Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 21: Escape

"Chidori, huh."

Hagoromo Gengetsu, gripping Kakashi Hatake's wrist, looked at the familiar face with a hint of amusement, saying, "I've already demonstrated deeper transformations. Is this all you've got?"

Kakashi's eyes showed surprise and suspicion.

Before he could ask further, Hagoromo Gengetsu exerted force, tossing Kakashi away, then crossed his hands in front of him.

The next moment.

"Burning my youth! Konoha's Strong Whirlwind!"

Accompanied by an enthusiastic shout, a green figure leaped forward with a deafening sonic boom, delivering a powerful kick.

Boom!

The shockwave roared.

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't resist; instead, he used the force of the kick to propel himself like a rocket, rapidly flying towards the outside of Konoha Village.

"I'm done playing with you."

"With this time, I suggest you check on the Hokage."

After giving the reminder, Hagoromo Gengetsu twisted in mid-air, accelerating and disappearing from view.

Might Guy wanted to pursue, but Kakashi stopped him: "The Hokage and the village's situation are more urgent."

With Orochimaru's escape, they were unsure of the Hokage's condition.

The battle within the village was still ongoing.

They couldn't afford to waste time on someone who had decided to leave and wasn't going to be dealt with in the short term.

Guy listened to Kakashi's advice.

However, as they turned back, he couldn't help but ask, "Kakashi, do you know who that person was?"

Kakashi recalled how Hagoromo Gengetsu spoke to him and casually neutralized his Lightning Blade, realizing that person might be intimately familiar with the technique.

Kakashi remembered a past conversation with Minato Namikaze, who had mentioned a powerful ninja from decades ago who developed a highly suitable Lightning Release technique.

"Could it be?" Kakashi pondered, remembering the smirk and the phrase "showing off in front of an expert." He was struck by realization.

Facing Guy's eager look, Kakashi took a deep breath and said, "If I'm not mistaken, it's a very troublesome old senior."

"The green jumpsuit is indeed blinding."

As Hagoromo Gengetsu reflected on the scene, his first impression was of that man in the blindingly green outfit with his white teeth and watermelon-like hair.

Seeing it from a screen didn't leave as strong an impression as facing it in person.

Hagoromo Gengetsu shook his head.

He had to admit that Might Guy and Rock Lee possessed incredible courage.

Boom! Boom!

In Konoha Village, intense battles and explosions continued to erupt.

Without the obstruction of Kakashi and Guy, Hagoromo Gengetsu moved swiftly through the treetops, spotting many familiar faces.

For example, Akimichi Choza in his enlarged form, bigger than large summoning beasts, and the inseparable Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi.

The usually inconspicuous Hyuga Hiashi, current head of the Hyuga clan, and Jiraiya, the renowned author of erotic novels, summoning the toads of Mount Myoboku and displaying remarkable prowess.

With these core forces joining the fray, Konoha's counterattack became more forceful, and the Sand and Sound ninja's surprise attack grew quieter.

Especially after the news spread that Orochimaru had replaced the Fourth Kazekage.

The Sand ninjas became disoriented.

It wouldn't be long before this meticulously planned attack, causing significant damage to Konoha, would end in failure.

Hagoromo Gengetsu's gaze shifted from those familiar faces as he hurriedly made his way toward his destination.

Not far away, standing on the head of a toad, Jiraiya glanced back at the retreating black dot of Hagoromo Gengetsu, then swiftly headed towards the Chunin Exam site.

When he arrived, he found a gathering of people.

Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and others.

In the center, the cold corpse of Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen lay quietly.

Jiraiya fell silent.

Some were grieving, others relieved.

At the moment Hagoromo Gengetsu stepped out of Konoha Village and looked at the vast expanse of forest ahead.

Realizing there were no more obstacles in his path, he first grinned, then his smile widened.

Finally, he couldn't contain his laughter any longer.

"Haha~ Hahaha~ Hahahahaha~~~~~"

Reflecting on the past, he didn't regret leaving so many of his cells behind in his battle with Hashirama Senju.

With the Reanimation jutsu technique, and his reputation during his lifetime, he wasn't worried about not being summoned from the afterlife.

Initially, Hagoromo Gengetsu had planned for the Fourth Great Ninja War to be his summoning time.

He didn't expect Orochimaru to bring him out during the Chunin Exams.

Such a golden opportunity was not to be missed.

"Next, with Konoha in disarray, I'll find my body that was sealed before my death."

Hagoromo Gengetsu looked at his cracked hands.

Although the Reanimation jutsu body was a chakra perpetual motion machine, able to recover from fatal injuries easily.

It was still inferior to a real body.

Moreover, the quality of this Reanimation jutsu body severely limited his power.

Adding to that, the existence of the Reanimation jutsu body wasn't limitless.

Noting the slight sand leakage from his body, Hagoromo Gengetsu knew he didn't have much time left. He wasted no more time and sped towards his destination.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~

A shadow swiftly traversed the endless forest.

Along the way, Hagoromo Gengetsu heard the faint sound of bells.

He ignored it and continued.

At the same time.

Not far away, two figures in black cloaks with red clouds stopped.

One lifted his wind-bell hat, revealing a shark-like face, and grinned menacingly, "Itachi, do we need to deal with him?"

"No need."

The other person, lifting his head to reveal his prominent tear marks and blood-red three-tomoe eyes, gazed towards Konoha and said calmly.

"Don't create unnecessary complications."

"Our goal is the Nine-Tails."