บท 242: Chapter 242
"Where did those rats go? I just saw them here a moment ago."
"I don't know which village those guys are from, or if they're those damn bounty hunters. Those bastards going into the mountains just means trouble for us!"
"Calm down, we've already lost quite a few people. Even though they didn't really head in that direction, we can't leave those guys be."
"I know, don't worry."
In a forest atop a high mountain, Sasuke quietly watched as the two men walked by, not making a single sound.
He was incredibly calm. After being hunted for several days, he had learned a lot.
It wasn't just him; Naruto and Karin had also changed noticeably during this time. The three of them increasingly resembled real ninjas.
However, to become this way, there was a price to pay. Without a doubt, even Sasuke couldn't remember how many times he had been unlucky enough to be pursued.
Ever since they were discovered by that sensory ninja, they had fled into the mountains and rivers at the earliest opportunity.
It's worth mentioning that Kakashi's decision at that time was very correct. After all, if they had run on the lower route, they might not have made it back.
But there were issues. Upon entering this mountain range, they were shocked to find that it was filled with Iwa ninjas everywhere!
These guys were really hell-bent on capturing them. Perhaps the only solace was that the ninjas here were not very strong, and their distribution was not particularly dense.
According to Kakashi, the ones here were all from the defensive units, which is why they had a chance to escape.
In fact, Sasuke felt he quite liked this environment. Since these ninjas were not very strong, it gave him room to showcase his abilities.
Moreover, being here allowed him to receive comprehensive training, be it in stealth techniques, combat skills, or the vast amount of practical experience – something that couldn't be learned in school.
"We can't stay up here any longer. Whether it's Karin's sensing or Teacher Kakashi's judgment, if we continue to stay here, things will only get worse."
Sasuke thought to himself, and his gaze quickly fell on the young man behind those two Iwa ninjas. Those two guys obviously weren't Sasuke's targets, they were Kakashi's.
These young men looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. Judging by their age, they should be a group of newly graduated ninjas, and they were his targets!
"Stop thinking about it. Even if you're in pain, you can't change anything. What we can do now is find those guys and then avenge your brother."
At that moment, a voice suddenly entered Sasuke's ears, causing him to frown.
The word "brother" wasn't a pleasant memory for him, especially since he had long sworn to personally eliminate the one who brought shame to his lineage!
"I know. My brother died honorably in battle. There's nothing to be sad about. I will definitely kill all the Konoha ninjas to avenge him.
I applied to go to the frontlines, but was assigned here instead."
As Sasuke was contemplating, another voice rang out, and the content made Sasuke furrow his brows.
It was evident that this guy was very dissatisfied with Konoha. That indifferent voice was filled with hatred. It was clear that this person truly hated Konoha to the core.
But that's how war is. Weren't there ninjas from Konoha who died too? Isn't that same resentment spreading there?
Just because your brother died, you harbor such a huge grudge. Don't you realize that you started this war?
Sasuke was even more disgusted by this kind of hypocrisy, especially since this war was framed on his own teacher by Iwagakure.
His respect for Kaito was beyond imagination, and his disdain for Iwagakure was immense. He had already decided that he would take this guy out!
If your brother has already died at the hands of Konoha, then you should go join him!
Sasuke, who had already seen bloodshed, had now fully adapted. He understood the nature of war: it's either you die or I die. He knew what he had to do.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
"Damn, we're under attack!"
Just then, the two ninjas chatting up front suddenly noticed several kunai thrown at them. They immediately realized they were in trouble.
One of them loudly alerted his subordinates, but Kakashi had already rushed towards him, and Sasuke also started to move.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
He quickly formed hand seals, and the next moment, a massive fireball spewed from his mouth. Meanwhile, Naruto and Karin also charged towards their opponents.
Although they hadn't communicated, their time spent evading pursuers, setting up ambushes, and defeating enemies had given them a strong mutual understanding.
Even without any direct communication, they knew what they had to do and what their objectives were.
Sasuke had already targeted the two guys who were chatting earlier. His eyes suddenly turned crimson, and on each side, a black tomoe slowly rotated.
This was the biggest gain from his current journey. Because of this war, he had activated his Sharingan!
After the two men barely defended against Sasuke's Great Fireball, Sasuke swiftly approached the first Rock ninja.
With a kunai in his right hand, he aimed ruthlessly at the ninja's throat. He moved swiftly and aggressively, and the man couldn't even react in time.
Blood splattered, and the only warning the man could give his companions were two short screams before collapsing heavily to the ground.
The shrill, brief screams echoed through the forest, startling countless birds that flew up and scattered.
The others immediately sensed the danger and prepared quickly. But Naruto and Karin were already in front of them, and Sasuke was again in action.
His crimson eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. At that moment, he clearly saw the guy who said he wanted to avenge his brother.
The man's face instantly reminded Sasuke of the Rock ninja who had tried to kill Naruto but was eventually taken down by him.
"So it's you."
Chills filled Sasuke's heart. While that guy wasn't particularly formidable, he had left a deep impression on Sasuke as one of his past adversaries.
Unexpectedly, this time he had encountered the brother of that man. It really seemed like fate.
In the mountainous forests near the Grass Country and Iwagakure, all members of the Akatsuki were ready.
The three of them swiftly maneuvered through the trees. However, their expressions weren't as relaxed, for a few days ago, they had received news.
A very special mobile squad from Konoha had entered the area controlled by Iwagakure. This group excelled in genjutsu, kenjutsu, and Fire Release.
They had attacked several bases, yet the Iwagakure forces couldn't do anything against them.
As a result, Iwagakure decided to mobilize the Akatsuki to capture these troublesome individuals who, like eels, were not only slippery but also incredibly powerful.
To be honest, such a mission was not considered particularly dangerous for members of the Akatsuki.
However, after they familiarized themselves with the combat style of these three individuals and examined the bodies of the deceased Rock ninjas, their expressions became grave.
The injuries were so precise; it seemed no one could defend against even a single blow.
The sharpness of the blades was terrifying, and they could still detect traces of Wind Release chakra on the bodies.
Most crucially, they examined the burned corpses. These were not just scorched by ordinary flames. The residual chakra instantly reminded them of one person.
"Uchiha Kaito!"
Almost simultaneously, all three of them recalled this name and remembered the terrible state they were left in the last time they encountered him.
That defeat was one of the few terrible losses in their ninja careers.
The only reason they survived that encounter was that Kaito was worried about his whereabouts being exposed; otherwise, they might not have escaped at all.
They deeply remembered the humiliation of that time. Although they never spoke of it, they truly wanted an opportunity for revenge.
However, they never really got that chance. At least when facing Uchiha Kaito alone, they doubted their ability to defeat him.
But now, the three of them were acting together, and their leader, Pain, promised to keep an eye on the situation and would intervene if necessary.
With this backup, they naturally felt more at ease. Of course, this reassurance was only for Kisame and Sasori. Orochimaru seemed quite relaxed, not too concerned.
Let's not mention that Kaito probably had no intention of troubling him. Just having Uchiha Madara up his sleeve was enough to give him peace of mind.
Even if the current Uchiha Madara might still be somewhat weak, he was far better than the previous Hashirama Senju.
"Have you found anything?"
Just then, a voice suddenly interrupted Orochimaru's thoughts. Turning slightly, he realized it was Kisame who spoke.
"Orochimaru, didn't you confidently say he should be in this direction? But we are already at the border. What use would it be for him to come here?"
"Do you not gather any intel at all, Kisame?"
Though interrupted and seemingly displeased, Orochimaru licked his lips and began to respond.
//
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