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[News! I've Already Confronted the Five Kage, and the System Just Arrived! Event!!!]
<150 Power Stones/Chapter!>
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After leaving the Valley of End, Gensou found himself in an ordinary town.
Although the letters from the Fourth Raikage, A, had unsettled the shinobi world, life for the ordinary people, who were not shinobi, continued as usual.
Just like this small town, where ninjas rarely visited, the townsfolk lived their lives in peace.
However, today, besides Gensou, a group of unexpected guests bearing Konoha forehead protectors arrived.
"Sasuke, are you okay? Should we rest here for a while?" Sakura asked cautiously, supporting the bandaged Sasuke.
After Tsunade successfully became the Fifth Hokage, Team 7, minus Kakashi due to other missions, took on a B-rank mission in the Land of Tea.
During this mission, they encountered the Konoha rogue ninja Rokusho Aoi, who had stolen the Sword of the Thunder God. Although they managed to defeat him, Sasuke was severely injured.
With no medical ninjutsu skills yet, Sakura could only perform basic bandaging, planning to provide further treatment upon their return to the village.
After a long journey, noticing Sasuke's exhaustion, Sakura made the suggestion to rest.
Naruto, with his usual brashness, raised his hand in agreement: "Yeah! Sasuke, you're sweating a lot. Let's rest here. I'm hungry anyway. Let's grab something to eat!"
Hearing this, Sasuke's expression changed.
Looking at the energetic Naruto, despite also having been injured during the mission, Sasuke felt a surge of anger. Remembering that Naruto was the main reason they defeated Aoi, while he...
An unnamed rage surged within Sasuke.
He coldly replied, "No! We're heading straight back to Konoha!"
With that, he forcefully shook off Sakura's supporting hand and walked away, gritting his teeth against the pain.
"Sasuke!!"
Sakura, filled with worry, quickly followed.
Naruto, scratching his head in confusion, asked, "Sasuke, are you sure you don't want to eat? How about I carry you?"
Despite knowing Naruto's good intentions, Sasuke, always overthinking, clenched his fists and ignored him, continuing to walk until he looked up and saw someone approaching.
"Danger!!!"
In that instant, Sasuke's pupils contracted, and his Sharingan activated in response.
He stopped, staring intently at the approaching figure, a cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"Sasuke, what's..."
Seeing Sasuke suddenly stop, Sakura, who had caught up, was about to ask when Sasuke, snapping out of it, grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him with such force that it caused her pain.
"Sakura!! Sasuke, you..."
Seeing this, Naruto angrily rushed over, ready to scold Sasuke, but before he could, he saw someone familiar in his peripheral vision.
"It's... it's you!!!"
Naruto pointed excitedly at the newcomer, though he couldn't recall the name immediately. He remembered this person had threatened Granny Tsunade and stolen a ninjutsu scroll.
"You thief! Finally, I've found you!"
Without waiting for a response, Naruto rolled up his sleeves, ready to use his Rasengan.
"Wait! Naruto!"
Although not knowing who the person was, Sasuke sensed the danger and tried to stop Naruto.
Normally, Naruto wouldn't stop once he decided to fight. But this time was different.
Just as Naruto took a step forward, his body froze.
It wasn't Sasuke's call that stopped him.
It was...
Gensou glanced their way.
Just that one look.
Naruto, usually fearless, found himself paralyzed, his face turning pale, and his body trembling uncontrollably.
"What... what is this?! Move! Why can't I move?!"
Inside, Naruto screamed, but it was futile.
In that moment, Naruto felt like he was back on his first mission outside the village, witnessing Kakashi being brutally cut into pieces, leaving him blank, scared, and helpless.
He wanted to fight, but Gensou's single glance rendered him motionless.
"This guy! He wasn't like this before! Why! Why does one look from him make me like this?!"
Naruto's mind was filled with confusion, his heart sinking.
Sasuke and Sakura had similar thoughts.
Sakura, unsure of what was happening, felt an indescribable pressure weighing on her, making it hard to breathe.
Sweating more profusely, Sasuke barely managed to glance at the approaching Gensou.
He suddenly remembered encountering Zabuza and Orochimaru.
Back then, he was overwhelmed by their killing intent.
It felt like a young, inexperienced wolf facing a seasoned, blood-stained alpha wolf, naturally suppressed.
But this was different.
Gensou exuded no killing intent. The ordinary townsfolk around them were still laughing and chatting, going about their business.
Yet, that casual glance from Gensou felt like an elephant passing by an ant, unintentionally giving it an overwhelming shock.
Gensou hadn't expected to encounter Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura here.
He marveled at how small the world was, reminiscing as he observed the main characters' real appearances.
Then, amidst their fear, worry, and disbelief, as if nothing had happened, he continued on his way, walking past them without a care.
Having resurrected and returned to Konoha after 60 years, Gensou's priority was the system's missions.
Considering that characters like Sasuke and Naruto would undoubtedly appear in future system missions, and likely not just once or twice, Gensou decided not to harm them now.
He had even asked the system if tasks could be completed if the targets were resurrected through Edo Tensei. The system had mocked him, stating that dead people couldn't complete missions.
As for why he completed the beginner mission while dead, the system explained that he had always existed.
So, even dead, the system considered him alive and required him to complete missions.
What a bizarre conclusion.
Whatever.
Gensou was used to the system's quirks.
(End of Chapter)