Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 66: Kisame: Guess Who I See?

"NARUTO!"

Shikamaru looked at Naruto, who seemed entirely unscathed. No, in fact, any injuries he sustained had quickly healed. Among their group, besides the recently arrived Sand ninja reinforcement team, Naruto was the only one who still had full combat capability.

"What's wrong, Shikamaru?" 

Naruto turned his head, puzzled, as he was about to join forces with Gaara and the others to take down the Sound Four.

Shikamaru took a deep breath, looked around the battlefield, and made a decision. "Naruto, you don't need to participate in this fight anymore. Head out immediately and find Sasuke."

"Sasuke..." 

Naruto did want to find Sasuke as soon as possible, but with the battle still ongoing, he didn’t want to leave his comrades behind.

Understanding Naruto's hesitation, Shikamaru calmly explained, "Don't forget our mission is to bring Sasuke back. Given the current situation, none of us, myself included, can keep up with your speed. Don’t worry about the fight here; we will secure victory. Naruto! The success of this mission depends on you."

"After all... you're the only one who might convince Sasuke to come back."

Naruto was silent for a few seconds before nodding resolutely. "I will bring Sasuke back!"

With that, he flashed away at incredible speed in the direction Sasuke had gone.

On the other side, with the addition of the Sand ninja reinforcements, the Sound Four, already struggling to protect themselves, could only watch as Naruto left.

The chase continued.

From the intelligence gathered, the Leaf had roughly deduced that Sasuke was likely heading towards the Valley of the Fallen God. Meanwhile, Sasuke, though not encountering much trouble, had to avoid Leaf ninjas along the way. This, combined with limited stamina, meant he moved less efficiently than the seemingly tireless, perpetual-motion Naruto.

Finally, after crossing a range of hills and nearing the Valley of the Fallen God, Sasuke was about to breathe a sigh of relief when a loud, familiar shout rang out behind him:

"SASUKE!"

Frowning, Sasuke turned to see a sweat-soaked Naruto running towards him at full speed.

Seeing Sasuke turn around, Naruto waved excitedly and shouted, "Sasuke! What are you doing here? Come back with me!"

"Idiot!"

Sasuke gave Naruto a cold look, then turned and continued running.

From the moment he left the village, there was no turning back.

Naruto saying "come back"?

Go back to be treated as a traitor?

The game of playing ninja was over.

"Sasuke..."

Seeing Sasuke completely ignoring him, even looking at him with a strangely unfamiliar expression, Naruto paused for a moment, then clenched his fists and shouted with determination:

"Sasuke! No matter what, I will bring you back!"

His shout startled a flock of birds and caught the attention of a nearby figure in a black cloak adorned with red clouds.

"This voice sounds familiar."

Kisame, caressing the sword Samehada on his back, smirked and said, "Interesting."

With that, he turned and headed towards the direction of the continuous shouting, like a beacon.

"Sasuke! Stop right there!"

"Why are you leaving the village?"

"I'll break your bones if I have to, but I will bring you back!"

"..."

Naruto kept shouting as he chased after Sasuke.

Sasuke remained silent, focusing on his path.

The more Naruto shouted, the angrier he became.

Just as he was about to say something more, a somewhat familiar voice interrupted.

"Yo~~ What a surprise today. Guess who I see?"

Suddenly, Kisame appeared in Naruto's view, grinning like a shark as he greeted him, "We meet again, Nine-Tails kid."

Naruto stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as he recognized the intruder. "It's you!"

He didn't know the man's name, but he remembered this was the person who had tried to capture him before. If not for Jiraiya's timely intervention, he would have been taken long ago.

And there was another one—Uchiha Itachi!

Thinking of this name, Naruto instinctively looked towards Sasuke.

At the same time, Sasuke, noticing the arrival of a stranger, paused.

Clearly, he too realized who Naruto was thinking of.

"Itachi's brother is here too. Unfortunately, Itachi isn't."

Kisame noticed Sasuke. After a quick glance and a brief explanation, he ignored Sasuke and turned back to Naruto.

"Although this mission isn't about the Nine-Tails, it is one of our targets. Since you're here, it would be a waste not to take you."

Kisame gripped Samehada with one hand, smiling, "Nine-Tails kid, once again: should I cut off your hands and take you away, or will you come with me willingly?"

Time seemed to rewind to that moment at the inn's entrance.

Seeing Kisame lift Samehada, Naruto quickly used the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Don't underestimate me now!"

With a series of poofs, a large number of clones appeared.

Seeing the multitude of clones, Kisame smirked, "Your hand signs are faster than before."

"So this is your answer, then..."

"Nine-Tails capture plan, restart!"

Kisame stepped forward, and before the clones could react, he flashed in front of them, sweeping Samehada and dispersing many clones instantly.

"This guy..."

Watching his clones being swiftly dismantled, Naruto felt immense pressure and gritted his teeth.

He glanced in Sasuke's direction.

Sasuke was gone, likely having used this chance to flee.

"Sasuke..."

Murmuring, Naruto saw Kisame closing in rapidly. With a determined look, he used the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu again.

Surrounded by a sea of clones, Kisame shook his head nonchalantly, saying, "It's pointless, yet you persist. Seems I'll have to be a bit rougher. I'll cut off both your arms and legs. You won't die with your Jinchuriki constitution."

"Don't underestimate a Leaf ninja, jerk!"

At Naruto's command, the clone army charged at Kisame once more.

As he dispersed clone after clone, Naruto suddenly darted in with a spinning blue chakra ball in hand, aiming it at Kisame.

"Rasengan!"