Part Time Employee in Konoha

Chapter 244: The Battle at the Valley of the End

Valley of the End.

Two statues stand here.

To commemorate the fierce battle between the founders of the Konoha Village, Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, their opposing statues were erected here.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke are resting here.

They had to rest and recover their chakra after a battle, in order to face the pursuing forces from the Konoha.

The Konoha's pursuers, sent to retrieve the rogue ninja Uchiha Sasuke, were only two people: Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto.

"Truly cold-hearted…"

Orochimaru glanced at Uchiha Sasuke, who was chewing on a military ration pill, and said softly, "I thought you would leave with that little girl named Haruno Sakura. She wanted to leave the village with you, but you slapped her…"

"There was no need."

"Then you should have killed her."

Orochimaru suggested another solution: "Now that she has reported your defection to Konoha, Jiraiya and his disciple are after us…"

"Killing a useless waste doesn't bring me any satisfaction…"

"Moreover, now I can deal with Naruto."

Sasuke glanced indifferently at Orochimaru, and said coldly, "Orochimaru, if you can't even handle Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, then following you would make me even worse than that loser Naruto."

"You really are a sharp-tongued brat…"

Orochimaru squinted his eyes and looked around the Valley of the End: "Then let's settle our scores here!"

"The Valley of the End?"

Sasuke frowned, recalling the legend of this place.

"Isn't it symbolic?"

Orochimaru looked at the statue of Uchiha Madara, then at the statue of Hashirama Senju: "This is where Uchiha Madara and Hashirama, the founders of the Konoha, severed their bonds…"

"Orochimaru!"

As Orochimaru was talking, a deep voice interrupted them!

"Sasuke!"

A youthful voice called out Sasuke's name loudly!

A tall, white-haired man stood with a blond-haired boy at the waterfall, across the river from Orochimaru and Sasuke. Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto had quickly caught up, finally confronting each other again.

"They came so fast…"

Orochimaru's lips curled into a scornful smile, ignoring Jiraiya, and looking at Sasuke: "Sasuke, are you ready?"

"Hmph, just a loser."

Sasuke snorted coldly, feigning indifference, and looked at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, I hope you don't disappoint me…"

"Hmph, just a loser."

Orochimaru laughed contemptuously.

At this moment...

Fate seemed to be repeating itself.

Orochimaru was the top student in the ninja academy, while Jiraiya was the class loser; Uchiha Sasuke was also the top student, while Uzumaki Naruto was the class loser.

"If you lack chakra…"

Orochimaru glanced at Sasuke and smiled: "You can draw on the curse mark I placed on you, it will provide you with chakra…"

"I understand."

Sasuke touched the back of his neck, where a black curse mark was placed by Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya looked at the familiar figure, his face stern: "Killing the Hokage, desecrating the dead, luring village ninjas to defect…"

"This is the path I chose."

Orochimaru smiled at Jiraiya and spread his hands: "And Sasuke wasn't lured by me. The Konoha simply couldn't provide him with enough power…"

"Sasuke!"

Naruto looked at Sasuke standing beside Orochimaru, puzzled: "Why did you leave the village? Why join Orochimaru?"

"It's none of your business."

Sasuke raised his head and narrowed his eyes at Naruto: "What I must do, you will never understand, nor do I need you to…"

For revenge...

For power...

You will never understand!

And...

I don't need your understanding!

Sasuke stared at Naruto, his thoughts drifting, seeing their potential futures.

That idiot who always dreams of becoming Hokage...

He will probably become Hokage, right?

A revenge-driven avenger cloaked in darkness...

He might only become the leader of the Root division supporting Hokage.

Sasuke had contemplated his future while in the Root base, but to enjoy this future, he had to wait until his revenge was complete!

Before that...

He needed to train hard and accumulate power!

Likewise...

He must complete the Root missions to gain more favor from Akihara Kagura, to compete with Karin for the future leadership of Root!

"Sasuke!"

Naruto looked at Sasuke's complex expression, thinking he could still be saved, and said in a deep voice: "Wake up already. You should know what kind of person Orochimaru is. He only wants to take your body!"

"..."

This idiot!

Sasuke took a deep breath!

Although he had been warned by Akihara Kagura and Karin about Orochimaru's intentions, and even knew when Orochimaru would perform his next Living Corpse Reincarnation, revealing Orochimaru's plans now would make it impossible to coexist with him.

"Naruto."

Sasuke's face showed disdain, as if he didn't care, and coldly said: "As long as it gives me power, as long as I can kill Uchiha Itachi, I don't care about anything, even if it costs my life!"

"It's just a body…"

Sasuke clenched his fist, recalling the tragedy of his clan's massacre, his eyes filled with anger: "Since I was eight, I've been a walking corpse. My life is a price for revenge…"

"Sasuke, come back with me…"

Naruto looked at his companion in pain.

"Naruto…"

Sasuke clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking under the pressure, and said coldly: "I've said it before, you can't understand me. No matter what happens, as long as I get power, as long as I can take revenge…"

"..."

Orochimaru smiled smugly, as if showing off to Jiraiya: "You heard him, Jiraiya. This wasn't my doing. Sasuke chose to leave with me…"

"Is that so?"

Jiraiya watched the exchange between Naruto and Sasuke, his gaze turning cold and deep: "If that's the case, why did you return to Konoha? That child was bewitched by you. If I kill you…"

"You always think it's my fault…"

Orochimaru didn't care about Jiraiya's accusation, smiling: "If you want to kill me, then show me your strength… This time, Tsunade won't be helping you!"

It was almost a declaration of war!

The Valley of the End suddenly became silent, as Orochimaru and Jiraiya stared at each other, and Sasuke and Naruto faced off.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto couldn't hold back any longer!

The most impatient of them all rushed towards Orochimaru and Sasuke, sprinting across the river: "No matter what you say, I'm bringing you back today!"

"Naruto…"

Jiraiya couldn't stop his disciple in time, following Naruto across the river, targeting Orochimaru!

There was no need for more words.

The pursuers and the pursued had already chosen their opponents!

Orochimaru and Sasuke charged at their opponents simultaneously, Orochimaru towards Jiraiya, and Sasuke towards Naruto!

"Sasuke!"

"Naruto!"

"Orochimaru!"

"Jiraiya!"

The four clashed on the lake in the Valley of the End!

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya used a fire jutsu as soon as he saw Orochimaru, knowing close combat was pointless against him.

"Water Release: Water Wall Formation!"

Orochimaru countered Jiraiya's fire jutsu.

On the river, water jutsu had the upper hand over fire jutsu!

Compared to the duel of the two Sannin, the fight between Sasuke and Naruto seemed less sophisticated, as the two went at each other with fists and kicks!

Sasuke's taijutsu was superior, grabbing Naruto and slamming him onto the river, while Naruto pulled Sasuke's ankle, throwing him down, the two lower-ranking ninjas fighting fiercely!

"Don't get in my way…"

Sasuke grabbed Naruto's throat but couldn't apply force, gritting his teeth and throwing him away!

"I thought you'd want to kill me…"

Naruto smiled after being thrown off: "Sasuke, you don't want to leave us, right? Let me take you back!"

"You're wrong."

Sasuke's eyes turned cold, throwing a shuriken: "Ninja Art: Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!"

Dozens of shuriken flew in the air!

"Old man's jutsu!"

This move distracted both Orochimaru and Jiraiya!

Seeing their teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen's jutsu used by a kid stirred their emotions.

"Hmph…"

Orochimaru saw Jiraiya's opening, throwing a shuriken: "Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!"

"Damn Orochimaru…"

Jiraiya had no time to counter, sinking into the water to avoid the shuriken barrage.

Naruto copied the move, his chakra disappearing from his feet, sinking into the water to avoid Sasuke's shuriken!

"..."

Master and disciple exchanged glances underwater.

Though they couldn't speak, both understood each other's thoughts. Jiraiya and Naruto simultaneously swam towards their respective opponents!

"Sasuke, be careful!"

Orochimaru warned Sasuke.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Sasuke leaped into the air, spitting a large fireball towards the water!

The flames hit the river, creating steam and raising the water's temperature, forcing Jiraiya and Naruto out!

"So annoying!"

Naruto was the first to emerge, immediately forming a hand seal: "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

With his technique, countless shadow clones appeared on the river, rushing towards Sasuke!

"Such chakra… It's terrifying…"

Orochimaru watched Naruto's clones and couldn't help but praise: "Almost comparable to Akihara Kagura…"

"Do you still have the time to comment?"

Jiraiya appeared before Orochimaru, dripping wet but resolute: "For Naruto's sake, I won't let you go this time!"

With that, Jiraiya spat out a stream of oil!

Using chakra, he condensed the oil, which didn't sink but floated on the water's surface, immune to water jutsu and enhancing fire jutsu!

"An old trick…"

Orochimaru shook his head disdainfully: "If it were Sage Mode, I might be cautious. But with just this…"

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya spat out a flame that ignited the oil on the river!

"Foolish…"

Orochimaru sneered, showing no fear of the flames, and formed a hand seal: "Jiraiya, did you forget? This is a river. The oil flows with the water. Water Release: Water Shockwave!"

The river surged, carrying the burning oil towards Jiraiya!

"..."

Jiraiya had to retreat swiftly!

His hard-prepared jutsus were countered by a single C-rank water jutsu from Orochimaru. It was not going well!

This bastard...

Was he here just to counter him?

"Snakes will always restrain toads."

Orochimaru spoke Jiraiya's thoughts, then looked at the other side of the battle: "Just like the Sharingan can control the Tailed Beasts. Even without the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke can still restrain the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki…"

On the other side of the battle.

Naruto's shadow clones were obliterated by Sasuke's fire jutsu!

Naruto's body was covered by a red chakra cloak, his features becoming more feral, with two large fangs protruding!

"The Nine-Tails…"

Sasuke closed his eyes, recalling his conversation with the Fourth Hokage, Minato, about the red chakra cloak that frequently appeared around Naruto.

At that time, Minato had smiled brightly, seemingly placing all his hopes on Sasuke: "Sasuke, a Jinchūriki's life is different. All Jinchūriki are discriminated against. Naruto must have been ostracized by the village. Finding a companion like you isn't easy…"

"You idiot…"

Sasuke reopened his eyes and sighed inwardly.

Is that why...

Naruto doesn't want to see him leave?

But...

It's also why…

Sasuke chose to accept the Root's mission to defect, intending to compete with Karin for the future leadership of Root after his revenge, and remain Naruto's companion…

~~~

Emo Sasuke is /Bleam

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