Chapter 107: Sasuke’s Self-Pity

Hokage’s Office.

"Excellent. The mission was completed perfectly.

"I believe you have confidence in them now as well."

After reading the mission report from the Land of Waves, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi with approval.

Konoha had a vast intelligence network.

He was well aware of the situation in the Land of Waves.

Ever since Kado had used various means to take control of the Land of Waves, its people had been suffering terribly.

If you want to become wealthy, build roads first.

And since the Land of Waves was an island nation, constructing a bridge connecting it to the Land of Fire was the only way for its people to break out of their predicament.

But building the bridge would inevitably affect Kado’s shipping business.

Kado would naturally try to sabotage the bridge construction.

Hiruzen knew all of this, so he was also aware that there was something wrong with this mission.

It could be considered a test arranged specifically for Team 7.

Even if they failed, it wouldn’t matter. Experiencing some setbacks would also help them grow.

What Hiruzen hadn’t expected was that Team 7 would not only complete the mission, but even upgrade a C-rank mission into an S-rank mission.

And among their opponents had been a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

They had even brought back one of the Seven Swords, the Executioner’s Blade.

That naturally left Hiruzen extremely satisfied.

Of course, Hiruzen didn’t care much about the Executioner’s Blade.

It was merely a weapon. Ultimately, it was an external object.

In the Mist Village, it represented glory more than anything else.

If it were really that useful, Might Duy wouldn’t have been able to kick half of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to death despite being a perennial genin.

Kakashi nodded in agreement.

"They’re growing very quickly. They’ll all become excellent shinobi in the future."

He had witnessed Team 7’s growth during this period.

Hiruzen smiled.

"It’s not easy to hear those words from you.

"Even if they’ve grown quickly, they still aren’t as fast as you were back then, are they?"

In the Third Hokage’s eyes, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata were still far behind Kakashi when he had been their age.

Kakashi had already been capable of independently developing ninjutsu at the age of twelve.

He had even participated in wars and made a name for himself throughout the shinobi world.

By thirteen, he had already become a jonin.

Uchiha Itachi had exterminated an entire clan by himself at thirteen.

And then there were the Legendary Sannin. At the same age, their achievements were far more dazzling than Naruto and the others’.

If Kakashi and the others were considered top-tier geniuses, then Naruto’s group could only be considered excellent geniuses at best.

Kakashi didn’t respond.

He vaguely felt that Naruto and Sasuke weren’t as simple as they appeared.

There was no particular reason for this feeling.

It was simply instinct.

Seeing this, Hiruzen said,

"There isn’t much time left before the Chunin Exams.

"This time, the Sand Village, Grass Village, Sound Village, Rain Village, and Waterfall Village will be participating. Five villages in total.

"Their people are probably already on their way.

"Don’t accept any more missions outside the village during this period. Stay in the village.

"You’ll have to work a little harder and continue guiding them.

"I’ll leave them in your care."

Kakashi nodded.

"Yes, Third-sama. I will."

After dinner.

On the sofa, Uchiha Izumi rested her head against Naruto’s shoulder.

This mission in the Land of Waves had been the longest time Naruto had ever been away from her.

Although Naruto had occasionally used the Flying Thunder God to return, he hadn’t done so very often.

Usually, he would come back once every two or three days.

And he wouldn’t stay for long.

Perhaps half an hour, or an hour at most.

Previously, Naruto had never been away for more than a day.

The two of them had never gone more than twenty-four hours without seeing each other.

Izumi had been extremely uncomfortable during this period.

Now, the two were enjoying this rare moment of peace after dinner.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock sounded at the door.

Uchiha Izumi stood up.

"It’s Sasuke, right? I’ll get the door."

Naruto’s expression darkened.

He should have told Sasuke to come tomorrow.

When he entered, Sasuke politely said to Uchiha Izumi,

"Sorry to disturb you."

Hearing this, Naruto, who was sitting on the sofa, said,

"You know you’re disturbing us, yet you still came?"

Sasuke, who had just stepped into the living room, was speechless.

Hadn’t he already said earlier today that he was coming?

Seeing this, Uchiha Izumi covered her mouth and giggled.

She returned to the sofa and rested her head against Naruto’s shoulder again.

Smelling the faint fragrance beside him, Naruto’s expression immediately softened.

Izumi had never been this affectionate with him in front of outsiders before.

As expected, absence really did make the heart grow fonder.

At this moment, Sasuke, sitting on the single-seat sofa beside them, asked,

"The Joint Chunin Exams... is this the date you were talking about?

"I’ve already heard about it. The Sound Village will be participating this time as well.

"Don’t tell me the Sound Village is simply here to participate in the Chunin Exams."

Hearing this, Naruto glanced at Sasuke.

’You’ve gotten smarter!

’You actually know how to gather intelligence now.’

Naruto didn’t hide anything and lightly nodded.

"It is.

"Everything has already been arranged. The plan will begin when the Chunin Exams are nearing their end."

Hearing this, Sasuke instinctively clenched his fists.

As if he were digesting the information, he remained silent for a while before asking,

"Who was the person you said incited Uchiha Itachi to massacre the clan?"

Naruto shook his head.

"It’s not time yet, Sasuke."

Hearing this, disappointment appeared all over Sasuke’s face.

’Still not yet?’

It made sense.

He hadn’t improved much during this period.

Sasuke had never really expected to receive an answer so soon, so he was mentally prepared for this.

He didn’t dwell on the matter.

Instead, he asked,

"Naruto, what is your plan?"

Naruto’s expression became serious.

"The Sound Village will join forces with the Sand Village to attack Konoha."

Sasuke was already someone Naruto trusted.

As for the attack on Konoha, Naruto had no intention of continuing to hide it from him.

He wasn’t even worried about revealing the identities of his enemies.

He was simply concerned that Sasuke might lose control.

If Naruto told him everything now and Sasuke went charging off recklessly, Naruto would have to intervene and save him.

That would be troublesome.

It would also disrupt Naruto’s plans.

"Attack Konoha?"

Sasuke’s pupils contracted!

He had imagined that Naruto might surround and eliminate Konoha’s higher-ups, or even kill the Hokage.

But he had never imagined that Naruto would go this far.

He was actually joining forces with the Sand Village to attack Konoha!

What exactly was he trying to do?

Destroy Konoha?

After digesting the news, Sasuke couldn’t help asking,

"Is there anything I need to do?"

Naruto shook his head.

"You only need to train hard during this period.

"When the time comes, I’ll arrange everything for you."

Hearing this, Sasuke clenched his fists again.

’Am I still too weak?’

’Why can’t I help with anything?!’

’Even now, I still need Naruto to arrange everything for me.’

’I’m so useless!’

A sense of unwillingness and frustration rose in Sasuke’s heart once again.

He resented himself for always being taken care of by Naruto, as though he were an oversized baby who couldn’t do anything on his own.

After wallowing in self-pity for a while, Sasuke reined in his emotions.

He didn’t ask anything else.

Instead, he said to Naruto,

"Naruto, I’m going back to train."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke.

"Go ahead. Don’t push yourself too hard. Too much of a good thing can be counterproductive."

He didn’t say much more.

After being beaten around by Kimimaro every time, Sasuke was basically in this state.

Naruto had grown accustomed to it.

"Mm."

Warmth spread through Sasuke’s heart.

He softly hummed in response before leaving Naruto’s house.

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