Chapter 96: Yang Release Chakra Mode!
"Any clues?"
"Doesn't seem like we've found anything yet."
Inside a dilapidated house in Iwagakure, the Akatsuki members regrouped.
They had already infiltrated the village and started their search, but now it was time to report back — though, unfortunately, none of them seemed to have any results.
"This damn place... Iwagakure's defenses are surprisingly tight. It's making me uneasy," muttered Biwa with a shrug, breaking the silence.
"Though it's still far from the level of Kirigakure, it's troublesome enough," he added.
"Indeed, even using puppets to search hasn't yielded anything," Sasori said, nodding. The lack of progress clearly frustrated him.
"Kakuzu, are you sure your intel is reliable?"
"Yeah. Even if Iwagakure is big, coming up empty-handed seems odd, Kakuzu," Konan chimed in, her sharp gaze fixed on him. The pressure was palpable.
Kakuzu felt the weight of their stares but kept his composure, his voice calm.
"The intel from my spy said Orochimaru is in Iwagakure — nothing more. What do you expect me to do?"
He crossed his arms. "Besides, did any of you really think this would be easy? Iwagakure isn't small — if the intel was that precise, wouldn't it be suspicious?"
Konan considered this and gave a slight nod. "That's a fair point. It's rare for intel to be that accurate."
"Looks like we'll have to keep searching. This is such a—"
Before Konan could finish, the ground suddenly trembled.
A surge of powerful chakra erupted, sending a shockwave through the air.
Their faces darkened.
"This chakra...?"
Konan's eyes darted to the distance, a flash of familiarity stirring within the turbulent chakra's presence.
But the exact reason still eluded her — it felt both familiar and strangely distant.
"Looks like we have a target."
While Konan was lost in thought, Sasori suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"Let's go check it out. Hopefully, this target isn't something too outrageous."
———
"Kakashi Senpai, did you feel that?"
In a corner near the Tsuchikage's office within Iwagakure, Yamato immediately turned to Kakashi the moment he sensed the strange chakra fluctuation.
Their mission was to create chaos around the Tsuchikage's building. As for the exact timing, Haruta hadn't specified — even as the "mastermind," some things were too unpredictable.
So Haruta had simply instructed Kakashi and the others to act as they saw fit.
"This is bad... It does feel like something's gone wrong."
Kakashi also sensed the shift in the situation. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.
"Let's move. That disturbance is bound to draw Iwagakure's attention, and we can't be sure if it's Haruta or Lord Jiraiya fighting over there.
So let's stick to the plan and start creating some chaos here."
"Understood."
Yamato's eyes lit up with excitement.
He had long viewed Haruta as his idol — both were former Root members, both possessed Wood Release, and now they were in the same investigation team. Naturally, Yamato wanted to learn from and emulate Haruta.
Still, Kakashi was his captain, so Yamato waited for his command. Once he got the go-ahead, his enthusiasm soared.
"Senpai Kakashi, let's work together and blow this wide open!"
"Hey, wait—"
Kakashi tried to rein him in, fully aware of Yamato's mindset.
But before he could finish, Yamato was already making his move!
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
With a booming surge of chakra, countless vines and wooden branches burst from the ground, spreading rapidly toward the Tsuchikage's office.
"What's going on?!"
"Damn it, where did all this wood come from?"
"Is this... Wood Release?!"
"How the hell is this happening?"
"Quick! Don't let those vines get any closer!"
The Iwagakure shinobi guarding the Tsuchikage's building were stunned.
Wood Release was a legendary technique — those who had returned from the Kusagakure battlefield had spoken of its fearsome power.
Seeing the surging vines firsthand, panic rippled through the ranks.
Despite their attempts to cut down the encroaching branches, Yamato's Wood Release pressed forward, and soon, a small forest sprouted around the office.
"Now's the time! Senpai Kakashi, use Fire Release!"
Satisfied with the result, Yamato turned to Kakashi, pulling out several kunai adorned with explosive tags from his ninja pouch.
Before Kakashi could respond, Yamato had already hurled them.
Boom—
Boom—
Boom—
A series of violent explosions erupted, the flames licking at the vines. Within moments, the fire spread rapidly, igniting Yamato's wooden constructs.
"..."
Kakashi stood there, frozen.
His hand was still half-raised in the air, trembling slightly as if he had intended to stop Yamato but realized it was already too late.
"Senpai, hurry up! We need more firepower, or the flames won't be strong enough!"
Yamato, oblivious to Kakashi's disbelief, urged him on.
Kakashi's numb gaze shifted to Yamato before he reluctantly formed hand seals, though his thoughts were screaming:
"These Root guys... why is there not a single normal one among them?!"
———
"Shisui, should we move too?"
In another part of Iwagakure, deep within a forest, Yugao turned to Shisui and whispered.
If they were going to create a distraction, it had to be loud.
While Kakashi and Yamato caused trouble near the village center, their role was to stir chaos on the outskirts — and what better way than to "set the mountain on fire"?
Though Iwagakure was mostly rocky and dry, there were still patches of forest — and this particular one had caught Shisui and Yugao's attention.
"Yeah, it's time."
Shisui nodded, though a hint of disappointment flickered across his face.
Was his final mission really just... burning down a forest?
It felt like an insult to his abilities.
Still, Shisui didn't argue — he knew Haruta's plans always spiraled out of control.
No matter how simple a mission seemed, whenever Haruta was involved, it would somehow escalate into a full-blown disaster — the kind that needed a Kage's intervention.
"This won't be boring."
Reassuring himself, Shisui quickly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A blazing dragon of fire roared through the air, crashing into the forest.
The flames spread instantly, and before long, the entire area was engulfed in fire.
Within moments, the once-green forest had become a raging inferno.
"That was too easy… Feels almost strange."
Shisui muttered to himself, but Yugao's gaze was fixed on something in the distance.
"Shisui-senpai, look over there!"
"Hm?"
Shisui followed her line of sight and froze.
In the heart of Iwagakure — near the Tsuchikage's office — flames were shooting skyward, thick black smoke billowing above the village.
Countless shinobi were rushing toward the chaos.
And then it hit him.
"Wait… That's the Tsuchikage's office?!"
Of all the things he expected Kakashi to do — setting the Tsuchikage's office on fire wasn't one of them.
It was the equivalent of burning down the Hokage's building.
Even imagining that sent a shiver down his spine.
"It looks like it."
Yugao's voice wavered, realizing the gravity of the situation. She hesitated before asking:
"What should we do now? Lord Jiraiya is leading this operation, but…"
"Wait… what did you just say?"
Shisui's eyes suddenly lit up, seizing on her words.
"You said Lord Jiraiya is leading the mission?"
"Yes…"
Yugao nodded slowly, then realized what Shisui was implying.
"Shisui-senpai… are you thinking—"
"You heard me! This mission is under Lord Jiraiya's command!"
Shisui repeated, glancing at the blazing forest behind him.
"Haruta may have set this plan in motion, but Lord Jiraiya went in first. We followed to support him, didn't we?"
You're starting to sound just like Haruta…
Yugao's head throbbed.
Haruta was a good person, but his extreme thinking had clearly rubbed off on Shisui.
Before Yugao could voice her concerns, Shisui formed more hand seals.
"Looks like we need to step it up — we can't let Kakashi and the others get overwhelmed. Let's cause even more of a commotion here!"
But… doesn't Kakashi have Haruta's kunai for backup?
Yugao stared at Shisui in silence, sensing that he was starting to act more and more like Haruta.
———
"Who's there?! How dare you set a fire here?"
Suddenly, a cloaked figure emerged from the burning forest. His sharp gaze locked onto Shisui and Yugao.
His powerful presence radiated anger.
The moment Shisui saw him, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
"That's… the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Han?!"
———
"Why do I feel so uneasy…?"
Meanwhile, in Iwagakure, deep within his home, Onoki was wide awake.
It was late, but sleep refused to come. An unsettling premonition gnawed at him.
Restless, he got up, deciding to check on the village — or at least distract himself from the creeping sense of doom.
"Why are you still awake, old man?"
Kurotsuchi's father, Kitsuchi, emerged from his room, clearly on his way to the bathroom.
"It's late — go to bed. You'll be too tired for work tomorrow."
"Hmph! If you were half as diligent, I wouldn't be so busy."
Onoki's irritation flared.
No matter how much he trained Kitsuchi, the boy remained reckless and uninterested in administrative work — a constant source of frustration.
Kitsuchi scratched his head awkwardly, already used to the scolding.
But before he could respond, a distant roar echoed through the night.
A flicker of firelight danced against the walls.
And Onoki's heart sank.
"What the hell is happening now?"
Kitsuchi awkwardly scratched his head, already used to this kind of scolding. After all, hearing it every few days had made him nearly immune.
"Father, you should rest early. Even if you're still strong, there's no need to push yourself so hard. The village is perfectly safe."
"Safe?"
Onoki scoffed, giving Kitsuchi a sideways glance.
"Safe, you say? You got yourself captured, didn't you? And didn't the Kusagakure dare to conduct experiments on the Uzumaki clan right under Konoha's nose?"
"Wasn't that just your speculation, and you leaked the intel to Konoha?"
"How was I supposed to know it was true? Who would've thought they had the guts! And you — you got caught by some brat from Konoha!"
"But that was Wood Release..."
"Wood Release this, Wood Release that — stop making excuses!"
The more they talked, the angrier Onoki became.
Yes, he admitted Wood Release was formidable, but Kitsuchi had barely resisted before being captured. How was that acceptable?
Even if it was Wood Release, it wasn't like the brat was Hashirama himself!
The thought of it all left Onoki speechless with frustration.
Kitsuchi, realizing his father's mood, wisely chose to stay silent. He didn't want to add fuel to the fire.
Honestly, he was beginning to regret coming out of his room at all.
Why did he have to go to the bathroom right now?
For a moment, the entire living room fell into silence — but luckily, that silence was quickly broken!
Buzz—
A surge of chakra rippled through the air. Both Onoki and Kitsuchi's expressions sharpened as they rushed to the window and looked outside.
"That was..."
Kitsuchi furrowed his brow, and Onoki replied in a low voice.
"Looks like some fools dared to stir up trouble in our village..."
Though they didn't know who the intruders were, anyone bold enough to cause such a commotion during Iwagakure's curfew clearly wasn't an ordinary person — and it definitely wasn't someone from the village.
"It seems just one negotiation with Konoha is enough for people to think I'm already dead," Onoki snorted coldly. He turned to Kitsuchi.
"Go call the ANBU and have them—"
"Father, look!"
Before Onoki could finish, Kitsuchi's face twisted in shock as he pointed outside, his entire body trembling.
Feeling something was off — especially with the sudden heat radiating from behind — Onoki slowly turned his head.
The next moment, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Because right before him... the Tsuchikage's office was ablaze!
The roaring flames lit up the night sky, fierce and blinding.
At that moment, Onoki felt his rage reach a boiling point.
———
"Who are you?"
While chaos raged outside, Haruta and the others remained relatively unaffected for now.
Bound by wooden vines, Nono Yakushi stared at Haruta, her face filled with confusion.
The young man before her was undeniably handsome, and there was something strangely familiar about him — but she couldn't recall ever meeting him.
At least, not since she had infiltrated Iwagakure.
She was certain she had no impression of this boy.
"Director..."
Kabuto's voice broke, his usual calm demeanor replaced by visible distress. He stepped forward urgently, calling out.
"It's me, Kabuto! I'm Yakushi Kabuto! And this is Haruta — Shigaru Haruta! Don't you remember us?"
"Ka... Kabuto? Haruta?"
Nono looked even more bewildered. She struggled to piece together the situation.
As the "Wandering Witch," she had a keen sense of reading people — and she could tell that neither of these boys meant her any harm.
But the names they mentioned didn't match the photos Danzo had given her.
Something was wrong.
"Idiot."
Haruta, seeing Kabuto so worked up, pushed him aside with a sigh.
With a helpless look, he turned to Nono.
"The reason is simple: we were all deceived by Danzo. He never gave us a chance to return to the orphanage or get any updates about you.
And the photos he gave you? All fake — none of them show what we really look like."
"You mean..."
A flash of hesitation crossed Nono's eyes. She understood the implications but struggled to believe Danzo would go that far.
"Why would he... Why would Danzo do this?"
"Haruta told me..."
Kabuto, having calmed down, spoke softly.
"No one who enters Root ever leaves — unless they die.
Haruta saw through Danzo's schemes. He suspected you might be here, Director.
We..."
"Enough. Let's talk about this later — we have more pressing matters to deal with."
Haruta interrupted, shaking his head.
He wasn't opposed to hearing Kabuto's explanations, but this wasn't the time.
Looking upward, he pointed.
"See that? We've got bigger problems."
"...That's..."
Nono was still grappling with everything when she followed Haruta's gaze — and her pupils shrank in shock.
"Lord Jiraiya... and Orochimaru?"
"Lord Jiraiya is my squad leader. We're here because of a lead about Orochimaru."
Haruta explained casually.
"As for Orochimaru... he's likely here to clean up loose ends.
To put it bluntly, whoever survives between you two — he'll be the one to kill the other.
And let's be honest — this whole mess ties back to Root.
No matter how this ends, we're all Root shinobi. So..."
Kabuto and Nono exchanged a glance, instantly understanding Haruta's unspoken warning.
No matter what, they couldn't speak of this.
Because this wasn't just about survival — it was about not digging their own graves.
Even Nono, still skeptical of Danzo's betrayal, dared not refute Haruta's logic.
After all, Jiraiya's presence lent credibility to the entire situation.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, the vines binding Nono unraveled. She stumbled slightly, and Kabuto rushed to support her.
"Alright, we can talk more later. For now, you two need to get out of here."
Haruta eyed them both and continued.
"Captain Jiraiya made too much noise.
Even with the traps I set elsewhere, the distraction won't last long.
Kabuto, you have my Flying Thunder God seal on you — we'll all regroup soon."
Flying Thunder God...?
Wasn't that the Fourth Hokage's technique?
And earlier — that was Wood Release, wasn't it?
Nono's mind reeled.
Everything she'd witnessed tonight seemed to shatter her understanding of reality.
And yet Kabuto appeared entirely unsurprised — as if he'd grown used to such absurdity.
What in the world had happened while they were apart?
"What about you? Aren't you coming with us?"
Despite her confusion, Nono still voiced her concern.
"No need to worry about me, Director."
Haruta's gaze shifted upward once again as he slowly donned his mask.
"I have unfinished business to take care of."
———
"Orochimaru! Stop being so stubborn!"
On the battlefield, Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta, shouting at Orochimaru.
But even as he called out, Gamabunta showed no mercy to Manda — his massive blade already swinging down toward the snake's head.
The two summon beasts harbored a mutual hatred for each other.
There was no room for negotiation.
Manda dodged the strike, coiling tightly around Gamabunta and baring his fangs — ready to sink them into the giant toad.
"Stubborn?"
Orochimaru chuckled coldly at Jiraiya's words.
"You know what I despise about you the most?
You always act like you understand everything — like you're above it all, refusing to get involved.
You play the fool while aiding others' schemes.
And then you show up here, begging me to return to that wretched village?
Who do you think you are?"
Orochimaru's voice dripped with venom.
"Go back to clinging to your toads and dreaming your silly dreams.
By the way — have you found your so-called 'Child of Prophecy' yet?
The last one... was Namikaze Minato, wasn't it?
Seems like everyone you call the Child of Prophecy ends up dead."
"You bastard—"
Jiraiya's anger flared at the cruel jab.
Orochimaru's words were always like poison — sharp and cutting.
"Looks like I'll have to beat some sense into you and drag you back myself. Gamabunta!"
"Tch. Less talking, more fighting."
Gamabunta grumbled but obeyed, leaping into the air.
A stream of oil spewed from his mouth, and Jiraiya quickly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
"Tch... Annoying."
Seeing the deadly mix of oil and fire rapidly forming a sea of flames, Orochimaru's expression darkened.
But he wasn't without options.
As Manda retreated, Orochimaru's hands flashed through seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent gust of wind roared forward, extinguishing the flames directly in front of him — though the surrounding areas still burned, limiting Manda's movement.
"Now's our chance! Gamabunta, attack!"
Jiraiya saw an opening and shouted.
Gamabunta growled but lunged at Orochimaru.
Boom—
The ground shook as the colossal beasts clashed.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Orochimaru engaged in close combat — their movements swift, each strike a blur.
"You're coming back to Konoha — whether you like it or not!"
Jiraiya panted as he fought, but Orochimaru sneered.
"Still as foolish as ever.
Why would I return with you?
You should be worrying about yourself — especially after causing such a mess right after negotiating with Iwagakure."
"Don't twist my words—"
"Twist?
You think no one's watching?
You're a fool, but not so much that people don't recognize you."
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, knowing Orochimaru was right.
He'd created a massive scene — and explaining this to Konoha later would be a nightmare.
But that was a problem for future Jiraiya.
Right now, he had to stop Orochimaru.
"Captain Jiraiya, looks like you're in a bit of trouble."
Suddenly, a voice echoed between them.
Both Jiraiya and Orochimaru instantly leapt back.
"That voice..."
Orochimaru frowned. This voice sounded somewhat familiar, but more than that, a shadow flickered in his eyes.
Appearing so silently beside them—it immediately reminded him of a certain technique.
"Haruta?"
Jiraiya didn't have time to overthink it. He turned his head, and his face immediately lit up with joy.
"What are you doing here? No, never mind that—hurry up and capture Orochimaru! This time, we can't let him escape!"
"Haruta?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow when he heard the name. How could he not recognize it?
This kid had delivered research materials to him several times—and he was also the spy that Danzo had planted beside Uchiha Shisui!
"The one in Konoha who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique… turns out to be him?"
Orochimaru wasn't completely in the loop. After all, he had left Konoha a long time ago, and there was no way Danzo would casually share certain intel with him.
He only knew that some interesting individuals had appeared in Konoha—such as Uchiha Shisui, who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, someone who had mastered the Flying Thunder God, and the recent reappearance of Wood Release.
But aside from Shisui's identity, he hadn't been able to confirm much else. He had never imagined that the user of the Flying Thunder God Technique was this very same kid.
"It seems Danzo really is trying to take me down this time."
For a brat with the Flying Thunder God Technique to be here, there was no way Danzo wasn't involved!
"I get it now."
Haruta sighed and gave Jiraiya a helpless look. This guy had just shouted his name out loud—wasn't that revealing critical information?
After all, he and Orochimaru were old acquaintances.
Since it had come to this, there was only one thing left to do—draw his blade!
Boom!
In an instant, Haruta clasped his hands together, and an overwhelming surge of chakra burst forth!
"This is…"
Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly—he could feel an ominous presence descending upon him.
The next moment, the ground beneath him was suddenly covered in a vast expanse of trees. Countless vines and branches twisted and coiled, frantically wrapping around Manda!
"Wood Release? Him too?"
Orochimaru's expression darkened. He even started to wonder if this brat was one of his past experiments.
But he quickly realized something was off—these Wood Release techniques carried a strong life force, something his past research subjects had never displayed!
"An awakened ability… from the Senju Clan?"
There was no time for further thought. Orochimaru ignored Manda, who was being drained of chakra, and leaped away from the giant serpent's body.
"Where are you going, Lord Orochimaru?"
But at that moment, Haruta's figure suddenly appeared in front of him. The next instant, Haruta swung his fist!
Bam!
Orochimaru groaned in pain as his body was sent flying!
With a physique rated LV11, Haruta had already surpassed the system's evaluation standards.
Of course, the main reason was that the system had no such category as "Super Kage"—but even so, this level of physical strength was beyond what most could withstand!
Orochimaru crashed hard into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Flying Thunder God… Just where did he come from?"
But Orochimaru was still Orochimaru. Within the swirling dust, he swiftly stood up. Even though his body was twisted, a few simple motions put him back in place.
The Soft Physique Modification—he was becoming more and more like a real snake.
"Of course, through the markers, Lord Orochimaru."
As if responding to him, Haruta's figure appeared behind him once again—only this time, his strength had increased!
"Damn…"
Orochimaru's face darkened. Unfortunately for him, Haruta's Flying Thunder God Technique was far more unpredictable than Minato's.
He wasn't using kunai at all—he was moving by leveraging Wood Release!
Without any visible projectile movement, his teleportation became utterly elusive. Even someone as powerful as Orochimaru was struggling to keep up!
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
A series of heavy impacts rang out as Orochimaru was sent flying repeatedly.
Off to the side, Gamabunta and Jiraiya—who stood atop his head—watched in stunned silence.
Especially when Manda, having been drained of too much chakra, roared in frustration—"Orochimaru, you owe me 100 sacrifices for this!"—before promptly leaving.
Gamabunta couldn't help but sneer.
"You're seriously pathetic, getting beaten up like this. And why the hell didn't you bring this guy earlier if he's this strong?"
"…"
Jiraiya was speechless. He had known Haruta was powerful—after all, this was the guy who had captured both the Fourth Raikage and the Third Tsuchikage's son.
But he never imagined that Haruta would be this monstrous!
"His speed, his strength… everything about him is terrifying. And his Flying Thunder God is incredibly strange. How is he even moving like that?"
"You're asking me? Shouldn't you know better? Didn't Minato use the same technique?"
"But I don't know how to use it…"
"Exactly why you're an idiot!"
Jiraiya was left speechless after Gamabunta's jab. He truly had no idea how Haruta was pulling this off.
Meanwhile, after enduring countless blows, Orochimaru was gradually adapting.
"It's Wood Release… and Flying Thunder God… He's using surrounding Wood Release structures as jump points for teleportation?"
Orochimaru scanned his surroundings, forming a theory in his mind. As he did, his arms began to writhe—countless venomous snakes slithered out.
As they opened their mouths, a grayish-yellow mist seeped into the air, quickly spreading around him.
Clearly, Orochimaru had realized that dealing with Flying Thunder God head-on was a bad idea—so he resorted to poison to keep Haruta at bay!
And sure enough, as soon as Haruta saw the poisonous mist, he stopped moving. But he also took the chance to observe his surroundings.
"Kid, you're far stronger than I expected."
Orochimaru had noticed something, but his focus remained on Haruta. He licked his lips and spoke in an eerie tone.
"Wood Release and Flying Thunder God… You're truly remarkable. No one would have guessed that you're actually a Senju descendant!"
"…"
Haruta pressed his lips together. Here we go again.
"But are you sure you want to keep following Danzo?"
Before Haruta could respond, Orochimaru continued with a sinister chuckle.
"Do you know why you're here? And do you know why I'm here?"
"…"
Haruta blinked. He had no idea what Orochimaru was getting at. But one thing was becoming clear.
"The Akatsuki is coming. Looks like I need to get serious."
Until now, Haruta hadn't been fighting at full power.
He had only been using a combination of Wood Release and Flying Thunder God. And in a battle where his teleportation markers were unknown, any opponent would suffer.
The Fourth Raikage had fallen for it. Orochimaru was falling for it. But Orochimaru was smart—he was already shifting to wide-range attacks and defenses, making it harder for Haruta to strike freely.
And it was clear—Orochimaru was testing Haruta's abilities. But now, it was time for him to get serious as well!
"We've all been caught in Danzo's scheme."
Haruta didn't respond, but Orochimaru didn't care. He licked his lips again and grinned.
"He sent me here to take care of two people. But clearly, he sold me out—otherwise, you and Jiraiya wouldn't be here."
"Especially you. Do you know who I was supposed to eliminate?"
Orochimaru's smirk widened.
"Your dear old friends—Kabuto Yakushi and Nonō Yakushi!"
At that moment, his chakra flared violently, an eerie blue glow shimmering around him.
"They both wanted to leave Root. And Danzo could never allow that. So, they had to die—and I was sent to clean it up.
But he had you come here… so you'd see their corpses and think I was the one behind it. That way, you'd be even more tied to him.
Because only he… has the intelligence to track me down.
I must say, Danzo played his hand well. But unfortunately, he underestimated Jiraiya's interference.
Still, some things are already set in motion.
So tell me… Do you really want to keep following a man like that?"
Orochimaru spoke his thoughts aloud, but Haruta could only stare, dumbfounded.
What the hell?
I wasn't even trying to frame him yet—why is he already convinced?
But thinking about it… given the situation and Danzo's history…
Maybe this really was the most logical conclusion.
"Oh, looks like we've got another person disgusted by that bastard Danzo."
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.
Haruta and Orochimaru weren't surprised. They both instinctively looked up.
Under the moonlight, four figures in black cloaks with red clouds appeared in the distance!
"More enemies?"
Jiraiya, still standing on Gamabunta's head, stared in disbelief at the newcomers.
Judging by their attire, he could immediately tell—they were from the Akatsuki!
It all lined up. Everything Haruta had predicted was coming true!
"That is…"
Among the Akatsuki members, Konan's expression darkened as she gazed at the massive toad in the distance.
"Jiraiya-sensei…"
She hadn't expected to run into Jiraiya here of all places.
No wonder the chakra fluctuations earlier had felt so familiar.
But there was no turning back now. She could only brace herself and move forward.
"Oh? So you have companions as well?"
Haruta glanced at the newcomers, cutting off whatever Orochimaru was about to say.
"Not surprising, I suppose. The Akatsuki gathers rogue ninja from all villages. And Lord Orochimaru, you are a rogue ninja from Konoha.
It's no shock that you're tangled up with them."
"…"
Now it was Orochimaru's turn to be at a loss for words.
He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Kakuzu spoke up.
"Orochimaru is naturally one of us.
And I see you're here as well, brat.
From the looks of it, you're fighting Orochimaru. Well, perfect. We'll take care of you too!"
"…"
Orochimaru gave Kakuzu a strange look.
He could recognize Kakuzu's identity, but… had they ever even spoken before?
"As expected—like attracts like."
Haruta gave Kakuzu a knowing glance, then turned to Orochimaru before he could respond.
"In that case, I won't hold back.
This is the perfect chance to test my latest research.
After all the time I've spent on it, it's about time I see how well it works!"
"…"
Orochimaru suddenly had a bad feeling.
No matter what he said now, it seemed impossible to clear things up anymore!
Orochimaru glanced at Haruta, who was rapidly gathering chakra, then shifted his gaze to Jiraiya, who stood atop Gamabunta, already prepared to strike.
He rubbed his forehead in frustration. He couldn't figure out what Haruta was thinking—was it because Jiraiya was here that he didn't dare reveal his stance?
Buzz—
In the next moment, his expression changed slightly.
Not only him—Jiraiya and the approaching Akatsuki members also showed signs of unease.
Haruta's body suddenly radiated a fierce chakra, but within that chakra, there was also a distinct, natural energy!
"This… Natural Energy?"
Jiraiya stared at Haruta in disbelief. And then, he noticed something else.
"This chakra… it feels like the same one that drew me here…"
As this overwhelming chakra flooded outward, Haruta's body shimmered with golden light.
For a moment, he almost looked like a future version of Naruto in his Sage of Six Paths form!
Unfortunately, there were no Truth-Seeking Orbs, nor any chakra-formed tomoe patterns. But even so, Haruta was already quite satisfied.
He lifted his head, looked at Orochimaru, and suddenly grinned.
Buzz—
In an instant, he ignored the poisonous mist and appeared directly in front of Orochimaru, a kunai now in his hand.
"Lord Orochimaru, you got one thing wrong."
The kunai spun through the air, slicing with a sharp whistle.
At the same time, Haruta's voice rang in Orochimaru's ears—causing his pupils to narrow in shock!
"Lord Danzo asked me to send you his regards.
And then… you can rest in peace."
***
Currently this fic has upto 144 chapter.
If you wish to read ahead and support me:
[email protected]/NahinS77