Chapter 214: Mastery of Particle Style, Obito Who Wants to be Hokage and Isshiki Who Wants a New Vessel!
Spirit Release Chakra Mode...
This was an integration of Hiruzen Sarutobi's capabilities after his talents were further elevated.
In this mode, there was no need to specifically switch between Boil Release and Lightning Style chakra.
A portion of both their characteristics was manifested through the mimicry of non-elemental chakra.
Faster, more powerful, and greater resistance to strikes...
In this form, although Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't emphasize sheer power as much as Boil Release, nor speed and defense as much as Lightning Style, the enhancements across all aspects were incredibly balanced.
Furthermore, Spirit Release remained in a state of passive emission. Any ninjutsu that approached him would naturally be decomposed, triggering the absorption effect of the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Gengetsu Hozuki felt his mind spinning in confusion:
"Wait, did the old man Byakuren actually show up? What is with this level of Ice Style?!"
Although Gengetsu Hozuki had seen Hiruzen Sarutobi use Ice Style during the Sky Village's attack on Konoha, using pillars of ice to support the aerial fortress...
He had assumed that was the absolute limit of the Hokage's capabilities...
This Ice Style that covered his entire genjutsu domain, heavily imbued with profound nature and shape transformations, shattered his "Demonic Illusion: Steaming Multistoried Building" in a single stroke...
It made Gengetsu Hozuki hallucinate that the Hokage before him had transformed into the First Mizukage...
That man was renowned throughout the shinobi world for his unbelievably exquisite Ice Style!
But compared to Gengetsu Hozuki, Mu was far more concerned with the Spirit Release Chakra Mode.
"This is bad..."
"This form... it's almost exactly like a Particle Style Chakra Mode! No wait, even I don't know how to do something like that..."
"It's impossible for the Hokage to know Particle Style, but this sensation of decomposition feels incredibly familiar to me..."
High in the sky, the cloaked Mu stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi:
"Just what on earth is he cultivating? Even Tobirama Senju never dabbled in things like this back in the day!"
To combat Gengetsu Hozuki, Mu's sensory abilities had been honed to an exceptionally powerful degree.
At this moment, the feeling Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Mu was as if he had draped Particle Style itself over his body...
It was incredibly bizarre!
"Interesting. Too interesting!"
"I originally thought the shinobi of this era no longer possessed the intensity of our time..."
"It seems I underestimated the shinobi world..."
Gengetsu Hozuki paused for a moment. "Wait, you seem to have lived through the tail end of the Warring States period too, haven't you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi currently looked quite young, right in the prime of his life.
"Everyone must constantly progress, Mr. Gengetsu."
Hiruzen Sarutobi bounced lightly on his toes, warming up. "If we cannot surpass our predecessors, wouldn't that mean the shinobi world is constantly regressing? Discarding the old to bring forth the new is the true principle of development..."
"Then let me see it for myself!"
"This so-called power of the First Mizukage!" Gengetsu Hozuki abruptly entered combat mode, the ripple pattern of the Rinnegan flashing in his eyes.
Animal Path!
In the blink of an eye, a massive flurry of summoning jutsu was unleashed!
Black summoning arrays exploded one after another across the battlefield, and countless terrifying summoning beasts surged forth.
A completely transparent chameleon blended into the air and vanished. A massive, horrific centipede burrowed into the ground.
A rhinoceros lowered its head, its sharp horn glinting with a cold light, and launched a ferocious frontal charge.
A three-headed dog opened its three gaping maws; its drool hit the ground, instantly corroding small craters.
There was also a giant panda standing at the very front, acting as the vanguard for the entire summoned squad.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was probing, watching these summoning beasts thoughtfully.
After Ashina Uzumaki's identity was exposed, Hiruzen Sarutobi became certain of Madara Uchiha's identity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also knew the Edo Tensei jutsu.
This was a jutsu that would backfire on the caster if they lacked sufficient authority.
If a weakling rashly used this kinjutsu, the summoned powerhouses would not only easily break free but might even turn around and kill the caster...
To control the grandmaster of sealing jutsu via Edo Tensei, over the past century, only Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha possessed that level of strength—perhaps add Tobirama, given his infinite possibilities in jutsu creation, to that list.
But the problem was, Tobirama was revived by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, so that variable was eliminated.
Coupled with the awkward mentality displayed during various incidents, his intimate understanding of Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, and his constant monitoring and eventual rescue of Obito's team...
Furthermore, what the Uchiha Stone Monument stated about the power of all creation achieved by the union of Senju and Uchiha...
The chain of logic was securely locked. It had to be a certain Konoha Co-Founder No. 2 running a startup out in the wild...
"Is this summoning jutsu part of the power of all creation?"
"It should be more than just this..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered.
At this moment, the rhinoceros was the first to reach him, its massive sharp horn whistling through the air as it rammed toward him!
Hiruzen Sarutobi merely glanced at it, neither dodging nor evading, and met the rhinoceros' horn with a single punch!
The rhinoceros' sturdy skull shattered upon impact. Its massive body instantly flew backward, violently crashing into the ground and exploding into pieces!
The centipede abruptly erupted from the ground, but Hiruzen Sarutobi stomped down heavily, unleashing a burst of invisible chakra!
Like a massive hammer, it buried the creature deep into the earth.
The three-headed dog lunged from the side, and Hiruzen Sarutobi simply made a grasping motion with his hand.
Before even making contact, his chakra had already manifested as an invisible, giant hand, violently crushing several of its heads!
In just a few brief exchanges.
All the summoning beasts called forth by the Animal Path were completely wiped out.
Gengetsu Hozuki sucked in a breath of cold air.
In truth, dealing with those summoning beasts wasn't considered difficult; he could do it too.
The problem was, the core strength of his Animal Path lay in "amplified summoning."
The troublesome aspect of these summoning beasts was their characteristic of "division and multiplication." Once defeated, they would immediately multiply exponentially. This applied not just to the Cerberus, but to every summoning beast under Gengetsu Hozuki's control, because this specific aspect of his power stemmed from the authentic, full-powered Rinnegan of Madara Uchiha.
But the real issue was, the summoning beasts struck down by Hiruzen Sarutobi not only failed to trigger their division and regeneration effects...
As the wielder of the Animal Path, Gengetsu Hozuki couldn't even sense his connection to them anymore.
"Were they sealed?"
"There were no hand seals or movements for a sealing jutsu, yet getting hit by him is equivalent to being sealed?"
Gengetsu Hozuki stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, suddenly finding this opponent unbelievably troublesome.
Did someone actually manage to cultivate that crazy concept of old man Ashina Uzumaki into reality?
And it seemed even more terrifying than the "Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration" Ashina Uzumaki had described...
"That place Konoha really does produce monsters..."
Gengetsu Hozuki muttered to himself, fully erupting his chakra!
"Jokey Boy"!
Five identical, chibi-sized clones burst from the ground simultaneously.
They surrounded Hiruzen Sarutobi in a fan formation. The oil film covering their bodies gleamed with an eerie luster under the sunlight, and each clone's body was slightly swelling, ready to detonate at any moment.
This was the absolute limit of Gengetsu Hozuki's enhancement under the Six Paths puppet body!
Even if he went all out while alive, he could only produce two at most...
Five Jokey Boy clones detonating simultaneously possessed enough power to cover the entire battlefield in high-temperature steam explosions!
The clone at the very front charged at Hiruzen Sarutobi wielding a steel blade, still stained with the Third Mizukage's blood...
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dodge or evade, meeting the charge head-on.
Fist clashed against clone!
A look of joy flashed in Gengetsu Hozuki's eyes.
The terrifying aspect of the Jokey Boy was that any energy entering this vessel of mixed oil and water would cause it to suddenly expand and explode. Therefore, theoretically speaking, his clones could only be sealed.
Even if long-range ninjutsu could detonate them prematurely, the clones were incredibly fast.
Moreover, after exploding, they could reconstruct themselves.
Thus, it was known as the "Infinite Explosion Jutsu," a nightmare for any enemy on the battlefield.
But this specific Jokey Boy clone that made contact with Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't detonate from the immense power of the Hokage's fist. Instead, like a deflated balloon...
It shuddered violently, several chakra links maintaining its form loosened, and it actually began to collapse in on itself right then and there!
It rapidly reverted into oil and water, and was then further dismantled into pure chakra...
And entered Hiruzen Sarutobi's body!
"Huh?"
Gengetsu Hozuki's face was full of utter confusion.
Wait...
That can happen?!
"This seems very similar to the Preta Path that Ginkaku mastered..."
"Does the Hokage have a Rinnegan too?"
Gengetsu Hozuki's mind whirred. When those Warring States old-timers got tired of bickering every day, they would occasionally find an empty spot outside to exchange a few blows. Though aside from Ashina, none of them could actually hurt each other, it was still good for scratching their itch—they were all battle junkies, after all.
Because of this, Gengetsu Hozuki was very familiar with the abilities of the Preta Path.
"Then I'll just detonate them prematurely!"
"The concussive force generated by the Jokey Boy's explosion is not the same as chakra..."
He gritted his teeth and ordered the remaining two clones: "Ranged detonation! Don't get near him!"
The two clones immediately stopped ten meters away from Hiruzen Sarutobi, rapidly swelling to their absolute limit. A massive, wide-area explosion was imminent!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils shrank slightly, his gaze focusing on the two clones.
"Visual Jutsu: Spirit Release"!
The power of Spirit Release detonated within the two clones!
Compared to the complex chakra pathways within a human body, clones or ninjutsu mostly only possessed a few critical nodes. Once dismantled, they could no longer maintain their form.
The two Jokey Boy clones swelled instantly. The white light of Spirit Release flashed at several joints within their bodies. They spun uncontrollably before once again dissolving into water, oil, and azure chakra...
Gengetsu Hozuki finally understood this time.
Compared to the Preta Path, which could only absorb upon passive contact, Hiruzen Sarutobi was capable of proactively and remotely canceling other people's jutsu!
It focused far more heavily on "dismantling" rather than "absorption."
More accurately, the absorption had nothing to do with Spirit Release; it was merely a passive manifestation of Hiruzen Sarutobi's "Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration."
"What is the meaning of this, not letting people use ninjutsu?!"
"Are we only allowed to use taijutsu? Can a shinobi like this even exist?!"
Gengetsu Hozuki was momentarily at a loss for words.
According to the intelligence gathered by the White Zetsu, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been renowned as the "Professor of Ninjutsu" over the years.
Logically speaking, he should be a specialist in all five elemental ninjutsu. It would even be somewhat understandable if he managed to artificially synthesize a few kekkei genkai...
But the end result was that the "Professor of Ninjutsu" wouldn't let anyone use ninjutsu!
Under the cover of his two clones, Gengetsu Hozuki silently appeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, an immense amount of chakra concentrated at his index finger.
"Water Style: Extreme High-Pressure Water Balloon Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately chose not to decompose it with Spirit Release.
Instead, utilizing the "Water Sealing Method" embedded within the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration, he absorbed the attack entirely into his body.
Hiruzen Sarutobi flashed a sunny smile, tilted his head slightly to look at Gengetsu Hozuki, and said earnestly:
"It would be best if you refrain from using pure five-element ninjutsu, especially Water Style..."
"I know you guys probably have an impressive intelligence network; otherwise, you couldn't have found the Third Mizukage before I did, nor would you know so much about the internal affairs of Konoha."
"So, you should have seen my battle with Mizutori."
"The five elements won't work on me. At the very least, Water, Fire, Lightning, and Earth are completely useless. Wind Style might fare slightly better."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was only missing the final "Wind Sealing Method" to complete the five-element cycle of his Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration...
Though he was nearing completion on that as well.
Moreover, even if it was Wind Style, he could easily dismantle it with Spirit Release and then simply absorb it in reverse using the "Yin Seal."
Gengetsu Hozuki blinked forcefully.
He had fought in over a thousand battles throughout his life; that was a certainty given his reputation as a battle junkie.
But never in a single battle had he felt so utterly stifled...
A sense of powerlessness washed over him for the very first time.
As a shinobi, not being allowed to use ninjutsu to fight enemies—isn't this a joke?!
Meanwhile, in the Mountains' Graveyard.
Obito had already begun cheering loudly and unabashedly for the Hokage's performance:
"See, I told you! Lord Hokage is the strongest! That mustache uncle is no match for him, even though he's also very strong!"
The Second Raikage's gaze was heavy as he analyzed:
"This is definitely related to Tobirama Senju! That man studied kinjutsu his entire life, knowing full well that there is no end to the development of ninjutsu. If he can develop kinjutsu, others can too..."
"Although he faked his death, he definitively suffered a major loss at the hands of the Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Given his personality, having been ambushed by jutsu and ninja tools, he would definitely try to figure out how to prevent it from happening again. That's how he came up with this jutsu that counters all other jutsu..."
"Ginkaku, your Preta Path is very similar to the Hokage's, isn't it? This is all your and Kinkaku's fault. If you hadn't provoked him back then, things would be fine. But as a result, you forced him to step down from the Hokage position!"
"Without Lady Mito to keep an eye on him, we're all screwed!" The Second Raikage lamented bitterly.
In the Second Raikage's view, the master-disciple relationship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tobirama Senju, coupled with the similar structure of Spirit Release and the Preta Path, served as yet another piece of irrefutable evidence cementing the leader of the 'Warring States Weirdos Association'.
This time, neither Ginkaku nor Kinkaku argued with the Second Raikage.
Both of them realized that the position of Hokage truly seemed to have been a shackle on Tobirama Senju. It had at least forced him to maintain some semblance of a bottom line in his jutsu research. Escaping through fake death allowed him to revive all of them with Edo Tensei decades later.
Not only that, but upon Sasori's request, preparations for the Second Kazekage, Shamon, seemed to be underway as well...
This was never going to end!
"You guys don't understand a damn thing! Amateurs should keep their mouths shut!"
"The essence of the Preta Path is also a type of sealing jutsu, but its focus is completely different from what Hiruzen is displaying."
"The mechanism of sealing jutsu, simply put, is divided into two major domains: 'dismantling' and 'absorption.' Sealing jutsu have high priority because they can destroy the structure of a ninjutsu, and then absorb or restrict the resulting chaotic chakra."
The veteran Ashina Uzumaki's eyes gleamed with intense excitement:
"But where does the limitation of sealing jutsu lie? It lies in its lack of proactivity. Therefore, it's often restricted to passive counterattacks. This is precisely why the Uzumaki Clan was known as the 'Iron Barrel Formation' during the Warring States period..."
"But Hiruzen's technique is different. He has clearly reached a new pinnacle on the path of 'dismantling,' capable of proactively and remotely destroying other people's jutsu."
Ashina Uzumaki looked at Ginkaku. "Your Preta Path—can it absorb things remotely?"
Ginkaku paused, then shook his head. "No!"
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
Ashina Uzumaki let out an incredibly hearty, ringing laugh:
"What an excellent Hiruzen! What an excellent Hokage! To think that my Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu would truly flourish in his hands. If Tobirama Senju had told me back then that Hiruzen had this kind of talent..."
"Why would I have ever bothered establishing the Land of Whirlpools or Uzushiogakure? I would have joined Konoha right from the start! I would have let Hiruzen be the sole cultivator of the 'Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration'; all those other mediocre talents wouldn't be able to grasp it anyway! Did they really think I wanted to spread it around willy-nilly?"
"Tobirama Senju, did you hear that?! You owe this old man an apology!"
Ashina Uzumaki shouted toward Madara Uchiha in the adjacent room.
Madara Uchiha chuckled as he listened.
Spending his days leisurely watching Hiruzen fight and listening to others curse Tobirama... this life was truly quite pleasant...
"Maybe I'll just use Edo Tensei on Tobirama Senju one of these days and get it over with!"
"But the possibility of summoning that bastard via Edo Tensei isn't high. Besides, the man is far too troublesome. I shouldn't give him the chance to return to the shinobi world. He is the creator of Edo Tensei, after all, and I suppose he did teach Hiruzen for a day or two..."
Madara Uchiha shook his head.
"Does this mean the Hokage can only be fought using taijutsu?"
Kinkaku mused. "That's truly troublesome. The Hokage specializes in body tempering! Even with our brothers' mastery of taijutsu, I'm afraid we might not be able to defeat him..."
"Hmph, did you think my Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration hadn't considered this? Let me tell you, this jutsu was designed to benchmark against shinobi on the level of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju! Even the legendary Sage of Six Paths..."
Ashina Uzumaki stroked his long beard with immense pride:
"The construction of the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration is equivalent to installing a second heart and a second set of chakra pathways within the body using incredibly dense sealing jutsu. The cultivation process itself elevates the caster's physical toughness step by step..."
"Just watch! Once that brat Gengetsu gets hit by Hiruzen, he's basically done for..."
Kinkaku and Ginkaku exchanged glances, suddenly struck by realization.
No wonder this old geezer's physical strength was so monstrous when they sparred with him!
Back on the battlefield.
Before Gengetsu Hozuki could even formulate a way to break the deadlock, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already closed in on him.
With his base stats, further augmented by the Spirit Release Chakra Mode, Gengetsu Hozuki simply couldn't keep up.
He tried to use Water Style to block Hiruzen's path of attack, but it was immediately canceled by Hiruzen's visual jutsu, Spirit Release...
Gengetsu Hozuki spun around sharply. "I'm skilled in taijutsu too!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and threw a feint, causing Gengetsu Hozuki to hastily bring his guard up to his face.
But an even faster punch immediately followed!
Black lines of sealing jutsu entwined the knuckles of the fist as it slammed solidly into Gengetsu Hozuki's abdomen!
The Second Mizukage was sent flying instantly, a massive gaping hole punched right through his stomach!
Nearby, Kimimaro gulped heavily.
He found himself wondering: if he activated Shikotsumyaku to its absolute limit, would he be able to withstand a single punch from Lord Hokage?
The pressure felt immense...
He really needed to get those Byakugan transplanted and become a Jinchuriki as soon as possible, or he wouldn't even be able to see Lord Hokage's back anymore!
How could he possibly become a Konoha Committee Member then?
In the distance, the dust settled, and Gengetsu Hozuki swayed as he forced himself to stand up.
It was only because his current body was an Edo Tensei Six Paths puppet that he survived; otherwise, that single strike would have killed him via massive blood loss...
The Kirigakure shinobi stared in utter disbelief.
The Edo Tensei body was simply too eerie...
But what was even more eerie was that Gengetsu Hozuki's Edo Tensei body had stopped its self-repair. The black lines of sealing jutsu spread outward from the hole in his abdomen, rapidly creeping toward his limbs.
"Fists imbued with sealing jutsu? Sealing while striking?!"
"And he can cancel other people's jutsu..."
"You are literally cultivating to the standard of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha..."
Gengetsu Hozuki exhaled a long breath, his expression utterly free and unrestrained:
"Although saying this as the loser doesn't sound very cool, and it's quite useless."
"But I have lost."
"According to Kirigakure's rules, I, the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki, am willing to proclaim you the new First Mizukage!"
Gengetsu Hozuki stared straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi, allowing the sealing jutsu to spread across his body.
Although his days as an Edo Tensei summon brought him much amusement, the feeling of being reduced to a puppet was still highly unpleasant.
Even if his soul wasn't being tormented, the lack of any physical feedback from his body was quite agonizing.
His business in Kirigakure was finished; he could finally rest in peace...
"If any of them make mistakes, execute them without hesitation. Don't hold back. You can just blame it on me."
Gengetsu Hozuki stated incredibly seriously: "You can't be a good Mizukage if you don't kill people. Just a bit of advice from my own experience."
Upon hearing this, the mouths of all the Kirigakure shinobi present twitched uncontrollably.
Whether it was Kimimaro on Konoha's side, or the pending Yagura Karatachi...
It really seemed like all the Mizukage of this village had something wrong with their heads!
Why were they always talking about killing people...
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, a sense of relief washing over him.
There was definitely something fundamentally wrong with Kirigakure...
"For those who haven't made mistakes, I still hope you can give them a job. In reality, no one wants to kill people. A life where you can just live day to day, go fishing, drink tea, occasionally spar, and complete a few missions... who wouldn't want that?"
The black sealing marks on Gengetsu Hozuki's body gradually spread to his neck, and he forcefully bowed his head:
"I leave Kirigakure in your hands, First Mizukage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Rest assured, I understand!"
In this moment...
The new First Mizukage was officially born!
Just as Gengetsu Hozuki was about to close his eyes, feeling quite pleased with himself, he thought:
"Mu, you just keep on working for Tobirama Senju! Kirigakure now has the strongest Mizukage in history. What will your Iwagakure do now?"
"Particle Style: Dismantling Jutsu!"
From high above in the sky, a transparent pillar of light smashed ferociously down toward Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Mu had struck!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart jolted, but he was fully prepared.
Long ago, during the Sky Village's attack, the invisible, levitating shinobi who managed to evade Mito's precise sensing had a portion of his Edo Tensei body exposed during her wide-area attack...
This was also one of the reasons why everyone assumed Madara Uchiha was Tobirama Senju...
"The Kekkei Tota, Particle Style..."
"Let's test it out!"
Gathering his Spirit Release chakra, Hiruzen Sarutobi mirrored Mu's stance, launching his own counterattack.
"Spirit Release: Jutsu Dismantling"!
The cyan-white pillar of light collided with the grayish-white pillar!
Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mu narrowed their eyes simultaneously.
Unlike Gengetsu Hozuki's secret techniques or ordinary kekkei genkai, Particle Style wasn't immediately neutralized by Spirit Release, yet it also failed to exert its ability to decompose everything.
The two pillars of light clashed violently...
Moments later, the tide shifted!
The Spirit Release pillar of light remained uncorroded, while the grayish-white Particle Style pillar began to undergo changes.
First, the shape of the Particle Style barrier warped. A violent storm whipped up within it, and the highly unstable Wind Style chakra was the very first element to be stripped away...
With the loss of Wind Style, a crucial component, the Kekkei Tota Particle Style—originally formed by the amalgamation of Wind, Earth, and Fire chakra—rapidly downgraded into Lava Style, turning completely crimson...
Mu's eyes widened drastically.
He didn't know whether to feel proud or utterly dejected...
It was true that Hiruzen Sarutobi's Spirit Release hadn't managed to decompose his Particle Style immediately.
Furthermore, he had countered using a much higher caliber technique than what he used against Gengetsu Hozuki...
But Mu was confident that his Particle Style, capable of decomposing anything, even a Susanoo, was actually blocked!
And it wasn't just blocked; it displayed a sensation of being dismantled and downgraded...
A look of sudden comprehension flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
He had wanted to experience the sensation of Particle Style for a long time!
He had managed to synthesize kekkei genkai...
He even cultivated diligently every day, following the chakra composite threading methods described on the Uchiha Sage Monument...
But he could never quite grasp the core principles of a Kekkei Tota. Amidst all his sweat and effort, he was always missing a crucial spark of inspiration.
However, this collision between Spirit Release and Particle Style was fundamentally Mu taking Hiruzen Sarutobi by the hand, allowing him to intimately experience the internal structure of Particle Style and meticulously deconstruct the profound mysteries of a Kekkei Tota.
"Hey, what are you doing?!"
Gengetsu Hozuki's eyes bulged. "Hokage, this has nothing to do with me! I told him to get lost, but this two-faced rotting bastard wouldn't leave! I seriously just want to return to the Pure Land!"
"You put this debt on Iwagakure's tab, it has nothing to do with Kirigakure! You're the First Mizukage now, and as the Second Mizukage, I absolutely wouldn't lie to you, ahhh..."
"Don't touch me! I don't want to go back!" Gengetsu Hozuki wailed like a ghost, adding a strangely comedic element to the scene.
Because at this moment, Mu activated the Naraka Path!
A massive, demonic face emerged from a pocket dimension, its long tongue lashing out to wrap around Gengetsu Hozuki. It yanked him into its mouth and began chewing vigorously.
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
Mu's pupils shrank as he fired Particle Style at Hiruzen Sarutobi once again.
This was his fission clone.
Logically speaking, a divided Mu shouldn't possess sufficient power to cast Particle Style.
But thanks to Madara's interventions, their combat power was somewhat greater than when they were alive.
"The Hokage is the very first shinobi I haven't wanted to use Particle Style on..."
"But I have no choice. I can't let that bastard Gengetsu escape all by himself!"
"I helped him; he has to stay and help me!"
It wasn't that Mu had ulterior motives towards Hiruzen Sarutobi—the inheritor of Hashirama's will, Madara's will, and Ashina's kinjutsu; the Third Hokage, First Mizukage, and Grand General of both Fire and Water—and thus was unwilling to harm him with Particle Style...
Rather, Mu had an intensely strong premonition.
Every time his Particle Style was dismantled by Hiruzen Sarutobi, the probability of something terrible happening would drastically increase...
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred, and Spirit Release collided with Particle Style once again!
But this time, the speed at which Particle Style was degraded and downgraded was noticeably faster than before.
Meanwhile, Mu's main body, carrying Gengetsu Hozuki, rapidly entered stealth using Dustless Bewildering Cover and fled through the sky at top speed!
Just as Mu had said...
If a Kage wants to run away, they have plenty of methods at their disposal.
Moreover, Mu's triple-threat combination of fission, invisibility, and flight made him one of the absolute most authoritative figures in the entire shinobi world when it came to escaping.
It was no inferior to Tobirama's Flying Raijin, and under certain circumstances, it was even more formidable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes but didn't pursue him.
Instead, he closed his eyes to internalize the sensation of decomposing Particle Style just moments ago.
Capitalizing on the fresh memory, he locked down several nodes he hadn't fully understood before. He had already grasped a few crucial insights...
None of the people present dared to disturb him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly opened his eyes, two masses of chakra manifesting in his hands.
First were Earth and Fire, which rapidly merged to form the kekkei genkai, Lava Style!
Then, Wind Style chakra was blended in. Upon the introduction of Wind Style, the crimson Lava Style gradually surged to an extreme temperature, its color slowly shifting toward a transparent white...
Kimimaro stared in dumbfounded shock.
He's replicating it right now?!
Traumatized by his encounters with the Uchiha Clan, Kimimaro specifically scrutinized the Lord Hokage's eyes—there were no Sharingan tomoe there...
And even with a Mangekyo Sharingan, he had never heard of anyone being able to copy a kekkei genkai, let alone a Kekkei Tota!
"I suppose this is the general idea..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully: "There are still some details to iron out, such as using a barrier to fix the fusion zone of the three chakras, allowing them to thoroughly blend internally..."
"With a bit more practice, I should have it down. Truly worthy of the Second Tsuchikage; Particle Style is formidable!"
Hearing this, Kimimaro and Kisame's mouths twitched uncontrollably, and even Yagura Karatachi in the distance couldn't maintain his composure.
So, did the Third Mizukage and Genji—those two bastards—always genuinely believe this Hokage was weak?!
Were they caught in a genjutsu?!
What the hell were they thinking?!
Yagura Karatachi's mind raced. He hurriedly stepped forward and dropped to one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Kirigakure shinobi behind him followed suit, dropping to their knees en masse: "Lord First Mizukage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him and said flatly:
"Disarm yourselves first. Kisame, take them to be registered. Since the Second Mizukage didn't kill you, I will give him face."
"Kimimaro, you are responsible for their screening. Deal with those who are problematic according to the situation; integrate those who are clean."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Kimimaro puffed out his chest.
Kisame nodded obediently and immediately led the men away to execute Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders.
He was born for this kind of work...
Yagura Karatachi let out a sigh of relief, stating in a deep voice: "Thank you for your leniency, Lord First Mizukage!"
Whatever happened, he was safe now...
"Lord Hokage, may I ask why your Ice Style was able to break the Second Mizukage's illusion?"
Kimimaro finally couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked.
"That jutsu of his is very simple."
"Though it's called a genjutsu, it's actually a physical phenomenon created using chakra—a manifestation of light refraction."
"The Giant Clam spews out high-temperature, high-salinity steam. As the steam cools naturally upon release, it forms a continuous density gradient of the same substance in the air."
"Under these conditions, light rays are refracted, creating what we perceive as mirages."
Hiruzen Sarutobi patiently explained to Kimimaro:
"Using Ice Style causes the high-temperature saline steam to trigger a 'salting out' effect. Logically, one should follow up with Wind Style to create turbulence and further scatter the density layers. But Gengetsu clearly knew I could do that, so he didn't use that trick again."
Kimimaro listened in awe, utterly spellbound.
Compared to Granduncle Tenzo, the Lord Hokage was the truly learned one!
"These concepts aren't difficult. The literature in Konoha's Scientific Research Department will be open to you in the future. Just study hard..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Kimimaro's head: "Being eager to learn is a good thing!"
"This is too hard..."
Kimimaro scratched his head. "To be honest, Lord Hokage, in terms of combat, I still want to follow Big Brother Fugaku's path. But in terms of culture, I want to learn from Committee Member Jiraiya."
"I want to publish a book!"
"His 'Ninja Breaking the Heavens' is excellent, but 'Saving Jonin Yashiro' is an absolute masterpiece! It's a guaranteed bestseller in the Land of Water right now. Everyone is learning about the Will of Fire from it."
"Perhaps one day, I too can become a bestselling author and introduce Konoha and the Will of Fire to everyone!" When speaking of his dream, the youthful vigor that had been missing for so long finally reappeared on Kimimaro's face.
But as he spoke, Mei Terumi beside him, and Kisame working in the distance, couldn't hold back their snickers.
Even Yagura Karatachi involuntarily rolled his eyes.
A Kaguya clansman writing a book?
Even if Kimimaro was exceptionally gifted, he could stop dreaming about writing a book on that level!
Kimimaro rarely broke his composure, his face flushing slightly with indignation.
Who were they looking down on?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, however, stirred.
A Kaguya writing a book sounded absurd, but if Kimimaro could actually pull it off, it would be immensely beneficial for Kirigakure's cultural reconstruction and cohesion...
As for whether Kimimaro could actually do it himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt it was highly unlikely.
But the point was, Jiraiya hadn't come up with the outlines and ideas for his books on his own either...
The Hokage's guiding hand was present in this area as well.
"Kimimaro..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi beckoned to him.
Kimimaro obediently approached.
"I have a general outline and some ideas here. Listen to them, and if you think it's workable, I'll write up a detailed outline for you."
"You can flesh it out yourself based on your own experiences."
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly and recounted the story of "Oliver Twist," which he had read in the past.
The core message of Oliver Twist was to illustrate how terrifying an environment could become when humanity is lost.
The title was incredibly easy to adapt, and the content fit perfectly. They could just launch it directly as Kirigakure Orphan!
Kimimaro was initially stunned, but as he listened, he grew increasingly excited, nodding repeatedly.
He could write this!
He truly understood this...
"Understood, I understand completely, Lord Hokage!"
"This is absolutely fantastic!" A light involuntarily gleamed in Kimimaro's eyes. He might actually become the Kaguya Clan's first bestselling author in a thousand years...
"Work hard, kid."
"Focus on the Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku, but also advance your cultural pursuits simultaneously. You must grasp both hands firmly..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said seriously:
"Do not become arrogant over a small advantage. The Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage are both capable of returning from the dead, but this is merely the tip of the iceberg of what lies hidden in the shinobi world."
"Who is standing behind them? Are there others standing behind the people behind them? You must absolutely guard against arrogance and rashness."
"To travel a hundred miles, consider ninety as the halfway mark—and we are far from reaching the ninety-mile mark. Neither Konoha nor Kirigakure can afford to become impulsive; we must rapidly digest the resources we've acquired."
Kimimaro dropped his smile, stating with utmost seriousness: "Yes, Lord Hokage!"
However, despite this, Kimimaro still couldn't suppress the excitement bubbling in his heart...
He was going to write the Land of Water's next sensational masterpiece, Kirigakure Orphan!
Just thinking about the shocked looks his peers would give him made Kimimaro want to laugh.
You're a Kaguya and you actually wrote a book?!
Even Granduncle Tenzo would probably lose his composure upon hearing this, right?
"The kindness of Lord Hokage..." Kimimaro sighed repeatedly in admiration.
The most correct decision he had made in his entire life was coming to Konoha to study for a year; it had completely changed his destiny!
And right at this moment.
A figure the size of a grain of rice stood high up in the sky, arms crossed. As an unseen observer, a trace of intrigue surfaced in his eyes.
This person's name was Jigen; his true name was Isshiki Otsutsuki.
"Watching ants fight is quite amusing indeed!"
Originally, Isshiki had absolutely no interest in the shinobi of this world...
Because, compared to his current body, "Jigen," the other powerhouses of the shinobi world were exceedingly limited in strength in his eyes.
Fundamentally, there was no difference among them; none could bear his power.
However, as a de facto resident of the shinobi world, he inevitably noticed the turmoil of the Third Great Ninja War.
Watching it as a form of entertainment, Isshiki's intense interest was piqued upon seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi...
This man was different!
And it wasn't just Hiruzen Sarutobi. As one of the masterminds pulling strings behind the scenes in the shinobi world, Isshiki could clearly perceive the residual power of the Gedo Statue on Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu...
Which was the core reason they were more powerful than when they were alive.
"To think the Rinnegan is still around, and being utilized to this extent..."
"A Hokage, and a mysterious figure hidden away. It seems the shinobi world still has good vessels after all!"
"This body won't last much longer. It's time for a change; it's far too inferior in quality..."
Isshiki muttered to himself.
In reality, Jigen's body could still hold out for a few more decades.
But for the Otsutsuki Clan's perception of time, a few decades was not a timeline that afforded him peace of mind.
Having wandered the shinobi world for a millennium, Isshiki had never found a suitable vessel.
But today, he discovered two at the exact same time!
"Based on the current situation in the shinobi world, that mastermind with the Rinnegan is locking horns with the Hokage. Those two will inevitably clash sooner or later..."
"Let me first observe and see which of the two is superior..."
Isshiki pondered selectively:
"There's no need to seek out that Rinnegan user first. Once the Hokage returns to Konoha, I can spend some time in the village and observe him closely."
In Isshiki's view, although he had lived in the shinobi world for a millennium and found the schemes and creativity of humans somewhat novel, inferior life forms were ultimately inferior life forms.
Possessing the aptitude to be his vessel did not mean they possessed the ability to detect him.
But what Isshiki didn't know was that he wasn't the only Otsutsuki and mastermind residing in Konoha.
To collect chakra and souls under the brand-new concept of the "Pure Land," having refrained from interfering in the shinobi world's conflicts for a millennium just like him, the Sage of Six Paths—the self-proclaimed fairest entity in the shinobi world...
Inspired by the Will of Fire and the original intent of Ninshu, currently lived in Konoha under the alias of Ichiraku, the ramen chef...
Furthermore, Isshiki had yet to realize that, even setting aside the Sage of Six Paths, the overall power level of the shinobi world—and Konoha in particular—was rising at an abnormal rate...
Methods capable of harming an Otsutsuki—such as Natural Energy, space-time jutsu, and formidable taijutsu—were constantly emerging in Konoha.
Some were linked to Hiruzen Sarutobi, some to the Sage of Six Paths, and others... were because of Madara Uchiha.
Mountains' Graveyard.
After Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu returned.
A-Huo found Obito and spoke to him with profound earnestness:
"Obito, do you know why the Great Clan Head treats you this way?"
"Because Konoha is currently in great peril!"
"You must find every conceivable way to grow stronger. You must learn everything you possibly can. Just as Lord Hokage said, you must become so strong that you have the ability to fight and kill any enemy you face!"
Obito looked bewildered and pointed at himself:
"? Mr. A-Huo, are you talking about me?"
"Yes, I mean you."
A-Huo solemnly quoted an excerpt transcribed by Hiruko:
"When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it always first frustrates his spirit... thereby stimulating his mind, toughening his nature, and enhancing his inabilities!"
"The next Hokage might be Orochimaru, and the one after that might be your teacher, Minato."
"But will they be able to perfectly balance Konoha's ever-expanding scale and various factions, just as the current Lord Hokage has? I think not..."
"Civilians, ninja clans, scientific research, and now we've added Tailed Beasts to the mix, along with the new territories of Kirigakure and Rouran. Compared to the Konoha of the past, the plate has expanded by who knows how many multiples!"
"So you must work hard!"
"I look at you and see a future Hokage, Obito. You have the capability."
Obito blinked, asking involuntarily: "Really? Mr. A-Huo!"
"Really."
"However, in order to temper you, the Great Clan Head might employ some rather extreme methods..." A-Huo was about to continue; it was, after all, here to administer a preventative shot.
But the overly eager Obito interrupted it with frantic waves of his hand, his Sharingan blazing into existence:
"It's fine, I'm not afraid of extremes! Mr. A-Huo, I really, truly want to be Hokage! I dream about it every night..."
"I'll listen to everything you say, everything!"
"I will respect and revere you even more than the Great Clan Head! I truly do not want to lose this opportunity!"
Just thinking about the image of himself wearing the Hokage hat made Obito's breathing grow heavy involuntarily. The emotion on his face almost seemed to materialize as he gripped A-Huo's arm tightly, looking as though he were about to burst into tears.
Even A-Huo struggled to keep up the act.
Wait...
I was just offering some encouragement...
Do you really want it that badly?!
☆☆☆
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