"Sigh, forget it. When we return to Konoha, don't go around talking nonsense, alright?"
Kiyosuke shifted the topic and asked,
"Have you packed all the experiment data?"
Sasuke handed him a space scroll.
"Everything's inside."
Kiyosuke tucked the scroll away.
"Step aside. I'm going to blow this whole place up."
Sasuke and Suigetsu immediately moved back. Kiyosuke created a clone and sent it into the lab. Then he led the two of them out. Moments later, an ear-splitting explosion thundered behind them.
Suigetsu jumped up onto a tree, eyes wide in shock as he saw a massive crater where the base had once stood.
Damn… no wonder he was able to kill Orochimaru-sama. With him, sticking close is definitely the safest bet!
His resolve to cling tightly to Kiyosuke's leg grew even firmer. Dropping back down, he chased after the two and asked,
"Kiyosuke-sama, where are we going next?"
"To find the last one."
"Who?"
"Jūgo."
"Ah, you mean that lunatic who goes berserk all the time? Why would you go after him?"
"It's nothing. I'm just going to get him out of prison and let him stay in Konoha for a while."
Kiyosuke smiled faintly, but Suigetsu shook his head.
"That guy loses control at the drop of a hat. Even he can't stop himself when it happens. Are you really planning to take him to Konoha?"
"Of course. Aside from the three great sacred grounds, natural energy isn't particularly dense anywhere else. In a large village like Konoha, the natural energy concentration is even lower."
Natural energy came from nature itself. The denser the wilderness, the stronger it became, while cities had weaker energy. Jūgo's berserk rages came from absorbing too much natural energy. Living in a place like Konoha, the chances of him losing control would actually be reduced.
And besides, Kiyosuke was very interested in Jūgo's Cursed Seal, so he planned to bring him back to study.
Unable to argue, Suigetsu reluctantly followed.
...
The base where Jūgo was kept was fairly remote and crude in construction. Considering his unique condition, no one dared confine him in one of the more elaborate labs.
Unlike Suigetsu's cell, which only held him, this place imprisoned many. Kiyosuke instructed Sasuke and Suigetsu to release the innocent captives. As for the others, Konoha would send people to deal with them.
He reached Jūgo's cell and looked at the burly, yellow-haired man in a hospital gown inside.
"You're Jūgo?"
"I am."
The man was quiet, sparing with words.
"Come with me. Orochimaru's dead."
"Orochimaru-sama is dead?"
Jūgo's eyes flickered in surprise. He wasn't particularly emotional about it—just shocked someone could actually kill Orochimaru. What concerned him more was his friend.
"And Kimimaro?"
"He's still in the Sound Village. But his body won't last much longer. He doesn't have many years left."
"I have to go to the Sound Village!"
Jūgo shot up, restless. To him, Kimimaro was the only one who could restrain his rampages. He couldn't let anything happen to him.
"You can. You can bring Kimimaro back to Konoha. He'll get the best possible treatment there."
Kiyosuke nodded, reached out, and simply tore the cell door down.
"You're strong."
"Not bad."
Jūgo stepped out. Suigetsu came over.
"Kiyosuke-sama, we've released everyone who could be freed. The ones left are criminals or too dangerous."
"Good. I already contacted Konoha on the way here. They should arrive soon to take over."
Sure enough, not long after, Konoha's ANBU arrived to secure the base. Kiyosuke didn't bother with the aftermath.
Jūgo followed them back to Konoha, then immediately set out to find Kimimaro.
As for Kiyosuke, he and the others returned to the village.
...
They had barely arrived when Tsunade summoned him.
Her expression was complicated.
"You really killed Orochimaru?"
"Yes."
A snake slithered from his sleeve and spat out the Kusanagi Blade.
Both Tsunade and Jiraiya recognized it instantly as Orochimaru's personal weapon. For a long moment, neither spoke. Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting silently at the side, smoked his pipe. He seemed older than ever, his back more hunched.
Kiyosuke put the blade away.
"Orochimaru still has other bases. You should search them out. Some things need to be reclaimed by Konoha, not left for others to pick over."
"I understand. Write me a report. I'll take care of the rest."
Tsunade rubbed her brow, clearly exhausted.
Dead… maybe it's better this way.
"Alright."
Kiyosuke left the Hokage's office, leaving the heavy atmosphere behind.
What happens next isn't my concern.
...
When Kimimaro learned of Orochimaru's death, his condition worsened. After arriving in Konoha, he immediately sought Kiyosuke out for revenge, only to be effortlessly suppressed and sent to the hospital.
His illness was far too advanced. Even Tsunade couldn't save him. In the end, he passed away at Konoha Hospital at the age of seventeen.
After laying Kimimaro to rest, Jūgo stayed in Konoha. He did lose control once, but Kiyosuke quickly restrained him. From then on, Jūgo stuck by Kiyosuke, unwilling to risk a rampage without someone to stop him.
...
Their days of relative peace didn't last long. Soon after, Tsunade summoned the jōnin to the conference room.
Her expression was grave.
"Last night, we received word that the demon Mōryō, sealed underground, has been resurrected by someone. Its Ghost Army has also returned and has already begun attacking the Five Great Nations. We must cooperate with the other villages to respond."
Long ago, a demonic being nearly destroyed the world. That being was Mōryō. Commanding an endless Ghost Army, it waged war against all nations. In the end, it was sealed by the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons.
Decades later, another group tried to use Mōryō's power to conquer the world, unleashing the Ghost Army once more. At the last moment, the shrine maiden Miroku sealed it away again.
And now, after all these years, someone was once again trying to use that same power to bring ruin to the world.
Having fought in that war, Tsunade knew full well how dangerous Mōryō and its Ghost Army were. Without hesitation, she mobilized troops to march out.
"Yes!"
The jōnin obeyed and moved toward the Land of Fire's borders. Similar reports were coming from the other nations as well.
...
Kiyosuke and the others arrived at a canyon, where an army like rows of terracotta soldiers marched in unison, weapons raised.
Kakashi, commanding, looked down at the Ghost Army.
"Kiyosuke, you're up first."
"Got it!"
Kiyosuke leapt down, landing in front of the Ghost Army.
The moment they saw someone blocking their way, the soldiers raised their weapons at him.
"Raaah!"
Kiyosuke swung his arm. A torrent of blazing fire erupted forth.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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