How Kurama Leads Naruto Astray

Turns out he wasn't wrong. The moment he looked back, he saw three people standing clearly on the ground.

Hashirama stood frozen in a hand sign, face dark like the bottom of a pot. Tobirama didn't look much better—his face was cold and full of killing intent. And Madara... well, he just looked annoyed, though it wasn't clear what he was mad about.

Wait—three people? Where's Uzumaki Mito-sama?

Sasuke frowned. He was sure his chakra sense wasn't wrong, so where had Mito-sama gone?

Before Sasuke could speak, Madara let out a cold snort. "That guy controlling us finally let go of the chakra limits."

"It's not as good as being at full power... but whatever, this is enough." He turned to Hashirama. "Since the timing is right, let me see how much you've improved over the years."

As he spoke, his Sharingan suddenly turned into Mangekyou. Blue chakra wrapped around him, and in less than a second, a massive Susano'o over a hundred meters tall appeared—standing opposite Sasuke's purple Susano'o.

Hashirama's face was grim. "The guy controlling me tightened his hold."

Next to him, Tobirama didn't even glance at Madara. He spoke coldly, "No wonder that guy loosened his grip on me—he's trying to control only big brother now. But... does he really think I'm that easy to handle?"

Tobirama's hands moved so fast even Sasuke couldn't follow how many signs he made. All he knew was that the moment the chakra restraint was lifted, Tobirama had already slammed both hands to the ground.

As his chakra burst out, his cold voice echoed across the field: "Edo Tensei: Release!"

The very next moment, Kushina, who had just been forming hand signs, suddenly froze. Her whole body stopped. Madara also frowned and couldn't move, while Hashirama let go of his hand sign as strips of paper began peeling off his body.

Even so, the wooden arms that had been holding Susano'o also pulled back.

Sasuke didn't miss the chance. His Sharingan glinted, and his full-body Susano'o drew its sword again. This time, with black flames wrapped around it, he slashed down at the "Ranking Seal."

Even a powerful sealing jutsu like the Ranking Seal couldn't take two heavy hits like that in a row—especially without Hashirama's help. The ground split apart under the sword strike, and the seal was completely destroyed.

Sasuke's face darkened. He made Susano'o sheathe the sword, then looked at the shattered ground. "That bastard Obito..."

Yeah—Obito had escaped.

Sasuke closed his eyes and clicked his tongue. 

"Can't sense his chakra at all. Damn it..."

"You actually got away from that?" Sasuke sounded seriously annoyed. "Orochimaru—I'm not letting this go."

That attack should've been a sure thing. But Orochimaru kept getting in the way.

Edo Tensei... that jutsu really shouldn't exist.

With that thought, Sasuke turned around. Tobirama was still channeling chakra into the ground, Kushina was still frozen in place, Madara was slowly starting to move again, and Hashirama... was just standing there looking lost.

Madara narrowed his eyes at Tobirama. Then, as if something crossed his mind, he gave a cold snort. His Susano'o faded away, and the red glow in his eyes merged into the pattern of the Rinnegan.

At that moment, all the restraints around him vanished, and he landed on the ground. His Rinnegan eyes stared at Hashirama with clear annoyance.

"A jutsu like that could hold you down? Hashirama, how did you get so weak?"

Hashirama shot him an irritated look.

"I could feel that the person who cast it was full of my chakra. That guy used my chakra to boost his control over the Edo Tensei. Don't tell me you didn't notice. How is that my fault?"

He was only restricted, not completely controlled. Just now, that short burst of power was enough for him to break free and launch two jutsu—any more would've been pushing it. If Orochimaru still tried to control him now, Hashirama would've given him a surprise he'd never forget.

But unfortunately, that guy was already gone. The thing restraining him now wasn't really Orochimaru's jutsu anymore—it was more like the combined result of Tobirama and Orochimaru's efforts.

Madara wasn't the target of it, so it made sense he could break free.

As for Kushina, she was simply not strong enough. Compared to everyone else here, she was probably the most normal one.

Well... if you don't count Sarutobi Hiruzen. He was normal to an extreme.

Sasuke released his Susano'o and landed next to Kushina.

"Aunt Kushina, do you need help?"

"You can't help me." Kushina shook her head. "I know this jutsu. Just give me a little time. As long as my chakra isn't being blocked, I can undo the control on my own."

Ha, when it comes to sealing jutsu, even ten Orochimarus together wouldn't match one Kushina.

"I see." Sasuke nodded and didn't say anything else. He turned around and walked away.

He came up next to Tobirama, glanced at Hashirama and Madara still bickering, and asked again,

"Lord Tobirama, do you need help?"

"No need," Tobirama shook his head. "I'm wrestling with the caster for control of this jutsu. He improved it a bit, not bad. Just wait a moment and I'll—

be able to lift the control on everyone."

Sasuke: "..."

So... you don't need me, huh?

Sasuke let out a deep sigh. He was really annoyed—so annoyed he wanted to blast everyone here away, except for Aunt Kushina. If it weren't for these people, how would Obito have slipped away?

"Ugh." Sasuke sighed again. His Sharingan faded from his eyes, returning to his normal black pupils, and the light from his Rinnegan also disappeared.

"I could hear the complaining in that sigh of yours," Tobirama said, looking up at Sasuke.

Sasuke twitched at the corner of his mouth.

"Would you believe me if I said I wasn't complaining?"

"Nope," Tobirama replied flatly. "If I were in your shoes, I'd be furious too. I'd beat up everyone who made my mission fail. Kill the ones I can, and vent on the ones I can't."

Sasuke nodded seriously at the words that sounded terrifying despite Tobirama's calm tone.

"You're... surprisingly self-aware."

Tobirama: "..."

You really don't hold back, do you?

Sasuke couldn't help it. He looked around at the situation and sighed again.

"Whatever. My mission this time was just to rescue Konan. Catching Obito would've been a bonus. If he got away, then so be it."

"Konan?" Tobirama asked instinctively.

"Yeah, it's a bit complicated. Your granddaughter's husband will explain it to you when we get back." Sasuke answered with a deadpan expression.

Heh, if I can't blame any of you, I can at least blame Jiraiya.

Perverted Sage... just you wait. I'll make sure all this frustration I'm feeling now lands squarely on you. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Tobirama: "???"

Anyway, after saying that, Sasuke didn't say anything else. It was clearly a setup, after all. Jiraiya and Tsunade already had... well, something going on. Maybe not a lot yet, but something. Doesn't matter. Sasuke just wanted to see Jiraiya suffer.

That would make up for how annoyed he felt right now.

Sasuke gave Tobirama a grin.

"Alright, I'll go find Mito-sama. She just let out a lot of chakra. I'll help Kakashi and the others hold her down."

Wait, hold on—who did you say was going to explain it to me?

Tobirama didn't even get the words out before Sasuke vanished with a teleportation jutsu. Tobirama was too busy fighting Orochimaru for control over the Edo Tensei to chase after him, so all he could do was watch as Sasuke disappeared right in front of him.

For a long moment, Tobirama said nothing. Then he looked up at his big brother and Madara, still arguing like kids, and muttered to himself in a doubtful tone, "Little Tsunade... someone actually wants her?"

Truly, living long enough... no, wait—*dying long enough* lets you see everything.

---

You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my

pat reon.com/GMadman