Chapter 67: Escape
Itachi looked coldly at the two of them, his expression impassive.
"Uzumaki Naruto!" Itachi suddenly said. "As a jinchūriki, you are far too unqualified."
Hearing Itachi's lecturing tone, Naruto shook his head and laughed. He had long known Itachi's true nature and could guess his current state of mind. He was probably very dissatisfied with his rash appearance now!
Just as Itachi was about to continue thrusting the long sword in his hand, Naruto suddenly laughed. Simultaneously, an intensely powerful golden light erupted from his body! This golden light was even more dazzling than the original Curse Mark's sage power. In that instant, Itachi's entire space was completely engulfed by this golden radiance.
The Nine-Tails exclaimed, "What pure natural energy! This is..."
However, before he could finish shouting, the entire space suddenly vanished. Naruto abruptly returned to reality, the river still before him. It was just that Itachi opposite him had covered one eye, a fine sweat on his brow, his voice incredulous. "What kind of power was that just now? It could directly shatter my genjutsu?!"
By then, the golden light on Naruto's body had gradually dissipated, and he returned to his original Curse Mark state, also somewhat dazed.
Because just moments ago, when he was at a loss within Itachi's space and couldn't seek the Nine-Tails' help, he had gritted his teeth, calmed his mind, and tried to comprehend natural energy. He hadn't expected the comprehension that had seen little progress to suddenly become much clearer. In that moment, he had almost grasped an extremely powerful natural force and integrated it into his body, causing a qualitative change in his chakra and returning control to himself. All at once, he had dispelled Itachi's Tsukuyomi. He hadn't anticipated that after the Tsukuyomi space dissolved, the power within his body would recede like a tide, impossible to retain.
But now, no matter how he tried, he couldn't re-enter that state of perception he'd achieved within that space.
What was going on?
Could it be that within Tsukuyomi's space, his perception of natural energy became stronger?
At that moment, Naruto couldn't help but fall deep into thought.
However, his contemplation was soon interrupted by Kisame from the other side. Seeing Itachi covering his eye and Naruto earlier enveloped in golden light but now seemingly unharmed, Kisame looked startled. He immediately swung his blade. Asuma and Kurenai raised their hands to block but couldn't withstand his strength, both sent flying. Kisame then ignored them and leaped toward Itachi.
"Itachi, what's wrong? Didn't you handle that brat?"
Itachi glanced at him and shook his head. "The Nine-Tails jinchūriki is troublesome! Let's retreat for now!"
"What? Itachi, did your Mangekyō lose to him?" Kisame asked in surprise, watching the Mangekyō slowly fade from Itachi's eyes.
Itachi took a deep look at Naruto. "We need to reassess his information and plans. It's not wise to stay longer now. I'll explain later." Grabbing Kisame, he fled toward the outskirts of Konoha.
"Don't think you can escape!" At that moment, Asuma, Flying Swallow in hand, gave chase. Not to be outdone, Kurenai hurriedly pursued.
"Annoying pests!" Kisame turned his head, saw the two chasing, and immediately formed hand seals. A powerful stream of water suddenly spewed from his mouth, instantly covering the entire river.
"Water Release: Stormy Waves!"
Boom boom boom...
The water expelled from Kisame's mouth rapidly transformed into a massive wave, submerging the entire river area with an incomparably powerful aura.
Kurenai and Asuma had to evade the wind and waves, halting their pursuit. Naruto also dodged and retreated. But once the wave passed, the two Akatsuki members had already fled, disappearing.
"Damn it! Those two are really strong!" Kurenai said unwillingly. Both she and Asuma had been drenched by the water wave, thoroughly soaked and looking extremely disheveled.
Fortunately, Naruto hadn't given chase, having evaded early and remained dry.
Seeing Asuma's dejected look, he walked over and said, "Kurenai-sensei, Asuma-sensei, report to the village as soon as possible. It's fortunate they left this time; otherwise, we truly were no match."
"Yeah," the two nodded. Asuma suddenly asked, "By the way, Naruto, what was with the golden light on you earlier? In that moment, I felt your aura suddenly become extremely powerful. What kind of jutsu was that?"
Naruto shook his head. He himself didn't know; perhaps it was related to natural energy, but he wouldn't tell them. Even if he did, they wouldn't understand. Changing the subject, he looked at them and said, "You're both soaked. You'd better go back and change first."
"Alright, if that's the case, let's do that." Asuma nodded in agreement and left after a farewell.
Kurenai also nodded at Naruto and prepared to leap away.
However, just as she jumped up, she suddenly staggered, her body becoming unsteady as she fell to the ground.
Naruto was slightly startled. He flashed to her side and helped her up, frowning as he asked, "What's wrong, Kurenai-sensei?"
A fine sweat beaded Kurenai's forehead. Naruto's approach made her somewhat uncomfortable. She covered her calf with her hands. "I sustained a minor injury to my leg during the battle just now. But it's fine."
As she spoke, she tried to push Naruto away and stand to leave.
Naruto looked at her leg. Sure enough, a bright red bloodstain had appeared on her slender calf, staining the pure white skin.
It seemed the muscle on her leg had been injured by Kisame's blade!
Naruto could tell at a glance she couldn't return in this condition.
"This won't do," Naruto's voice was firm. "This injury needs to be bandaged first!"
With that, he took out some bandages from his kunai pouch, had Kurenai sit leaning against a tree, and directly lifted her calf to treat the wound.
After a while, the wound was treated. After bandaging her, he smiled slightly. "Done. Where's your home? I'll carry you back first."
Kurenai was staring at him blankly, especially while he was seriously bandaging her just now. A warm current suddenly flowed through her heart, and she felt guilty for always giving him a hard time these past few days. Hearing Naruto's words, Kurenai suddenly whispered, "Naruto, don't you resent me?"
Naruto froze for a moment, then shook his head. "Why should I resent you?"
"A few days ago, I meddled and caused you trouble. Don't you resent me?"
So that was it. Although her meddling had been a headache, he didn't hold onto such things. He hadn't expected Kurenai to still worry about it. He smiled slightly and reassured her. "What's this? Even if you meddle a bit, I can't just stand by and watch you hurt without helping, can I?"
Kurenai couldn't help but smile wryly. "So I really am meddling."
"Uh..." Hearing Kurenai's tone of self-reproach and unease, Naruto couldn't help but be stunned. He hadn't expected Kurenai-sensei to not only be meticulous in her work but also take things so seriously. She couldn't even take a joke. He had to say, "Kurenai-sensei, I know you mean well. I don't mind those things, so you shouldn't either."
"Really? Including that day when you... harassed me?" Kurenai's face flushed slightly.
"Of course that was a joke!" Naruto said hurriedly upon hearing this, his expression somewhat embarrassed. He sighed inwardly. Kurenai's seriousness is really too much!
After a few more words, Naruto didn't want to continue the conversation with her. He quickly said, "Kurenai-sensei, let's go back first. Change your clothes and go to the hospital for treatment."
Kurenai simply nodded and let it go. Naruto let out a soft sigh of relief, carried her on his back, and, following her directions, leaped toward the village.