Chapter 96: Is your hate only that strong?

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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Early the next morning, Colt and Jiraiya joined Naruto at Konoha's gate.

The rebuilding of Konoha was progressing well, and Jiraiya saw no immediate danger to the village, so he decided to set out.

"Aren't you a bit too enthusiastic?" Colt asked, eyeing Naruto's oversized backpack with disbelief.

It was even more exaggerated than their previous trip to the Land of Waves.

"This is field training! I have to be fully prepared!" Naruto exclaimed.

Naruto struggled forward, his bag barely moving.

He looked like a snail unable to drag its shell.

It was a mystery how he even made it to the village gate.

"Let me help you with that," Colt sighed. He activated [Sukunahikona], quickly shrinking and lightening the backpack.

"That's amazing, Colt!" Naruto exclaimed.

Jiraiya noticed the change in Colt's eyes, realizing once again how unfathomable the young ninja's abilities were.

Every time he thought he understood Colt's strength, a new trick would appear.

The three set off on their journey.

As they traveled, Jiraiya asked Colt about his fight with Itachi Uchiha.

He had been tracking the mysterious Akatsuki organization, initially because Orochimaru had joined, but his investigations had revealed increasingly alarming information.

Several known members were former S-class rogue ninjas, and their target was the Jinchūrikis.

After hearing Colt's recount, even Jiraiya felt troubled.

Itachi's Genjutsu and Kisame Hoshigaki's ninjutsu were formidable.

In comparison, only he and Colt could stand against them in Konoha.

Of course, this was his assessment without considering Might Guy's eight inner gates.

"Naruto needs to get stronger," Jiraiya thought, watching the excited boy walking ahead.

At noon, the three entered a forest to rest.

"Pervy Sage, what jutsu are you going to teach me?" Naruto asked eagerly, unaware that their real purpose was to find Tsunade.

"Umm..." Jiraiya scratched his chin, at a loss.

He had planned to teach Naruto the Rasengan, but the boy had already learned it.

For a moment, he couldn't think of what to teach. Ordinary jutsu wouldn't suit someone like Naruto, and it was too early for more advanced techniques.

"Let me teach you a jutsu. It's been a while since you learned something new," Colt said with a smile.

Jiraiya looked over curiously, wondering what Colt had in mind.

Colt raised his right hand, forming a sky-blue chakra ball that spun rapidly, growing to dozens of times the size of a normal Rasengan.

"Amazing chakra density!" Jiraiya exclaimed, pulling Naruto back a few steps, his expression serious.

Colt pressed the [Big Ball Rasengan] against a tree, and the huge swirling energy created a gust of wind that swept through the entire forest.

When the dust settled, a circular pit tens of meters in diameter appeared before them.

"What do you think?" Colt asked, using Wind Style to blow the dust off himself as he looked at Naruto.

Both Jiraiya and Naruto stood stunned.

"That's so powerful," Naruto breathed.

Colt began teaching Naruto the [Big Ball Rasengan], while Jiraiya listened intently. Compared to the regular Rasengan, the [Big Ball Rasengan] seemed to just require more chakra and density. But its difficulty couldn't be explained in just a few sentences.

In the original timeline, it had taken Naruto three years to master it completely. Even with Colt's guidance, it would take time.

"You're really a monster, kid," Jiraiya said, himself mastering the technique after two days. "But this jutsu uses too much chakra. Even I have to use it carefully."

"That's why it's perfect for Naruto," Colt replied, watching Naruto create dozens of Shadow Clones to practice while sipping on some cold juice.

Two days later, they arrived in a small town.

Seeing the lively crowd, Jiraiya, restless after days of travel, said seriously, "I need to gather some information about our 'big target' here. You two go have fun!"

He quickly disappeared behind a woman, and Colt knew exactly what he was up to but said nothing. He was also tired of camping and decided to explore the snack street with Naruto.

Although many snacks from Konoha were available, the local specialties were unique.

Meanwhile, in Konoha...

Sasuke overheard that Itachi had returned to Konoha, and the target was Naruto.

His face changed instantly, torn between hatred for Itachi and worry for Naruto.

Without hesitation, Sasuke rushed in the direction Colt and the others had gone.

In the early days, Sasuke had a good friendship with Naruto. It was only later that he was forced down a darker path, mainly due to the severe blows he suffered.

Driven by his relentless determination, Sasuke soon reached the town.

"Have you seen a yellow-haired idiot, a white-haired pervert, and a black-haired handsome guy?" he asked at every inn, trying to find Naruto as quickly as possible.

However, he didn't find Naruto. Instead, he encountered the man he hated the most in a pub.

"Itachi-san, that kid's clan emblem looks familiar," someone said.

Hearing the name, Sasuke whirled around, his eyes flashing red. It was his target of revenge. Sasuke at that moment was consumed with rage.

"Itachi! I'm going to kill you!"

The chirping of a thousand birds filled the air as Sasuke quickly formed some hand seals, his right hand crackling with lightning. His chakra was filled with killing intent.

"Sasuke, my foolish little brother," Itachi said flatly, only fueling Sasuke's rage.

The massive electrical current tore through the inn's walls as Sasuke charged. Kisame smirked, thinking this level of jutsu was no match for Itachi.

As Kisame was about to intervene, Itachi stopped him. "Let me handle this."

Itachi easily caught Sasuke's wrist, his Sharingan making the younger Uchiha's movements seem slow.

Though pleased with Sasuke's progress, Itachi showed no emotion outwardly.

"Is this all you've got? Is your hatred only this strong?"

Each word stabbed at Sasuke's heart. He hated Itachi, but he hated his own weakness even more.

"Let me help you remember that day," Itachi said, his three-tomoe Sharingan slowly forming the Mangekyo.

Just as Itachi was about to use [Tsukuyomi], a lightning spear suddenly appeared, stabbing him in the chest. Both Kisame and Itachi were shocked.

"Let me make this clear," a voice rang out.

"It's not that the Chidori can't injure you, it's just that Sasuke can't do it."