https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-70-Dominating-the-Ninja-Academy-/12553277/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-72-The-More-Beautiful-a-Woman-Is-the-Less-Her-Words-Can-Be-Trusted/12553282/
Chapter 71: An Unexpected Acquaintance
Chapter 71: An Unexpected Acquaintance
The wind howled as sand swept across the land.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, who had been resurrected by the Impure World Reincarnation technique, first glanced at Scorpion, a Sunagakure puppeteer with whom he had just crossed paths. Then, he turned his head to face Orochimaru, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he growled, "Orochimaru!!!"
Like the Third Kazekage before him, his death had been a bitter one.
After all, he never could have imagined that Orochimaru, his supposed ally, would stab him in the back.
Even in death, he couldn't comprehend the motive behind Orochimaru's betrayal.
"Long time no see, Fourth Kazekage," Orochimaru greeted his old acquaintance with a smug smile.
Thanks to Kabuto's desperate obstruction and the maze-like layout of the underground base, Orochimaru had successfully performed the Reverse Impure World Reincarnation technique before the members of Akatsuki could catch up to him. Although he had failed to obtain Sasuke's body, he had at least regained some of his fighting strength, allowing him to escape the immediate troubles of Akatsuki and the unforeseen events of this day.
Everything that had transpired was far beyond his expectations. It was as if an invisible hand had reached out and thoroughly disrupted his plans.
Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils glinted with cold light.
He swore that he would find out who had been pulling the strings behind the scenes and sabotaging him!
"Where am I?"
At that moment, another voice rang out.
In addition to the Fourth Kazekage, another individual had been summoned—a familiar presence.
Reito, a native of Sunagakure, looked around with confusion in his eyes.
Recognizing Reito immediately, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, spoke to him respectfully: "First Kazekage-sama, this is the present world. We have been summoned here by the Impure World Reincarnation technique."
"Impure World Reincarnation..." Reito murmured.
The technique had gained infamy in the ninja world after the death of Hashirama Senju, when Tobirama Senju, freed from his brother's restraints, ruled with a looser grip.
During that period, the shadows of the Five Great Shinobi Countries had all come to know of the Second Hokage, so it was understandable that Reito, who had lived long before that time, would be unaware of him.
Just as Reito was about to ask another question, Orochimaru spoke up:
"Alright, enough with the chit-chat, old folks. Every time you're summoned, you insist on catching up as if you have all the time in the world."
"We can't afford a repeat of the lesson we learned from Huyi Xuanyue this time."
With that, Orochimaru formed hand seals, ready to take complete control of the First and Fourth Kazekages' bodies.
"Huyi Xuanyue? Why bring him up suddenly?"
Reito's expression froze, and he was taken aback to hear the name of someone who had left such a profound impression on him mentioned by the younger generation, even after so many years.
However, time was limited, and before he could learn more, Orochimaru erased his consciousness.
Thus ended the First Kazekage's brief sojourn in the present world.
"Now, it's time for a Sand Ninja War!" Orochimaru declared with malicious glee to Scorpion.
The First Kazekage, Reito, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, immediately launched their assault on him.
"How boring," Scorpion remarked nonchalantly. Having already turned the Third Kazekage into a human puppet, he had long ceased to care about the Sand Ninjas. He ignored Orochimaru's "kindness" and joined the fray.
The battle between Akatsuki and Orochimaru commenced once more.
Unaware that one of his old friends had briefly returned to the present world, Huyi Xuanyue traveled across the continent of the Ninja World with Sasuke.
There were many countries in the Ninja World.
Aside from the well-known Five Great Shinobi Countries and the occasionally mentioned Land of Waves, Land of Hot Water, Land of Rice Fields, and Land of Snow, there were also numerous tiny countries scattered across the continent, so small that they didn't even appear on maps.
These small nations were akin to large villages, and even if the daimyo of such a country lived less luxuriously than a typical rich person, they still held the title and were considered daimyo nonetheless.
The Key of Country.
A place unknown to the general public but somewhat renowned among wandering ninjas, bounty hunters, and black market guilds.
This was due to the presence of an intelligence-dealing ninja organization called Lock Front Village within its borders.
"I've been here before!"
After traveling for two days, having already ventured far from the Land of Fire, Sasuke's eyes landed on the steel bridge that spanned the gap between two cliffs. He suddenly spoke up, recalling a past mission.
It was a task he had undertaken with Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and other Konoha ninjas—a prisoner exchange.
If he remembered correctly, the captive they had taken into custody was a woman named Ali, who had some connection to Kakashi.
"Is that so?"
Yuyi Xuan Yue paid no heed to these trivial matters and led Sasuke to the bridge's head.
There, a group of people awaited them.
Soon, the two parties came face to face.
Upon laying eyes on Yuyi Xuan Yue, the elderly leader's expression turned exceptionally fervent as he exclaimed, "It's you! It truly is you! You're exactly as I remember! Clan Leader, I never thought I'd have the chance to see you again!"
The elder's words trailed off as tears of joy streamed down his face. He knelt before Yuyi Xuan Yue, who appeared to be of his grandson's generation, and performed a grand salute.
Everyone standing behind the elder followed suit, their faces filled with admiration.
Yuyi Xuan Yue strode forward, helped the elder to his feet, and gestured for the others to rise as well. He let out a soft sigh and said, "Mukute, it's been a long time."
The snot-nosed kid from back then had now become a weathered elder.
As Yuyi Xuan Yue gazed upon the elder's face, now etched with wrinkles, he could faintly discern the boy he once knew in those features.
Standing beside them, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a sense of strangeness witnessing this heartwarming scene.
If their positions were reversed, with Yuyi Xuan Yue kneeling before the elder, it might have been a more conventionally acceptable image.
Additionally, it was only now, after witnessing this scene, that Sasuke truly realized that the person he was following was someone who had died and been reborn to live a second life.
However, due to his youth and the vastness of the future that lay ahead, Sasuke felt more awe than the fervent admiration that others seemed to exhibit.
Sasuke, disinterested in the heartwarming reunion before him due to his own experiences, shifted his attention to the people present.
He had already discerned the elder's identity.
During the prisoner exchange mission, this man had been the leader of Lock Front Village, coming to this very bridge to negotiate with the Konoha team.
Subsequently, a fierce battle had erupted, and he, along with Naruto and Sakura, had cornered the escaping elder. They had intended to make him surrender, but the elder had chosen to self-destruct instead.
Now, looking back, Sasuke realized how naive they had been.
The elder had clearly deceived them, feigning death by self-destruction while secretly escaping.
"As expected, the games Konoha ninjas play only serve to squander one's future."
Sasuke's heart grew cold as he continued to scan the crowd, his eyes landing on a particularly conspicuous woman.
"You didn't die?" Sasuke blurted out.
The woman, with a captivating teardrop-shaped birthmark under her right eye, turned toward him at the sound of his voice. A slight hint of surprise flashed across her face before she smiled radiantly and said, "You're Kakashi's disciple, the boy named Uchiha Sasuke, aren't you? It's been a long time. Do you still remember my name?"
"Ali," Sasuke replied, as the memory of that incident resurfaced in his mind.
(End of Chapter)
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