Setting Off, Heading to Iwagakure

A few minutes later.

Natsume wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, enduring the backlash.

With a look of sheer delight and satisfaction, he put away the Kunwu Divine Blade.

After the test just now, he had barely managed to figure out the other two abilities of the divine blade.

It was domineering, and it was magnificent!

However, at his current stage, he still could not fully master it or use it for long periods, so he had to keep it as a trump card.

Just like that, after suppressing the boiling blood in his body and stowing the divine blade, Natsume began to organize the spoils of the night.

The nine ninjutsu he had exchanged for earlier went without saying.

As for this heaven-defying "ten-pull" of luck, it had brought Natsume a total of:

3 Chakra Recovery Pills;

2 Intermediate Healing Pills;

2 Intermediate Space Scrolls;

1 Primary Healing Pill;

1 scroll of the S-rank space-time ninjutsu Flying Thunder God;

1 divine artifact, the Kunwu Divine Blade;

Current Balance: 340 Gold Coins

Finally, Natsume spent another 300 gold coins to exchange for a 3-kage chakra cap increase, pushing his total chakra to 9 kage.

As a result, he was left with a pathetic 40 gold coins.

Sure enough, gold coins were truly not meant to last!

He had thought that with nearly eight thousand gold coins, he could be considered wealthy.

He hadn't expected to be back to square one overnight...

Of course, the rich harvest of the night was still very reassuring.

All in all, Natsume could be certain that even without using the Mangekyo Sharingan, he was now capable of fighting his former self.

If he were to combine it with the Mangekyo Sharingan, his overall strength would have at least tripled!

Even against the current Five Kage, he would likely emerge victorious!

After organizing his gains, Natsume began to sit cross-legged in the room, meditating to calm his mind.

He slowly recovered his chakra.

Soon, it was midnight.

Natsume's chakra had returned to its peak.

"Nichiyo."

A soft call.

A moment later, a figure darted into the room and knelt on one knee before Natsume.

"Young Clan Leader, I am here!"

"I plan to leave for a while. I will return in two days at the earliest, or five days at the latest."

"During this time, you are to remain here on guard. Refuse all visitors and tell them I am researching new ninjutsu to enhance my strength."

"I will leave a summoning creature behind while I am away. If the village suffers any major incident or invasion, you are to have Mooncake reverse-summon me back immediately!"

"Understood!"

Uchiha Nichiyo nodded heavily in agreement.

Although he was curious as to why the Young Clan Leader would choose to leave at such a time, he assumed it must be a matter of great importance.

Moreover, if any real trouble were to arise, the Young Clan Leader could instantly be reverse-summoned back via the summoning creature.

Therefore, there was no need to worry too much about safety.

He only needed to fulfill his duty and complete his mission!

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Natsume quickly formed the hand seals to summon.

"Poof—"

A small, miniature, and adorable panda appeared inside the room.

"Mooncake, I'll have to trouble you again this time!"

[Mooncake] waved its paws helplessly, already regretting having signed a contract with this brat.

He was the third-in-command of the mighty and powerful Mo Beast summoning clan!

How did he end up becoming a tool-bear that this brat could order around at will?

However, in the end, tempted by twenty portions of fresh, tender bamboo shoots.

He still 'reluctantly' agreed to Natsume's request, promising to exert his strength in times of crisis.

Just like that, having basically arranged the security matters within the village.

Natsume leaped, and taking advantage of the night, he dashed out of his own [Flame Hidden Village].

He did not let too many clansmen know.

After all, 'on the surface,' staying in the village would make the clansmen feel more at ease.

Soon, just after leaving the village.

In the dim distance, the figure of Orochimaru gradually emerged.

"Very punctual!"

"How could I dare to neglect a request from Natsume-kun?"

Orochimaru twisted his waist, smiling with a sinister glint.

At the same time, in an instant.

His gaze was drawn to the weapon hanging at Natsume's waist.

Relying on his keen soul perception.

Even from such a distance, that blade gave him a sense of extreme, cutting sharpness, as if his very soul would be torn apart by it.

"What a sharp aura!"

"Could there really be such a precious divine artifact in this world?"

Orochimaru exclaimed in wonder.

Boasting vast knowledge and experience, he actually could not recognize the origin of that divine blade!

But he was absolutely certain that it was no ordinary item; nine times out of ten, it was also a divine artifact!

"What? Want to try it out with your Kusanagi Sword?"

Natsume smiled contemptuously, his hand resting on the hilt as he asked directly.

Hearing this, Orochimaru was even more startled.

He quickly waved his hands, soothing him with a hint of teasing laughter:

"Not at all, not at all... I wouldn't dare to cross blades with Natsume-kun."

"By the way. For this operation, is Natsume-san going alone?"

"I thought you would bring a few more Uchiha guards?"

Orochimaru asked with feigned concern.

In his view, this trip to [Iwagakure] would certainly not be smooth sailing.

If Natsume brought two more guards who had awakened the Sharingan, and they happened to die in battle, wouldn't he be able to conveniently scavenge a Sharingan or two?

He had far too many experiments waiting to be tested with the Sharingan!

"No need, I am enough on my own!"

"You should also leave those people behind you. Bringing too much trash will only affect my efficiency."

Natsume glanced behind Orochimaru, his scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan blooming with a daunting light in the night.

It frightened the Sound Four, who were hiding dozens of meters behind Orochimaru, causing their hearts to tremble and their scalps to go numb.

In any case, judging by Natsume's current strength.

These Sound Four were no different from chicks; he could crush them with his eyes closed.

Bringing these pieces of trash would only slow him down.

"Very well, everything as Natsume-sama says!"

Orochimaru nodded in agreement.

He waved his hand swiftly, dismissing the Sound Four behind him.

To be honest, in the face of absolute power, these little ninjas he had cultivated were truly still too green.

As for that improved version of the Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation, it still lacked the necessary refinement.

Forget it, let them remain to guard Otogakure.

After a brief contact.

Natsume and Orochimaru set off.

They began to head toward Iwagakure.

According to Natsume's memories from his past life, at this point in time.

Danzo should be issuing orders to Kabuto, who was lurking as a mole in Iwagakure, and the orphanage director, the Wandering Shrine Maiden Yakushi Nonō, forcing the two to kill each other.

As for the task Danzo entrusted to Orochimaru: it was to dispose of whoever remained alive to prevent any intelligence leaks.

Natsume did not care in the slightest what benefits Danzo had promised Orochimaru.

What he cared about were Kabuto and Yakushi Nonō, these two rare medical ninjas.

In fact, speaking objectively.

Although the kid Kabuto was indeed one of the villainous bosses in the later stages.

But at this period, his nature was not bad; he was still just a naive youth yearning to save the orphanage and its director.

His subsequent corruption was purely because he had accidentally killed the director, which caused him to have a mental breakdown.

Therefore, being able to prevent this tragedy and swindle two precious medical ninjas for his newly established Flame Hidden Village was still very worthwhile.

After all, as the Uchiha Clan of the Indra lineage, they had almost no Yang-attribute ninjas.

Let alone producing medical ninjas.

Natsume naturally did not want to see such a large village without even a single medical clinic.

That would be too pathetic...

Of course, saving people was the main business.

As for whether he could take a detour to stroll through the vault of Iwagakure during the rescue mission and bring back some "souvenirs."

That was an entirely different matter.