"They're here!"
Four figures emerged from the wind and snow!
When Uchiha Obito saw them, his first instinct was to use Kamui to teleport away immediately. However, two figures instantly appeared by his side!
"Again with this technique!"
Uchiha Obito deeply resented the Flying Thunder God mark on his body, but he had no means to remove it, so he could only enter a phasing state to avoid them.
"Izanagi!"
Uchiha Obito did not expect to be able to defeat them.
Over the past few years, he had tried countless methods and even utilized the Yin-Yang black rods left by Uchiha Madara. Although the black rods were somewhat effective against the reincarnated ones, they were not enough to deal with four Hokages...
Staying here any longer would be pointless.
Remaining here would only result in a beating.
Uchiha Obito quickly formed the hand signs for Izanagi and, during the invincible period of Izanagi, used his Mangekyō Sharingan to transfer himself into the time-space dimension.
Of course.
This was quite troublesome.
Because Uchiha Obito still had to appear from time to time.
If he disappeared from the ninja world entirely, these four Hokages, who had long been buried, would go to the Land of Rain to investigate the Akatsuki organization.
"He escaped again."
Tobirama expressionlessly put away his kunai.
"Let's go."
Minato didn't seem surprised either.
These Hokages had long been accustomed to chasing Uchiha Obito, leaving the area to wait for the next time they sensed his whereabouts.
The Hokages' pursuit of Uchiha Obito relied entirely on White Zetsu Awei's speed. The faster White Zetsu Awei could relay messages between them, the shorter the cycle of Uchiha Obito being hunted and escaping.
Root Base.
Akihara Kagura was twenty-one years old.
Over the past two or three years, Akihara Kagura had obtained many things, mastering the inheritance Uchiha Obito received from Uchiha Madara, as well as Wind Release and Water Release techniques from Sand Village and Mist Village.
To put it seriously...
If the ninjas from Sand Village, Mist Village, or Konoha fought Akihara Kagura, they would find that Kagura could always use the same techniques as them, even more ridiculously than Hatake Kakashi, who had a Sharingan and mastered a thousand jutsus.
"Lord Kagura!"
The sound of high heels approached, and Karin hurriedly reported a message: "There's news from Uchiha Sasuke; Orochimaru's lab has made a new breakthrough!"
Over the past three years, Karin had also changed significantly.
The girl who had been brought to Konoha had grown into a graceful young woman, always dressed in a tight ninja outfit, holding a clipboard and scrolls, bustling around the Root Base.
"What breakthrough?"
Akihara Kagura casually took the scroll from Karin, and after reading it, frowned: "Why is Lord Orochimaru researching puppets? Self-operating puppets, did he even create artificial intelligence inside them?"
Is this reliable?
Akihara Kagura glanced over it and then threw the document back to Karin: "Seal Lord Orochimaru's new breakthrough in the Forbidden Techniques Room of the Root Base. Wait for the information from Kabuto's channels and issue an order prohibiting Lord Orochimaru from using this breakthrough."
"Yes."
Karin nodded and would take the scroll to the Forbidden Techniques Room later.
Over the years, many experimental results had been sent over from Orochimaru's side, most of which had been sealed directly by Akihara Kagura as forbidden techniques, prohibiting anyone from accessing them.
"There's one more thing."
Karin suddenly asked: "Lord Kagura, Uchiha Sasuke wants to challenge Orochimaru. He believes he now has the power to defeat Orochimaru..."
"Let him challenge then!"
Akihara Kagura didn't seem opposed to Uchiha Sasuke challenging Orochimaru, intending to help eliminate potential threats: "Consider it a trial for him. Once he succeeds, have him return and remove the curse mark left by Lord Orochimaru..."
"Also..."
Akihara Kagura folded his fingers and softly added: "Inform Uchiha Sasuke that I will tell Lord Orochimaru about this matter. After all, Lord Orochimaru is our ally, so he should at least be somewhat prepared..."
"Understood."
Karin adjusted her glasses and continued: "The Root intelligence personnel also reported that Jiraiya seems to be bringing Naruto back to the village..."
"Is that so..."
Akihara Kagura thought for a moment before speaking: "Then have Sasuke act quickly. They might still have a chance to meet..."
"..."
Karin felt that Uchiha Sasuke probably didn't want to meet him.
Land of Grass.
Orochimaru's Experimental Base.
Uchiha Sasuke idly played with his kunai, which had a fan-shaped emblem engraved on it. The former little ninja who defected from Konoha had grown into a handsome sixteen-year-old youth.
Moreover...
Orochimaru was quite good at nurturing talents.
Uchiha Sasuke lived well at Orochimaru's base, and due to diligent training, his body had become robust and muscular, his arm muscles appearing strong and powerful.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?"
A young man with a mouth full of shark teeth, carrying a giant sword, approached and planted his sword in the ground: "Want to spar?"
It was none other than Hozuki Suigetsu, the rogue ninja from Mist Village.
Since defecting to Orochimaru, Suigetsu hadn't become one of his experimental subjects but instead his subordinate.
With the Sound Four sacrificed at Konoha and Kaguya Kimimaro dead from illness, Suigetsu and Sasuke had become Orochimaru's trusted lieutenants.
Naturally.
These two who couldn't see eye to eye and had both participated in the Chunin Exams years ago as contemporaries, always ended up fighting each other to determine superiority. Suigetsu, who never admitted defeat, challenged Sasuke repeatedly, not caring about embarrassment, just wanting to test his progress against him.
"You are not my opponent..."
Sasuke lifted his head slightly to glance at Suigetsu: "No matter how many times, the result will be the same..."
"You're even more arrogant than me..."
Suigetsu grinned, kicked up his sword, and with a twist of his wrist, swung the giant blade at Sasuke!
"Fool..."
Sasuke raised his kunai and effortlessly blocked the giant sword, tilting his head slightly to see his kunai stop the attack.
All this...
Felt like destiny.
Once, his teacher Hatake Kakashi had blocked this same sword with a kunai, and now, its new wielder was equally easily stopped by him!
"Your strength has grown..."
Suigetsu smiled and pressed down harder on the sword, trying to push it towards Sasuke.
"Fool..."
Sasuke looked at Suigetsu, feeling his intelligence hadn't increased at all, and his figure vanished!
"Flying Thunder God again?"
Suigetsu sneered but his expression turned serious, swinging his giant sword around himself!
"Fool is always a fool..."
Sasuke appeared above Suigetsu, a bolt of lightning hitting Suigetsu's head, causing him to collapse from the electric shock.
"Ah... ugh..."
Suigetsu's body trembled uncontrollably.
"Did Suigetsu lose again?"
A tall figure in a cloak emerged from the base's depths, looked at the fallen Suigetsu, and felt pity: "Why does he always challenge Sasuke..."
"Not smart enough..."
Sasuke kicked Suigetsu aside, stood up, and left the base, seemingly heading out to train.
Outside Orochimaru's base.
As Sasuke walked to a tree, a hand emerged from its shadow and handed him a note.
"Lord Kagura approved my action..."
"But Orochimaru will also know I intend to kill him? No chance for a sneak attack, but it doesn't matter, Orochimaru is no match for me anymore..."
Sasuke glanced at the note and sighed upon seeing the mention of Naruto returning to Konoha.
In any case...
At least Akihara Kagura supported his challenge against Orochimaru.
For the past two or three years, Sasuke had stayed here, training under Orochimaru. No one in the base was his match, and he believed his strength had far surpassed Orochimaru!
No wonder Sasuke was confident.
With his Three Tomoe Sharingan, Flying Thunder God, and various lightning techniques, along with sword skills and other jutsus he had trained in, defeating any village's jonin was easy. Sasuke was convinced he could defeat Orochimaru!
Late at night.
While Orochimaru was still experimenting.
Akihara Kagura's message would inevitably reach Kabuto first.
Kabuto, holding a scroll, approached Orochimaru: "Lord Orochimaru, a message from Kagura. Your puppet development needs to be sealed..."
"Sealed again?"
Orochimaru frowned, dissatisfied with this method: "Everything I develop gets sealed in the Forbidden Techniques Room..."
"Perhaps it's deemed too dangerous for ordinary people..."
Kabuto casually responded and mentioned the situation in the base: "By the way, Lord Orochimaru, I've observed some odd behavior from Uchiha Sasuke recently. I suspect he plans to assassinate you..."
"Has the Uchiha fledgling finally grown?"
Orochimaru laughed, seemingly looking forward to Sasuke's actions, licking his lips: "Just in time, the three-year term of Living Corpse Reincarnation is up. I need to switch to his body…"
~~~
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