Chapter 35

Even the intervals between casting illusion techniques and curse marks were growing longer.

Finally, the Root squad captain had enough time to perform the sealing technique.

"Five Elements Seal!"

Instantly, the chakra within Kimimaro was sealed away.

The Reverse Curse Mark automatically activated, forcing Kimimaro out of his Cursed Seal state and restoring him to normal.

"Ahhh!!!"

"Damn it, let me go!"

Kimimaro could only roar in fury, his eyes burning with rage as he stared tightly at Kakashi.

"Behave yourself!"

Kakashi punched Kimimaro hard.

What had just happened was a long story, yet it all unfolded in an instant.

Recalling the peril now, Kakashi felt a chill run through his entire body.

It was too dangerous!

If not for Itachi's quick thinking at the critical moment, they might have all been wiped out by Kimimaro's hands.

Even so, they still suffered heavy losses.

Gazing at the several mangled corpses on the ground, Kakashi's face turned extremely ugly; he stared fiercely at Kimimaro and shouted:

"Tell me everything you know about Ishihara!"

Kimimaro growled, "Even if I die, I will absolutely never betray Lord Ishihara!"

Kakashi's face turned ashen, and suddenly he let out a cold sneer.

"You don't have to say anything; he's just a six-year-old brat. I can deal with him with one hand!"

Kimimaro looked up at Kakashi, his eyes filled with contempt and mockery.

"Just you?! You struggled so much to defeat me, yet you think you can defeat Lord Ishihara, who is ten or a hundred times stronger than me?!"

"Ridiculous!"

The Root squad captain and others immediately showed expressions of joy.

"So that Ishihara really is only six years old!"

As for Kimimaro's claim that Ishihara was ten or a hundred times stronger than him, they simply did not believe it.

But upon hearing this, Kakashi exchanged a glance with Itachi; seeing Itachi's suddenly constricted pupils, a chill of goosebumps ran over his entire body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

The intelligence and agility Itachi had displayed during the recent battle had greatly surprised him.

He was also the only one in this mission capable of helping him.

Judging from Itachi's reaction, he had probably already guessed that the enemy's strength was far greater than they had imagined.

"Senior, should we go or stay?"

"If we leave now, we can still take Kimimaro with us; if we stay... we might all die!"

Itachi swallowed hard, stepped forward nervously, and asked in a low voice.

Kakashi's face kept shifting.

The difficulty of the mission had exceeded his expectations; capturing Kimimaro alone had already far surpassed his original expectations.

But now, the thought of giving up on Ishihara made him unwilling, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

"You take Kimimaro..."

Before Kakashi could finish speaking, his voice suddenly stopped, and he looked in shock toward the depths of the base.

Footsteps echoed from there; they were not hurried, yet they were approaching rapidly.

The eerie pressure made Kakashi feel utterly oppressed, and his heart was filled with dread.

"Damn it!!! The enemy's strength is even greater than I imagined!"

He took a deep breath, his body tensing up, and said in a heavy voice:

"I'm afraid we can't leave even if we want to now; Ishihara has arrived!"

He didn't need to remind them; Itachi and the other survivors had already sensed it.

An inexplicable oppressive feeling enveloped everyone's hearts, and the pressure grew stronger, making their breathing become rapid.

They looked at each other in shock, and some even showed expressions of fear.

Without even needing to fight, some had already begun to feel the urge to retreat.

Tap, tap, tap!

The slow yet firm footsteps drew closer.

A figure emerged from the dimness, illuminated by the lights on both sides of the corridor.

Kakashi and the others immediately froze.

Because the newcomer's aura was simply too unique.

He appeared so otherworldly that he seemed as though he should not exist in this world.

For a moment, they all lost their composure.

Kimimaro lowered his head in shame.

He had failed; he had not completed the task assigned by Ishihara.

Ishihara looked calmly at them, then glanced at Kimimaro, who was pinned beneath Kakashi, his body covered in curse marks and seals.

"Hatake Kakashi, get off my friend! Immediately!"

Seeing the familiar faces of Kakashi and Itachi, he naturally recognized them.

But he did not care.

Just two strangers!

They had no aura of favor here at Ishihara.

Ishihara's voice instantly woke everyone up.

Before Kakashi could say anything, the captain of the Root organization pointed at Ishihara and roared in anger:

"You bastard, look closely! Is this really six years old?!"

Kakashi and the others looked at Ishihara, speechless.

Ishihara was also startled by this remark, his expression somewhat dazed.

It seemed he had not truly looked at himself in a long time.

He waved his hand lightly.

Swish!

Instantly, a mirror formed from a Water Release technique appeared beside him, reflecting his entire body.

But looking at the person in the mirror, Ishihara could not help but freeze.

It was a youth who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old.

His long black hair was simply tied behind him; his black eyes were incredibly bright, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, exceedingly handsome.

More importantly, an otherworldly, special aura emanated from his body.

It was very much like the immortals in the novels of Ishihara's past life.

But the real reason he froze was:

His current appearance had finally returned to how he looked at seventeen or eighteen in his past life!