Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 127 I accept your challenge on behalf of Teacher Kai! (Third update! Bonus chapter coming soon!)

The night was getting darker and darker.

The moon looked down at the ground from the sky.

Uehara Naraku's figure moved through the Forest of Death. He did not choose to slack off, but instead quietly appeared in a secluded corner, observing several figures under the moonlight.

Class 3.

Hyuga Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee.

Their ninja squad's plan was quite interesting: they would pretend not to do anything during the day, and only begin their operation after nightfall.

I don't know what they were thinking.

Their Jonin instructor, Might Guy, didn't teach them any strategies.

Neji Hyuga, the leader, tossed a shuriken to the ground and said in a deep voice, "All our opponents are resting now. Let's move out under cover of darkness. We'll split up and gather intelligence in different directions. We must regroup here after dawn. Dismissed!"

"good!"

"yes!"

The three of them each chose a direction and leaped away from the spot.

Neji Hyuga chose to face the tower, as the enemies he encountered there were likely to be moving very fast, increasing the chances of danger.

Neji Hyuga believed himself to be the strongest in the team, so he naturally took on the responsibility of being the strongest, and he could also use his Byakugan to scout.

What's more, he was the strongest newcomer in the previous season!

The nine rookies in this year's Konoha were really terrible. Even Sasuke Uchiha was no good. That guy Sasuke was even beaten up by Rock Lee.

Therefore, among all the candidates in the Chunin Exams, Hyuga Neji did not believe that anyone could defeat him, not even a team of Genin.

As Hyuga Neji was running, he suddenly saw a figure in a large tree ahead, and the figure seemed to be looking at his location.

Hyuga Neji frowned, which meant he had been exposed!

However, Hyuga Neji had estimated that he was probably the strongest person in this Chunin Exam, so he wasn't particularly panicked.

The next second, the figure on the big tree suddenly disappeared.

"Byakugan - Open!"

Hyuga Neji activated his Byakugan and watched as a figure rushed towards him at high speed. However, the immense chakra emanating from that figure caused Hyuga Neji's expression to change drastically!

That person's chakra strength was stronger than Neji had ever seen before!

When Hyuga Neji finally saw the person's face clearly, his expression changed again: "It's that guy named Uehara Naraku!"

That guy who was so arrogant during the written test!

Hyuga Neji even commented that an arrogant ninja like Uehara Naraku would never be able to pass the second stage, the Forest of Death. Little did he know that Naraku's arrogance stemmed from his ability to back it up.

"hello!"

While greeting him, Uehara Naraku rammed his arm into Hyuga Neji's chest, sending him flying with a powerful blow!

The genius with the disdainful eyes clutched his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He watched weakly as the enemy approached, uttering only a desperate question: "I...lost? How could the gap be so vast? I couldn't even withstand a single blow from the enemy..."

"If you can withstand even one move from someone as strong as me, doesn't that mean there's something wrong with my strength?"

Uehara Naraku chuckled, grabbed Hyuga Neji by the collar, and threw him back to the designated meeting point for Team 3.

Seeing the despair in the eyes of the genius boy with the disdainful look in his eyes, Uehara Naraku chuckled and comforted him, "Don't worry, I'll send your teammates to keep you company soon."

Neji Hyuga's despair deepened as he gritted his teeth and said, "You...you've been spying on us all this time?"

"Should be, perhaps, maybe?"

Uehara Naraku tilted his head and vanished from Neji's sight in a flash.

After a while, Uehara Naraku returned again, carried the unconscious Tenten to Hyuga Neji's side, and then disappeared again.

Hyuga Neji: "..."

Isn't that a bit shameless?

It's one thing for Uehara Naraku to only beat up a boy like him, but why does he also bully a little girl like Tenten?

Hyuga Neji sighed inwardly, guessing that Rock Lee would probably be brought over by Uehara Naraku soon!

Before the third squad could gather any intelligence, they were wiped out in separate groups!

That's a bit embarrassing...

However, after waiting for a long time, Neji Hyuga still didn't see Rock Lee arrive.

Uehara Naraku failed to capture Rock Lee because Rock Lee happened to run into Maruboshi Kosuke, an elderly genin who was inquiring about him everywhere.

Even Kosuke was saying bad things about him.

"This guy has a really bad temper."

When Kosuke Maruhoshi was chatting with Rock Lee, he spoke somewhat subjectively about Naraku Uehara's numerous misdeeds: "I suspect he might have his eye on you little guys, and he might just want to get some mental pleasure from defeating you."

Naraku Uehara: "..."

How did Grandpa Kosuke come to this conclusion? Although bullying Konoha's newcomers does give him a lot of pleasure, his main motivation is the mission!

"what?"

Rock Lee quickly made a hand gesture: "I must face any formidable enemy head-on! Especially an enemy with such a vicious personality and formidable strength. If I encounter him, I will use my youth and passion to show him what the true path of a ninja is!"

"How wonderful..."

Looking at Rock Lee's bodysuit, Kosuke Maruhoshi sighed softly, "Seeing you, little guy, reminds me of someone who, like me, spent many years as a genin!"

Unfortunately, that genin named Might Guy died in the war.

It is said that he unleashed his power before his death, defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the strongest squad in Kirigakure.

"Youth is all about passion and excitement!"

Rock Lee clenched his fist tightly and said in a deep voice, "Senior, I can't waste my youth any longer!"

"Are you leaving?"

Maruhoshi Kosuke nodded with a sigh and said, "Alright, be careful on the road. If you encounter that ninja named Uehara Naraku, you can fire this signal flare..."

After saying that, Kosuke Maruboshi handed Rock Lee a signal flare.

However, before Rock Lee could even take the flare, a card that flew by suddenly sliced ​​it in two!

"Senior, watch out!"

A look of alertness instantly appeared on Lee Locke's face!

Maruboshi Kosuke's expression also turned serious. He suddenly drew a shuriken and threw it in the direction the card had come from: "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

Countless shuriken appeared in the air, almost covering a large area. Anyone who stayed in that area would definitely not survive!

Looking at the countless shuriken that appeared in an instant, Rock Lee couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Your ninjutsu is truly amazing!"

Before Maruboshi Kosuke could answer, a young man's voice rang out: "The Shadow Clone Technique is a ninjutsu researched by the Third Hokage of Konoha, so it should not be underestimated."

A figure emerged from the depths of the forest, a kind smile on his face. He waved to the two of them, saying, "Old man, I've been so good to you, do you really enjoy talking badly about me behind my back?"

Maruhoshi Kosuke shook his head and sighed, "Although I know you're not inherently bad, what you did was certainly not ethical... Of the nine new recruits from Konoha and the three from Sunagakure, only Team 7 should be spared, right?"

"I have other plans for them."

Uehara Naraku smiled and shook his head, pointing a finger at Rock Lee, and said softly, "Senior Kosuke, may I fight this kid first?"

I've always heard that Might Guy of Konoha is a master of taijutsu, the strongest taijutsu master in the ninja world, so I really want to challenge him.

"It's a pity I've never had that opportunity. It's very fortunate for me to be able to challenge his disciple now. Rock Lee, are you willing to accept my challenge?"

Maruhoshi Kosuke frowned and said in a deep voice, "Uehara Naraku, let's go to the tower..."

However, before Maruboshi Kosuke could finish speaking, he saw Rock Lee, whom he was protecting, leap high into the air, do a 360-degree spin in mid-air, and land in front of Uehara Naraku!

Rock Lee suddenly extended his thumb, his eyes almost blazing with fire, and he flashed a confident, hearty smile, his teeth gleaming faintly in the moonlight!

"Alright, on behalf of Teacher Kai, I accept your challenge! Before you fight Teacher Kai, let me first experience your youth!"

After saying that, Rock Lee even held up a hand.

Uehara Naraku could hardly bear to look at that smile. His forehead twitched involuntarily. He patted Rock Lee's hand, and the agreement to fight was reached.

Back when he first joined Akatsuki, he laughed just as heartily as Rock Lee does now. No wonder none of the rogue ninjas in Akatsuki liked him…

Damn, he looks like a hot-blooded idiot!

(End of this chapter)