Chapter 134: Kakashi, Whose Life is Filled with Failures

Chapter 134: Kakashi, Whose Life is Filled with Failures

Chapter 134: Kakashi, Whose Life is Filled with Failures

Seeing Hagoromo Gengetsu arrive, Sasuke finally breathed a sigh of relief. He dispelled the lightning energy from his sword and relaxed completely, disregarding everything else. With Gengetsu here, nothing in front of him was a problem anymore.

This indeed proved to be true. Facing the encroaching attacks of Kakashi, Kurenai, and the other Konoha ninjas, Hagoromo Gengetsu quickly formed hand seals and cast:

"Fire Release: Hiding in Ash and Dust Technique!"

A large amount of scorching hot ash rapidly spread out from Hagoromo Gengetsu and Sasuke, obscuring them from view and spreading like mist in all directions.

Kakashi, the closest, sensed the danger and halted his steps. The Uchiha ninja by Sasuke's side had a mastery of fire release far beyond his expectations.

"Retreat!"

Seeing the perilous hot ash approaching, Kakashi and the others swiftly retreated.

Meanwhile, within the ash, Hagoromo Gengetsu looked toward the rapidly approaching blue figure on the horizon. He then glanced at Hotaru, who was looking at them with a complicated expression in the arms of a guide ninja.

Having accomplished his tasks and obtained what he sought, Hagoromo Gengetsu wasted no time. To avoid Might Guy opening all Eight Gates in a fit of anger, he placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Using the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique, the two quickly sank into the ground, moving like earth dragons through the mountain and soon disappearing without a trace.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fierce fist winds quickly dispersed the scorching ash. Guy, who had rushed back, wasted no time in dispersing the Hiding in Ash and Dust Technique with high-speed punches.

However, Sasuke and the others were already gone.

"Huh? Where did the enemy go?"

Guy scratched his head in confusion.

Having learned from Hinata that Sasuke and the masked man had used Earth Release to escape, now beyond the range of her Byakugan, Kakashi sighed and explained to Guy:

"They've already left."

"Shall we chase them?" Guy clenched his fists, full of fighting spirit.

"After this lesson, tracking Sasuke and the masked man will become very difficult. Besides..."

Kakashi shook his head, recalling the battle scenes with the other Sharingan wielder by Sasuke's side. That individual had displayed strength far beyond their initial estimates.

"Another Uchiha Itachi?"

"What's the deal with the girl from the Tsuchigumo clan?"

Although the mission to bring Sasuke back had failed, Kakashi still needed to investigate Sasuke and the other Uchiha's sudden appearances and actions, hoping to glean useful information.

Kurenai, having questioned Hotaru when she was brought in, replied:

"Hotaru is now the bearer of the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden jutsu. Sasuke and the masked man invaded the Tsuchigumo clan for this forbidden jutsu. But strangely, the masked man didn't strip the jutsu from Hotaru, merely had her repeatedly use it before leaving her unharmed."

"So, the forbidden jutsu of the Tsuchigumo clan is still with Hotaru?"

"Yes."

"That's odd. Could it be that he used the Sharingan to copy the forbidden jutsu?"

Kakashi glanced at Hotaru, who was near the guide ninja.

Having earned the title of Copy Ninja, Kakashi knew well that while the Sharingan was potent in replicating jutsu, forbidden techniques were generally difficult to duplicate.

The masked man could have easily taken the jutsu or abducted Hotaru, yet he chose neither, leaving as suddenly as he arrived.

From a regular ninja's perspective, Kakashi couldn't understand it.

On the other side, noticing Kakashi's gaze, Hotaru shrank back slightly, hiding a scroll within her clothes.

Although her grandfather and the arriving Konoha ninjas believed the man to be malicious, she felt otherwise.

From beginning to end, he never took the forbidden jutsu from her, merely having her use it repeatedly.

While exhausting, she had benefited from the many secret medicines she was given.

Moreover, that man had gifted her a chakra training scroll for water nature transformation before leaving, as a reward for her help.

Such a person did not fit the greedy and evil image of someone seeking forbidden jutsu.

Also, his parting words made sense: having a coveted forbidden jutsu without the ability to protect oneself would only lead to a tragic end.

Depending on others was less reliable than relying on oneself.

Recalling the splendid yet dangerous battles she had witnessed, Hotaru made a decision to study the contents of the training scroll he had left her.

After all, since he had given her the scroll, addressing him as "teacher" should be fine, right?