"This mission is to help villagers remove weeds." Kakashi announced to his students while holding a D-rank mission slip.
Since that showdown, the three had ultimately successfully snatched the bells from Kakashi. More accurately, it should be said Sasuke and Naruto - Sakura just made soy sauce.
After all, it was just snatching bells from Kakashi's body. For Naruto and Sasuke, this really wasn't difficult.
In the end, Sakura was tied to a post, and Kakashi announced to the three that she couldn't eat lunch and might be sent back to the ninja academy.
However, having received hints from the Golden Silkworm Gu, Naruto already knew Kakashi was just testing so-called teamwork this time. So ultimately, the three naturally passed this simple assessment.
Since then, Team Seven began a long journey of D-rank missions. Well, actually with Sasuke and Naruto's strength, they no longer needed to do these boring missions to train basics.
In their view, this time would be better spent on more training.
"Yes." After hearing Kakashi's announcement, listless voices came from the three.
"Kakashi-sensei, I don't think this kind of mission helps us at all. How about you help us switch to other missions?" Naruto suggested.
But was quickly rejected.
So the three fell into an infinite loop of D-rank missions again.
Until one day, whether Kakashi's conscience awakened or he suddenly had a seizure, he finally accepted a C-rank mission under the three's anticipation.
The Wave Country escort mission began.
"The chunin exam held by Konoha Village in the Land of Fire is about to begin. This means - should we also prepare to act? Leader." In a primitive deep forest like a paradise, a man knelt on one knee.
On this man's back was printed a fan-like emblem.
Uchiha.
"Don't be hasty, Xi-kun. There are still several months until the chunin exam. It's not yet time for our return. Don't worry - after the chunin exam, Konoha's Third Hokage Sarutobi will be removed. At that time, only that old guy Danzo will oppose us in Konoha. That will be the best time for our revenge. Be prepared." A youth who looked only in his teens said casually.
The man kneeling in front showed him abnormal respect.
The Uchiha clan revered the strong. Don't look at how the youth was only in his teens - he was called the Uchiha clan's last hope - Uchiha Musashi.
The person before him was another remaining expert of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Xi.
After three years of hard training, the Uchiha clan's surviving members had all greatly increased in strength. As the saying goes, pressure creates motivation. Now, aside from a few underage clan members, all other combat-oriented Uchiha clan members had reached three-tomoe level.
The Uchiha clan was naturally gifted after all. If it were other kekkei genkai families suffering such heavy damage, they might have long since faded into this vast world.
But the Uchiha clan was precisely an exception. Not only did they not decline, they rose even more diligently. Now, although their numbers were much fewer with only dozens of clan members remaining, their overall strength was actually stronger than before. Or rather, the quality of Uchiha clan experts was even more powerful than before.
Mangekyou-level super Kage-level expert Uchiha Musashi.
Elite jonin-level experts like Uchiha Xi, Uchiha Anmie - four people total.
Plus over a dozen jonin-level three-tomoe clan members.
Of course, thinking this number could destroy Konoha was pure fantasy. But Uchiha Musashi's current strength - facing any Kage-level expert, he dared claim he could kill them without injury.
This was a super clone that Meruem had carefully trained. Meruem had spent great effort on this body.
This time, the purpose was to wait until Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan was implemented, then prepare to forcefully enter Konoha.
At that time, Konoha's defenses would be at their most vulnerable. With the Third Hokage's death, Konoha would probably only have Shimura Danzo left as a Kage-level powerhouse - and the weaker kind among Kage-level at that.
Moreover, after the Uchiha massacre plan several years ago, Konoha's ANBU had suffered massive casualties. The current ANBU ninjas in Konoha were no longer enough to cause any harm to Musashi and company.
As long as Danzo was killed, then no one could stop the news of the Uchiha clan's return. The so-called Konoha Elder Council? Just some power-hungry cowards.
As for truly destroying Konoha? How wasteful that would be - after all, it was one of this world's five great ninja villages. Wasn't controlling it better than destroying it?
Moreover, the main body was also making preparations. In three years, when the ninja world descended into chaos, a hundred thousand White Zetsu would face the Ninja Alliance. By then, some deceased Kage-level experts and Obito would also make powerful appearances. Monsters like Uchiha Madara and Otsutsuki Hagoromo would resurrect one by one.
All this was preparation for that moment. The Divine Tree's chakra fruit - I'm determined to obtain it.
"Then, Leader, should we continue waiting now?" After hesitating slightly, Uchiha Xi slowly asked. Although the youth before him was over ten years younger, his strength and abilities had gained the clan members' recognition.
This was the man who could lead the Uchiha clan to glory again.
"No, we're going to the Land of Waves." As if receiving some information, Uchiha Musashi suddenly smiled.
"Land of Waves?" Uchiha Xi was somewhat puzzled. He knew about the Land of Waves, but it was just a poor small country.
"That's right. World-class tycoon Gato is there, and reportedly this guy hasn't even hired a single ninja village ninja as a bodyguard. The Uchiha clan needs money to take back everything, so..." Seeing Uchiha Xi didn't understand, Musashi simply gave a hint.
As the saying goes, if you don't seek death, you won't die - this described people like Gato. As a world-class tycoon, his entourage consisted only of trash ronin. He hadn't hired a single ninja village ninja as bodyguard, the reason being merely that ninja village ninjas were too expensive. This was only possible because information transmission in the Naruto world was relatively slow.
Such a guy was like a big piece of fat meat that walked by itself. Wouldn't it be too wasteful not to take his wealth?
"Yes!" Hearing Uchiha Musashi's words, Uchiha Xi's face also showed excited expression. The Uchiha clan also knew about the tycoon Gato.
A very wealthy guy. How wealthy? He could even control entire economies of some small countries.
Unfortunately, in ordinary people's eyes he might be an unbeatable existence, but in ninjas' eyes, this was just a dish.
Especially since this dish had no self-awareness and didn't even hire ninjas as bodyguards. It was simply like telling others: I have lots of money, I'm a sitting duck, come rob me.
"Moreover, it's time to establish a force. We'll definitely return to Konoha, but even rabbits have three burrows for refuge. So we need to establish a base. This Land of Waves without its own ninjas is quite good. Pass down the order - prepare to depart for the Land of Waves."
"Yes."
————————Earth Release: Mountain Crushing————————
"Mr. Tazuna, this ninja attack - the target was you. Looks like you've hidden something from us."
"..."
Kakashi's group encountered Zabuza's subordinates, the Demon Brothers, during the escort. Unfortunately, these two brothers' intelligence and strength were too low. Not only did they fail to cause any harm to Kakashi and company, they also got themselves captured.
Finally, when the ninja attack could elevate the mission to B-rank level, through a series of communication and Tazuna's nearly shameless crying appeals, the four ultimately decided to continue the mission.
"Naruto, this mission isn't simple. Up ahead, I sensed an extremely aggressive chakra. The opponent's strength is probably at least an elite jonin, not much different from your teacher Kakashi." After several people had traveled a distance, the Golden Silkworm Gu that had been on Naruto's head like a decoration quietly spoke in Naruto's ear.
"Naruto, carefully sense your surroundings. As the jinchuriki of that Nine-Tails kid, what he brings you isn't just massive chakra reserves. There's also perception of goodwill and malice from those around you - you should have noticed before. This ability can be of great help to you as a ninja, even giving you perception no less keen than sensory ninjas."
"I've sensed it - the malice is right here!" Worthy of being Naruto - after the Golden Silkworm Gu's slight hint, he quickly grasped this ability.
Following his feeling, he threw a kunai toward nearby bushes. The others were startled by Naruto's action and stared at those bushes while becoming alert.
However, what appeared was a snow-white rabbit.
"What, Naruto? Aren't you being a bit paranoid? Making such a big fuss - it's just a cute little rabbit." Seeing it was just a rabbit, Sakura patted her chest and sighed in relief first.
Of course, her flat chest.
"Idiot Naruto." Sasuke also coolly complained, but he didn't completely relax his guard like Sakura.
Although he didn't know why Naruto made such a sudden move, out of trust in Naruto, he decisively maintained vigilance.
Of course, this didn't prevent him from complaining about Naruto.
"The malice hasn't disappeared!" Naruto didn't pay attention to the two. That was elite jonin-level ambush - one careless move could result in total annihilation here.
"This kind of rabbit... bad, it's a snow rabbit! A snow rabbit specifically used for Substitution Jutsu! There's an enemy! Sakura, get down!" Kakashi's vigilance was higher than both. Moreover, as a former ANBU member with extensive experience, he saw at a glance what was unusual about this rabbit.
Then a whistling wind sound rang in Haruno Sakura's ear.
(End of Chapter)
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