"We've arrived, this is the place."
Above the underground laboratory, Orochimaru, dressed in a black robe with red clouds, was walking over with a middle-aged man.
He glanced around, then laughed with a hoarse voice.
"This used to be one of my laboratories, but I abandoned it after some idiot visited it. Calculating the time, the Anbu should have already been here, so you are relatively safe here."
"Relatively safe?"
Hearing this, the middle-aged man couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Your Excellency Orochimaru, I traded the forbidden jutsu of Body Revival with you, and what I want is not 'relatively safe'..."
Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this; he just glanced indifferently at the middle-aged man.
"Do you want to back out, Shinno?"
This middle-aged man was exactly the remnant of the Sky Ninja—Shinno!
On the surface, he was a physician who traveled around the countries healing the wounded and rescuing the dying, but in reality, he had been stealing the secret jutsus of the major ninja villages.
During an operation in Kumogakure, he was accidentally exposed and hunted down, and happened to be saved by Orochimaru, who was also interested in Kumogakure's secret jutsus.
Shinno, who originally wanted to go to Konoha, immediately realized this was an opportunity.
Therefore, he reluctantly made a deal with Orochimaru, which could be considered as preparation for obtaining Konoha's intelligence in the future.
But looking at it now, Orochimaru was even more unreliable than he imagined...
"Of course not, thank you, Your Excellency Orochimaru."
Although dissatisfied in his heart, Shinno immediately chickened out.
He was afraid that Orochimaru would kill him after the deal. After all, this person had a fierce reputation in the Ninja World!
"Rest assured, I have no intention of killing you."
Orochimaru naturally saw through Shinno's thoughts, which made him smile disdainfully.
He had seen Shinno fight, so he naturally knew that the forbidden jutsu of Body Revival was not yet completely perfected.
Although this didn't affect his ability to use it, he didn't have the time to research and develop it.
But Shinno was different; this guy would definitely strive for perfection in developing and researching it, which was exactly what he wanted.
Perhaps, this jutsu could even be convenient for him in the future!
"This is a long-term deal, good for both you and me."
"Yes, yes..."
Shinno nodded guiltily, but Orochimaru paused at this moment.
He inexplicably looked towards the direction of the laboratory, and after a moment, he revealed a smile.
"You still seem a bit worried, so I'll do you one more favor, but you also have to show your value."
"Hmm?"
Shinno was a bit baffled, but the next moment he fiercely leaped backward.
Boom—
The ground surged, and then several tree vines burst out of the soil and swept towards them!
"Wood Release?"
Shinno's face showed some fear; he didn't expect to see that legendary power!
But Orochimaru's face was calm. He formed a hand seal with one hand, and in an instant, a fierce wind surged, tearing those vines apart in a split second.
He licked his lips, looked at the three figures leaping out from underground, and laughed hoarsely.
"I really didn't expect it to be the test subject from back then, and you, Kakashi."
"Orochimaru..."
Kakashi and Tenzo locked their eyes firmly on Orochimaru. This man had caused a massive impact on both of them!
Hyuga Makoto, on the other hand, glanced at Orochimaru's clothes, and soon he looked at Shinno, his expression becoming a bit strange.
"It's actually this guy. Do they already have contact now?"
Having seen the movie, he naturally remembered Shinno, and he was also quite displeased with this guy.
"What the hell are you, daring to use this name?"
But displeasure aside, he was also thinking rapidly about what to do.
"Alright, the mice have come out."
But at this moment, Orochimaru licked his tongue and glanced at Shinno.
"I will do you this final favor, but whether you are safe or not depends on yourself."
As he spoke, a substantive murderous intent erupted from his body along with chakra.
This power caused the surrounding trees to sway. In the next instant, he suddenly sprang up and arrived in front of the three in a flash!
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall."
Tenzo instantly formed hand seals, and a huge curved wooden wall blocked in front of them, while Kakashi quickly spoke.
"Makoto, find an opportunity to leave here immediately."
"That's right, this intelligence needs you to pass it back."
Tenzo also turned his head to look at him, his expression becoming extremely serious.
"Rest assured, we will protect you."
Rumble—
As soon as the words fell, the Wood Locking Wall was already shattered by Orochimaru, his eyes full of amusement.
"Want to cover this brat's escape? How do I remember, Kakashi, that you killed your teammate back then?"
"Go!"
Kakashi didn't respond; he just pushed Hyuga Makoto heavily, then wanted to turn around to find Shinno.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru's speed was too fast; he instantly blocked both of them.
Rumble—
In an instant, roaring sounds continuously rose from all sides, and the radiating chakra made one's heartbeat accelerate.
"Brat, don't even think about leaving!"
Hyuga Makoto landed steadily, and Shinno had already blocked his way.
Shinno actually didn't want to fight, but he couldn't stand Orochimaru being too unreliable.
He still had to go to Konoha in the future, so he couldn't expose his identity in advance!
Buzz—
Thinking of this, his chakra surged, and in an instant, his body underwent a change.
His originally graying hair turned back to pitch-black, and his body also became muscular.
His figure moved, and he instantly rushed in front of Hyuga Makoto.
"Just stay right here!"
Accompanied by the howling wind, his thick fist struck out swiftly and fiercely.
However, Hyuga Makoto just glanced at him calmly, and the chakra in his body also suddenly moved.
Bang—
In the next instant, the two fists collided heavily.
A visible wave of air turned into a shockwave, rapidly spreading in all directions!
"You..."
Shinno's pupils shrank slightly. This kid's speed was actually so fast, and his strength so great?
The chakra covering the fist, like a roaring lion, also made him immediately understand something.
"The Hyuga Clan?"
"You guessed right, and besides, I never said I was going to leave."
Hyuga Makoto's voice was flat. Then, his body leaped forward, instantly closing in on Shinno!
At this time, he really didn't plan to leave. Not to mention that Kakashi had taken good care of him recently, his personality wouldn't allow him to abandon his teammates and run away.
Even if Kakashi truly had some jinx attributes—taking a mission and unexpectedly encountering so many strong enemies in a row.
As for why he took these missions, let's not mention it for now...
Most importantly, looking at Orochimaru's actions and Shinno's transformation, he had already figured out the key!
"This guy is still useful to Orochimaru..."
Hyuga Makoto's eyes flickered. Recalling that Orochimaru sent Sasuke to catch this guy, he already knew what he had to do.
And right at this moment, his system suddenly flashed.
[Acquired a new side quest]
[1. Turn the blade inward: Help Orochimaru deal with Kakashi and Tenzo]
[2. Comrades are the most worthy of cherishing: Assist Kakashi and Tenzo in dealing with the crisis]
"This is really an unexpected harvest..."
Looking at this new quest, Hyuga Makoto found it somewhat amusing.
However, having one more quest meant having one more guarantee, not to mention he also wanted to test the abilities of the Tenseigan.
Right now was a perfect opportunity!
While thinking, he fiercely attacked Shinno while secretly pouring chakra into his eyes.
In an instant, he faintly felt a power in the sky resonating with him.
This power was so familiar; it felt as if he could mobilize it at will!
"So, it can be used like this..."
Sensing the power in the sky, a hint of excitement appeared in Hyuga Makoto's eyes.
But Shinno, who was fighting him, had an increasingly ugly expression.
"What exactly is going on with this brat?"
Not only was Hyuga Makoto fast and strong, but he also seemed to be able to see through his attacks!
Every time he was about to strike, he had already been anticipated in advance.
"How is this the Byakugan..."
Shinno currently had the same feeling as Ao, combined with that chaotic Gentle Fist.
He felt as if he had encountered a fake Hyuga!
The more he fought, the more stifled and disheveled he became, and his attacks also started to become somewhat chaotic.
"Is this all you've got?"
But just as he was feeling frustrated and distracted, Hyuga Makoto suddenly spoke.
At the same time, the Eight Trigrams Palm also broke through his defense!
"Oh no!"
Shinno's expression changed, and he immediately tried to block, but Hyuga Makoto had already struck his abdomen with a punch like a phantom!
Bang—
Accompanied by a muffled sound, Shinno's eyes instantly bulged out, and his whole body flew backward like a cannonball...
...