91-95

Chapter 91: Too Strong, Gotta Show Off 

“Who did this?!” 

“Konoha ninja, Sanada Kazama!” 

“Sanada{Kazama}! This kid’s way too terrifying!” 

Hearing Kurozetsu’s words, everyone present—except Itachi—was shocked to their core. 

Sure, they’d heard about Kazama’s exploits before, but no one expected him to be this powerful—taking on two opponents at once and killing both Hidan and Kakuzu. 

“Looks like Kazama’s strength has grown a lot since back then!”  

Learning of Kazama’s newfound power, Itachi felt a quiet sense of relief. The stronger Kazama was, the safer his little brother, Sasuke, would be. 

“This Kazama kid doesn’t just have the Mangekyō Sharingan—he can absorb and use his enemies’ attacks. He’s a real pain to deal with. You all need to be extra careful not to end up like Kakuzu and Hidan!”  

“Serves them right! Who told those zombie idiots to ignore orders and go after Nibi on their own?”  

At Kurozetsu’s explanation, Deidara burst out laughing, mocking the fallen Hidan and Kakuzu. 

“They only acted because they ran into Nibi’s jinchūriki by chance. No matter what, Hidan and Kakuzu were our comrades. Don’t talk about them like that!”  

“Fine, whatever.”  

Scolded by Pein, Deidara could only scratch his head sheepishly. 

“Since our plan to capture Nibi has failed, Kazama’s probably already tipped off the five great ninja nations about our organization’s moves. That’s going to make things trickier for us moving forward. Scorpion, Deidara!”  

“Here!”  

“Put your mission to capture Ichibi Shukaku on hold for now. Wait until the nations lower their guard before taking action.” 

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, Kazama wasted no time informing Orochimaru and handed him Shirozetsu’s corpse. 

“Isn’t this the other half of Zetsu’s body?”  

Seeing the corpse Kazama brought, Orochimaru’s heart skipped a beat. As a former Akatsuki member, he knew full well how slippery Zetsu’s abilities were—practically invisible, coming and going without a trace.  

Yet here was Kazama, delivering half of Zetsu’s body. 

It only made Orochimaru respect Kazama even more. 

“This is Shirozetsu. His abilities are barely a fraction of Kurozetsu’s, but his body contains cells from the Gedō Mazō and the Shodai Hokage. You should study it closely—I’m sure it’ll help with your immortality jutsu.”  

“Really? That’s incredible! Thank you so much, Kazama-sama, for this gift!”  

Orochimaru hadn’t known the secrets of Shirozetsu’s body. Now, hearing Kazama’s words, he was practically buzzing with curiosity. 

“Since you’re here, why not show yourself?”  

After Orochimaru left, Kazama grinned, calling out to Itachi, who was lurking in the shadows. 

“I can’t believe even Orochimaru’s bowing to you. Impressive. Really impressive!”  

For Itachi to say “impressive” twice, Kazama was probably the only one who’d ever earned that. After all, Itachi knew just how ruthless Orochimaru could be. Back when they were teammates in Akatsuki, Orochimaru had even tried to make a move on him. To Itachi, Orochimaru was like a venomous snake—always ready to strike when you least expected it. 

Yet now, seeing Orochimaru obey Kazama without question, Itachi realized Kazama’s power was beyond anything he’d imagined. 

“Guess it’s just one thing taming another, huh?”  

Kazama chuckled and nodded. 

“Why’d you come looking for me? Has Akatsuki started their tailed beast hunt?”  

“No, not only have they not started, they’ve actually delayed it.”  

“Why’s that?”  

Kazama frowned, puzzled by Itachi’s response. 

“Because of you, obviously. You took out Hidan and Kakuzu in Kaminari no Kuni, and it shook Akatsuki to its core. They’re worried you’ve already warned the five great nations to tighten their defenses. So they’ve decided to wait until the nations let their guard down before going after the tailed beasts.”  

“I see. Man, I was hoping to use Akatsuki’s moves to track down the other tailed beasts faster so I could absorb their powers.”  

Thinking about it, Kazama let out a frustrated sigh. 

Chapter 92: Why Force Me to Show Off  

“Well, this works out fine. A brief moment of peace is always a good thing!”  

“Kazama, you’ve really opened my eyes this time. To think you took down Hidan and Kakuzu single-handedly! Those two are top-tier even among the Akatsuki. Even I couldn’t take them both out at the same time. It seems your strength has grown far beyond when we first met!”  

“Eh, it’s alright. My skills are just average, nothing too crazy.”  

Hearing Itachi’s praise, Kazama felt a bit happy but also a touch embarrassed.  

After all, Kazama was a humble guy by nature. He never tried to show off.  

But his strength was so overwhelming that people often mistook his humility for arrogance.  

“Just average? If this isn’t strong, what kind of strength are you aiming for?”  

Seeing Kazama’s modest attitude, Itachi couldn’t help but feel exasperated.  

“By the way, Kazama, I’m really sorry about this time. Hidan and Kakuzu were originally on a mission in the Land of Lightning. Capturing the Two-Tails was a spur-of-the-moment decision, so I didn’t know about it in time to warn you.”  

“So it was a last-minute thing!”  

Hearing Itachi’s apology, Kazama finally understood why Itachi hadn’t tipped him off about the Akatsuki’s movements.  

It nearly led to Yugito Nii being taken away by Hidan and Kakuzu.  

“No worries. Since it was unplanned, no one could’ve predicted it. But now that this has happened, I bet the Akatsuki will plan more carefully when capturing Tailed Beasts in the future. You’ll be able to give me a heads-up then.”  

“Thanks for understanding!”  

Hearing Kazama’s words, Itachi let out a sigh of relief.  

After all, Kazama had made a deal with him: stop Orochimaru from harming his younger brother in exchange for intel on the Akatsuki’s Tailed Beast hunts.  

But now, Kazama had already dealt with Orochimaru, while Itachi had failed to keep tabs on the Akatsuki’s plans.  

Naturally, Itachi felt guilty about it.  

“How’s my little brother doing lately?”  

“Uh, about that…”  

At Itachi’s question, Kazama scratched his head awkwardly.  

He hadn’t been back to Konoha in a while, so he had no clue about Sasuke’s recent situation.  

“Don’t worry, I’m heading back to Konoha now. I’ll let you know about Sasuke as soon as I can.”  

“Thanks a lot!”  

After parting ways with Itachi, Kazama headed straight to Team 7’s training grounds.  

As soon as he arrived, Naruto and Sakura were practically bouncing with excitement.  

Especially Naruto, who immediately showed off his Fūton: Rasenshuriken in front of Kazama.  

“What do you think, Kazama? This jutsu you taught me—I’m getting way better at it!”  

“Not bad! But if you could throw that Fūton: Rasenshuriken at an enemy, that’d be even more impressive.”  

“Throw it? How do you even do that?”  

At Kazama’s suggestion, Naruto tried tossing it a few times, but every attempt flopped.  

“Take it slow, no rush.”  

“Hmph! With Kakashi gone, what, you think you’re the teacher now?”  

Unlike the others, Sasuke wasn’t thrilled to see Kazama. Instead, he smirked and started mocking him.  

“Kazama, you’re just a student like the rest of us. What makes you think you can teach anyone? Talking about throwing that jutsu like it’s a shuriken? You really think you can just toss a ninjutsu out like that? That’s impossible!”  

“Whoa, that’s insane!”  

Right as Sasuke kept tearing into Kazama, something happened.  

Kazama casually performed the Fūton: Rasenshuriken, flung it out with ease, and then called it back to his hand.  

“So, Sasuke, want me to show you again?”  

Seeing Kazama effortlessly throw the jutsu, Sasuke felt his face burn with embarrassment. 

Chapter 93: Why Force Me to Keep Slapping Your Face 

Sasuke had seen the Fūton: Rasenshuriken with his Sharingan before. He knew the chakra packed into that jutsu was insanely powerful, so he was convinced there was no way it could be thrown. 

But Kazama actually pulled it off. That’s when Sasuke realized Kazama’s control over chakra was leaps and bounds beyond his own. 

The thought of being constantly outdone by Kazama made Sasuke furious, his pride stinging. Without hesitation, he unleashed the Chidori that Kakashi had taught him. 

“Kazama, ever since I learned this jutsu, I’ve been itching to face you. Now’s my chance! This is an A-rank ninjutsu—I don’t believe you can block it!” 

With his Sharingan activated, Sasuke, crackling with lightning, charged at Kazama in a flash. By using Raiton to stimulate his body, his speed was now blistering. At this pace, no genin could hope to match him. 

But in the face of absolute power, even the fastest speed was just flashy nonsense. 

“Kazama-kun, be careful! That Chidori is seriously dangerous!”  

“Sasuke, you jerk! How dare you use that jutsu against him!”  

Sakura and Naruto tensed up immediately. They both knew Chidori was a technique passed down from Kakashi himself, with devastating power. 

Hearing Naruto and Sakura’s shouts, Kazama didn’t dodge—he advanced instead. He wanted to use this chance to absorb Sasuke’s Chidori and show him there’s always someone stronger, a sky beyond the sky. 

Sure, he’d promised Itachi to protect Sasuke, but Kazama believed the best way to do that was to make Sasuke face reality. Otherwise, Sasuke’s ego would only grow, pulling him deeper into darkness. 

Ding! Successfully absorbed Raiton: Chidori. Congratulations, host, for obtaining Raiton: Raikiri! 

Ding! Absorb seven more ninjutsu to obtain Kyūryū Raigōka!  

“Even Chidori got absorbed?”  

Seeing his attack rendered useless, Sasuke was stunned. He’d known Kazama could absorb attacks, but he always thought it was limited to weaker ones. His Chidori was so powerful, there was no way Kazama could handle it—or so he thought. 

What Sasuke didn’t know was that there wasn’t a single attack in this world Kazama couldn’t absorb. 

“Now, let me show you my Raiton—Raikiri!”  

With a soft shout from Kazama, a bolt of lightning even stronger than Sasuke’s Chidori flared before his eyes. 

“No way… how?!”  

Thud! Sasuke collapsed to the ground, dumbfounded. 

Before Kazama returned, Sasuke had fantasized countless times about crushing him. But now, not only had he failed to overpower Kazama, he’d been utterly dominated instead. 

“Your Raiton is strong. I happen to know some other Raiton ninjutsu. If you want to learn, I can teach you.”  

Kazama’s intention was to help Sasuke regain some confidence. But to Sasuke, those words sounded like mockery.  

He shot to his feet and roared at Kazama, “I’m a genius of the Uchiha clan! I don’t need a loser like you teaching me! Let me tell you, Kazama, just because you’re strong now doesn’t erase your past as a nobody. You were a loser then, and you’ll always be a loser!”  

“You jerk!”  

Hearing this, Naruto and Sakura each landed a punch, knocking Sasuke flat.  

“Sasuke, how could you say that to Kazama?! Have you forgotten the Chūnin Exams in the Forest of Death? If it wasn’t for Kazama, we’d have been killed by those Oto-nin!”  

“Exactly! Without Kazama, we never would’ve passed the preliminaries!”  

“Shut up! You two are just Kazama’s lapdogs. I’m done wasting my breath on you!”  

With that, Sasuke stormed off. 

“That guy… ugh!”  

Seeing Sasuke’s attitude, Kazama could only sigh in frustration.  

“Maybe it’s time to arrange for Itachi to talk to Sasuke. If this keeps up, he’s going to get manipulated by the enemy sooner or later.”  

As Kazama mulled this over, a ghostly figure was already quietly approaching Sasuke in the shadows. 

Chapter 94: Smacking Yakushi Kabuto at Lightning Speed  

“Who’s there?!”  

Sasuke’s heart skipped a beat, and he instantly readied a shuriken attack.  

“Relax, Sasuke-kun. I’m here to help you.”  

“You’re…”  

Seeing the stranger’s face, Sasuke tensed up even more.  

“…You’re Orochimaru’s lackey, Yakushi Kabuto!”  

Back when Orochimaru attacked Konoha, Kabuto, as his right-hand man, had been part of the operation.  

So, naturally, Sasuke recognized him.  

“Correct, I am indeed Yakushi Kabuto. But I’m no longer Orochimaru’s subordinate.”  

“I don’t care whose side you’re on! Sneaking into the Uchiha clan’s grounds in the middle of the night—what’s your game?!”  

With that, Sasuke lunged at Kabuto, launching an attack.  

Unfortunately, with Sasuke’s current strength, he couldn’t even scratch Kabuto.  

“Sasuke-kun, if you kill me, you’ll lose your only shot at getting revenge on Uchiha Itachi.”  

“What?!”  

Kabuto’s words froze Sasuke in his tracks.  

“Not only can I help you kill Uchiha Itachi and avenge your clan, but I can also help you crush Kazama.”  

“You! How do you know I want to take down Kazama?!”  

Kabuto’s words hit exactly what Sasuke had been thinking, and it shook him.  

Sasuke’s current dreams were twofold: kill Itachi to avenge the Uchiha clan and defeat Kazama to reclaim his title as a genius.  

“Of course I know. Kazama’s just some mediocre nobody from the Sanada clan. What right does he have to lord over you? You’re a genius of the Uchiha clan! That Kazama kid just got lucky. If you leave Konoha and come with me, I guarantee that in one year, you’ll be able to crush Kazama and take your revenge on Itachi!”  

Though Kabuto had betrayed Orochimaru, he still wanted to carry out his former master’s dream: taking over Sasuke’s body.  

Back then, it was for Orochimaru. Now, it was for himself.  

After all, the Uchiha clan’s physique and the Sharingan were things Kabuto had coveted for a long time.  

“Kazama’s really strong. Are you sure you can help me beat him?”  

Sasuke’s resolve was wavering hard now.  

To defeat Kazama and kill Itachi, he was willing to pay any price.  

“Haha, of course I’m sure! Kazama’s nothing but trash in my eyes. I could take him down with a flick of my finger!”  

“Really? Well, I’d love to see what that ‘taken down’ feels like!”  

Just as Kabuto was confidently spinning his tale to Sasuke, a voice interrupted.  

Kazama had appeared right behind him.  

“You!”  

Kabuto broke out in a cold sweat at Kazama’s sudden arrival.  

Back during the battle of the three Sannin, Kabuto had been utterly powerless against Kazama.  

“What’s wrong, Yakushi Kabuto? Didn’t you just say you could take me down with one finger? So why are you shaking like a leaf now?”  

“Shake your mom!”  

Quick as a flash, Kabuto spun around and lunged at Kazama.  

But in the face of Kazama’s Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Kabuto’s movements were slow as a snail.  

With a single palm strike from Kazama, Kabuto’s body dissolved into a puff of smoke.  

“A shadow clone! That Yakushi Kabuto’s as sneaky as ever.”  

Kazama had already known the Kabuto sneaking into Konoha was just a clone.  

But since he hadn’t yet tracked down Kabuto’s real body, he had to rush here to stop him from further manipulating Sasuke. 

Chapter 95: Too Many Clones, Busting the Hokage’s Office  

“Sasuke, don’t fall for Yakushi Kabuto’s lies. He’s just using you!”  

“Shut up! I finally found someone who can help me achieve my dreams, and you’re trying to ruin it?!”  

With a furious roar, Sasuke unleashed his Chidori, piercing straight through Kazama’s body.  

“What?! How is this possible?!”  

Seeing that he’d hit Kazama so easily, Sasuke’s heart jolted in disbelief.  

He’d experienced Kazama’s strength firsthand before.  

By all accounts, with his current skills, there was no way he could land a hit on Kazama.  

As Sasuke stood there, stunned, the scene before him flickered, and he found himself back where he started.  

Kazama was still standing in front of him, unharmed.  

Sasuke tried attacking with Chidori again, but the result was the same—a loop he couldn’t break.  

“What’s going on?!”  

Sasuke’s anger had now turned to panic.  

“This jutsu is called Izanagi. As an Uchiha, you should know the effects of this forbidden technique,” Kazama said softly, watching Sasuke, who was frozen in place within the loop.  

“To help you see your true destiny, I’m going to use Tsukuyomi next. It’ll show you the consequences of betraying Konoha and triggering the Fourth Great Ninja War. If you can face yourself and let go of the hatred clouding your heart, you’ll be able to break free from Izanagi.”  

Kazama was going to such lengths to save the rebellious Sasuke not just because of his deal with Itachi—protecting Sasuke in exchange for intel on the Tailed Beasts.  

It was also because Sasuke wasn’t inherently a bad person. He was just a kid who’d been scarred by the trauma of his clan’s destruction.  

So Kazama was doing everything he could.  

Just then, a Level 1 alert blared through the village.  

That sound meant one thing: Naruto, the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki, had gone missing.  

“Damn it! Could this be Yakushi Kabuto’s diversion tactic? Lure me out by targeting Sasuke, then snatch Naruto while I’m distracted?!”  

Muttering to himself, Kazama rushed to the Hokage’s office.  

Level 1 alerts were issued directly by the Hokage.  

“Neji, lead Team 3! Shino, take Team 8! Shikamaru, head Team 10! Kazama, command Team 7! Start a full-scale search immediately!”  

“Uh, sorry about this,” Kazama said awkwardly as everyone prepared to leave.  

“Sasuke got injured during training earlier, so he won’t be able to join the mission.”  

Since Kazama had used Izanagi on Sasuke, there was no way Sasuke could move for a while.  

“So Team 7 is just me and Sakura.”  

“What do we do? All the other Jōnin are out on missions. We’re already short on manpower, and now without Sasuke…”  

“No problem. Don’t worry about manpower! Mokuton: Tajū Bunshin no Jutsu!”  

As soon as Kazama spoke, countless Mokuton clones sprouted around him.  

In an instant, they filled Tsunade’s office to the point of bursting, literally breaking the walls.  

“Whoa, Kazama! I know you’re crazy strong, but do you have to show off like this?!”  

“Kazama, you jerk! After this mission, you’re rebuilding my office!”  

“No worries, I got it!”  

With that, Kazama sent his Mokuton clones scattering in all directions to search for the missing Naruto.  

Truth be told, Kazama wasn’t summoning all these clones to flex his power.  

He just wanted to find Naruto as fast as possible.  

After all, Naruto was the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki. If Kabuto got his hands on him, the consequences would be catastrophic.  

At the same time, to unravel Kabuto’s scheme, Kazama’s real body immediately summoned Orochimaru.