Chapter 316: The Enemy Arrives
High in the sky.
A dark vortex swirled like a gateway in the heavens. A figure clad in white emerged from within.
"So, this is the ninja world of the past?"
The figure possessed pale skin and long, light-blue hair tied in a high ponytail. He had no eyebrows, but two dots sat upon his forehead, and two horn-like protrusions functioned as a forehead protector. Dressed in white robes, he carried a red glowing fishing basket on his back and held a red glowing fishing rod in his hand.
Otsutsuki Urashiki stepped through the void, showing no signs of being affected by gravity. He gazed down at the endless expanse of forest below.
"That damn Sasuke Uchiha... and that brat. I wonder what time period of the past this is?"
Urashiki's expression was sour. During the journey through time, Sasuke had interfered, shifting their intended arrival point. His Byakugan snapped open, scanning the surroundings. Realizing he was in a desolate, uninhabited area, Urashiki looked toward the sun to determine his coordinates and flew off in a specific direction.
"According to the records, as long as it's before the time that traitor Kaguya was sealed, there aren't many who can actually fight."
Urashiki knew he only had to be wary of the Sasuke Uchiha who had traveled back with him.
Whoosh!
Konoha.
Every shinobi had entered a state of combat readiness.
"Hey, Asuma, working hard, I see. Tell me, how many months along is Kurenai?" Tonbo Tobitake teased.
Thank me, man. I'm the one who gave you the chance to actually see your kid.
Asuma's rugged face instantly turned a shade of red. "Soon."
"Soon? You rascal, not bad. Unlike Kakashi and Gai—those guys are really bringing down the average for our graduating class," Tonbo praised.
"Haha..." Asuma chuckled. He had been mocked by Tonbo like this many times in the past. Now, he finally had the upper hand. However, thinking about how Tonbo's eldest was already a Genin while his own hadn't even been born yet, he still felt a bit behind.
For a brief moment, their laughter lightened the heavy atmosphere of the impending war. In the distance, Kakashi, who was on patrol, saw the two of them chatting and laughing. He had a nagging feeling they were "talking smack" about him. He ignored it and continued his rounds.
The coming enemy was no joke. He wondered if Team Gai would make it back in time.
On the Streets.
The Konohamaru Corps and Team Tianyu were meeting up.
"Hey, do you know what's going on? The atmosphere in the village feels weird," Konohamaru asked Tianyu and Maki.
Tianyu replied, "My dad said the Akatsuki enemies have finally come out into the open. He expects someone to attack soon to try and kidnap Naruto-niichan."
"What? Kidnap Naruto-niichan?" The Konohamaru Corps was furious.
"Don't worry, Konohamaru. With my dad around, he'll never let anyone take Naruto-niichan away."
Tianyu thought back to when he used to trick Naruto as a kid. He hadn't expected Naruto-niichan to become this important!
"Besides, we've gotten pretty strong too, haven't we?" Tianyu said confidently.
"You're right. We are strong," Konohamaru agreed, regaining his composure.
Land of Frost.
One of Tonbo Tobitake's clones was scouting for intel when he suddenly sensed something wrong. He expanded his sensory range to the maximum just as a fast-moving figure flew over his head.
That's... an Otsutsuki... they've come to this timeline?!
"I see. So this is the time before the so-called Fourth Great Ninja War. An organization named 'Akatsuki' has already gathered seven Tailed Beasts. Talk about a lucky break."
Otsutsuki Urashiki had just interrogated a ninja from the Land of Frost to learn the current state of affairs. He felt that Sasuke Uchiha had actually done him a huge favor. Since the Akatsuki had already collected seven beasts, he wouldn't have to hunt them down one by one.
He then hooked the ninja's chakra and flicked it away.
Konoha.
Boom!
Tonbo Tobitake, who had been brainstorming ways to bypass precognition, suddenly received the memory from his clone. His eyes bulged.
In this time period... just when he was planning to show off a bit...
"Husband, what's wrong?" Ayame asked, looking up from the vacuum cleaner.
"Something happened. I have to go out for a while."
He looked at the vacuum in her hand. Even with money, she couldn't stay idle. He had offered to automate the housework with ninjutsu, but she insisted on doing it herself. He vanished before her eyes.
"Honestly... things must be really bad lately if even he's this busy!"
In Ayame's eyes, Tonbo was the most relaxed ninja in Konoha. Everyone else always looked swamped, but Tonbo was always home to mind the kids or do chores, almost as if he didn't have a job. But she understood—her husband was simply too brilliant; he was efficient at everything he did.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Across the world, Tonbo's clones busy with various tasks all vanished in clouds of smoke. Only the shadow clone stationed in Konoha remained.
Whoosh!
"That damn Sasuke Uchiha! How dare he lay a hand on our master? Konoha must give us an explanation!" Karui's red hair fluttered in the wind, her face masked in fury.
"Konoha has labeled Sasuke an S-rank rogue ninja; he's already defected. I just hope they can provide enough intel on him," Omoi analyzed. Then, his thoughts spiraled: "But what if I go to Konoha and a local girl falls in love with me? Her boyfriend will definitely come to punch me. Should I fight back? If I don't... oh man... I'll be beaten black and blue, and the girls will be so heartbroken..."
Omoi's pessimistic rambling was cut short.
"Stop. Careful."
Their captain, Samui, held up a hand, her eyes fixed on the sky. A figure in white was watching them.
"Those are... the Hyuga's Byakugan..."
As a highly knowledgeable kunoichi of the Cloud, Samui recognized the eyes instantly. But a Byakugan user... who was this? The Cloud had coveted the Byakugan for years, yet Samui had no record of this man. Furthermore, he was flying—an ability the Hyuga did not possess.
She noted the fishing rod and the glowing basket. She deduced they were special ninja tools.
Zip!
While they were observing him, the stranger moved. He swung the red fishing rod, the line hurtling toward them at incredible speed.
"Dammit, is he from Konoha?"
The three used Body Flicker to dodge, but the enemy adjusted mid-air with even greater speed, targeting Karui.
Slash!
Karui drew her blade, her exquisite swordsmanship aiming for the fishing line. But the blade passed right through. The line was incredibly resilient—it didn't snap as she expected. Instead, it looped around and pierced her body.
She let out a muffled groan as her chakra was hooked and yanked out of her. She slumped to the ground, weakened.
"Captain... Omoi... be careful. That rod... it can absorb chakra," she gasped out the intel.
"What?" Samui and Omoi braced themselves, their vigilance reaching its peak.