Hua Long was relieved to see Sasuke Uchiha alive and kicking.
The big fish hadn't been hooked yet. The bait couldn't afford to go bad.
Sasuke's eyes roamed over Hua Long.
Escaping was something he needed to work on himself.
He leaned lazily against the wall, beckoning Hua Long over with a finger.
His expression was unnaturally… flirtatious.
Hua Long: "…"
His fist clenched.
"Don't you want to know my secret?"
"Beautiful lady."
Sasuke flicked the stray hairs from his forehead, revealing a face that was still youthful but with sharp, distinct features.
Hua Long: "…"
Why had Sasuke turned out like this?
"Do you really have no idea?"
The System's voice was full of reproach.
Why had Sasuke Uchiha turned out like this? Was it in any way unrelated to the host?
Sasuke was clear on one thing.
Whoever kidnapped him was almost certainly targeting the Uchiha clan.
As for targeting the Hokage? That thought never crossed his mind.
He and the Hokage, Tsukimi Heshu, never got along. How could anyone use him to threaten her?
Admittedly, Sasuke's analysis of his relationship with the Hokage was brutally accurate.
If they were after the Uchiha clan, they couldn't possibly resist the clan's secrets.
"Speak."
What in the world of Naruto did Hua Long not know?
But he was curious about what kind of nonsense would come out of Sasuke's mouth.
"Come closer."
"This secret is for your ears only."
Sasuke gazed at Hua Long with deep affection.
He'd read in the manuals that an attack with the eyes was the most lethal weapon.
Hua Long: "…"
He could no longer suppress the primordial power stirring within him.
With immense reluctance, Hua Long took two steps forward, his eyes holding a clear threat. "Is this close enough?"
Sasuke shook his head indulgently. "If you say it's enough, then it's enough."
Hua Long's back teeth ground together.
"Host, calm down!"
"Host, stay calm!"
The System was terrified the host would punch Sasuke's head clean off in the next second.
Hua Long took a deep breath. "Spit it out."
If no pearls of wisdom emerged, he'd make sure Sasuke experienced what "an injury to the older brother brings pain to the younger" truly meant.
The System snarked, "So the one suffering would still be poor Itachi…"
Hua Long: "…"
Sasuke rose smoothly from the ground.
But having not eaten all day, he suddenly staggered, falling face-first at Hua Long's feet.
Hua Long: "…I don't usually laugh. Unless I really can't help it. Pfft—HAHAHAHA!"
Sasuke's face turned as black as charcoal.
He'd followed the method from the manual, yet failed at the very first step.
A flicker of discouragement crossed his mind, but he quickly rallied.
True masters got up right where they fell.
"My apologies. Your beauty dazzled my eyes."
"If my clumsiness can earn a smile from such a beauty, then it was worth it!"
With practiced grace, Sasuke brushed the dust from his clothes.
Hua Long's smile froze solid on his face. "…"
"Pfft! Hahahaha!"
This time, the explosive laughter came from the System.
Hua Long felt this version of Sasuke looked increasingly familiar.
He was alarmingly similar to the pickup artists described in those manuals.
Hua Long's expression twisted.
He'd read those books so many times and still hadn't figured out how to flirt naturally without being cringey.
Yet Sasuke, after just one day, had already grasped the essence.
Were Sasuke's talent points allocated to some bizarre, alternate skill tree?
"Do you believe… that among thousands of people, I could spot you with a single glance?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
Hua Long's face was deadpan. "No."
Sasuke lowered his head with a soft chuckle. "Then shall we make a bet?"
"Let's bet that I can find you in a crowd with one look."
Sasuke's dark, bright eyes gazed deeply at Hua Long.
Hua Long remained expressionless. "You're not going anywhere. Stay put."
He wasn't an idiot. He could see exactly what Sasuke was aiming for.
Kakuzu stroked his chin. Honestly, he was a bit curious if this brat could actually pull it off.
"Fine."
His plan exposed, Sasuke shook his head regretfully, his poise undiminished. "Even without a bet, I could spot you in a crowd. Because I may be on the road… but you are always in my heart."
Sasuke sneered inwardly. Once he had this woman enchanted, escaping would be child's play.
Hua Long finally snapped.
Enough was enough. There was no need to endure it any longer.
He was going to teach Sasuke Uchiha what should and shouldn't be said.
His expression turned vicious.
Kakuzu, sensing danger, quickly stepped in. "Don't forget you still need him."
He really didn't want Hua Long to kill the kid in a fit of rage, only to regret it later and take it out on them.
Don't ask. The answer was just another day of Kakuzu struggling to survive in the Akatsuki.
Ever since Hua Long saved his life, Kakuzu had completely submitted.
When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. Kakuzu lamented internally.
Under the nervous coaxing of Kakuzu and the System, Hua Long finally managed to quell the fury in his heart.
He looked at Kakuzu. "Keep an eye on him."
With that, his figure vanished from the basement.
Staying one more second would put Sasuke Uchiha in constant danger.
Hua Long returned to his mansion.
He now faced a crisis of epic proportions.
Sasuke's transformation had him deeply worried about Naruto.
Naruto was the one who had snuck a look at his manuals alongside Sasuke.
If Naruto had also turned into… this…
Hua Long's vision went dark.
Thinking of the future Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki…
His vision went completely black.
How was he supposed to explain to Naruto's parents that he'd returned their son as a certified lady-killer?
No!
Hua Long struggled up from his bed. Starting today, he would meticulously observe Naruto's emotional state and strangle any playboy tendencies in the cradle.
In a forest far from the Village Hidden in the Rain…
Naruto and the others were searching for traces of the Bikōchū beetle.
Naruto suddenly sneezed.
Hinata looked at him, concerned. "Naruto, are you catching a cold?"
Sakura adjusted her glasses and silently took a few steps away from them.
Naruto rubbed his nose carelessly. "Nah, I doubt it! I'm tough as nails!"
He glanced at Hinata's slightly flushed cheeks, remembered a tip from the manual, and added, "Hinata, you should be careful too. It's easy to catch a cold at night!"
Manual Tactic #1 — Show appropriate concern.
Hinata's eyes widened shyly, the blush on her face deepening.
"Thank you, Naruto."
"No problem! You're a girl, Hinata. Of course you have to take extra care!" Naruto said offhandedly.
Hinata shyly lowered her head.
"Sakura's a girl too! How come you're not concerned about her?"
Kiba Inuzuka's head suddenly popped between Naruto and Hinata as he stared at them with resentment.
They were all seriously looking for the beetle, and these two were over here flirting.
Naruto instinctively looked over at Sakura.
Not wanting to miss a single spot, Sakura, with a serious expression, uprooted a giant tree with her bare hands.
"Nothing here! Over there!"
She set the tree down effortlessly and walked away. The moonlight reflected coldly off her glasses, sending a shiver down their spines.
"Have you ever… seen a girl… like… Sakura…?" Naruto asked Kiba, his voice stiff.
Kiba's expression was equally rigid. "My bad. I forgot Sakura isn't your average girl. She's… a force of nature."
"You shouldn't talk about girls like that," Hinata said, very seriously.
Naruto: "Sorry!"
Kiba: "Sorry!"
Seeing them both apologize, Hinata gave a slight, satisfied nod, the blush returning to her face.
Apart from those three, everyone else was diligently searching.
In the end, it was Sakura who found the Bikōchū's trail, and Shino Aburame who captured it.
There was a minor hiccup, but with Kakashi's help, everything went smoothly.
After sniffing an item carrying Sasuke's scent, the beetle began flying toward the Rain Village.
Naruto whispered to Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, what if we secretly go rescue Sasuke? Without letting the Hokage know!"
Kakashi stared silently at Naruto. "…The Hokage is your sister."
Not my sister! he thought. The Hokage might let you off, but she won't let me off!
These kids were the future of Konoha. There was no way Kakashi could make the call to take them on such a dangerous mission.
He also lacked the power to guarantee he could bring them all back in one piece.
He vetoed Naruto's proposal.
On the way back to the village, Naruto and the others were sullen.
Even though Sasuke's notorious reputation in the village completely overshadowed theirs, which annoyed them, he was still their classmate.
Of course they all wanted to rescue him.
After relaying the beetle's findings to Itachi Uchiha via Kakashi's summon, their mission was officially complete.
Now, they just had to wait for news from Itachi.
Deep in the jungle.
Itachi followed a small black insect, closing in on the Rain Village.
"So it really is the Rain Village."
Itachi stood atop a high cliff.
From this position, he could see the entire village spread out below.
This steel city, shrouded in rain and surrounded by a lake, always exuded a gloomy aura.
Sasuke had been taken by the masked man from the Akatsuki.
Following the Bikōchū had led him here.
The Akatsuki were hiding within the Rain Village.
Of course, it was also possible the masked man was simply hiding here, trying to stir up a war.
In any case, without concrete intelligence, he couldn't jump to conclusions.
Itachi knew one thing for certain: even if he died here today, he had to send as much intel on the Akatsuki as possible back to Konoha.
Itachi leaped down.
He landed smoothly on the surface of the lake and began walking toward the village.
Rain fell on him, quickly soaking his hair and clothes.
Atop the central tower of the Rain Village.
Inside the meeting room.
The Deva Path, seated at the head of the table, opened his eyes. "Itachi Uchiha has arrived."
Hua Long stood up. He said to Kakuzu, "Bring Sasuke Uchiha."
Kakuzu nodded and headed for the basement.
Hua Long, meanwhile, walked out into the rain.
Hidan pulled out an umbrella and held it over Hua Long's head.
Hua Long nodded in satisfaction.
Hidan's service was good.
He'd find an opportunity to praise him properly, in the name of Lord Jashin.
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