🎉🎉RADG: Chapter 143/145

Chapter 143: Respective Teachers, Problematic Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode

"Hello, I'm Uchiha Sasuke."

After a moment of silence, Sasuke spoke first and politely greeted the masked man.

After experiencing Maruboshi Kosuke's guidance and witnessing Lee's strength, Sasuke had begun to realize that judging by appearances was foolish. His arrogance had been tempered considerably.

In the past, he pretended to be polite no matter who he faced.

Now, he first confirmed the other's identity and made sure he had the upper hand before putting on a show.

That alone was already a notable improvement for Sasuke.

The masked man paused a few seconds before replying calmly, "People from Root don't need names. Just call me Shun-senpai."

Sasuke nodded slightly, but didn't obey.

Want him to call you senpai?

Sure. Prove your strength first. If you can convince me, I'll call you that.

The masked man clearly understood the Uchiha temperament and wasn't bothered by Sasuke's cold attitude. He got straight to the point.

"Yami-sama assigned me to be your instructor for a reason."

He spoke calmly. "I specialize in Fire Release, Body Flicker Technique, taijutsu, battlefield control… and countering the Uchiha Sharingan."

Sasuke looked up sharply, a hint of hostility flashing in his eyes.

"No need to look at me like that."

The masked man took a few steps back. "I have a deep grudge with Uchiha Itachi. To kill him, I've studied Sharingan thoroughly. Know yourself and your enemy, right?"

"Yami-sama's goal for you is to master full use of your two-tomoe Sharingan within a month. If possible, awaken the third tomoe."

"There's no time to waste. Let's begin."

Sasuke didn't move. He stared at the masked man. "You know Uchiha Itachi?"

"I know him. We were friends. But later, I realized I was wrong about him."

The masked man—no, Uchiha Shisui—revealed a flash of pain in his eyes, though Sasuke didn't notice.

Shisui continued softly, "I know you want revenge against Itachi, but your strength is far from enough."

"Only by following my and Yami-sama's instructions will you have a real chance."

"Then show me how well you've studied Sharingan!"

Sasuke's eyes turned scarlet as he activated his Sharingan and rushed forward.

Shisui parried his attack with only a kunai, and Sasuke instantly felt immense pressure.

It felt like when he had faced Orochimaru.

There was no way to win. Every movement was predicted. The Sharingan's foresight was useless, or rather, it was used against him.

The opponent truly understood the Sharingan, just as he claimed.

Many of Sasuke's predicted attacks had been turned into traps. Any attempt to improvise just made things worse.

Close combat was impossible.

Sasuke used recoil to retreat and quickly formed hand seals midair.

Shisui's expression briefly softened with nostalgia. It reminded him of sparring with Itachi, who also often used this move.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Shisui's fireball launched first. It was bigger, rounder, and completely overpowered Sasuke's within two seconds.

Even though he had prepared himself mentally, Sasuke was still shocked.

How could someone under Yami be this much stronger than him?

It was bad enough with Yuichi… now there was another even stronger one?

Chirp!

The sound of Chidori pierced through the training ground. Sasuke grabbed his right wrist with his left, launching forward. The fireball was only a distraction—this was the real kill move!

Thanks to the lightning chakra activation, Sasuke's speed surged several times over. Not even afterimages remained. It was nearly on par with Lee after opening a Gate.

But Shisui also disappeared. The moment Sasuke reached full speed, Shisui reappeared right beside him.

Sasuke stared in horror as Shisui's hand clamped onto his wrist. A slight squeeze disrupted his chakra flow, instantly halting Chidori.

Shisui nodded, showing approval. "The speed isn't bad. But your control is lacking. Your dash direction was off, and you lost too much chakra in transit."

Sasuke was fully convinced.

He hadn't even seen Shisui's movement path. The man had just appeared beside him and grabbed him precisely at top speed.

No wonder his codename was "Shun." He really lived up to it.

Sasuke calmed down and began earnestly listening to Shisui's guidance.


---

Meanwhile, at the hot springs district.

"Ah… this feels great."

Jiraiya stretched his arms and relaxed against the pool edge, soaking in the warm water.

Through the rising mist, he could see a boy with spiky blond hair practicing water-walking not far away. That bright color made Jiraiya feel nostalgic but also warmed his heart.

Minato, your son has grown up.

"I heard from the old man that you fought Orochimaru?"

Jiraiya turned and looked at Yami, who was resting with a towel over his head.

"It was just a brief exchange."

The boy didn't open his eyes. "He didn't use his trump cards, and I didn't go all out. So there's no real value in analyzing it."

"If we joined forces, could we take him down for good?" Jiraiya stroked his chin, considering how to land a heavy blow on his former teammate.

"Keep dreaming. You'll never know if the Orochimaru you're facing is even his real body."

Yami rejected him outright.

Unless it was a Six Paths-level technique like Infinite Tsukuyomi, Orochimaru's survivability was absurd.

"Yeah…"

Jiraiya sighed. He knew that truth well.

After leaving Konoha, Orochimaru's research had grown more taboo. His methods were strange and hardly even resembled ninjutsu anymore.

Otherwise, Jiraiya wouldn't have chased him for over a decade without even catching a glimpse of his tail.

Seeing Naruto fall into the water again, Jiraiya smiled knowingly.

"This kid's nothing like Minato… but a lot like Kushina."

Minato had been the textbook perfect shinobi. Jiraiya loved bragging about him in front of Orochimaru and Tsunade.

Naruto, by comparison, was a total goofball.

"My students are all geniuses. Yami, why don't you teach him yourself?"

"Your techniques are more than enough for him to spend a lifetime on."

Yami removed his towel and wiped his face. "You think I don't want to? But you're the one underestimating Naruto. How can you claim to be Minato's teacher?"

"But…" Jiraiya hesitated. He had returned to Konoha to pursue Orochimaru. Even if he did take Naruto as a student, it wouldn't be until after the Chūnin Exams.

Yami wasn't surprised.

Originally, Jiraiya hadn't planned to teach Naruto at this point either. It was only after the Sexy Jutsu broke through his defenses that he agreed.

Yami had already prepared a proper reward.

"Ten-year VIP card for Golden Foot Impression Massage Chain."

"Leave Naruto to me. Don't worry!"

Jiraiya's attitude changed instantly. Orochimaru who? Foot massage was king.

He cheerfully pocketed the card, face glowing.

"Yami, you've got some real goodies. I spent a million ryō there last year and ran out in six months. If I'd had this card…"

Yami smiled. "Golden Foot Impression is mine. Just some pocket money."

"HUH?!"

Jiraiya's jaw dropped.

Golden Foot Impression had dozens of stores across the Land of Fire. It was the ultimate stress relief spot for men. And it was Yami's business?

Jiraiya now looked at Yami differently—with deep admiration.

Not for his money-making skills, but for how deeply he understood men.

"..."

"Yami-nii!"

"Eh? Who's this white-haired old guy?"

Naruto walked over and broke the silence, ruining Jiraiya's plan to learn from Yami.

"This is the part-time teacher I found for you," Yami said. "You'll train with him for the next month."

The boy stood and stretched. His bathrobe flew from the shelf and landed on him.

"The rest is on you, Jiraiya. If Naruto can't learn Rasengan and the Mount Myōboku Summoning Technique in one month, I'll revoke your VIP card and blacklist you from all branches."

"Naruto, hit him with a full set of Sexy Jutsu. Consider it your tuition."

"What?! Yami, don't do this!"

Jiraiya panicked when he heard the threat. But the boy didn't give him a chance to protest. He activated Flying Thunder God and disappeared.

Naruto followed instructions and unleashed his jutsu without hesitation.

Dozens of beautiful women surrounded Jiraiya. In that moment, he forgot all about foot massage.

What a great apprentice!


---

With his students settled, Yami began his own training.

At this stage, he no longer pursued individual jutsu, but the essence of chakra itself—especially the integration of multiple attributes.

Yami possessed seven chakra natures and had a level of mastery far beyond ordinary shinobi. Yet, fusing more than three attributes remained extremely difficult.

Three-attribute fusion formed a Kekkei Tōta. Beyond that, the mutual contradiction and reinforcement among chakra types made stable fusion nearly impossible.

The next level was the Yin-Yang-based "Kekkei Mōra," which integrated all five elements.

In the shinobi world, only the Sage of Six Paths and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had ever mastered this.

Abilities like Rinnegan, Amenominaka, and Yomotsu Hirasaka—these terrifying techniques were all Kekkei Mōra-level.

Yami was now mainly studying Yin and Yang chakra.

Yin, the source of spiritual energy, governed illusions and creation from nothing. Yang, the source of physical energy, gave life to form.

Unlike the Five Elements, which had generations of clear research and development, there was far too little information on Yin-Yang chakra in the shinobi world.

It was only vaguely understood that bodily powers fell under Yang, while spiritual abilities were Yin.

The Uchiha clan's scrolls on Yin chakra had fallen into Yami's hands. But the Senju clan's Yang chakra techniques remained in Hiruzen's possession.

He didn't know where it was hidden.

Without that knowledge, he couldn't learn True Several Thousand Hands. He had to rely on his own efforts.

The most effective method now was to improve Sage Mode proficiency and use its heightened perception to explore the body's mysteries.


---

Outside Konoha, in a quiet canyon.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

With a cold shout, Yami summoned a massive water dragon over dozens of meters long. It surged toward Senju Tobirama.

Tobirama used Flying Thunder God to dodge, but the dragon's tail swung around, as if predicting his movement, and slammed into him.

Tobirama quickly formed hand seals and spat out several fire dragons to counter the water. The resulting steam covered the entire area.

"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"

Yami's voice echoed from within the fog.

The rocks on the ground twisted like pythons. Tobirama tried multiple Body Flicker escapes but eventually had to land.

The entire ground felt alive. Everywhere was a trap.

In the end, two stone pythons latched onto Tobirama's legs, immobilizing him.

Of course, he could've cut off his legs and regenerated using the Edo Tensei body, but since this wasn't a life-and-death duel, he stopped resisting.

Yami, now cloaked in green, dragon-shaped chakra energy, walked over, deep in thought.

"The condensation speed is faster now, but the amount of senjutsu chakra is still pitiful."

"So… the problem isn't with me. It's the Ryūchi Cave Sage training method itself."

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Patrick Darmon for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 144: The Secret of Senju Hashirama’s Instant Sage Mode, Pakura’s Road to Revenge

Hearing Yami's assessment, Tobirama's eyes flashed with sharp light.

"You're saying Ryūchi Cave is misleading you?"

"No, no, what they taught me is indeed the orthodox Sage Art of Ryūchi Cave."

Yami shook his head, confusing even Tobirama. He explained, "After mastering Sage Mode, I gained the ability to see into others' hearts. Don't worry, I'm not talking about humans."

"I mean the snake princesses of Ryūchi Cave. They wouldn't dare mess with me."

Yami rotated his fingers, and the green dragon-shaped chakra dispersed. He had quietly exited Sage Mode.

"Snakes are still snakes. Katsuyu is Katsuyu. And toads are, well, just toads."

The boy shared his guess, "They're all natural creatures. Their Sage Arts were developed to match the characteristics of their own species."

"Humans can learn Sage Arts from the three holy places, but it's done through sheer talent and force. In the end, it becomes a mismatched Sage Mode with less efficient use of senjutsu energy."

"Think about it. Do those so-called Great Toad Sages or the White Snake Sage even have a concept of Sage Mode?"

Yami had been researching Sage Mode for some time, trying to reach the proficiency of Senju Hashirama, who could enter Sage Mode instantly with a simple hand clap.

But after training for several days, he realized it was impossible. He had absorbed natural energy for thirty seconds, yet used up all the senjutsu chakra in just one Inorganic Reincarnation.

This was his current limit. Not only could he not maintain Sage Mode for long, but even his absorption efficiency in short bursts hadn't improved.

With these doubts, he pulled Tobirama out of the lab, hoping the one who knew Hashirama best could help him find the answer.

Tobirama did give him that answer.

Hashirama wasn't more talented in senjutsu than Yami. He had simply used a trick.

Using the sealing technique inherited from Uzumaki Mito, Hashirama had created a secret method similar to Tsunade's Hundred Healings Seal. Normally, it stored accumulated senjutsu chakra in a seal and released it when needed.

To outsiders who didn't know the truth, it looked like he could enter Sage Mode instantly and limitlessly.

Yami suddenly understood.

No wonder.

In the entire shinobi world, only Madara and the Nine Tails had ever forced Hashirama to exhaust all his senjutsu chakra. Naturally, the secret had never been exposed.

"That makes sense."

Tobirama understood Yami's thoughts and nodded. "So, what will you do? Are you going to create a sealing technique like my brother's to store Sage chakra?"

"That's just a backup plan."

Yami shook his head slightly. "I still plan to collect the Sage Arts training methods from all three holy places and try to create my own method for absorbing natural energy."

Tobirama advised, "You can ask Tsunade for the Shikkotsu Forest contract. It's likely she also has my brother's Sage Arts scroll."

"Let's talk about it after the Chūnin Exams," Yami nodded in agreement.

He intended to bring Tsunade back after the exam, but not to become Hokage.

Speaking of the Chūnin Exams, Tobirama suddenly fell silent. After a while, he said, "Does it have to be this way?"

"Just wait a few more years. The monkey is already almost seventy. Even if he clings to power, how much longer can he hold on?"

The dead are the best at keeping secrets.

Since Yami summoned Tobirama, he never intended to send him back to the Pure Land.

To prevent him from going out of control, Yami had even modified the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

Even its creator couldn't reverse it with the anti-seal.

So, Tobirama now knew many of Yami's secrets, including what was going to happen in the third round of the Chūnin Exams.

They were still master and disciple. Even if Tobirama disapproved of Hiruzen's leadership, he didn't want to see his student end up that way.

"Second Hokage…"

Yami patted Tobirama's shoulder with a smile. He didn't use force.

"You're a smart man. How can you still not understand the key?"

"Even if the Third steps down, the successor he chooses won't be me. That's why he must die in an unexpected situation, leaving chaos behind."

"What about the innocent villagers?" Tobirama asked in a deep voice. "Do you know how many people will die because of your plan? They could have lived."

He had no doubt Yami would eventually win. But every minute and second of delay meant lives lost in Konoha.

"The sacrifices now are for future stability."

Yami played with his palm lazily. "Konoha has been too peaceful. It's time to wake up to reality."

"The enemies are always there. They're watching from the shadows like hungry lions. The moment we slip up, they'll lunge in and tear off a chunk of our flesh."

"You see, that's the flaw of the ninja village system. If you really want to place blame, don't blame me—blame the First Hokage."

Yami spread his arms and smiled.

"Two Jinchūriki. One of them includes the Five Tails he split off back then."

"Does that count as the First colluding with outsiders and betraying Konoha?"

"Enough!"

Tobirama interrupted, his voice cold. He silently activated Flying Thunder God and returned to his lab.

He knew he couldn't persuade Yami. And besides feeling regret for Hiruzen and frustration with the villagers, Tobirama didn't feel much anger.

In the end, it wasn't bad if Yami became Hokage.

It might even be good.

He wasn't just the Shimura clan's future, but a Senju descendant as well. His lineage was excellent.

Tobirama himself was no moderate. He had once wanted to kill Uchiha Madara completely and had many ambitions toward the other villages.

He and Hashirama had argued many times about distributing the tailed beasts. Deep down, he still blamed his brother. If Hashirama hadn't been so indecisive, Konoha would already dominate the shinobi world. They wouldn't have so many problems now.

—

"Yami, news from Danzō-sama."

After returning home, Pakura excitedly handed over a scroll.

Yami opened it and immediately understood why she was so happy.

The scroll contained intel from Orochimaru, including the time and place of the ambush.

Even after being badly beaten last time, Orochimaru hadn't held a grudge. As long as his soul wasn't damaged, physical injuries were trivial to him. In the face of his grand plan, he still kept his promise and sent the information.

Suna was truly pitiful. The movements of their Kage—supposedly top secret—had fallen into Orochimaru's hands so easily.

"Yami…" Pakura called out nervously and expectantly.

Yami came back to his senses and smiled. "Still worried I'll back out? Since I promised you, I won't interfere."

"But…" Yami changed the subject and gently stroked Pakura's back. "Just in case, Hikari will go with you. Not just to guard against Rasa, but also against Orochimaru."

"As long as nothing changes, she won't act."

"Okay. Thank you, Yami." Pakura kissed the boy and ran to her room to prepare.

The next morning, Pakura dragged a sleepy Hikari out with her.

Seeing Hikari's tired, groggy face, Yami sighed helplessly.

What to do? She's supposed to be a powerful weapon capable of taking on the entire shinobi world, but he's raised her into a lazy otaku who just reads books and eats snacks all day.

—

Land of Wind

A desert country covered in yellow sand. Ninety percent of the land was desert, and the poor natural resources made the Land of Wind the weakest of the Five Great Nations.

Why was Sunagakure the only village that prioritized puppet development?

Because the country was weak and couldn't afford to train too many shinobi. Puppetry was a way to supplement their forces.

After becoming Kazekage, Rasa had lofty ambitions and wanted to develop Suna. But in the end, his greatest contribution was extracting gold buried deep beneath the sands to relieve the village's financial crisis.

It wasn't until Orochimaru proposed the Konoha Crush plan that he saw hope.

Teaming up with Iwagakure to attack Konoha's command center—a move never done even in past shinobi wars—could severely damage Konoha and allow them to demand major compensation.

But he had to be cautious, or he risked being sold out by Ōnoki.

Among all the Kage, Ōnoki had the worst reputation and had betrayed almost every ally he ever had.

Two guards followed quietly behind Rasa, not even making a sound with their footsteps, so as not to disturb the Kazekage's thoughts.

Puff!

"Ah!" A scream rang out. Rasa spun around to see both of his guards stabbed through the throat by long swords.

The blades spun, and two heads flew into the air. Then, the swords merged and stabbed straight toward Rasa!

"Orochimaru!"

Rasa's eyes widened in fury.

He immediately recognized the attacker.

He quickly formed hand seals, and water surged up from the ground, turning into a tall wall in front of him.

At the same time, he retreated quickly to create distance from Orochimaru.

But a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!"

Rasa dodged with all his might but was a step too slow. His right arm was hit by the intense fireball, and the searing pain made him gasp.

Pakura had chosen a tricky angle for this attack. She deliberately targeted his right side. Even if it didn't hit completely, wounding his right arm would still delay his ability to form seals.

Seeing Pakura's attire, Rasa's eyes were filled with shock and fury. "Anbu?! Orochimaru, you're working with Konoha?! This plan—it was all a trap!"

"Hehe, Kazekage-dono, you're overthinking it."

Orochimaru descended slowly with golden sand swirling behind him. He and Pakura formed a pincer attack.

"I just thought your identity would help me get closer to Sarutobi Hiruzen. So, I came here… to borrow your head."

Orochimaru licked his lips. "As for this person, she's not Anbu. She's a helper sent by Root."

Even among Konoha's own, many couldn't tell the difference between Anbu and Root—let alone shinobi from other villages.

"Orochimaru, support only," Pakura warned coldly.

Orochimaru smirked and stepped aside.

Pakura turned to Rasa. "What? You don't recognize old friends anymore? Am I that forgettable?"

"Who are you?"

Rasa frowned.

The voice was familiar, but he couldn't recall it.

Pakura said nothing. She calmly removed her mask.

Rasa's pupils shrank instantly. He couldn't suppress the shock in his voice.

"Pakura?! You… you're alive?!"

"Thanks to you and those elders, I nearly died. But Yami saved me—for this day."

Pakura sneered. Rasa's fear and disbelief filled her with satisfaction.

She had waited ten years for this moment.

Without another word, she raised her hands. Dozens of high-speed fireballs burst forth.

Rasa quickly controlled his gold sand to defend.

The massive golden wall was blasted open. Under the high temperature, the gold liquefied and slipped from his control.

This was why Rasa had feared her.

Against most ninjutsu, Sakin's defense was impenetrable. But Scorch Release was one of the most powerful kekkei genkai. His gold sand couldn't withstand it.

As a Kage, he could never allow powerful elites to threaten his position.

In this, Rasa had much in common with the Third Hokage.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Patrick Darmon for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 145: Pakura Masters Dust Release, Sasuke’s Doubts

Orochimaru watched the two people battling on the field with a face full of surprise.

He truly hadn't expected that the Anbu sent by Yami was actually the former Suna hero, Scorch Release user—Pakura.

Even after seeing her use Scorch Release, Orochimaru had merely assumed Yami had passed the technique on to a talented subordinate.

Unexpectedly, it was the original Pakura, the one who made Scorch Release known throughout the shinobi world.

Scorch Release fireballs bombarded Rasa one after another, forcing him to focus entirely on defense. Pakura's strength had undoubtedly reached the level of a Kage.

But what Orochimaru feared most wasn't Pakura's terrifying offensive power, but the information revealed during her brief exchange with Rasa just moments earlier.

Yami had saved Pakura ten years ago, and had kept her hidden all this time.

Back then, that kid was already so deeply scheming?

He didn't fear strong fools, but he did fear those who were strong and cunning.

For a moment, Orochimaru's fear of Yami rose to a new level.

No matter what he was thinking internally, Orochimaru knew now wasn't the time to dwell on it and began actively suppressing Rasa.

Rasa and Pakura were both long-range ninjutsu types. Compared to their powerful jutsu, their taijutsu was significantly weaker.

With Orochimaru's constant interference, Rasa's situation became increasingly dangerous. His gold dust was being continuously consumed by the Scorch Release attacks, and he had to remain alert for Orochimaru's potential ambush from underground.

He knew he couldn't afford to delay and had to find a way to escape.

In desperation, Rasa consumed a large amount of chakra to extract even more gold dust from the ground and launched a large-scale jutsu.

"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Burial!"

The gold dust surged like waves, each wave taller than the last, engulfing the figures of Pakura and Orochimaru. The detonating tags hidden within triggered a massive explosion.

"Did I get them?"

Rasa didn't see Pakura or Orochimaru and didn't care whether they had died or not. He turned and fled toward Sunagakure.

He had to expose Orochimaru's conspiracy and halt this plan.

As for Pakura, he would demand an explanation from Konoha once everything settled.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

A transparent conical barrier pierced through Rasa's chest from behind, blasting open a large hole. He struggled to turn his head.

Pakura hovered in the air and slowly lowered her hand.

Much of her anger over being betrayed had faded, and her expression softened.

Seeing that Rasa was still clinging to life, she smiled faintly. "Rasa, go in peace. After you die, I'll personally deal with the old men who betrayed me."

"The grudge between you and me ends here."

Plop!

Rasa collapsed to the ground and died with his eyes wide open.

A giant snake slithered out of the sand and opened its mouth. Orochimaru crawled out once again, casting a wary look at Pakura.

"Dust Release... Yami-kun really trusts you, Scorch Release Pakura."

Pakura wasn't interested in talking to him. "According to the agreement, Rasa's body is yours."

With that, she put her Root mask back on and flew off. After a short flight, she found Hikari hiding nearby and watching the fight unfold.

Hikari had a strange expression. "That was the Kazekage? He didn't seem very strong."

"Do you think everyone is like your Uchiha clan?" Pakura said, annoyed. "Rasa's level is already very high for ordinary shinobi."

She lightly knocked Hikari on the head.

If it had been just her, Rasa might have escaped even if he couldn't defeat her. It was Orochimaru's interference that forced Rasa into a desperate situation, giving her the chance she needed.

Hikari stuck out her tongue but didn't dare refute her. At home, Pakura was like an older sister. She and Uzumaki Misa took care of the household matters, and Hikari had long since accepted her authority.

The two didn't linger in the desert and returned to Konoha as quickly as possible.

The moment Yami saw Pakura's expression, he knew the outcome without needing to ask. Yugao and Kurenai also offered their congratulations.

Uzuki Yugao felt a bit envious, but her chance for revenge would come soon, so she wasn't too impatient.

Recently, two incidents had occurred in Konoha.

The examiner for the second round of the Chūnin Exams, Hayate Gekko, was dead. And the only Otogakure genin to advance to the third round, had also died.

The scenes had been carefully cleaned, and Anbu hadn't identified the murderer. However, they began constant surveillance of the Suna and Iwa teams, nearly exposing themselves.

Baki had lodged a complaint in protest, but Yami responded kindly with a "Get lost." Baki returned to the hotel with a dark expression and stayed inside.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't stupid, just old. He had already guessed that Iwa and Suna were plotting something.

But the arrow was already nocked, and it had to be released.

This year's Chūnin Exam had been building momentum for a long time. Many nobles and political figures were paying close attention. Konoha couldn't afford to cancel it.

Otherwise, they'd become the laughingstock of the ninja world, and the Fire Daimyō's military budget might be cut.

So, Hiruzen had no choice but to remain still and brace for whatever storm came.

In this sense, Orochimaru had done Konoha a favor. Killing a Kage in advance meant Suna no longer had the means to retaliate even if the plan succeeded.

—

"Huff…"

On the last day before the third round, Sasuke still failed to achieve Yami's ultimate goal—unlocking the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

He sat on the ground, panting heavily, covered in sweat.

Uchiha Shisui sheathed his kunai and handed Sasuke two soldier pills.

"That's enough for today. I've taught you everything I could. Rest well tonight and give it your all tomorrow."

Sasuke accepted the pills and smiled. "Thank you, Shun-senpai."

To anyone who helped him grow stronger, Sasuke showed genuine respect.

This past month, Shun-senpai had been both his teacher and sparring partner.

But no matter how much he improved, Shun still felt like an insurmountable abyss. He couldn't touch him at all.

There probably weren't many shinobi like him even in Konoha. Let alone someone willing to train personally with a Genin for a whole month.

So Sasuke was grateful to both Shun and Yami for the opportunity.

He knew how far he had come and how his understanding of the Sharingan had evolved.

After resting briefly, Sasuke stood up. Seeing Shisui leave the training grounds, he followed.

"Shun-senpai, can you tell me about your relationship with Uchiha Itachi?"

Shisui glanced at Sasuke but kept walking. "There's nothing to say. I had many friends in the Uchiha clan. He killed them. So, he must pay."

"If you can't kill him, I will."

Sasuke clenched his fists. "I'll kill him with my own hands. He can only die by my blade!"

"Then keep working hard." Shisui replied calmly. "Perhaps dying by your hand is the best end for him. Otherwise, he'll face Yami."

And several dozen more Uchiha.

Shisui silently added in his heart.

There wasn't a single Uchiha in Yukigakure who didn't want to kill Uchiha Itachi personally—even if it was just to carve off a piece of flesh.

Sasuke frowned and finally voiced the question that had been bugging him for days. "Shun-senpai, are you really not an Uchiha?"

—

"Here, half is for you."

In another part of the village, Jiraiya broke a popsicle and handed a piece to Naruto.

"Thanks, Pervy Sage!"

Naruto slurped it happily while sitting on a bench.

"It's finally over."

Jiraiya let out a long sigh.

This past month had been exhausting. Naruto had seemingly infinite energy, training non-stop.

And with Yami breathing down his neck, Jiraiya could only grit his teeth and push through from morning to night.

After Naruto mastered Rasengan, he hit a wall with the Summoning Technique.

He had trouble controlling the chakra output.

In the end, a life-or-death moment forced him to "collect rent" from the Nine Tails for the first time, and he managed to summon Gamabunta.

For the record, even Jiraiya was usually on the losing end when dealing with Bunta. It had taken a lot of coaxing to calm him down.

In short, this month had been more intense than an entire year before.

But during this time, Jiraiya also saw Naruto's shining qualities.

Like the protagonist in Tales of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, Naruto had unwavering determination and a refusal to give up.

In that sense, Naruto even surpassed Minato.

Watching Naruto happily eat the popsicle, Jiraiya ruffled his hair and joked, "You little brat. If you lose tomorrow, see how I deal with you."

"I won't lose to Hyūga Neji!"

After thinking for a moment, Naruto finally remembered his first opponent and said with determination, "As long as I summon the Toad Boss, Sasuke will be stunned! Hehehe…"

Jiraiya smacked him on the head. "Idiot! Don't summon Bunta for something like this. Win with your own strength!"

Naruto covered his head. "Oww! Got it!"

"Rasengan is the Fourth Hokage's proud jutsu. You don't want to shame its name." Jiraiya reminded him.

Naruto's eyes lit up, then he changed the subject.

"Pervy Sage, you always brag about how strong you are. So, who's stronger, you or Yami-nii?"

"It's me, obviously."

—

Yami tossed the cards in his hand. "We don't even need our cute Hikari-chan to deal with a Five Tails."

The Mind's Eye of the Kagura had detected an Iwa and Suna ambush. There weren't many of them, just a few hundred, but all were above Chūnin level.

The largest chakra signature among them had already surpassed that of the aging Hiruzen. There was no doubt—it was Iwa's Five Tails Jinchūriki, the Steam Ninja Han.

Hikari had volunteered to deal with him this time.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was the natural enemy of tailed beasts. Capturing the Five Tails would be simple for her.

But Yami refused. He wanted to form a bond between the Five Tails and One Tail himself. If Hikari controlled them, what bond would be left to forge?

Not getting the answer she wanted, Hikari angrily stomped on Yami's foot, but he didn't mind and picked the cards back up with a grin.

"Cards are boring. Let's change the punishment. Whoever loses takes off one piece of clothing. How about it?"

Pakura and Hikari exchanged glances and blushed.

(To be continued.)