Motomu braced himself against the strong winds inside the cave.
Squinting his eyes, his thoughts raced. 'This wind is blowing from deep within the cave. Right now, I'm just at the outermost edge of the Arbok Map Number 2.'
If he ventured further, the level of the snakes he encountered would likely be higher, and they would yield more experience.
The experience gained from the snakes in this vicinity was rapidly diminishing.
He decided he might as well head inside to assess the situation.
Big Eyeball's Psychokinesis had already reached the half-ton threshold; besides, its defense was the strongest of all its attributes.
Even if it couldn't damage the opponent, the opponent would have a hard time dealing with it.
At worst, he could just hold out for ten minutes until the Arbok summoning duration ended.
With his mind made up, Motomu set off, following the wind deeper into the cave.
The cavern gradually opened up, and an underground canyon connecting the front and back cave walls appeared at the edge of his vision.
The system's intense battle music grew clearer in his ears.
Based on the commotion, Motomu suspected he was about to face a boss.
Just as he was about to command Big Eyeball to look down from the canyon's edge, a yellow snake eye—far larger than Big Eyeball—rose from below.
Their gazes met.
Motomu could clearly feel the rage radiating from the other's eyes.
[ARBOK (LEVEL 35) HAS ACCEPTED YOUR PROVOCATION]
[DING!]
[CONGRATULATIONS, TRAINER! YOU HAVE TRIGGERED GYM BOSS CHALLENGE 1/5!]
[THIS IS AN OFFICIAL GYM BATTLE. VICTORY WILL GRANT A SMALL EXPERIENCE BONUS AND RANDOM ITEM REWARDS (TWISTED SPOON 1%... 2% CHANCE FOR AN EVOLUTION STONE).]
CHALLENGER: MOTOMU
CURRENT GYM: RYUCHI CAVE GYM—LEVEL 20-30 AREA
OPPONENT: ARBOK · GARAGA (TRAINER: THIRD KAZEKAGE)
CHALLENGE LEVEL: LV.35
RECOMMENDED CHALLENGE LEVEL: LV.36-LV.37
'Garaga?'
The question had barely surfaced in Motomu's mind when a red snake tail, thicker than a house, swept up from below.
Boom!
The immense impact instantly shattered the psychokinetic defense, slamming violently into Big Eyeball.
Pinned against the tail, Big Eyeball dented and then bounced back like a rubber ball, hurtling toward Motomu with a whistling sound.
The terrifying kinetic energy didn't slow down, pinning Motomu as it flew back the way he had come.
Just as he was about to be crushed between Big Eyeball and the wall, a familiar, ethereal summoning sensation called to him.
Poof!
The Summoning Jutsu was released.
Motomu found himself back at home.
Clutching his ribs, which had nearly been snapped by Big Eyeball, he coughed repeatedly. It felt as if he had just been in a head-on collision with a red semi-truck.
Big Eyeball, on the other hand, was perfectly fine, aside from being covered in snake blood.
Motomu grabbed the shrunken eye, gave it a thorough rinse in the sink, and only then felt safe enough to tuck it back into his eye socket.
Looking up at the darkening twilight sky, Motomu recalled the boss data from the system.
Arbok · Garaga wasn't the issue. It was the trainer—the Third Kazekage.
Motomu vaguely remembered this being mentioned in the plot of Boruto.
Apparently, this red snake had been betrayed by its master, the Third Kazekage, who had even blinded one of its eyes.
'Being betrayed is tragic, I'll admit, but that doesn't change my desire to crush him.' Motomu couldn't swallow the insult of being kicked around like a ball by a snake.
Besides, this was one of five bosses.
Now that the number of bosses was clear, Motomu could guess who the others were.
Aside from Garaga, it was likely the White Snake Sage and her three subordinates, the Snake Princesses.
Level 35 Garaga was probably the weakest among them.
However, this had allowed him to see the full scope of the Ryuchi Cave Gym.
It was strong, but not so strong that he felt it was unbeatable.
By leveling up slowly, he would eventually be able to return and settle the score.
For now, he needed to see Danzo's reaction. He felt a bit out of sorts after not being harassed by the man for so long.
Shaking off his thoughts, Motomu took a bath to wash away the dust and grime from his ten-day mission.
After changing into the clothes Anko had given him, he headed toward Orochimaru's base in the Forest of Death.
Along the way, the Uchiha clan district was decorated with lanterns and streamers, filled with a festive atmosphere.
Listening to the aunties chatting by the road, he learned that today was the wedding day of the Young Clan Leader, Uchiha Fugaku.
'Once they get married, the birth of Uchiha Itachi—the engine of the clan's extermination—won't be far off.'
As for Uchiha Shisui, who would become Itachi's mentor, he was currently right next to his younger brother.
On the wooden riverbank of the clan grounds, Motomu spotted Obito. To his surprise, there was a little guy standing next to him.
The familiar eyes, the familiar hair—there was no doubt.
This was the future Shisui of the Body Flicker.
Only, for now, he had apparently become Obito's little follower.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
As Obito finished his hand seals, a fire ball half the height of a person erupted from his mouth.
The orange firelight illuminated Obito's flushed face.
Sizzle—!
The fireball extinguished, and the small lake rippled gently.
Obito's proud laughter rang out. Little Shisui's eyes sparkled with worship as he looked at Obito.
"Big brother, you're amazing!"
"Hehe, I'm the man who's going to become Hokage!"
"Oh? Quite the ambition."
Recognizing the familiar voice, Obito immediately spun around to look at the path on the bank.
Under the setting sun, Motomu stood on the high ground, his black hair fluttering in the breeze alongside the grass at his feet.
"Brother, you're back from your mission!"
Motomu walked forward, nodding with a smile.
"Obito, just reaching this level isn't enough to become Hokage."
As he approached, familiar hand seals formed before Motomu's chest.
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger.
By the time he reached the lakeside, the six seals were completed in perfect synchronization.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."
He unleashed his chakra at full power.
A fireball five meters in diameter loomed over the lake.
The water's surface dipped under the pressure, and a massive cloud of white mist evaporated into the air.
The surprised gasps of passing clansmen echoed from both sides of the bank.
After three seconds, Motomu cut off the chakra supply.
The giant fireball, which had whipped up rolling heat waves, finally dissipated.
"Obito, once you reach this level, you can apply for early graduation."
Comparison was the thief of joy. Seeing his new little follower stop looking at him and instead stare at Motomu with adoration, the little brother Obito—who had been smug about learning the jutsu—felt his face drop behind his orange goggles.
"Big brother, is he a genius of our Uchiha clan?"
"Yeah, he's a genius who submitted his graduation papers at the same time as that bastard Kakashi..."
"Then you have to work hard, big brother! Since you're someone I acknowledge, I'm sure you can catch up to him..."
"Yeah! Shisui is right! I'll definitely catch up!"
Motomu, who had already turned to leave, heard Obito's voice burst with passion again.
He sighed inwardly. 'I'll be satisfied as long as you don't get overtaken by little Shisui, kid.'
The sky turned completely dark.
Inside the Forest of Death, the strange cries of animals began to echo.
Motomu stood before the open entrance of Orochimaru's base.
The faint light glowing within indicated that the old master had already returned.