Trees Chapter 328 I Am No Longer Who I Used to Be!

Early the next morning.

Naruto and Sasuke sat at the doorstep, still fighting with dark circles under their eyes.

The current situation was very unfavorable for Naruto.

After Sasuke mastered Kurosaki Ichigo, he didn't expect that this guy understood the game characters even better than he did.

The two of them fought back and forth, trading wins and losses.

However, in over 300 matches, Naruto had ultimately been just one step short, losing one game to Sasuke.

Now, if he could just win two more, he could turn the tables.

Not that he was addicted to games or anything...

It was just that losing to this guy felt way too embarrassing.

"Yeah!"

"You idiot! Do you really think you can beat me!?"

Naruto grinned at the victory screen, patting Sasuke’s shoulder, his smugness from last night fully restored.

Sasuke looked very unhappy.

‘Damn it!’

‘I was so close!’

‘Just one more win, and I could’ve made this bastard admit defeat!’

Sasuke gritted his teeth, frustration burning inside him.

"It’s a tie now!"

"Keep going!!"

Creak…

The villa door swung open, and Hinata stood there with her arms crossed, glaring coldly at the two of them.

The anger in her heart can no longer be suppressed.

Last night...

She had been looking forward to spending some alone time with Naruto, but then Sasuke had to drag him into playing games.

Every time she asked if they were done, Naruto would just say, "Almost," "Just a few more minutes," or "One more win and I’ll stop."

What's the result?

These two idiots kept playing until 3 AM without any sign of stopping.

She had been so furious that she finally snapped and yelled, "If you’re going to play, get the hell out and do it outside."

And then...

These two actually stayed outside and kept playing until now!!

"Uzumaki Naruto! Uchiha Sasuke!"

"What time do you think it is?!"

Hinata stood behind the two, her presence causing the temperature to drop sharply, making the two shiver.

"Huh?"

Naruto looked up and saw Hinata’s furious expression, his face instantly turning red.

‘Oh no...’

"Hinata..."

"You’re so cute when you’re angry."

Bzzzt!

Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata’s long legs and kept rubbing them with his cheek.

Hinata's mind instantly went blank. She had completely forgotten how this idiot had abandoned her last night to play games with Sasuke...

Hinata’s face flushed, her words stumbling as she turned into a flustered, stammering mess. It’s a temporary return of the ‘Steam Princess’ mode.

"N-Naruto-kun... w-what are you saying?!"

Hinata scolded him in a fluster, covering her face with her hands, too embarrassed to look at him.

When Sasuke saw this disgustingly sweet display first thing in the morning, he nearly threw up everything he’d eaten last night.

He stood up, hands in his pockets, and turned his back to Naruto, walking away as he said, "Hey, Naruto."

"We’re going to Orochimaru’s hideout."

When Naruto heard what Sasuke said, he rubbed his tired eyes and quickly scrambled after him.

"Hinata-chan, I’ll be right back. Wait for me at home."

"When I get back, I’ll show you something my big treasure!"

The yellow-haired boy ran to Sasuke, slinging an arm around Sasuke’s shoulders as they disappeared into the glowing portal.

Hinata was left alone, disheveled in the wind.

‘N-Naruto-kun... just said... what?!’

‘So embarrassing!’

‘And there were other people around too!’

Hinata took a deep breath, patting her cheeks to snap herself out of it. But just as she was about to head back inside, she froze.

‘Wait a minute...’

‘Did Naruto-kun just run off with Sasuke again?!’

…

Orochimaru’s Hideout.

Sasuke gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler, his killing intent so dense it felt tangible. Every worker in the base who saw him immediately lowered their heads and scurried away.

Naruto followed behind him, with hands behind his head, whistling casually, completely here for the show.

Today, he was going to see exactly who Sasuke had come back to settle a score with.

"Tsuki-chan..."

"How did you manage to piss off Hashirama Senju?"

Before they even entered the laboratory’s main hall, they heard an old man’s hoarse voice coming from Mitsuki’s phone.

Just from the unclear voice, it was clear the old creep had been beaten up pretty badly by Hashirama.

Mitsuki immediately put on a fake, high-pitched voice, whining dramatically.

"Wuuu... you don’t love me anymore!"

"You’re even yelling at me now!"

This kid’s acting skills were on par with Konohamaru’s, and his tone and fake sobs were delivered perfectly.

"I didn’t!"

Onoki's voice came through, filled with endless bitterness and sincerity. It was so convincing that even Naruto in the hallway felt like shedding a few crocodile tears.

“Huff…”

However, Sasuke didn't react much after hearing this. Instead, the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand was covered with flames at some point.

Mitsuki, who is still playing his game, sent another voice message in that same annoying, cutesy tone.

"O-kun... my friend’s boyfriend just spent five million Ryo on her game..."

"Tsuki-chan!! I’ll top up right now!!"

Oonoki roared, refusing to let his ‘beloved’ lose face in front of others.

As long as her Tsuki-chan didn’t make him fight Hashirama again, anything was fine...

Tap... tap... tap...

Sasuke slowly walked up behind Mitsuki.

Mitsuki, who is still focused on his game, suddenly noticed a shadow looming over his phone and froze mid-action.

A few seconds later...

Mitsuki bolted like a startled rabbit, not even bothering to look back.

Naruto couldn’t help but admire the kid’s instincts.

‘Tsk...’

‘I think this kid has the makings of a legend!’

Sasuke’s Rinnegan had already activated, and with a flick of his hand, he yanked the little brat back.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!!"

Mitsuki seemed to realize that he was doomed to be beaten, so he threw a large number of poisonous snakes from his sleeves towards Sasuke.

"You dare to fight back?"

Sasuke was genuinely stunned. He really didn't expect the day would come when Mitsuki would actually use ninjutsu against him.

"Father Sasuke!"

"I’ve grown up now!"

"I’m not the same person I used to be!!"

Mitsuki turned around, his Sharingan now spinning with three tomoe.

For a brief moment, he actually looked somewhat imposing, carrying a hint of Sasuke’s old demeanor…

Except that at this moment, a yellow-haired guy in the corner started mocking him in a high-pitched, exaggerated voice.

"O-kun...you don't love me anymore..."

"My friend’s boyfriend bought her a new bag..."

Naruto’s imitation was clumsy, but it was enough to make both father and son dizzy for a second.

The emotions that Mitsuki had just built up in his heart were immediately shattered by this yellow-haired guy.

The rebellious glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by sheer terror.

"N-No..."

"Father Sasuke, let me explain!"

Sasuke ignored him, waved his hand to extinguish the flames of Heavy Xuan Ruler, and raised his hand to put it back on his back.

Mitsuki looked at Sasuke in shock.

‘Could it be...’

‘Is there still hope for me?!’

"Naruto, Black Rod."

"No problem!!"

Naruto took out the Black Rod and threw it to Sasuke, and then the sound of Mitsuki’s bloodcurdling screams was heard at the entire base.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

“Father… stop hitting me!! I can’t feel my legs anymore!!”

"Uncle Kabuto... help!!"

"Damn it, yellow-hai... Ah! I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!!"

Mitsuki lay on Sasuke's legs and was beaten unconscious for a while, but the black rod of Mount Myoboku was so powerful that it woke him up from the pain within three seconds.

As a result, Mitsuki's screams came in broken, hiccuping bursts.

The commotion eventually disturbed someone deep in the base, and an enraged roar erupted from the end of the hallway.

“Shut the hell up!!”

"Didn't I tell you idiots not to bother us if there's nothing wrong?"