69: Chapter 69: The New Members of Class 7 and the "Monster"Konoha Hospital, Intensive Care Unit.
The disinfectant has a somewhat pungent smell.
The curtains were half-drawn, casting dim light onto the hospital bed.
Kakashi lay there, his one eye half-open and half-closed, still clutching the book "Icha Icha Paradise" in his hand, but clearly hadn't turned more than a few pages.
The side effects of Kamui were greater than expected.The burden that technique placed on the body was practically draining its life force.
"That's the situation."
Tsunade leaned against the window, arms crossed, her face grim."Sasori's intelligence is only valid for ten days.If we don't seize this opportunity, who knows where that slippery snake Orochimaru will disappear to again."
"Cough." Kakashi coughed weakly."Hokage-sama, in my current state, I can barely walk, let alone fight.How about sending Team Guy?"
"Team Guy is still on a mission and won't be back." Tsunade rubbed her temples in frustration."Besides, this mission involves Sasuke Uchiha.I don't trust anyone other than Naruto and Sakura."
She paused, then turned her gaze to the blond boy who had been standing silently in the corner.
Naruto leaned against the wall, toying with a shuriken in his hand, his face expressionless.
"So, I've assigned you a new captain and a new team member." Tsunade clapped her hands.
The door was pushed open.
Two figures walked in.
Walking in front was a man wearing a headband, with short brown hair and dead fish eyes.He looked unmotivated, but his specially made Jonin vest revealed his extraordinary identity.
"Yamato," Tsunade introduced, "a former elite member of the Anbu, and also the temporary captain for this mission."
Yamato scratched his head and gave a fairly friendly smile: "Nice to meet you, Naruto-kun, Sakura."
Naruto raised his eyelids and glanced at Yamato.
My gaze lingered on that seemingly honest face for half a second before shifting away.
An experimental subject containing primary cells.
Orochimaru's discarded pawn.
That is, the legendary only person in the entire ninja world who can use Wood Release—of course, that was before yesterday.
"What about the one behind him?" Naruto raised his chin slightly, pointing to the boy behind Yamato.
He was a sickly pale guy, wearing a black crop top, and carrying a scroll and a short knife on his back.
What's most striking is the expression on his face—a standard, even somewhat fake, smile.
It looks like it's painted on a mask.
"Code name Sai." Tsunade's voice turned colder."He was recommended by Danzo."
People who are "rooted".
Sakura's brows immediately furrowed.
Although she was unaware of the political struggles at the highest levels, she had heard that "Root" had a bad reputation.
"Nice to meet you."
Sai narrowed his eyes, his smile undiminished by Sakura's wariness."I am Sai.For this mission, I will try my best to get along well with everyone."
He emphasized the words "getting along well," which made it sound more like a provocation.
Naruto didn't say anything.
He just looked at Sai.
That look in his eyes was strange.
It wasn't anger, it wasn't vigilance, it didn't even contain any hostility.
It's like watching a clown in a circus trying to perform a clumsy trick.
Sai's fake smile froze for a moment.
As the most outstanding killing machine of "Root", he was accustomed to other people's fear, anger or disgust.
But this feeling of being ignored like air made him very uncomfortable.
"Alright, now that everyone's here," Tsunade waved her hand."You have one hour to prepare.Meet at the village entrance."
An hour later, at the gate of Konoha Village.
The weather was somewhat gloomy, with dark clouds hanging low, as if brewing a downpour.
When Naruto and Sakura arrived, Sai and Yamato were already waiting there.
"Five minutes late." Sai glanced at the sky, still wearing that infuriating fake smile."Looks like he's not only at the bottom of the class, but his sense of time is also terrible."
Sakura's fist hardened instantly.
"What did you say?"
"Did I say something wrong?" Sai tilted his head, looking completely innocent."I looked at the mission data.They've been chasing that traitor Sasuke, but they always fail.To me, that's like a stray dog chasing a bone that doesn't belong to it—both pathetic and."
boom!
Sakura slammed her fist into the ground, sending pebbles flying.
"Shut your mouth!" she gritted her teeth, veins bulging on her forehead."Sasuke-kun isn't a traitor!He just."
"Just what?" Sai interrupted her."He joined Orochimaru for power, and even wanted to kill his former comrades.What is that if not trash?And you, wasting your time on such trash, even dragging me, an unrelated person, into this adventure."
He drew a short knife from behind his back, his smile turning somewhat cold.
"If I were the captain, I would just get rid of that piece of trash instead of thinking about bringing him back."
The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Yamato stood aside and did not stop them.
He was observing.
As the new captain, he needs to understand the personalities and bottom lines of his team members.
Especially Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who has recently become a legendary figure in the village.
According to the information, Naruto should have been furious and even attacked after hearing such words.
However.
No.
Naruto stood there, hands in his pockets, his posture unchanged.
He looked at Sai like he was looking at a Chihuahua barking wildly on the side of the road.
"Are you done talking?"
Naruto spoke calmly.
Sai paused for a moment.This reaction was wrong.
"Your smile is ugly." Naruto walked past Sai without pausing."If you don't want to smile, don't force yourself.That face looks like it's just been soaked in formaldehyde; it's disgusting."
Sai's pupils suddenly contracted.
That fake maskThe first crack appeared.
"And another thing." Naruto stopped, turned his head, and his azure eyes were devoid of warmth."Whether Sasuke is trash or not is none of your business.He's my prey.Before I'm done playing with him, no one who dares to touch him…"
Naruto didn't finish his sentence.
But the momentary pressure emanating from him caused Sai's hand holding the short sword to tremble uncontrollably.
That's the look in someone who's seen real hell.
[Ding!You have received 2500 "Surprised" items from Sai!]
[Ding!You have received 1800 "Relief" items from Sakura Haruno!]
Seeing this, Yamato knew he couldn't just watch the show anymore.
"Alright, alright, we're all colleagues, let's keep quiet."
Yamato stepped between the two and formed a hand seal.
"As the new captain, in order to ensure everyone can get a good night's sleep tonight, and also to demonstrate my abilities and put your minds at ease."
He crouched down, placing his palms on the ground.
"Wood Release: Four Pillars Family Technique!"
Rumble.
The ground shook.
Several rough logs emerged from the ground, twisting and knotting, eventually forming a.more like a simple shed made of stacked wood than a house.
Although the structure is relatively intact, the wood is loose, the surface is rough, and you can even see the bark that has not been completely removed.
Yamato stood up, dusted off his hands, and looked smug.
"How about it?This is the Wood Release technique of the First Hokage.With this, we won't have to sleep in the wilderness anymore."
He was waiting to be amazed.
After all, Wood Release is a legendary bloodline limit, unique in the entire ninja world.
Sakura certainly gave her face and exclaimed in amazement, "Amazing!As expected of Captain Yamato!"
Sai also gave a timely fake smile: "It is indeed a very convenient ability."
Only Naruto.
He walked up to the wooden house, reached out his hand, and gently ran his fingertips along the rough wood grain.
Too weak.
It lacks vitality.
These pieces of wood are dead.
It was a dead thing that Yamato forcibly created using chakra.Compared to the primeval forest he summoned in Sunagakure, which was full of devouring desires and violent vitality, it was like the difference between a toothpick and a towering tree.
Is this the tragedy of transplants?
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Yamato noticed Naruto's actions."Were you frightened by the power of Wood Release?"
Naruto withdrew his hand and turned around.
He looked at Yamato's slightly smug face, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"Yes, I was scared."
Naruto chuckled softly, "It's really.too 'exquisite'.I don't even want to move in, afraid I'll break it."
Yamato frowned.
This sounded like a compliment, but why did the tone make him feel so uncomfortable?
[Ding!You have received 3200 "Unexplained Frustration" items from Yamato!]
Night fell.
A campfire was lit in the forest.
Yamato and Sai went to set up a cordon around the camp, leaving only Naruto and Sakura in the camp.
Sakura sat by the fire, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the flickering flames.
"Naruto."
She suddenly spoke, her voice low, "This time.can we really bring Sasuke back?"
"Sai is right, we've failed many times.Sasuke-kun.does he really not want to come back?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Over the past few years, every hope has turned into disappointment.
She was really scared, afraid that this time would be the same.
Naruto stopped wiping his hands, which were wiping his kunai.
He looked at the fragile girl in front of him.
This topic again.
It's a trick that you can never get tired of.
He put the kunai back into his ninja tool bag, stood up, and sat down next to Sakura.
"Sakura".
Naruto's voice softened, yet carried a convincing firmness: "Look at me."
Sakura looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I promised you, didn't I?"
Naruto reached out and gently placed his hand on Sakura's shoulder."This is a promise I'll keep for life.I, Uzumaki Naruto, always keep my word."
"If that bastard doesn't want to come back, I'll break his legs and drag him back.If Orochimaru dares to stop me, I'll destroy his snake den."
"I will bring you anything you want."
The firelight illuminated Naruto's face, highlighting his resolute features.
Those blue eyes were full of sincerity.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat.
No matter how many times, she could always find a sense of security in front of this boy.
He was like a mountain, always standing in front of her, sheltering her from the wind and rain.
"Naruto.thank you." Sakura wiped away her tears, and a smile finally appeared on her face."I believe in you."
[Ding!You have received 15,000 units of ultimate [Trust] from Sakura Haruno!]
[Ding!You have received 12,000 "Touched" points from Sakura Haruno!]
Hearing the pleasant system notification sound, Naruto's expression softened even more.
"Go to sleep early, we have to travel tomorrow."
He patted Sakura's head, then got up and walked towards his tent.
The moment she turned away, that tenderness receded like the tide, replaced by indifference.
Bring it back?
Of course I'll bring it back.
That was his designated "strongest fighter," a leek he had painstakingly cultivated.How could he let that pervert Orochimaru keep monopolizing him?
As for Sakura's tears.
That's the best seasoning, making this drama called "bond" even more touching and valuable.
late at night.
The forest was silent, save for the occasional chirping of insects.
Sai, who was on night watch, sat on a tree trunk and, by the moonlight, took out a scroll from his pocket.
He took out a calligraphy brush and dipped it in ink.
The fake smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by a coldness and numbness typical of someone carrying out a mission.
He on the scrollHe was sketching rapidly on the screen.
This is no ordinary painting; it is a secret letter to Danzo Shimura, the leader of the "Roots."
Regarding the mission's progress, Yamato's leadership abilities, and.regarding that Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Sai paused for a moment.
The look Naruto gave him during the day flashed through his mind.
That's not how humans look at each other.
That's the way a predator looks at its prey, and a god looks at an ant.
Despite the absence of any chakra fluctuations, it instilled fear in this emotionless killing machine.
Sai took a deep breath and wrote a line on the scroll.
"Regarding the target, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Extremely dangerous."
"More than a ninja, he's someone who wears a human skin."
The pen tip fell heavily, and the ink spread out.
"monster."
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