LRAB Chapter 45 Each Other's Plans
Chapter 45 Each Other's Plans
After bidding farewell to Tsunade, Reikawa Uzumaki finally gained a formal identity in Konoha.
In her office, Tsunade pondered the meaning of "living" that Uzumaki Reikawa had just spoken of, but he still didn't mention his true origins. Tsunade didn't gain any more useful information from this exchange.
However, their stance has been confirmed: as long as they don't pose a threat to Konoha and will help deal with Akatsuki, that's enough.
Based on Tsunade's brief, probing exchange, Reikawa Uzumaki's strength is definitely no less than mine!
On his way back, Uzumaki Reikawa thought to himself: I'm a member of the official staff now, and my ninja rank has been directly changed to Jonin. Looking at the Konoha headband in his hand, Uzumaki Reikawa tapped it with his fingers and a smile appeared on his face. He had always tied it to his arm before, but he would try wearing it on his head next time.
Hopefully, there won't be another chance to cut him. He stopped in his tracks; before him lay the new residence Tsunade had assigned him—a two-story house with a small courtyard. Considering Konoha's current finances, they'd really gone all out. Hmm, freebies are always great!
Just as Reikawa Uzumaki was checking his house, a loud "Bang!" suddenly came from the doorway, startling Reikawa Uzumaki so much that he instinctively shrank back.
"Is Brother Lingchuan here?" Naruto pulled Sasuke, who had a dark expression on his face, into the courtyard.
"Not here!"
The next moment, just as Naruto was completely bewildered, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his butt. He and Sasuke were kicked away one after the other, and the door slammed shut behind them with a "bang!"
You rude brat!
When Naruto came to his senses, he rubbed his sore backside, knocked on the door, and leaned against it, calling out, "Brother Lingchuan, I was wrong! We need your help, please open the door!"
After a while, seeing that the door in front of him was still not open, Sasuke thought that because of Naruto's idiot, his trip today had been in vain.
The door suddenly opened again. Naruto hadn't expected this. Because he was leaning against the door, he was about to fall face-first when the door opened, but was lifted up by Reikawa Uzumaki with one hand.
He then looked at Sasuke helplessly and said, "Come in! Remember to close the door behind you."
After changing their shoes and sitting down, Naruto and Sasuke were exchanging glances and neither spoke first. Uzumaki Reikawa, speechless, asked, "What's going on between you two?"
"Brother Lingchuan, Grandma Tsunade told me that you're very strong and can help me control the Nine-Tails, is that true?!"
"..."
"!" Sasuke was somewhat surprised and looked at Reikawa Uzumaki. Had he actually come clean with the Hokage? It seemed that the explanation he had prepared beforehand was no longer valid. As for the fact that he and Naruto came together, it was purely by chance that they met on the way.
"...What's wrong, Sasuke?"
"fine……"
"If you have nothing else to do, turn left when you leave. Goodbye!"
Seeing that Reikawa Uzumaki was really going to send him away, Sasuke quickly said, "Okay, I have something to do, but I want to wait until Naruto leaves before we talk."
Naruto: "??? What are you hiding from me?"
"It's none of your business."
"Tch~" Naruto pouted, looking like he didn't care to know.
"Naruto, I think you should be able to get an answer to your question by tomorrow. Now, please leave for a moment."
"But……"
"But then, you'll train on your own tomorrow."
"Alright..." Naruto hesitated for a long time, looking back every few steps, before finally going out.
Seeing that Naruto had left, just as Reikawa Uzumaki was about to say something to Sasuke...
Sasuke suddenly made a tic-tac-toe gesture with his head, indicating that he would go out for a moment.
The next moment, there was a few ping-pong sounds from upstairs before it quieted down. Naruto, who was hiding upstairs, was knocked unconscious by Sasuke, his eyes turned into mosquito coils, and he was tied up.
"That's cruel..." Just hearing the sound made me feel the pain.
Sasuke sat down again and asked, "I'd like to ask if you know anything about the Uchiha Genji?"
It's right in front of you.
"Uchiha Gen...? I know him, he even gave me a mask." Uzumaki Reikawa stroked his chin, getting into character.
"!! You know him? Where is he now?" Sasuke was overjoyed upon hearing this.
"I don't know if we can be considered acquaintances, we only met once. As a member of the same clan, shouldn't you know more about the movements of your own people than I do?" Uzumaki Reikawa asked in return.
Suddenly, the topic shifted: "But speaking of which, although we've never fought, I'm sure he's quite strong. Akatsuki would probably be very interested in him; maybe he's right there?"
Sasuke frowned upon hearing this. "Akatsuki again? Itachi's in that organization too?" he asked. "Then can you take me out of the village?"
"What's wrong? Do you want to cut your headband?"
"No, it's just that I have a truth that I need to find out, so I owe you a favor." Sasuke said this with a sincere and serious expression, no longer the way someone owed him money.
Reikawa Uzumaki remained silent. Why does that tone of "getting something for nothing" sound so familiar?
"You're not strong enough."
"But now, even Kakashi-sensei can't beat me anymore."
Reikawa Uzumaki didn't believe his explanation. After all, if it were really as Sasuke said, then Kakashi would be far too weak.
Reikawa Uzumaki shook his head and said, "...That's because your teacher is letting you win. If you don't believe me, you can try sparring with other Jonin. Even if you can hold your own against Kakashi for a while, it's only because he's your teacher and you're used to his attack style."
Seeing Sasuke's unconvinced look, Uzumaki Reikawa suddenly laughed: "Why don't you try me first? I promise I won't exceed the strength of a Chunin."
Sasuke's expression darkened further upon hearing this. Was he being told that he couldn't even beat a Chunin? "No need, just come at me."
"Go ahead and try?" Uzumaki Reikawa suddenly appeared behind Sasuke and placed a kunai against Sasuke's neck. "Are you sure?"
Suddenly, Sasuke exploded into a wooden stake, and a Lightning Blade came down from above towards the location of Reikawa Uzumaki.
"Very fast." However, Reikawa Uzumaki praised, but the next moment he directly threw out a Vajra Lock chain, which bound Sasuke and threw him to the ground. The Lightning Blade also disappeared automatically.
Sasuke struggled on the ground, but his chakra flow had slowed considerably, making it impossible for him to break free. He was filled with mixed emotions and wanted to shout: "You cheated!!"
However, the Adamantine Sealing Chains were indeed Reikawa Uzumaki's ability, but it seemed too overpowered in his hands. This also woke Sasuke from the illusion that he had developed due to his increased strength.
"Don't be so stubborn, you're the one who told me not to hold back." Uzumaki Reikawa said with a smile. Actually, he had been a bit too optimistic to say that he would only use Chunin strength. He might have gotten beaten up by Sasuke a few times.
To be fair, Sasuke's strength has indeed improved quite a bit: "Speaking of which, I can promise you that once I've settled things with Naruto, I can take you out. During this time, you should study hard with Kakashi-sensei. If possible, you can ask other Jonin for guidance. Hmm—you can ask anyone except the one with the thick eyebrows."
On the other side, Karin looked at the teeth marks on her arm gradually disappearing, her heart filled with emotion. "Sakura, thank you...!"
Sakura wiped the sweat from her brow, her green eyes crinkling into crescents, indicating it was alright. She smiled at Karin and said, "It's okay, aren't we friends?"
As the teeth marks gradually disappeared, Sakura felt a great sense of accomplishment. After learning what Sakura had done, Tsunade entrusted the task to her, which would also allow the future medical ninja to receive some training.
Looking at her smooth arm, as if the previous teeth marks had never existed, Karin suddenly said with a determined look in her eyes, "I don't know if it's possible, but I also want to learn medical ninjutsu."