Chapter 78: Chapter 16:Rune Eyes!
Kakashi stood silently before Hiruzen, who rubbed his temples in exasperation. The Hokage stared at him for a long moment before pulling out a paper that had "HIT HERE" written on it. Without hesitation, Hiruzen slammed his forehead against the table with a loud thud, the sound echoing through the room.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen began, his voice sharp but controlled, "what in the world were you thinking? Rushing into a fight with not only multiple chunin and jonin, but also an S-rank ninja? And to make matters worse, you dragged your students into this!"
Kakashi's lone visible eye squinted in discomfort, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
"And as if that wasn't enough," Hiruzen continued, leaning forward with a fiery glare, "you somehow managed to bring back the Seven-Tails jinchūriki. While I'm not upset about Fu after hearing the children's account of her story—and I've already accepted her as a Konoha shinobi—I am furious at you, Kakashi. You essentially created an S-rank mission out of thin air and threw your genin team into it. Have you lost your mind? Are you becoming dumber with all the time you spend around those hot-blooded kids?"
Kakashi raised his hands slightly in a weak attempt to defend himself. "Hokage-sama, with all due respect, I—"
"Enough!" Hiruzen's voice cut him off. "You've crossed the line, Kakashi, and there must be consequences. Therefore, your punishment will be decided by none other than Team 7."
Kakashi's visible eye widened in disbelief. "My team?!"
"Yes," Hiruzen confirmed sternly. "They will decide what punishment is fitting for their reckless sensei."
Kakashi's mind raced as the weight of this decision sank in. He could already picture the gleeful, devilish smiles his students would wear if they were standing in the room. The thought alone sent a shiver down his spine.
Team 7 was blissfully unaware of the "golden opportunity" their sensei had handed them. At the moment, they were busy showing Fu around the village, introducing her to their favorite spots and answering her curious questions. Naruko was animatedly explaining the best ramen joints, while Hitomi pointed out places with historical significance.
Fu followed along with a wide smile, though she listened intently when the team warned her about Danzo.
"Remember," Naruko said firmly, "don't trust any masked ninja unless they're with us. And definitely don't trust anyone who looks sketchy. Danzo's still out there, and he's bad news."
Fu nodded solemnly, her usual cheer dampened by the seriousness in their tone.
As the girls chatted, Yuto quietly trailed behind, lost in his thoughts. Opening his system menu, he checked his stats, eager to see the fruits of his labor from the Kakuzu mission and the water walking mission he completed when he got back.
[Status:
Strength: 150
Speed: 153
Dexterity: 150
Stamina: 170
Chakra: 157
Chakra Control: 300
Intelligence: 165
Luck: 50
E-Points: 40
Eye Abilities:
(Illusions, Scanner, Chakra Thermal Vision, Solar Eyes, Hypnosis, Chakra Anchor, Chakra Switch, Chakra Absorption, Ittou Shura, Poison Eyes, Crafting Eyes, Rune Eyes.)
Overall Strength: Low Jonin (without Kamigan)]
His eyes lingered on his new ability: Rune Eyes.
[Rune Eyes:
The user can summon a floating rune circle in front of them that absorbs kinetic energy. This energy can be supplied by the user's attacks or those of opponents, whether through ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu. The rune can be detonated, unleashing an explosion proportional to the stored energy.]
Yuto's lips curved into a small smile. He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling the subtle surge of power that came with his hard-earned growth. Despite the chaos of the last mission, his resolve to become stronger—and protect those he cared about—remained unwavering.
Still, a small part of him wondered why Kakashi had been so quiet since their return.
In the dimly lit Akatsuki hideout, Kakuzu's severed head was hurled against the cold stone wall, a black rod piercing through his threads to pin him in place. His eyes darted around frantically as Pain approached, his footsteps echoing ominously in the silent room.
Kakuzu's head trembled in fear, an emotion he rarely felt, as the Rinnegan bore into him with cold indifference. Pain's voice was calm, yet carried an undercurrent of wrath.
"Kakuzu," he began, his tone cutting through the tension like a blade, "you diverted significantly from the original plan. Because of your recklessness, the Seven-Tails jinchūriki is now in Konoha's hands."
Kakuzu's voice quivered as he replied, "I didn't expect those kids to be so strong. They were… abnormal."
Pain's gaze did not falter, his expression unmoved by the excuse. "Explain."
Kakuzu hesitated before recounting his encounter with Team 7. "There was a Yamanaka boy—Yuto. He was far beyond the level of a genin. His abilities were… unsettling as he had a weird dojutsu. Then there was the nine tails brat, Naruko. Her chakra and stamina were ridiculous and she seemed to have gained some control over the nine tails chakra. And the Uchiha girl, Hitomi—she was incredibly precise and lethal as she used every opportunity she got to chip away at my mask, she even had a two tomoe sharingan. Combined with Hatake Kakashi, they were far more troublesome than I anticipated."
Pain stood silently for a moment, the eerie calm making Kakuzu even more uneasy. Then Pain spoke, his voice filled with an unshakable confidence. "It does not matter. Even if Kakashi Hatake, a sannin, or even a group of Kage stands in my way, I will not lose. They are mere mortals. I… am a god."
Kakuzu swallowed hard, knowing there was no room for argument. Pain turned away slightly, his voice colder now. "Do not make the same mistake again, Kakuzu. The Seven-Tails should never have escaped our grasp."
"Understood," Kakuzu muttered, his voice hoarse.
"Good." Pain turned fully, his figure imposing even in the flickering torchlight. "Now, go. Find suitable hearts to replenish yourself. Ensure that your next failure does not require me to intervene again."
The black rod embedded in Kakuzu's threads retracted, and his head fell to the ground with a sickening thud. As Pain walked away, the oppressive aura he left behind lingered in the air, a reminder to Kakuzu—and to the rest of the Akatsuki—that failure was not an option.
Protect The Waterfall Village Arc:Completed!
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)