Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 69: I Will Definitely Take You Back from Hagoromo Gengetsu!

"Is this the Valley of the Fallen God?"

With Kisame's help in delaying the pursuit, Sasuke hurried towards the Valley of the Fallen God without any further incidents. As he looked at the valley, rumored to have been carved from a plain, he felt a slight sense of unease.

When Hagoromo Gengetsu mentioned this place, it seemed like a glimmer of hope in his otherwise bleak situation. But what about the other party? Would Gengetsu have taken it seriously? Was his desperate gamble going to yield the results he wanted?

Clenching his fists, Sasuke scanned the valley and quickly locked his gaze on the head of the "Hashirama Senju" statue. He breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, things hadn't gone awry.

With a few leaps, Sasuke reached the top of the "Hashirama Senju" statue, facing the man whose presence was even more oppressive than the last time. Remembering the lesson he'd been taught, Sasuke respectfully said, "As you see, I've arrived."

Hagoromo Gengetsu turned around and nodded calmly, "Your resolve is commendable."

Not everyone has the guts to become a rogue ninja. Though driven by hatred, Sasuke's willingness to abandon everything was still praiseworthy. Initially, Gengetsu approached this casually, but since Sasuke had arrived, he didn't mind taking him in. He had no ulterior motives for Sasuke's body. The worst outcome wouldn't be like Orochimaru's.

Considering Sasuke as Indra's reincarnation, the value he could bring would certainly outweigh the costs. For safety, Gengetsu intended to give Sasuke an unexpected bond.

"Do you need to say goodbye to your friends?" Gengetsu glanced in the direction Sasuke had come from.

Just then, loud shouting could be heard.

"Sasuke! Sasuke!"

Sasuke turned to see Naruto's bright yellow figure rushing towards them. "No need," Sasuke said calmly, "The ninja games are over."

"Games? This world is nothing but a game," Gengetsu remarked indifferently, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Let's go."

As the wind swept through, Gengetsu and Sasuke's figures quickly disappeared among the swirling leaves.

Naruto, who had just entered the valley, looked up in time to see Sasuke and Gengetsu vanish. Reaching out helplessly, he shouted with all his might, "Sasuke!!"

"I will definitely take you back from Hagoromo Gengetsu!!" Naruto's voice echoed loudly through the valley.

"Did I come too late?" Kakashi, arriving moments later, watched Naruto's sorrowful and determined shouting, sighing slightly. He understood Sasuke's deep-seated grudges but hadn't expected such decisiveness.

"From Naruto's words, it seems Sasuke has gone with Hagoromo Gengetsu. It looks like our intelligence was accurate."

"Hagoromo Gengetsu... he's even more troublesome than Itachi Uchiha." Recalling how Gengetsu had effortlessly countered his Chidori, Kakashi frowned. Truly a time of chaos.

"Sand Tsunami!" A violent wave of sand rose from the ground, instantly transforming a hundred-meter radius of forest into a desert. Under Gaara's attack, the battle was nearing its end. Despite entering the second stage of their cursed seals, the Sound Four were being pushed back, unable to withstand the combined forces of the Konoha 12 and the Sand Shinobi, including a Jinchuriki.

"This is it, let's end it!" Inuzuka Kiba, transformed into a two-headed wolf under the Secret Technique: Human Beast Combination Transformation, charged forward for the final blow. Shikamaru, low on chakra, did not intervene. He thought the outcome was certain.

However, the unexpected happened. Just as Kiba lunged forward, he was suddenly sent flying back in a pathetic state, the transformation dispersing into smoke as both he and Akamaru collapsed unconscious.

"How?" Shikamaru's pupils dilated in shock. As he tried to speak, a shadow sped towards him, landing a punch that sent him flying. "That's... Sakon?" In his final conscious moment, Shikamaru recognized the attacker, his face full of confusion. Why did someone who seemed almost defeated suddenly explode with such speed?

"Sakon" showed no interest in explaining, kicking the weakened Chōji towards Gaara. Hearing the system's [Ding] for mission completion in his mind, he swiftly exited the forest. With a poof, the shadow clone dispelled, leaving the real Sakon waking up nearby, puzzled as to why he was there. Realizing he had escaped, he chose to flee without looking back, unaware of his brother Ukon's fate.

But he didn't get far before hearing the clear sound of bells. "Today is indeed a lucky day, another prey comes knocking," Kisame said, grinning as he spotted the panicked Sakon.

The one who had knocked out Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chōji was, of course, Hagoromo Gengetsu—specifically, his shadow clone. Although physically present on the statue, Gengetsu hadn't forgotten the system's new mission. He had sent out a shadow clone, disguised as Sakon, to carry out the task, not wanting to tarnish his reputation by attacking kids.

The plan went smoothly. As Gengetsu traveled with Sasuke, he reviewed the memories from his shadow clone and refocused on the system.

[Ding!]

[Main Mission: Become the Boss of the Cutting Class Quartet (Completed)]

[Congratulations to the host for defeating the Cutting Class Quartet, taking a big step towards dominating the academy.]

[Mission Reward: Standard Chunin-level Chakra; Konoha-style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon]

The mission reward wasn't too shabby this time. Feeling the chakra, slightly more noticeable than the minuscule amount from a Genin, merge into his body, and noticing the technique "Dance of the Crescent Moon" becoming accessible in his mind, Gengetsu nodded slightly. By the system's standards, these rewards would significantly boost someone still in the academy. But having been in this world for decades, these early rewards hardly caught his interest. All he could do now was expedite the process.

"System, are there any new main missions?" Gengetsu inquired.

The system responded promptly.

[Ding!] echoed in his mind once more.