The reliability of Zabuza Momochi was indeed a matter worth pondering.
At least for now, this guy seemed somewhat absurd.
Moreover, he genuinely felt as if they were cursed with bad luck.
"Why is it them again?"
Seeing the two white-haired individuals, Obito Uchiha felt his fists clench. Were these people truly relentless, appearing everywhere he went?
"What should we do now?"
Kisame Hoshigaki also felt embarrassed, whispering a question, though he didn't notice Itachi Uchiha had already clenched his fists.
"Sasuke... has he graduated already?"
Seeing Sasuke, he felt a bit dazed. He hadn't expected to encounter Sasuke here!
Watching Sasuke's demeanor, seemingly relaxed and joining Kakashi and others in laughing at Zabuza's misfortune, he took a deep breath.
"Too relaxed. This isn't the mindset of a true avenger!"
In his view, Sasuke should never let his guard down.
He must always maintain his hatred, for only then can he continue to grow, especially in terms of his eyes.
Sasuke's path had already been laid out for him!
"Let's make a move."
With this thought, he suddenly spoke.
"I didn't expect to run into Sasuke Uchiha here. No matter what, I have to test him; he's my backup eyes."
"Oh?"
Obito raised an eyebrow, glancing at Itachi with disdain.
Itachi, however, appeared indifferent, watching Zabuza clamber to his feet and speak.
"Besides, isn't Zabuza someone you wanted to recruit? If we don't do something now, it'll be difficult."
"Do you have any ideas, Itachi-kun?"
Kisame asked quietly, not eager to engage, knowing full well they were outmatched.
"I'll check on Sasuke while you hold them off for just a minute."
Itachi quickly suggested, looking at Obito.
"And by dealing with those brats, I can distract them, making our retreat easier, right?"
"Let's go with that."
Obito didn't object, nodding decisively.
"Then, let's move."
"This is such a hassle."
Kisame cursed under his breath but immediately began forming seals.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
With the surge of violent chakra, a lake-like torrent poured forth, rushing towards Kitagawa Minamoto and the others!
"What's this?"
The overwhelming water flow startled Naruto and Sasuke, its sheer force making them jump!
Yet Kakashi remained calm, quickly forming seals and pressing his hands to the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom—
A massive earth wall rose to block the torrent, providing them enough time to prepare.
"Be careful. It looks like this won't be easy."
Minamoto warned, his gaze shifting to Sasuke.
"Especially you, Sasuke."
"Me?"
Sasuke was puzzled, but Minamoto's gaze had already shifted, for his System had activated!
[Exclusive Side Quest for Sasuke Obtained]
[This is the Brotherhood of Uchiha]
[Help Sasuke face Itachi Uchiha]
[Accept?]
"..."
Seeing the quest, Minamoto could only sigh; indeed, once these kids became ninja, the quests normalized.
"That's right. Looks like someone's here for you."
As he spoke, Sasuke's gaze followed his, fists clenching almost instantly.
"Itachi Uchiha!"
Sasuke roared angrily, rushing forward uncontrollably.
"Sasuke!"
Seeing Sasuke's actions, Naruto hesitated but quickly followed. Itachi, seeing this, didn't hesitate to charge at Sasuke.
"Hey, be careful!"
Kakashi, seeing Sasuke's impulsiveness, was anxious, but Obito had already blocked his path.
"Kakashi, your opponent is me!"
"Damn..."
Kakashi was exasperated, now questioning if Minamoto's words were correct.
His choice in missions seemed truly flawed; a C-rank mission had led to Akatsuki last time, and now another C-rank mission in the Land of Waves.
"They've shown up again!"
But thinking more wouldn't help; Kakashi had to act. Still, he felt reassured.
After all, Minamoto was here!
"Sakura, keep an eye on Tazuna."
Minamoto stretched his neck, his gaze shifting to Kisame and Zabuza, suddenly smiling.
"What a coincidence, all familiar faces."
"Zabuza, your mission conflicts with his. I suggest we team up."
Kisame spoke without arrogance, his voice low.
"Otherwise, none of us will leave here. This guy's terrifying..."
"You don't need to tell me; I already know."
Zabuza shook his head.
"Better worry about your own fate; he's coming!"
Before Zabuza finished speaking, Minamoto had already vanished, leaving them clueless about what had happened.
Zabuza cursed under his breath, feeling cursed, and Kisame felt similarly.
Both drew their blades to defend, though they were slightly too slow.
Buzz—
Minamoto quietly appeared before Zabuza, his short blade slicing across Zabuza's chest.
Slash—
But with one strike, Zabuza turned into a water clone, and Minamoto's blade continued towards Kisame.
"Damn it!"
Kisame's eyes widened, seeing the sharp blade; he gritted his teeth and raised his sword to parry.
"Ninjas don't rely on brute force."
In an instant, Minamoto vanished again, leaving Kisame swinging at air.
Behind him, Minamoto's voice sounded, and a kick sent Kisame flying!
"And using Water Release against me isn't wise, is it?"
Minamoto reappeared, pressing his hand to the water's surface, freezing it instantly!
"Ice Release? Impossible!"
Hidden underwater, Zabuza was startled, unable to comprehend the situation.
He quickly leapt from the water before it froze completely, but Minamoto's White Fang short blade was already upon him.
"Zabuza-sama!"
From nearby, Haku's voice rang out, an ice wall forming to protect Zabuza.
"Too bad, just a bit short."
But the ice wall couldn't withstand Minamoto's blade, shattering as he pierced Zabuza's shoulder.
"Damn..."
Purple lightning erupted, leaving Zabuza paralyzed. Were it not for his Jōnin physique, he'd be immobilized.
Haku appeared then, supporting Zabuza and retreating.
Yet Minamoto, having just delivered a "heavy blow" to Zabuza, vanished again.
In a flash, he appeared beside Kisame!
"Huh?!"
Cold sweat broke out on Kisame's forehead, noticing a kunai on the ground beside him.
"Damn it!"
Before he could raise his sword to defend, Minamoto's blade sliced through.
Slash—
Blood sprayed, and Kisame rolled away, quickly jumping back.
He needed to avoid Minamoto's kunai, but Minamoto was already at Zabuza's side!
"What kind of battle is this?"
The scene seemed chaotic, yet somehow unrelated to Sakura and Tazuna, who found themselves in the safest position.
Watching the fight, especially Minamoto's battle closest to them, left them stunned.
Sakura was witnessing Minamoto in combat for the first time, his ghostly fighting style seeming beyond human capability!
"Is this Senpai Minamoto's strength?"
Tazuna was left numb, never having seen such a spectacle!
"I just wanted to trick Konoha into protecting me while I built a bridge..."
Watching Minamoto, ghost-like and single-handedly overpowering three opponents, sent a chill down his spine.
"He mentioned... killing my entire family?!"
At this moment, he was truly terrified.
"It seems your goal is to recruit Zabuza."
Kakashi and Obito's fight was intense, Kakashi holding a tactical advantage, but Obito's ocular power was superior.
For now, they were at an impasse. Kakashi, blocking Obito's blade, asked quietly.
"Hmph, asking so much won't help you, fool."
Obito sneered, replying dismissively.
"If it were just recruitment, I could've taken Zabuza away already. Guess why I stayed?"
"Stayed..."
Kakashi's gaze grew cold.
"Is your target Sasuke or Naruto?"
"Who do you think Itachi is interested in?"
Obito sneered.
"You fool, you've already lost this time."
He said this deliberately, believing Zabuza's defeat to Kakashi was inevitable, their information exposed.
Coincidentally, Itachi wanted to do something to Sasuke, so he might as well use this opportunity to divert attention!
"So it's Sasuke."
Kakashi nodded, dealing with Obito's attack while speaking again.
"Are you planning something for the Chūnin Exams?"
"!!"
Obito's body stiffened slightly, his expression changing, though his mask concealed everything.
"What are you talking about?"
Dodging Kakashi's Chidori, he feigned disdain, but Kakashi sensed something.
"Don't pretend; we've detected some of Orochimaru's movements. Dare you say otherwise?"
Orochimaru...
Hadn't he left long ago?
How was he involved again?
Moreover, Orochimaru targeting the Chūnin Exams?
And speaking of Orochimaru, he couldn't help but think of Danzō Shimura.
That damned bastard, hadn't he informed them about Orochimaru's activities?
"Idiot!"
Obito kept his composure, sneering coldly.
"Orochimaru defected long ago; his actions have nothing to do with us!"
"Defected long ago?"
Kakashi was puzzled, but Obito didn't give him time to ponder.
"And instead of considering that, why don't you think about Sasuke Uchiha? Kakashi, can you save him?"
"Well, I might not be able to."
Kakashi took a deep breath, no longer dwelling on it. He looked at Obito, speaking coldly.
"But don't forget, we have Minamoto!"
As his words fell, Obito suddenly saw Minamoto quietly appear beside Itachi!
At that moment, he truly panicked.
"Almost done."
Despite dealing with three opponents, Minamoto hadn't forgotten to monitor Sasuke's situation.
Sasuke was overly impulsive, needing a lesson, which was why Minamoto hadn't intervened.
"Besides, they've trained under Jiraiya for so long; it's time to test their progress."
Getting beaten by Itachi was a decent test, after all.
Now, it was about time!
"So then..."
Turning his gaze, Minamoto looked at Kisame and the others, his expression shifting!
"Watch out!"
Minamoto formed a single-handed seal, and countless ice spikes erupted from the ground!
Haku was the first to sense it, shouting a warning as the trio leapt into the air.
"Damn it!"
In that instant, Minamoto charged at them, his lightning-infused short blade targeting Zabuza!
Haku didn't hesitate, flashing in front of Zabuza while forming seals to unleash Ice Release.
Boom—
But Minamoto's blade shattered the ice crystals and Haku's mask instantly!
"Haku!"
Zabuza shouted, rushing to catch Haku, seeing his pale face coughing blood, his heart aching.
Yet Minamoto vanished again, now appearing beside Kisame!
"Damn it!"
Kisame swung his sword swiftly, but Minamoto deftly dodged, kicking him in the stomach.
Boom—
Kisame flew backward, coughing blood, while Minamoto disappeared once more.
Buzz—
His blade struck, this time targeting Zabuza and Haku!
"Zabuza-sama!"
Though weak, Haku still tried to shield Zabuza.
"Stay put for now; I'll deal with you later."
But Minamoto's blade was faster than the two, piercing their right shoulders and pinning them to the ground!
"Good opportunity."
Seeing this, Kisame's eyes lit up, quickly forming seals to unleash Water Release and continue stalling.
"Why isn't it over yet? Hurry up!"
He roared internally, but in the next moment, he froze.
For Minamoto had ghosted beside him during his flight, appearing silently!
"Your seal speed is too slow."
Minamoto spoke lightly, grabbing Kisame's hand and twisting it hard!
Crack—
With the sound of breaking bones, Kisame's fingers were snapped by Minamoto!
The excruciating pain overwhelmed Kisame's senses, yet he remained silent.
His mind held only one thought: this was a battle beyond dimensions!
Though he'd encountered Minamoto multiple times, this was his first direct confrontation, truly experiencing Minamoto's strength.
"Very tough, huh? Not bad."
Minamoto nodded calmly at Kisame's resilience.
"I think Konoha's interrogation squad will like your toughness."
"Good growth."
Watching Sasuke and Naruto coordinate their attack, Itachi nodded internally.
Their teamwork was decent, their performance commendable, yet far from his desired target.
"Is this how you've spent these years?"
His crow clone dodged Naruto, transformed into a windmill shuriken, while Sasuke tried to ambush him.
"You seem to have forgotten everything from that day and your hatred for me."
"Damn you!"
Sasuke roared, his eyes blood-red, yet his Sharingan was still inferior to Itachi's!
"Damn it, die!"
Naruto charged at Itachi again, finding his position, but as he attacked, Itachi turned to gaze at him.
Suddenly, his body froze, and he turned to punch at thin air!
"Damn it, Naruto's caught in a Genjutsu."
Sasuke understood immediately, rushing to intervene.
"You're far too weak."
But Itachi appeared beside Sasuke, punching him hard in the stomach!
"Ugh—"
The intense pain made Sasuke vomit blood, his body convulsing as he knelt.
Yet even then, he drew a kunai, attempting to stab Itachi!
Boom—
But Itachi kicked him in the gut, sending Sasuke crashing into a tree!
Without pause, Itachi was before him, grabbing his throat and pinning him to the trunk.
"Why so weak?"
Itachi's voice was cold, his three tomoe spinning into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Because it's not enough; your hatred for me is far from sufficient. Seems I need to deepen your impression."
"Impression..."
Sasuke struggled to breathe, but hearing this, he understood Itachi's intent.
He began to resist, unable to break free from Itachi's grip, his consciousness fading into black and white.
He'd been pulled into a Genjutsu!
"This is our home."
Itachi's voice echoed as he stood, blade raised to execute their parents nearby!
As he lifted the blade, a cold smile appeared on his face.
"For the next twenty-four hours, you'll wander this day."
"No!"
Watching Itachi's blade fall, Sasuke screamed in rage.
Yet he could do nothing, only watch in horror!
However...
Zzzt—
Suddenly, the sound of roaring thunder filled the air, purple light illuminating the black-and-white world.
In the next moment, the world froze, the purple lightning shining brighter!
"What is this?"
Sasuke murmured, the purple lightning shattering Itachi's form, the world collapsing instantly.
Everything returned to normal, and he saw a white-haired figure's blade falling.
Instantly, blood sprayed.
But this time, it wasn't his parents—it was Itachi!
[Exclusive Side Quest for Sasuke Completed: This is the Brotherhood of Uchiha]
[Reward Obtained: Special Yang Release from Sasuke Uchiha]
(End of Chapter)
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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