Kapitel 97: I Don’t Acknowledge Your Offensive Power(Part 2)
After finishing off his enemy, Naruto sifted through a pile of bones and picked out a decent-looking one to toss into his sealing space.
"So troublesome," he muttered, then took off immediately.
When he caught up with Neji, he saw Kidōmaru fire a large arrow straight through Neji's shoulder, leaving a gaping wound.
"Hiss~" Naruto sucked in a breath at the sight—it looked excruciating.
"Is he dead?" Neji, clutching his injured shoulder, grimaced in pain and gritted his teeth as he asked.
"Yeah, dead." Naruto pulled the Kusanagi blade from Kidōmaru's chest and gave him another stab for good measure. "Definitely dead."
"They're all dead?" Neji gazed up at the slivers of sky between the trees, asking about Kimimaro.
"Dead." Slinging Neji onto his back, Naruto added, "This pursuit mission is probably done for. With you injured, the others can't be in much better shape."
"You're strong."
"Thanks, but that wasn't a compliment," Naruto shot back, ever the sharp-tongued one.
Leaving Neji behind in the wilderness was out of the question—he wouldn't last half a day. Naruto wasn't sure if Tsunade had called for reinforcements, nor if they'd arrive in time. For now, he could only carry Neji and catch up to the others.
He also planned to call off the mission.
Sending each member to face stronger opponents alone was a recipe for disaster, ensuring either mutual destruction or outright death.
If these Konoha heirs all perished at once, Tsunade would face enormous backlash from the higher-ups—at best.
The Nara, Inuzuka, and Akimichi clans were staunch allies of the Hokage. As long as someone from the Third Hokage's inner circle held power, who became Hokage didn't matter much to them.
But if Tsunade lost her standing, Naruto's future wouldn't look bright either.
Damn it, Danzo would have to take the blame for this one.
After a frantic dash through the forest:
"Neji, check the area," Naruto said as he followed the markings left behind. "We've come this far; they should be nearby."
Despite the pain, Neji activated his Byakugan. His eagle-like vision pierced through layers of forest until it locked onto a clearing deeper within.
"Chōji is over there."
In an unmarked clearing on the eastern side of Konoha Forest:
Chōji was sent flying by Jirōbō, whose Curse Mark transformation had greatly enhanced his strength. The heavy impact left Chōji sprawled on the ground.
Before activating the Curse Mark, Jirōbō had been a cautious fighter. Once transformed, he became a trash-talking brute, constantly spouting insults during combat.
The so-called "Trash-Talking Tank."
"You really are a useless piece of garbage. Just die, you pig." Jirōbō stomped on Chōji's chest, sneering, "A fat pig like you is worthless alive."
"It seems your friends have already abandoned you. How pitiful."
He grabbed a bag of chips Chōji had dropped and tipped the last piece into his mouth.
"A worthless person and an insufficient snack. You're better off dead!"
"But don't worry—after I kill you, I'll devour those traitorous friends who abandoned you!"
Chōji could barely move, his chakra reserves nearly depleted. Still, he believed in his companions. Resigned to death, he decided to take Jirōbō down with him.
Summoning all his remaining strength, Chōji pulled out the red pill that would grant him overwhelming power at the cost of his life.
As he was about to consume it, a familiar, slightly mocking voice echoed through the treetops:
"Don't eat that. You don't need it just yet."
Naruto leaped down from a giant tree with Neji on his back, landing beside Chōji. In one swift motion, he grabbed Chōji's wrist, stopping him from taking the pill.
Naruto followed up with a Lava Release technique, forcing the tank-like Jirōbō to retreat several dozen meters.
"Na... Naruto?" Chōji stammered, turning his head to see. "And... Neji?"
He noticed the hastily treated wound in Neji's shoulder, his anxiety evident. Despite trying to look serious, his small eyes lacked the intimidation to match.
"How are you two even here?"
"Why? Pure coincidence, of course." Naruto casually tossed Neji like a backpack toward Chōji. "Here, take care of Neji."
Neji shot Naruto a glare, but it went ignored.
Chōji caught Neji like a bouncing ball and realized Naruto wanted to handle Jirōbō alone. Yet, seeing Jirōbō in his second Curse Mark state sent chills down Chōji's spine.
The guy was built like iron, his sparse hair resembling steel nails, and his hands sharp like claws.
"Naruto, be careful with that guy."
Naruto didn't respond, walking straight toward Jirōbō.
Watching Naruto's slow approach, Jirōbō burst into wild laughter—though his overdeveloped facial muscles made it more grotesque than menacing.
"Can't beat me, so you bring some trash? What's the point?"
"Why so silent? A weakling's ally is also a weakling, right? Or maybe—"
Naruto ignored the taunts entirely.
Without wasting time, he activated the Four Symbols Seal and drew the Kusanagi Sword from an unexpected place.
"You all come at me together—it doesn't matter. You're all just trash—"
Mid-sentence, Jirōbō froze, stunned.
"Disgusting! Why'd you pull your sword from that place? Are you trying to gross me out on purpose?"
Furious, he slammed his hands into the ground, sending massive stone slabs flying toward Naruto.
Within two seconds, the slabs were sliced clean through, debris scattering like tofu beneath the Kusanagi's blade.
Naruto's Lava Release coated the sword as he stopped ten meters from Jirōbō, his tone indifferent:
"Stop barking, you underdeveloped freak."
"Orochimaru doesn't like ugly children."
After swiftly defeating Jirōbō, Naruto calmly wiped the blood off the Kusanagi blade with a cloth.
Chōji stared in disbelief at Jirōbō's defeated body—it was as if Naruto had cut through him like butter. It was surreal.
"Na-Naruto, you..." Chōji stammered before finally blurting out, "You're savage!"
Chōji, being sheltered and soft-spoken, wasn't adept at sharp words. Compared to Naruto's cutting remarks, his verbal skills needed work.
Naruto sheathed the Kusanagi and patted Chōji on the shoulder, saying meaningfully:
"Your verbal attacks? Uzumaki Naruto does not acknowledge them."
The trio wasted no time, following the trail left by Shikamaru, Lee, and Kiba. Along the way, they rescued the injured Kiba and Akamaru from a canyon and retrieved Lee.
Naruto efficiently eliminated Sakon and Ukon before resuming their journey to find Shikamaru and officially call off the mission.
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