I'm in Konoha, and I started with Ashura Chakra.

Chapter 86 Yagyu Chunin, Uchiha Sasuke Defects

The next afternoon, instead of rushing on their way, the third and eighth squads took a break along the way and finally returned to Konoha after many days.

However, before Yagyu could dismiss the team and send Team 3 and Team 8 back to rest, he went to report to Tsunade alone. He was greeted by a Chunin guarding the gate who said, "Chunin Yagyu, the Hokage instructed us that as soon as we see you return, you should immediately take Team 3 and Team 8 to the Hokage's office."

Yagyu Chunin?

Upon hearing the title of Chunin, both Team 3 and Team 8 raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but quickly nodded.

With Yagyu's strength, he should have been promoted to Chunin long ago.

Even if Yagyu were a Jonin or an elite Jonin, Team 3 and Team 8 wouldn't be surprised by the range of his Wood Release technique.

Yagyu looked surprised; he was more concerned about Tsunade's instructions than about being promoted to Chunin.

He nodded and smiled, saying, "I understand, thank you for reminding me."

After registering, Yagyu led Team 3 and Team 8 to the Hokage Building.

"Lord Hokage, let's go back..."

"You've come back just in time. I have an urgent task for you."

Yagyu pushed open the door and entered, just about to greet Tsunade, but before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Tsunade's voice.

Tsunade said with a serious expression, "Last night, Sasuke Uchiha was lured or kidnapped by Orochimaru and has left Konoha. According to reports from the Sensory Team and the Barrier Team, the people who took him away were the Sound Four who used the Ninja Art: Four Purple Flames Formation during the Chunin Exams."

"Due to the fact that all the Jonin in the village are on missions outside during this period, I had to temporarily promote Nara Shikamaru to Chunin and have him lead Team 7 and Team 10 to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke. Karin is also on the team."

"However, just a few hours ago, Shizune sent me information that Genma Shiranui and the others encountered the Sound Four, but they were all injured. Those guys also have Orochimaru's cursed seal. I was worried that Naruto and the others would be in trouble, so your return came at just the right time."

After saying that, Tsunade got up and went to a cabinet, opened it, took out a green vest, threw it to Yagyu, and said in a deep voice, "Yagyu, I am now officially promoting you to Konoha Chunin, responsible for leading Team 8 and Team 3 to support Nara Shikamaru and his group."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Liu Sheng caught the vest, nodding respectfully on the surface, but secretly he was secretly delighted.

Has it finally reached this time of day?

"Go ahead, head towards the Land of Rice Fields. You should be able to find their scent by following the insects of the Aburame clan," Tsunade instructed. "If you really can't find them, Yagyu, you can contact Karin using a slug. She's also made a contract with Shikkotsu Forest."

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

Yagyu nodded again, then led Team 8 and Team 3 out of the Hokage's office. After obtaining their exit permits on the first floor, they left Konoha once more.

On the way, Yagyu asked Shino Aburame, "Shino, did your bugs find Shikamaru and Naruto's scent?"

"no."

Shino Aburame looked at the insect on her finger, shook her head, and said, "A long time has passed. Even if it didn't rain, the lingering scent would have disappeared."

"In that case, let's set off along the Land of Rice Fields as the Hokage has suggested."

Liu Sheng pulled out a map from somewhere, opened it, and quickly led the Third and Eighth Squads northward.

The Land of Fields is also one of the neighboring countries of the Land of Fire, located to the north of the Land of Fire. Its left and right neighboring countries are the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water, respectively.

For Konoha ninjas to enter the Land of Rice Fields, they need to cross an enormous, undeveloped primeval forest.

Even for ninjas, it would take most of a day to cross that primeval forest.

At the edge of the forest, there is a grassland, and then there is the Valley of the End, where the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha fought.

It was already afternoon when we returned to the village.

The sun had already set not long after Team 3 and Team 8 left Konoha.

Before long, night fell over the land.

Yagyu and his group, who were in a hurry to support Nara Shikamaru and his men, did not rest along the way. They only ate a soldier's ration pill and continued to use their full speed to teleport.

As dawn approached, they finally saw the vast, rootless primeval forest.

"We've found their scent."

Just as he teleported into the primeval forest, Shino Aburame delivered some good news.

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Shino."

Kagura, unable to find Yagyu through her keen observation, handed over the role of guide to Shino Aburame.

Aburame Shino nodded, then instantly overtook Yagyu and the others, taking the lead.

Two hours later, Shino Aburame suddenly slowed down and returned to the group that was using teleportation to travel in one direction while conserving energy in silence. She reported to Yagyu, "There are three familiar scents ahead, but they're not Naruto and the others. However, since my insects can remember them, they must be people we know or have interacted with before, and we must have seen them recently."

"Rokugan—Open!"

Before Yagyu could speak, Hyuga Neji and Hinata activated their Byakugan simultaneously, with the former saying, "They're the Sand Ninja team from the Chunin Exams."

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Li and Tian Tian's expressions changed slightly, and the images of Gaara and Temari appeared in their minds.

Yagyu then slowly said, "After the Fifth Hokage took office, Sunagakure sent people to redeem them and also renewed the alliance agreement with Konoha. They are no longer enemies. Go up and talk to them."

"Yes."

Team 3 and Team 8 increased their Body Flicker Speed ​​again and quickly caught up with Gaara and his siblings ahead.

"It's you guys!"

Gaara and his two siblings, who were also traveling at night, spotted Yagyu and the others.

Looking at Rock Lee and Yagyu, who had performed amazingly in the Chunin Exams, and Shino Aburame, who had defeated them, Temari and Kankuro's expressions changed slightly.

However, considering the current relationship between Sunagakure and Konoha, Temari quickly calmed down and explained to Yagyu, "We didn't intentionally appear on the Land of Fire's territory. It was your Fifth Hokage who requested support from Sunagakure."

"I see."

Yagyu feigned sudden realization, revealing a mask-like gentle smile, and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your help. Konoha has indeed been short-handed lately."

"I understand, I understand..."

Temari and Kankuro gave awkward smiles, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Although the siblings lost their father and Sunagakure lost the Fourth Kazekage, Sunagakure did bear some responsibility for Konoha losing the Third Hokage.

That's why Sunagakure didn't dare blame Konoha's rogue ninja for killing the Fourth Hokage, and quickly signed an alliance agreement with Konoha.

The reason we came at full speed to provide support this time is to make up for the mistakes we made.

At that moment, Gaara turned to look at Yagyu and the others, and took the initiative to greet them, saying, "It's been a long time, Yagyu, and... Rock Lee."

"Long time no see, you..."

Lee responded instinctively, then suddenly widened his eyes and stared blankly at Gaara.

Like him, Tenten and Hinata also looked surprised.

Clearly, none of them expected that the guy who exuded murderous intent and had a ferocious expression beneath his sand armor during the Chunin Exams would actually take the initiative to greet them.

"Long time no see."

Yagyu smiled and said, "You've changed quite a bit. Have you figured something out lately?"

"what……"

Gaara nodded, gazing at the dark forest ahead, as if he saw a figure with its back to him, and whispered, "I want to change my past thoughts, and I want to know how that guy felt back then."

"Then keep it up!"

The atmosphere quickly became awkward.

Neither side had much to say to their former enemy.

Moreover, it's the early hours of the morning, and since they're constantly teleporting, they must learn to conserve their energy.

So, all nine of them remained silent.

After an unknown amount of time, the black sky gradually turned white.

Hinata and Neji, who were taking turns activating their Byakugan every now and then, suddenly Hinata's expression changed slightly as she said, "Yagyu-kun, I saw Choji. He's in a very bad situation right now."

"I sensed it too; his aura was too weak."

With one hand forming a hand seal, a branch extended from his body, quickly transforming into a wooden clone.

"Mu... Mudun?!"

This scene nearly made Temari and Kankuro drop their jaws in astonishment.

Gaara, whose gaze was directed at them, also had his pupils constrict.

Clearly, they were all stunned by Yagyu's move.

"Gurgle..."

Immediately, Temari and Kankuro couldn't help but swallow hard.

They had initially thought that Xiao Li was the strongest among them, but they finally realized why only Liu Sheng was wearing a green vest.

This guy, who displayed powerful Water Release techniques and Phantom Body Flicker Technique during the Chunin Exams, is actually the legendary user of the Wood Release bloodline limit.

In other words, he really is a descendant of the Senju clan!

Thinking of this, Temari and Kankuro suddenly felt secretly fortunate.

Fortunately, this guy is a rational player. He saw the outcome before the war was even over, so he didn't attack them.

Otherwise, the three of them might really have died in Konoha!

At the same time, the siblings secretly made a decision.

Once we get back, we must report this information to Granny Chiyo.

Following the First Hokage, Konoha has produced another Wood Release ninja, which is definitely big news that will shake the ninja world.

Yagyu seemed oblivious to the three siblings' reaction.

After creating a wooden clone, he said to Lee, "Lee, Choji's condition is very bad. My wooden clone might disappear after it's healed. Please go and protect him with my wooden clone."

"No problem, leave it to me!"

The naive Xiao Li didn't think much about it at all, and immediately gave a thumbs up, grinning and promising.

So, Xiao Li and his wooden clone left the group.

The remaining eight people continued their journey.

Soon, dawn broke through the night, and the morning sun illuminated the forest.

"Yagyu-kun, I saw Shikamaru. He's fighting the enemy right now."

At this moment, Hinata reported again: "The enemy's ninjutsu consists of arrows and spider silk. Shikamaru is in a bad situation; he has been dodging and running away the whole time."

"Shino, Neji, could you please go and help Shikamaru?"

"Yes."

Watching Shino Aburame and Neji Hyuga disappear in an instant, Gaara also spoke up: "Kankuro, you go up and help too."

"I see."

Kankuro nodded and followed in a flash.

The team of eight was quickly reduced to five.

Not long after, Hinata said again, "Yagyu-kun, I saw Karin, Sakura, and Ino."

"Yes, I sensed their chakra too. It seems they're alright." Yagyu nodded.

Actually, it wasn't even dawn yet, but Yagyu's Kagura Mind's Eye had already sensed everyone's location.

The arrangement just now was also something he did intentionally.

Just like in the original work, Akimichi Choji's opponent is Jirobo.

He is currently in a near-death state, and it is likely that he has taken three pills, just like in the original story, and entered the butterfly transformation state.

This ordeal was actually a good thing for Choji Akimichi.

Nara Shikamaru's opponent is Kidomaru.

Facing Kidomaru, who can activate Cursed Seal 2, Nara Shikamaru is no match at all. He has been able to hold on until now, probably by taking advantage of the surrounding forest.

Kidomaru failed to kill Nara Shikamaru, presumably because he was afraid of the Nara clan's shadow imitation technique. The two were constantly locked in a tug-of-war, with the former looking for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow, while the latter was looking for an opportunity to ambush his opponent or wait for reinforcements to arrive.

As for Karin, Sakura, and the three girls' opponent, it is Tayuya, who is skilled in summoning and sound illusion techniques.

Both Tayuya and Kim are skilled in sound illusions, but Tayuya's strength is many times greater than that of Kim, one of the Tosu trio.

If Karin hadn't been with the team, Tsunade probably wouldn't have let Ino and Sakura go along, as their strength was simply too weak.

Similarly, if it weren't for Karin, Yagyu would have been extremely anxious long ago.

Fortunately, Karin caught up with them.

Karin, who learned a great deal about Water Release techniques from Yagyu, is second only to Naruto, who can use a group Rasengan.

In addition, Karin and the other two women have excellent chakra control, and the Ino family's secret technique can also help their own people break free from genjutsu. Even if Tayuya enters the cursed seal state, it will be difficult for her to defeat the trio.

However, it won't be an easy task for the trio to win over Tayuya.

So, Yagyu continued to give orders: "Hinata, you and Tenten go and support Karin and the others."

"Yes."

Hinata and Tenten nodded, then instantly left the group.

Gaara also said to Temari, "Temari, go and assist them."

"I see."

Temari nodded and followed closely behind.

The nine-person team was suddenly reduced to just Yagyu and Gaara.

"Get out of my way! Give me back Sasuke—Rasengan!!!"

Not long after separating from Hinata and the other two girls, Yagyu and Gaara, who were using their full-speed teleportation technique, suddenly heard Naruto's roar in their ears.

The sound echoed, as if many people were shouting in unison, extremely loud.

As if sensing Naruto's anger, Gaara's expression changed slightly.

Soon, figures wearing orange jackets came into view of Yagyu and Gaara.

At least a hundred Narutos, their bodies radiating red chakra, each holding a blue energy ball, slammed into a figure.

boom--

All of them crashed into a tree, and hundreds of blue energy balls immediately created a deafening explosion and dust.

"Gaara, go help Naruto."

Yagyu said with a serious expression, "There's another chakra ahead. Sasuke should be in his hands. I'm going after him."

sizzle...

The sound of electric currents clashing rang out, and before Gaara could reply, Yagyu transformed into a blue-white afterimage and vanished instantly.

(End of this chapter)