LRAB Chapter 336 Sasuke: This idiot actually did this for me...
Chapter 336 Sasuke: This idiot actually did this for me...
Chapter 336 Sasuke: This idiot actually did this for me...
Naruto's bold declaration on the screen, vowing to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, instantly drew the attention of everyone present.
The group, who were still immersed in the dream, snapped back to reality. Kakashi, Jiraiya, Sakura, and Kaori from the Konoha camp also turned their gazes to the silent and aloof figure in the corner.
Sakura's feelings were the most complicated.
Naruto—for Sasuke, he even suppressed his desire to reunite with his mother, just to become stronger and bring Sasuke home?
This dedication and sincerity were so intense that Sakura felt a lump in her throat.
At this moment, she desperately hoped that Sasuke could understand how much Naruto valued him.
Sakura stared intently at Sasuke, holding her breath and waiting, hoping to see even the slightest sign of wavering on his cold face.
Sasuke did indeed hear every word Naruto said, and his previously indifferent expression trembled.
To say that his heart was completely unmoved would be self-deception; at that moment, something in Sasuke's heart seemed to be touched.
That loser idiot—he actually gave up the chance to reunite with his mother for him?!
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. He knew all too well what his mother meant to him, having suffered the excruciating pain of losing a loved one.
If it were him, and he had the chance to see his mother again, he would probably be willing to risk his life.
And Naruto was actually willing to give up such a precious opportunity just to bring him back?
At this moment, even Sasuke, with his cold-blooded nature, was shocked by Naruto's almost foolish persistence.
However, despite being moved, his deep-seated conviction did not waver in the slightest; on the contrary, it quickly overwhelmed the slight hesitation.
In Sasuke's view, the more determined Naruto was to bring him back to Konoha, the more it showed how deeply that idiot had been corrupted by the Will of Fire.
Hmph, Konoha—
What right does that sinful place, which destroyed the Uchiha clan, took everything from him, and even deceived and exploited Naruto, have to let him go back?
It's not worth Naruto sacrificing so much for!
The more Naruto acted this way, the more determined Sasuke became.
He must find a way to pull Naruto out of the mire of Konoha and let this comrade who has been deceived by falsehoods see the true face of Konoha.
Even if it means resorting to any means necessary, he will make Naruto and himself completely overthrow Konoha, that corrupt and decadent place!
Therefore, when he felt the probing and complex gazes of the people of Konoha around him, Sasuke's expression did not soften at all; on the contrary, it became even colder.
A cold glint flashed in his deep eyes, and then he arrogantly turned his head away, deliberately avoiding the gazes fixed on him, unwilling to let anyone see even the slightest emotional turmoil in his eyes.
This scene was naturally witnessed by Itachi Uchiha, who was closely watching his younger brother's reaction from not far away.
On the surface, Itachi remained quietly standing in the corner, seemingly oblivious to the dreamscape playing out around him, but in reality, he kept a close eye on Sasuke out of the corner of his eye.
When he saw Sasuke display such a strong and resolute attitude, his usually calm face finally changed.
on the screen.
Time flew by as Naruto focused on his training.
Naruto remained seated throughout, motionless, his hands forming a mudra and resting flat in front of his knees, his entire body sitting cross-legged on the ground like a statue.
However, upon closer inspection, his aura was gradually merging with the surrounding natural environment, subtly forming a strange and harmonious rhythm.
But in the deepest part of Naruto's mind.
He was experiencing the entire process of cultivating immortal arts from a first-person perspective.
Naruto saw invisible natural energy surging in from all directions, like wind gathering into a stream, constantly trying to seep into his body.
He felt the immense physical and spiritual energy within him, dominated by Naruto from his dream world, flowing like two gently flowing rivers, merging and converging to form a stable and substantial energy base.
Then, he witnessed the tamed natural energy seeping into and merging into the energy base, like a gentle stream, drop by drop.
As the two slowly and evenly combined, an unprecedented chakra was born within the body.
Powerful and abundant, it is indeed Sage Chakra!
Throughout this process, whenever Naruto encountered something difficult to understand, the dream Naruto would speak up at the right time, patiently explaining the key points at crucial junctures, and sharing his past mistakes and lessons learned without reservation.
The meticulous guidance and hands-on experience allowed Naruto's understanding of Sage Chakra to advance by leaps and bounds.
The effects of this immersive teaching method are astonishing; the results of just one night's learning are probably equivalent to the results of months or even years of hard work in the real world.
Time flies.
Naruto finally snapped out of his long, intense sensory training. He felt somewhat exhausted in his mental world, but his eyes shone brightly with the fruits of his labor.
"I—I think I understand!"
Naruto jumped up suddenly in the mental space, dancing with excitement.
He could clearly feel that although he couldn't immediately reproduce everything demonstrated in his dream perfectly, he had gained an unprecedentedly profound understanding of the principles of Sage Chakra synthesis. This was a hundred times more efficient than his previous solitary, arduous training!
In his dream, Naruto smiled with satisfaction, and a voice slowly echoed in his mind: "Very good. Next, you need to transform these sensations into your own body's memory. This requires a lot of practice, but at least you've found the right direction and overcome the most difficult initial stage."
Upon hearing these words, Naruto felt his blood boil and nodded vigorously.
the next day.
early morning.
On the border of the Water Kingdom, the port of a small island welcomed another busy day.
In the morning mist, ships of all sizes were either docked to unload cargo or ready to set sail. The dock was bustling with people, and the shouts of sailors and workers carrying goods rose and fell.
With a long, drawn-out whistle, a medium-sized ferry slowly docked at the pier, creating ripples in the water.
The ferry cabin door opened, and an exceptionally tall figure stepped out first, bending down.
-
The newcomer had dark blue skin and a ferocious, shark-like face. He carried a huge battle sword wrapped in layers of heavy bandages on his back. It was none other than Kisame Hoshigaki.
Upon returning to his homeland after a long absence, Kisame first took a deep breath of the moist air mixed with the scent of the sea. He felt a familiar yet unfamiliar atmosphere fill his lungs, causing him to squint his long, narrow shark eyes and slowly survey the small island pier in front of him.
After several years, everything here seems to have changed a bit. The air is less desolate than during the Blood Mist period, and more filled with the long-lost warmth of everyday life.
"I didn't expect you to be back so soon."
An indescribable expression of emotion appeared on Kisame's rugged face.
Following Kisame, another figure appeared from the hatch.
The newcomer wore an orange swirling mask, revealing only the hole in his right eye. He was also wearing a black Akatsuki robe with red clouds, which was being gently billowed by the salty sea breeze.
He casually stretched his stiff neck, his gaze sweeping across the noisy dock with nonchalant ease.
Upon seeing this, Kisame bowed slightly and respectfully greeted, "My lord."
The person who arrived was none other than Obito.
Upon hearing this, he simply responded with a faint sound.
Immediately afterward, Obito glanced discreetly behind Kisame, but did not see the usually taciturn figure.
"Where's Itachi? He hasn't come out yet?"
Kisame also turned around in confusion and saw that Itachi Uchiha had already stood up, dressed in a black robe with red clouds, but his face showed a blank and absent-minded look.
His gaze was unfocused on a certain spot, his expression seemingly lost in thought, completely unaware that the ship had already docked.
"Hey, Mr. Daiichi, we've arrived!"
Kisame had no choice but to raise his voice and shout.
He was filled with confusion. During the mission, Itachi, though taciturn, always maintained a high level of vigilance and alertness. He had never seen him so absent-minded and dazed.
The weasel's body trembled slightly inside the cabin, as if it had been abruptly pulled back to reality from its deep thoughts.
He slowly raised his head, turning his gaze from the void to Kisame at the doorway and Obito on the deck.
In a fleeting moment, the scattered light in those dark eyes vanished, replaced by a calm and indifferent demeanor, as if the moment of distraction had never existed.
Uchiha Itachi silently got up and followed Kisame down the swaying gangway as usual.
Obito took in Itachi's brief moment of loss of composure, his brow twitching slightly beneath his mask as he thought to himself.
Was it because of that strange dream I had last night?
Several guesses flashed through his mind, but the person behind the mask remained calm and composed.
The three then walked side by side across the dock.
Kisame strode ahead, his tall and muscular body, along with the eye-catching Samehada sword behind him, caused some busy sailors and laborers on the dock to involuntarily glance at him.
However, when these people sensed the faint, unintentional murderous aura emanating from him, they immediately lowered their heads as if pricked, quickly pretending to be focused on their work, fearing that even a glance would bring them death.
The calamity.
Those who make a living on this land once shrouded in blood mist all understand the survival rule of asking less, looking less, and meddling less.
Obito strolled leisurely through the middle of the group, casually scanning the surrounding scenery.
Various fishing boats and cargo ships of different sizes were moored at the dock, and workers were still busily calling out and unloading goods. Vendors also set up stalls along the roadside to sell seafood such as fish and seaweed, as well as other miscellaneous goods.
In comparison, the prosperity and bustle here is far less than that of Konoha, but it exudes a rough and primitive vitality.
Looking further into the distance, the town's houses are densely packed together, mostly dark gray wood and stone structures, with a thick layer of dried seaweed on the roofs to protect against the constant sea breeze and humidity, full of the regional charm of a water country.
Obito squinted, taking in everything, and couldn't help but let out a slightly wistful whisper.
"The changes in the Land of Water are quite significant."
Upon hearing this, Kisame slowed his pace, turned slightly to the side, and lowered his voice to report to Obito: "Yes, sir. According to the intelligence I've gathered recently, Mei Terumi, the candidate for the Fifth Mizukage, is quite capable and shrewd. Since taking office, she has been vigorously implementing reforms, trying to restore people's livelihoods, and attempting to reopen trade ties with the outside world. Although she has encountered considerable obstruction from conservatives, the results are already beginning to show. At least in these border towns and ordinary villages, order has improved considerably compared to before."
Kisame paused here, then added, "In addition, the Land of Water has indeed been quite unstable recently."
The Hidden Mist Village has become aware of the disappearance of the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. As far as I know, the Hidden Mist Village's Anbu have already secretly mobilized and are conducting searches throughout the village.
"They're pretty quick," Obito commented casually, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
This situation was entirely within his expectations. After all, the disappearance of the tailed beasts could not be kept secret forever, especially for a behemoth like the Five Great Ninja Villages.
The quick reaction of Kirigakure only confirmed that the candidate for Mei Terumi was exceptionally capable and was someone to be wary of.
However, even so, Obito felt no worry. He knew very well that he had personally captured the Three-Tails, and that no one else besides him and Kakashi knew where the Three-Tails was currently being held.
Even if the Fog Shadows dig three feet into the ground, this search operation is destined to be futile.
Uchiha Itachi, who was walking at the back, remained silent throughout. His slightly slow pace kept him a little distance from his two companions ahead of him. He neither interrupted to offer any opinions nor showed any interest in the content of the conversation.
He followed thoughtfully, his dark eyes slightly lowered, still immersed in his own world.
The three of them walked through the port to a nearby town and walked along the cobblestone streets.
The streets were lined with some slightly old shops and houses. The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and the whole town was shrouded in a hazy mist.
At this time, there were very few pedestrians on the road, most of them walking in a hurry, their faces showing the vigilance and restraint unique to the people of the Water Country, and they would quickly avoid sight when they encountered strangers.
Obito and his friends randomly picked a street food stall in the town center that looked fairly clean and went inside.
The shop was small, with a few simple wooden tables scattered around, and the air was filled with the smell of fish soup and sea salt.
The boss was a silent middle-aged man with a scar on his face, who was sitting behind the counter, looking rather bored.
Suddenly, he saw guests enter, and they were three strange guys dressed in black uniforms with red clouds. His eyes narrowed in surprise.
A moment later, the shop owner clearly realized that the other party was not someone to be trifled with. He immediately concealed the surprise on his face, lowered his head and came forward respectfully. He carefully wiped the cleanest and sturdiest table in the shop and respectfully invited the three of them to sit down.
Kisame casually sat down on the bench, leaned his Samehada sword against the table without any ceremony, picked up the menu, flipped through it, and skillfully ordered a few pickled side dishes from the Land of Water and a basket of seafood rice balls.
After ordering, he looked up at Obito and asked, "Sir, are we going straight to find our mission target?"
Obito casually shook his head and said, "No rush. Let's wander around the town and get a feel for the situation. Kirigakure is searching the whole world for the Three-Tails, and the commotion won't be small. It'll be safer to understand the situation before taking any action."
"Understood." Kisame nodded upon hearing this, accepting Obito's arrangement without objection.
Just as Kisame finished speaking, Itachi Uchiha, who hadn't said a word, suddenly raised his head and blurted out, "I'll go."
Obito and Kisame exchanged a sudden glance, stopped what they were doing, and turned to look at Itachi with surprise in their eyes.
Kisame raised an eyebrow, inwardly exclaiming in disbelief.
What's wrong with Daiichi-san?
Kisame and Obito were already very familiar with Itachi's style of doing things. This guy's strength was unfathomable, and he always carried out missions cleanly and efficiently, without any flaws, but at his core, he was a typical efficiency-oriented person who valued saving effort above all else.
He would never expend an extra bit of effort unless absolutely necessary. He would rather sit than stand, and he would rather remain silent than speak. He always preferred to let his companions act first, while he would observe the situation from the sidelines.
Kisame looked Itachi up and down with undisguised surprise, as if trying to glean some clue from his unchanging, cold face.
And he also realized how unusual his sudden suggestion was.
Under the strange looks, he calmly added, "I don't have much of an appetite."
The implication was simply that since they didn't want to eat and were just idling around anyway, they might as well go out and run an errand for everyone.
Before he could finish speaking, Itachi stopped talking.
He didn't wait for Obito's instructions or pay attention to Kisame's reaction. Instead, he stood up from his seat and quickly disappeared among the sparse pedestrians on the street.
Kisame watched Itachi's departing figure for a long while before slowly turning his gaze away, muttering, "Something's been acting strange these past few days—"
As Kisame spoke, he glanced at Obito, his shark-like eyes filled with inquiry.
Obito did not immediately respond to Kisame upon hearing this.
His single eye remained fixed on the doorway where Itachi had disappeared, as if he were lost in thought.
In fact, from the moment Itachi's unusual behavior began, countless guesses had already flashed through Obito's mind.
Now, at this time and in this place, he suddenly shows a level of initiative that is completely different from the past—what does this mean?
"Let him be."
A moment later, Obito uttered those words calmly through his mask, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Then, he instructed, "Kisame, after we finish eating, we'll split up. You'll be in charge of secretly gathering information on the recent activities of the Kirigakure ANBU, and I'll go check out other places."
Obito neither questioned Itachi about his reasons for doing so, nor did he express any objection.
In Obito's view, no matter how deep Itachi's mind was, he couldn't outmaneuver him.
Moreover, he also wanted to take this opportunity to observe what this extremely cunning Uchiha genius was planning recently.
Perhaps Itachi's unexpected initiative will bring him some unexpected gains.
"clear."
Upon hearing Obito's instructions, Kisame stopped dwelling on Itachi's unusual behavior, nodded, and then focused on consuming the food in front of him.
In a secluded corner of the coast outside the town, the tides were rhythmically lapping against the rugged, dark rocks on the shore.
Located on the edge of the town, this place is deserted, with only a few seabirds occasionally skimming across the gray sky and uttering a few clear calls.
A figure silently appeared on the rocky shore. Uchiha Itachi glanced around warily, then quickly walked to a sheltered rock and stood still.
He deliberately chose such a secluded location to ensure that he would be difficult to be directly observed from any direction.
After confirming that no one was following or watching him, Itachi pondered for a moment, then slowly raised his hands and began to form hand seals.
Bang!
With a crisp, light sound, a cloud of white smoke quickly dissipated in the sea breeze.
After the smoke cleared, another figure that looked exactly like Itachi appeared in the same spot.
Itachi's gaze fell on the shadow clone he had just created, and a rare look of hesitation appeared in his eyes.