Chapter 75: The Konoha Group Encounters Orochimaru (Repaired)

Chapter 75: The Konoha Group Encounters Orochimaru (Repaired)



"...'

Sasuke broke out in a sweat on his forehead.

The person before him exuded an odd sense of familiarity.

Why do they remind him so much of that pair of bushy-browed master and disciple?

Aside from those two idiots, could there be others like them in this world? It was truly a rare sight.

Sasuke's face twitched as he glared at Niu'tou and said, "Aren't you going to do something about this guy?"

"How can I control him when I'm not his captain?" Deidara replied nonchalantly.

Sasuke's heart skipped a beat.

So, Uchiha Niu'tou wasn't their captain, and the three of them were either equals or subordinates?

Could these two be as strong as, or even stronger than, Niu'tou? Preposterous!

"Let's get everything out in the open, Deidara. You didn't gather intelligence properly today. What exactly did you do?" Neji demanded.

Deidara obediently explained his thoughts and the events that had transpired.

"I see... So you wanted to lure that scum, Uchiha Itachi, but instead, you ended up with Orochimaru and Sasuke, huh? Well, they could be useful additions to our ranks, especially Orochimaru, a genius scientist.

I understand your intention to make amends for your mistake, and I will convey this matter to His Majesty," Neji said with a nod.

"So, you're Niu'tou... I mean, Deidara's captain?" Sasuke asked.

"He invited me to join the organization but didn't disclose any information about it. Can you fill me in?" Sasuke inquired.

He was extremely curious about the 'Empire' organization.

"Sure, but I'll only explain it once. Whether you believe me or not, I won't elaborate further," Neji replied, proceeding to briefly describe the dimensional world and the Empire. He also restored the appearances of the three people in the room.

Seeing the familiar faces of two of the people present, Sasuke remained silent for a moment before a smirk tugged at his lips. "Another world, the Shenwu Empire, another version of myself, and everyone from Konoha... Now, that's fascinating... Hehehehe..."

Sasuke covered his mouth with one hand and burst into laughter.

"Oh? You believe me?" Neji asked, surprised.

"No one can lie before these eyes of mine!" Sasuke smiled confidently, his eyes flashing with a red light as the kaleidoscope within them spun.

"Hmm? A kaleidoscope? So, Sasuke of this world has also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan? Impressive, as expected of the Imperial Capital's Twin Stars," Neji remarked with a hint of admiration.

"It was activated after he consumed the medication I gave him," Deidara interjected.

"...' Neji's eyebrows furrowed.

"Is that so... It seems that it's better not to have high expectations of people from this world," he muttered.

"Don't say that, Neji! Sasuke-kun from this world just hasn't trained in martial arts yet! Come on, Sasuke-kun, let's train in martial arts together and ignite our youth! That way, you'll definitely become super strong!" Lee enthusiastically grabbed Sasuke's hand once more.

"You two... Humph! I admit that before I had the Mangekyo Sharingan, I wasn't this powerful, but I'm completely different now!" Sasuke scowled.

"Has he achieved Eternal Mangekyo?" Neji turned to Deidara.

"Impossible," Deidara replied flatly.

"Then what's he trying to pull?" Neji asked, perplexed.

"That's just his personality," Deidara explained.

"I see. So, Sasuke from this world has this kind of personality? He acts tough even without the strength to back it up... I understand now," Neji said without hiding his disdain.

Sasuke's face reddened with anger as he glared at Neji. "Damn you! Don't think you can look down on the Uchiha just because you're Niu'tou... I mean, Deidara's partner!

Drop that condescending attitude, or I won't hesitate to show you the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan!"

"I probably know the might of the Mangekyo better than you," Neji replied, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"However... if you want to spar, I'm always game."

"Spar! Spar with Sasuke from this world! That's a great idea! My youth is burning once more! Oh oh oh oh!" Lee's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Hmph! If you want to experience the power of the Mangekyo, I'll show you!" Sasuke said, his expression darkening.

Soon, the group used the power of the Divine Might Space to appear about ten kilometers away from Konoha.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Intense battle ensued.

The fight began and ended swiftly.

Within just a few minutes, Sasuke was clutching his stomach in agony, his face contorted as he stared at the white-robed man standing before him.

This white-robed man was, of course, Neji.

A ball of Amaterasu's black flames burned around him, but it couldn't truly touch Neji's body and instead spun within a yin-yang symbol.

"How is this possible... He's just a mere Hyuga, yet he possesses such power... Able to reverse my attack and use my own power to pierce through my Susanoo..." Sasuke's voice was filled with disbelief and frustration.

"This is the power of martial arts. It will take more than an ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan to defeat me," Neji said indifferently.

"Don't be discouraged, Sasuke-kun! The power of martial arts is incredibly strong! If you train with me, you'll also become super powerful!

Then you'll definitely be able to defeat us!" Lee offered words of comfort and encouragement.

"What do you mean by that? Do you think you can beat me too?" Sasuke glared at him, his face twisted in annoyance.

"As of now, I should be able to," Empire Lee replied with a smile, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Damn it! How dare you all look down on me like this! Underestimating the Uchiha Clan!" Sasuke was thoroughly enraged, and he once again engaged Empire Lee in combat.

And so...

After a minute...

Sasuke lay on the ground, his face swollen like a pig's head. "I... I lost... Are you some kind of monster...? Just one punch, and my Susanoo was shattered... Is this the power a human can possess? Impossible... It shouldn't be..."

"But this is the power of martial arts! It can prolong your life, ward off illnesses, pierce the skies, and shatter mountains! No ninjutsu or bloodline limit can compare to it. So, let's train together!"

Empire Lee gave Sasuke a thumbs-up.

"Hmph..."

Sasuke snorted coldly, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "Between me and my counterpart from the other world, who is stronger?"

"Of course, you're stronger! Sasuke-kun from our world is super strong! He's one of the Imperial Capital's Twin Stars, a title bestowed by His Majesty himself! He's the brightest star among our peers. We're far behind him," Lee admitted admiringly.

"Hmph!" Sasuke's lips curled up.

So, in the other world, I'm still the stronger one! I'm weaker than these guys now because I haven't trained in martial arts yet.

He consoled himself, then recalled what Empire Lee had said:

"The Imperial Capital's Twin Stars, huh? Not bad... Who's the other person who can be compared with me, then? Could it be someone from another ninja village?"

He felt that everyone in the Leaf Village, aside from himself, was mediocre at best.

"It's Naruto," Empire Lee replied.

"Naruto? The Imperial Capital's Twin Stars?"

Sasuke frowned, suddenly questioning the authenticity of the information the trio had provided earlier.

What a joke! That dead-last loser is on par with me? Does he have the capability? Sasuke felt displeased.

However, he soon returned to the apartment with the Empire trio and dedicated himself to cultivating the Uchiha Spiritual Martial Arts, never leaving his room.

It was unclear if he was driven by the desire to surpass Empire Neji and Lee to complete his revenge, or if he wanted to prevent Naruto from this world from surpassing him.

Before long, another month had passed...

"Huff..."

In the outskirts of Konoha, Tsunade, dressed in a form-fitting outfit that accentuated her perfect figure, snapped her fingers. One air bullet after another shot out from her fingertips, destroying wooden stakes not too far away.

Beside her, Shion, an outstanding martial arts student from Naruto's group, applauded enthusiastically. "As expected of Tsunade-sama, you're amazing! The power of your Finger Gun is now even stronger than Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan's."

"Should Tsunade-sama's talent be considered a martial arts genius?" Kiba added.

"Tsunade-sama's youthful passion burns brightly, rivaling and even surpassing everyone else! I've decided! Today, I will practice the Moon Walk for five thousand steps! If I can't do it, I'll pound the iron block three thousand times!"

Lee's eyes blazed with excitement as he looked at Tsunade and shouted fervently.

"Oh oh oh! Lee speaks the truth! My blood is boiling too!"

Might Guy roared in agreement.

"Hahaha! Then let's burn together for a more wonderful youth and passion!"

Empire Lee, who had long since blended in with the group, laughed heartily.

"Tsunade-sama's Finger Gun is so powerful that it should be renamed Finger Cannon... It's truly terrifying," Kakashi commented.

"Tsunade-granny is indeed formidable. If I... If my martial arts teacher were to evaluate her, he would definitely praise her as a martial arts genius too!"

Naruto praised as well.

"Hmph! Do you know who you're dealing with?"

Tsunade asserted proudly, then continued with a solemn expression, "However... The more I delve into martial arts, the more I realize its immense power. The control of qi over the body far surpasses my previous understanding. And its plasticity is also extraordinary. When I integrated the principles of the Chakra Enhanced Strength with my Finger Gun, my technique truly transformed. As for genius? Kakashi, you're no less talented than I am. And Guy, you're the fastest learner among us, worthy of the name Azure Beast."

"Ah... This is all just luck. Maybe this time, the affinity between martial arts training and my natural attributes is particularly good," Kakashi replied humbly.

"It's really unexpected that Kakashi-sensei could train so quickly. After all, your pure yang qi has been leaking like a sieve," Naruto teased.

Tsunade, Inoichi, and Kakashi's expressions changed slightly.

Kakashi's eyes twitched.

Naruto, you brat! Stop spouting nonsense! It's a good thing no one else knows about this.

Kakashi remained silent.

"Pure yang qi? What's that? Is it related to martial arts training? Can we supplement it? I really want to learn the Moon Walk and fly in the sky soon," Ino said longingly.

"Cough cough cough... That's a rare energy in the human body, and there's no way to supplement it. Just ignore it, everyone. Keep training, and I'm sure you'll all master the Six Styles soon.

Kai encouraged everyone and quickly changed the subject.

"Hahaha! Kakashi is right! The martial way is just like taijutsu. Only by burning your passion and working hard can you become stronger! There are no shortcuts on this path! Let's give it our all, everyone!"

Guy raised his right fist and shouted enthusiastically.

"Master Bushy Brows... Do you think everyone can be like you?" Ino said weakly. "Training for twenty hours a day, I'd die if I kept that up for a month."

"Hahaha! Your passion still isn't burning fiercely enough!" Guy laughed heartily.

The others had mixed expressions on their faces.

A month had passed.

All the ninjas had displayed varying degrees of talent and potential in the martial way.

Among them, Might Guy was the most outstanding.

Of course, Tsunade and Kakashi's talent in the martial way was not inferior to Guy's, but Guy's training intensity was truly insane.

Others could keep up with this high-intensity training for a day or two, but there was no way they could last a week or a month.

Hence, a gap had naturally formed.

As of now, Guy's progress in the martial way surpassed Naruto's.

Next were Tsunade and Kakashi, who were on par with Naruto.

A level below them were Rock Lee, Neji, Choji, and Kiba, who were comparable to Sakura.

As for the rest, they were a notch or two below.

When Tsunade first discovered this issue, she reassigned some of the ninjas with little talent for training to other tasks.

As a result, the various affairs of Konoha continued to run smoothly.

They even had the spare capacity to send people to gather intelligence on the outside world.

A piercing sound tore through the air.

Everyone present instinctively looked towards the source of the sound.

"Tsunade-sama! We have important intelligence!"

The Konoha ninja who had suddenly appeared looked anxious.

"Hmm... I understand," Tsunade nodded, immediately moving away from the group with the messenger.

At a distance of several hundred meters, the messenger finally conveyed the information.

"Is that so... We've found traces of Orochimaru... and there's a possibility of the Three-Tails as well... Regardless, this intelligence came at the cost of the agent's life. We can't let that Orochimaru bastard roam free. And if he gets his hands on the Three-Tails, who knows what trouble he'll cause."

Tsunade muttered to herself, then sent the messenger on his way and headed back towards the training ground.

As she walked, she pondered how to deal with this problem.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke were together, so there was no way she could let Naruto know.

That little brat was currently the most accomplished ninja in the martial way.

As for Shino, Hinata, and Yamato, it was best they didn't know either.

Regardless of their identities, if they obtained the power of a tailed beast, things would become even more troublesome.

So... who should she send on this mission? Orochimaru was no ordinary opponent... What about Kakashi? With his current strength and that Sharingan eye, he might stand a chance.

Who else could she assign to him?

As she walked back towards the group, something unexpected happened.

Naruto spoke up anxiously, "Granny Tsunade! I want to go on this mission! I'll bring Sasuke back! This time, I won't let him get away!"

"!"

Hearing this, Tsunade and the others were taken aback.

"What mission? What are you talking about, Naruto?" someone asked, confused.

Some others wore thoughtful expressions.

Tsunade frowned, "You heard all that from so far away?"

"I'm currently in the Wind Breathing State," Naruto explained seriously. "In this state, not only do my wind-attribute ninjutsu become more powerful and require fewer hand seals, increasing my speed, but my hearing also improves significantly... So I overheard everything."

"Is that so," Tsunade sighed, a headache coming on.

"Granny Tsunade! I want to go there and teach Orochimaru a lesson! I'll bring Sasuke back! Please let me go!" Naruto pleaded.

"You're the strongest teacher in the martial arts class. If you go, who will teach everyone else?" Tsunade asked, her head aching.

"Everyone has already gotten a basic grasp of the martial way, and Master Bushy Brows has mastered all six styles. They can continue learning from him. And if that's not enough, they can learn from Tang; he's much better than me in that regard."

"Tang?" Tsunade hesitated, looking at the Empire's Rock Lee who was standing next to Guy.

"I'm afraid that won't do. The Three-Tails is one of our targets," Empire Lee said with a smile and a shake of his head.

"Tang's target is the Three-Tails!"

The group of Konoha ninjas' hearts skipped a beat as they thought of the Akatsuki organization.

Was this mysterious Tang connected to Akatsuki?

With these thoughts in mind, they turned to look at Tsunade.

Tsunade rubbed her temples, a headache coming on. "Ah... You heard that too, huh? Fine, it's up to you then. Tang, you and Naruto can go together."

"Tsunade-sama! What are you saying? The enemy includes the Three-Tails and Orochimaru. How can you send just Naruto and a guest?

Some of the Konoha ninjas objected.

"That's right. This mission is definitely an S-rank among S-ranks. We should send more people from the village and take it seriously."

"...You guys... Fine.

Then, Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Ino, Shikamaru, Neji, Choji, Tenten, Shizune, and you, Tang, will go on this mission together."

Tsunade concluded.

She then turned to Empire Lee and said, "Remember, speed is of the essence.

And if possible, take down Orochimaru. He's bad news."

"Great! This time, I will definitely not lose to Sasuke! I will bring him back!"

Naruto clenched his fist excitedly.

"Rest assured, Tsunade-sama."

Empire Lee gave Tsunade a thumbs-up. "As long as I'm standing, no one will get hurt. I guarantee it!"

"Then we're counting on you."

Tsunade nodded.

Swish, swish, swish! Empire Lee, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi darted through the forest, their speed incredible.

Among them, Naruto, who had activated Wind Breathing, and Empire Lee were the fastest, leading the group by a wide margin.

Sakura, who had fallen far behind, looked at Naruto and Empire Lee ahead of her, then glanced at her teammates, who were struggling to keep up. She frowned and shouted, "Naruto! Tang! Slow down a bit! We're all exhausted, and if we encounter the enemy like this, we'll be at a huge disadvantage!"

"So... sorry, I forgot about you guys again..."

Naruto and Empire Lee, who were at the front, immediately slowed down and waited for the others to catch up, but their faces were filled with anxiety.

Naruto desperately wanted to see Sasuke again and bring him back to Konoha!

Every second Sasuke spent with that jerk Orochimaru put him in more danger! Naruto was worried sick about Sasuke.

But at this moment, he had to suppress his anxiety.

"I... We're fine... Naruto, you don't have to worry about us." Hinata said softly.

"Damn it! I never thought there would come a day when I'd be left behind by Naruto, of all people! It's so frustrating!"

Kiba was displeased.

"Naruto's always had good stamina.

Now with his martial arts training, he's become way stronger. It's normal for us to lag behind."

Shino remained expressionless.

"As expected of Tang, who's been training since childhood. Your strength is indeed formidable... I don't think you're any weaker than Tsunade-sama."

Shikamaru commented.

How could he be on par with Tsunade-sama? He's clearly way stronger! Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura rolled their eyes internally.

"Everyone is just starting out with martial arts, so don't be discouraged. Once you master it, you'll all be this strong too."

Kakashi reassured them.

"Kakashi-sensei, forget about it.

There are talent and natural affinity differences among ninjas, and the same goes for martial arts. We're not geniuses like Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, Tsunade-sama, or Bushy Brows. It's unlikely that we'll ever catch up to them.

But by training in martial arts, we've definitely become much stronger.

This will be our advantage when facing ninjas from other villages."

Shikamaru remained calm and analytical.

"That's right! With martial arts, we can leave the other ninja villages in the dust!" The other Konoha ninjas were also excited.

Advantage against other villages? In the future?

Kakashi was perplexed.

If the information about the Empire was true, there might not be a future to speak of.

Swish, swish, swish...

As they ran, the group continued their conversation.

Suddenly, Naruto's body stiffened, and he exclaimed, "I hear them! Orochimaru and his group are over there!"

With that, he veered off to the right and sped away.

The others exchanged glances and, ignoring their exhaustion, followed suit at full speed.

Soon, they burst out of the forest.

Under the bright sun.

A man in plain clothes, with deep purple eye shadow, stood with over thirty people at the edge of a vast lake, gazing at the group that had just emerged from the forest.

"Damn you, Orochimaru! Give Sasuke back!"

Naruto, the first to emerge from the forest, was already shouting at Orochimaru from mid-air.

"It's this annoying brat again."

Kabuto, standing beside Orochimaru, pushed up his glasses in annoyance.

"Sasuke? Uchiha Sasuke?" Kurenai murmured, her expression turning grave.

"It's Naruto, huh... Sasuke isn't here right now."

Orochimaru licked his lips, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sensed something unusual about Naruto, who was in the Wind Breathing state.

He then shifted his gaze to Kakashi, Neji, and Hinata, who were behind Naruto.

However, the one who caught his attention the most was Empire Lee, who was keeping pace with Naruto. Orochimaru frowned at the sight of his well-developed muscles:

"What a coincidence... To have so many enemies show up at once. It looks like we'll have to deal with them first before we can capture the Three-Tails..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end