Chapter 17

TN- This chapter was done in a hurry so do tell me if there's any mistake. I'll fix it ASAP.

Thank you.

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Just as he was about to speak, he noticed a man entering the classroom who bore a striking resemblance to Shino. This man commanded, "Team Seven, follow me."

One might wonder why the man's attire resembled Shino's.

Both individuals were dressed in worn-out garments that covered most of their skin.

However, there was a slight distinction: Shino lacked gloves and only sported sunglasses, whereas the newcomer wore gloves and a mask that concealed the upper half of his face.

Within Naruto's mind, Kaze observed him, doubts and thoughts flickered across his face. He pondered, "Is he affiliated with the Root?" and questioned the purpose of this unexpected visit.

Was there a hidden agenda concerning Naruto? It seemed that Kakashi, the original team leader, had been replaced by an unfamiliar figure.

An Aburame.

Clearly, the plot had taken an unforeseen turn; although Hiruzen Sarutobi had not perished, Danzo and his Root faction had emerged prematurely.

Outside the classroom, Naruto, observing the man who had entered, asked a question just as he was about to comply, "Are you our team leader?"

Sakura, who had obediently risen and began to leave, swiftly reprimanded Naruto by lightly tapping his forehead and retorting, "Idiot, obviously he's the team leader who's guiding us!"

Annoyed by Naruto's lack of observation skills Sakura spoke up in annoyance.

"If he wasn't our teacher how would he know that we are Team Seven?"

"You're just an annoying orphan who lacks observation skills, can only lie, and lacks parental discipline!"

It was evident that Sakura was still resentful about the earlier incident.

Although she refrained from mentioning the loss of her first kiss she didn't mind venting her frustrations on Naruto instead.

Naruto, accustomed to the villagers' harsh curses, paid little heed to Sakura's biting words.

He merely clutched his head, feigning pain, and responded with an apologetic smile.

Compared to the villagers' venomous remarks, Sakura's words were as feeble as child's play, barely registering a lasting impact.

While Naruto disregarded Sakura's words, they struck a nerve with Sasuke. As an orphan without parents, Sakura's comments cut deeply into his own personal pain.

Witnessing Naruto's silence and Sakura's derisive smirk, he rose from his seat and approached the two with an icy tone. "No one desires to be an orphan, devoid of parents and despised by others," he declared.

"You don't understand the kind of loneliness where you are alone at home and no one can tell you what you can do and what you can't do."

Sasuke continued, highlighting the isolation of being alone at home, devoid of guidance, and reproached Sakura for easily berating an uneducated and troublesome orphan for his mistakes.

"You... really make me feel sick."

Feel sick... Feel sick... Feel sick...

Sasuke's words echoed in Sakura's mind, freezing her in place like a statue. She stood there, petrified, as if turned to stone.

Naruto, moved by Sasuke's understanding of his daily struggles and feelings of loneliness, glanced at Sasuke's handsome face and found himself less irritated... and perhaps even harboring some admiration?

He quickly dismissed such thoughts, discarding them as unwelcome.

Naruto averted his gaze, fearing that his momentary admiration might be exposed in the next instant.

Torune Aburame, who had been observing the love triangle unfold, introduced himself as their team leader.

Without giving Naruto and his companions a chance to refuse, he abruptly turned and led them outside.

The absence of Kakashi, their original team leader, was noteworthy, replaced instead by this unfamiliar Aburame.

As they exited the school, they were met with the sounds of whizzing and clanging emanating from the surrounding trees.

The man clarified that it was a training exercise between the Anbu, designed to safeguard the village against foreign spies.

Any doubts and wariness the group harbored were swiftly dispelled by the man's explanation of the drill.

Though the activity was taking place at a distance, they could discern the masked figures engaged in the offensive and defensive maneuvers of the Anbu.

"Quick, let's move faster to avoid interfering with their drill," the man urged, employing this excuse to hasten their pace.

Without allowing Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke to question further, he turned and led them on a brisk run.

As they proceeded, the paths grew narrower, and the number of people dwindled.

Gradually, they approached the Death Forest, a place with roots belonging to the secretive Root organization. Kaze knew better than to venture into such dangerous territory.

A gentleman avoids standing beneath a treacherous wall, and he had no intention of placing himself in such a dangerous situation.

Therefore, he directly cautioned Naruto against entering the Death Forest.

"What's the matter?" Naruto exclaimed, startled, as he abruptly halted his steps.

He had also sensed something amiss but had dismissed it as a figment of his imagination. Yet Kaze's unease confirmed that it was not a mere illusion.

"We're almost there. Why did you stop?" The man, noticing Naruto's hesitation, ceased his own advance and approached him.

Naruto instinctively took a few steps back, keeping a cautious distance from the approaching Torune Aburame.

His expression revealed his guarded state of mind.

"Why did you lead us into the Death Forest?" Naruto questioned, his voice laced with suspicion.

"Naruto, what's gotten into you? Why did you suddenly stop and retreat?" Sakura, preoccupied with her own thoughts, failed to perceive any cause for concern.

"You don't see anything wrong?" Naruto remained silent, but Sasuke swiftly moved to Naruto's side, mirroring his wariness.

"On our very first day, she brings us to a dangerous place like the Death Forest without any explanation," Sasuke stated, his voice devoid of affection. "We passed several training grounds along the way that could have been suitable for our initial training or meetings, yet she didn't even spare them a glance. You claim Naruto lacks observation skills, but it seems you, too, lack the qualities expected of a ninja."

Sasuke's words carried a tinge of resentment towards Sakura, who had already incurred his disfavor. His suspicions about her intentions were now reinforced.

"What are you all hesitating for? Come here!" Sakura, scolded by Sasuke, felt aggrieved but promptly joined the two boys by their side.

Having their intentions exposed, the man, no longer inclined to feign, dropped her pretenses.

A high-ranking Jonin like him possessed ample means, courtesy of Danzo, to effortlessly deal with a few individuals. With a casual movement, he taunted them with a cold tone.

"So, you figured it out. You really are clever. If only you had followed me obediently."

"Well, since it's come to this, I suppose I'll have to make you suffer a little."

In an instant, the man launched an attack, kicking Sasuke in the stomach with force, sending him flying and leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

In the next moment, he swiftly struck Sakura's forehead, causing her to roll her eyes and collapse unconscious to the ground.

Unlike Kakashi, their original instructor, the man did not hold back his strength, incapacitating the two apart from Naruto.

"Sasuke! Sakura!" Naruto's eyes widened with fury and a surge of murderous intent.

The captured Naruto wriggled, his limbs flailing in a futile attempt to break free, but his multiple shadow clones were helpless against the man before him.

"Bastard! How dare you hurt them! I'll kill you!"

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

Several Naruto clones appeared, encircling Torune Aburame.

"This amount of chakra is exactly as the intelligence described," remarked Torune Aburame, unfazed, as he observed the multitude of Naruto clones.

The clones lunged at him, attempting to overwhelm him, but in the next moment, they began disappearing one by one, as if dissipating into thin air.

The last remaining Naruto clone rushed towards him, but before he could reach him, Torune Aburame swiftly retrieved his kunai knife and deflected his attack.

He effortlessly caught him by the head, effectively halting his assault.

In less than a minute, he had subdued all three of them, showcasing the strength of an elite Jonin, the pinnacle of a village's power.

"Bastard! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" shouted Naruto, struggling fiercely but unable to land a blow on the unyielding Aburame.

Observing Naruto's intense emotional fluctuations, Torune suddenly remembered something.

His expression changed, and he hastily raised his other hand.

*******

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