Chapter 388: This Is an Unjust Accusation!
"Where's that thing?!"
"Oh no, when did it disappear?"
The next morning, everyone woke up to find that the object beneath Sasuke was gone.
Last night, Sai and Shinraku Tanuki had been pressing down on Sasuke from both sides. Sasuke couldn't even turn over, so how did it vanish?
"Hm? Where is this?"
Sasuke pretended to be woken up by the commotion. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, looking confused.
In reality, he had already woken up once before dawn.
The expired soldier pill had given him diarrhea, but some of its contents were still effective, helping him recover a bit of stamina and chakra.
After waking, Sasuke calmly observed his surroundings and made a decision.
He had to secretly release the thing under him.
He couldn't let the Second Hokage develop any more prejudice against the Uchiha.
Especially after the Turtle Island incident while searching for Naruto, Sasuke had realized that he looked somewhat like Madara's younger brother, Uchiha Izuna, the one who had been famously cut down by the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Slash.
He had to study hard and improve himself, clearly distinguishing himself from Izuna. Otherwise, if one day the Second Hokage, like Kakashi with bad eyesight, mistook him for someone else, that would be disastrous.
Against space-time ninjutsu like Flying Thunder God, even having the Rinnegan wouldn't guarantee safety.
So Sasuke quietly arched his body and let the object escape.
Sai and Shinraku Tanuki could only restrain Sasuke's unconscious movements, not prevent him from deliberately releasing it.
"Sasuke, you're awake? Great. Then tell us, what were you doing yesterday? That Impure World Reincarnation body part under you is gone. Whose was it?"
Inuzuka Kiba hurried over to ask.
Sasuke himself looked clean, aside from a faint smell.
Although he had diarrhea from the expired pill, Akamaru had sneaked a midnight snack and cleaned everything up for him.
"Oh, that? After gaining a new power, I casually used Impure World Reincarnation through Orochimaru to summon someone as a sparring partner. Yesterday I overexerted myself while practicing a technique and fainted. Thanks for taking care of me."
Sasuke covered one eye and explained calmly.
"I see. Then the mission is complete."
Sai opened his scroll and recorded the result.
Sasuke quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"Sasuke."
Aburame Shino suddenly appeared behind him and spoke.
It startled Sasuke.
"Who are you?"
"…Aburame Shino."
"What is it?"
"Sasuke, your answer just now was too perfect. It doesn't sound like something you would normally say. It's more like the kind of excuse Naruto would come up with after getting into trouble…"
Shino adjusted his glasses as he analyzed.
"…"
A bead of sweat rolled down Sasuke's forehead.
This highlighted the difference between Shikamaru and Shino once again.
Nara Shikamaru might be smart, but he was lazy and low-key.
Shino was different. Because of his low presence, he actively tried to contribute more and make himself noticeable.
"Yeah, Shino makes a good point."
Kiba chimed in, eyeing Sasuke suspiciously.
"…"
Sasuke sensed everyone's gazes changing. He knew he was in danger.
These classmates all had big mouths.
If they found out, the entire Konoha, and eventually the whole ninja world, would know.
Fortunately, he had released the thing in advance. Otherwise, if Kiba got hold of it, he might track the scent all the way to the Second Hokage.
So this is how you want to play?
Fine. If you're being unreasonable, don't blame me for being ruthless.
Sasuke's expression gradually turned cold.
The eye he had been covering, which had reverted to normal due to chakra exhaustion, now transformed back into a tomoe Rinnegan.
After his earlier experiments, Sasuke had learned to swap objects with objects.
As for precision-cut swaps, he decided not to use them for now.
They consumed too much chakra.
Unless facing an extremely durable enemy, it was better to stick with Chidori.
"Shino, Kiba… what's that behind you?"
Sasuke suddenly changed expression and pointed behind them with innocent curiosity.
"Huh? What?"
Kiba turned around in confusion.
To his surprise, something was sticking out of his back pocket.
Looking at Shino, it was the same for him.
Without suspicion, Kiba casually pulled the item out in front of everyone.
A pair of underwear.
"Whose is this? Why is it in my pocket?"
He sniffed it and made a disgusted face.
"…So now you admit that's your pocket?"
Sasuke stared at him coldly.
"…What are you talking about? It's my pants, of course it's my pocket! This..."
Kiba still hadn't figured it out.
Until two male members of the sealing squad, aside from Sai and Shinraku Tanuki, awkwardly admitted that their underwear was missing.
One of them even pointed at what Kiba was holding and said it was his.
"Kiba… this is too much. I didn't expect you also…"
Hinata Hyuga lowered her head and poked her fingers together as she spoke softly.
What do you mean "also"?
"I didn't expect you two to be perverts too!"
Yamanaka Ino said angrily.
Again, what do you mean "too"?
Sasuke remained expressionless.
"Wait!"
Just as Shino tried to explain, another sealing squad member suddenly cried out.
He reached into his pants and pulled out a bug.
It had just bitten him.
"Shino, that's your insect, right? You are caught red-handed. You and Kiba not only stole someone's underwear last night, but even left behind evidence…"
Haruno Sakura stepped back with a look of disgust.
At this point, the corner of Sasuke's mouth lifted slightly.
He hadn't expected that doing something Naruto would do could actually be this satisfying.
Hmph.
Serves you right for trying to expose me.
Now the focus has shifted, hasn't it?
"Ahem. Since everything's fine, I still need to head to the Amegakure. Goodbye."
Sasuke stood up, preparing to leave.
"Alright, Sasuke, go ahead. Leave these two perverts to us. We'll definitely report this to Tsunade-sama!"
Sakura clenched her fists.
"We didn't do it! We're innocent! This is a wrongful accusation. This is a complete injustice!"
After Sasuke left, Kiba wailed, beating his chest in despair.
"Wait! Akamaru, come here! Smell it! If there's anyone else's scent besides mine and that sealing ninja's, we'll know who framed me!"
At his most desperate, Kiba finally came up with a plan and called Akamaru over.
"Woof woof."
Akamaru sniffed it, then shook his head.
Kiba's face turned pale.
No one understood Akamaru's words, but everyone understood the head shake.
Not only had Akamaru failed to clear Kiba's name,
it made him look even more guilty.
(End of this chapter)