Ignoring the audience's wails at the end, Naraku glanced at the progress bar.
There were three episodes left, and he wasn't sure if they would focus on Kakashi or reveal his own experiences.
However, he had a premonition that the show would likely focus on the mission to capture Yun Muyan.
It would be used to deliver a crushing emotional blow to the audience.
Otherwise, given the animator's habits, why give "the three of them" so much screen time and add that specific shot of him at the very end?
He clicked on the next episode, and sure enough, the camera opened on him packing his gear that morning.
—
From the beginning, the shots were all close-ups: hands pulling on fingerless gloves, a kunai tucked into the shadows, a long sword strapped to his back...
Finally, the camera pulled back to show Naraku's full body, displaying his clean and agile physique.
Mikoto, worried that Naraku was not in the right state of mind, couldn't help but try to persuade him to stay.
Ultimately, she was moved by his determination and unwilling to diminish his dignity.
[Ah ah ah ah, this episode is still about Naraku! So handsome!]
[Is he going on a mission? Can Naraku actually handle it?]
[Tsunade left with peace of mind, so there shouldn't be a major problem.]
[Perhaps only by living and working as before can Naraku feel better inside.]
[Yes, sitting around waiting for death is more likely to lead to depression. It's good for him to be active.]
Might Duy was also on this mission, and the atmosphere was lively.
Even if only Naraku responded at first, Might Duy told stories of youth with great enthusiasm the entire way.
By the end, even the other two team members were infected by his energy, chatting and cheering together.
The animator briefly introduced the mission details through the captain's monologue.
The screen then immediately cut to the moment the group arrived at the mission location.
After disguising themselves, the five-man cell split up to act separately.
[Yay! We get to watch Uncle Duy beat up enemies again!]
[It's good to see familiar faces; I feel much more at ease.]
[Uncle is truly a social butterfly; he really got everyone talking.]
[Beware of Konoha ninja "Duy-ification" (laughs).]
Naraku circled the streets a few times.
When he passed a small tavern, he unexpectedly found that his tracking tool was active.
He sent a shadow clone to report back, while he entered the tavern first to continue the investigation.
Unexpectedly, before his teammates could even arrive, the target noticed him and immediately bolted.
But Naraku's Body Flicker Technique was faster.
On screen, after just a few simple flashes, he was already engaging the target.
The screen was filled with sparks from clashing weapons.
Naraku exchanged several blows with the opponent using extremely exquisite sword techniques.
He showed no sign of weakness from his serious illness; instead, his moves were deadly and effortless.
[What good luck, he found him so quickly!]
[I'm really afraid Naraku's body isn't well now; something might happen...]
[How did he find him? Did he startle the enemy?]
[Perhaps the Yun Mu Clan has a special jutsu that allows for counter-detection.]
[What's the difference between this Body Flicker Technique and a flash? It's too amazing.]
[Holy crap! Nara-baby is so handsome! He doesn't look sick at all!]
Originally, seeing Naraku suppressing the opponent, the audience thought this time was a sure win.
However, when the Yun Mu Blood Secret Technique was unleashed, its horrifying destructive power, attack range, and corrosive effects made everyone's scalp tingle.
[Rain of a Thousand Petals?!]
[There must be one or two thousand of them. Only a Sharingan could defend against them with just one sword. Anyone else would have become a human sprinkler.]
[I feel like this blood is poisonous, right?]
[Look at what you're saying. Be confident and remove "feel like."]
[Getting hit by even one would lead to death by poison.]
[I know how the Yun Mu ancestor died now—bled to death from anemia.]
[Then this move can't be used if you're anemic. You won't kill many enemies before you bleed yourself dry.]
While Naraku temporarily blocked the target's escape with shuriken, Might Duy seized the opportunity.
He let out a roar and kicked the target flying upwards.
Then, before the opponent could even land, he executed a combo that the audience often called the "Front Lotus Grand Combo."
The target used the Substitution Jutsu to try and escape.
However, he couldn't evade the top-notch visual prowess of Naraku's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and his location was immediately discovered.
[This Lotus combo is so satisfying!]
[I love watching taijutsu and flashing blades. What's the point of cannons blasting each other?]
[Only taijutsu and cold weapons? Then "Naruto" would have to be renamed "Hokage Samurai."]
[His hands are fast; when did he use the Substitution Jutsu?]
[Probably before the Lotus, otherwise he would have been kicked too high to get up.]
[Naraku has the MVP locked in for this one.]
At this point, the other teammates arrived one after another.
The group surrounded the target, fighting and chasing, with various ninjutsu clashing.
Initially, due to insufficient intelligence, Naraku's side had little success with either Fire Release or Water Release.
They even lost a teammate, Yagyu.
It wasn't until the captain used Earth Release for defense that they discovered the weakness of the blood Secret Technique lay in Earth Release ninjutsu.
However, after Yagyu was injured, he seemed to be infected with some virus.
His limbs convulsed uncontrollably, and he almost killed Zuo Tang.
Later, he entangled Might Duy, causing Konoha's side to lose three members at once.
[Is the Yun Mu Clan too useless? Can't they even provide basic intelligence?]
[Their family hasn't produced anyone who could learn the Secret Technique for hundreds of years, so it's normal for them not to know these things.]
[It's all black! This isn't blood; it's venom, right?]
[Holy crap?!]
[Zombie, zombie, zombie... zombie crisis!]
[No way?! This is no different from being cursed! It's a remote-controlled curse!]
[Good thing Naraku wasn't hit. Just thinking about that earlier downpour of blood makes my hair stand on end. If even one drop had gotten through, it would have been all over.]
[Uncle Duy faces the dilemma of whether or not to kill a teammate for the first time in his life.]
[Maybe there's still a chance to save him? No one can immediately decide to kill a comrade.]
[Indeed, it's not something you can do immediately.]
Seeing their combat strength suddenly decrease, Naraku, through subtle clues, discovered that the Yun Mu Secret Technique had limits.
He successfully used the Wire Strings Technique to destroy the Secret Technique's poisonous blood for the first time.
Yun Muyan, cornered, unleashed a bloody downpour with a wider range and stronger destructive power than before.
Coupled with the captain's mistimed Earth Flow Rampart, he ultimately escaped.
This angered the audience, who cursed throughout the entire ending song.
[Naraku's mind is still sharp. His combat intelligence is really high.]
[Great strength creates miracles; netizens truly speak the truth.]
[Why do I feel like this captain is so useless? His command is bad, his cover is off, and Naraku's entire field of vision is gone.]
[Yeah, couldn't he have used the Mind Body Disturbance Jutsu to control Yagyu? Was it necessary to let Uncle Duy be held back?]
[An incompetent general wears out his three armies (¬_¬).]
[Did he buy his Jonin rank?]
At the start of the next episode, the captain finally ordered Might Duy to directly eliminate Yagyu, then to stay put.
Naraku couldn't bear to leave Yagyu to die, so he sent a shadow clone back to treat him.
The captain didn't stop this action.
He chased the target all the way to a cliff, found him again, and then had Naraku take the main attack while he covered from the rear.
While Naraku fought the target, he quickly erected a large Earth Flow Rampart, completely cutting off the opponent's possibility of escape for a short time.
This large-scale Earth Release ninjutsu was quite effective, and the audience's complaining comments decreased.
But very quickly, they saw the captain looking deflated.
His support became weaker and more delayed with each passing moment, even dragging Naraku down.
They immediately started cursing in the comments.
[Stay put?? This captain has a screw loose!]
[Naraku is still kind-hearted, unlike this confused and cold-blooded captain.]
[Let Naraku go... Are you the captain, or is he? Are you a Jonin, or is he?]
[If Naraku himself wasn't strong enough, wouldn't this just be a waste?]
[First time I've been so angered by a Konoha Jonin that I'm spitting blood. So unprofessional.]
[Ah ah ah ah ah, I'm so mad! How can there be such a useless Jonin?]
[Who passed his Jonin assessment?! Who?! Did they take a bribe?!]
[I'm really speechless. There was a great chance to win, but it turned out like this.]
[Don't fear a god-like opponent; only fear a pig-like teammate.]