Now that Orochimaru had escaped, there was no reason for Inoiki to remain. Without hesitation, he leapt onto his reassembled giant sword, which hovered in the air, and took off toward Team Kakashi's location.
As he soared through the sky, a sudden shift in chakra made him tense. Kabuto's presence—previously near Team 7—had vanished. But it didn't feel like he'd been killed. No, it was something else. The sensation was eerily similar to Orochimaru's escape… a snake, a quick retreat. Likely the same technique.
Inoiki arrived at Tenchi Bridge moments later. Team Kakashi stood there, clearly shaken. Naruto was pacing in frustration, his fists clenched and his face contorted with fury.
"Damn bastard!" he shouted. "He got away!"
As Inoiki descended and landed in front of them atop his sword, the team turned toward him.
"Did Kabuto escape?" Inoiki asked, already guessing the answer.
Kakashi gave a curt nod. "Yeah. A snake came out of nowhere. Caught us off guard. It wrapped around him and dove into the river before we could react."
Inoiki's expression tightened. "Figures. Orochimaru must've planned this escape well in advance. He probably summoned that snake as a backup to retrieve Kabuto while he was fleeing. I was so focused on him... I didn't notice what else he was doing."
He glanced down at the water, the last ripples already fading.
Naruto turned to Inoiki, his voice sharp with urgency.
"Inoiki, what about Orochimaru? Did you catch him?"
Inoiki shook his head. "No. He escaped—just like Kabuto. I was too focused on dealing with Manda. I assumed Orochimaru wouldn't be able to run, since he was standing on Manda's head. But the moment he hit the ground, a snake swallowed him and disappeared underground. I was able to track it for a short time, but once it went deeper, I couldn't follow. My abilities don't reach that far below the surface."
Kakashi nodded. "It's not your fault. Orochimaru's made a career out of slipping through our fingers. He's an expert at disappearing."
Naruto clenched his fists, his rage boiling over. "Even he got away?! Then how the hell are we supposed to find his hideout now?!"
His chakra flared, and his normally blue eyes began to burn crimson. The Nine-Tails' presence surged just beneath the surface.
Inoiki noticed the change immediately and sighed, his expression hardening. Naruto's emotions—especially when it came to Sasuke—were always volatile. And once his anger took over, the Nine-Tails' chakra was never far behind.
Inoiki raised his voice sharply. "Calm down, Naruto! You're letting the Nine-Tails' chakra influence you again!"
At the same time, he extended his mental energy, using his psychic abilities to steady Naruto's emotions from a distance.
Naruto tensed—then slowly exhaled. The crimson faded from his eyes, and the oppressive chakra receded. He lowered his head, guilt creeping into his voice.
"I'm sorry… It's just—if we can't find Orochimaru's hideout, how are we supposed to bring Sasuke back?"
Kakashi stepped in calmly. "Who said we can't find it? Talking to Kabuto might not have given us much directly, but while I was disguised as Sasori, he let something slip—something important."
Inoiki looked over. "You got a location?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yeah. Kabuto revealed that Orochimaru's hideout is to the north of here—on a small island in the middle of a lake."
Inoiki's eyes sharpened. "Then we don't waste time. We move now."
He turned to the rest of the group. "Everyone, get ready. We leave immediately."
As soon as he spoke, Inoiki raised one hand and made a precise hand sign in the air. From a distance, Yamato—who had been watching quietly—spotted the signal. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward Tenchi Bridge and arrived within seconds, landing beside them.
Inoiki hovered in the sky, standing firmly atop his massive floating sword. He looked down at the others and said calmly, "Alright, everyone—don't resist."
The moment the words left his mouth, he extended his hand. Using his Psychokinesis, he gently lifted each member of Team Kakashi into the air. Their bodies rose as if carried by an invisible force, suspended weightlessly above the bridge.
"Let's go," Inoiki said.
In the next instant, they all shot forward—five streaks of light racing through the sky. In the center, the largest and brightest trail marked Inoiki's sword, gleaming like a comet as it led the group north toward their next destination.
They finally reached the pond—and just as Kabuto had described, a small island sat at its center.
Inoiki didn't hesitate. He guided the team down toward the island and activated his Observation Haki at full strength, scanning the area with intense focus.
It didn't take long to detect it: the opening of a large cave system, hidden at the base of a cliffside. The tunnel stretched deep underground, radiating a familiar and unsettling energy. This wasn't just a cave—it was a concealed network, sprawling and unnatural. It confirmed what they'd suspected.
This was Orochimaru's hideout.
Inoiki landed first, his sword hovering silently beside him. One by one, the rest of Team Kakashi touched down behind him.
Sakura looked around and smiled despite the tension. "Flying like that... it was incredible. I wish I had that ability."
Inoiki gave a curt nod but said nothing. His focus was locked on the cave system ahead, his senses combing through its labyrinthine structure. The layout was twisted—a maze, complex and disorienting.
He turned to the team. "We move now. We have to find Orochimaru and Sasuke before they disappear again. They're probably already preparing to escape."
Without waiting for a response, Inoiki bolted into the cave.
The others followed immediately.
As he ran, Inoiki pushed his Observation Haki to its limits. The winding corridors and dead ends made it difficult to get a full reading all at once, but he kept extending his awareness with every step.
Then—he found them.
Three signatures: Orochimaru. Sasuke. Kabuto. All gathered in a single room deep within the base.
"I've located them!" Inoiki shouted back. "Orochimaru and Sasuke—this way!"
He veered sharply, changing direction, and the others followed at full speed, the chase reignited.
…
Inside the room...
Orochimaru's expression was tense. He turned sharply toward the others.
"We need to escape—now. Inoiki has arrived."
Sasuke frowned. "Why run? We can take them."
"Don't be foolish, Sasuke," Orochimaru snapped. "I'm not at full strength. He may not be able to kill me easily, but he can capture me—and that's a risk I can't afford. It's time I accepted the truth: Inoiki is far stronger than he was three years ago."
Sasuke's voice tightened. "And I'm not the same Sasuke from three years ago, either."
Kabuto, clearly frustrated, cut in. "Maybe not—but you're still not stronger than him. We've all felt it. His power is overwhelming. If he reaches this room, escaping will be nearly impossible. Even if we do manage to get out... it won't be easy."
Sasuke clenched his fists. "So what? I'm not weak anymore. I want to fight him. If he's really being compared to Itachi in strength—by Kakashi, no less—then defeating him is exactly what I need. If I ever want to surpass Itachi... I have to prove I can beat Inoiki."
----
Want to get daily updates and read chapters on a daily basis? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://www.p@treon.com/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/P3eXz2Er