Forced to sell misery

-

Meeting Mangetsu Kizuna was a nice surprise. Next...it was Orochimaru's northern stronghold, which was also the last one.

Let’s go to the Land of Rice and fight the Sound Village on the way.

They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, but that bastard Orochimaru has more than three burrows? !

There are several strongholds that he knows about, and he can't possibly search for them one by one...it's a headache.

He doesn't have much patience anymore.

What's more, on the Akatsuki side, Sasori and Deidara are also looking for Orochimaru's trace, but because he and Kimimaro know more information, they can find Orochimaru's various strongholds faster than them.

In short, he had neither the time nor the patience to play hide and seek with Orochimaru.

-

The Land of Fields, the Hidden Rain Village.

"I'm sorry, Master Jingye, you can't go in."

It was obvious that this "loyal" guard knew Jing Ye, but he still stood in front of him firmly.

"why?"

Jing Ye frowned in dissatisfaction.

A drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead, and he turned his eyes away from Jing Ye. His legs were a little weak, but he still bravely explained,

"It's Lord Orochimaru's order."

"Where's Kabuto?"

"It's been a while since Kazuto-san left with Orochimaru-sama,"

Carefully observing Jing Ye's expression, the poor guard said tremblingly.

"Where are the four Tayuya Otoninin?"

"We left together..."

With a cold snort, Jing Ye's eyes were already filled with murderous intent.

Even if the plan is exposed...

Haha, Orochimaru, I underestimated you!

Jing Ye was so angry that his teeth were itching. He was tricked by that guy again.

There is one last stronghold... but over there...

"There is one last stronghold,"

Looking back at Kimimaro, Jingye felt a little sorry.

If he remembered correctly...

"Go meet your good friend, Jūgo..."

Looking back at Kimimaro, Jingye asked,

"Is that the name?"

"Yes, it is."

Kimimaro lowered his head.

"Go ahead, you continue on to the northern stronghold. I'll go to Konoha, and you don't have to follow."

Putting his hand on Kimimaro's shoulder, Jingye laughed.

"I suppose you're not interested in the Chunin Exams either?"

"But……"

Kimimaro wanted to insist, but was interrupted by Jingye.

"Go meet your friends,"

Closing his eyes slightly, Jing Ye sighed softly,

"You know yourself that your time is running out."

"Yes."

After a moment of silence, Kimimaro lowered his head and responded in a low voice.

-

An island close to the coast, north of the Fire Nation border.

A burly young man sat on a reef. A bird circling in the sky fell down and landed on his arm.

"Long time no see, Jūgo."

The waves beat against the rocks and splashed at his feet. The young man came alone, looking dusty and exhausted as if he had walked a long way.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

Looking at his friend whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Shigeo smiled and said,

"Lord Orochimaru said you would come, so I am waiting for you as well."

"Lord Orochimaru..."

Kimimaro's pupils shrank.

"Yes, follow me."

Jūgo stood up, and the seabird perched on his arm flapped its wings and flew away.

"You said you can communicate with animals, so..."

After watching the seabird fly away, Kimimaro turned around, looked at Jūgo, and suddenly asked him a strange question.

"Have you ever heard of a bird that spends its life flying?"

"Spend your life flying?"

Jūgo turned around and looked at Kimimaro in confusion.

"Yes, only when you die will you stay somewhere."

"...No." Shigeo shook his head, paused, and then said, "But I can ask other animals. They know a lot of magical stories."

"Yeah."

Kimimaro lowered his eyes.

"Let's go. I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Jūgo looked back at Kimimaro and smiled as if he remembered something.

-

The land of fire, Konoha.

Ever since returning from the Land of Waves, Naruto has looked listless...

But mental frustration can't stop this guy from doing stupid things...

For example, when I went to the vegetable garden to help weed, I pulled out the herbs that people had worked so hard to grow... Or when I was picking up trash from the stream, I almost fell into the waterfall...

Looking at Naruto being dragged all the way to the dangerous explosion zone by the oversized dog, Sasuke and Sakura both covered their faces and sighed.

What can I do to save you, my teammate...

The day's mission was over, and the two of them each carried one side of Naruto and walked back.

"It's all your fault for trying to be stubborn." Sakura muttered.

"You're just causing trouble for others." Sasuke snorted.

"Sasuke you...!!!" Naruto's eyes immediately became sharp. He broke free from Sakura and Sasuke who were holding him, and glared at Sasuke angrily, turning into a furious little fox.

"Naruto you..."

Sakura was about to teach Naruto a lesson, but when she met Sasuke's gaze, she stopped awkwardly.

She recalled the moment when they formed the team and she commented that Naruto was a guy with "poor grades, a love of pranks, annoying people, and no tutoring," Sasuke's eyes suddenly became scary.

——You... are annoying.

Sasuke-kun said that about her...

But why? I didn't do anything wrong, but Sasuke-kun hated me so easily...

Although... it was a bit too much for her to say that about Naruto, but...

"Hmm...Teamwork has been a bit messy lately."

Observing these three brats, Kakashi sighed helplessly.

It seems that the team is centered around Sasuke. Sakura, who takes "like" as her code of conduct, always revolves around Sasuke but ignores Naruto. Naruto also always competes with Sasuke because he is not convinced...

But in fact, the core of this team is Naruto. I always feel that Sasuke cares too much about Naruto...

Well... there's a weird feeling between bullying and protecting.

"It's you, Sasuke, who's disrupting teamwork. It's all your fault for stealing the spotlight!"

After hearing what Kakashi said, Naruto instantly found a better reason.

"That's you, you big idiot."

Looking back at Naruto, Sasuke raised the corners of his lips slightly.

"If you don't want to owe me a favor, just become stronger than me."

"..."

So arrogant, so angry...

Naruto was so angry that he almost turned into a pufferfish. He jumped up and said, "Just wait and see, I will definitely become stronger than you!"

Super idiot!

Sasuke waved to Naruto from a distance, leaving him with a cool back, then turned and left.

"Then let's disband. Next I have to submit the mission report..." Kakashi, a work-hated office worker, muttered to himself, and disappeared with a "bang", going home to finish the report.

"Then I will too..." Seeing Kakashi running away quickly, Sasuke retreated silently.

"Sasuke-kun, wait."

After hesitating for a moment, Sakura blushed and said expectantly, "Well, next... do you want to come with me to strengthen our teamwork?"

"No need."

Sasuke turned his head to look at Sakura, then simply turned and left, "If you have time to bother me, you might as well practice more. To be honest, your strength is worse than Naruto's."

After being reborn, although he felt some guilt, he still did not intend to accept Sakura's feelings.

Sakura, for her part, could clearly become an excellent kunoichi and follow her own path.

And there are too many uncertainties in his future.

He had no reason to like Sakura, and no reason to be liked by Sakura...

He's always thought so.

His refusal was obvious enough, so why was that guy still so persistent?

Naruto...likes Sakura very much.

He was never bound by emotions.

Moreover, there was something more important. He had to go to Itachi to confirm something. It would be better to ask him in person. But...

After Kakashi left the Anbu, Itachi took over the position of captain of Team Six.

After hearing about what happened in the Land of Waves, he took on a long-term mission away from home.

Sure enough, my brother still couldn’t let go of that guy.

Just like Itachi in his previous life, he always felt that there was some hidden secret...but it was an indisputable fact that the guy hurt his brother.

Uchiha Jingye, who are you, what is your purpose, what role do you play in the game between various forces, and why did you choose to leave?