"Eh? Is it actually Sasuke?"
Menma raised his eyebrows, revealing a look of faint surprise.
However, he nodded immediately in realization. In the original story, Orochimaru frequently arranged various missions for Sasuke. One reason was to fully utilize Sasuke as a human resource, and the other was to provide Sasuke with a special kind of training.
Missions like this were more like practical combat tempering.
Orochimaru wanted to obtain Sasuke's body, but he also waited until Sasuke grew to a certain limit before seizing it. This was like farming; the fruit was only in the green stage, not yet ripe, so how could it be picked easily?
"Then let's go. I'm actually very curious which capable assistant that old guy Danzo dispatched this time."
Menma chuckled lightly.
Whoosh!
Exploding chakra from the soles of his feet...
He flashed rapidly toward the southwest.
Whoosh
Whoosh
Utakata and Kabuto followed closely behind Menma, flanking him left and right, speeding toward the designated direction as well.
At the same time.
In the northeastern part of the Land of Spring.
Jiraiya, bringing Naruto along, was also heading toward the direction Menma and the others were speeding to. He had received the message from the Anbu dispatched by Tsunade even earlier than Menma. Not only did he learn that Danzo had sent people ahead of time, but he also learned the intelligence of the fierce battle between the Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata and an unidentified group.
Without other information...
Jiraiya judged that those besieging Utakata were Root members under Danzo.
This made Jiraiya even more anxious.
Even though Utakata was a rogue ninja, he ultimately belonged to the Hidden Mist Village. Jiraiya didn't want to disrupt the current situation in the ninja world.
From Jiraiya's perspective, Utakata falling into either Orochimaru's or Danzo's hands was unacceptable. The best outcome would be either Utakata continuing to wander the ninja world or being recaptured by the Hidden Mist Village.
Jiraiya would resolutely prevent any outcome other than these.
However, the Anbu dispatched by Tsunade failed to further search and lock onto the traces of Darui, Utakata, and the others afterward.
Otherwise, Jiraiya probably would have encountered Utakata and the others even earlier than Menma. By coincidence, these Anbu members, who investigated the wrong direction after losing Utakata's trail, ended up tracking in another direction and directly discovered the movement trajectory of the Root members under Danzo.
Thinking that the ones fighting Utakata were Root members, these Anbu continued their pursuit while transmitting the news to Jiraiya again.
Like a double arrow advancing from two different directions...
The focal point...
Was on a vast plain northeast of the capital of the Land of Spring.
While the groups of Menma and Jiraiya were approaching rapidly at top speed, a fierce battle was unfolding here.
Bang!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A vigorous figure leaped up.
Crimson and pitch-black three-tomoe Sharingan appeared in his eyes.
Aiming at the target location...
Sasuke formed seals rapidly.
Accompanied by the refined chakra...
Rumble!!
A massive, incredibly scorching fireball appeared out of nowhere.
It assaulted a man wearing standard Leaf Anbu attire not far away directly and violently.
Facing the heatwave...
The Root member's face hidden under the mask showed no change at all.
Buzz!
With a wave of a single hand...
From within his sleeves, thousands of tiny pitch-black insects flew out in an instant, forming a black "giant wall" almost two people high directly in front.
Bang!
Easily blocking that fireball.
This move again!!
Seeing this scene, Sasuke's face turned gloomy instantly.
Hidden Leaf Village, Aburame Clan.
As a former top student and hailing from the Uchiha clan, Sasuke had a certain degree of understanding of the major ninja clans in the Hidden Leaf Village.
The identity of this Leaf Root member before him was solidly confirmed almost the moment he attacked.
In the Hidden Leaf Village, possessing such strong insect control ability... the Aburame clan was the unique existence!
Clearly, this Root member was an outstanding figure within the Aburame clan!
This wasn't Sasuke being arrogant.
Indeed, after this period of training and Orochimaru's specialized guidance, the current Sasuke, even without using the curse mark's power, could be considered to have solidly stepped into the Jonin level. With the strength enhanced by the three-tomoe Sharingan...
Ordinary Jonin were definitely no match for Sasuke.
But this Root member before him could forcefully counter Sasuke's attacks and even threaten Sasuke from time to time in the previous exchanges.
This was enough to prove this Root member's strength.
In fact, the person fighting Sasuke at this moment...
Was none other than the Root member named Ryoma, who personally led the team to the Land of Spring on Danzo's orders.
As a subordinate Danzo had trusted for many years...
Ryoma Aburame's strength was absolutely top-tier among Jonin. In many past missions...
Ryoma acted as Danzo's guard.
This was precisely the manifestation of Danzo's utmost trust in Ryoma.
"Rogue ninja Sasuke Uchiha, surrender now, and you can save yourself some physical pain. If you continue to resist stubbornly, you will bear all the consequences yourself!"
Ryoma Aburame looked at Sasuke opposite him with a cool expression. Waving his single hand, the massive insect cloud dispersed again, and he spoke very sharply.
Originally, he came only for the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
Coincidentally learning the location of Orochimaru's stronghold, and obeying his Lord Danzo's orders, while obtaining intelligence, he also destroyed Orochimaru's stronghold along the way. This was both to prevent Orochimaru from smoothly obtaining intelligence on the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and to beat Orochimaru into line.
Everything was going smoothly, but he hadn't expected the reinforcements dispatched by Orochimaru to arrive so quickly.
And it was Sasuke Uchiha, an existence high on his Lord Danzo's must-kill blacklist.
Ryoma Aburame naturally intended to deal with him along the way.
A mere brat from the Uchiha clan... although there was indeed difficulty, Ryoma still had ample confidence in himself.
Not to mention that he brought out the most elite existences of Root this time!
"Hmph? Surrender? Truly laughable!"
Sasuke sneered coldly, mockery clearly flowing in his pupils.
Boom!
The next second.
Curse mark power activated directly.
Terrifying black rune marks covered him.
As they spread over his whole body...
Sasuke's form underwent a fundamental change, revealing a bewitching appearance.
"!?"
Opposite him, Ryoma saw this. Feeling the terrifying chakra fluctuations transmitted from Sasuke's body, his expression became incredibly solemn.