to put the matter aside.
Her assistant, Shizune, spoke up: "Hokage-sama, there's more. The Fire Country requests that Konoha send a team of ninjas to protect the delegation that will be traveling to the Wave Country to offer condolences. The mission reward has already been delivered to the village."
"I see," Tsunade acknowledged.
Since it was an important matter, she picked up a thick ninja registry, preparing to select suitable ninjas who were available for the task.
Then, she paused as if struck by a thought. "Come to think of it, didn't Kakashi's team visit the Wave Country over two years ago and make quite a name for themselves? I've heard about the Great Naruto Bridge numerous times."
"So, you want Kakashi's team to go to the Wave Country again?" Shizune immediately understood Tsunade's intention.
However, after some thought, she shook her head. "Ever since Kakashi's team returned from the Lock Front Village, Naruto has been intensely training under the guidance of Jonin Yamato, and your disciple, Sakura, is doing the same. It might not be a good time to disturb them during this period."
"Intense training?"
Tsunade recalled the look of frustration, determination, and ambition on Naruto and Sakura's faces when they returned from the Lock Front Village some time ago.
And the one responsible for it all—Uchiha Sasuke.
"Just like Orochimaru back then."
Both were incredibly talented and sought greater power.
In the end, they both chose to defect from the village, and there were always fools chasing after them, hoping to bring them home.
Back then, the fool was Jiraiya.
Now, it was Naruto and Sakura.
Tsunade's feelings towards Orochimaru back then were complex, unlike the unwavering determination of Naruto and Sakura, but she could understand their mindset.
"In that case, let's send Asuma's team." Tsunade changed her mind.
As a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja and someone who had interacted with many Fire Country officials, Asuma was a suitable candidate.
Shizune immediately went to notify him.
But before she left, Tsunade asked, "How's Kakashi doing?"
Kakashi hadn't led the team to the Lock Front Village because he had received another crucial mission—to find the missing Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails, Fu.
Some time ago, Konoha and Sunagakure had jointly held a Chunin Exam, following the one years ago.
Not only did genin from various ninja villages participate, but Fu, the Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails from Takigakure, also joined in.
However, after the Chunin Exam concluded, Fu and the two Takigakure jonin escorting her failed to return to their village. The three had disappeared without a trace.
Takigakure realized something was amiss and immediately sent out search parties while also requesting Konoha and Sunagakure for assistance in locating their missing shinobi.
The matter of a Jinchuriki was of utmost importance.
Konoha didn't refuse and tasked Kakashi to lead the tracking-specialist Team 8 in investigating the disappearance of the Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki.
It had been half a month since then.
Shizune was about to shake her head to indicate that she hadn't received any news yet.
Just then, a ninja from the Intelligence Division arrived and delivered Kakashi's latest mission report.
The Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails had been defeated?
And finally...
". According to eyewitness accounts, individuals wearing black uniforms with red cloud emblems were spotted near the site where the Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails, Fu, disappeared."
Black with red clouds...
"Akatsuki?" Tsunade asked, her brow furrowing deeply.
In the past two years, the Akatsuki had been surprisingly inactive.
She had thought they would continue to lie low, but now they were making their move.
As expected, the Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails was likely in their custody.
Her thoughts turned to the abandoned Lock Front Village, the Hagoromo clan, the remnants of the Uchiha clan, and Hagoromo Gengetsu.
Tsunade looked out the window.
The sky was clear and blue, the sun shining brightly—it seemed like a good day.
But in the distance, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, dark clouds gathering for a tumultuous season that seemed ever closer.
"It's time to contact Jiraiya." Tsunade made her decision swiftly.
Additionally, she glanced toward the training grounds.
"Naruto, hurry up and grow stronger."
Tsunade kept these thoughts to herself.
In Naruto, she saw not only the echoes of Dan and Nawaki but also traits reminiscent of her grandfather.
She had absolute faith in Naruto's future accomplishments.
Her only worry was if there would be enough time.
"Haaah!!!"
On the training field, Naruto, with the help of his hundreds of shadow clones, cheered himself on before focusing on the task at hand. He held a leaf in each hand, his expression intense as he honed his wind-style chakra nature.
"Sharp! Thin! Piercing!"
Recalling the nature of wind and the devastating power of Hagoromo Gengetsu's "Wind Release: Rasengan," a technique he had witnessed many times, Naruto, with the aid of his Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, trained with renewed purpose and speed.
"Even though I've seen it countless times, it's still breathtaking," Yamato remarked as he watched Naruto's progress.
He had witnessed first-hand Naruto's rapid improvement in wind-style chakra control and even understood the method, but he couldn't replicate it himself.
Not just him; no one in the ninja world could.
While training with hundreds of shadow clones, when the technique ended and the memories and fatigue of the clones flooded into the original body, anyone else would have crumbled under the strain and died.
Even Hagoromo Gengetsu, to be honest, probably wouldn't have been able to do what Naruto was doing, repeatedly, without showing any signs of exhaustion.
When Hagoromo trained or researched, he rarely used shadow clones.
While this technique temporarily increased efficiency, it resulted in multiple times the exhaustion and required prolonged rest afterward.
All things considered, the overall efficiency wasn't much better than training alone.
And it wasn't just him.
In the entire ninja world, out of all the ninjas who knew the Shadow Clone Technique, none had ever used it to accelerate their training.
Naruto was unique.
"This is incredible! Is this the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Yamato could only attribute it to that.
He didn't know that Naruto was able to do this without hesitation, not only because of the Nine-Tails but also because of his Uzumaki lineage and, most importantly, his Ashura reincarnation lineage.
There was no denying it—the Sage of the Six Paths lineage was overpowered.
"Sasuke!!!"
Unconsciously, Naruto, who now carried the hopes of many, found himself driven by his inner chants of "Sasuke." With a zeal akin to a stimulant, he trained tirelessly day after day.
From that moment on, the clouds and the sun moved forward together.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
