Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 424: You're Really Cruel to Yourself

Manda? Maybe he got beaten senseless by the four Kinrin sisters—after all, Manda's status in Ryūchi Cave was pretty miserable.

"Korin might not be the strongest, but her ability with sound is unique. She's a rattlesnake, after all."

Kazuyama Gekkō smiled faintly as he walked toward the two Root mbers, now collapsed and unable to move. Orochimaru followed at his side.

"Run? Why aren't you running now?"

"Tsk, tsk. Trying to escape right in front of us—what were you thinking? Wouldn't it be easier to just accept your death?"

Kazuyama tossed the two together, his tone full of scorn.

Orochimaru chuckled, then extended a hand. A blade of invisible wind swept forth and ended them instantly.

The scene was brutal. Wind Release: Wind Cutter, when used by Orochimaru, wasn't just strong—it was excessive. The sheer number and force of the blades left the bodies unrecognizable.

Even Kazuyama couldn't help but wince at the carnage. When it ca to ruthlessness, his sensei still took the crown. The most Kazuyama would've done was a clean kill—one blade per person.

"All right, leave the Root pursuers to . Sensei, you head back."

"I found you an assistant, after all. And about those kids—don't ss around with them."

"They're all war orphans. If you really need test subjects, let catch them for you."

Kazuyama reminded Orochimaru again. He didn't want his teacher to truly go down a dark path.

Orochimaru glanced at him.

"Relax. They're just kids. I won't touch them."

"Besides, I'll teach them so self-defense. Who knows—maybe they'll beco loyal guards of mine in the future."

With Orochimaru's reassurance, Kazuyama was satisfied.

He held out his right hand, causing Orochimaru to frown in confusion.

"C'mon, hand over your Kusanagi sword."

"What do you want it for?"

Kazuyama rolled his eyes. He didn't even bother to answer, just grabbed the Kusanagi sword himself. Without hesitation, he slashed his arm twice and then stabbed himself in the stomach.

Blood gushed imdiately. Orochimaru stood frozen in shock while Kazuyama grimaced in pain.

"Ow, damn—that hurt more than I thought."

"Good thing I missed anything vital. That could've been really bad."

Orochimaru stepped forward to pull out the sword, but Kazuyama waved him off.

"Leave it. Just go already. I'll hold onto your sword for now."

"I'll return it when I can. This way, even if the Root Division shows up, I'll have an excuse."

"I'll say... my cruel sensei ambushed his beloved student and left him gravely injured."

"But Kazuyama Gekkō fought back, pushed his wicked teacher away, and was left with the legendary Kusanagi sword."

"Great story, right, sensei?"

Kazuyama forced a pitiful grin, blood still dripping from his wound. But he didn't care.

Chōi was already dulling the pain. As a Jinchūriki, he could recover from wounds like this easily—he could heal them in minutes if he wanted.

Still, his words left Orochimaru completely speechless.

"Fine. If you're going this far, I won't argue."

"But you better return my sword. Got it?"

Orochimaru stared at the blade embedded in Kazuyama's gut. That was his Kusanagi—his favorite weapon. He wasn't just going to give it up. Kazuyama had already taken one from him.

"Don't worry. I've got one of my own. I don't need yours."

"Now go. I'll et you in Takigakure later."

Orochimaru gave a nod and vanished, leaving Kazuyama to finish the act.

He sared blood across his clothes and body, carefully making himself look battered and broken. With the sword sticking out of his stomach, the effect was convincingly grim.

"Korin, you sure the pursuers are close?"

"This still really hurts."

He had asked Korin earlier to keep tabs on the Root reinforcents. Her ability to detect vibrations underground made her the perfect early warning system.

"They're nearly there. They'll arrive soon."

"Good. Thanks, Korin. Tell Snakeberry I'll bring sothing back for you both when I visit Ryūchi Cave."

Korin was more than happy to help in exchange for food. She dissolved back into the earth, returning to Ryūchi Cave.

"Kazuyama, you're insane. You're this brutal to yourself?"

"Tsk, I really underestimated you."

Chōi's voice rang in his mind, full of mockery. Kazuyama chuckled.

"Chōi, hold my body steady. I really am in pain, okay?"

"Relax. With around, even if your guts spill out, you won't die."

That much Kazuyama had full faith in.

...

Not long after, two ANBU squads arrived at the scene—eight mbers total.

When they saw the battlefield, they were visibly stunned.

Blood everywhere, snake corpses littering the ground... and Kazuyama Gekkō, slumped against a wagon wheel, looking half-dead.

"Captain, this..."

"Save him first. As for our fallen comrades, bury them here."

The squad leader's expression was grim, but when he saw Kazuyama was still breathing, he gave the order to treat him imdiately.

That caught Kazuyama off guard. He thought to himself, These aren't Root operatives.

"Kazuyama Gekkō, I'm the captain of Anbu Squad Two. How are you? What about the people from the orphanage?"

"Ugh, cough... cough."

Ti to sell the performance. Kazuyama coughed up blood, his voice weak and shaky.

"Cough... Orochimaru ambushed ..."

"!?"

The ntion of Orochimaru's na stunned the ANBU. Wasn't he Kazuyama's teacher?

"I thought of him as a ntor, heh..."

"And he stabbed in the back..."

Kazuyama muttered through gritted teeth, blood still dripping as he recounted the ambush.

The squad's dical-nin began treating his wounds. Seeing the extent of his injuries, the dic clicked his tongue in disbelief.

That sword in his abdon—if it had been even a little off, Kazuyama would've died on the spot.

The ANBU captain frowned deeply.

They had been sent directly by the Hokage and had even stopped Root personnel from interfering.

Now, with what they were seeing, it was clear: Orochimaru's defection was no ordinary matter. The fact that he'd even attacked his own student... this situation was far worse than expected.

They had to return to the village imdiately and report everything.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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