Chapter 106: Ninjas are just Tools

A team configuration consisting of one Jonin and five Chunin made the noble who commissioned the mission very satisfied.

In his words, he felt Konoha's sincerity.

The eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan.

And the descendant of the Uchiha clan, who, according to rumors, only takes on important missions.

However, Yuhi Kurenai didn't have a good impression of this noble.

The squad had taken only half a day to travel from Konoha to the capital of the Land of Fire.

But this nobleman, after just a few hours in a carriage, kept complaining about being tired and insisted on resting in a nearby town.

Even though, if he had just endured a little longer, they could have traveled through the night and returned to the village before dawn.

Such a pampered person!

After checking into the inn, the noble rented out the entire third floor, summoned singing girls, and engaged in disgraceful, indecent behavior.

The guards and the ninjas all stayed on the second floor.

"Kurenai-sensei, I've completed the search," Hinata whispered. "There are six ninjas in total on the first and second floors of the inn, four of whom are from Konoha. The identities of the other two are unknown, but they have already left the inn and don't seem to want to confront us."

Inuzuka Kiba approached, Akamaru following closely at his leg, speaking in a relaxed tone: "We didn't find any dangerous items on the second floor either."

"It seems like this will be an easy mission."

Haruno Sakura also reported: "All the security measures on the second floor have been set up."

She looked around, "Where's Sasuke?"

The others shook their heads.

"Sasuke ran off," someone stated concisely.

Sakura followed the voice and saw a male ninja wearing sunglasses and a hoodie.

Huh?

Is there such a person in Team 8?

It seems... His name is Shi something?

"Ran off?" Kurenai was stunned, her expression turning serious as she raised her voice, "What do you mean?"

"The order you gave Sasuke was to set up traps near the third floor," Aburame Shino calmly explained. "But just now, he suddenly abandoned his post and ran out of the town. My insects have been following him."

"He's still within the town, but it doesn't look like he's planning to return."

Kurenai understood the implication and stiffened her expression: "Sakura, Shino, you two stay here and protect the mission target."

"Hinata, Kiba, come with me."

Sakura spoke up, "Kurenai-sensei, please let me go too. Sasuke is my teammate."

Kurenai was silent for a moment, meeting her pleading eyes: "Kiba, you stay behind."

"We're moving out."

The night was dark, and the wind was strong.

Sasuke quickly fled forward without hesitation.

Just as he was leaving the town, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and looked at a tree ahead: "Come out, I saw you."

A figure in red emerged from behind the tree: "Uchiha Sasuke, this wasn't the order I gave you. What are you trying to do?"

"As expected of a sensory ninja, you found me so quickly." Sasuke's tone was calm. "Do you really need to ask?"

"I'm leaving Konoha."

"Becoming a rogue ninja?" Yuhi Kurenai raised her hand, her expression stern. "That's quite an unexpected decision."

"But..."

She made a hand sign.

Kurenai dissipated like smoke, twisting into nothing.

The tree beneath Sasuke suddenly came to life, its branches extending to bind his body.

A kunai stabbed out from within the trunk, pressing against Sasuke's neck.

"I won't let you leave," Yuhi Kurenai emerged halfway from the tree, "Go back and face the Hokage's judgment."

Sasuke looked up, his Sharingan spinning, the three tomoe fully formed as he locked eyes with Kurenai: "You haven't learned your lesson."

"I recall you fought that man?"

"Have you forgotten?"

"No genjutsu can work in front of these eyes."

As he said this, the situation immediately reversed.

Sasuke took a step back.

Kurenai was now the one bound within the tree.

She was shocked—Sasuke's mastery of genjutsu had already reached this level?

The eyes of the Uchiha clan are truly terrifying.

Without hesitation, she bit her lip and struggled out of the genjutsu.

At that moment.

Sakura and Hinata finally arrived, much slower than Kurenai.

"Sasuke, what are you doing?" Sakura's eyes widened as she saw Kurenai with blood at the corner of her mouth, her voice filled with disbelief.

Sasuke's gaze and tone were both cold: "I'm leaving Konoha."

"And she just happened to be in my way."

"If you want to stop me, be prepared to get hurt."

Sakura seemed to want to pull out a kunai but couldn't bring herself to confront Sasuke: "Why do you want to leave too?"

She wasn't surprised.

It was just that the feeling she'd had for so long had now become reality.

"I want to become stronger." Sasuke's answer was simple, "But Konoha can't give me what I need."

Sakura lowered her voice: "Didn't Kakashi-sensei say that as long as you become a Special Jonin, he'll teach you new jutsu?"

"But how long would it take to become strong that way?" Sasuke gritted his teeth, shaking his head. "Do I have to spend my whole life just trying to catch up to them?"

Sakura wanted to say something more.

Sasuke continued: "Sakura, did you see that noble?"

Sakura was startled.

"Just protecting a useless person like that, and this mission is rated as B-rank." Sasuke sneered coldly, "Haven't you realized the true nature of Konoha yet?"

"They need a competent, obedient tool."

"That's what a ninja is."

"A tool used to satisfy... the selfish desires of some people in the village and those nobles."

Haruno Sakura opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.

She had never considered these questions before.

"If I can gain power, even if it means becoming a tool, it doesn't matter," Sasuke clenched his fists. "But there are people in Konoha who don't want to see me, this tool, grow stronger."

"They only want me to stay at my current level."

"To have just enough strength to match the 'Uchiha' name, without exceeding their control."

"Staying in Konoha will only waste time."

Hyuga Hinata spoke up, "Are you going to find Naruto?"

Sasuke's expression darkened.

The image of that blonde, radiant figure flashed in his mind.

Over the years, rumors about him had also surfaced one by one.

"I'm not on the same path as him," Sasuke shook his head vigorously. "He has his pursuit, and I have mine."

He lowered his head, meeting Hinata's gaze. "I'm not the type..."

"...who needs others to extend a helping hand to save them."

"I'll get stronger in my own way."

"I'll use my own hands to seek revenge!"

Haruno Sakura gritted her teeth and drew a kunai. "If that's the case, I can't let you leave."

"If you stay in the village..."

"I can help you with everything to get your revenge."

Sasuke's voice softened, but it was decisive and ruthless. "Sakura, you can't do that."

He raised his hand, his gaze passing over them, looking toward the town.

"A ninja is a tool."

"And tools can't have self-awareness."

Yuhi Kurenai stared at the hand sign he made with one hand, her pupils dilating. "Uchiha Sasuke, what have you done?"

Sasuke didn't answer, only gathering his chakra.

In the town, an explosion rang out.

It was the sound of explosive tags.

"Naruto saw through this from the beginning." Sasuke looked at them with a contemptuous smile. "That's why he left the village."

"Only now have I figured it out after staying in Konoha for so long."

"So, make your choice."

"Will you continue to fulfill the mission of a tool..."

"...or will you abandon the identity of a tool and choose to stop me?"

Yuhi Kurenai gritted her teeth, giving Sasuke a fierce look. "Retreat!"

Haruno Sakura turned back, looking at her in disbelief. "Kurenai-sensei, but Sasuke..."

"The safety of the mission target is more important," Kurenai said firmly.

Kurenai dragged Haruno Sakura, taking Hinata with her as they left.

Uchiha Sasuke stared at their backs in a daze, then quietly disappeared with a flicker.

By dawn.

Outside the Sound Village, Sasuke appeared.

He waited in a tree outside the village, suddenly turning his head to look at a shadow. "Come out, don't hide."

"Sasuke-kun's Sharingan is getting more impressive," a white-haired man emerged, smiling as he looked at him. "But I never expected you'd choose to come here."

"Orochimaru-sama will be very pleased to hear this."

Sasuke put his hands in his pockets. "Is Orochimaru still alive?"

"Take me to see him."

Yakushi Kabuto jumped down, landing on the ground, and gestured toward the Sound Village. "Then please follow me, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke followed behind him, his thoughts unsettled.

Inside the inn.

Karin's eyes sparkled as she stared at the Nine-Tails sitting on the table, her hands eager to reach out.

"Is this the Nine-Tails?" she asked.

Naruto nodded.

"It doesn't look evil at all." Karin cautiously raised her hand, trying to touch the Nine-Tails. "It's clearly very cute and fluffy."

The Nine-Tails swung its tail at her, speaking fiercely, "Don't touch me!"

"Don't be so stingy, just a touch," Karin winced in pain, withdrawing her hand and rubbing the slightly red mark.

The Nine-Tails grinned. "I am the most powerful, most ferocious Tailed Beast, not a pet!"

"You little kid from the Uzumaki clan, get that straight."

Karin pouted, muttering under her breath, and tried a few more times, but even when she circled behind, she couldn't succeed; the Nine-Tails' sensory abilities were no weaker than her own.

She could only tilt her head and look at Naruto. "Are we leaving tomorrow?"

Naruto thought for a moment. "Yes, we've done everything we can for now."

"Where to next?" Karin remembered what Naruto said two days ago about finding a place to settle down.

Naruto spoke softly. "First, we're going to find Orochimaru."

"And borrow something from him."

Karin was stunned; after all, they had just met that guy.

Naruto shook his head.

He intended to borrow some research equipment and information on notorious and evil ninjas from Orochimaru.

The "Reaper Death Seal: Release" technique required a sacrifice to perform.

He couldn't very well ask himself or Karin to do it.

As for the fact that he had already deciphered the technique, Naruto had no plans to tell Orochimaru.

~~~

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