Chapter 148: The Final Stage
First Round of the Tournament.
Day Three.
"If we move any further, we'll likely enter Nagato's sensory range."
Zoron gradually slowed down and spoke to the group on his back.
"You mean the one with the Rinnegan?" Neji furrowed his brows. They were still some distance from the center of the battlefield, but the immense chakra fluctuations behind them were just as terrifying.
Right now, they were caught between two extremely dangerous zones, with no clear path forward or back.
"My suggestion is to forfeit."
Neji's voice was firm.
Over the past two days, they had encountered several scattered teams. If they couldn't win, they simply had Zoron run.
With Sarutobi Hiruzen's parting gift, Neji felt that his role as guardian had been fulfilled well enough.
After all, they were among the few participants with the option to withdraw at any time.
Hinata had no strong opinion, and Karin followed whatever Sasuke decided.
All eyes turned to Naruto and Sasuke.
Naruto scratched his head. "But… ending it like this feels kinda lame."
"I still wanna make it to the second round."
Crunch.
Zoron took a bite out of his rice ball and muttered, "Mmm… Actually, it's not impossible, meow."
"I know Konan—the big, blue-haired beauty."
"She even treated me to grilled fish once, meow."
---
"Zoron, you're amazing!" Karin's eyes sparkled as she stared at the creature.
"How do you know everyone?!"
Zoron puffed out his chest with pride. "Of course! You think I got my reputation for nothing? I earned my name by eating my way across the ninja world!"
"Are you sure it won't be dangerous?"
Sasuke folded his arms across his chest, expression serious. "Nagato's strength is undeniable. If he's hostile, we won't even have time to use our Flying Thunder God seals to escape."
Since they weren't the casters, their seals had a slight activation delay.
Against most shinobi, that was fine—but against someone of Nagato's level?
It wouldn't be fast enough.
"Sigh~ Sasuke, you're usually so brave. Why are you being such a coward now?"
Predictably, that was Naruto's response.
Sasuke snorted. "Rushing into a fight knowing you can't win? I'm not an idiot like you."
"Hah?! What was that?!"
Naruto shoved his face right up against Sasuke's, spittle flying.
"Didn't Sensei teach us something super cool?! That's my ninja way!"
"If the mountain has a tiger, charge right in!"
Very dramatic.
Sasuke wiped the spit off his face and remained unfazed.
"Sensei also said, 'A wise man adapts to the situation.'"
"Use logic, not blind recklessness."
Sasuke refused to be talked down by Naruto's Jutsu of Big Words.
"We might already be down to less than ninety participants. We could just hide and still advance."
"Why risk fighting the strongest opponent we know exists?"
Naruto scrunched his face in frustration.
"Ugh… You do have a point, but…"
"Don't you wanna see the guy who carved a canyon into the battlefield?"
Nagato's Shinra Tensei had left a massive gorge in the Forest of Death—a permanent new landmark.
"What's there to see? We already know what strong people look like."
"Forget Nagato—Lord Hokage is probably stronger than him."
Sasuke tilted his head slightly, pride evident.
"The true powerhouses are the ones watching outside the barrier."
"I will stand among them someday."
Drip, drip…
A few raindrops landed on Sasuke's face.
"Rain?"
That was odd.
Before the tournament, he had checked the forecast.
Konoha was supposed to have clear skies all week.
He looked up—
And saw a pair of white wings blocking the view.
Swish!
Sasuke instantly drew his sword, activating his Sharingan.
His teammates reacted just as quickly—Naruto had already formed a Rasengan.
He normally wasn't this fast, but Sarutobi Hiruzen's parting gift had changed that.
"Wait—cough, cough—" Zoron hurriedly swallowed his food, choking a bit.
"Cough… Don't be scared! Konan isn't an enemy."
Sasuke didn't lower his guard. His fingers remained locked in a half-seal, ready to strike.
His Sharingan could see it—
Konan's chakra flow was strange.
It wasn't like any standard ninjutsu.
---
"Zoron, you made it in here too? Who are these kids?"
Nagato had just finished modifying Kinkaku and Ginkaku into Six Paths of Pain when he expanded Rain Tiger at Will to increase his sensory range.
That's when he noticed a familiar chakra signature.
Konan had been by his and Yahiko's side since childhood.
If she knew Zoron, then so did he.
Though, Zoron wasn't particularly fond of the man with the perpetual resting dead-face.
"Long time no see, Konan."
Zoron patted his chest and took a deep breath.
"These are Lord Kagami's disciples."
"You better not try anything, meow. We have our own trump cards."
After signaling his teammates to hold, Zoron also issued a warning to Konan.
Konan descended slowly, her voice as cool as ever.
"I'm not petty enough to use a few kids to threaten Kagami."
Or rather, hostage-taking was something she despised the most.
Tap.
Sasuke stepped forward, pointing his blade at Konan.
"Oi, show some respect when talking about Lord Kagami, woman!"
Naruto hurriedly dispelled his Rasengan and grabbed Sasuke's sleeve.
"Sasuke! Don't be reckless!"
Wasn't he just preaching about being sensible earlier?!
Though…
"That 'that guy' talk was kinda rude, big sis."
Even if he thought Sasuke was too aggressive, Naruto still sided with him.
They might bicker constantly, but they were united when facing outsiders.
Zoron sighed and tried to mediate.
"Uh… I don't think Kagami cares about that kind of thing."
"Besides… Konan is Kagami's senior."
"Oh, right! Forgot to mention—Nagato and Konan are also Jiraiya's students."
---
"Eh?!"
Karin's jaw dropped.
"I thought that white-haired old perv just ran away from Konoha!"
"Didn't think he actually joined another village's team."
---
"Old perv? That's slander, Karin-chan~"
A familiar voice rang out as Jiraiya walked in from behind Konan.
"You brats still haven't left? I thought Minato gave you an exit pass."
"Ack! It's the Pervy Sage!"
"It's not Pervy Sage! It's Toad Sage!"
Smack!
Jiraiya teleported next to Naruto and ruffled his hair roughly.
"ARGH! Stop! I use expensive shampoo! Don't mess up my silky hair!"
Finally, the tension eased.
Jiraiya gazed toward the horizon, voice serious.
"This is no place for kids anymore."
"Time to get out."
---
Three hours left until the round ends.
---
Read up to 20 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*