Chapter 276 : peers
Scarlet Hunter alone was difficult to deal with, and with sōgari added, this mission had already failed.
In a flash, the Kirigakure squad leader immediately understood the situation, but he had no chance to issue orders to his subordinates. His vision went black, and he fell unconscious.
Kakashi released Chidori, used steel wire to firmly bind the dying enemy, then inserted a Kunai into the opponent's mouth to pry out the poison, and finally placed an ordinary healing talisman on the opponent's chest.
Before setting out, Tsunade had specifically instructed him to try and gather intelligence from the enemy, so the Chidori just now hadn't been aimed at the heart, but had pierced the right lung. One healing talisman was enough to sustain life.
During the process of handling the prisoner, Naraku stayed by Kakashi's side the entire time, taking down several Kirigakure Ninja who attempted a rescue.
"Alright."
As soon as Kakashi finished dealing with the person, a Ninja from the Uchiha Clan voluntarily came over to take over the responsibility of guarding the prisoner.
"Leave him to me, Hatake Jonin."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
After a briefExplanation, Kakashi turned back to continue cooperating with Naraku, hunting down other valuable enemies.
The identical swordplay was used with perfect synergy and airtight precision by the two of them. Flames and lightning intertwined in the dry, withered early winter forest, like two agile swimming dragons.
The Kirigakure had not yet managed to respond effectively and were quickly decimated, forced to choose to scatter and retreat.
The battle was effectively over at this point. Kakashi carefully felt his remaining Chakra, confirming his suspicion.
-- Sure enough, "Yin Seal: Modified" can not only store Chakra, but also significantly raise the upper limit of the body's Chakra capacity.
He lightly touched his forehead protector with his fingertips, slowly rubbing it twice.
-- As expected of the seal Naraku improved, it's truly amazing... Kakashi unconsciously curved his lips. Just thinking about the special mark beneath the forehead protector, a strange sense of satisfaction would spread in his heart, completely filling his chest.
Seeing that the enemies were about to disappear, he jumped to the top of a thick, bare ancient tree, looked at his partner who had stopped pursuing and was preparing to activate his Mangekyo, and raised an eyebrow: "Want to try that thing we talked about earlier?"
Naraku, of course, knew what he meant and nodded in response: "Mm."
The two formed hand signs together. Double the lightning arrows almost obscured the entire sky, then spun and shot in all directions, like a magnificent shower of meteors.
After a few breaths, Naraku blinked and deactivated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"The lines of death have been severed. It seems even Kakashi's Ninjutsu can become [Death Sentence]."
"Eh," Kakashi stroked his chin thoughtfully, "As expected of the Uchiha's ultimate Dojutsu. By the way, wouldn't this mean—"
"Naraku-senpai!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Naraku turned his head to look at the ground, meeting Shisui's eyes as he looked up.
-- Shisui was indeed among this group of children.
Remembering the reputation this kid had earned in the Third Great Ninja War, Naraku secretly gloated.
-- Wash your necks and wait for death, Hidden Mist!
"Kakashi, I'll be right back."
"Okay."
Naraku jumped off the treetop, took a few quick steps to Shisui's front, and asked gently with a frown: "Are you injured, Shisui?"
Shisui couldn't hide his excitement and answered loudly: "No injuries! Thanks to Senpai arriving in time!"
"What about the others?"
"Two were injured, but they're fine after using a healing talisman."
The other children nodded repeatedly. Even the teenagers who were two or three years older than Naraku showed looks of near-worship.
Being stared at with such fervent gazes by his junior fan and the other clan members behind him, if Naraku's skin wasn't thick enough, he probably wouldn't have been able to withstand such concentrated attention.
Naraku quickly scanned the situation to confirm, and inadvertently spotted a somewhat familiar figure at the very back of the crowd.
And the other person happened to turn their face away when he looked, seemingly intentionally avoiding eye contact with him.
-- Uchiha... Genya?
Memories from many years ago flooded his mind. Naraku couldn't help but sigh that this guy was truly persistent; how did he encounter him even here?
But on second thought, Genya's talent wasn't bad, and he was the elder's child, so going to the battlefield for experience and to gain prestige was a regular operation.
-- For the sake of this kid about to go to the battlefield to kill enemies, I won't actively mess with him for now.
-- But if he doesn't behave and still acts like a spoiled young master on the battlefield, I'll definitely make him suffer a bit.
Naraku secretly thought of various mischievous and untraceable tricks, such as using popularity points to activate [Gaiten Jimei] to make him choke on cold water, get a fish bone stuck in his throat, or forget toilet paper when going to the bathroom... His belly was sloshing with bad intentions, but Naraku pretended not to recognize this "acquaintance," naturally letting his gaze pass over the other person.
Confirming that the situation matched what Shisui had said, he slightly relaxed his brows and eyes, seemingly relieved.
"Kakashi and I will accompany you the rest of the way. Let's pack up and depart as soon as possible, shall we?"
"Really, Senpai! That's great!"
"Um..." Tenten came forward, hands clasped, "Naraku-kun, could you give us some pointers on our Fire Release?"
Naraku naturally couldn't refuse: "I'll make time once we reach the east."
This statement was like poking a hornet's nest. The teenagers almost swarmed him, surrounding him completely, clamoring with requests for his future guidance.
"Naraku-senpai! That Lightning Release just now was so cool! I've also learned it, but I just can't master it perfectly..."
"I only need a few minutes, just a few minutes, please, Naraku-kun..."
"Yes, yes... Please, Naraku, I really want to become stronger..."
Everyone's requests weren't too excessive. Naraku, who was already used to being a kindergarten director, was about to agree when a steel wire descended from the sky, binding his upper body and lifting him into the air.
Naraku: ???
Kakashi's voice, tinged with a hint of suppressed exasperation, came from above: "It's time to go."
Naraku keenly sensed something amiss and decisively conceded: "...Okay."
-- Kakashi, you stingy guy!
-- He must be jealous that I have more fanboys and fangirls than him, that's why he's ruining my business!
-- Why don't you show your face!
But thinking of the other person's face, which had been handsome enough to provoke both gods and men since childhood, Naraku suddenly felt that it was better to keep it covered; too many people knowing would be troublesome.
Pulling his partner over to his side, Kakashi casually unfastened the steel wire lock and silently tidied his equipment.
He didn't know what was wrong with him, but when those Uchiha surrounded Naraku, chattering loudly, the eager expressions on their faces always made him feel annoyed.
-- Maybe I'm afraid Naraku will get too tired?
-- Even if his bloodline disease is cured, this idiot is still worrisome.
"Ah, that hateful Hatake Kakashi, he stole Naraku-senpai..."
"He gets to be with Naraku-kun every day, and he still has to compete with us..."
"It's too much, one day I'll take Naraku-senpai back..."
With the dissatisfied grumbles of his clanmates echoing in his ears, Shisui remained silent, instead looking up at Naraku, who stood high up, shoulder to shoulder with Kakashi.
He was always an understanding child, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Recalling the intimately intertwined lightning and fire that had flashed throughout the forest just now, his desire to become like Hatake Kakashi, to possess enough strength to fight alongside Naraku-senpai, grew even stronger.
-- You can do it, Uchiha Shisui, you definitely can!
Shisui silently encouraged himself.
He completely failed to notice that Tenten and Shizuku, behind him, were not at all displeased with Kakashi; instead, their eyes were shining as they looked at the two above.
The two sisters put their heads together, whispering and occasionally letting out excited giggles... (Friends, I have a terrible fever today, my head hurts so much I'm almost dying. I might have to take a few days off after this, I'm truly sorry (╥_╥)...)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Read Ahead & Support
Read up to 650 chapters ahead with daily updates at 02radnovel.com
Connect & Updates:
(Twitter) • x.com/02IsmetHQ
Instagram • instagram.com/02novelofficial
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯