Chapter 068
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Oh, my big brother also joined the capture mission?
[Senju Tobirama]: Uchiha Izuna, shut up.
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: You took my brother's Tailed Beasts and then claimed them as your own. Not only did you not follow the path to peace…
[Senju Tobirama]: You even started the First Great Ninja War!
[Senju Tobirama]: You people...
[Senju Tobirama]: Are beyond saving!
Senju Tobirama scolded them!
Sounds pretty convincing.
But then...
[One Tail - Shukaku]: …Damn...
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: …Ugh...
[One Tail - Shukaku]: These shinobi... they're all unreasonable.
[One Tail - Shukaku]: We're Tailed Beasts, you know! Tailed Beasts!
[One Tail - Shukaku]: We don't belong to anyone!
[Minato Namikaze]: Then... One Tail, regarding the situation in Sunagakure — if you were released and went on a rampage, what would you do?
To be fair, Minato was being rational.
But that's also because his beloved Naruto had been sent to watch Gaara.
And if Gaara suddenly lost control and released the Tailed Beast… it could actually put Naruto in danger.
So Minato had to ensure Naruto's safety first.
[One Tail - Shukaku]: …Heh.
[One Tail - Shukaku]: Now you want to beg me, huh?
[One Tail - Shukaku]: Too late!
Shukaku's soul form looked like a big-bellied fat tanuki. At this moment, it smugly patted its belly.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then what do you plan to do?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Are you going to harm the Leaf?
[One Tail - Shukaku]: No.
But Shukaku immediately shook its head.
[One Tail - Shukaku]: Gaara's sealing technique is kind of crap.
[One Tail - Shukaku]: So I might not even be released. Even if I am, I won't attack.
[One Tail - Shukaku]: So don't worry. I won't even harm a single tree in the Leaf.
[Everyone]: …
As expected of One Tail - Shukaku.
Says the most cowardly things with the fiercest attitude.
[Senju Tobirama]: If you're going to behave, why still act so smug?
[One Tail - Shukaku]: Hmph. I can't beat you, but I still won't submit!
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: …
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: …
Black Zetsu felt that being in this group chat meant hanging out with a bunch of idiots.
Sigh...
By the way, this was supposed to be a live broadcast tracking Kitahara Kaede's whereabouts — why hasn't there been more screen time for its mother, Lady Kaguya?
Black Zetsu hadn't seen his beloved mother in over a thousand years.
The Second Chunin Exam begins, just like in the original story — traversing the Forest of Death, delivering the Heaven and Earth scrolls to the central tower.
And just like in the original, the proctor is Anko Mitarashi.
Right now, Anko is explaining the rules of the exam.
But—
[Kakashi Hatake]: Something feels off.
[Minato Namikaze]: What is it, Kakashi?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Hmm... this Anko Mitarashi is giving me a strange feeling.
[Minato Namikaze]: Anko? What about her?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Don't you think her tongue is... kinda long?
[Kakashi Hatake]: And speaking of long tongues, that Grass Ninja Orochimaru who flirted with Kitahara Kaede in the exam earlier — his tongue was long too.
[Kakashi Hatake]: I don't think that many people are into having long tongues.
[Kakashi Hatake]: So... I suspect this "Anko" is actually Orochimaru.
[Minato Namikaze]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: Damn it, Hiruzen! Kitahara Kaede already told him Orochimaru's identity and he still didn't catch him?
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: If that's true, then Second Hokage, you may be misunderstanding the Third Hokage this time.
[Senju Tobirama]: What do you mean?
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: Because I'm right here beside the Third. He invited us to participate in the operation to capture Orochimaru.
[Cowardly - Ōnoki]: I can confirm that. I was there too.
[Cowardly - Ōnoki]: But Orochimaru is so cunning.
[Cowardly - Ōnoki]: He disguised himself as the Fourth Kazekage. The real Fourth Kazekage was probably already killed.
[Cowardly - Ōnoki]: But… even after being hit by my Dust Release, he wasn't scared. He just shed his skin.
[Cowardly - Ōnoki]: Also, this fake Kazekage version of Orochimaru — his strength isn't weak, probably stronger than the Third Hokage.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then if this Anko is also Orochimaru...
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Just how many Orochimarus are there?
[Might Guy has come online]
As Might Guy logs in, his special effects activate:
[Morning as the Peacock, Noon as the Tiger, Dusk brings the Elephant, and Night... the Dance of the Eight Gates.]
Still impressive.
But his condition isn't great. He appears very weak.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates Released]: Ah… So tired. I almost died.
Might Guy enters the chat.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Guy, are you okay?
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates Released]: I just got assigned with the ANBU to deal with that Orochimaru at the exam.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates Released]: He was really strong, I had to open the Seventh Gate.
[Kakashi Hatake]: You opened the Seventh Gate?! Are you sure that was the real Orochimaru?
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates Released]: Yeah, he was ridiculously strong.
[The Man Who Kicked Uchiha Madara with Eight Gates Released]: Sneaky and powerful. I literally kicked him in half, and then another Orochimaru slithered out from the torn body.
[Everyone]: …
"…Huh?!"
Everyone froze.
Could it be that Konoha is full of Orochimarus?
[Senju Tobirama]: Just what kind of disciple did Hiruzen raise?
[Senju Tobirama]: Is Orochimaru even killable?
[Senju Tobirama] @Kakashi: Go find Kitahara Kaede.
[Senju Tobirama]: Ask him how to handle this kind of situation.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Yeah, let's do that.
[Minato Namikaze]: But it's best if we can capture Orochimaru alive.
[Senju Tobirama]: Why?
[Minato Namikaze]: Well… it's just a personal thought.
[Minato Namikaze]: If Orochimaru can create so many of himself…
[Minato Namikaze]: And each one is still strong…
[Minato Namikaze]: Then... if Kitahara-kun could do the same…
[Minato Namikaze]: Wouldn't the Leaf become—
Minato trailed off, but everyone understood.
If they had multiple Kitahara Kaedes…
Wouldn't Konoha become invincible?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: That means... we could crush a hundred Nine Tails.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: …
Kurama didn't appreciate being treated as a unit of measurement.
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: …
Black Zetsu also stared at Orochimaru's split forms. If Kitahara Kaede also had many versions of himself…
One Kitahara Kaede was already bullying Lady Kaguya… If there were a whole army of him…
Black Zetsu nearly fainted.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: While you're all hyped up, something new is happening with Kitahara Kaede.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Huh?!?
Everyone quickly turned to look, and saw Kitahara Kaede voluntarily press his thumb against the white rabbit ninja's fangs — as if he was willingly getting bitten again.
At the same time...
They noticed that the proctor Anko had vanished — not just her, but Gaara was also gone.
???
What just happened?
[Minato Namikaze]: Could it be...
[Minato Namikaze]: A space-time ninjutsu?
Minato, who was proficient in the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God technique, was highly sensitive to space-time techniques.
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