"Neji!"
Upon seeing Neji, Rock Lee was overjoyed and was about to rush forward, but Shikamaru grabbed him.
"Lee, don't get too excited. Look at his position in the crowd, he's clearly with them. I just don't know if he's being controlled or if he's doing this willingly."
Shikamaru quickly made his judgment.
There were six people in front of them, but Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a large wooden barrel.
If he guessed correctly, Sasuke should be inside the barrel.
As for why they were doing this, Shikamaru didn't know, and now was not the time to delve into it.
"No, it can't be. Neji wouldn't willingly join the Sound Village!"
Rock Lee said excitedly.
Neji wanted to say something, but Kimimaro held him down.
At the same time, a voice rang in his mind.
"If you still want to return to Konoha and change the Hyuga clan, you should pretend to be controlled now. Otherwise, you'll be a rogue ninja. Once you become a rogue ninja, it'll be difficult to regain your normal Konoha ninja status."
Neji looked deeply at Kimimaro, already knowing his intentions.
At the moment, he could only feign a wooden expression.
This way, he would look more like a controlled puppet.
Seeing Neji motionless and held down by Kimimaro, Rock Lee said angrily, "Kimimaro! Let go of Neji! What did you do to him!"
"I'm truly sorry, I didn't do anything to Neji, I don't know anything. This is all Lord Orochimaru's arrangement."
Orochimaru, who was recuperating in the Sound Village, had no idea he was being blamed again.
"Damn it! Orochimaru again! Kimimaro, why are you helping that villain? Didn't you help Lee with his surgery before? You're a good person."
This time, it wasn't Rock Lee who spoke, but Naruto.
Naruto considered Kimimaro a friend, and now seeing him like this, he felt very sad.
"Naruto, you're a good friend. However, I'm a ninja from the Sound Village. Lord Orochimaru is not only my teacher but also the leader of the Sound. I have no choice but to obey."
"If you don't want to, you can leave the Sound Village."
Naruto continued.
"You're so naive, Naruto. Then why don't you leave Konoha? Your days in Konoha are probably worse than mine in the Sound."
"I..."
Naruto was speechless for a moment.
"Enough chatting. Judging by your looks, you're here for Sasuke, right? Sasuke is in this barrel, but I'm afraid you don't have the ability to take him away."
Kimimaro gently patted the barrel, and then, a triangular pyramid about three meters high completely covered the barrel.
"Binding Technique Seventy-Three, Inverse Mountain Crystal!"
The divine technique surprised everyone from Konoha.
Facing the terrifying Kimimaro, the six of them didn't have much chance of winning, let alone with five others by his side.
Even if Neji was being controlled, he was still stronger than them.
And the other four Sound ninja looked like tough opponents.
Under these circumstances, how could they fight?
Shikamaru was already thinking of retreating.
But Naruto and Rock Lee would never retreat.
The person they were looking for was right in front of them, how could they retreat?
"Damn it, I must bring Sasuke back today!"
Naruto charged forward!
"Move!"
Shikamaru knew that retreat was impossible now, so they had to follow the original battle plan and begin!
The battle started!
"Fang Passing Fang!"
"Human Bullet Tank!"
Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru transformed into a spinning gray drill, charging towards Kimimaro.
And Choji expanded his body, turning into a meatball, spinning and charging!
Both of their attacks were powerful.
But just as they were about to hit Kimimaro, two figures from the Sound Four jumped out, blocking their attacks.
Jirobo spread his arms and actually caught the Human Bullet Tank.
And Sakon instantly split into Ukon, each taking on one of the Fang Passing Fang.
"You're not worthy of fighting Lord Kimimaro!"
The battlefield instantly split into two.
Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru vs. Sakon and Ukon.
Choji Akimichi vs. Jirobo.
"You're all mine!"
Kidomaru also joined the fray, spitting out silk that turned into a spider web, shooting towards Shino, Rock Lee, and Shikamaru.
Facing the spider web, Shino made his move.
A vast number of kikaichu bugs surged out, instantly devouring the spider web.
"What!"
Kidomaru was shocked and looked at Shino.
This person seemed to be his counter.
The third battlefield opened up!
Shino Aburame vs. Kidomaru.
"You're mine!"
Tayuya kicked Shikamaru away, opening up the fourth battlefield.
Shikamaru vs. Tayuya.
The fifth battlefield went without saying.
Neji vs. Rock Lee.
"Neji, just hold on a little longer. Once I bring you back to Konoha, no matter what technique is on you, the Hokage will definitely be able to undo it."
Rock Lee took his stance, ready to attack.
The two of them had fought hundreds of times in Konoha.
Every time, Rock Lee lost.
But this time, he couldn't lose.
If he lost, he would lose Neji as a teammate.
At least that's what Rock Lee thought.
So, without any hesitation, he directly opened the Eight Gates.
"First Gate, Open! Second Gate, Open! Third Gate, Open!"
Rock Lee opened three gates in a row, and green energy emanated from his body.
After the last time, Rock Lee had broken through his limits.
Now, opening three gates wouldn't put too much strain on his body.
In this state, he felt he could fight Neji.
"Byakugan, Open!"
Neji didn't hesitate either and immediately entered battle mode.
He was also very interested in fighting Rock Lee with the Eight Gates open.
"Neji, I learned the Eight Gates just to surpass you. Today, I will use it to save you!"
Rock Lee's speed suddenly increased, and he pressed his attack on Neji.
*Pak!*
On the other side, Kimimaro caught Naruto's punch filled with anger.
"You're no match for me, give up."
"Shut up! I'll never give up! Even if I'm not your opponent, I will definitely win!"
Naruto's blue eyes instantly turned into fox-like vertical pupils!
Nine-Tails Chakra!
Kimimaro frowned, not expecting Naruto to erupt so quickly.
*Bang!*
He kicked out, hitting Naruto's abdomen.
Naruto's body flew into the air.
"If I rely on my own strength, it's absolutely impossible to defeat Kimimaro. Then, I can only use that move."
Naruto extended his right hand and bit it with his mouth.
Blood spilled out.
He formed hand seals!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
*Bang!*
Naruto performed the Summoning Jutsu in mid-air, and a massive figure appeared beneath his feet.
It was a gigantic toad.
Holding a pipe and wearing a short sword.
From Mount Myoboku, Gamabunta!
"Hey, why is it you again, brat, summoning me?"
(End of Chapter)