The Eternal Space.
As Samehada continuously absorbed the Dragon Vein's power, this peculiar space had expanded significantly. In the past year alone, it had undergone a massive growth spurt, increasing hundreds of times in size.
Of course, that "year" referred to time in the outside world. Within the Eternal Space, ten full years had already passed.
During these ten years, Heiyan diligently cultivated without pause. He mastered the Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation of Wind, Fire, and Yin chakra natures, bringing each to an exceptionally high level.
Heiyan stood at the center of the Eternal Space, gazing straight ahead.
Suddenly, he raised both hands, rapidly formed hand seals, then opened his mouth wide.
Huala.
A vast sea of flames erupted from his mouth and surged forward, quickly engulfing half of the Eternal Space.
[Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction].
This iconic fire technique of the Uchiha clan, when executed by Heiyan now, could be described as unmatched by any in history. Even Madara would have to admit defeat if he saw it.
Swoosh.
Heiyan leapt up into the air, then descended straight down into the middle of the sea of flames. Immediately afterward, he formed another set of hand seals.
The next second,
Hu Hu.
A powerful tornado whirlwind formed centered on his body, continuously rotating upward, visibly growing thicker and larger with every instant.
Furthermore, during this process, the flames within the Eternal Space were drawn toward the swirling wind current from all directions, converging majestically and merging into the pillar of wind.
Thus, eventually, a spectacular scene unfolded.
After fusing together, the Great Fire Destruction and the whirlwind created a flame tornado forty meters in diameter and rising over one hundred meters tall. This fiery vortex spiraled violently skyward.
That enormous pillar of flame radiated dazzling brilliance and roared with deafening explosions as it raged throughout the Eternal Space.
The destructive power of this combined jutsu could reduce even a large ninja village to total ruin.
Swoosh.
Heiyan leapt once more, then midair he threw a punch that gathered a tremendous surge of air shaped like a dragon, roaring heavenward as it charged toward the flaming tornado.
Boom.
Their collision shook the heavens and earth. Ultimately, the fire tornado was dispersed by the dragon-shaped air current, exploding violently and transforming into countless blazing embers descending heavily across the ground of the Eternal Space.
Pah.
At this moment, Heiyan clapped his hands together, activating another technique.
Shua.
Darkness suddenly appeared, spreading out from all directions like an enormous pitch-black silk tapestry covering the entire sky of the Eternal Space.
[Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique].
This was an illusionary technique once used by Hashirama Senju. It could create a world of darkness by removing all light.
So far, Heiyan had mastered the seven elemental natures—Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Yin, and Yang—at an extraordinary level, each reaching the upper echelon of the shinobi world.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," could only admire helplessly before Heiyan's prowess.
However, for Heiyan himself, this was merely the beginning. Mastering the seven elemental techniques meant nothing more than having earned the possibility—and qualified ticket—to begin developing Kekkei Mora.
What awaited him next would truly be the real challenge.
However, before officially launching the Kekkei Mora research project, Heiyan planned to take a break and adjust himself to peak condition.
Thus, he ended his ten-year seclusion and returned to Penglai Ninja Village.
After exiting Eternal Space, Heiyan immediately sensed intelligence transmitted through the Parasitic Spores.
"Shukaku has been taken...," he murmured, without surprise.
The one who had stolen Shukaku from Sunagakure was none other than Shamon, the long-dead Second Kazekage, and the Third Kazekage whom Heiyan himself had killed.
They had both been resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation by Madara Uchiha and become puppets under his control.
Clearly, Madara had already begun collecting Tailed Beasts.
Through analysis, Heiyan speculated on Madara's possible next moves.
Right now, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Fugaku Uchiha and Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Kushina Uzumaki were both in Konoha, protected by Sage Frogs from Mount Myoboku and numerous experts from the village. Even if Madara himself launched an attack, it would be difficult for him to succeed—let alone using reincarnated puppet corpses.
As for Six-Tails Saiken and Seven-Tails Chomei, they were within a pocket dimension in Shikkotsu Forest, under the protection of Sage Slug Katsuyu. It would be nearly impossible for Madara to capture them.
Three-Tails Isobu had been slain by Heiyan during the battle at Uzu Country and had yet to reappear.
In that case, Four-Tails Son Gokū and Five-Tails Kokuō hidden within Iwagakure, and Eight-Tails Gyāki in Kumogakure would likely become Madara's next targets.
Thinking about this, Heiyan smiled.
Because he knew that after capturing each Tailed Beast, Madara would seal them into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path using the [Phantom Dragon Nine Seals] technique.
Lucky for him, Heiyan had implanted parasitic spores into four tailed beasts: Shukaku (One-Tail), Son Gokū (Four-Tails), Kokuō (Five-Tails), and Gyāki (Eight-Tails). This meant that—
Once those beasts were sealed by Madara, all six spores would gather inside the statue, significantly increasing Heiyan's speed and control over it.
In other words, Madara might bustle around busily, but ultimately he'd just be working for Heiyan.
Still, even without Heiyan's interference, everything Madara did would eventually benefit the shadowy mastermind behind the scenes—Black Zetsu.
Perhaps this was Madara Uchiha's inevitable fate:
Nothing more than a laborer.
During his rest, Heiyan also returned briefly to the world of ninja—the shinobi realm.
He infiltrated Konoha effortlessly, collecting valuable intelligence.
Over the past year, Konoha had continued pushing forward with its reforms, growing rapidly. The most significant change was the number of ninja, which had almost doubled.
In fact, since the Five Great Ninja Villages gained control over their respective countries, all had implemented extensive talent selection programs among civilians to cultivate large numbers of new ninja.
Across the shinobi world, the total count of ninja was growing at an unprecedented rate, showing no sign of slowing down.
This wasn't a good omen.
However, all this no longer concerned Heiyan.
After staying two days in Konoha, he paid a visit to Shikkotsu Forest and found Tsunade still asleep inside her cocoon, far from awakening.
Heiyan informed Sage Slug about Madara's attempt to gather the Tailed Beasts, warning her to stay vigilant and keep an eye on the two troublemakers, Six-Tails and Seven-Tails.
Next, Heiyan left Shikkotsu Forest and headed toward Iwagakure village in the Land of Earth.
His goal this time was to extract the chakra of Son Goku, the Four-Tails, and Kokuo, the Five-Tails, to create new living armor.
The [Lava Release] ability of the Four-Tails and the [Boil Release] ability of the Five-Tails could both help Heiyan better understand how different natures of chakra fused together.
These experiences would prove invaluable in his development of Kekkei Mora.
Iwagakure village.
Since news of the One-Tail Shukaku being captured by someone spread from Suna, Iwagakure had quickly responded by placing heavy protection around their village's two Jinchuriki.
However, one night, endless darkness suddenly descended upon Iwagakure village, robbing all its villagers of sight and leaving them blinded.
By the time the Third Tsuchikage Onoki realized what was happening and dispelled the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, everyone in Iwagakure discovered that Roshi and Han were already gone.
Three days later,
the people of Iwagakure found the two unconscious Jinchuriki lying in a remote desert wasteland within the Land of Earth.
Thankfully, after examination, both still carried their Tailed Beasts inside.
Yet puzzlingly, when Roshi and Han regained consciousness, they remembered absolutely nothing about what had happened during the past few days.
Eventually, Onoki ordered the incident to be covered up, and the two Jinchuriki were quietly taken back into the village, leaving the case unsolved.
Meanwhile, Heiyan had already returned to Penglai with the newly acquired [Four-Tails' Lava Release] armor and [Five-Tails' Boil Release] armor.
According to his plan, these two Jinchuriki of Iwagakure would later be captured by Madara, who would extract the Tailed Beasts from their bodies and seal them within the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
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