The thought of one day wielding a Susanoo on the scale of the Buddha himself made Haruma's heart race. He could hardly contain himself, part of him wanted to rush out and track down Orochimaru immediately and learn the forbidden Edo Tensei.
Haruma's chakra now flowed like a broken dam. Before, his reserves were measured in "Kakashi unit's" but now, his capacity was planets higher.
Two and even three digit Kakashi's. It would not be long before his chakra rivalled that of a beast. With that he sealed the scrolls and began his return to Konoha.
Ultimately, Haruma had decided not to consume Minato, at least at the moment. His true purpose this time had been to harvest tissues and devour the residual power of the Uzumaki women.
Minato was different.
Minato lacked a kekkei genkai. Even if Haruma absorbed him and inherited the Flying Thunder God Technique or Sage Mode from Mount Myoboku, they would be incomplete, requiring Haruma to master them from scratch. And now that he had tasted what it meant to obtain perfected abilities outright, he had no intention of taking such a roundabout route.
Instead, Haruma's plan was clear, first acquire Edo Tensei, then with the Shinigami Mask, extract Minato's soul. Reanimate him, and then devour him, gaining the perfected Flying Thunder God, Senjutsu, Sealing techniques and most crucial of all.
The half of Kurama sealed within Minato.
Why spend ten years training when you could cheat the system so easily?
With Wood Clone and disguises, Haruma slipped back into Konoha. After safely storing the scrolls, he infused chakra into a waiting clone, which transformed into an ordinary piece of furniture to guard the hidden scrolls. With such a flawless disguise, not even sensory shinobi would be able detect it, at least not until it struck from the shadows to kill them in a single blow.
Destroying his disguise, Haruma once again donned the simple vest of a Konoha genin and returned to helping rebuild homes. No one in the village suspected that this twelve year old boy had stolen over a hundred corpses, including the Fourth Hokage, two Hokage wives, and countless elite shinobi of Konoha spanning sixty years. Nor that he had assassinated elders of the Hyuga, Yamanaka and Nara clans, slain an Anbu commander, and claimed the bodies of several Uchiha who had awoken their sharingan.
In less than a single day, Haruma's power had skyrocketed from elite jonin with Kage-level potential to a being with true Kage-level strength and the potential to surpass even Super Kage.
Yes, Kage now, Super Kage in the future.
His arsenal was staggering:
Three-Tomoe Sharingan
Byakugan
Wood Style
Sage's body
Adamantine Sealing Chains
Kagura's Mind Eye: Malicious Variant
Secret techniques of the Yamanaka and Nara clans
By any measure, Haruma was already an undeniable Kage-class shinobi.
And his chakra nature affinities had expanded as well from five (Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning, Yin) to seven, now including Earth and Yang Release. His nature spread now rivaled the greats like Orochimaru, Kakashi, Hiruzen and Tobirama Senju.
If one ranked affinities by strength, Haruma's true pillar was not Fire or Water, nor even Yin for Sharingan illusions.
It was Yang Release, the source of vitality itself.
Wood Style that could only reach 20% of Hashirama's power was trash but Wood Style powered by a Sage's body akin to Ashura's own could reach at least 80% of Hashirama's and with Sage Mode, 90%. The only gap left was Hashirama's ultimate attack.
Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
When Haruma perfected his own body, his Wood Style would stand at the very peak of shinobi, just below Six Paths level, the true apex of the Super Kage tier.
Having done his "daily good deed," Haruma turned to Plan B, preparing for Tsunade's return.
Over the next days, he attended the Third Hokage's funeral, confirmed the body was interred, and monitored Jiraiya's movements with his Byakugan and Kagura's Mind Eye.
Then, one morning, his senses detected two immense chakra signatures within Konoha. Haruma immediately recognised them as Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.
News of Hiruzen's death had spread fast, Itachi having returned, not to attack, but to send a warning, specifically to Danzo, who still retained the Uchiha's eyes. With a single glance, Itachi crushed Kakashi before withdrawing once Might Guy arrived.
Meanwhile, the elders insisted on Jiraiya take up the mantle of the Fifth Hokage and again he refused to do so, nominating Tsunade instead. Though reluctant, the elders accepted. In this time of grief and uncertainty, no one could better lift morale than the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the Princess of the Senju, one of the Sannin and the greatest medical ninja alive.
With their consent, Jiraiya departed Konoha with Naruto to find her.
Haruma, seizing his chance, approached his sensei Kurenai.
"During my training, I met someone who may be from the Uzumaki clan," he said. "I'd like to recommend her to join Konoha."
Kurenai's eyes widened at that. "An Uzumaki? Are you sure that this person is telling the truth?"
"I am," Haruma nodded. "She has red hair, large amounts of chakra and sharp perception. When I met her, I felt it instinctively. I read a dusty book from the back of the library and her traits match up with the Uzumaki's."
Kurenai's expression was now serious. "If she is truly an Uzumaki, it's worth pursuing. But she may also be a spy. Any outsider wishing to join must pass interrogation by the intelligence division. Only after no outside control is found can she be accepted."
"I understand, Sensei," Haruma answered swiftly.
In truth, he only needed the excuse. If things went to plan, Karin would return with Tsunade and with Tsunade as her patron, not even Danzo could touch her.
Satisfied, Kurenai smiled and patted his shoulder. "Then make sure she stay's in Konoha until the Fifth Hokage arrives. I'll recommend her myself, If she really is an Uzumaki, the village will reward you for bringing her here."
Haruma nodded. "She's pretty weak right now. I'll fetch her myself, she's not too far from the village."
"Alright then," Kurenai said. "Let Kotetsu and Izumo know that I've given you permission to leave, I'll let them know myself later on to be safe."
"Thank you, Sensei." Haruma smiled politely, and in the next moment, vanished from her sight.
His plan was seemingly unfolding quite nicely, a quiet vacation to some remote island wouldn't do anyone any harm surely?