The bathhouse trip came to an end.
Everyone finally got to see Kakashi-sensei's face.
To be honest—very handsome!!
But compared to Kakashi's injured "leg," this was just a small episode.
After leaving the bathhouse…
On the way, Kakashi was still savoring the experience.
This is way better than reading Icha Icha Paradise a hundred thousand times! ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ
Kindhearted Naruto suddenly reminded Kakashi to watch where he was going, shouting:
"Kakashi-sensei, why are you spacing out like that?"
Snapping back to his senses, Kakashi's eyes shifted downward—only to catch sight of Shinju. His old face instantly flushed red!
(´つヮ⊂︎)
Shinju: --003d͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇)
Sensei, why are you blushing like a teapot full of bubbles!!
I was only helping treat your injury! You think I'd use my hands for that?!
Realizing the atmosphere was getting weird, Kakashi cleared his throat.
"Coughcough—"
"Well then… Shinju, Naruto, what do you two plan to do next?"
Kakashi forced himself back into teacher mode, asking seriously.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you have to ask us that every single time we meet?" Naruto replied.
Kakashi nodded. "No matter what, you're both children of Konoha. I have to be concerned."
After a short pause, Shinju answered.
"We'll head to Amegakure. They say that's Pain's stronghold. If we can wipe out the Akatsuki in one go, even better. ୧⍢⃝୨"
Everyone fell silent at those words.
Wipe out the entire Akatsuki?
That's the kind of thing only Shinju would dare to say!
Still, judging by Shinju's track record against the Akatsuki so far…
It might not be impossible!
"Oh, right!"
Just before parting, Shinju suddenly blurted out: "I found something strange about one of the Akatsuki members!"
Kakashi asked, "What is it? What could make you so unsettled?"
"There's a newcomer in Akatsuki who wears a mask. The chakra fluctuation from his single eye is very similar to the chakra from your Sharingan, Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi: "Really? You're sure you didn't sense it wrong?!"
Shinju nodded firmly. "I trust my chakra sensing ability."
"His Sharingan is in the right eye. Yours is in the left. So… could it be that the two eyes are a pair?" Shinju speculated.
Kakashi shook his head in disbelief.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible! The person who had the other Sharingan… died long ago!"
But then, another thought crossed Kakashi's mind.
Obito's body was never returned to the village. Could it be that someone in Akatsuki took Obito's Sharingan?
Yes! That must be it!
The wicked Akatsuki!
(ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)
It's all their doing!
"The truth of it, Sensei, you'll have to judge for yourself."
After passing this message to Kakashi, Shinju and Naruto left together.
Kakashi, however, stayed rooted to the spot, deep in thought.
...
After parting ways with Kakashi's team, Naruto and Shinju traveled along the border of the Land of Water.
Though their destination was Amegakure, Shinju didn't mind keeping an eye out for Orochimaru along the way.
"That guy's the one who killed the Third Hokage. We can't just let him go!" Naruto said.
Spreading out his chakra sensing, Shinju began a carpet search covering dozens of kilometers.
After a few sweeps, there was still no trace of Orochimaru's chakra.
But Shinju did find Sasuke's chakra!
Since Sasuke was most likely near Orochimaru, Shinju tried to teleport straight to him with the Flying Thunder God.
But it failed.
Looks like after the last time I beat him up, he tore off the Flying Thunder God mark in a fit of anger.
"Let's go."
Shinju patted Naruto on the shoulder.
"So fast? You already found Orochimaru?" Naruto asked, a little excited.
"No, but I found Sasuke. Let's ask him."
...
Deep in the forest.
In the middle of Orochimaru's body-snatching battle, Sasuke had just defeated him.
Now, he was moving swiftly with his newly recruited teammate, Suigetsu Hozuki.
During his time training under Orochimaru, Sasuke had learned one thing—to achieve his revenge, he needed his own team.
Suigetsu was the second member of that team.
"You really know where the Executioner's Blade is?" Suigetsu asked eagerly.
"More or less," Sasuke replied.
Three years ago, Team 7 had gone to the Land of Waves on a mission. Haku died, but Zabuza survived.
Now, with Haku's death anniversary approaching, there was a chance Zabuza might visit his grave.
If that happened, they could seize the Executioner's Blade! ୧⍢⃝୨
"By the way, if you're forming a team, just one person isn't enough. Do you have anyone else in mind?" Suigetsu asked casually.
At that question, the first faces to flash through Sasuke's mind were Shinju and Naruto.
He'd heard they left Konoha too.
If he could form an organization with them, maybe…
But that was only a fantasy.
As long as Shinju was in the group, there was no way Sasuke could ever be the leader!
"The southern base has Karin, and the northern base has Jugo. They're both people I've had my eye on."
Sasuke answered.
Suigetsu blinked. "You sure? Those two aren't exactly easy to deal with. And I really don't like that redhead girl!"
"Oh, speaking of redheads, Sasuke—you used to be from Konoha, right? Do you know that genius boy Shinju, the one who can use Wood Release? ( --0027▿ --0027 )"
Hearing Suigetsu bring him up again, Sasuke frowned in annoyance. "We used to be on the same team for missions."
Suigetsu: (꒪⌓꒪)
"So you do know him well! (ﾉ∇︎〃)"
"Could you ask him for an autograph for me? I admire him so much!! I heard he also collects swords, and even snatched one of Orochimaru's Kusanagi Blades. ╭(′▽`)╯"
"Not close." Sasuke said coldly.
Even an idiot like Suigetsu could tell Sasuke clearly didn't get along with Shinju.
"Wait… don't tell me he used to bully you… (◔◡◔)" Suigetsu teased, his tone mischievous.
Sasuke fell silent.
He wanted to say—not only did Shinju bully him in the past, he was still bullying him now!!
"(ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ) Say one more useless thing, and I'm not helping you find that sword!"
Suigetsu nodded quickly.
"Okay, okay, I'll shut up!"
After a while—
Suigetsu muttered again. "I really want to meet that so-called genius redhead. If possible, I'd like to spar with him too! վ--0027ᴗ--0027 ի"
Sasuke: "Didn't you say you'd shut up?! (▼皿▼#)"
Just then, with his sharp eyesight, Sasuke spotted two figures in the forest ahead.
That familiar presence!
It was none other than Shinju and Naruto!!
Sasuke knew—if Shinju was looking for him, there was no escape.
So he stopped where he was, and spoke flatly.
"Hey, Suigetsu. The guy you wanted to meet is here. (′д｀σ)σ"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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