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NBB Chapter 122: The Mission Was a Success... Kind Of
🕑 Added 2025-07-31 23:02:46 +0000 UTC“Well then, let’s head back to Sunagakure.”
Despite the pain gnawing at his insides, Rasa forced a smile and spoke.
“As your ally, I failed to even offer you proper rest after everything. That’s on me."
"I’ll send people to oversee the situation in Rōran—and we’ll also need to exchange intelligence soon.”
“Then we’ll gratefully accept your hospitality.”
Kakashi nodded. He really did need a break. His chakra was dangerously depleted.
Rasa nodded in return, then turned to walk back toward the main force.
But the moment he turned around, the smile vanished completely from his face.
...
“Hey, did you guys notice something? He looked like he was smiling, but he also seemed… kinda pissed off.”
Guy’s instincts were unusually sharp. He waited until Rasa was far enough away before whispering to Kakashi and Kitagawa Gen.
“That Fourth Kazekage... there’s something off about him.”
“What’s so strange about that? We basically ruined his plans.”
Kakashi could more or less guess what was on Rasa’s mind. He pulled out Make-Out Paradise, getting ready to read—but his gaze flicked toward Kitagawa Gen.
“And you... you did it on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Kakashi-sensei, what are you talking about?”
Kitagawa Gen immediately put on an innocent face, full of feigned confusion. Kakashi rolled his eyes.
“Whatever. It’s all the same. But seriously, you look like you’re in a great mood. What’s up?”
“Well, I made it out of a fight with one of the Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru—without getting wrecked. Of course I’m happy.”
Kitagawa Gen let out a smug laugh. At the same time, a translucent panel flickered into view before his eyes.
[Name: Kitagawa Gen]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development Rate: 31%)]
[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan (Nascent Eye)]
[Chakra Reserves: SSS (Above Kage-tier average)]
[Chakra Natures: Water, Fire, Earth, Lightning, Wind, Yin, Yang]
[Special Techniques: Ice Release, Magnet Release]
[Special Energy Source: Dragon Vein Chakra]
He hadn’t expected it at all: once the Dragon Vein Chakra merged into his body, it formed a separate energy system entirely.
And this particular energy source was fascinating—not only could it replenish natural energy, it could even supplement Tailed Beast chakra.
The Tailed Beast chakra within him had helped birth and evolve his eyes, guiding their growth. But that didn’t mean the chakra was gone.
It had simply receded from overuse, lying dormant for now. Replenishing it would normally take time—but the Dragon Vein seemed capable of accelerating that process.
'Not only that... there’s something else hidden within the Dragon Vein—something special.'
Staring at the panel, Kitagawa Gen murmured to himself, thoughts swirling.
'This energy... it’s mysterious, unfathomable—but it also feels like it fits me perfectly. If I’m not mistaken...'
'Could it be... the power of time is something the Ōtsutsuki are inherently born with?'
As Kitagawa Gen pondered these questions, deep within a ruin in the Land of Rain, the space suddenly twisted violently.
A second later, two seemingly intact figures tumbled out, staggering as they clutched a pile of “scrap.”
“Hey, hey, hey! Would you quit yanking my hair, you bastard? That hurts!”
The moment he staggered out of the spatial rift, Hidan’s disgruntled voice rang out.
“And hurry up and put my body back together! I’m not about to let you carry my head around like a trophy!”
“If you don’t shut up...”
Kakuzu, already fuming, wasn’t about to indulge him. Gritting his teeth, he glared at the head in his hand and roared: “I’ll toss your head down a latrine right now!”
“You son of a... Fine, fine, forget it!”
Hidan exploded with fury at first, but when he saw that Kakuzu wasn’t joking in the slightest, he chickened out immediately.
“I’ll shut up. I’ll shut up.”
“That’s enough. Quiet.”
Uchiha Obito let out a cold snort. With a wave of his hand, he dumped the half-torsoed Sasori—who currently looked like the Third Kazekage—onto the ground, then asked in a frosty tone: “What the hell happened? What went down?”
Obito was seething.
He’d just arrived at the scene, only to be met with a direct hit from a "heavy cannon" blast.
If not for his innate caution and sharp reflexes, he might’ve been blown away on the spot!
No one could be expected to stay calm after that—especially when he had absolutely no clue what had just happened.
“We don’t know either. I was in the middle of a fight with Chiyo when suddenly a massive amount of chakra was detonated.”
Sasori, still in the form of the Third Kazekage, replied in a cold voice. But even as he spoke, his mind was clearly elsewhere, mulling things over.
Hidan nodded from the side, and Kakuzu gave a low grunt, casting a subtle glance at Obito.
“It all blew up during the battle between Kitagawa Gen and Orochimaru. Who knows what the hell they were doing? And that Hatake Kakashi... he’s got some pretty damn unusual abilities.”
“...”
Obito avoided Kakuzu’s gaze, though his own expression was far from pleasant.
Fine, Kakashi using that ability was one thing—but how could this whole squad end up in this state and still have no idea what happened?
He was seriously beginning to question their competence.
“I have a pretty good idea what’s going on.”
Just then, Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground like a shadow rising.
“And Sasori… you’ve probably figured some of it out too, haven’t you?”
“Hmph.”
Sasori gave a cold snort. As someone from the Land of Wind, there was no way he wouldn’t know.
At first, it had only been a suspicion he had no intention of voicing aloud—but now, it was clear he couldn’t keep it in any longer.
“Rōran, right? That legendary place said to harbor some ancient secret.”
“Rōran?”
Obito and Hidan looked confused. Neither of them seemed to have a clue. But Kakuzu once again glanced at Obito.
“I’ve heard of it. Some say even the Fourth Hokage went there. So in that case...”
He trailed off, already turning his gaze back to Obito, making the latter clench his fists tight.
Damn it, are you ever gonna drop this?!
“That’s right. It’s Rōran.”
Seeing the tension rising, Black Zetsu immediately stepped in.
“I was already suspicious when Orochimaru suddenly appeared in the Land of Wind. But now I understand—he was heading for Rōran.
“And since all of you know the Fourth Hokage once went there, and Kitagawa Gen can use the Flying Thunder God Technique, then…”
“Orochimaru triggered the Flying Thunder God—drawing Kitagawa Gen’s attention?”
Obito spoke in a low voice, the painful memories already rising to the surface.
He’d been screwed over by the Flying Thunder God twice.
“So, it was their clash afterward that caused the eruption inside Rōran?”
Sasori had fully pieced it together now, and his mood only worsened.
“Damn Orochimaru. Damn Kitagawa Gen. So that’s what happened!”
He already had a grudge against Orochimaru—and now Kitagawa Gen, the one who inherited the title of "White Fang," had joined the list.
Old hate and new grudges stacked together—how could he possibly bear it?
“Damn bastards...”
Kakuzu was gritting his teeth too, but Obito suddenly snapped to attention.
“Wait. That thing hidden inside Rōran—what happened to it? With that level of power, it clearly wasn’t some ordinary object.”
“It wasn’t,” Black Zetsu replied with a nod, already understanding what Obito was getting at.
“Unfortunately, the explosion was massive. It’s hard to say how much chakra remains inside. And with the Flying Thunder God technique active in that area, well…”
“Damn it…”
Obito could only curse under his breath.
Caught in an explosion out of nowhere, and ended up with absolutely nothing—who wouldn’t be pissed?
Fortunately, Black Zetsu had a kind heart and knew how to comfort people.
“Still, we did get something out of this. At the very least, Orochimaru’s operation failed.
“Plus, we’ve gained Shimura Danzō’s trust—he now believes the intel we provided was genuine. That’ll make it easier for us to maneuver around Konoha’s actions."
“Most importantly, I’ve now witnessed Kitagawa Gen’s combat ability firsthand. I’ll compile everything I saw. That’ll come in handy next time we face him.”
Hearing this, everyone present nodded—except for Hidan, whose head was still being carried around.
After all, this whole operation had been a bait mission to test the enemy’s intel. Confirming it was the most critical goal.
The group fell silent, lost in their own thoughts—until Hidan, who hadn’t said a word until now, finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Hey, hey, HEY! I’m talking to you guys—if the meeting’s over, then hurry up and put me back together already!”
“Don’t pretend I’m not suffering here! Do you have any idea how miserable this is?!”
“Just stitch me up already, damn it!”
