Half an hour later
Ryosuke returned to earth through Yomotsu Hirasaka.
For half an hour, he tested the effects of various sage arts and other large-scale ninjutsu on that barren planet.
The final conclusion was the same as before.
He shouldn't use this type of techniques when his allies are around him.
But if only enemies are there, then he can use it casually.
Akatsuki base
In a room, Sasuke was holding a kunai and carving a piece of wood.
Sasuke used the kunai in his hand to quickly cut the surface of the wood.
This piece of wood gradually became a lifelike statue.
"Mom, are you okay?"
Sasuke looked at the statue in his hand, then put it on his bedside table.
On the bedside table, several similar statues were placed.
Some of these statues are represent Sasuke's father Fugaku, as well as his friend Naruto.
At the same time, there were also some clan members.
There are more than a dozen statues on the bedside table.
Sasuke had carve these himself during this period of time.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Sasuke, are you in there? Are you there? Are you there? Are you there?"
A knock sounded on the door, accompanied by a noisy voice.
Sasuke frowned, knowing that it was Tobi.
"Looking for me?"
Sasuke opened the door and looked at Tobi outside the door.
In half a year, Sasuke has fully adapted to life in Akatsuki. Now, like Tobi, he is also an intern.
As long as an official member dies, he can step up to become an official member.
But it could also be Tobi, who takes the member's place.
But if two members die, both of them can be promoted.
But Sasuke was not too concerned about whether he could be promoted.
What he cares more about is when his strength can reach Kage-level?
When can he awaken the Mangekyō?
When can he kill that beast Itachi?
In the past six months, under Menma's guidance, Sasuke's strength has greatly improved compared to six months ago.
Now, he can kill an Elite Jōnin relatively easily even without relying on Kirin.
According to Menma's evaluation, he already has quasi-Kage-level strength.
What is quasi-Kage-level?
Menma had told Sasuke that quasi-Kage-level is similar to a special Jōnin.
That is, a ninja,vwho has reached Kage-level in one aspect but is at the Elite Jōnin level in other aspects.
For example, Sasuke's Lightning release's lethality has reached Kage-level.
But his other aspects are only at Elite Jōnin level.
Although he is not weak anymore, he's still not strong enough to kill Itachi and take revenge for his parents and clan.
Tobi said, "Sasuke, there is a new mission coming. Menma-san asked you to go with me this time, but he himself won't go."
Tobi stood at the door, looking into the room while talking. It looked like he was checking if Sasuke was hiding someone in the room.
Sasuke said with a dark face, "I know, and there is no one hiding in my room. Did you talk nonsense in front of Menma-sensei last time, saying that I hid a woman in the room?"
"Ah?! You know this?!" Tobi said subconsciously.
Then, he quickly covered his mouth and shook his head frantically.
"No, that was not me!"
Sasuke slammed the door shut with a dark face.
The door panel almost hit Tobi's head.
"Call me when you leave."
Sasuke's angry voice came from inside the door.
"Ah~! Ah~! Did I make Sasuke angry? This is bad!"
Tobi stood at the door swaying left and right, like a psychopath.
In the room
Sasuke returned to the bed and sat down. He continued to look at the wood carvings on the bedside table.
...
Otogakure
In an underground laboratory
Orochimaru, whose hands had not yet recovered, was researching something in a white coat.
At this time, a sound of footsteps came from outside.
As the laboratory door opened, Kabuto walked in from the door.
"Lord Orochimaru, here!" Kabuto stepped forward and said.
"Oh~!"
Orochimaru put down the things in his hands. After several improvements, his hands have become a glove-like booster, reflecting the luster of metal under the light.
He turned to look at Kabuto and asked, "Where?"
"It's in the Uzumaki country, in the mask hall of the Uzumaki clan!" Kabuto spoke quickly.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, then nodded and said, "Kabuto, you can go out with me later."
"Okay, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto nodded.
He knew where Orochimaru was going. For more than half a year, Orochimaru has been studying how to heal his fingers.
He studied for a long time and finally found that he can only recover his hands by taking back his soul from the Shinigami.
So he began to study the reaper death seal and the origin of this sealing technique.
Finally, he found some information about Shinigami masks, as well as information about Shinigami rituals.
So he sent Kabuto to find the whereabouts of the Shinigami mask.
Finally, there is news from Kabuto. This made Orochimaru very happy inside.
Although he can use mechanical hands, they are not as flexible as his original ones whether in combat or doing research and invention.
So, it would be best to get his fingers back.
"By the way, how is the investigation about Sasuke going?"
Orochimaru suddenly asked Kabuto who had turned to leave.
"Ah?!"
Kabuto froze for a moment, then quickly replied, "Well, Sasuke spends most of his time at the base of the Akatsuki."
"Our people can't get close to Amegakure, but he occasionally comes out to perform some missions. But every time, that masked guy is next to him."
Masked guy...
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru couldn't help gnashing his teeth.
That bastard!
He snatched Sasuke, his vessel from him even after taking his things.
If it wasn't for Orochimaru knowing that he couldn't beat him, he would have come to settle accounts.
But now?
Forget it, let's recover first.
As for Sasuke?
Hum~!
Just leave him with that guy for the time being.
When his body heals again, he will personally go over and capture Sasuke back.
As long as he hides, even that Uchiha can't find him.
"I know your secret!" Orochimaru sneered.
Others don't know his secret, but how could Orochimaru not know?
This masked Uchiha and Konoha's Ryosuke definitely know each other very clearly, and at least they have a cooperative relationship.
Last time, he had heard that Sasuke was taken away from Konoha by that masked Uchiha.
He also had a big fight with Ryosuke.
Others were skeptical of the strength of both parties mentioned in the newspaper.
And Orochimaru suspected that these two people were match-fixing.
But!
On this basis, there is no way to threaten either the masked Uchiha or Ryosuke.
If these two most powerful existences are angered, Orochimaru couldn't guarantee that he would survive.
So, he will not disclose this information unless it is absolutely necessary.
Two days later
Konoha
Karin's house
In the bedroom
Ryosuke woke up from a deep sleep.
He glanced at Karin who was curled up in his arms
She was already awake but she was deliberately pretending to be asleep.
"Get up, don't stay in bed."
Ryosuke pinched Karin's nose, and the latter opened her eyes to look at Ryosuke.
"No, I still want to hold you and sleep for a while longer." Karin said coquettishly.
"Just for a while, okay?"
She said, holding up one finger.
"Okay, just for a while."
Ryosuke shook his head with a smile but agreed softly.
Half an hour later
Ryosuke felt that this moment was somewhat long.
Ryosuke said, "It's been half an hour. Get up quickly. Have you forgotten what day it is?"
'What day is it today?'
Karin thought for a while and suddenly remembered with a frown.
Today is the day she will join her new team.
As Konoha's Genin, Karin has always been alone performing some D-rank missions and the like.
Or going to Konoha Hospital to help.
But this schedule cannot last for long so the higher-ups have been arranging a suitable team for her.
And today is the day Karin will officially join the new team.
'I wonder what kind of people my teammates are. Are they easy to get along with?'
Karin thought with some anticipation.
Then, the two quickly got up and washed up. After that, they had breakfast downstairs.
Then, Ryosuke went to the training ground to exercise his body.
Karin ran to the team's assembly point to join her other two teammates.
Konoha Central Plaza
Here stands a statue, which is of none other than Ryosuke.
The rock statue with a height of more than ten meters seems to have become a landmark building of Konoha.
At this time!
On the edge of the fountain under the statue, a man and a woman were sitting on the left and the right.
Neither of them seemed to be paying attention to each other.
At this time!
Karin ran over from a distance.
"Sorry, I'm not late, am I?"
Karin looked at the time. In fact, there were still more than ten minutes before the agreed 9 o'clock.
But her two teammates had obviously come earlier than her.
"Karin? So the new teammate is you!"
When Sakura saw Karin, she immediately smiled and stood up to meet her.
She and Karin knew each other. Their relationship can't be said to be very good, but at least it's not bad.
After all, they are both girls, so they can chat.
When Sakura arrived just now, she found that a boy she didn't know was already there.
She took the initiative to greet him, but the other party just nodded coldly.
It made Sakura feel a little upset.
So, there was the scene that Karin saw just now. The two of them ignored each other.
Now that Karin is here, Sakura finally has someone to talk to.
And although Karin was Ryosuke's girlfriend, she has a good personality.
Sakura thinks that if the two of them are in the same team, they should be able to cooperate well.
Karin asked, "Sakura, are you my new teammate?"
When Karin saw the familiar Sakura, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It's nice to have someone you know on the team.
"Yeah, I didn't expect the two of us to be in the same team."
Sakura nodded with a smile.
At this time, Karin turned her head to look at the boy who was sitting there silently.
"Who is he?" Karin asked.
Sakura curled her lips and said, "He's also a new teammate, but this person is cold and doesn't like to talk to others."
Speaking of being cold and unreasonable, Sakura suddenly thought of Sasuke and felt sad.
Sasuke has been away from Konoha for more than half a year now.
She remembered how they were in the same team at the beginning.
When Sasuke left, he said goodbye to Naruto but he didn't care about her at all.
This made Sakura very sad.
" I wonder who our teacher is?"
Hearing Sakura say that the other person didn't like to talk, Karin didn't take the initiative to say hello.
Anyway, as long as there is one teammate who she can talk to in the team, it is enough.
"I don't know. I hope they are a girl too." Sakura said.
The team seven she was originally in disbanded because Sasuke and Naruto left one after another.
Now, Kakashi is also a strong Kage-level ninja. There are more important tasks in the village for him.
Naturally, he would not be allowed to take a student named Sakura to finish some C-rank or D-rank missions outside.
Isn't that a waste?
So, the new team seven will have a new mentor Jōnin. They just don't know who it will be.
Sakura and Karin were guessing in their hearts.
At this time!
"You all came early!"
A voice suddenly came from behind.
Sakura and Karin turned around and saw a female ninja smiling at them.
"Sister Yugao!"
Karin's eyes lit up, and she ran over happily.
"Karin, I will be your teacher from now on." Yugao said with a smile.
She had recently retired from Anbu and had been given the official title of Jōnin.
Then, she was assigned to lead the new team seven.