Naruto: Starting from the Reincarnation of the Otsutsuki

Chapter 103 So what? I'm even stronger!

rustling...

A few faint, almost inaudible footsteps echoed slowly from the depths of the forest.

The sound of footsteps was scattered by the night wind and then covered by layers of weeds and fallen leaves.

If this place weren't so secluded, probably no one would have noticed that a small team was silently approaching in this dark forest.

Occasionally a breeze would sweep by, and the shattered moonlight would sway in its wake.

Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, a Konoha squad silently appeared, each member's aura suppressed to an extremely low level, their footsteps as light as if they were treading on water.

Even so, this team still exudes a sense of oppression.

"Hokage-sama, this is it..." Minato Namikaze looked around, then turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was wearing black armor and had a solemn expression.

"According to intelligence gathered by the village's spies, and our previous investigations with Jiraiya-sensei, rumors about the First Hokage and 'Uchiha Madara' have been frequently circulating in the Land of Grass recently."

At this point, Minato paused slightly, then added, "There were also some random thoughts about Ao mixed in. However, most of that information didn't stand up to scrutiny, so Jiraiya and I classified it as false information."

"Now it seems that those messages were likely spread deliberately by someone."

"To be more precise—it seems that Madara Uchiha was waiting for Ao's arrival here, and that's why he deliberately released these messages."

Waiting for ————

Hiruzen Sarutobi repeatedly pondered the information Minato had brought him, while his gaze remained firmly fixed on the massive cave in the distance.

It is unknown whether it was created by the wondrous hand of nature or forcibly carved out by human means.

The mountain wall split open to both sides, and the deep cave entrance resembled a silent, gaping maw, swallowing all the light between heaven and earth.

Even from a distance, everyone could still feel the chilling aura emanating from the depths of the cave.

"This terrain isn't recorded on any map," Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly. "It seems this is the place."

After saying that, he turned to look at the people behind him.

At this moment, those following him were all the true elites of Konoha.

Further out, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already dispatched his ANBU to seal off the area.

No matter what happens next, the commotion here won't easily spread.

"One cough!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his Vajra Staff and charged forward.

Several figures followed closely behind, swiftly passing through the forest at great speed, yet maintaining the optimal distance for support and counterattack.

However, just as the group stepped into the shadows surrounding the cave...

"Hokage-sama, watch out for the ground!" Hiashi Hyuga quickly warned.

Almost the instant he finished speaking, the people at the front reacted simultaneously and leaped into the air.

"Hiss... hiss..."

The ground, which was originally covered with withered grass, moss and gravel, suddenly rippled with eerie waves. Then, seven or eight pale white figures emerged from the ground in a spiral shape!

As soon as the monsters appeared, they pounced on Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was at the forefront, in a crisscross pattern.

"It's those guys again!"

Accompanied by a delicate shout.

Boom!

A terrifying, monstrous force erupted from the fist, instantly causing the ground to cave in, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading wildly in all directions.

The few White Zetsu that had just emerged from the ground were blasted to pieces by this sudden, monstrous force before they even had a chance to fully form their battle formation.

Those White Zetsu who were still lurking underground, preparing to launch a sneak attack, were also caught off guard by this punch.

"Aaaaaah!!"

"Help me, duck~~"

"What incredible strength!"

"Is this woman a monster?!"

"I haven't even come out yet, how did I get hit?!"

Various strange and annoying sounds came from beneath the shattered earth.

Several White Zetsu were shaken and twisted, but they still managed to clown around.

But before they could speak again...

shhhhhh! ! !

Seven or eight specially made kunai suddenly shot out.

Golden light flashed continuously, forming a nearly straight yellow line in mid-air.

Swish!Swish!Swish!

In a mere instant, the White Zetsu who had been sent flying into the air by Tsunade's punch clutched their throats and fell stiffly to the ground.

Thick, white liquid spurted from their wounds.

However, before the liquid could fall on the Konoha team, swarms of black insects suddenly rose into the air.

Buzz....

The dense swarms of parasites formed a black curtain, swallowing up all the scattered white liquid.

Moments later, the swarm of insects regrouped.

Aburame Ryoma and Aburame Shiki raised their hands almost simultaneously, retracting the parasitic insects in the air. They exchanged a glance, then Ryoma whispered, "Hokage-sama, it's the same as what was found in the village. These white creatures do indeed possess characteristics similar to Hashirama's cells."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly.

really.

We finally found it.

After reporting, Aburame Ryoma stepped back and rejoined the ranks.

Although he was also shocked, as a ninja secretly trained by Root for many years, he had already suppressed his emotions to instinct.

Moreover, Lord Danzo's orders still echoed in his ears, constantly reminding Aburame Ryoma.

"Ryuma, this time I need you to take my place in the Third Hokage's operation to eliminate Madara Uchiha."

"Make sure you remember all the information present."

"Especially those white creatures, we must find a way to obtain their production methods."

"Only by obtaining their secrets can I possibly break free from Orochimaru's control."

Therefore, from the moment the battle began, Ryoma Aburame had been observing.

The way White Zetsu appears, its stealth ability, its bodily fluid reactions, and its feedback after being devoured by parasites.

He memorized every single detail.

"Ryoma." At that moment, Shiki Aburame, who was standing not far from him, suddenly spoke in a low voice.

As members of the same Aburame clan, the two did not need to exchange many words.

The Aburame tribe is not good at expressing emotions, but they have their own ways of recognizing the state of their fellow tribesmen.

Aburame Shiki could sense that Aburame Ryoma's insect swarm fluctuations were somewhat abnormal at the moment.

"Are your bugs alright?"

"It's alright," Ryoma Aburame responded briefly, then whispered, "Be careful from now on. This time, the enemy—"

However, before he could finish speaking, Hiashi Hyuga's voice rang out again.

"Lord Hokage, here we go again!"

Everyone's expression tightened.

Hiruzen Sarutobi initially thought it was another White Zetsu attacking from underground, but the next moment, everyone realized something was wrong.

This time, it wasn't the sound of churning earth that rang out.

It was the sound of footsteps.

Ta-da...

It was as if someone was emerging from the depths of a cave, step by step, each step feeling as if it were treading on everyone's hearts.

The gazes of everyone in Konoha swept past the rock shattered by Tsunade's punch and fixed firmly on the deep cave ahead.

At the same time, an arrogant, deep, yet powerful voice slowly emanated from the depths of the cave.

"Incredible strength...just like Hashirama's..."

'

"The familiar Flying Thunder God... is it an improved version of Tobirama's Flying Thunder God?"

"Heh—" The man chuckled lightly, disdainfully saying, "I didn't expect the other clans of Konoha to come as well. Sarutobi brat, you're more cautious than I thought."

As the voice slowly rang out, everyone's mood sank lower and lower.

Especially the leader, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He stared intently at the figure deep within the cave, his heart filled with turmoil.

That sound—

Is that Ban's voice?

The sounds I remember have long since faded.

Yet that sense of oppression, that arrogant tone that seemed to take it for granted, subtly overlapped with a certain figure in Hiruzen Sarutobi's memory, and the man mentioned in the handwritten notes left by his teacher.

But the question is—why is his voice so full of energy?

According to their original assessment, even if Madara Uchiha was still alive, he should be extremely old.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to find a way to immortalize himself by massacring members of the evil cult.

But now, judging from this voice, the other person doesn't sound like an old man on his deathbed at all.

"Could it be..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart pounded wildly, his gaze fixed on the depths of the cave.

Did those bizarre sacrificial and regeneration methods really allow Madara Uchiha to regain his youth?

He glanced sideways at Hyuga Hiashi, who stood beside him with a solemn expression.

Almost without him needing to remind him, Hiashi Hyuga had already activated his Byakugan to its maximum.

At this moment, in Hyuga Hiashi's vision, almost everything around him was exposed.

The flow of chakra behind the rock wall, the residual White Zetsu reaction underground, and the figure slowly approaching from the depths of the cave.

All the scenes were transformed into distinct black and white outlines under the observation of the White Eye.

Can...

"How—is this possible—" Hiashi Hyuga's pupils suddenly contracted, and he couldn't help but utter a sound.

Everyone glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes, waiting for what would happen next.

"He—" Hiashi Hyuga's voice tightened, his lips dry, "His chakra is so powerful, even more powerful than the Hokage's?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone except for the core group led by Hiruzen Sarutobi was shocked.

More powerful than the Hokage?

How is that possible?

If we're talking about Madara Uchiha in his younger days, fighting alongside the First Hokage, it's normal that he was stronger than the Hokage.

But how much time has passed now?

Is Ban, who is approaching 100 years old, still this powerful?

However, before Hiashi Hyuga could gather more information...

"Ahhh!" he suddenly screamed, covering his eyes with his hands and staggering backward.

"Hiashi!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed drastically, and he looked to the side.

Hiashi Hyuga's face was deathly pale, cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead, and his condition was visibly deteriorating.

Those Byakugan eyes, which were originally at their maximum opening, trembled violently as if they had been subjected to some kind of impact.

This is----

Illusion?!

"The Byakugan is indeed very strong."

The voice rang out again from inside the cave.

"But so what?"

"I'm stronger."

"9