Border of the Land of Fire.
"Neji—"
Tenten walked over worriedly, "Are you okay? Actually, you don't need to be so tense, Guy-sensei is here."
"I'm fine."
Neji had his Byakugan active, not daring to relax in the slightest.
In her view, Neji might just be too nervous; after all, this was their first time participating in a C-rank mission abroad.
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But Tenten didn't know—
The reason Neji hadn't deactivated his Byakugan was to promptly discover the person he was thinking of in his heart.
However.
Until now, that person still hadn't appeared, as if that time at the border of the Land of Rivers was just a fleeting dream.
"As expected, how could someone like me be so lucky—"
Neji finally gave up.
Just as he was about to retract his Byakugan, suddenly, a bird took flight in the distance and eventually disappeared.
A Konoha Ninja Crow!
Near the Ninja Crow, a figure slowly appeared, just like before.
He immediately raised his hand: "Guy-sensei, there's a situation."
Swoosh!
Might Guy used Body Flicker to arrive.
"Guy-sensei, there's an Anbu Ninja coming toward us from over there. He can summon Ninja Crows, so he should be one of ours, right?"
"Should be."
Might Guy created a Shadow Clone, "We'll maintain distance from the front and see first."
After saying that, he waved his hand.
"Continue moving, we're heading back to the Land of Fire first."
"Yes!"
Everyone finished their rest and hurried toward the Land of Fire.
Might Guy's Shadow Clone crossed the forest and headed north.
After a while, he encountered an Anbu Ninja wearing a mask with a Konezu-drawn pattern.
Guy first performed a greeting upon meeting.
The other party stopped and said, "Guy-jonin, I am ANBU Rat. I wish to inquire about the events in the Land of Rivers."
"Konezu?"
Guy wasn't familiar with the Anbu and had no impression of this codename.
However, he didn't dwell on it.
Because he had no impression of the vast majority of names anyway.
"Is there something you need from me?"
"I am on a mission to track Orochimaru's base and want to obtain intelligence from you regarding the northeastern area of the Land of Rivers."
Konezu replied.
Guy didn't suspect anything and immediately recounted the entire experience in great detail.
After chatting for a while, both parties bowed in farewell, and Guy's Shadow Clone dispelled itself.
A moment later.
"Guy-sensei, what was the situation with that Anbu Ninja?"
Neji asked curiously.
Might Guy said: "He's on a secret mission, asking for information."
Guy knew the principles of confidentiality and did not reveal the specific details to Neji.
"Let's go, back to Konoha!"
"Yes!"
Lee and Tenten shouted in unison.
Neji looked in the direction the Anbu Ninja had left.
Could it be Teacher?
His heart beat like a drum; he both hoped it was him and feared the answer would leave him greatly disappointed.
Along the way, Neji returned to Konoha in this state of conflicting emotions.
Several days later.
In the Konoha office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was rubbing his temples.
"Hokage-sama—"
"Naruto just has that kind of personality; I've long since gotten used to it."
2
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand.
Iruka breathed a sigh of relief.
Back when Naruto was in school, he would at most get a few scoldings from him after causing trouble.
After becoming a Ninja, Iruka could no longer protect him.
Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't place any blame.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a light smile: "However, before you were worried about Naruto's file, then you worried about the test, and now you're fretting over these things—it's too much hard work."
"It's mainly Naruto; he's just too good at causing trouble."
Iruka scratched his head.
Afterward, his gaze dimmed: "My ability is too poor. If Masahiko were still here, he would surely have a way to keep them in line."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent.
Iruka snapped out of it and was about to apologize when there was a knock at the door.
He immediately went to open the door.
Upon seeing Might Guy, Iruka bowed slightly, then turned and said, "Hokage-sama, then I'll be taking my leave."
"Alright, make sure to get some rest."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled.
Guy entered, closed the door, and recounted their journey.
But at the end.
"While we were still at the border, we encountered an Anbu Ninja called—called what was it again?"
Guy gradually became confused.
He scratched his head, unable to quite remember.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless and lightly tapped the desk: "The name isn't important, the situation is."
"Oh right, he asked me for information regarding the northeastern area of the Land of Rivers, saying he had taken on the mission to track Orochimaru's base."
Guy replied, "Is that actually the case?"
"Mm."
""
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately knew who it was and gave a slight nod.
Just right—
"His codename is Konezu; he is a capable junior of mine."
"So that's how it is."
In the Land of Rivers, to the northeast, a base near the Land of Grass was currently in a state of chaos.
A moment later.
A figure slowly walked from the outside toward the cave.
"My Lord, we don't know what happened either, suddenly it just—"
"All of you, get out."
"Yes!"
The people guarding the outpost scrambled to escape this hellish place.
—
"Hooo—"
A heavy, beast-like panting came from the outpost built into the cave.
Painful, suppressed, and carrying a hint of hidden excitement.
Kimimaro walked inside step by step.
Boom!
A giant hand struck out from within the cave, a punch aimed at Kimimaro.
The massive Chakra impact caused the cave to vibrate.
But in the next second, Kimimaro vanished from the spot with Body Flicker, appearing in front of Jugo in an instant. Just as he was about to throw a punch, a black fleshy wing erupted from behind Jugo, slashing across like a blade.
A new ability?
Kimimaro's brow furrowed slightly as he ducked to avoid it. The power of Shikotsumyaku erupted within his body, and his speed suddenly increased several-fold.
One punch—
Clang!
His punch hit the opponent's body, producing a sound similar to metal.
"Hahahaha, the first one!"
Jugo remained unmoving, becoming increasingly crazed. The power within his body ran wild, yet his state was significantly different from before.
What's going on?
He's mutated again?
Kimimaro was truly puzzled, dodging while pondering the reason.
Although Jugo used to go berserk before, he didn't have abilities like this, and Jugo's body now exhibited an extremely unstable state.
There must be an external factor at play!
Thinking of this, his gaze sharpened, and he was about to activate Shikotsumyaku—
"Alright, game time is over."
A voice came from behind Jugo.
In the next second, Jugo's eyes widened for a moment before he stumbled. The mutation on his body disappeared, and he knelt powerless on the ground, his entire frame appearing a size smaller.
"Who are you?"
The Shikotsumyaku power within Kimimaro's body surged.
Just as he was about to use his bone powers, a hand rested on his shoulder.
Instantly, the opponent's black Chakra, combined with some kind of Sealing Jutsu formula, spread across his body, rendering him unable to move for a moment.
It was as if—
His body had turned into iron.
Jugo just now had also been in a similar state!
Kimimaro looked at the person, a flash of terror in his eyes.
He understood.
All of this was the opponent's doing.
"Don't panic, it's just a small experiment. Not letting you use it is for your own good; after all, large-scale use of Shikotsumyaku comes with a price."
The Black-Robed Man gave a faint smile, "Rest assured, I am with Orochimaru. This fellow should be of no more use to him—"
"Tell him, I'm taking this person."
After saying that, he grabbed Jugo and walked out.
From beginning to end, no matter how Kimimaro tried to use Shikotsumyaku, he could not break free from the restraint.
Only when the blackness on his body had mostly receded did he break free from that state.
So strong!
What a terrifying guy!
Kimimaro trembled all over, yet he had to force himself to pull it together.
He had to inform Orochimaru of this immediately.
Kimimaro bit his finger, formed hand seals, and immediately performed a Summoning Jutsu.
A giant snake was summoned.
A moment later, it disappeared, and when it reappeared, Orochimaru's Shadow Clone crawled out of it.
He looked around, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said with a smile: "No matter, if he's taken, he's taken. Perhaps there will be a new surprise when we meet again."
"Yes!"