Mei Terumī came to Konoha with twelve people and left with seventeen.
Although Shinji and the other two were just going through the motions and wouldn't be returning to the Land of Water with her.
Gaara was not restrained, only his chakra points were sealed in advance. It was believed that once they returned to Mist Hidden Village, there would be plenty of people there to make Gaara feel the 'warmth of home.'
Karin, on the other hand, kept her distance from Gaara, not daring to look at him.
It was likely that Gaara's brutal display during the Chūnin Exam had terrified her.
In fact, many people at the Chūnin Exam trembled in fear of Gaara, even questioning their own lives.
In every sense of the word, he was an undeniable monster.
After walking for a while, there was a sudden commotion in the woods, and everyone stopped one after another.
Even Gaara raised his head, with a tiny bit of expectation in his heart, wondering if people from the village had come to rescue him.
If so, he would rather bear the name of a monster again.
Once again... as long as...
"Big Brother Shinji!"
Sasuke, traveling light, had been waiting there for a long time. He knew that before leaving Konoha, he couldn't appear with the Mist Hidden group, so he had run out early.
"Let's go."
Shinji was not surprised. After calling out, he continued on his way.
Relatively speaking, Sasuke preferred this way of interacting, so he immediately ran to Shinji's side, his face stern, and followed closely.
Hidan and the others were already used to it, and even Mei Terumī and Jugo didn't say anything.
However, Karin, Gaara, and the Mist Hidden examinees found it strange. After all, Sasuke was not an unknown figure in the Chūnin Exam; most of them had seen or heard of him.
They couldn't understand why a Konoha Genin was suddenly walking with them.
"This is for you, a gift."
Shinji threw the Kusanagi sword, which he had never used before, to Sasuke.
Sasuke took it, his eyes immediately showing joy, but he still coolly put it away.
"I wanted to give it to you last time, but you fainted again."
Sasuke, who was about to thank him, immediately blushed but still pretended to be calm and said "Oh."
"Have things been handled?"
"Yes, I left a letter for Naruto and the others. They should have seen it by now."
"What did you say in the letter?"
"I said I'm going out to train and get stronger, and they shouldn't come looking for me."
Shinji gave him a speechless look.
"What's wrong, Big Brother Shinji?"
"I think you're just deceiving yourself. You told them not to look for you, but knowing Naruto, will he listen?"
Sasuke thought for a moment and shook his head. "No."
"You're really going to cause trouble for me..."
Shinji sighed and stopped.
"Let's part ways here. Hidan, Tobi, you go in that direction. Stop when it's about time and wait for me."
Since he already knew someone would be chasing after them, it was better not to involve Mei Terumī and the others to avoid trouble.
"Do you need help?"
Mei Terumī asked straightforwardly. Since when had they become a community of shared destiny, where one's fortune was linked to the other's?
"No need. It will be more troublesome if you get involved. I can handle it myself."
Mei Terumī nodded. "Alright, as I said before, Mist Hidden's doors are always open for you. If you have nowhere to go, come to the Land of Water."
"I won't be moved by such empty words. If you're sincere, prepare more curse objects. Maybe next time you can knock me out."
"What a shame, such a good atmosphere." Mei Terumī couldn't help but roll her eyes and then left with her group.
The payment for this time had already been settled and was specifically sent by Mei Terumī.
Looking again, Hidan and Tobi, those scoundrels, were long gone.
They could have at least pretended to ask a few questions. As expected, when dogs grow up, they become rebellious.
...
A moment later, Naruto and the other rookies actually caught up.
"Sasuke! There!"
"Be careful, there's someone else next to him."
"Is that the person called Akagi Shinji?"
"I don't know..."
Shinji and Sasuke slowed their leisurely pace. If they hadn't intentionally wanted to be chased, they would have already disappeared.
"Sasuke, you..."
"What are you guys doing here?"
Wearing the Jashinism cult uniform and holding the Kusanagi sword, Sasuke said coldly.
Shinji next to him was dressed similarly, but he had conjured a ghost mask from blood crystals and put it on his face, not knowing if it was a form of self-deception.
"Of course, we're here to take you back, Sasuke. Did this guy coerce you?" Naruto asked angrily.
Sasuke was speechless. "Didn't you see the letter I left?"
"We saw it."
"..."
Sasuke opened his mouth, momentarily speechless due to Naruto's righteous answer.
"I'll say it again, no one coerced me. I just found a path to quickly become stronger."
"Huh? But Kakashi-sensei can also..."
"That's different! And I can't wait that long. Do you see these eyes? I can become even stronger! That's why I must leave Konoha."
Sasuke activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, exuding a powerful aura!
If one were to ask why Sasuke and Naruto could always have this love-hate relationship, it was mainly because these two had a characteristic that others couldn't imitate: once they set their minds on something, it was useless no matter who tried to change their minds; they were just stubborn!
Sasuke had explained things so clearly, and even Kiba and the others began to hesitate, feeling discouraged.
But Naruto said, "I don't listen, I don't listen! You were coerced, tricked! In any case, you can't leave, stay here with me!"
"It must be this guy's problem. Let go of Sasuke, I absolutely won't let you take him away!"
Naruto's words instantly stunned Shinji next to him. He was completely dumbfounded and confused.
Shinji looked at himself, then at the speechless Sasuke, and understood. This was probably the highest realm of the "talk no jutsu," creating something out of nothing!
With Naruto's charge, the others couldn't stand by and watch and could only join in.
Although the outcome was slightly different from what they had imagined before coming, there was still a slim possibility that Sasuke was being forced.
Forget it, whatever. It's all Shidou's fault anyway!
Wait, who is Shidou?
"Show me the results of your eyes' evolution. Don't go too hard."
Shinji had no intention of making a move himself. If he had to deal with a few brats, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?
Sasuke said, "Leave it to me!"
"One against five? Just what I wanted!"
Sakura didn't join. Only Naruto, Choji, Neji, Kiba, and Shikamaru charged forward.
The sound of birds screeching instantly echoed from Sasuke's hand.
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