Naruto: Drop System

By the afternoon of the following day, after taking a brief rest during their journey, Team 3 and Team 8 finally returned to Konoha after many days.

However, before Yagyu could dismiss the teams to rest while he went alone to report to Tsunade, a Chunin at the gate said, "Chunin Yagyu, Lady Hokage instructed us to tell you to bring Team 3 and Team 8 to her office immediately upon your return."

Chunin Yagyu?

Hearing this, Team 3 and Team 8 raised their eyebrows in surprise but quickly nodded. Given Yagyu's strength, it was long overdue for him to be promoted to Chunin. With his mastery of Wood Style, it wouldn't have surprised anyone if he had been promoted to Jonin or even Elite Jonin.

Yagyu himself was slightly surprised but more focused on Tsunade's urgent instruction rather than his promotion.

Smiling, Yagyu nodded and said, "I understand. Thanks for the message."

After completing their registration, Yagyu led Team 3 and Team 8 to the Hokage's office.

"Lady Hokage, we've returned…"

"You've come back just in time. I have an urgent mission for you," Tsunade interrupted Yagyu before he could finish his greeting.

With a serious expression, Tsunade explained, "Last night, Uchiha Sasuke either defected or was lured away by Orochimaru and has left Konoha. According to the reports from the Sensory and Barrier Teams, it was the Sound Four—those who used the Four Violet Flames Formation during the Chunin Exams—who took him."

"Right now, most of the village's Jonin are away on missions, so I've temporarily promoted Nara Shikamaru to Chunin and assigned him to lead Teams 7 and 10 to retrieve Sasuke. Karin is also with them."

"But earlier today, I received information from Shizune that Genma and the others encountered the Sound Four and were injured. Those guys are using Orochimaru's cursed seals, and I'm worried that Naruto and the others are in danger. Your return is timely."

After finishing, Tsunade walked over to a cabinet, pulled out a green vest, and tossed it to Yagyu. She said seriously, "Yagyu, I officially promote you to Chunin. You are now in charge of leading Teams 3 and 8 to assist Shikamaru and the others."

"Yes, Lady Hokage."

Yagyu caught the vest, respectfully nodding in acknowledgment, though he felt a bit of excitement internally.

So, it's finally this time period!

"Go now. Head in the direction of the Land of Rice Fields. The Aburame Clan's insects should be able to pick up their scent," Tsunade instructed. "If you can't find them, Yagyu, you can contact Karin with a slug—she also has a contract with Ryuchi Cave."

"Understood, Lady Hokage."

With that, Yagyu led Teams 3 and 8 out of the Hokage's office. After completing the necessary travel permits, they left Konoha once more.

On the road, Yagyu turned to Shino and asked, "Shino, have your insects picked up Shikamaru or Naruto's scent?"

"No."

Shino checked the insects on his finger and shook his head. "Too much time has passed. Even without rain, any lingering scent has already dissipated."

"In that case, let's follow Lady Hokage's suggestion and head toward the Land of Rice Fields," Yagyu said, pulling out a map and quickly leading Teams 3 and 8 northward.

The Land of Rice Fields was one of the neighboring nations of the Land of Fire, located to the north. Its neighbors included the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water.

To reach the Land of Rice Fields from Konoha, they had to cross a vast, undeveloped forest. Even for shinobi, traversing the forest would take most of the day.

At the edge of the forest lay the Valley of the End, where the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara fought their legendary battle.

Since it was already afternoon when they left the village, the sun soon began to set.

Not long after, nightfall covered the land.

Eager to support Shikamaru and the others, Yagyu and his group didn't rest. They simply consumed soldier pills and continued moving at full speed.

By the time midnight approached, they finally reached the vast, unrooted forest.

"I've found their scent,"

Shino reported as soon as they entered the forest.

"Great. Lead the way, Shino."

Since his Kagura Mind's Eye couldn't locate them, Yagyu entrusted Shino with leading the group.

Shino nodded and moved ahead, guiding the group through the forest.

After two hours of traveling, Shino suddenly slowed down and rejoined the group. As they moved, he reported to Yagyu, "I've detected three familiar scents ahead, but they aren't Naruto's group. However, anyone my insects remember must be someone we know or have interacted with recently."

"Byakugan—Activate!"

Before Yagyu could respond, both Neji and Hinata activated their Byakugan. Neji then said, "It's the Sand Trio from the Chunin Exams."

Upon hearing this, Lee and Tenten's expressions changed slightly as they recalled Gaara and Temari.

Yagyu, however, calmly said, "Since the Fifth Hokage took office, Sunagakure has sent representatives to renew their alliance with Konoha. They are not our enemies now. Let's go and talk to them."

"Yes."

Teams 3 and 8 quickly increased their pace and soon caught up with Gaara and his siblings.

"It's you guys!"

Gaara's group, also traveling at night, noticed Yagyu's team approaching.

Seeing Lee, Yagyu, and Shino—who had defeated them during the Chunin Exams—Temari and Kankuro's expressions shifted slightly.

However, recalling the renewed alliance between their villages, Temari quickly regained her composure and explained, "We didn't mean to enter the Land of Fire. Your Fifth Hokage sent a request for assistance to Sunagakure."

"I see,"

Yagyu said with a polite smile. "Thank you for your help. Konoha has indeed been short on manpower recently."

"Understandable, understandable…"

Temari and Kankuro awkwardly smiled, feeling somewhat guilty.

Although they had also lost their father, and Sunagakure had lost the Fourth Kazekage, Sunagakure still bore some responsibility for the death of Konoha's Third Hokage.

As a result, Sunagakure had quickly renewed their alliance with Konoha and couldn't blame the village for the Fourth Kazekage's death at the hands of a Konoha rogue ninja.

This mission to support Konoha was part of their efforts to make amends.

At this point, Gaara turned toward Yagyu's group and greeted them, "It's been a while, Yagyu, and… Rock Lee."

"It's been a while, you…"

Lee instinctively responded, but then his eyes widened as he stared at Gaara in shock.

His expression mirrored the surprise on Tenten and Hinata's faces.

None of them had expected that Gaara, who had once been filled with killing intent and hidden behind the Sand Armor, would now greet them so calmly.

"It's been a while,"

Yagyu said with a smile. "You've changed quite a bit. Have you come to terms with something?"

"Yes…"

Gaara nodded, staring into the dark forest ahead as if seeing a shadowy figure from his past. He quietly said, "I want to change the way I used to think. I want to understand how that person felt back then."

"Then keep at it."

The conversation quickly became awkward.

Having once been enemies, neither side had much to say to each other.

Moreover, it was already late, and they needed to conserve their energy for the mission ahead.

Thus, the group of nine continued in silence.

Sometime later, as the black night sky slowly gave way to dawn, Hinata, who had been periodically using her Byakugan, suddenly said, "Yagyu-kun, I see Choji. His condition is very bad."

"I sense it too. His life force is dangerously weak,"

Yagyu said as he made a hand sign, creating a Wood Clone from an extending tree branch.

"Wo… Wood Style?!"

The sight nearly made Temari and Kankuro's jaws drop.

Gaara, too, narrowed his eyes in shock.

Clearly, they were all astonished by Yagyu's display of Wood Style.

"Gulp…"

Temari and Kankuro couldn't help but swallow hard.

Having thought that Lee was the strongest among the group, they now realized why Yagyu was the only one wearing the green Chunin vest.

The shinobi who had demonstrated formidable Water Style techniques and the Phantom Body Flicker during the Chunin Exams was also a Wood Style user—a legendary Kekkei Genkai.

This meant Yagyu was truly a descendant of the Senju Clan!

Realizing this, Temari and Kankuro felt a wave of relief wash over them.

Thankfully, Yagyu had been a rational fighter during the Chunin Exams. He had seen the outcome of the battle before it was over and didn't attack them.

Otherwise, the three of them might have perished in Konoha!

At the same time, the siblings silently decided that once they returned to Sunagakure, they would report this information to Lady Chiyo.

A new Wood Style user in Konoha, after the First Hokage, was bound to be earth-shattering news in the ninja world.

Yagyu, meanwhile, acted as if he hadn't noticed their reactions.

After creating the Wood Clone, he turned to Lee and said, "Lee, Choji's condition is critical. My Wood Clone will heal him, but it might disappear afterward. Please stay with it and protect him."

"No problem, leave it to me!"

Lee, ever the straightforward one, didn't overthink the situation. He gave a thumbs-up and grinned.

With that, Lee and the Wood Clone split from the group.

The remaining eight continued onward.

Soon, the dawn broke, and the morning light illuminated the forest.

"Yagyu-kun, I see Shikamaru. He's fighting an enemy,"

Hinata reported once again. "The enemy uses arrows and spider silk. Shikamaru's in trouble. He's been dodging and running."

"Shino, Neji, go help Shikamaru."

"Yes."

As Shino and Neji rushed ahead, Gaara turned to Kankuro. "Kankuro, you go help as well."

"Understood,"

Kankuro nodded and followed.

The group of eight quickly dwindled to five.

A short while later, Hinata said, "Yagyu-kun, I see Karin, Sakura, and Ino."

"I sense their chakra too. It seems they're alright," Yagyu nodded.

In truth, Yagyu had already sensed everyone's positions earlier with his Kagura Mind's Eye, even before dawn.

He had deliberately arranged things this way.

Just like in the original story, Choji's opponent was Jirobo.

Choji was now on the verge of death, likely due to having taken the three pills to enter his butterfly state.

This ordeal, in Yagyu's view, was actually a blessing in disguise for Choji.

Shikamaru's opponent, Kidomaru, was using the Curse Mark Level 2, making it impossible for Shikamaru to win. Shikamaru had likely been using the forest to his advantage, trying to survive by delaying Kidomaru's attacks.

As for Karin, Sakura, and Ino's opponent, it was Tayuya, who specialized in summoning and sound-based genjutsu.

Although both used sound-based techniques, Tayuya was far stronger than Kin, one of Orochimaru's former Sound Four.

Without Karin, Tsunade wouldn't have sent Ino and Sakura on this mission. They were simply too weak.

Fortunately, Karin was with them.

Having learned numerous Water Style techniques from Yagyu, Karin's strength was second only to Naruto's, who could use mass Rasengan.

Additionally, Karin, Ino, and Sakura had excellent chakra control. With Ino's clan's secret jutsu helping them break free from genjutsu, even Tayuya in her cursed form would struggle against them.

However, the three of them would also find it difficult to defeat Tayuya.

Yagyu then gave another order. "Hinata, Tenten, go help Karin and the others."

"Yes."

Hinata and Tenten nodded and left the group.

Gaara turned to Temari and said, "Temari, go assist them as well."

"I got it,"

Temari nodded and followed.

The nine-person group was now down to Yagyu and Gaara.

"Get out of my way and give me Sasuke back—Rasengan!!"

Soon after Hinata, Tenten, and Temari left, Yagyu and Gaara, who were moving at full speed, suddenly heard Naruto's enraged shout.

The sound echoed, as if many people were yelling together, extremely loud and powerful.

Hearing Naruto's fury, Gaara's expression changed slightly.

Moments later, they saw countless orange-clad figures—Naruto's shadow clones—surrounded by red chakra, all wielding a blue energy sphere in their hands, slamming toward a single figure.

Boom!

All the shadow clones collided with a tree. The explosion from the mass Rasengan created an earth-shattering sound, sending dust and debris flying.

"Gaara, go help Naruto,"

Yagyu said sternly. "There's another chakra signature ahead. Sasuke is likely with them. I'll go after him."

Sizzling sounds of lightning filled the air, and before Gaara could respond, Yagyu vanished into a blue-and-white blur.

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