I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 324 Light that is unseen cannot serve as a guide.

"Then I'll head back to the village first. Take care of yourself."

Tsunade looked at her disciple, nodded, and activated the Reverse Summoning Technique left in the village, disappearing into smoke.

Chenma also looked at Zhiyu and said, "Zhiyu, then I will take my leave first. I will make time as soon as possible to learn the Sage Mode and Sage Techniques of Shikkotsu Forest from you."

"Okay, be careful."

After Zhi Yu finished speaking, she asked curiously, "Aren't you going to exit Sage Mode?"

"I still need the enhanced perception from Sage Mode for now, and getting more familiar with Sage Mode is something I need to work on in the future, isn't it?"

Tatsuma smiled and said, and Iori nodded. She felt that Tatsuma was a little different, that he was a little "dull", or that he was no longer so sensitive.

Previously, Tatsuma's emotions, no matter when they were expressed, were like a taut rubber band. Any slight movement would trigger a rapid response from the rubber band, as if he was always on guard against something.

But now Tatsuma seems a bit more relaxed, his emotional reactions have become "sluggish," and he doesn't seem as tired.

Tatsuma sensed Iori's emotions, but he didn't say anything. He simply extended his perception range outward. His perception talent was already top-notch, and now, under the amplification of Sage Mode and that special state that resembled Kagura's Mind's Eye, it was elevated by two levels.

The entire Shikkotsu Forest was within his perception range, and the Flying Thunder God mark left at the edge of the Shikkotsu Forest was naturally also within it.

With a flash of silver light, Chenma disappeared and arrived at the barrier of the Wet Bone Forest. He was no longer cautious as before and stepped over the bubble without any protective action.

At a depth of 10,000 meters, he should have been crushed to death by the immense water pressure, his lungs bursting. But Chenma simply exhaled a breath from his mouth and nose, and his body and the deep sea inexplicably achieved a balance.

Tatsuma did not linger on the seabed, because at this moment, he was even able to sense the Flying Thunder God Mark he had left on the edge of the Land of Water in the sea area between the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Water.

In the blink of an eye, he was back deep within the Water Kingdom.

"It seems you've succeeded on your side as well."

Upon arriving at the camp, Tatsuma looked at the surrounding supplies and addressed Usamaru.

Rabbit Ball, who was enjoying his long-awaited meal of meat, looked up upon hearing this and his first reaction was nervousness, because he had never seen this person before.

But after a second and a third look, Usamaru rubbed his eyes, stood up, and tentatively asked, "Master Takasugi Shinsuke?"

It was hard to explain the aura emanating from Tatsuma at that moment, but Usamaru couldn't help but use honorifics. Tatsumaru nodded, acknowledging Usamaru's form of address.

Usamaru breathed a sigh of relief, moved closer to Tatsuma, and asked, "Takasugi Shinsuke-sama, what about your face and hair?"

Practice makes perfect, and this time Usamaru used honorifics without feeling so uncomfortable. Tatsuma raised an eyebrow and ruffled his hair; he had only remembered to change his clothes and had completely forgotten about getting his hair done.

"I got a bit injured, and there are some aftereffects. You know what Lightning Release is, right?"

Tatsuma stared at Usamaru, who nodded hurriedly. How could he say he didn't understand? Let alone disbelieve? He could only say, "Takasugi Shinsuke-sama looks handsome with curly hair too."

"Hmph~"

Tatsuma snorted and turned his head away. He wasn't afraid of being recognized. After all, with the mask on his face and the unconscious change in his aura under Sage Mode, even people who knew him would have to take a while to recognize him, let alone strangers.

"Since the supplies are complete, I will send my demon ninja squad over."

"The Ghost Ninja Team?"

Usamaru looked at Tatsuma with a puzzled expression. He had never heard of this title before. Tatsuma frowned and asked, "What, you don't like it?"

"No, no, it doesn't sound very good. Is this a ninja squad from Kirigakure?"

"No, it's not like that now. The name was just changed. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No! Of course not! I am. I am."

Sweat beaded on Usamaru's face as he quickly came up with a clever idea: "I was wondering if we ninjas, after gathering together, have ever officially named our team? Could we perhaps become members of the Demon Ninja Team?"

"With just you guys?"

Tatsuma glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the timid, rogue ninja. They all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him. Tatsuma said mockingly:

"Fine, I'll give you a chance. You can be unofficial members of the Oni Ninja Team. If you perform well in the future, I won't mind if you join the team."

It was agreed before that "Takasugi Shinsuke" would lead the team to join them, but now the guests have taken the lead. Usamaru didn't dare to utter a single complaint. Before "Takasugi Shinsuke" returned, he still dared to have some wild ideas.

However, at this moment, the aura emanating from "Takasugi Shinsuke" was so intimidating that Usamaru felt honored to even be able to talk to him, and dared not have the slightest thought of disobeying him.

"I'll bring my Demon Ninja Team over within three days. Don't die in the next few days."

Tatsuma gave Usamaru a disdainful look. To be honest, infiltrating such a rogue ninja organization was not what Tatsuma had expected.

His initial intention in getting involved in that battle was to establish connections with the rogue ninja organizations and leverage their intelligence networks for information sharing. However, he never expected that Kirigakure would have so many rogue ninja organizations.

Unfortunately, the organization he joined was insignificant, forcing him to develop his own intelligence network.

Of course, small organizations also have their advantages, namely that they are easy to control. Moreover, once a small organization is developed, other rogue ninja organizations or Kirigakure will not feel that there is interference from Konoha forces.

As for leaving for three days to pick up those intelligence personnel, it won't take three days at all. The main thing is to communicate with those people in advance, otherwise it would be bad if we were exposed.

Furthermore, Tatsuma didn't want to be too involved with the rogue ninja of Kirigakure. He wasn't that free. Unless it was a critical moment, he wouldn't get involved in things that others could do.

Therefore, from the very beginning, it was Tatsuma's plan to get these people used to his frequent absences.

Usamaru dared not refuse Tatsuma's arrangements. Even if Tatsuma never returned, they would still benefit. Without Tatsuma, they would not have obtained so many supplies.

If their supplies really run out, they might have no choice but to take action and attract the attention of Kirigakure.

Alternatively, those rogue ninjas who joined them might "betray" them again. The better ones would probably leave, while the ones with bad intentions might harm these temporary "colleagues."

Before "Takasugi Shinsuke" arrived, they were already in this predicament. Without this batch of supplies, Usamaru didn't know how many more days they could hold on.

Therefore, after several attempts to test him, and finally witnessing the role and strength of "Takasugi Shinsuke", when facing him again, Usamaru only felt gratitude and awe. How could he possibly refuse his arrangements?

Seeing that Usamaru was sensible, Tatsuma nodded in satisfaction. Without giving any further instructions, he instantly left. After getting far away from the camp, Tatsuma left behind the Flying Thunder God Technique formula and once again put the Reverse Summoning Technique into practice.

After returning to the Land of Whirlpools from Shikkotsu Forest, and then to the Land of Fire, Tatsuma did not immediately return to the village upon setting foot on the land of Fire. This was because his greatly enhanced senses allowed him to detect an acquaintance.

Inside a hot spring inn, a middle-aged man with long white hair, a towel around his waist, and a periscope in his hand was squatting in the partition separating the men's and women's baths.

He carefully and subtly adjusted the periscope in his hand, as if trying to see the scene on the other side of the women's bath through the gaps in the barrier, while occasionally letting out a chilling chuckle.

On the shore, there were also paper and pens, as well as a headband with the character "oil" engraved on it.

Suddenly, a flash of silver light appeared. Chenma squatted on the bank of the hot spring, picked up the notebook, glanced at it, then put it down. He picked up the headband and said, "How come I didn't know you had defected?"

"Thump~"

"Splash splash splash~"

"Cough cough cough~ Help! Cough cough cough~ I'm having a cramp!"

Jiraiya suddenly fell into the hot spring pool, struggling and thrashing about. Tatsuma smirked, and a chain emerged from his body, binding Jiraiya's raised hand and lifting him up.

His right leg was in a very unnatural position. Tatsuma glanced at it and guessed that Jiraiya had been squatting for too long and it had gone numb and cramped up.

An elite Jonin, Jiraiya actually lost control of his body while crouching. How long did he have to crouch like that? You know, a Jonin's infiltration mission can sometimes take several days.

"Thank you!"

Jiraiya, lying on the shore, tugged at his toes, stretching them as he turned his head to look at his "savior," but something was wrong.

Jiraiya stared intently at Tatsuma, then blinked, continued staring, and after several seconds, he rolled over, stood up, pointed a trembling finger at Tatsuma, and said:

"You...you...you're Tatsuma?!"

"Jiraiya-sensei, we haven't seen each other for only a few months, how come you don't recognize me?"

Tatsuma smiled as he looked at Jiraiya, and the Vajra Chains even brushed away the wet, white hair sticking to Jiraiya's forehead, making his vision clearer.

"What's wrong with you?"

Jiraiya pointed at Tatsuma with one finger and gestured around his eyes with the other. Tatsuma shrugged and said calmly, "Sage Mode, huh? Didn't I tell you?"

"Tatsuma! You deserve to die! How do you even know Sage Mode?!"

After Jiraiya finished speaking in grief and indignation, he sat down on the ground with a look of utter defeat. Tatsuma had told him, and even said that he could ask Tsunade for corroboration, but after his initial surprise, Jiraiya simply did not believe it.

He had been studying for several years and still hadn't mastered the knowledge. How could Tatsuma have learned it after just one trip to Shikkotsu Forest? Could it be that the Sage Mode in Shikkotsu Forest is really easier to learn?

Shocked by Tatsuma's Sage Mode, Jiraiya even overlooked the fact that Tatsuma could use the Adamantine Sealing Technique, a unique technique of the Uzumaki clan.

Tatsuma smiled broadly. He wouldn't tell Jiraiya that he had entered Sage Mode by trickery; he had come to show off.

He had wanted to show off before, but unfortunately he really couldn't enter the Sage Mode at the time, and he didn't dare to try it rashly. Now that he finally had the chance, how could he let it go?

There's a saying, "You should quietly excel and then amaze everyone." But from another perspective, if it's not to amaze others, why bother working so hard?

It's true that the fruits of progress belong to oneself and have nothing to do with others, but appropriate boasting can also bring happiness to oneself.

Having achieved his goal of showing off, Tatsuma intended to say a few casual words and then leave to carry out his mission. However, Jiraiya seemed to remember something, looked up, and said, "You're coming with me to Mount Myōboku!"

(End of this chapter)