CHAPTER 677: STEALING THE BASE!

Sasuke let out a sigh of relief. He had initially worried that after temporarily rejecting the other party’s offer, the opponent might immediately attack him and Konoha.

One Kara organization and Jigen were already enough to devastate Konoha. If another powerful enemy on par with the Sage of the Six Paths appeared, Konoha wouldn’t stand a chance.

So he had been extremely polite, saying he needed more time to consider his response. It was clear that the once-arrogant Sasuke had learned about interpersonal relationships.

Thankfully, Tenshou Sennin was very kind and generous. He didn’t mind Sasuke’s cautious thinking and graciously agreed to let him try dealing with the threat first.

Sasuke’s instincts also told him that Tenshou Sennin didn’t seem to have malicious intent. Otherwise, Sasuke wouldn’t have dared to cautiously refuse.

*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*

A sudden knock on the door startled Sasuke.

"Sakura, are you inside?" Shikamaru’s voice came from outside the patient’s room.

Sasuke glanced at the door, then looked at Lux, preparing to ask if he was willing to meet other Konoha comrades. But in the blink of an eye, he suddenly realized—Tenshou Sennin had vanished!

Gone instantly without warning, without an aura, without even the slightest ripple of space-time...

Faster than Hiraishin no Jutsu!

More concealed than his own Amenotejikara!

Truly terrifying!

After the shock, Sasuke quickly suppressed his thoughts and answered toward the door: "Is that Shikamaru?"

"I’m inside, come in." Hearing Sasuke’s voice, Shikamaru opened the door and entered, his face lighting up: "Sasuke, you’re awake?"

"Huh? What’s wrong with Sakura?"

Sasuke answered with a blank expression: "I just woke up. Sakura was a bit tired and happened to fall asleep."

"Good, as long as you’re okay." Shikamaru sighed in relief. Seeing Sasuke awake and safe was the best news for now.

It at least proved Sasuke was fine, and they could learn what had really happened.

"I thought I heard voices talking earlier. Was someone else visiting you, Sasuke?"

"No, probably just me muttering in my dreams." Sasuke deflected the topic.

Until he verified Tenshou Sennin’s identity and motives, Sasuke had no intention of rashly revealing the information to avoid worrying his comrades. After all, world unification would inevitably involve war and casualties, something not everyone could accept.

He was ruthless and cold enough, but that didn’t mean other Konoha comrades would agree. So, it was better to hold off and discuss later.

"Alright. How’s your condition now? Need more rest? If you can manage, please hold on a bit longer. I have a ton of questions for you."

With Naruto missing, for the safety of the Hokage and the village, Shikamaru had no choice but to become a tough military strategist, seeking to gather as much information as possible.

"I’m fine. Ask away, I’ll tell you everything I know." Sasuke gently carried the unconscious Sakura to the bed and covered her with a blanket.

Then he left the patient’s room with Shikamaru, quickly exchanging known information.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

"What?!!!"

"Another powerful Otsutsuki clan enemy?"

"Even you and Naruto together were utterly defeated?"

"Damn it, and he’s even raising a Juubi in another dimension?"

"We didn’t notice at all!"

After learning this, Shikamaru was furious. They had all felt the immense threat posed by Otsutsuki Momoshiki before. This new enemy, who defeated Naruto and Sasuke so quickly, was too much!

"The Juubi is hidden in another dimension, so it’s normal it wasn’t detected."

"So Naruto is indeed sealed in that dimension?"

"Correct!"

"Can you open a portal now to get in?"

"I have the space-time coordinates, but my chakra isn’t enough to open a portal. I need time to recover a bit..."

"Right, I was too hasty."

"And I heard you say this Jigen guy came specifically for Kawaki?"

"Yes. He said Kawaki is his precious vessel and must be taken back!"

"Vessel? That’s not a good word. Do you know more about it?"

Sasuke shook his head: "Just that. The fight broke out suddenly, and Naruto and I didn’t have time to gather more information. Jigen himself, though he has Otsutsuki traits, seems like a vessel too. The mark on his body is very similar to Kawaki’s..."

Shikamaru frowned, increasingly dissatisfied: "This Kawaki is a huge problem! Naruto shouldn’t have let him stay in the village..."

"Shikamaru, it was Naruto’s decision. Don’t question it."

"I understand, I’m just worried about the village getting caught in the crossfire."

"By the way, what about Kawaki and Boruto? Especially Kawaki—he’s crucial now. Jigen could come back anytime to capture him. He needs to be moved immediately..." Sasuke grew serious, just remembering he needed to relocate Kawaki.

Otherwise, as Shikamaru feared, if Jigen invaded Konoha again to capture Kawaki, it would cause heavy casualties in the village.

"Well..." Shikamaru froze, hesitating slightly.

Sasuke’s heart sank, sensing trouble, and quickly asked: "What’s wrong? Was Kawaki captured?"

"No. Just now, he, Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki went through a space-time portal together into another dimension to rescue Naruto."

"What?!!! All four of them went? Boruto and Sarada too?"

"Yes."

"Why didn’t you stop them?" Sasuke finally couldn’t stay calm, instantly anxious.

That was his beloved daughter and his student!

They went to Jigen’s lair in another dimension—wasn’t that like walking into a trap? With their limited ninja skills, if they encountered Jigen, wouldn’t they all be done for?

If Sakura in the patient’s room knew, she’d probably faint on the spot.

This was too dangerous!

Even Sasuke, the irresponsible father used to letting his kids be independent, hadn’t lost any of his love for Sarada and Boruto.

Sasuke even felt he should’ve agreed to Tenshou Sennin earlier in exchange for dealing with Jigen and ensuring Naruto and Sarada’s safety!

"I tried to stop them, but the curse seal on Kawaki’s body absorbed my Kagemane no Jutsu. I didn’t have time to stop them!" Shikamaru was desperate too!

The Otsutsuki Kama seal was highly effective against all ninjutsu—he truly couldn’t stop Kawaki and the others...

"You..." Sasuke frowned and sighed.

If it were the young Sasuke, he’d have cursed Shikamaru twice! But the mature Sasuke wouldn’t lash out, though he still felt helpless with Shikamaru’s performance. After all, he was Kage-level—how could he not even watch four kids?

Forget it, now wasn’t the time to dwell on this. The priority was to bring Boruto and the others back quickly to prevent any more accidents!

"I’ll save them!"

"Don’t you lack the chakra to open a space-time portal?"

"Do you have food pills? Give me a pack! I need to restore my chakra fast!"

"I do, but I only have a few on me." Shikamaru handed over his spare food pills, improved versions that weren’t too hard to eat anymore.

"This isn’t enough!"

Consuming too many food pills would build resistance, restoring less chakra. For someone of Sasuke’s Six Paths level, a few pills would have minimal effect.

"Where’s Karin? Where is she?"

Sasuke thought of Karin. Though he felt awkward troubling her, biting her could restore a lot of his chakra.

Karin was the best support in the world.

"Not in the village. She should be at the base in the Land of Rice Fields..."

"Forget it, no time. Shikamaru, I’ll have to trouble you and everyone."

"Huh?"

Sasuke placed one hand on Shikamaru’s shoulder, preparing to activate his Rinnegan’s ability to absorb chakra, forcibly taking chakra from others for his own use.

Though a bit crude, and Sasuke rarely used it, the situation was urgent, so he couldn’t think too much. It was the fastest way to restore his chakra. As long as he controlled the absorption level, it wouldn’t harm Shikamaru—just weaken him for a day or two.

Of course, one Shikamaru’s chakra alone wouldn’t be enough; he’d need others to contribute a bit too. But to save Naruto, his daughter, and his student, he was sure everyone would understand.

"Let’s do it!"

"Take all my chakra—you have to save Naruto and Boruto!"

Shikamaru felt his chakra draining rapidly and didn’t resist, being very proactive.

In terms of resolve to save Naruto and Boruto, Shikamaru was no less determined, but his strength couldn’t keep up with the current situation... Contributing some chakra to Sasuke to help him save Naruto was the best he could do.

However, as Sasuke absorbed about half, an Anbu ninja suddenly appeared, bringing the latest news. Shikamaru and Sasuke were shocked upon hearing it:

"What? Boruto and the others are back?"

"They couldn’t find Naruto? Fine, as long as the four of them returned safely."

"Hmm? Boruto and Sarada are injured and unconscious? Are their injuries serious?"

"Not serious, the medical team is treating them? Good..."

"Wait..."

"What did you say?"

"They brought back a baby Juubi?!"

"What, did they just steal Jigen’s entire base?!!!"