Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 230: Run!!

At this moment, the Three-Tails was enraged.

It had been peacefully sleeping at the bottom of the lake, but was inexplicably forced to the surface by a small child.

Although Yūkimaru's power was still too weak, and the Three-Tails soon broke free from his control, it did not mean that the tailed beast was without temper.

So, after shattering the crystal seals around it, the Three-Tails continued to unleash its fury on the intruders who had disturbed its slumber.

This was its domain, a body of water where it could fully exert its power.

Guren and Gozu struggled to hold their ground.

Not wanting to see Guren get hurt, Yūkimaru, despite his weakness, screamed and unleashed even more powerful chakra.

Instantly, the Three-Tails was immobilized.

This scene was not only witnessed by the Konoha shinobi battling Guren's subordinates but also by Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Unlike Kakashi and his team, who were shocked and worried that someone under Orochimaru could control the Three-Tails, knowing that if the opponent succeeded, it would be disastrous for Konoha, Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at Yūkimaru and lost interest.

Regardless of what method the kid used to control the Three-Tails, whether it was a tailed beast or a jinchūriki, it didn't matter much to him.

He had more important things to do.

Not forgetting his main objective, Hagoromo Gengetsu scanned his surroundings.

Soon, his Rinnegan detected Yakushi Kabuto hiding in the dense forest after fleeing from the lake.

As Orochimaru's right-hand man, Kabuto knew a lot.

Hagoromo Gengetsu disappeared from his spot in an instant.

Not far away, Yakushi Kabuto, who was watching the renewed battle at the lake caused by Yūkimaru's exhaustion, was frowning, thinking about how Yūkimaru's power was still not enough and how to further stimulate his potential.

Suddenly!

His face changed, and without thinking, he quickly retreated.

But it was too late.

A slender, fair hand clasped his neck, lifting him entirely off the ground.

"Your senses are quite sharp," Hagoromo Gengetsu said indifferently, activating his dojutsu as his eyes met Kabuto's.

Unable to resist, Kabuto, whose neck was suddenly grabbed, looked at the person in front of him with bloodshot eyes.

When he noticed the familiar face that now looked even more vigorous, his pupils shrank dramatically: "You... you are Hagoromo Gengetsu!!!"

Kabuto never expected Hagoromo Gengetsu to appear here.

And judging by the current situation, it was clear he harbored malicious intent toward Lord Orochimaru.

"This is bad!!"

Kabuto suddenly realized something, his face hardening: "You... you're peering into my memories!!"

Kabuto was horrified to discover that his memories were being forcibly accessed by an external force.

He immediately reacted.

Poof!

The Kabuto in front of Hagoromo Gengetsu turned into a puff of white smoke.

"A shadow clone?" Hagoromo Gengetsu said, surprised.

Even the mighty Otsutsuki Kaguya couldn't distinguish between Naruto's multiple shadow clones, and Hagoromo Gengetsu hadn't expected the Kabuto here to be a shadow clone either.

"Quite cautious," Hagoromo Gengetsu chuckled.

Fortunately, during their brief encounter, he had already gleaned the latest location of Orochimaru's hideout from Kabuto's mind.

That deeply hidden snake wasn't far from here.

"Kabuto's real body must be informing Orochimaru now. If I delay here, Orochimaru will likely escape."

Knowing the importance of swift action, Hagoromo Gengetsu looked back toward the lake.

The battle had already subsided for now.

Sensing that continuing to fight wouldn't end well, Guren seized an opportunity and quickly retreated with Yūkimaru and their subordinates.

The Three-Tails, not interested in going ashore, didn't pursue them and sank back into the lake.

After being stalled by the smoke, Kakashi and his team had no choice but to temporarily cease their pursuit. With their current strength, they couldn't deal with the Three-Tails submerged in the water and could only report its appearance to the village for further instructions.

The once tumultuous battlefield fell silent.

Seeing this, Hagoromo Gengetsu, who had been pondering whether to prioritize the Three-Tails or Orochimaru, now had no further doubts.

He decided to go after both.

Returning to Hanare's side, Hagoromo Gengetsu quickly instructed, "Notify Deidara and Kisame to come here and capture the Three-Tails. You monitor the Three-Tails during the interim. I'll deal with Orochimaru."

Deidara and Kisame were currently patrolling further north along the coastline.

With Deidara's clay birds, the two of them could fly over in no time.

Though Hagoromo Gengetsu could handle the Three-Tails himself if he wanted, moving and securing the massive beast, especially without immediate access to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, would take considerable effort.

Since Orochimaru and Konoha couldn't do much against the Three-Tails at the moment, there was no rush. He left it to the experts, Deidara and Kisame.

Hanare quickly wrote down Hagoromo Gengetsu's orders on a blank scroll, then used the summoning technique to send the message. She then concealed herself to monitor the Three-Tails' movements.

As for Hagoromo Gengetsu, the moment he finished speaking, he set off at top speed toward Orochimaru's hideout.

In the eerie underground base, Orochimaru sat on his throne, one hand resting on the armrest, the other lazily supporting his chin as he watched the flickering candlelight.

Humans were like this candlelight, drifting with the wind, sometimes flaring brightly, but mostly flickering dimly.

Orochimaru had placed Guren with Yūkimaru not because of her loyalty, but because of the special bond between her and Yūkimaru.

Without external prompting, this bond would only deepen.

When is a person the strongest? When the bond they cherish most is about to be severed.

This is human nature.

Even if it means the candle burns out quickly under the bright flame.

"Kabuto still doesn't understand this. He keeps using drugs to stimulate Yūkimaru's physical potential. Little does he know that the strongest potential comes from the deepest emotions," Orochimaru shook his head, thinking it was time to remind Kabuto.

But it seemed that Kabuto had returned.

Urgent footsteps approached rapidly.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

Panting heavily, Kabuto burst through the door without regard for etiquette and called out to Orochimaru.

"Has something unexpected happened?"

Orochimaru, still sitting lazily, asked calmly.

From Kabuto's expression, Orochimaru could tell something major had occurred.

But it didn't matter.

Even if the sky fell, he would still be there.

He had never feared this shinobi world, only found it tedious.

Until the next moment.

"Lord Orochimaru! Hagoromo Gengetsu is coming to kill you!" Kabuto said urgently.

Hearing this, Orochimaru calmly stood up.

Then.

"Run!"

Without a second thought, Orochimaru immediately fled with Kabuto!

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