Chapter 38: The Iburi Clan Will Serve Lord Forever
“Orochimaru……and ‘Shura’……” Kakashi’s Sharingan stared closely at the two standing side by side, his breathing under the mask slightly rapid.
From the situation inside the Cave, it seemed the two had clashed, and Orochimaru had come out on the losing end.
But now the two were standing together again, looking like they had reached some kind of cooperation.
“What is your evaluation of A’s Wood Release?” Orochimaru’s hoarse voice carried a probing tone, his slit pupils looking toward ‘Shura’ at his side, wanting to know from his mouth whether his own this ‘creation’ would ultimately have value in the future.
“Average.” Menma’s cold, flat voice came from under the mask: “Non-Ninja Clan bloodline, Chakra amount destined to be meager.”
“Besides Wood Release, utterly worthless.”
Yamato’s strongest aspect was Wood Release, but because he was just an ordinary Civilian Ninja, with neither the vast Chakra of the Uzumaki Clan nor the robust physique of the Senju Clan, his total Chakra growth was destined to be limited.
His upper limit was just an Elite Jonin.
Seeing ‘Shura’ show no interest whatsoever in A, who was still so young, Orochimaru’s tongue tip brushed his lip corner.
‘Looks like A’s future growth is limited, or perhaps the future me will have even more powerful creations.’
“Leave this place to you then, I need to leave the Land of Fire first.” Orochimaru turned and walked toward an exit.
“I will continue researching the Iburi Clan’s Bloodline Limit, you should know my foothold, right.” As he spoke, Orochimaru turned his head and cast a meaningful glance.
He had already been this proactive, so the other side should offer some sincerity in return, right?
“No need to see me off.” Menma’s response was short as a blade.
Hmph—
Not getting what he wanted, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and let out a light hum, clutching his waist as he vanished into the depths of the dark Cave.
“Orochimaru!” Kakashi still wanted to call out to Orochimaru when a figure suddenly closed in on Kakashi.
The sound of his toes crushing the ground gravel was clearly audible.
“Don’t just stare at Orochimaru, play with me for a bit.” Menma’s tone was frivolous, wanting to test Kakashi’s current strength.
Bang!
The muffled sound of an arm being struck by a leg exploded against the rock walls! Though Kakashi blocked the sudden kick, he was still sent flying several meters by the immense force.
“Kakashi!” After today’s exchange, Yamato’s relationship with Kakashi had grown much closer. Seeing fellow Konoha Ninja Kakashi kicked flying, he immediately thrust out a kunai toward Menma.
After kicking Kakashi flying with one foot, facing Yamato’s approach, Menma did not retreat but advanced, lowering his body and closing in.
“Too slow!” In Menma’s cold laughter, his left hand blocked Yamato’s thrusting arm, counter-grabbing it, while his right hand clenched into a fist and unleashed a barrage like a rainstorm toward Yamato’s chest.
Beating Yamato until he spat blood, the kunai in his hand also fell.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—
A roar like lightning and thunder came from behind!
Menma’s right foot hooked Yamato’s leg, releasing Yamato while punching him flying.
Yamato’s body flew in the air toward the incoming Kakashi.
Looking at Yamato flying toward him, Kakashi’s Sharingan jolted fiercely, a wave of painful memories surging to his heart.
The Lightning Cutter Chakra in his hand forcibly dispersed, and Kakashi caught Yamato’s body.
Holding Yamato, Kakashi’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan trembled violently.
The scene of Rin Nohara dying by his hand tormented him like a nightmare.
Pfft!
Yamato spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling his chest surge with qi and blood, as if oppressed by a thousand-jin boulder.
“Tsk tsk, is that all you’ve got?” Menma had already arrived at Yukimi’s side, his palm lightly covering the trembling girl’s head.
That set of Taijutsu just now was Menma combining traditional martial arts from his previous life with the Gentle Fist learned from Big Sister Hinata, fusing Gentle Fist with Inch Punch to develop a personal Taijutsu style, featuring proficient Inch Punch, versatile moves, acupoint strikes, and severing, among other traits.
It also carried a hint of Konoha Style Taijutsu, making it hard to fathom.
Yamato was only thirteen now; both his Taijutsu and Wood Release usage needed growth, which made Menma find it quite boring.
“Yukimi!” Kakashi, holding the injured Yamato, saw Yukimi ‘controlled’ by the opponent and gnashed his teeth.
“Don’t worry, I won’t harm her.” Menma gently stroked Yukimi’s head.
“After all, I’m not Orochimaru.”
This little girl trembling like a small white rabbit caught by an eagle was just about to use her Smoke Transformation ability to escape.
“Lord Shura!” At this moment, the recovered Gōta emerged from the depths of the Cave.
Gōta’s neck still bore the burning sensation from the Curse Mark. He walked to behind Menma, deliberately keeping half a body’s distance.
He said to Yukimi: “Don’t resist Lord, our clan already belongs to Lord.”
Orochimaru had already retreated in defeat; per their prior bet, the Iburi Clan would serve ‘Shura’ for generations.
Gōta and the other Clan Members had already accepted this fate of depending on a strong practitioner.
Under her kin’s soothing, Yukimi’s trembling gradually calmed. She slightly raised her head, still looking at Menma with some fear.
“I will help you overcome the flaws of your Bloodline Limit, allowing you to walk openly under the sunlight.” Menma withdrew his palm and said to Yukimi and Gōta.
“The Iburi Clan will serve Lord for generations!” Gōta dropped to one knee before Menma, lowering his head and exposing his defenseless nape.
The Iburi Clan’s oath echoed in the cavern.
Menma nodded in satisfaction, feeling quite pleased under the mask.
The Iburi Clan’s Smoke Transformation Bloodline Limit, if its drawbacks could be resolved, might even compare to the Hozuki Clan’s Water Transformation Technique.
Gōta’s combat power had also touched Jonin level; if the drawbacks could be resolved, unaffected by wind, and he learned some Ninjutsu, he should be able to grow into an Elite Jonin.
As Menma turned and walked toward the depths inside the Cave, he glanced sideways at Kakashi and Yamato not far away.
He already had the Hashirama Cells; now, Yamato held no value for him, and he had no means to brainwash Yamato anyway.
As for Kakashi, of course, he needed to keep him to deal with Obito.
Watching ‘Shura’ contemptuously glance at the two of them before turning to leave, Kakashi’s fingernails dug into his palm.
Last time ignored by Orochimaru, this time ignored by ‘Shura’!
This sense of humiliation burned hotter than the blood Yamato coughed onto his shoulder.
Kakashi couldn’t help doubting his own strength.
“Yukimi, let’s go.” Seeing ‘Shura’ Lord had no intention of dealing with those two Konoha Ninjas, Gōta wisely followed behind and called to Yukimi.
Yukimi hesitated for a moment. After Gōta and ‘Shura’ Lord vanished into the depths of the dark Cave, Yukimi still trotted over to Kakashi and Yamato’s side.
“Tenzo, are you okay.” Yukimi asked these two peers with concern, her voice soft like melting snow.
“Cough……” Yamato coughed up a trace of blood and said: “He……so strong……”
Then he passed out.
“I need to get him treatment quickly.” Kakashi hoisted Yamato onto his shoulder.
As Konoha’s current only Wood Release Ninja, Yamato’s life no longer belonged to him alone.
Compared to intelligence on ‘Shura’, Kakashi cared more about Yamato’s survival.
“You should go quickly, don’t come back!” Yukimi bit her lip, softly saying farewell.
Orochimaru’s conspiracy had failed, and the Iburi Clan might follow ‘Shura’ Lord to a new Clan Territory.
Yukimi didn’t want to see these two newly met friends die; too many companions by her side had already died.
“Mm.” Kakashi nodded, hoisting the unconscious Yamato as he leaped toward the exit on the rock wall.
He looked back; the last sight was the girl turning into smoke and dissipating.
“Farewell.” Kakashi murmured.
