"Last time in Tsuao Village, Ōnoki personally gave the order. Just to kill a few hidden Anbu from Sunagakure, he burned down the entire village. And in a northern outpost of Sunagakure, he ordered the Anbu to bomb it. The result? They hit the wrong place…"
As Rōshi spoke, he shook his head and let out a heavy sigh, drinking another cup of sake. The more he drank, the more he spoke. For more than a decade, he had long been unable to stomach Ōnoki's actions. He had argued and quarreled with him many times, but he could never change the old man's ways.
"If… if he had listened to me, the Third Great Ninja War would have ended long ago. The Land of Earth would have been stable already. This war has caused irreversible damage to every nation. But what's the point? Fighting to the death—what use is it? In the end, who swallows whom? Aren't the Five Great Ninja Villages still just the Five Great Ninja Villages?"
Rōshi's eyes turned red as he spoke. He had a compassionate heart, but could not bear Ōnoki's methods, leaving him tormented inside.
"I can see now… this world is not something I can change. I won't try to change them anymore. I'll just change myself. From now on, I won't interfere in Iwagakure's affairs. Let them do whatever they want."
He finished speaking and raised his head, downing another drink. Just then, more than a dozen shuriken flew toward him, two aimed directly at his throat.
With a flick of his sleeve, Shigeo deflected the incoming shuriken to the side. At the same time, Rōshi rolled to the ground and darted out of the tavern, Shigeo quickly following behind.
On the rooftop, over a dozen Iwagakure Anbu surrounded Rōshi. A few others behind them held large scrolls—members of the sealing team.
"Rōshi, you owe Iwagakure so much. To leave like this is too unreasonable. Some things, even if you want to go, you must return to us…" The leader, a tall, well-built man with a mask, stared intently at him.
They meant the tailed beast inside his body. For a jinchūriki, losing the beast meant certain death.
Iwagakure's ability to maintain balance during the Third Great Ninja War was directly linked to possessing two tailed beasts. If Rōshi left now, it would be a huge loss. Ōnoki could lose Rōshi, but he absolutely could not afford to lose the Four-Tails.
Thus, several Anbu squads had been dispatched with one objective:
Rōshi's life or death did not matter—what mattered was bringing the Four-Tails back.
"Rubbish!" The small figure of Shigeo suddenly rushed in front of Rōshi and shouted, "You people talk nonsense! What does he owe you? Tell me—what exactly does he owe you?"
The Anbu glanced at the boy in surprise. Who was this kid? Bold, at least.
"Where did this brat come from? If you don't want to die, get out of the way!"
"The ones who should leave are you. Do you think I don't know? What you want is the tailed beast in his body. But when you made him a jinchūriki back then, did you ever ask his opinion?" Shigeo's eyes burned as he confronted them.
Rōshi had been a jinchūriki for over thirty years. No one had ever spoken for him. As a child, they said he was Iwagakure's blade, destined to protect the village at all times. And he had protected them. But in doing so, he had hurt others. That guilt was something they would never understand.
He had clashed with Ōnoki many times, but everyone targeted him instead of addressing the real issues. It left him more and more disheartened.
No one saw his pain. Even now, facing him, all they wanted was their weapon back—not to listen to his voice.
Rōshi looked at the child standing before him, and his heart softened. At least there was one person in the world willing to speak up for him. That was enough.
"Enough talk! Let's fight!"
Rōshi's deep voice roared out as he launched forward like a flying blade.
"Yōton: Shaku Rairyūgan no Jutsu! (Lava Release: Burning River of Flowing Rock)
Yōton: Shaku Dai Funka! (Lava Release: Great Eruption)
Yōton: Jishaku no Jutsu! (Lava Release: Direct Scorch Technique)"
Rōshi began his assault. Shigeo clashed with two Anbu to the side. In an instant, molten lava engulfed the small town. More and more Iwagakure Anbu gathered. What had started as a dozen had grown to over twenty in mere minutes.
Quite a number. Ōnoki clearly wasn't letting the Four-Tails slip away.
"Doton, Suiton shinobi forward! Others, fall back! Sealing team, advance!" The muscular Anbu leader barked orders, reorganizing their formation.
Suiton users unleashed water techniques. Lava and fire's natural counter was water.
Shigeo frowned slightly. Rōshi's body was already turning crimson, his eyes orange, hair standing on end—he was beginning to enter tailed beast form.
As a jinchūriki for so many years, he could control the beast well. He wanted to use that power to drive the Anbu away.
But the enemy had brought twenty men and a sealing squad. Clearly, they intended not to let him go.
"Beep! Congratulations, Master! Mirror system has successfully copied the Four-Tails from the jinchūriki! 100% success!"
At that moment, Shigeo's system rang. He could now retreat.
But Rōshi was in danger. Could he just leave?
"Go, quickly!" Rōshi shouted, stepping in front of Shigeo. "I'll cover you—leave now!"
This old man was stubborn, but he had treated Shigeo well. He couldn't abandon him.
"No, I'll help you!" Shigeo leapt forward and began weaving hand signs.
"Doton: Doryū no Jutsu! (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Technique)"
A massive earth dragon erupted from the ground, lunging at the sealing squad behind the Anbu.
"Shōton: Shōsen! (Crystal Release: Crystal Spikes)"
Suddenly, thousands of crystal spikes formed in the air, piercing forward!
This was one of Shigeo's own inventions—a simple but powerful Shōton technique, inspired by Fūton: Senpū Randa (Wind Release: Thousand Blades of Chaos).
"What is this—ahhh!" Three men were instantly skewered.
The spikes then targeted the Anbu leader. His eyes widened, blood vessels bursting as he tried to form signs. But before he could, the crystals had pierced his wrist!
"Go, Rōshi!" Shigeo grabbed his arm and activated a Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), vanishing from the battlefield.
The remaining crystal spikes shot toward the twenty Anbu still standing.
The caster was gone, yet the jutsu still raged. Such mastery of chakra control—unbelievable!
(End of Chapter)
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