Adopted by Tsunade [117-118] (Patreon)

Chapter 117: Ino Is Swayed by Handsome Looks

"Yay, I'll get to see Sasuke again soon!"

Sakura clenched her fists, her pink hair swaying with excitement.

"Sasuke doesn't even like you."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Forehead, I suggest you take out Naruto. He's your biggest love rival."

"Ino-pig! What nonsense are you spouting?"

Sakura flared up. "Naruto's a boy. How could Sasuke possibly like him?"

"Who knows?"

Ino lost interest in arguing and turned to look out the window.

She wondered if that handsome guy named Natsume was still around.

She'd forgotten to ask where he lived.

"You're acting weird!"

Sakura finally sensed something was off.

Ino actually wasn't fighting her for ownership of Sasuke today.

This was unprecedented.

The two of them had been best friends since childhood, with similar personalities and tastes, which was why they both liked Sasuke.

But now Ino was acting completely out of character.

"Hey, Ino-pig, what's up with you?" Sakura asked, worried.

"I'm fine."

Ino looked at her in confusion.

Honestly, competing with Sakura over Sasuke was just bickering—her way of expressing friendship.

At her age, she didn't really understand love.

Of course, part of it was that Sasuke was undeniably handsome.

"…?"

Sakura frowned and asked bluntly, "Then why aren't you excited? Usually, you're more worked up than me at times like this."

"No, I'm not."

Ino denied it flatly. "I'm just excited because school's about to end."

"You're lying!"

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Is it because of that handsome guy from today?"

"No!"

Ino answered without hesitation.

But Sakura knew her too well—she was just being stubborn and refusing to admit it.

Still, this betrayal was a bit too fast, wasn't it?

One meeting and she'd already abandoned Sasuke.

Sakura suddenly thought of something. Without Ino as a rival, wouldn't that mean…?

Wait!

There was still Naruto.

Damn it!

Why did he get to take up most of Sasuke's time?

Seeing that Sakura didn't press further, Ino let out a secret sigh of relief.

To be honest, she was a little confused herself.

But… he was just too handsome!

Stars sparkled in Ino's eyes.

Just then, the classroom door opened.

Homeroom teacher Umino Iruka walked in, carrying a stack of test papers.

Amid everyone's puzzled looks, he announced, "We just received an urgent notice from the school. Dismissal is delayed by two hours. You can't leave until you finish this test."

The next moment, wails and screams erupted.

Ino panicked inside.

My handsome guy is gone.

What test? Can't we do it tomorrow?

So annoying!

…

At that moment, on a cherry tree not far from the school building—

Itachi stood silently.

Reflected in his eyes was the image of Sasuke.

After a long while, he turned into crows and vanished into the sky.

Night fell.

The Konoha was as lively as ever.

Itachi walked down the main street, expression calm, only his eyes flickering with struggle and pain.

The number of pedestrians dwindled.

He had stepped into Uchiha territory.

Behind him, Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru's group emerged.

"Set up the barrier!"

Danzo could no longer suppress his glee; even his tone brimmed with excitement. "Don't let anyone escape!"

Orochimaru glanced at him without speaking.

He turned to look at Itachi and licked his lips.

Three-tomoe Sharingan alone wouldn't satisfy him.

He intended to snatch Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan amid his battle with Uchiha Fugaku.

As for promises—those were Danzo's concern, not his.

Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi asked questions, he had his excuses.

He wasn't the one who did the killing—he'd merely picked up an unwanted Mangekyo Sharingan.

Besides, the old man probably wouldn't be in the mood to meddle in his affairs.

Root operatives immediately dispersed to their assigned positions to prepare the barrier.

Once the fighting began, the barrier would rise.

No one would escape their fate.

Itachi was aware of their movements but didn't stop them.

To weed the grass, you must pull up the roots.

He knew that well.

"Itachi, you're back. Everyone's waiting for you."

The middle-aged gate guard greeted him warmly.

Itachi nodded expressionlessly.

With a casual draw, blade flashing, blood sprayed—he slit the man's throat.

"Itachi, you…"

The man's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Sorry. I have to do this for the sake of the Leaf."

Itachi's voice was icy as he pulled back his blade.

Then he opened his Mangekyo Sharingan and walked into the compound without a change in expression.

The slaughter began.

"Itachi, are you insane?"

"Damn it! Everyone, be careful!"

"Aaah!"

Cries rose and fell.

…

Izumi woke with a start.

Because of her age and status, she wasn't allowed to join the rebellion.

She was resting at home.

Itachi was killing from the outskirts inward.

Izumi's house wasn't far.

She smelled thick blood, heart lurching, and rushed out of her room.

Her mother, Hazuki, had also been awakened by the noise.

"Izumi, is something wrong?"

"Mother, stay here. I'll go check."

Izumi grabbed a kunai and ran at full speed.

The streets were lined with corpses.

Finally, she saw a familiar back and was struck as if by lightning.

"Itachi?!"

Izumi stared in disbelief.

Itachi's sword paused slightly. He turned, looking at his confidante.

His face and clothes were smeared with blood—

A silent proclamation that he was the killer.

"Itachi, what are you doing?!"

Agitated, Izumi's three-tomoe Sharingan opened on its own, a chill aura spreading.

Itachi didn't speak.

His eyes pulsed sharply.

Tsukuyomi.

Forgive me—die in a dream.

He ignored her and headed toward the center—his home.

Izumi stood there, stunned.

With her strength, there was no way she could break free from Tsukuyomi.

Just then, the mark on her arm flickered faintly.

Natsume appeared out of nowhere.

He opened his Mangekyo Sharingan, grabbed Izumi's shoulder, and poured in ocular power and chakra, dispelling the genjutsu.

Ocular techniques are fundamentally a clash of eye power.

With sufficient ocular power, you gain the upper hand.

Itachi had only just awakened his Mangekyo—far inferior to Natsume.

"Itachi!"

Waking from the illusion, Izumi called out instinctively.

But she quickly realized the person before her wasn't Itachi—it was Natsume.

"Take your mother to the northeast corner. There'll be someone waiting."

Natsume pressed a finger to her lips. "I'll handle Itachi. If you don't hurry, Root operatives will show up."

At the words "Root operatives," Izumi shivered and, not daring to linger, turned to find her mother.

Chapter 118: Sorry, No Passage This Way

Itachi pushed open the door to his house.

Given the commotion outside, the people inside should have reacted long ago.

But they hadn't.

Itachi took a deep breath and stepped in, seeing Fugaku sitting with a desolate look.

"Why, Itachi?"

"For the Leaf."

Itachi's voice was utterly calm. "Rebellion—whether it fails or succeeds—will only drag the Leaf into the abyss."

Fugaku's gaze was complicated.

Since Itachi's birth, he had been Fugaku's pride.

Too smart, too exceptional.

But as a father, he had never tried to truly understand him.

As a result, Itachi drifted further and further from the clan.

"Is this the future you want?"

Fugaku raised his head. The three tomoe in his eyes connected into one—his Mangekyo opened.

Itachi's body tensed as countless images flashed through his mind in an instant.

Scenes that had not yet happened.

He clenched his fist under his sleeve and said, "I only trust myself."

Blood seeped from Fugaku's eyes.

His ocular technique showed the most probable future.

But the price was steep.

He rarely used it.

Fugaku wiped the blood away, sighed, and said, "I'm sorry, Itachi. It's my fault that you became who you are today."

With that, he closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate.

He had seen his future—death was certain.

Since that was the case, he would trust Itachi one last time.

In a side room not far away—

Natsume covered Mikoto's mouth with one hand and gripped her wrist with the other, preventing her from moving.

She watched Itachi raise and bring down his blade. Her pupils shook, her body struggled desperately, tears and spit streaming down.

But it was useless.

Natsume looked on coldly.

Mikoto's talent was average—just an ordinary chunin. She needed a push to evolve.

As Fugaku fell, bloodied, three tomoe blossomed in Mikoto's eyes.

A powerful aura burst forth.

"Who's there?"

Itachi turned, his emotions mixed. "Is that you, Mother?"

Mikoto trembled all over with rage and grief.

Natsume whispered in her ear, "You can't beat him now. The priority is to save the other clan members."

The next second, he used the Flying Thunder God to transfer her to a point in the northeast.

"Itachi."

The door opened.

But it wasn't Mikoto who came out—it was Shisui.

Itachi froze, his expression finally changing.

He could hardly believe his eyes.

"I never thought you'd go this far."

Shisui's three tomoe trembled rapidly, and after a moment, connected into one.

"You're not Shisui."

Itachi raised his short sword. "You just awakened your Mangekyo. You can't be him."

Shisui had vanished three years ago—life or death unknown.

For him to appear tonight of all nights was too strange.

And to have just awakened a Mangekyo? Even more impossible.

Deep down, Itachi still clung to a self-deceiving thought.

Even if it were true, nothing could be undone now.

Tonight, former friends raised blades against each other.

Natsume withdrew his gaze, looked at Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo, and said, "Sorry, no passage this way."

He had re-disguised himself to avoid being recognized.

He wasn't worried about Orochimaru's actions so much as the impact on his later plans.

For example, he didn't want Danzo to give up on smearing Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Who are you?"

A bad premonition rose in Orochimaru's heart.

Though he didn't recognize Natsume, the situation was all too familiar.

It had been like this when he attacked Shisui.

Now another one appeared.

He strongly suspected this person was connected to Natsume's organization.

He just had no proof.

"Get out of my way!"

Danzo, on the other hand, hesitated far less than Orochimaru.

He was frantic.

He was just waiting to collect those Sharingan.

Anyone in his way would die.

As his words fell, he formed seals without hesitation.

Wood Release: Tree Piercing Spear!

He opened with a killing move.

Danzo's regenerated right arm swelled instantly, transforming into a massive tree.

Its branches writhed like tentacles, wrapping around the enemy before devouring them.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes but didn't move.

The next second, his face changed and he retreated quickly.

He sensed a familiar ripple.

Sage chakra.

Sage Art: Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!

A roaring deluge rose, enough to form a lake, and in an instant blasted the giant tree away.

Danzo's face twisted in disbelief.

What the hell?

Since when did Water Release pack that much power?

A vortex of wind spun around him, whisking him away to a point ten meters back.

Danzo's expression grew so dark it could drip water.

He now had the same thought as Orochimaru.

Why did mysterious powerhouses always show up to ruin their plans?

Was becoming Hokage really this hard?

 "Orochimaru, aren't you going to do something?"

Danzo snarled. "Are you going to watch another Mangekyo Sharingan get taken?"

Orochimaru made up his mind.

He revealed his Eight Branches Technique. This time, failure wasn't an option.

Sage Art: Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!

He unleashed nearly all his sage chakra.

Centered on Natsume, endless water surged in all directions, then shot skyward.

In an instant, a massive oval water prison formed.

Inside, there was nothing but water.

Orochimaru's enormous body immediately felt an unimaginable crushing pressure.

Blood seeped from his skin.

Pain raced through his limbs.

He couldn't maintain the Eight-Headed Serpent and reverted to human form.

Danzo had it easier in one sense.

He turned himself into a tree.

But he wasn't comfortable either.

Water battered the trunk from all directions, sending violent tremors through him.

"Itachi!"

Shisui's voice rang out.

Natsume turned and saw Obito suddenly appear, grab Itachi, and vanish before their eyes.

Hardly surprising.

He ignored Orochimaru and Danzo, turned back, and took Fugaku's eyes.

"Shisui, let's go."

Without waiting for a reply, Natsume gripped his shoulder and flashed away with the Flying Thunder God.

A second later, the two appeared at the northeast corner of the Uchiha compound.

All the rescued women and children were gathered there.

Natsume swept his gaze around, exchanged for a temporary Sage Body, and used the vast chakra to teleport everyone away.

Only wreckage remained.

As Natsume disappeared, his jutsu broke under Orochimaru and Danzo's efforts.

The two looked over the corpses, trembling all over—every Sharingan had vanished.

All that effort for nothing.