*Chapter 176: The Power of Fragmentation Dogs! * 

Crackle, crackle, crackle, crackle... 

For a moment, the entire alley was filled with lightning. 

It was as if a sea of electricity had formed, engulfing the narrow street.  

The three thugs widened their eyes in disbelief, too stunned to speak.  

+50 

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.  

"Sayōnara." 

Sasuke's voice emerged from within the electric chaos, his figure now entirely obscured from the thugs' view.  

Crackle, crackle, crackle...  

An even more powerful surge of electricity swept through the alley.  

Lightning Style: Chidori Stream! 

In his electrified state, Sasuke unleashed a Chidori that surged through his entire body. In an instant, a streak of lightning tore through the narrow street, its terrifying power shredding everything in its path!  

Thud! 

Thud! 

Thud! 

Three bodies hit the ground, their faces frozen in shock, their breaths already ceased.  

Crackle! 

At the alley's entrance, the flickering electricity condensed into the shape of a person.  

It was Sasuke.  

His hands stuffed casually into his pockets, Sasuke strolled out as though nothing had happened. His face betrayed no emotion, his demeanor utterly indifferent.  

It was as if he had just swatted away a few annoying mosquitoes—an act so trivial that it wasn’t even worth remembering.  

Do you recall how many mosquitoes you've killed in your life? 

Would you even consider mourning for them?  

After wandering aimlessly through the alley for a while, Sasuke decided it was boring and headed back toward the inn.  

Not long after...  

Sasuke stood before the inn’s entrance.  

“Master!”  

Jiraiya's voice rang out as his figure suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke.  

"How did it go?"  

Sasuke looked at Jiraiya coolly. Their current relationship as master and apprentice had shifted significantly, with Sasuke now holding the dominant position.  

“It’s done!”  

Jiraiya grinned, giving Sasuke a thumbs-up before leaning in closer.  

“Master, the publishers checked out your manuscript.” 

“They said it’s amazing!” 

“It’s now the top priority for publication!” 

“It’ll be hitting the shelves across all nations very soon!”  

After finishing his report, Jiraiya raised his thumb again in approval, his excitement palpable.  

"Good."  

Sasuke nodded slightly, as if this were no big deal. His face remained as calm as ever, betraying not the slightest hint of emotion.  

+20 

The numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes flickered again.  

“Master, aren’t you happy?”  

Jiraiya stared at Sasuke, his expression confused. He couldn’t understand why Sasuke wasn’t excited about such a major milestone in his writing career.  

“Should I be?”  

Sasuke shot back, his sharp gaze piercing Jiraiya.  

+30 

The numbers in front of Sasuke jumped again.  

“Uh...”  

Jiraiya was left speechless.  

Why wouldn’t he be happy?  

Getting published was a big deal!  

For countless writers, it was a dream come true!  

At least...  

In Jiraiya’s eyes as a seasoned author, getting published was no easy feat. Those who achieved it deserved recognition.  

But...  

Sasuke didn’t seem to care at all. His expression showed not the slightest trace of joy.  

“Jiraiya, haven’t you read my novel?”  

Sasuke’s voice was calm and detached, carrying a faint, unintentional sense of superiority that cut into Jiraiya’s heart.  

“Of course, I have!”  

Jiraiya nodded quickly, fearing that a wrong answer might upset his master.  

“Then there you go.”  

Sasuke spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, his deep voice brimming with confidence. “It’s only natural for my book to be published.”  

+40 

The numbers flickered again.  

“This...”  

Jiraiya’s eyelid twitched. He had no idea how to respond to such a brutally logical statement.  

“If you’d told me the publishers rejected it, now that would have been newsworthy,” Sasuke continued, shaking his head slightly. With his hands still in his pockets, he exuded an air of total control.  

+50 

As Sasuke finished speaking, the numbers jumped once more.  

For a long moment, Jiraiya fell silent.  

Completely silent.  

He had no words left.  

Nothing he could say would make sense.  

This master of his...was just too powerful!  

“Sasuke, here, take this.”  

Sasuke casually pulled a notebook out of his pocket and handed it to Jiraiya. Strangely enough, the notebook was far too large to have fit in his pocket in the first place.  

“This is...”  

Jiraiya instinctively accepted the notebook, his eyes filled with confusion. He couldn’t figure out what this gesture was supposed to mean.  

“I’ve finished this one,” Sasuke said nonchalantly. “Take it and have it published. I’ve got other things to do—I’m leaving.”  

+60 

The numbers in front of Sasuke jumped again.  

“What?!”  

Jiraiya’s eyes widened in shock, his face filled with disbelief. He quickly flipped open the notebook, only to find it completely filled with text.  

“My goodness!”  

Jiraiya was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by a mix of amazement and dread.  

This was terrifying! 

Absolutely terrifying!  

He had actually finished it! 

An entire book.  

A brand-new story about Ōtsutsuki Sharen.  

“Wait a second...”  

Jiraiya suddenly realized something. He whipped his head around to face Sasuke.  

“Master, did you just say you’re leaving?”  

“Yes, I’m heading back to the village,” Sasuke replied coolly.  

“I see.”  

Jiraiya took a deep breath, his eyes filled with reluctance, but he didn’t express his feelings aloud.  

“Jiraiya, I have a mission to complete. I can’t stay here too long!”  

Sasuke turned to look at Jiraiya and patted him on the shoulder.  

The height difference between them was still quite noticeable.  

That pat wasn’t easy to pull off.  

It took some effort.  

“We’ve been through a lot as teacher and student.”  

“I haven’t had time to teach you those writing techniques yet.”  

“What you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg—not even the essence of it.”  

“When we meet again…”  

“I’ll teach you in detail then!”  

Sasuke painted Jiraiya a pretty picture and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a pouch of money.  

“This should be enough to cover your living expenses for a while.”  

“Settle the hotel bill for me, will you?”  

“Feel free to use the royalties from the publisher—I don’t need the money.”  

“If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”  

Sasuke shoved the pouch into Jiraiya’s hand and, under Jiraiya’s stunned gaze, walked away without looking back.  

+70  

The number before Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.  

“Huh…”  

Jiraiya stared blankly at Sasuke’s retreating figure, utterly confused.  

Weren’t you here to see me?  

Weren’t you here to bring me back to the village?  

Why didn’t you even talk about it?  

Something’s off!  

Only after Sasuke’s figure disappeared completely did Jiraiya finally accept that he was serious.  

For a moment, strange little question marks seemed to pop up in Jiraiya’s head.  

A while back, Jiraiya had already sensed the presence of a Konoha ninja nearby.  

He was gathering material.  

He was writing.  

But that didn’t mean he was out of the loop.  

On the contrary—  

Jiraiya had chosen not to stay in Konoha to better gather intel, especially regarding the Akatsuki.  

He had heard rumors of the near-explosion of a ninja war some time ago.  

He also knew that Danzo had become the greatest beneficiary of those events.  

From his deductions, it was highly likely that the Third Hokage had sent someone to find him and take the fall.  

Sasuke’s arrival had immediately raised his suspicions.  

However…  

Sasuke’s writing was just too good.  

Jiraiya’s repeated mentions of “teacher” carried some genuine sentiment but also a touch of playful probing.  

He wanted to see when Sasuke would reveal his true intentions.  

But now Sasuke was gone.  

And only then did Jiraiya truly realize—  

Maybe Sasuke’s presence here had nothing to do with him after all!  

“Overthinking it, overthinking it. If it’s not about me, that’s good. I’ll send this notebook to the publisher tomorrow.”  

Jiraiya grinned as he returned to his room with the notebook Sasuke had given him.  

Now he had fresh material.  

He had to enjoy it right away!  

Jiraiya hurried back to his room, barely able to contain his excitement…  

Outside Nagano Town.  

Sasuke darted through the forest.  

He really was heading back.  

He had no intention of staying here any longer.  

The bait had been set.  

Now all he could do was wait for Jiraiya to bite.  

Whether it worked or not, that was up to fate.  

Sasuke knew that if he directly explained something like the Fifth Hokage situation to Jiraiya, he’d almost certainly be rejected outright.  

Ding!  

Just then, a crisp system notification rang in Sasuke’s mind.  

“One-Year Future Events Guide is reminding the host: Future event nodes may be changing. Would you like to check?”  

“1. Yes.”  

“2. No.”  

Immediately, the familiar sound of butterfly wings fluttering caught Sasuke’s attention.  

“Choose 1!”  

A smirk curled up on Sasuke’s lips as he made his choice without hesitation.  

It looked like the bait had worked!  

Ding!  

As soon as Sasuke decided to open it, an electronic voice sounded in his ears:  

“Current Time: Konoha Year 60, March.”  

“Future Event Predictions Updated!”  

“Prediction Node 1: March, Konoha Year 60—Jiraiya returns to Konoha Village!” 

“Prediction Node 2: April, Konoha Year 60—Registration for the Chūnin Selection Exams officially begins!” 

“Prediction Node 3: May, Konoha Year 60—The Chūnin Selection Exams officially start, with Orochimaru attending as the Fourth Kazekage!” 

“Prediction Node 4: June, Konoha Year 60—Orochimaru initiates the plan to destroy Konoha Village!” 

“Prediction Node 5: July, Konoha Year 60—Tsunade becomes the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village!”**  

“Note 1: The above prediction nodes are system estimates and may not occur under the host’s influence. They are for reference only. 

“Note 2: If the above events occur as predicted, the host will receive bonus system points for exceptional displays during these events.”  

“Enjoy your role-playing, Host!”  

Ding!  

With the final system notification, the year-long Future Events Guide concluded its predictions.  

Things had changed!  

Sasuke’s pupils narrowed slightly. The future events had already been altered.  

The Land of Waves incident was gone!  

And Jiraiya was returning to Konoha in March!  

With only a few days left in March, this meant Jiraiya would be back very soon!  

It worked!  

Excitement flashed in Sasuke’s eyes. He was certain that leaving behind the notebook had played a critical role in this success.  

But…  

Why was Tsunade the Hokage again in the end?  

A question mark popped into Sasuke’s mind. Something must have gone wrong somewhere.  

That problem must have triggered a butterfly effect.  

Oh well!  

No point in overthinking it now!  

All he needed to do was head back to the village and wait.  

Whoosh!  

Sasuke sped through the forest, his figure darting back and forth across the tree branches.  

Nagano Town.  

Inn.  

Back in his room, Jiraiya sat at his desk, his excitement palpable as he flipped open the notebook.  

Rustle!  

Jiraiya turned to the first page, his hands trembling slightly. A box of tissues was already prepared on the table.  

“Brilliant!”  

From the very first page, Jiraiya was hooked, completely captivated by the plot. He couldn’t help but flip through the pages in anticipation.  

Rustle!  

Another page turned.  

Jiraiya was trembling, utterly absorbed in the story.  

The immersion.  

The pacing.  

The thrill.  

It was perfect!  

Jiraiya had never read such an amazing piece of writing.  

This one…  

It was even better than the last work he had published!  

As time passed, Jiraiya’s reading speed slowed down.  

Not because he didn’t want to read…  

But because he didn’t want to finish it too quickly!  

The notebook was finite—its pages were visibly dwindling, leaving him feeling conflicted.  

He wanted to keep reading.  

But he didn’t want it to end.  

He was desperate to know what happened next…  

Yet he feared reaching the final page.  

Torn between these feelings, Jiraiya kept reading until he reached the very last page.  

At this moment, the story, together with Jiraiya, had reached a critical point. 

However. 

Just as the tension reached its peak... 

It ended! 

Not a single word more! 

The subsequent plot wasn’t written at all! 

All that was left was one line: 

“To find out what happens next, tune in next time!” 

When Jiraiya saw those words, he immediately felt his head swell with blood, as if he’d been left high and dry. Pants metaphorically down, and this was the ending? 

“Oh, come on!” 

Frustrated beyond belief, Jiraiya’s heart itched with suspense. He felt no other emotion but the burning desire to see what happened next. 

“Sigh...” 

“That cliffhanger-loving jerk!” 

“I’ll kill him!” 

Bloodshot eyes revealed Jiraiya’s mounting frustration. Unconsciously, a thought crossed his mind: one that seemed to align with Konoha’s infamous tradition of pupil rebelling against master. 

“Ugh! This is unbearable!” 

Jiraiya was caught in limbo—neither here nor there. This particular state of mind was especially aggravating. 

If he could stay calm, he wouldn’t dwell on it. 

But it had already reached this point. 

Calmness was out of reach.  

And yet, resolution wasn’t possible either. 

“There’s no choice but to reread it!”  

Helpless, Jiraiya reluctantly opened the notebook Sasuke had left behind and started reading again. 

But. 

Who was Sasuke? 

A connoisseur of literature from his previous life!  

The plot construction was impeccable, every twist perfectly interconnected. Once you started reading, it was impossible to stop. And just when you reached the most exciting part, bam! A cliffhanger. 

“ARGH!!!!” 

Jiraiya howled to the heavens. Rereading it was still enjoyable, but that lingering curiosity about the ending gnawed at his soul. 

He had to know! 

He had to know! 

When he reread the final part, it felt like the entire beginning was mere buildup.  

How could mere buildup suffice?  

“This won’t do!” 

Determined, Jiraiya’s gaze hardened. This was no trivial matter anymore. 

Now, he couldn’t even focus on gathering new material.  

His mind was consumed by Ōtsutsuki Sheren’s story. 

“I’m going back to Konoha!” 

Jiraiya leapt to his feet, completely ignoring any pending matters. All that mattered now was returning to Konoha and finding Sasuke to read the rest of the story. 

Suddenly. 

Just as Jiraiya reached the door, his steps faltered. 

“My manuscript is due at the publisher tomorrow!”  

Jiraiya chuckled bitterly. There was no way he could leave immediately; he’d have to turn in his manuscript first.  

As for that cliffhanger...  

Jiraiya admitted it was actually well done.  

At least it guaranteed readers would buy Sasuke’s next book. 

Five days later.  

Sasuke arrived at Konoha’s gates and strode right in.  

Over the past five days, he had meandered through the forest, neither hurrying nor exhausting himself. When tired, he rested, and he used his points sparingly.  

He was vaguely waiting for Jiraiya.  

But Jiraiya never caught up.  

Sasuke entered the village without any obstacles, heading straight for the Hokage’s office without dawdling elsewhere. 

Half an hour later. 

In the Hokage’s office, Sasuke gently knocked before stepping in.  

Inside, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was seated behind his desk, with Shikaku Nara standing nearby.  

“Sasuke, you’re back.”  

Hiruzen’s gaze grew heavier as he looked at Sasuke. Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao had already reported the previous mission’s events. 

The details had left him stunned. 

He hadn’t expected Sasuke to become so powerful so quickly!  

Such rapid growth was starting to slip beyond his control. 

Shikaku Nara’s eyes also held a changed light as they rested on Sasuke. After analyzing and calculating, he had roughly gauged Sasuke’s minimum strength. 

“How did the mission go?”  

Hiruzen squinted at Sasuke, his tone low and oppressive.  

“It’s been resolved,” Sasuke replied calmly, his face exuding confidence.  

+30  

The number before Sasuke’s eyes instantly increased.  

These words were entirely unexpected for Hiruzen and Shikaku. 

When they saw Sasuke, their first assumption was that he had returned defeated.  

But Sasuke, without hesitation, declared success!  

Was he bluffing? 

Hiruzen and Shikaku exchanged glances, both seeing surprise reflected in the other’s eyes. 

“Where’s Jiraiya?”  

Hiruzen asked directly. He was now deeply concerned about Jiraiya’s whereabouts—it was crucial for the Hokage succession.  

“On his way,” Sasuke replied plainly. He had complete faith in the Guide to Future Events. As long as he didn’t interfere, the future would likely unfold as predicted.  

Within three months. 

Jiraiya would definitely return!  

+35  

As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, the numbers before his eyes increased again, marking the completion of another boast. 

“What?!”  

Hiruzen shot to his feet, his gaze fixed on Sasuke, brimming with skepticism. 

“Sasuke, are you certain? Jiraiya-sama is really coming back?”  

Even Shikaku couldn’t help but ask.  

“Yes.”  

Sasuke uttered the single word coolly, as if every syllable he spoke was a precious gem. 

+40  

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes surged again. 

“That’s excellent news!”  

Hiruzen’s face lit up with a smile. He chose to believe Sasuke, and the news felt like a shot of adrenaline. 

“Indeed! Everything is coming together!”  

Shikaku also smiled. To see the plan executed this well was no small feat. 

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”  

Sasuke glanced at Hiruzen, then at Shikaku. His tone remained indifferent, showing no trace of emotion. 

+45  

As Sasuke finished speaking, the numbers increased once more. 

“Sasuke, it’s not time for you to rest yet.”  

Hiruzen took a deep drag on his pipe, picked up a scroll from his desk, and slowly unfurled it. 

“There’s a C-rank mission here, just right for your Team 7 to tackle.”  

Hiruzen scanned the scroll’s contents, his expression calm. 

“If Kakashi weren’t always late, he’d already be here by now.” 

Just as Hiruzen finished speaking— 

A knock came at the door. 

And then. 

The Hokage’s office door swung open.  

Kakashi, with his right eye open, peeked his head in first before stepping inside. When his gaze landed on Sasuke, his eye curved into a crescent-like smile.  

"Sasuke, you're back!"  

Kakashi raised a hand to greet Sasuke. His tone wasn’t overly emotional but calm and rational.  

"Sasuke?!"  

In an instant, two voices called out at the same time. Then, an orange figure and a red figure appeared from behind Kakashi—it was Naruto and Sakura.  

"You're back!"  

"It's really you!"  

Naruto and Sakura’s expressions were noticeably more excited and joyful upon seeing Sasuke.  

"Hahaha!"  

The Third Hokage laughed heartily at this warm and cheerful scene.  

"Kakashi, I’ll leave Sasuke in your hands now," the Third Hokage said as he held his pipe. Turning to Sasuke, he added, "Sasuke, you’re officially back on the team!"  

"Understood."  

Sasuke gave a short reply before moving behind Kakashi.  

Kakashi silently watched Sasuke walk over and gave a slight nod. Then, he turned his gaze to the Third Hokage.  

"Lord Hokage."  

"Team 7 is now fully assembled."  

"We’re ready for missions!"  

Kakashi’s words instantly lifted Naruto and Sakura’s spirits.  

Until now, every mission they undertook had been missing one member. Finally, they were reunited!  

"Good… very good! I’ve already prepared your next mission," the Third Hokage said, pointing to a scroll on the desk.  

Just as he was about to continue, a loud voice interrupted him.  

"No way!"  

Naruto crossed his arms in front of his chest to form an "X," firmly expressing his refusal.  

"I don’t want to do those boring missions like catching cats, finding dogs, babysitting, or harvesting sweet potatoes anymore!"  

Naruto roared loudly. These monotonous tasks had been tormenting him recently, and he was reaching his limit.  

"These missions are so dull!"  

"I can’t take it anymore!"  

"I want something more important!"  

"Do you hear me?!"  

Naruto’s voice echoed throughout the Hokage’s office, rattling everyone’s eardrums so much it was impossible to ignore.  

"Enough already."  

Kakashi delivered a light punch to Naruto’s head before scratching the back of his own. Turning to the Hokage, he said, "Lord Hokage, I apologize for his behavior."  

After Kakashi spoke, Naruto huffed indignantly and plopped down on the floor, sitting cross-legged.  

The Third Hokage watched the scene unfold.  

He slowly brought the pipe to his mouth, took a puff, and exhaled.  

"Actually, I was about to assign you a C-rank mission this time. Naruto, there was no need for all this fuss. If you’d just let me finish speaking..."  

At this point, the Third Hokage’s smile faded, and his eyes grew serious and profound.  

"Your mission is to protect someone."  

(End of Chapter)