boyutpedia Page 233
Page 233
Just then, Kakashi Hatake, the elite Jonin of Konoha known as the "King of Lateness," surprisingly appeared on the wooden stake right on time.
Even more surprisingly, his copy of "Intimate Paradise," which he practically carried with him, was nowhere to be found.
The eye he revealed was sharp as an eagle's, a stark contrast to his usual languid demeanor.
He scanned his three students with an unusual sense of urgency.
"Everyone! Get ready..."
Kakashi had barely begun his routine opening remarks when his gaze was precisely locked onto Naruto's face, and his single eye widened instantly.
His tone was filled with undisguised surprise: "Huh? Naruto, you... did someone beat you up and you just crawled out of the hospital? You have panda eyes..."
He pointed to the two dark circles under Naruto's eyes, which were extremely prominent and bluish-purple, and the effect was more exaggerated than any makeup.
Naruto jolted awake, straightening his back instantly as he tried to shake off the heavy drowsiness.
He shook his head vigorously, "No...nothing's wrong! I'm perfectly fine! It's just...it's just that I got too engrossed in researching the new ninjutsu last night!"
He made up a random excuse in an attempt to cover up the truth about being mentally bombarded by his mother.
Kakashi stared at him for two seconds, his eyes deep, clearly not entirely convinced, but obviously there were more important things to do now.
He said in a deep voice, "Then you should take the time to rest on the way, and recover as much as you can."
His tone suddenly became extremely serious, as cold as ice: "This mission... will probably be a real tough battle."
Two simple words, coupled with Kakashi's unusual punctuality, solemn expression, and the word "truly".
It was like a bucket of ice water being poured over the heads of Class 7.
The relaxed atmosphere vanished completely.
Sasuke's eyes instantly sharpened like knives, and his body subconsciously went into a state of slight alert.
Sakura gasped, her hands clenching involuntarily.
Even Naruto, who was swaying and wished he could lie down and sleep immediately, was stirred by the heavy atmosphere and forced himself to dispel some of his sleepiness.
His azure eyes revealed surprise and wariness.
The mission that Kakashi takes so seriously, even issuing an early warning of a "tough battle," must be far more dangerous than any C-rank mission they would normally encounter!
It's probably no less difficult than Level A.
Sasuke stepped forward, his dark eyes staring directly at Kakashi, his voice cold and direct: "What mission?"
It was concise yet it expressed what everyone was thinking.
Kakashi took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, and the message he uttered exploded like a thunderclap in the open space:
"Just last night, the highest level of emergency rescue signal came from Sunagakure in the Land of Wind."
He paused, each word carrying immense weight: "The current Kazekage—Gaara—was forcibly abducted by the Akatsuki organization."
"what?!"
"Gaara?!"
Three exclamations rang out almost simultaneously, filled with disbelief and shock!
The air in the open space seemed to freeze instantly.
The manipulation of sand was as natural as breathing.
The One-Tailed Jinchuriki who possesses the absolute defense "Shield of Sand" and the terrifying attack power "Sand Burial".
The Wind Shadow, who was almost invincible in the desert environment of his home field?
They actually... were forcibly kidnapped on Sunagakure's territory?!
The impact of this news was a hundred times greater than Kakashi's punctual appearance and Naruto's panda eyes combined!
Naruto was now completely awake, all his fatigue seemingly burned away by the anger and worry brought on by the news.
He clenched his fist tightly, his nails almost digging into his palm.
Gaara, the friend who shared a similar lonely childhood with him and whom he rescued!
"'dawn'……"
Sasuke repeated the name in a low voice, a cold light flashing in his dark pupils.
This mysterious and dangerous organization is like a huge shadow hanging over the ninja world. Its members are all unfathomably powerful and act in a strange and unpredictable way.
They managed to infiltrate Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and forcibly abduct a Kage-level ninja despite heavy guard...
Just how terrifying is the power of this organization?
Sasuke's heart sank as a strong sense of crisis and a accompanying thirst for power quietly rose within him.
Sakura's face turned pale, and her voice trembled slightly: "Lord Gaara... he is the Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast! Akatsuki's target really is the Tailed Beast!"
She instantly realized that the seriousness of the situation far exceeded that of a typical kidnapping.
The Nine-Tails is inside Naruto!
Could the next target be...? She dared not think further, her worried gaze instinctively turning to Naruto.
Naruto suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with anxiety, and asked urgently, "Kakashi-sensei! Do you have any clues? Do you know who did it? Where was Gaara taken?"
The urgency of knowing my friend was in danger overwhelmed everything, including physical exhaustion and my fear of my mother.
Kakashi shook his head, his expression grave: "The only person who currently possesses crucial clues is Gaara's brother, Kankuro."
"He gave chase immediately and engaged in a fierce battle with the Akatsuki members who had kidnapped Gaara."
"Kankuro? How is he?" Sakura immediately asked, her instinct as a medical ninja making her concerned for the injured.
"It's a bad situation."
Kakashi's voice lowered: "Kankuro was poisoned by the enemy's extremely insidious poison. Although he was rushed back to Sunagakure for emergency treatment, his life is in danger, and the Sunagakure medical team is helpless."
"He is currently unconscious and unable to provide any useful information."
"Highly poisonous? Even the Sand Village..."
Sakura's heart clenched.
While Sunagakure's medical expertise may not be as advanced as Konoha's, it is by no means inferior; even they are helpless against this poison...
Kakashi looked at Sakura, his eyes carrying the core mission directive: "Therefore, the Hokage has urgently ordered Team 7 to depart immediately and rush to the aid of Sunagakure!"
"Your top priority, Sakura, is to do everything you can to save Kankuro. He's our only lead right now!"
"Meanwhile, the others are assisting Sunagakure in tracking down Gaara's whereabouts!"
Sakura immediately straightened her back, her face filled with determination.
This was her responsibility as a medical ninja, and a crucial step in saving her friends.
"What are you waiting for!"
Naruto roared and slapped his cheeks twice, the crisp sound echoing in the open space.
His determined movements seemed to rouse even his dark, panda-like eyes.
He carried away all his fatigue and weariness, along with the "shadow" of being scolded by his mother last night.
They were all flung to the heavens with all their might!
At this moment, all that remained in his eyes was a burning fighting spirit and worry for his friends.
"Let's go! To Sunagakure! To save Gaara!"
Just as Naruto slapped his face and roared "Let's go!", the strange consciousness space within him was also stirred up by the earth-shattering news from the outside world.
"What?! The brat Shukaku has been captured?!"
Nine-Tailed Fox was the first to react. Its massive body abruptly lifted its head from its prone position, and its crimson beastly eyes flashed with astonishment and a hint of...
Its massive paws scrambled across the water, splashing up chakra droplets: "Ha! That stinky raccoon who hides in the sand all day pretending to be profound has finally met its match! Caught by those rats from the gutter of Akatsuki? What a disgrace to the Tailed Beasts!"
The ghostly figure of Minato had a solemn expression, and his azure eyes were filled with worry.
The two Akatsuki members I encountered in the Land of Waves back then weren't targeting the Tailed Beasts yet; they were just mercenaries.
But now they have begun to clearly launch attacks against the tailed beasts.
Minato said in a deep voice, "Their target has been locked onto the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beasts... Their actions are faster and bolder than expected!"
"They can even directly target the shadow forces of the five great nations!"
He looked at Kushina with deep worry in his eyes, not only for Gaara, but also for his son Naruto, who was also a Jinchuriki.
Kushina's reaction was the most intense.
Her fiery red hair seemed to truly burn, revealing the extreme turmoil within her heart.
"dawn……!"
Her voice was like a quenched blade, filled with deep-seated hatred and killing intent: "I wonder if it was Akatsuki who controlled the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha and kill us back then."
She turned sharply to Minato, her eyes shining brightly with anger and worry: "Minato! Naruto, he..."
The thought of her son facing that terrifying organization made Kushina's heart feel like it was being gripped by an icy hand.
A cold snort came from above, carrying a condescending scrutiny and a hint of...disdain?
Uchiha Madara, who had been lying on the giant head of the Nine-Tails, had somehow sat up.
His crimson Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan slowly rotated, as if piercing through the barriers of space and seeing everything happening in the outside world.
His face showed no worry or anger, only a cold, almost indifferent insight.
"Xiao...just a bunch of clowns playing tricks."
Madara's voice was deep and penetrating, carrying a kind of arrogance that came with experience: "However, to be able to capture a Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast so cleanly and efficiently in Sunagakure."
"It seems that over the years, they have managed to acquire some 'pieces' that are reasonably worthy of their attention."
His gaze seemed to fall on Naruto, and a barely perceptible glint flashed deep within his crimson eyes.
Last time in the Land of Waves, it was he and Minato who killed those two Akatsuki members.
"Now let me see how you've grown, Naruto."
Nine-Tails shook its head in dissatisfaction, almost shaking Madara off: "Hey! Old Madara! Stop talking nonsense!"