Chapter 38

Sasuke stared at Shikamaru, completely baffled.

After what had happened to the Uchiha, he had not come to school yesterday, so he had no idea this was going on.

This parent-teacher meeting that had suddenly popped up left him a little caught off guard.

He subconsciously glanced at Naruto.

For Naruto, an occasion like this...

"They said they want our families to come understand how we're doing at school. Feels kind of unnecessary."

Shikamaru curled his lip.

As far as he was concerned, this kind of thing was nothing but trouble. "Someone's coming to my parent-teacher meeting this time too!"

"And he's super amazing!"

Naruto grinned, showing a row of big white teeth. "Doesn't Naruto have no family?"

Sakura Haruno looked shocked.

Everyone's eyes gathered on Naruto.

The corner of Sasuke's mouth twitched—

No wonder the Uchiha got resented. That mouth really did invite trouble. "I do now."

"He's a really strong ninja. After I go home, he'll even teach me how to train."

"I'm going to become that kind of strong person too, and then become Hokage!"

There was not the slightest sadness on Naruto's face. Instead, he was extremely excited.

He had to admit, Naruto's happy-go-lucky personality really was something no one else could learn.

Maybe all reincarnations of Asura were like this...

"Wow!"

"A super handsome ninja came outside!"

"I heard he's really young, and he's even one of the Hokage's capable subordinates!"

"Lord Kakashi is so handsome!"

The outside quickly erupted into an uproar.

Sasuke glanced out through the window.

Sure enough, it was Kakashi Hatake.

Kakashi really was popular in Konoha.

He was good-looking, came from a famous clan, was powerful, and there was nothing wrong with his personality either.

Sasuke even wondered why Kakashi did not find a partner and carry on the Hatake Clan.

Could it be that he actually liked Guy?!

Ahem...

Sasuke quickly gave two dry coughs and shook the thought away. "Sasuke, that's my 'parent'—my current teacher, Teacher Kakashi!"

Naruto ran over excitedly and shouted at Sasuke.

Sasuke had actually known about this long ago.

Kakashi had become Naruto's guardian early. He did not find it surprising.

In fact, Kakashi should already know Naruto's true identity by now.

That was why he had come to Naruto's parent-teacher meeting as his guardian.

In the classroom, Naruto started his usual nonstop chatter again. "Sasuke, listen to me..."

"Sasuke, do you secretly think Teacher Kakashi is handsomer than me?"

"Sasuke, hey, why are you ignoring me..."

"Enough."

Sasuke's head hurt from the noise.

This kid was like he had been wound up every day. He simply could not stop. "Bzzzt—"

Raising his hand, Sasuke directly rewarded Naruto with a round of tempering.

The numbing sensation shot along his arm and through his entire body. Naruto shuddered all over and finally quieted down, honestly going off to refine his cells. "Sasuke, I want it too..."

Ino leaned over and took the initiative to hold out her hand.

This method of tempering cells could strengthen the body. The few of them who hung around Sasuke had long tasted the benefits.

After seeing Naruto's twitching just now, Ino wanted to try it too. "Fine."

"Bzzzt—"

Ino's body trembled sharply. She hurriedly pulled her hand back and quickly returned to her seat, feeling that sour, numbing sensation darting wildly through her body.

Then the scene became strange.

Shikamaru, Choji, Shino...

One after another, they lined up and took the initiative to come to Sasuke to "get shocked."

Not long after, Iruka pushed the door open and came in, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

After briefly explaining the arrangements for the afternoon exam, he had everyone gather at the training ground.

The classroom had to be cleared out for the parents' meeting.

Itachi was the first to walk in and call Sasuke out.

Right after that, Kakashi also appeared. "Naruto!"

Kakashi called his name.

The whole class looked at Naruto in unison, their eyes full of disbelief.

Naruto Uzumaki—the guy with no father or mother, who was treated like a demon fox—actually had a jonin like Kakashi Hatake as his "parent"?!

Under countless gazes, Naruto strode out of the classroom.

He did not care how shocked those eyes were.

He only knew that he finally had someone to rely on.

Seeing Naruto walk out with a smile at the corner of his mouth, Sasuke unconsciously curled his own lips too.

With Kakashi looking after him, Naruto's days ahead should finally be a little easier.

Together with a reasonable training plan, the young powerhouses of this generation might even make their names in the Shinobi World ahead of time. "The afternoon is the practical combat assessment, right?"

"Yesterday was the written exam. You didn't come, but your usual grades are all right, so they won't be too bad."

The two walked side by side toward the training ground. "Mm."

"Grades don't matter."

"Summer break is the key. The real training will be saved for then."

"Do you want to join me?"

Sasuke directly extended an olive branch. "Don't leave us out!"

Kiba and Choji caught up from behind, cutting in with cheerful smiles.

Behind them were Shikamaru, Shino, Tenten, and the others. "If you want to train usually, come anytime. The Uchiha's grounds are big enough."

"But didn't your families make arrangements?"

Sasuke was a little curious.

These people were all core children of ninja clans.

Shino had to raise insects, Kiba had to practice his clan's secret arts, and even Neji was bound by the Hyuga Clan.

Where did they find the time to hang around him?

"That bit of training at home isn't as effective as letting you shock me once. I already talked it over with my family."

"Same for me, more or less. But aside from training with you all, I still have to go get familiar with new insects."

"Brother Neji will come too. His family doesn't have much of an opinion."

Everyone chimed in one after another.

Even Neji had long since informed his family, preparing to follow Sasuke during summer break.

Looks like he had worried for nothing.

After the afternoon exam ended, students left the school gates in twos and threes. "Teacher Kakashi!"

"Sasuke, I'm leaving first. I'll come find you again tomorrow."

Naruto waved at Sasuke, then turned and ran toward Kakashi.

Kakashi looked at these two boys, the corner of his mouth lifting—though his mask blocked it, so no one could see.

In that instant, he remembered that night, and the days when he trained with Obito.

Maybe these two children would have much better luck than their generation.

Itachi led Sasuke outward. Kakashi raised a hand in greeting, then left with Naruto. "Brother, are you familiar with Kakashi?" Sasuke asked, tilting his head. "Not really. He was a squad captain in the Anbu."

"But he has already left the Anbu now. They said he was taking on a new mission."

"I suppose it's this..." Itachi's gaze fell on Kakashi's back, his voice lowering. "Got it."

"Let's go. Home first."

"I'm hungry."

After Sasuke finished speaking, he turned and walked toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Among the crowd, a bespectacled young man stared at them darkly.

Only after seeing Sasuke's figure disappear completely did that person turn and leave.

At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass, in a certain underground base. "Tsk, trying to get that kid out is probably going to be difficult."

Orochimaru put down the intelligence in his hand, a trace of helplessness appearing on his face.

Right now, the Uchiha were protecting him like an iron barrel. There was simply no easy opening.

After what happened last time, Danzo was probably in a complete mess right now.

As for Akatsuki, they were not fully ready yet.

They had even lost a core member last time, so they probably would not make any moves in the short term.

After his subordinate withdrew, Orochimaru slowly walked to the entrance of a laboratory.

Inside, two youths were soaking.

Both were immersed in nutrient fluid, their bodies covered in inserted tubes.

The moment they saw Orochimaru come in, fear immediately welled up on both their faces.

Clearly, those memories were not exactly pleasant. "I'm not here to torment you today."

"I'll give you a chance. One person can leave here first."

"Who wants—"

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!"

The girl on the left suddenly struggled violently. "Fine, you then."

Orochimaru pressed the button on the wall.

The nutrient fluid slowly lowered, and the tubes on the girl's body were pulled out one after another.

When the chamber door opened, a pair of bare feet hesitantly stepped out.

Her vision was completely blurry. She could only raise her hands and grope forward. "Put this on."

Orochimaru handed her a pair of glasses.

The girl put the glasses on properly, and only then did she clearly see the deathly pale face before her.

Orochimaru's expression made her heart crawl. "Next, I have a task for you."

"If you handle it well, you'll be able to stay outside forever."

"To leave here and carry out the job, you're still missing one thing."

As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, before the panic on the girl's face could even recede, his neck suddenly shot forward like a snake.

His mouth opened, and he bit directly onto her neck. "Ah—"

After a scream, a strange mark appeared on the girl's skin.

Two days later.

News came out from Konoha: Danzo Shimura had been removed from his position as the head of Root. For now, Root would be managed jointly by Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

As for Danzo himself, he was confined inside the Shimura Clan and forbidden to go out. "This is the explanation the Third gave us?"

Uchiha Natsume looked at the news, his eyes full of fire.

Danzo had raised a blade against them. This was clearly **.

And the result? Just dismissal from office, then staying at home?

Uchiha Natsume could not accept this handling of the matter. "So when we Uchiha get beaten, it doesn't count as betraying the village?"

"In the eyes of the higher-ups, do we count as people of Konoha or not?"

"Those higher-ups only know how to protect their own!"

"Clan head, we have to demand an explanation from the Third. This can't just be turned over like this!"

"Otherwise, we should..."

"Don't say it. Just listen to the clan head."

Once Uchiha Natsume took the lead, the radical Uchiha all exploded. "Natsume, last time, when our people were wounded and died, how much compensation did we receive?"

"What about this time?"

"When you took the money to buy ninja tools, I didn't see you getting this worked up."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke unhurriedly. "That's right. The compensation this time was quite generous."

"If we really tear off all pretenses, maybe we'll be isolated again."

"What we should be thinking about right now is how to improve our own skills. Endure for a while first."

This time, all the conservatives stood on Uchiha Fugaku's side.

Although his methods still seemed rather risky to them.

Compared with the radicals, though, this was already a satisfying result.

The meeting dragged on until dark, and Uchiha Fugaku finally managed to talk everyone around.

With Hiruzen Sarutobi being genuinely generous this time, too, otherwise a meeting like this would probably have turned into another argument lasting several days.

On the training ground. "Lightning Release: Thunder Snake Fang!"

A surge of lightning shot out from Sasuke, twisting into a long snake.

It lunged over. "Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

"Buzz!"

The moment the Fire Release was unleashed, Itachi activated his Mangekyo.

The power in his pupils surged out, and the genjutsu unfolded instantly.

Sasuke's Sharingan had been fixed on Itachi's every move the entire time.

In an instant, he was dragged into the illusion.

The original training ground was now surrounded by thorny brambles. "Endless Void!"

Sasuke did not try to break the genjutsu. Instead, he released his own.

Around the brambles rushing toward him, an empty abyss suddenly appeared.

It dragged the brambles and Itachi in together. "Release!"

Itachi raised his fingers and used his mental energy to smash through Sasuke's genjutsu in one burst.

But even after breaking the illusion, Itachi's face was still filled with shock.

Because during their genjutsu clash just now, he had discovered that he had actually been at a disadvantage!

When had Sasuke learned such advanced genjutsu?

"All right, you brothers are both monsters."

"Stop for a moment. Tell me what you think about the higher-ups."

Shisui Uchiha had been standing off to the side for a while, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the two of them.

He had originally come to watch Itachi and Sasuke train, thinking it would be pretty interesting. It was like watching two juniors at the peak of their talent sprinting madly down the track, chasing and catching up to each other the whole way.

But after watching a few rounds, Shisui no longer felt much like watching.

He understood now—Itachi said he had invited him over to give pointers, but in truth, he was just showing off in a roundabout way. Showing off how good his little brother was, and how ridiculous his talent was.

How old was he? Almost six.

His genjutsu had already reached the point where he could use it for real. His foundations in taijutsu and ninjutsu were sturdier than those of many adult jonin. His battle instincts were even less like something someone his age should possess.

A genius?

In front of Sasuke, geniuses did not even deserve to be mentioned by name. "The matter with Danzo?" Sasuke twisted his neck, loosened his joints, and let out a series of cracks. "An expected result."