Chapter 33 Erzhuzi's Obsession
As fellow Ninja of the same generation, Shikamaruand the others never expected Naruto to be this strong now.
Before this, Naruto had left everyone with the impression of being a troublemaker whose strength was at the Dead Last.
But at this moment, what Shikamaru and the others saw in Naruto was an indescribable power.
This power was even comparable to, or perhaps even surpassed, the Jonin-level experts in the village.
One must know that facing the Sound Four, many Jonin would likely find it difficult to cope.
Now, Naruto had, by himself, dealt with these four powerful individuals, which was enough to prove Naruto's growth.
"This guy! When did he grow to this extent?"
"Are we falling behind, or has he run ahead of us?"
Shikamaru couldn't help but mutter to himself, clearly feeling that he could no longer compare himself to Naruto.
Despite being of the same generation, Narutoseemed to have already pulled several lengths ahead of their group.
This kind of gap wasn't something that could be closed in a short time.
Lee, who was beside him, upon realizing this, changed his usual passionate demeanor and seemed to be deep in thought.
Perhaps he also realized the gap between him and Naruto, but just didn't know what to do.
However, Neji, upon seeing Naruto's immense strength at this moment, finally felt at peace.
Previously, Naruto had defeated him in the Chunin Exams, which had always bothered him.
From beginning to end, in Neji's eyes, Naruto was nothing more than a perennial Dead Last.
But he never expected that the perennial Dead Last had now rushed to the very front.
"It seems I didn't lose unfairly before!"
"I should also work hard, Naruto! I will catch up to you!"
Neji's lips curved slightly upward, his mind already made up.
"Yo! With these troubles out of the way, it's time to bring Two Sticks back!"
Just as Shikamaru, Lee, and Neji fell into silence, Naruto finally turned his head.
However, just as he was about to look for the wooden barrel where Sasuke was sealed, he found that the barrel was already shattered.
Sasuke, who had been sealed inside, was already gone.
Seeing this, Naruto naturally knew that Sasuke had probably completed the second state of the curse mark.
In the original story, Naruto lost due to this damned second state of the curse mark, which allowed Sasuke to leave.
However, the current Naruto was not worried about this so-called second state of the curse mark.
Because the current Naruto was not the Narutofrom the original story.
"Heh, it seems this battle is unavoidable, but that's fine, let Two Sticks see the true gap between us!"
After muttering to himself, Naruto looked at Shikamaru and the others again.
"Leave the rest to me, you guys go see if Gaaraneeds any help!"
"I'm going to find Two Sticks and have a good talk!"
As Naruto spoke, he ran straight towards the Valley of the End.
Watching Naruto go after Sasuke alone, Shikamaruinitially wanted to stop him.
But when Shikamaru thought about Naruto's strength, which was already at the Jonin level, he ultimately shook his head.
In his opinion, perhaps trusting Naruto now was the right thing to do.
If they followed, they might become a burden.
Thinking this, Shikamaru, Lee, and Neji finally carried Choji and Kiba on their backs and began to walk towards the other side.
In the forest on the other side, the battle between Gaara and Kimimaro had reached a fever pitch.
It must be said that in the original story, the battle between the two strongest individuals in the early stages was quite terrifying.
By the time Shikamaru and the others arrived, the scene was already in disarray.
Kimimaro and Gaara were both already covered in wounds.
Seeing this, Lee's blood immediately surged, and he rushed forward.
However, Lee at this time was incredibly weak, and he was almost instantly sent flying by Kimimaro.
Although Shikamaru and Neji were injured, they could still help.
But before they could make a move, they were stopped by Gaara.
"You don't need to interfere! This guy is mine!"
As Gaara spoke, he attacked again, and Kimimaro, seeing this, finally drew a bone sword from his spine.
The peak duel between the two was about to ignite.
On the other side, Naruto quickly arrived at the Valley of the End, his speed astonishing due to the use of Nine-Tailed Chakra.
Standing before the two giant statues in the Valley of the End, Naruto couldn't help but sigh.
"It was here that Two Sticks embarked on that path of no return!"
"This must be his destiny!"
Naruto jumped onto one of the statues, waiting for Sasuke's arrival.
In the original story, when Naruto caught up here, Two Sticks was exactly on the opposite statue.
However, at this moment, Sasuke had clearly not yet arrived, and Naruto was not in a hurry, sitting on the top of the statue's head and waiting.
The Valley of the End was originally the place where Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had fought.
The two statues here were the Hand Seals of Reconciliation they made to end their battle.
But Naruto knew very well that from today onwards, peace would no longer exist here.
Just as Naruto was looking at the two statues with some emotion, lost in thought, a figure finally landed on the other statue in the distance.
That figure was none other than the late-arriving Sasuke.
At this moment, Sasuke's face and eyes had changed, likely due to his mastery of the second state of the curse mark.
Looking at Sasuke's neither-human-nor-ghost appearance, Naruto couldn't help but feel helpless.
"Yo, you guy, it seems you're determined to go find Orochimaru, aren't you!"
"Has hatred and jealousy already blinded your eyes?"
Naruto spoke first, but as Naruto exposed Sasuke's inner thoughts, Sasuke couldn't help but become angry.
"Hmph, you Dead Last idiot, what do you understand!"
"You have no right to lecture me!"
"I advise you not to meddle, go back to Konoha!"
As Sasuke spoke, he decisively turned around, seemingly preparing to leave.
However, just as Sasuke was getting a bit impatient, Naruto continued to speak.
"Heh, I'm not meddling, it's just that we are comrades, after all!"
"I came here just to give you a few reminders!"
"It's up to you whether to stay or go!"
Naruto then revealed Orochimaru's true reason for wanting Sasuke to come to him.
Naruto was too familiar with the original story on this point; now he chose to tell Sasuke, simply giving him the choice.
However, after hearing Naruto's words, Sasukedidn't get angry but instead laughed.
"Heh, do you think I'm that stupid?"
"Of course I know what he wants to do to me, but as long as I can get stronger, I don't care!"
"Once I become stronger, I will kill him with my own hands!"
Sasuke seemed full of confidence, but in Naruto's eyes, he was merely too deeply entrenched in his obsession with revenge.
Naruto knew he couldn't persuade Sasuke to come back with him, and he didn't want to forcibly change the plot.
So, in the end, Naruto sighed and stood up from the statue.
"Alright, then let's have a fight here, so you can see the difference!"
"Perhaps it will give you more motivation!"