Chapter 97: Naruto's Double Act (Second Update!)
Sound Village, Orochimaru's secret base.
Naruto's Shadow Clone seemed to receive some kind of instruction; he froze for a moment, then smiled and stroked the hair of Hyuga Hinata, who now appeared extremely dependent on him and unusually well-behaved, his eyes filled with guilt.
"Nar... 'Tian,' are you leaving?"
"Just call me Naruto. This appearance is for outsiders, and you are not one of them!" Narutostraightened the hair he had just ruffled for Hyuga Hinata. "Hinata, wait for me here peacefully. I'll be back soon."
"I want to go with Naruto-kun..." At Orochimaru's place, Hyuga Hinata had no one to rely on except for the Shadow Clone Naruto left behind, so this reaction was perfectly natural.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. Next time, I'll definitely take you with me!"
"Is it because my strength can't keep up with Naruto-kun's pace?" Girls' minds are sensitive; even if Naruto didn't mean it that way, they would basically think so. "I won't be a burden. My Byakugan can observe..."
"I know all of that." Naruto's Shadow Clone gave Hinata a gentle hug. "But I really can't take you this time... It's not because of a lack of strength, but because the situation with my main body is very complicated, and you'll have new companions soon..."
"I understand..."
Hyuga Hinata nodded somewhat dejectedly. Seeing Naruto's Shadow Clone use the Flying Thunder God to vanish before her eyes, her heart still tightened with a bit of pain...
After dazing for a while, Hyuga Hinata found herself drawn to the place where Orochimaru kept his research data. She reached out, slowly picked up a document, and began to read it carefully.
...
"Na na na!"
An extremely annoying and chillingly playful voice called out. Naruto and the others, who were on the offensive, stopped their movements, while Haku, who had been struggling to defend, gained a brief moment to breathe.
"Who are you!"
Uchiha Sasuke's emotions were highly unstable. He recognized the pattern in the newcomer's Mangekyo eyes, but Uchiha Sasuke was certain that the person was definitely not Uchiha Itachi!
"It's you! 'Tian'!"
Kakashi Hatake, who had originally wanted to hone his Disciples' combat experience, could no longer sit still. With a Body Flicker Technique, he blocked the way in front of Naruto's trio, and he pulled up the Konoha forehead protector that usually sat slanted over his left eye.
"What?!" It was Uchiha Sasuke again.
The mysterious person before him was shocking enough, but the Sharingan in Kakashi Hatake's left eye once again overturned his understanding. Soon after, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes burning with rage.
"Yo! It seems the Uchiha brat is angry!"
The playful voice continued. However, because 'Tian' had left such a deep impression on Kakashi Hatake, Kakashi could only maintain a defensive stance before Naruto's Shadow Clone made a move.
After all, Kakashi Hatake didn't know the purpose of Naruto's Shadow Clone, and the three students behind him still needed his protection.
When the situation was unclear, Kakashi Hatakewould not allow his impulsiveness to lead to his students being harmed.
"It's really hard to get excited at all..." After Naruto's Shadow Clone finished speaking, he turned and walked toward the equally wary Haku, waving his hand in front of Haku's eyes. "Come with me, or die. Which do you choose?"
"Kakashi-sensei!" Uchiha Sasuke roared from behind. "What on earth are you doing!"
"Shut up!"
Kakashi Hatake's body was tense. After reprimanding Uchiha Sasuke, he couldn't help but grip the Kunai in his hand even tighter.
"It seems the Uchiha brat is very excited, and he's not too stupid either!" Naruto's Shadow Clone took the hand of Haku, who had already made her choice. "But that's all it is..."
"Who are you exactly!"
"Me?" Naruto's Shadow Clone pointed to his own eyes. "I was once a member of the Uchiha, but not anymore."
"You and that man..."
"Uchiha Itachi? A very talented person, but too shallow. He's even more naive than you!" Naruto's Shadow Clone tilted his head. "Compared to Itachi, your growth rate is a bit slow. Do you want to come with me?"
"I..."
Faced with the temptation from Naruto's Shadow Clone, Uchiha Sasuke hesitated. Looking at those eyes with the same pattern and same Rank as Uchiha Itachi's, the emotions in his heart were ignited. As if possessed, he lifted his left leg and took a step forward...
"Sasuke!" Naruto's main body suddenly stepped out at this moment, grabbing Uchiha Sasuke's shoulder and shaking his head at him. "Don't do something you'll regret!"
Naruto's main body and Shadow Clone were the same person, and their thoughts were identical. This whole act was merely to plant a seed in Uchiha Sasuke's heart and, incidentally, give Kakashi Hatake a little provocation.
"If you miss this chance, we don't know when we'll meet again..." Naruto's Shadow Clone tempted Uchiha Sasuke once more. "If you want to increase your strength and take revenge on Uchiha Itachi, I am your only choice!"
"Don't listen to his nonsense!" The hand of Naruto's main body on Uchiha Sasuke's shoulder tightened a bit more. "He's the one who kidnapped Hinata. You can't go with him!"
"Hinata was taken by him..."
"It was him!" Kakashi Hatake stepped forward. "I happened to be there that day."
"Does it make a difference whether you were there or not?" Naruto's Shadow Clone sneered. "Besides that S-Rank Ninjutsu of yours that combines nature transformation and shape transformation, you're truly worthless!"
"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"
A loud sound accompanied by blinding electrical light erupted. Kakashi Hatake slowly raised his right hand, pointing directly at the position of Naruto's Shadow Clone.
"Uchiha Sasuke is my Disciple. Even if I'm no match for you, I won't let you have your way in front of me!"
"You must be running low on Chakra..." Naruto's Shadow Clone seemed to see through everything. "This isn't even the final form of that technique!"
Kakashi Hatake pressed his lips tight, his silent demeanor inspiring awe. Judging by his posture, if Naruto's Shadow Clone made even the slightest encroaching move, Kakashi Hatake would immediately launch an attack!
"Forget it. I came this time for Zabuza. When I'm in the mood, I'll come back and catch up with you properly!"
Naruto's Shadow Clone casually patted Zabuza's body, placing a Flying Thunder God Mark on him. Haku, whose hand he was holding, looked at Zabuza with concern, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back.
"Bye-bye..."
Naruto's Shadow Clone waved his hand, his body flickering as he vanished from the spot. Naturally, Haku and Zabuza went with him.
Then...
"Thud!"
Without any warning, Kakashi Hatake fell straight to the ground. The Chidori in his hand stopped chirping and simultaneously dissipated into nothingness.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
The startled cries of Naruto's trio echoed far into the distance...
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