Chapter 118 Kirigakure

In the plaza, Naruto stood facing Sasuke and Neji.

Minato and the others had retreated to the edge of the plaza, watching the three figures in the center with interest.

Neji stood beside Sasuke, feeling a bit helpless and looking somewhat innocent.

He had been dragged into this by Sasuke.

During their usual sparring sessions, although he often lost, it was only after a prolonged struggle, and he could always identify his shortcomings.

But fighting Naruto? He probably wouldn't even see Naruto move before he was knocked out.

However, seeing Sasuke's intense focus and determination, Neji couldn't bring himself to appear disinterested. He slapped his cheeks, veins bulging around his eyes, and also got serious.

"Sasuke, logically speaking, your three-tomoe Sharingan isn't enough to challenge me. After all, the Mangekyo is the minimum requirement to face me."

Seeing Sasuke's stubbornness, Naruto offered some 'friendly advice' before continuing, "But to let you see the gap between us, I'll accept your challenge."

"You…!"

Seeing Naruto's arrogant demeanor, Sasuke gritted his teeth, the three tomoe in his eyes spinning rapidly.

"I'm not the same as before!"

"Neji, I'll go first!"

After saying that, Sasuke focused his gaze on Naruto, his hands quickly forming seals.

As the last seal was completed, his right hand gripped his left wrist tightly, as if channeling all his strength into that hand. His left palm faced downward, trembling slightly.

Zzzzttt—

Suddenly, a crackling sound erupted from Sasuke's palm, growing louder and louder, like the cries of a thousand birds.

At the same time, a powerful surge of Lightning Nature Chakra gathered in his palm, forming a blazing white orb. The orb flickered with streaks of electricity, emitting a blinding light that was hard to look at directly.

It was the Chidori!

When Naruto saw this scene, his eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn't expected Sasuke to already be practicing the Chidori.

But after thinking about it, it made sense.

After all, Sasuke had already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. Not only did he have more Chakra, but his control over it had also improved. Learning the Chidori was only natural.

While Naruto was still pondering, Sasuke charged at him, the Chidori in his left hand crackling with energy.

Naruto could only sigh at Sasuke's stubbornness.

With a simple Body Flicker Technique, Naruto disappeared, leaving behind an afterimage that Sasuke's Chidori pierced through.

Sasuke stared blankly at the fading afterimage.

Then he collapsed, unconscious.

Standing behind Sasuke, Naruto looked down at the unconscious boy and muttered, "Young people really do have strong bodies."

Naruto then turned his gaze to Neji.

Neji felt a chill run down his spine. He opened his mouth to speak.

"I..."

But before he could finish, he too collapsed, just like Sasuke.

"Okay, I'll leave the rest to you."

Naruto waved to Minato and the others, who were standing at the edge of the plaza, looking at each other in confusion. Then he vanished.

The three of them hadn't expected Naruto to simply knock Sasuke and Neji out. They had thought he might offer some guidance.

To this, Naruto could only say:

"If you're weak, train more."

With the Land of Waves' school opening soon, he still had a lot of work to do.

---

Kirigakure.

The environment here is very unique. It is built among mountains and perpetually shrouded in thick mist.

Inside the distinctively styled Mizukage Building, the atmosphere was equally tense.

Yagura, with his boyish face, sat in the Mizukage's seat, his expression dark.

Beside him was an elderly man with a gaunt face, missing teeth, and a bald head. His expression was equally grim.

"It's been so long, and you still haven't found any trace of Terumi Mei and the others?"

Yagura questioned the kneeling Anbu Ninja.

"I'm very sorry, Mizukage-sama, Genji-sama."

Under the murderous gazes of the two most powerful figures in Kirigakure, the Anbu Ninja was drenched in sweat. But his strong will allowed him to continue his report.

"Although we haven't found Mei-sama and the others, we have uncovered some information."

"According to eyewitness accounts from fishermen at the Land of Fire's port, Mei-sama and the others should have returned to Kirigakure a month ago, but they were accompanied by others."

"Who?!" Yagura's expression turned even uglier. After all, if something had happened a month ago, their bodies would have long since been disposed of.

"Based on the fishermen's descriptions, it was likely Jiraiya of the Sannin and Hatake Kakashi, the son of the White Fang."

"Konoha? This..."

Hearing this, not only was Yagura stunned, but Genji also opened his previously narrowed eyes.

The two exchanged glances.

"From this point of view, I'm afraid that even Jiraiya, one of Sannin of Konoha, and Hatake Kakashi, the son of White Fang, have met with misfortune."

Genji's eyes narrowed again, but his aura became sharper.

This wasn't hard to deduce. They remembered that Konoha's decision to seal the village coincided with Mei and the others leaving the Land of Fire. They realized that Konoha had known about Jiraiya's fate and chose to seal the village.

Bang!

Yagura slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Could it be that damned Akatsuki again?"

Anyone who had been controlled for decades wouldn't feel good, especially when the controller had turned their village into a mess and driven away their once-excellent subordinates.

"We can't rule it out."

Genji's expression wasn't one of anger but of seriousness and... fear.

Someone who could silently control a Perfect Jinchuriki was truly terrifying. After all, Perfect Jinchuriki were supposed to be immune to Genjutsu.

After a long silence, Yagura slumped back into his chair and looked at the old man beside him.

"Genji, what do you think we should do now?"

As a Mizukage who had been controlled for over a decade without realizing it, he no longer had the confidence to make decisions.

Genji also fell silent.

For a moment, the Mizukage's office was eerily quiet.

Only the slightly heavy breathing of the Anbu Ninja and the occasional drip of sweat could be heard slightly.

The pressure was immense. The shadow of the Blood Mist hadn't disappeared so easily.

Many Kirigakure shinobi had died, directly or indirectly, at the hands of their Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

After a long while, Genji finally spoke.

"First, search the entire sea between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. Don't overlook any island where survivors might be."

Mei was too important to the current Kirigakure.

"Understood!"

The Anbu Ninja, as if granted amnesty, quickly bowed and left.