Chapter 129: The Tragic Role Uehara Naraka Played in Konoha
The relationship between Uehara Naraka and Team 7 was pretty good.
Because Uehara had saved them from Orochimaru, and incidentally also healed Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki. Although they had previously seen Uehara's arrogant side, Team 7 now felt Uehara Naraka was a very kind person.
Indeed, sometimes one must look beyond appearances to see the essence!
"I didn't expect you actually knew medical ninjutsu..."
Sasuke Uchiha watched Uehara Naraka heal Naruto Uzumaki and couldn't help saying, "I remember medical ninjas are always protected by combat ninjas, right? Where are your two teammates? Why aren't they by your side?"
As he said these words, Sasuke's heart suddenly became vigilant again. What if Uehara Naraka and his teammates attacked their Team 7?
"Don't worry, I've arranged for them to go elsewhere."
Uehara Naraka waved his hand, patted his ninja tool pouch, and said softly, "Besides, I've already collected the Heaven and Earth scrolls. I have no ill intentions towards you. It's only because you are Kakashi's disciples that I stepped in to help."
"Oh, you have scrolls on you?"
Sasuke Uchiha, having just been healed, instantly had his fighting spirit rekindled, "How about we add another clause to our agreement? As long as I defeat you, besides Itachi's intelligence, you also have to give us the scrolls in your hands!"
Sakura Haruno looked up, puzzled, "Sasuke-kun..."
Even though Sakura Haruno, as a Genin, was weak, she could sense from previous events that Uehara Naraka's strength was exceptionally high! A ninja whom even Orochimaru had to retreat from, how could Sasuke possibly be his opponent?
"Not bad."
Uehara Naraka narrowed his eyes and smiled, "I have high hopes for you. Even knowing you're not an opponent, you still have an unyielding heart. I believe you will defeat Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito sooner or later."
Sasuke Uchiha, hearing Uehara's praise, said somewhat proudly, "Hmph, actually, I know my strength isn't enough yet, but I still want you to tell me now, how big is the gap between me and Uchiha Itachi!"
"Hmm..."
After Uehara Naraka finished healing Naruto Uzumaki, he held up two fingers and gestured, "Although we haven't fought yet, the gap between you two... is probably about seven or eight Kakashis?"
"???"
Sasuke Uchiha's head was full of question marks.
Where did this unit of measurement come from!
"Alright, it's too late today."
Uehara Naraka glanced at the sky and said softly, "You few rest here! I'll go catch some fish for dinner."
"Ah, wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Sakura Haruno looked up at Uehara Naraka in surprise, "Why don't I go catch fish? After all, I couldn't do anything special during the fight, and you've already helped us so much, even healing Sasuke and Naruto..."
"..."
Sasuke Uchiha's eyes flickered. He didn't volunteer for the fish-catching job; after all, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno currently had no combat strength, and he still had to stay and protect his teammates.
Actually, the most suitable person to go catch fish right now was that kid Naruto Uzumaki!
"No need."
Uehara Naraka waved his hand and chuckled lightly, "I'll be back soon. Incidentally, I'll go check if there are any enemies nearby. If Orochimaru is still around, you'll be in danger if you encounter him."
After speaking, without waiting for Sakura Haruno to refuse, he left.
After Uehara Naraka left, Sasuke Uchiha slowly let out a breath and said gravely, "Originally, I thought that guy was here to snatch our scrolls or had some conspiracy. Now it seems he genuinely wanted to help us?"
"Perhaps because of Kakashi-sensei?"
Sakura Haruno thought for a moment and said softly, "My feeling tells me Kakashi-sensei and his relationship should be good. Maybe it's because of Kakashi-sensei that he helped us?"
"There's that possibility."
After Sasuke Uchiha nodded, he continued, "But we absolutely cannot let our guard down. In this forest, anyone is our enemy."
Team 7 was still being rational.
It wasn't that they hadn't considered Uehara Naraka was constantly putting on an act for them. However, when some kindness is released, it easily and slowly erodes their attitude.
Who would refuse someone's kindness?
Even Sasuke Uchiha felt embarrassed to refuse.
As for Naruto Uzumaki sleeping on the ground, this guy was actually just a hot-blooded idiot. As long as someone showed him kindness, the current Naruto would almost 100% believe them!
After all, apart from Team 7, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shikamaru, Chōji, Hinata Hyūga, and a few others, Naruto Uzumaki hadn't seen many people give him a pleasant look...
Dusk arrived.
The sun gradually set.
As Uehara Naraka expected, Orochimaru was indeed still lurking near Team 7, because he had already taken a liking to Sasuke's body.
Although Sasuke Uchiha's talent was somewhat lacking compared to Uchiha Itachi's, he was Orochimaru's best chance to obtain the Sharingan Kekkei Genkai.
However, when Orochimaru saw Uehara Naraka leave, completely disregarding his status as one of Konoha's Sannin, he wanted to secretly launch another surprise attack on Team 7. Orochimaru still wanted to plant the Heaven Curse Mark on Sasuke.
A long snake suddenly shot out, biting towards Orochimaru, also stopping Orochimaru's attempt to attack Sasuke!
"Hm?"
Orochimaru's expression changed slightly. He grabbed the long snake with one hand, also pulling out the person controlling the snake to attack him. After seeing who it was, a smile appeared on his face, "Anko, still using the ninjutsu I taught you?"
"It really is you, Orochimaru!"
Anko Mitarashi leaped towards Orochimaru, pushed him against a tree, and tightly restrained his movements, "No matter how far, I can smell your scent..."
At this moment, the smile on Anko's face was completely gone.
At this moment, this female ninja who liked to run around Konoha with three-color dango in her mouth looked at her former teacher, her face incomparably complex and pained.
Just as Orochimaru wanted to say a few teasing words, Anko Mitarashi fiercely stabbed a kunai through both Orochimaru's and her own palms, "Orochimaru, this time I absolutely won't let you escape! Lend me your left hand!"
"Trying to use the ninjutsu I taught you to have us perish together? You are my disciple; how come you can never change this impulsive habit?"
The Orochimaru before her suddenly dissolved into a pile of mud.
Another Orochimaru quietly appeared, looked at the somewhat horrified Anko Mitarashi, extended his palm, and caressed her cheek, "Are you sad? Are you sad I abandoned you back then?"
"..."
Anko Mitarashi's expression was incomparably grim and complex.
Anko indeed deeply hated this teacher for defecting, abandoning her alone in Konoha to face the pointing fingers of others, making her life exceptionally painful.
"Cough cough cough..."
The figure of a young ninja stood above Orochimaru and Anko Mitarashi, looking down at Orochimaru's somewhat intimate gesture towards Anko, and couldn't help saying, "A teacher-student romance? The tragic, deep love between an S-rank rogue ninja and his little disciple? Teach me, ah, I want to learn too!"
"Uehara Naraka!"
Orochimaru's expression changed. How was this bastard so persistent, like a lingering ghost!
Seeing there were others present, the dejection on Anko Mitarashi's face instantly vanished. She clutched the faintly aching curse mark on the back of her neck and abruptly pulled away from Orochimaru!
She had to maintain her resolve as a Konoha ninja!
Moreover, she was still the proctor for these Chunin Exams.
"Should I not have appeared here?"
Uehara Naraka looked at Anko Mitarashi and continued with a light chuckle, "So our proctor and Konoha's S-rank rogue ninja Orochimaru actually have this layer of intimate relationship. No wonder he could sneak into these exams and attack us Genin!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Anko Mitarashi coldly looked up at Uehara Naraka and said coldly, "Idiot, it's dangerous here! You should leave quickly; I can't protect you! Wait... you're just an Ame Genin, how would you know Orochimaru?"
By the time Anko Mitarashi remembered Orochimaru had called out Uehara's name, she completely reacted. She turned her head to look at Orochimaru, only to see her own former teacher looking grimly and vigilantly at the just-appeared Ame Genin!
This hot-blooded idiot from the assembly point earlier, who on earth was he!
(End of Chapter)
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