The day after receiving news of the Third Raikage's death, the Cloud Village forces retreated once again. However, Konoha did not pursue them; instead, they also received orders to withdraw, pulling back from the Land of the Moon to within the borders of the Land of Fire.
Along with the retreat order came a summon for Shūichi Hoshita and Minato Namikaze to return to the village.
Shūichi wasn't surprised by this. With the AB duo withdrawing from the front lines, there was no need for him and his teacher, Minato, to stay at the Cloud battlefield. Their power was now surplus.
On the way back to the village, Minato suddenly revealed to Shūichi, "Shūichi, after the war ends, I might take over as the Fourth Hokage."
Seeing that Shūichi didn't show any sign of surprise, Minato couldn't help but remark, "It seems you predicted this a long time ago? You're as sharp as ever!"
Shūichi smiled. "At this point, no one in Konoha is more suited for the position than you, sensei."
Curious, Minato asked, "Why do you think that?"
"Sure, Jiraiya-sensei and Lady Tsunade are out of the question, but what about Orochimaru? He seems quite capable too, right?"
Shūichi shook his head. "Orochimaru is too fixated on his research into ninjutsu. You must have sensed that his chakra has changed, haven't you?"
Minato nodded. "It's true. He no longer feels... human."
Shūichi hit the nail on the head. "Someone who has lost their moral compass in pursuit of forbidden ninjutsu would be a terrifying Hokage. It would send the village spiraling into chaos, toward an unknown future.
"Besides, Orochimaru has Danzo behind him. The Third Hokage knows better than anyone how dangerous Danzo is—too aggressive and ruthless, both internally and externally."
"If those two joined forces, who knows what horrors Konoha would face. And, Orochimaru isn't someone who can be controlled easily. He might not even want to be Hokage."
Minato pondered over this and then asked, "Shūichi, what do you think should be done about Orochimaru?"
After considering, Shūichi replied, "Sensei, are you aware that Danzo and Orochimaru have been experimenting with the First Hokage's cells?"
Minato's expression turned serious. "I've had some suspicions, but most of it I figured out from you."
Shūichi nodded. "We don't know all the details yet, and Orochimaru claims the experiment failed. But there's no doubt—it must have involved human experimentation."
"If they used Root as the base for their experiments, there wouldn't be enough enemy shinobi for such tests. And after their last failure, Orochimaru would definitely try something different."
"Based on intel I've gathered in the Anbu, they've likely been targeting villagers nearby, including children."
Minato's face darkened. "If the experiment failed, then those people..."
Shūichi said nothing, but his silence was answer enough. "Human experimentation often ends that way. That's why I've never used the power of tailed beasts or the First Hokage's cells lightly."
"Still, there's no denying that Orochimaru has made incredible advancements in his research on the First Hokage's cells. The failure may have been bad luck."
"The issue isn't the research itself but the methods and the lack of oversight."
Hearing this, Minato understood Shūichi's stance.
Shūichi then changed the subject. "Sensei, are you familiar with the Gekkō clan?"
Minato was quick to catch on. "You're talking about Hayate Gekkō, who awakened the Transperent Escape Kekkei Genkai but is now suffering from a hereditary bloodline illness, right?"
Shūichi nodded. "Exactly. Even replacing his lungs can't fully cure him, which means he'll need constant transplants. But there aren't enough lungs to go around."
"However, the First Hokage's cells might be the solution. While they won't cure him completely, they could allow him to live normally."
"Controlling the First Hokage's cells is extremely difficult, but Orochimaru's research has made what seemed impossible a reality."
When Hayate's bloodline illness first arose, Shūichi's initial thought was body modification, an idea that stemmed from Orochimaru. His second thought was to use the First Hokage's cells.
Of course, it wasn't a matter of simply transplanting the cells into Hayate, as his body couldn't handle them. Unless... he also received a pair of Sharingan.
Instead of directly transplanting the cells, Shūichi planned to weaken them and blend them with Hayate's cells, then use that mixture to cultivate and clone a pair of lungs tailored for Hayate.
Orochimaru had made great strides in weakening the First Hokage's cells, and his cloning technology was unmatched in the shinobi world.
It wasn't called "cloning" now, though. The term was "cell cultivation." Examples of this were the Eight-Tails horn and the Four-Tails' tail currently being cultivated.
Minato didn't fully understand the science behind these experiments, so Shūichi explained it in simple terms, including the First Hokage cell research he was conducting with Tsunade.
Shūichi wasn't defending Orochimaru but trying to secure support from the future Fourth Hokage.
Minato smiled. "Don't worry, if the Third Hokage approves it, I won't oppose it either."
"If you can develop the kind of technology you're talking about—cloning organs, or even limbs—then many shinobi who have lost body parts can return to active duty."
Shūichi nodded. "Exactly. It could also cure many illnesses."
Minato then asked, "Do you think that body modification you mentioned could really help Hayate?"
Shūichi replied cautiously, "It can only solve part of the problem, giving him an alternate way to breathe and enhancing his lung function."
He had in mind using Orochimaru's soft-body modification techniques, but it was still just a rough concept, not fully fleshed out yet.
Still, Shūichi had learned a lot from Orochimaru, and he was confident he could modify Hayate's body.
The two of them continued their discussion as they made their way back to Konoha.
After meeting with Hiruzen Sarutobi outside the Hokage office, Minato smiled and said, "Shūichi, I really hope all your ideas come to fruition."
"It looks like I'll need to work even harder now!"
Feigning seriousness, Shūichi replied, "Then, sensei, I'm counting on you to make it happen!"
Minato chuckled, patting Shūichi on the shoulder. "Don't forget to visit Kushina. She's been missing you."
"And I've also brought the ninjutsu you asked for; it's at my house."
Shūichi quickly said, "I'll visit Kushina-san tomorrow."
Minato nodded and vanished.
Shūichi also headed home, eager to return after being away for so long.
It had been over half a year since he'd last been home!
...
Inside Orochimaru's laboratory, he calmly tended to his experimental equipment while listening to Danzo's words.
"Hiruzen stepping down is inevitable. When the time comes, I will propose you as the Fourth Hokage during my meeting with the Daimyo," Danzo said.
"However, besides gaining the Daimyo's approval, you'll also need to win the Jōnin vote."
"Make sure to move around and build relationships during this time, especially with Jiraiya and Tsunade."
Orochimaru chuckled softly after hearing this. "I shouldn't have any strong competitors, should I?"
"Minato is too young."
Danzo cautioned, "Don't get overconfident. Once you secure the Hokage position, your research into forbidden jutsu and your experiments will face no more obstacles."
Orochimaru wasn't a child; he knew that even as Hokage, he couldn't do whatever he pleased.
But Danzo was right about one thing: the vast collection of forbidden jutsu Konoha had in its possession.
At the moment, he could only sneak peeks at them.
If he became Hokage, there would be no restrictions.
After finishing with his equipment, Orochimaru suddenly shifted the topic, smiling. "I've come up with a new idea for suppressing the power of the First Hokage's cells."
Danzo immediately stopped his rambling, his eyes locking onto Orochimaru. "What idea?"
"Does it involve more test subjects?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Not this time. It's different."
"You must be quite familiar with the Sharingan, right?"
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "The Sharingan?"
"You mean the Uchiha clan?"
Orochimaru nodded. "The First Hokage possessed immense Yang Release power, and I believe that the only thing capable of suppressing the power of his cells might be a Kekkei Genkai like the Sharingan."
"In fact, it was Shūichi who reminded me of this, prompting me to focus on spiritual energy, which led me to notice the Uchiha clan's Sharingan."
During the battle at the Iwa battlefield, many Uchiha who had been transferred from the Mist frontlines had fought. Orochimaru had observed several of them.
He had even witnessed the evolution of the Uchiha's Sharingan firsthand. The sinister chakra that came with it left a deep impression on him.
Danzo frowned. "The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan isn't just about Yin Release."
Though Danzo coveted the Uchiha's eyes himself—he even had one implanted in his own body—he found the idea of combining the First Hokage's cells with the Uchiha's eyes somewhat far-fetched.
He even suspected Orochimaru was simply interested in obtaining the Uchiha's eyes for his own purposes through Danzo.
But Orochimaru, confident as ever, replied, "You're right. The Sharingan is more than just Yin Release, but it is primarily driven by Yin Release—or, more precisely, by spiritual energy."
"You haven't forgotten Shūichi's theory, have you?"
"Besides, the essence of chakra is spiritual energy controlling the physical body!"
Danzo was persuaded, nodding in agreement. "I understand. I'll prepare the materials you need."
Orochimaru nodded, adding a reminder. "Make sure to collect samples from all stages of development."
Danzo nodded once more, then turned to leave the laboratory. But as he reached the door, he paused and turned back. "Put more effort into securing the Hokage position. Don't take it lightly!"
Orochimaru responded calmly, "Don't worry, I understand."
...
After a long, relaxing bath, Shūichi felt completely refreshed, like he had come back to life. At that moment, Asuka was already busy in the kitchen.
As he dried his hair, Shūichi leaned against the doorframe, watching Asuka—who was wearing a floral dress and an apron—moving about. He smiled and said, "It's been such a long time since I had a meal cooked by you, Asuka. This time, I'm going to eat until I'm full."
Asuka turned around with a bright smile, "Then I'll make extra!"
"Why don't you go call Director Nonō back so we can all eat together?"
Nonō Yakushi and Shizune had also returned from the frontlines, and Shūichi could sense their chakra nearby.
After chatting with Asuka for a bit, Shūichi took a walk around Konoha Hospital. He arranged with Nonō and Shizune to have dinner together, then made his way to the laboratory.
Sure enough, Tsunade was there.
However, when she looked up and saw Shūichi—who had grown taller than her—Tsunade froze for a moment: When did this brat get so tall?
Seeing Tsunade's expression, Shūichi couldn't help but feel smug. "Lady Tsunade, what's the matter? Don't recognize me?"
Tsunade snorted coldly and retorted sarcastically, "I thought you'd have died on the battlefield by now, always showing off like that!"
Shūichi stepped beside her and swung the necklace around his neck. "I've got your blessing, Lady Tsunade. How could I die so easily on the battlefield?"
Tsunade glanced at the necklace, her expression still cold. "I heard you're supposed to return the tailed beast. That means you're still bound to die."
"Three years—isn't your confidence a little too high?"
"Making promises you haven't even fulfilled yet?"
Shūichi, brimming with confidence, replied, "It probably won't even take three years!"
"I've already mastered the Spirit Transformation Technique, and I've developed the Spiritual Clone Technique based on it."
"On top of that, I've learned the Shiki Fūjin sealing technique and created a new sealing jutsu, the Fire Nether Chains."
"Now, all that's left is refining the technique to seal souls, and I'll be able to split the tailed beasts."
Tsunade listened, frowning.
Shūichi continued, "And, worst-case scenario, even if I can't perfect the sealing jutsu, I have a backup plan."
"Surely, you haven't forgotten about the Eight-Tails' horn we're developing, right?"
"By implanting the horn, it'll be enough to keep me alive after the tailed beast is extracted."
Of course, he wasn't about to tell her that he planned to eat the Eight-Tails' horn—it sounded a bit too strange.
Tsunade relaxed slightly and snorted, "As long as you know what you're doing."
Shūichi grinned and changed the subject, "How's the research on the First Hokage's cells going?"
Tsunade smiled a little. "It's going well. That guy Orochimaru has made significant progress."
"I've managed to weaken my grandfather's cells' activity, but it's still tricky for us to replicate the process."
Shūichi encouraged her, "Once you've taken this step, you're not far from success."
Tsunade nodded. "The earlier experimental data has already been organized. You can pick it up yourself."
"I've also preserved the cultivated samples. You know where to find them."
Shūichi nodded and left the lab, but instead of going straight to the data on Hashirama's cells, he headed to the Tailed Beast Cell Cultivation Chamber.
This was where they were cultivating the Four-Tails' tail and the Eight-Tails' horn.
With Orochimaru's previous research as a foundation, the Eight-Tails' horn had already grown to the height of a person.
The Four-Tails' tail, meanwhile, was as long as an arm.
Shūichi muttered to himself, "At this point, I don't need to eat it all, do I?"
Previously, when they hadn't captured the Four-Tails, he had thought about eating an entire tail to boost the chakra capacity of his miniature Four-Tails.
However, now that the parts had been cultivated, they wouldn't go to waste. Parts of the tailed beasts' bodies were incredibly useful for experiments.
Like for cloning experiments—or more specifically, targeted cloning!
With that thought, Shūichi retrieved the Eight-Tails' horn from the cultivation container and infused it with his Eight-Tails chakra.
As expected, the horn quickly absorbed the chakra and began to grow rapidly.
By the time about one-tenth of his chakra had been drained, the horn finally stopped growing, having reached its complete form.
"Hmm, maybe I'll sneak in later tonight to eat it..."
"Actually, why not just eat a bit now?"
Shūichi unsheathed the Totsuka Blade and sliced off a small piece from the tip of the Eight-Tails' horn.
After putting away his sword, he opened his mouth, stretched his jaw a bit, then closed his eyes and took a bite.
Crunch!
Huh?
It wasn't as bad as he'd expected.
Not bad at all!
The horn of the Eight-Tails crunched crisply!
In just a few quick bites, Shūichi had chewed it up and swallowed it.
Immediately, the Tag System reacted.
Tag: [Devourer]
Condition to Obtain: Consume the flesh of both the Four-Tails and Eight-Tails.
Effect: Physical attributes enhanced by 100%, body compatibility enhanced by 100%, digestion ability enhanced by 100%, recovery ability enhanced by 100%. You can even digest tailed beasts—what can't you eat?
Without hesitation, Shūichi activated the tag.
With his physical strength boosted, his chakra reserves increased as well.
Soon after, warmth spread throughout his body, and Shūichi could feel the horn of the Eight-Tails slowly being digested inside him.
This was a different sensation from when he had consumed the flesh of the Four-Tails earlier.
"What's happening...?"
A slight change crossed Shūichi's expression as he felt his body transforming.
Or more precisely, it was the power of the Eight-Tails merging with his physical form.
"So, this is what body compatibility feels like?"
Shūichi speculated to himself: "I ate the horn of the Eight-Tails, and instead of it simply turning into chakra like the flesh of the Four-Tails did, I'm actually digesting it."
Moments later, he felt a surge of chakra from his body.
It was the Eight-Tails' chakra!
However, this chakra didn't come from any seal on his abdomen—it came directly from his own body.
Carefully sensing it, Shūichi quickly came to a conclusion: "It seems I've now inherited the genetic traits of the Eight-Tails..."
"So, Gold and Silver Brothers must have been in the same situation as I am now."
"This is the power of body compatibility, huh?"
Shūichi was pleased but quickly frowned.
Not all of his chakra had transformed into the Eight-Tails' chakra; instead, it seemed like he had gained a new nature transformation, similar to a Kekkei Genkai, but this power clearly had a limit.
Gurgle, gurgle!
The tailed beast chakra around his body became denser, and a tail emerged from behind him.
"Only one tail... feels like it's not enough."
Shūichi's gaze shifted back to the remaining horn of the Eight-Tails.
Should I just eat the whole thing?
Yes, eat it!
He grabbed his knife, slicing off more pieces of the horn, stuffing them into his mouth, and chewing wildly.
Crunch, crunch, crunch...
The sound echoed through the quiet laboratory like a mouse sneaking a meal.
Shūichi ate quickly, feeling his entire body grow warmer, especially his stomach, which now felt like a cozy little furnace.
At this point, his incredible digestion abilities really shone through.
Burp...
Unable to help himself, Shūichi let out a satisfied burp, realizing he was down to the last piece.
"What are you doing?"
Tsunade's voice suddenly rang out.
Shūichi jumped in surprise, turning to see Tsunade standing at the door, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"You... your mouth," she pointed.
Quickly wiping his mouth, Shūichi casually explained, "I was just really hungry, so I had a little snack."
Tsunade didn't think much of it, nodding in acknowledgment.
However, her eyes soon landed on the glass jar, noticing the horn of the Eight-Tails was missing.
Seeing this, Shūichi hurried to explain, "Earlier, I extracted some chakra from the Eight-Tails during the battle with the Cloud shinobi, so I used it to grow the horn to full maturity and then sealed it within myself."
Tsunade didn't seem suspicious, but asked, "Did you leave behind any samples of the Eight-Tails' cells?"
Shūichi quickly raised the last piece of the horn in his hand: "Of course!"
Tsunade still felt something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it, so she nodded and turned to leave.
Shūichi exhaled a sigh of relief and placed the final piece of the horn back into the glass jar.
He really should continue to cultivate it—not for eating anymore, but for future experiments.
Afterward, Shūichi checked his condition again, feeling the Eight-Tails' chakra flare up around him, and behind him, tails began to form one by one.
Six tails!
"This is my limit..."
Shūichi withdrew the Eight-Tails' chakra and quickly noticed something: "It seems like I wasn't affected by the malice of the tailed beast's chakra at all."
"Then..."
Without hesitation, Shūichi undid the seal that had been holding back the Eight-Tails' chakra. Immediately, the chakra surged out, only to be rapidly absorbed back into his body, fusing seamlessly with the part of him that had inherited the Eight-Tails' genes.
The malice from the tailed beast chakra didn't affect him in the slightest.
"Am I now half-Eight-Tails?"
A smile of satisfaction spread across Shūichi's face. "This body compatibility is amazing."
"If I could eat all the nine tailed beasts and gather all their genes, my body would become something extraordinary, wouldn't it?"
"A mini Ten-Tails?"
"But... how do I eat the sand from the One-Tail?"
"Do I... eat his sand?"
Shūichi pondered this problem with some frustration.
Next up, the Four-Tails!
He looked toward another glass jar containing a tail from the Four-Tails. "I'll fully cultivate it first and eat it later. I should save some room for Asuka's cooking when I get home."
With that, he took out the Four-Tails' tail and, using its chakra, rapidly accelerated its growth until it was fully formed, then sealed it away again.
Shūichi left the laboratory and began reviewing the research materials Tsunade had compiled during her recent studies.
Unknowingly, evening arrived. Shūichi set the documents aside and called for Tsunade to head home with him.
When they got home, Yakushi Nono and Shizune were already there, helping in the kitchen. The meal was nearly ready, and it was an impressive feast.
Tsunade, without any hesitation, grabbed a large shrimp to snack on while reaching for some sake.
Shizune immediately scolded her, "Tsunade-sama, you haven't washed your hands yet!"
Tsunade waved it off, "Don't worry, I washed them earlier at the lab."
Moments later, everyone sat down, and the meal officially began.
They ate, chatted, and laughed together, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.
Shūichi relished this peaceful moment.
The meal lasted for about an hour before it concluded.
Tsunade, now slightly tipsy, was helped away by Shizune.
Yakushi Nono and Asuka busied themselves with cleaning up while Shūichi stepped outside. The evening breeze brushed through his hair, adding to the sense of contentment.
He walked through the bustling streets, feeling the warmth of the city lights. The harshness of war felt like a distant illusion.
After strolling through the lively market, Shūichi used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the laboratory.
He pulled out the Four-Tails' tail but hesitated for a moment, unsure where to start.
Hmm… First, shave off the fur.
Then, skin it.
Next, slice it.
After having raw octopus earlier, now it was time for some raw monkey tail.
Oh? Surprisingly, the texture's not bad.
One slice after another, Shūichi ate faster and faster, his stomach quickly heating up.
As before, he left only one slice for cultivation and devoured the rest of the Four-Tails' tail completely.
A blazing power surged through his body, and Shūichi could distinctly feel his Lava Release abilities strengthening.
Once the fusion was nearly complete, he activated the Four-Tails' power within him. Tailed beast chakra enveloped his body, and two tails emerged behind him.
A maximum of two tails—not bad.
But Shūichi was quite satisfied.
He quickly assessed his body, specifically his chakra reserves.
0.25 Shukaku!
In other words, the current Shukaku had about four times his chakra.
Before acquiring the [Devourer] tag and consuming the flesh of the tailed beasts, Shukaku had about nine times his chakra.
And this calculation didn't even factor in the Four-Tails' chakra in his two-tail state, or the Eight-Tails' chakra in his six-tail state.
If you included those...
"My chakra is already greater than Shukaku's..."
Shūichi roughly estimated, "It's probably on par with the Four-Tails."
Of course, this didn't take into account the Yin Seal on his forehead and heart, nor the sealed One-Tail, Four-Tails, and the now-depleted Eight-Tails' chakra.
Shūichi couldn't help but feel ecstatic.
Even though having a massive amount of chakra doesn't necessarily make someone strong...
Chakra is still the foundation of strength!
At this point, Shūichi could finally say he was a tailless tailed beast—essentially a humanoid tailed beast!
And, he was still not even 13 years old!
Even if his physical condition couldn't improve further from now, as he continued to train, grow, and refine his chakra, his reserves would only increase with time.
By the time he reached adulthood, compared to someone like Kakashi, his chakra would be hundreds of times greater.
He might not be able to compare to Nine-Tails or Hashirama Senju, but he would definitely be able to look down on the entire ninja world.
"Ten-Tails Jinchūriki?"
"Not even a dog would want that!"
Shūichi's confidence surged.
Of course, all of this was thanks to the [Devourer] tag!
....
Deep underground, in the Mountain Graveyard.
White Zetsu returned from the outside, seemingly having discovered something significant. In an exaggerated tone, it addressed the elderly Uchiha Madara, "Madara-sama, this time I've obtained some very, very important information."
Madara didn't even lift his eyelids. "Is it about that kid, Shūichi again?"
"Did he capture the Eight-Tails?"
White Zetsu awkwardly chuckled. "Well... no, not that."
"This time, it's about your plan, Madara-sama."
"It seems like someone has their eyes on the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. Konoha's Root division is collecting them!"
"And, the person you have in mind has caught the attention of that guy, Danzō!"
Madara finally opened his eyes, showing some interest. "Oh?"
"Who is it?"
White Zetsu immediately responded, "It's Uchiha Yū!"
Madara thought for a moment and then said, "Go help him. Let him understand the true nature of this world."
White Zetsu nodded and then curiously asked, "Madara-sama, what if he doesn't awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Madara glanced at White Zetsu. "Then he's all yours."
White Zetsu beamed, "Madara-sama, you're so generous."
Madara, tired of White Zetsu's chatter, closed his eyes once again.
White Zetsu murmured with another swirling Zetsu for a while before finally leaving the cave.
...
On the Iwa-nin battlefield.
After repelling the invasion of Kumogakure, Iwagakure became even more aggressive in negotiations, leading to a further deterioration of the war with Konoha and Sunagakure.
Battles raged across the borders of the Land of Birds, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Rain.
The three factions waged small-scale skirmishes while pretending to negotiate.
Iwagakure sought to reclaim its interests in the Land of Birds, and not only demanded the return of the Four-Tails from Konoha, but also Shūichi's life as compensation for their losses.
Meanwhile, under the darkened sky, many ninja were engaged in vicious combat.
In the Land of Rain, heavy rain poured down.
Uchiha Yū was fleeing in desperation, the crimson glow of his Sharingan standing out in the darkness.
"Damn it..."
"These bastards aren't even Iwa-nin!"
Yū gritted his teeth.
His team had been ambushed, and everyone else had been killed. He was the only one to break through.
Although his pursuers wore Iwa-nin attire, their fighting style was completely different.
Whoosh, whoosh!
The sound of projectiles cutting through the air filled the surroundings. Two "Iwa-nin" blocked Yū's path, while two more closed in from behind.
He was surrounded!
"It seems I'll have to fight to the death... and take down every last one of these bastards, to honor my fallen comrades…"
Yū gripped his kunai tightly.
At that moment, White Zetsu emerged from the ground. "What a spectacle!"
Both Uchiha Yū and the "Iwa-nin" were startled, immediately going on guard as they stared at White Zetsu.
"Who are you?" one of the "Iwa-nin" shouted.
"Me?" White Zetsu scratched his chin, deep in thought, before suddenly coming to a realization. "Ah, my apologies! I'm not actually human!"
"Because, you see, I'm a noble artificial human!"
"By the way, do you guys know what an artificial human is?"
The "Iwa-nin" and Uchiha Yū exchanged confused glances.
"Kill him too!" the "Iwa-nin" leader commanded.
But in the next instant, their chakra began rapidly draining, as a White Zetsu clone sprouted from their bodies, wrapping around them.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Damn it! My chakra is being sucked away!"
Spore Technique!
Uchiha Yū stared in shock at the scene unfolding before him.
White Zetsu quickly urged him, "Hey, hurry up and finish them off!"
"Oh, and don't forget to leave one alive!"
Yū's eyes flashed, and without hesitation, he made his move.
Thud, thud, thud!
Three of the "Iwa-nin" collapsed to the ground, while the last one was caught under Yū's genjutsu.
White Zetsu approached him and said, "I assume you don't need my help from here?"
"Interrogating them with genjutsu is what the Uchiha do best!"
Yū glared at White Zetsu, his voice cold as he demanded, "Who the hell are you?"
White Zetsu spread his hands, "I've already told you, I'm an artificial human!"
"A superior life form that doesn't need to eat or poop!"
He then pointed to the "Iwa-nin" trapped in genjutsu. "Hey, don't you want to know who they really are?"
"It's going to be quite interesting."
Yū took a deep breath and stepped forward to begin the interrogation.
However, just as the "Iwa-nin" was about to reveal the secret under hypnosis, his entire body suddenly froze, unable to move any further, not even under the influence of the genjutsu.
"What?!"
Yū was taken aback.
White Zetsu curiously stepped closer, pried open the "Iwa-nin"'s mouth, and pulled out his tongue. "Wow, looks like there's a curse mark on him!"
"By the way, do you recognize this curse mark?"
White Zetsu stepped aside, looking at Yū.
Yū's face darkened, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He didn't recognize the curse mark itself, but he already knew the answer.
It was the Curse of the Root Tongue Eradication Seal from Konoha's Root division!
He had never seen it firsthand before, but had heard of it.
This kind of effect, where even the Sharingan's hypnosis doesn't work, confirmed his suspicions.
"Damn it..."
Yū gritted his teeth. "Those bastards... why?"
"Why would they attack their own allies?"
White Zetsu smirked knowingly. "Maybe you pissed them off?"
"Or perhaps you're carrying information they want?"
Yū instinctively shook his head.
White Zetsu continued, "Then, do you have anything particularly valuable on you?"
Yū hesitated. "My... Sharingan?"
White Zetsu sighed. "It's already pretty obvious."
"By the way, if they're hunting you down, you're probably not the only one, right?"
Yū's eyes widened in alarm. "Damn it, I need to report this to the clan leader immediately!"
White Zetsu grabbed Yū by the arm. "Hey, there's no way you can make it back like this."
"Before you even reach your clan leader, they'll probably kill you, don't you think?"
Yū scoffed, "Even if Root is powerful, they can't control everything."
"Root, huh!"
"That's part of Konoha's Anbu, and their leader is said to be none other than Danzo, the second most powerful figure in Konoha!"
White Zetsu feigned surprise, "But this kind of behavior—hunting down comrades to steal their Kekkei Genkai—wouldn't be so bold without the Hokage's permission, right?"
"I've been observing for a while now, and you're not the only one being hunted."
"Quite a few Uchiha have died in battle, and their eyes have been secretly taken as well."
"If that's the case, your top priority should be rescuing your clansmen, don't you think?"
"But Root's power is immense, and you stand no chance against them."
Uchiha Yū's face turned ashen, and he barked, "Then take me to them right now!"
White Zetsu nodded eagerly, "Of course I can."
"But... you're marching to your death, you know!"
Yū resolutely replied, "I can't just stand by and watch my clansmen be killed and have their eyes taken."
"Then follow me!" White Zetsu grinned. "And don't resist."
As he spoke, White Zetsu retracted his spore clones, then placed a hand on Yū's shoulder, enveloping his entire body swiftly.
"What is this…?"
Yū was both shocked and wary. "What are you?"
White Zetsu chuckled softly, "Relax, I have no ill intentions toward you."
"I'm simply following my master's orders to help you!"
As White Zetsu spoke, Yū felt his body lift off the ground—or rather, White Zetsu was controlling him.
"Master?" Yū asked in shock. "Who is your master?"
White Zetsu smiled. "You'll find out soon enough."
A moment later, White Zetsu led Yū to the corpse of an Uchiha. The eye sockets were empty.
"Too late, unfortunately."
White Zetsu sighed.
"Damn it, has Root gone insane?" Yū seethed with fury, his Sharingan flashing red but showing no signs of further awakening.
White Zetsu, a bit disappointed, then guided Yū to more Uchiha corpses. They appeared to have been killed by Iwa-nin, but all of their eyes had been gouged out.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Suddenly, several figures appeared.
More than a dozen Root ninjas surrounded Yū.
"You're all Root shinobi. Who gave you the order?" Yū roared in anger.
"Looks like the intel's been compromised!"
"We must take him down!"
Without hesitation, the Root ninjas attacked.
But White Zetsu had already used Spore Technique, and one by one, White Zetsu clones emerged from the Root ninjas, sapping their chakra.
However, the elite Root operatives weren't pushovers, each employing various techniques to counter.
"Die!"
Yū roared, fighting desperately.
The sound of clashing metal, explosions, and agonized screams echoed through the rain-soaked battlefield.
Moments later, all the Root ninjas lay defeated, but Yū, injured, was down on one knee.
White Zetsu's clones disposed of the Root corpses and returned, injecting chakra into Yū's body to heal his wounds.
"Too bad, none of them had Sharingan. It seems there are more out there."
White Zetsu suggested, "You should leave this place quickly. You're no match for them."
Yū stood up, his expression cold. "Take me to your master!"
White Zetsu looked pleased. "So, you've made up your mind?"
Yū nodded coldly. "You're right. I can't fight Root alone."
"And Root can easily claim that my clansmen were killed by Iwa-nin, while they were merely retrieving the Sharingan."
"Danzo has always harbored hostility toward the Uchiha."
"So, I want to borrow your master's strength to fight against him."
White Zetsu nodded. "Then follow me."
He controlled Yū's body, leading him north, into the Land of Grass, through a cave, deep into the Tomb of the Mountains, where they finally met Uchiha Madara.
Yū hadn't expected White Zetsu's master to be such an elderly man. "You… sir…"
For a moment, Yū didn't know what to say. Could such an old man help him fight Danzo?
Madara lifted his gaze, noticing Yū's three-tomoe Sharingan, then glanced at White Zetsu.
White Zetsu shrugged helplessly, "I thought the situation was intense enough, but Yū still didn't awaken."
Madara, expressionless, stared at Yū. His eyes immediately transformed into the three-tomoe Sharingan. "I... am Uchiha Madara!"
Yū was stunned. "Uchiha... Madara?"
"That's impossible!"
"He... he died a long time ago!"
Yū couldn't believe it.
Madara remained calm, "Can't believe it?"
"No matter."
With that, he activated a genjutsu.
Caught off guard, Yū's mind was overwhelmed, and he was instantly controlled without any resistance.
"Leave him to you."
Madara turned to White Zetsu. "Keep an eye on the other one. That one should have more potential."
White Zetsu was skeptical. "Madara-sama, it's not that I doubt your judgment, but that guy looks pretty clueless."
"Even though he awakened with two-tomoe Sharingan, to be honest, he's far inferior to Uchiha Shisui, the genius of the Uchiha clan."
"Why not choose Uchiha Shisui?"
Madara didn't explain. "Just do it."
"Alright!"
White Zetsu sighed, then wrapped Yū, leaving only his eyes visible.
He donned a black hooded robe and a mask before setting out.
...
In Konoha Village, after completing his early morning training, Shūichi sent a clone to the experimental base and carried a batch of snacks, specially prepared by Asuka, to visit his teacher, Minato Namikaze.
"Shūichi!"
"I knew it was you!"
Opening the door was Kushina Uzumaki, smiling brightly. She gestured to his height, saying, "Minato mentioned it, but I didn't believe it. You're almost as tall as me now!"
"Hey, what kind of special food did you eat?"
Kushina pinched Shūichi's cheek, then poked his arm, squeezing his bones with curiosity.
Shūichi pondered seriously for a moment before responding, "It might be because... I ate tailed beast meat?"
Kushina froze for a moment, then asked seriously, "Really?"
Shūichi nodded, completely serious. "Of course."
"The horn of the Eight-Tails is crispy, and the tail of the Four-Tails has a nice texture."
Kushina snorted, "Yeah right, I don't believe your nonsense."
"Come on in!"
She pulled Shūichi inside, continuing, "Minato went out on a mission. He mentioned you'd be coming by today."
While talking, she took the snacks Shūichi brought and began to eat them, then brought out her own "Kushina-style" snacks for him.
"Just got back and already has a mission? Lord Third Hokage sure doesn't give him a break, does he?"
Shūichi grumbled.
Kushina gave a thumbs-up and then handed Shūichi a scroll that Minato had left for him. "Here, this is something Minato left for you. It's a technique related to souls, but it includes forbidden jutsu, so be careful when practicing."
"By the way, are you really confident about completing that technique you mentioned within three years?"
Kushina looked at Shūichi with some concern.
Shūichi patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry, Kushina-san! I'm a genius when it comes to developing jutsu!"
"My Fire Nether Chain may not be as strong as your Adamantine Sealing Chains, but it's not bad either!"
"I'm just one step away from completing it."
Kushina immediately encouraged him, "Keep it up! I'll help you too!"
Shūichi nodded and opened the scroll.
The first technique made his eyes widen.
Soul Imprisonment Technique!
"So it's this technique…"
Shūichi recalled that it was something the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had once used on Uchiha Sasuke.
"Soul Imprisonment… is this the precursor to the Impure World Reincarnation technique?"
Shūichi wondered as he unrolled the scroll completely.
Impure World Reincarnation!
Shūichi was shocked to see that even this jutsu had been included.
Kushina glanced at the technique and gasped in shock, "No wonder Minato told you to be cautious—it actually requires a living person as a sacrifice!"
Shūichi chuckled, "We're only studying the soul-related parts of it."
Kushina nodded in agreement, "That makes sense."
She then became eager, "Well, let's get started quickly then!"
Shūichi nodded, and the two immediately began researching the Soul Imprisonment Technique.
After a while, Shūichi rubbed his chin and said, "This technique doesn't seem that hard, actually."
Kushina looked puzzled, "Is that so?"
Why did it seem complicated to her?
Shūichi thought for a moment and reassured her, "It's probably because I've already practiced the Spiritual Transformation Technique. That jutsu allows the soul to carry chakra outside of the body."
Kushina believed him.
For the next few days, Shūichi was constantly moving between Minato's home, Konoha Hospital, and the experimental base.
However, one day, he suddenly received a message from Orochimaru, and his real body headed to Orochimaru's experimental base.
"Is this about continuing the soft body modification?"
Shūichi asked upon seeing Orochimaru.
Orochimaru shook his head, "The soft body modification isn't ready yet. This time, I wanted to share an exciting new result with you."
"A new result?"
Shūichi's curiosity was piqued. "I'd love to see it."
Orochimaru smiled, "I've found a way to balance the power of Hashirama's cells."
Shūichi was stunned, "Balance the power of Hashirama's cells?"
"What method?"
Orochimaru smiled slyly, "Thanks to your previous analysis, Shūichi-kun, I realized that the powerful Yang Release energy within Hashirama's cells can only be controlled by an equally strong mental energy."
"And in terms of mental power, nothing is more suitable than the Uchiha clan's Sharingan."
Sharingan!
As expected...
Shūichi sighed inwardly.
He had deliberately avoided information related to this topic before, but it seemed like it had come to him regardless.
No surprise—it was Bastard Snake Orochimaru, after all.
Even without his involvement, Orochimaru had still managed to figure out the connection between Hashirama's cells and the Sharingan, uncovering more secrets along the way.
But was this really about sharing a new discovery?
As Shūichi pondered further, he realized that Orochimaru likely had a deeper motive.
Was the revelation about obtaining a Sharingan for research a deliberate move?
But wouldn't that be giving away leverage?
Was this aimed at Danzo?
In an instant, Shūichi's mind raced through numerous possibilities, though none of his thoughts showed on his face.
Instead, he carefully considered and responded, "From what we know about how the Sharingan is awakened and advanced, it's clear that it's primarily driven by mental energy. The Sharingan's genjutsu abilities are also incredibly strong, which indicates that Yin Release must be very powerful."
"Just as the five basic elements counter each other, perhaps Yin and Yang also balance each other out."
"However, Hashirama's cells are immensely powerful. I doubt that an ordinary Sharingan could suppress them, wouldn't you agree, Orochimaru-sama?"
Orochimaru nodded. "You're right."
"It's not so much about suppression, but even maintaining balance would require a Sharingan with at least three tomoe."
"But you, Shūichi-kun, have a unique constitution, and your mental strength is strong enough to suppress a tailed beast. Your mastery of genjutsu is on par with Uchiha Shisui's, who possesses a three-tomoe Sharingan. Your affinity for Yin Release is likely better than mine."
"That's why I believe you're even more suitable than someone with a three-tomoe Sharingan."
"If it were you, I'm confident you could fully inherit the First Hokage's power!"
Although Shūichi had a lot of confidence in himself, he shook his head. "If I were to consider this, I would first seek Tsunade-sama's approval."
Orochimaru, knowing Tsunade well, smiled. "If it's you, she wouldn't object, not if it's for the village."
But Shūichi still shook his head. "I prefer to gain power through understanding its essence, rather than simply transplanting the First Hokage's cells."
"Besides, Lord Hashirama's body had its own limitations. If his Yang Release power were so overwhelming, he wouldn't have died so early."
Orochimaru paused, then nodded in agreement, though he couldn't hide his disappointment.
In his eyes, Shūichi was the perfect test subject.
During his experiments combining the Sharingan and Hashirama's cells, he had discovered some intriguing things, but he lacked a suitable host.
And Shūichi, Orochimaru believed, was the ideal vessel capable of harnessing both the power of Hashirama's cells and the Sharingan.
...
As Shūichi left Orochimaru's lab, he furrowed his brow in thought.
The combination of Sharingan and Hashirama's cells meant that Danzo's power would soon increase.
But that wasn't the real issue.
The problem lay in the position he was in now.
Shisui was his friend, the Fourth Hokage was his teacher, and to the Third Hokage, he was a loyal subordinate.
"Snake Bastard sure knows how to throw me into a dilemma…"
"Damn it, if I were an Uchiha, I'd rebel too!"
Shūichi cursed inwardly as he used the Body Flicker technique to appear at the Hokage Tower.
"Are you here to see Lord Third Hokage?"
A masked figure named Chihiro appeared.
Shūichi nodded and asked, "Has the captain gone on a mission?"
Chihiro nodded back. "Yes, he's gone to Iwagakure."
"Wait here, I'll inform the Hokage."
With that, Chihiro disappeared.
A moment later, Shūichi knocked and entered the Hokage's office, getting straight to the point. "Lord Third Hokage, Orochimaru-sama specifically informed me today that the Root division has been hunting down Uchiha clan members, seizing their Sharingan for experiments involving the First Hokage's cells."
Shūichi had principles—his character couldn't break!
"What?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was shocked and quickly asked, "Does anyone else know about this?"
Shūichi responded honestly, "Not that I know of for now, but I haven't told anyone else yet."
"However, this matter will inevitably come to light. The Sharingan can balance the power of the First Hokage's cells, and the Root is likely to weaponize this. It's only a matter of time before it's exposed."
"Moreover, this definitely involves more than just one Uchiha. This will cause distrust among other bloodline clans and even families that rely on secret jutsu."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath to calm himself.
He had already considered these things, which was why he had reacted so strongly.
"That damn Danzo…"
Sarutobi couldn't help but curse, yet he knew he had no choice but to clean up Danzo's mess.
This information absolutely couldn't get out. If it did, Konoha would be thrown into chaos.
Especially since the Uchiha were still fighting on the front lines!
"Shūichi, for now, don't reveal this matter to anyone."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grim. "This involves the front lines and must be handled with caution."
If it weren't wartime, this wouldn't be such a delicate issue.
Shūichi looked up at Hiruzen and said, "Handling it this way is unwise. The relationship between the Uchiha and the village might deteriorate further."
"Moreover, Orochimaru-sama probably had deeper intentions in revealing this information to me."
Hiruzen nodded. "I will give orders regarding Danzo."
Hearing this, Shūichi couldn't help but feel disappointed, even though he had already expected this outcome before coming.
Sadly, Hiruzen no longer had the decisiveness he once had.
Danzo's actions, which could destroy the very foundation of Konoha, were enough to ruin his reputation and bring him to a disgraceful end!
...
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Shūichi felt a sense of calm.
It was better that Hiruzen wasn't punishing Danzo now.
In the future, Shūichi could take Danzo down openly, ensuring his complete disgrace and downfall.
If things were suppressed now, it would be easier to settle scores later.
Exposing it now, only to have Danzo face minor consequences, would make it harder to take action in the future.
Let the situation simmer for a while longer!
...
Not long after Shūichi left, Hiruzen Sarutobi, accompanied by four ANBU ninjas, arrived at the Root headquarters.
Danzo, upon hearing the news, felt a moment of panic, but quickly calmed down, putting away his documents before strolling out.
"Hiruzen, what brings you here?"
"Is there an important mission?"
Danzo appeared relaxed and at ease.
Hiruzen, however, got straight to the point. "The experiments involving Hashirama's cells and the Sharingan—stop them!"
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Danzo's forehead.
Hiruzen's tone was stern. "Are you trying to cause a collapse on the front lines and tear Konoha apart from within?"
Danzo opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find any way to refute the accusation.
"Hand over the documents," Hiruzen commanded. "Recently, Iwagakure has been making bold moves in the Land of Rain. You'll personally lead the operations there."
Danzo nodded. "Understood."
Hiruzen gave a slight nod before turning to leave.
However, Chihiro and the other three ANBU stayed behind, confiscating the documents Danzo had just started reviewing but hadn't finished.
Watching the ANBU leave, Danzo's expression darkened. "Orochimaru was too careless."
"And that wicked brat, Shūichi, how infuriating..."
Danzo had once seen Shūichi as a useful pawn, but now, his fists clenched in anger.
After calming down, Danzo left the Root base and headed to Orochimaru's lab.
The experiments may have stopped, but the results must still be used!
"Though it's a bit risky right now, protecting Konoha makes it all worthwhile!"
Danzo's steps grew firmer, and his back straightened with resolve.
The Uchiha's sacrifice was justified!
As part of the village, their sacrifice was necessary!
...
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed since Shūichi returned to Konoha.
The Third Shinobi War was still ongoing, but its scale had reduced significantly.
During his time in the village, Shūichi frequently heard people discussing the impressive achievements of his teacher, Minato Namikaze.
One day, Minato repelled an Iwa shinobi offensive. A few days later, he pushed back an attack from the Kirigakure forces. Soon after that, he thwarted the resurgence of the duo known as the "A-B Combo."
Both Minato's accomplishments and his reputation were soaring at an incredible pace.
Meanwhile, Shūichi was enjoying a leisurely lifestyle, spending his days training, researching jutsu, and conducting experiments.
One day, while modifying small animals in Orochimaru's lab, Shūichi noticed a new person by Orochimaru's side.
"Shūichi-kun, this is Anko Mitarashi. I've just taken her on as my student," Orochimaru said with a smile, introducing the small girl next to him.
Anko bowed politely, "Shūichi-senpai, I am Anko Mitarashi. Please take care of me."
Shūichi smiled warmly and nodded, "Hello, feel free to ask me anything if you ever need help."
Anko's eyes lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Shūichi-senpai!"
With that, they were formally introduced.
"Shūichi-kun, carry on with your work," Orochimaru said as he led Anko away.
Anko waved back at Shūichi, who smiled and waved in return.
"She's so adorable!" Shūichi thought to himself.
"It looks like Hayate Gekkō and the others are probably close to graduating too," he mused, before turning back to modifying the animals. His thoughts, however, remained on Hayate.
"His talent with kenjutsu isn't bad... which sword would suit him best?"
"If I modify his body to add a set of gills, maybe he could use Samehada?"
"But with his sickly appearance, it doesn't seem like a good match... Samehada might reject him."
...
At home, in his study.
Unbeknownst to Shūichi, his clone had met Anko and was now thinking of transforming Hayate Gekkō into one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
At that moment, Shūichi was working on refining his "Fire Nether Chains" sealing technique.
Thanks to the Soul Imprisonment Technique, he had completely mastered it.
The new formula was written on a scroll, and after scrutinizing it several times, Shūichi nodded in satisfaction.
It was time to test its effectiveness.
The initial version of Fire Nether Chains had the effects of burning one's spirit and igniting their chakra. Now, with the added soul-binding feature, its restraining power would be significantly enhanced.
Of course, Soul Imprisonment had many uses.
For instance, it could bind the soul of a freshly deceased person, keeping it within the body and buying time for medical treatment.
This was the same technique Tobirama Senju had used on Uchiha Sasuke.
Snap!
Shūichi clapped his hands together and lowered his gaze.
Inside his abdomen, within the Eight Trigrams Seal, the Fire Nether Chains binding Shukaku and Son Gokū shattered and dissolved simultaneously.
Shukaku and Son Gokū blinked in confusion before exchanging glances. Then they both let out a thunderous roar, unleashing massive amounts of chakra that crashed against the surrounding iron bars.
The iron bars represented the Eight Trigrams Seal.
It remained unshaken, solid as ever.
"Use a Tailed Beast Bomb!" Son Gokū roared.
Though they usually bickered, the two tailed beasts decided to cooperate to break free from the seal.
Shukaku said nothing and immediately began gathering chakra in his mouth.
Son Gokū followed suit, condensing his own Tailed Beast Bomb.
However, just as they were about to launch their attack, several chains appeared, piercing through the forming Tailed Beast Bombs. The massive chakra spheres dissipated in a shockwave, blasting outward.
"Curse that brat!" Shukaku snarled, as chains wrapped around his neck and limbs, rendering his entire body immobile. "This seal... it's become even stronger!"
Son Gokū, now similarly bound, could feel it too. "The binding power is even greater. Shukaku, you idiot, he must have studied the curse marks on you."
"You possess sealing abilities, yet you let a mere kid trap you like this? What a useless fool!"
Shukaku flew into a rage. "You stupid monkey! If you had cooperated with your Jinchūriki earlier, you wouldn't be stuck here either!"
Son Gokū sneered, "Being trapped here isn't much different from being sealed inside some other human."
Shukaku smirked, "I bet you felt it just now—the presence of that Eight-Tails fool as well as your own chakra in that body."
Son Gokū fell silent. He had indeed sensed it.
When the seal weakened and their chakra flared, it had disturbed the Eight Trigrams Seal, allowing them to detect the situation outside the seal.
Laying low, Son Gokū calmed himself. "Shukaku, don't you think this guy seems very familiar with us?"
"Hmm?"
Shukaku paused for a moment, thinking it over, and then nodded. "But it's not that surprising. Konoha has information on all the tailed beasts."
Son Gokū snorted. "Given what you sensed, doesn't it remind you of something else?"
Shukaku's eyes narrowed, and he nodded slowly. "But it doesn't quite feel the same. This kid's body is extraordinary, capable of housing both your power and the Eight-Tails'."
"If not for my sand body, he might have taken my power too."
"So, he might not know the real secret."
Son Gokū added, "Still, if a Jinchūriki has their tailed beast extracted, they die."
"Which is why I said he's different."
...
Shūichi didn't bother with the conversation between Son Gokū and Shukaku. He had improved the Fire Nether Chains significantly, but it still wasn't enough.
What he sought was a technique with the sealing and soul-extracting power of the Reaper Death Seal.
If he could perfect it, it wouldn't just allow him to divide tailed beasts—it would also serve as a deadly weapon against the Ōtsutsuki clan.
For now, his goal was to be as prepared as possible, so that when inspiration struck, he could maximize the benefits.
...
Graveyard of the Mountains.
After receiving continuous intelligence from White Zetsu, and learning that the Kirigakure's repeated offensives had been thwarted, Madara Uchiha decided the time was right.
Slowly and shakily, he stood up.
"Madara-sama, are you heading out?" Zetsu approached with keen awareness.
Madara nodded slightly, "The time has come."
What would follow would be a grand spectacle, orchestrated by him to create a new life for someone.
Zetsu moved forward, wrapping Madara in his bio-armor.
Without Zetsu's assistance, in his current frail state, Madara would not be able to move freely.
Although White Zetsu had already taken control of Uchiha Yū, it was not enough to manipulate Kirigakure and bend them to Madara's will.
Clad in the bio-armor of Zetsu, Madara took a step forward, and the tubes attached to the back of his head disconnected with a sharp pull.
"Notify the others to be ready," he ordered as he walked out.
In the cave, White Zetsu immediately received the command and burrowed into the ground to relay the message to the Zetsu who controlled Uchiha Yū.
---
Two days later.
Madara arrived at Kirigakure and effortlessly controlled one of its high-ranking officials with genjutsu.
The next day, a high-level meeting was held in Kirigakure, as usual, to discuss how to counterattack Konoha.
Kirigakure had suffered heavy losses at the hands of Konoha, and no one was willing to let it go.
They believed that as Konoha was still embroiled in battles with Iwa and Kumo, now was the best chance to launch a successful counteroffensive.
If Konoha managed to reach a peace agreement with Iwa, the opportunity would disappear.
Unfortunately, despite the heated arguments in the meeting room, no one could come up with a viable strategy.
Facing both Shūichi and Minato seemed like an unsolvable problem.
Should they send the aging Third Mizukage? But the death of the Third Raikage in the Land of Earth was a sobering warning!
"Why not use a tailed beast?" the Kirigakure official controlled by Madara suddenly proposed.
The room fell silent. Then someone hesitantly asked, "The Three-Tails?"
"Would that even work?"
"That Shūichi already captured the One-Tail and Four-Tails. It's said he almost caught the Eight-Tails as well."
The Kirigakure official, still under Madara's control, calmly explained, "Capture a Konoha ninja, implant the Three-Tails into them, and control them with a curse mark. At the right moment, we can release the seal and let the Three-Tails rampage."
"It could either break through Konoha's defenses... or we could directly control the Konoha ninja to detonate the Three-Tails inside Konoha, teaching them a painful lesson."
"We could even use this to demand the return of the Seven Ninja Swords, or even have them hand over Shūichi to us for punishment, just like they did with Pakura of the Scorch Release."
The suggestion was met with nods of agreement from several people.
However, one person objected, "This plan seems viable, but wouldn't we lose the Three-Tails in the process?"
Before the controlled official could respond, someone else countered, "We could prepare a curse mark in advance. Once the Jinchūriki dies and the Three-Tails is extracted, we can simply take some time to recapture it."
"If Konoha doesn't want us to use the Six-Tails against them in the same way, they'll return the ninja swords and hand over Shūichi and Pakura."
The Third Mizukage, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes closed, finally spoke, "It's settled then."
He turned to the official who had first made the suggestion. "Yūma, you and the Anbu will handle this matter."
The Kirigakure official under Madara's control immediately nodded, "Understood!"
---
"Shūichi!"
Chihiro's figure appeared at the window.
Inside the study, Shūichi looked up with a smile. "Chihiro-san, what's the matter?"
Chihiro quickly replied, "A critical mission. The Mist has brought the Three-Tails to the southern battlefield and seems to be planning to release it."
Shūichi raised an eyebrow at the news and walked over to the window. "Where's Minato-sensei?"
Chihiro quickly explained, "Minato-senpai is still in the Land of Rain. The Five-Tails has appeared on the Iwa front."
Shūichi frowned slightly. "The Five-Tails... If I remember correctly, the Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails from Iwa is still quite young, right?"
Chihiro nodded. "According to intel, they should be a year or two younger than you."
Shūichi nodded, "Got it. I'll leave right away."
"Thank you for handling this!" Chihiro said before disappearing.
Shūichi returned to his desk, looking at the incomplete jutsu formulas scattered about. He sighed softly.
Barely a month of peace.
"But... has Madara made his move?"
Shūichi muttered to himself before swiftly packing up his scrolls and gear. Leaving behind a shadow clone, he disappeared from Konoha Village.
---
At the southern border of the Land of Fire, in a forest.
Pakura's eyes snapped open as she sensed someone approaching. She turned and smiled in surprise. "Lord Shūichi, what brings you here?"
Seeing Pakura still wearing her mask, Shūichi smiled. "I heard that Kirigakure deployed a tailed beast, so I came to check it out."
Pakura nodded. "A few days ago, I sensed the presence of a tailed beast, but Kirigakure hasn't released it yet. I'm not sure what they're waiting for."
"Could it be they're trying to lure you here?"
Shūichi shook his head, "I doubt it."
"You go inform the commander. I'll deal with the tailed beast from Kirigakure."
Pakura quickly responded, "Lord Shūichi, please let me accompany you!"
"There's no need. Just do as I said."
With that, Shūichi vanished.
Pakura stood there feeling a sense of loss.
Without Shūichi by her side, she felt lonely, unable to fully integrate into the Konoha forces—like a wandering soul on the battlefield.
Steeling herself, Pakura performed the Body Flicker Technique to carry out the task Shūichi had assigned her.
On the coastline, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were desperately fleeing.
Behind them, a group of masked Kirigakure shinobi pursued them relentlessly.
Obito glanced back anxiously, shouting, "Kakashi, they're catching up to us!"
"If this keeps up, we'll be overtaken."
"I'll stay behind to hold them off. You take Rin and go ahead."
Kakashi looked back at the pursuing Mist ninjas and replied calmly, "You won't be able to hold them off."
"I'll stay behind. You two go and find reinforcements!"
Rin turned back, "Kakashi…"
"There's no need to argue," Kakashi said firmly. "I'm the strongest here, so I'm the best choice to hold them off."
"I'm the only one who can hold them back until you bring reinforcements."
They had ventured deep into Mist-controlled territory on this peninsula to rescue Rin, who had been captured by Kirigakure.
Obito didn't want to leave Kakashi alone, but he had to protect Rin.
If no one stayed behind to cover them and they were surrounded, the weakest of them, Rin, would be the first to fall.
"Obito…"
Kakashi added, "Take care of Rin!"
Gritting his teeth, Obito nodded, "I understand. I'll keep her safe!"
"Rin!"
He grabbed Rin's hand and picked up the pace.
Meanwhile, Kakashi stopped in his tracks. The sound of chirping birds filled the air as blue lightning crackled around him.
He drew his sword and dashed forward!
Kakashi charged toward the pursuing Mist shinobi.
The enemy split up, with some attacking Kakashi while others continued after Obito and Rin.
Kakashi managed to take down three of them before he turned to pursue the ones chasing Obito and Rin, engaging them in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Lightning crackled over Kakashi's body as he swung his White Fang short sword, using his speed and reflexes to cut down the Mist shinobi.
But there were too many of them, and they were elite members of the Mist's special tactical forces. Kakashi alone couldn't hold off so many.
"Damn, there's no way to stop them all at once."
"Obito, you'd better…"
Anxiety and fear gnawed at him.
Though Obito's powers had grown with his newly awakened two-tomoe Sharingan, he was still far from the level of a jōnin.
---
Meanwhile, Obito quickly realized that the Mist shinobi were catching up.
"Damn, there's no way we're getting away!"
Grinding his teeth, Obito reached into his pouch, flinging several shuriken that struck two of the Mist shinobi.
But there were more of them, and they were starting to close in from both sides.
"Rin, go ahead!"
Obito stopped, clutching his kunai, and prepared to charge at the Mist shinobi.
Rin also stopped, feeling the terrifying power within her that was beyond her control. She looked into the distance, unable to see anything: "Kakashi…"
In the next moment, she spun around and suddenly stepped between Obito and the Mist shinobi.
"Rin!"
Obito was shocked.
Thud!
Rin threw herself into Obito's arms, driving his kunai directly into her own heart with perfect precision.
"Obito…"
Blood gushed from Rin's mouth as she looked at him.
Obito's eyes widened. He instinctively stepped back, releasing the blood-covered kunai.
"Obito…"
Rin staggered, then collapsed toward him.
Obito quickly caught her shoulders, barely able to breathe. "Kakashi… protect…"
Obito's pupils contracted, his heart pounding fiercely, the tomoe in his eyes spinning into a new pattern.
In that instant, Rin's body lost all strength and slumped into his arms.
"No…"
Obito opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. His blood-soaked hands slipped through her body.
Thud!
Rin's body fell to the ground.
"Damn, she managed to do it!"
"The plan failed!"
"We must retrieve the Three-Tails before she dies!"
The Mist shinobi shouted in shock, realizing Rin had used Obito's hand to end her own life.
A group of Mist shinobi rushed toward Obito and Rin.
Obito looked up at the oncoming enemies, and suddenly, the entire world seemed bathed in blood—as if everything had been dyed red by Rin's blood.
"Rin!"
"You damn bastards…"
"Die!"
Obito let out a bestial roar, releasing a cold and overwhelming chakra that split the earth beneath him as he shot forward.
In an instant, he collided with a Mist shinobi.
The shinobi's sword sliced through Obito's body, but before he could react, Obito turned and punched him, sending him flying.
Then two more Mist shinobi dropped down from above, piercing Obito's body with their blades—but no blood flowed from him.
Obito leaped up, kicking both of them away, then grabbed a katana from the ground and hurled it. The blade struck through the two Mist shinobi he had just kicked.
Boom!
A torrent of water surged forward, but Obito remained unaffected as the water passed harmlessly through him.
"What's going on?"
"We can't even hit him!"
"Damn it…"
"Surround him! Retrieve the Three-Tails!"
"Ahhh—!"
...
A one-sided slaughter unfolded. In his extreme rage, Uchiha Obito, though unaware he had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, instinctively used its unique powers. He weaved through the Mist shinobi effortlessly, cutting down each one with ease.
Meanwhile, Nohara Rin, lying on the ground, still had a faint consciousness. She could hear the screams of the Mist ninjas and felt her life quickly slipping away.
In that moment, memories of all the beautiful moments she'd experienced flashed through her mind.
"Kakashi…"
Rin opened her mouth, but blood filled her throat, silencing her.
---
In less than a minute, all the Mist shinobi had fallen by Obito's hand.
Obito returned to Rin's side, reaching out to hold her, only to find his arms empty.
"Rin…"
He stood there, frozen.
Just then, a dark-robed figure emerged from the forest.
"She can't be saved. Come with me."
White Zetsu, controlling Uchiha Yū, walked over to Obito's side.
Obito turned his head in a daze, muttering, "I… I killed Rin…"
White Zetsu shook his head, "No!"
"It wasn't you who killed her!"
"It was this flawed world!"
"It was war!"
"As long as war exists, even if she survived today, she'd still die tomorrow."
"All these tragedies come from war!"
White Zetsu opened his arms toward Obito, "Come with me!"
"I'll introduce you to someone who can help you create a world without war."
Obito's eyes gradually focused, "A world without war…"
He turned to look at Rin, lying in a pool of blood, "Rin, I'll create a world where you exist!"
"But first, I'll fulfill your last wishes."
Whoosh!
Obito disappeared.
Moments later, he returned with the unconscious Kakashi, placing him beside Rin. Reaching out to touch Rin's face, he noticed his blood-stained hands and recoiled as though burned.
"Let's go. Take me to this person you mentioned."
Obito stood up, speaking coldly to White Zetsu, "If he can't do what you claim, I'll kill every single one of you!"
White Zetsu responded confidently, "You can rest assured of that!"
After one last look at Rin, Obito followed White Zetsu and vanished into the forest.
Less than a minute later, Shūichi appeared beside Kakashi.
"Am I too late?"
Shūichi's gaze sharpened as he looked at the blood-soaked Rin and Kakashi.
"No, not yet!"
He knelt beside Rin and immediately activated the Soul Imprisonment Technique to hold her soul in place.
He quickly assessed her injuries.
Her heart had been pierced, but fortunately, no major arteries were severed, nor was the entire heart destroyed.
However, her condition was dire; she was already in shock, her breathing nearly stopped, and only a faint heartbeat remained.
Shūichi immediately created three shadow clones: one began performing artificial respiration, another used a chakra scalpel to cut through Rin's clothing, opening her chest and manually stabilizing her heart, while the third placed his hands on her chest, using Yang Release chakra to heal the wound around the kunai in her heart as quickly as possible.
Hmm?
Shūichi's head shot up, a massive fireball reflected in his eyes.
Boom!
A torrent of water erupted from the ground, colliding with the fireball and creating a cloud of steam that spread across the area.
Almost simultaneously, Rin's heart burst, but Shūichi's clone swiftly vanished, taking both Rin and Kakashi away.
Standing tall, Shūichi waved his hand, parting the mist, and saw a figure in a black cloak.
Uchiha Madara?
Shūichi's gaze locked onto the masked figure opposite him.
He had never seen Uchiha Madara nor had he encountered White Zetsu, so he couldn't rely on chakra sensing alone to identify them.
However, he could still detect the drastically altered chakra of Obito and sensed an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar chakra signature near Obito.
Did White Zetsu possess someone or disguise himself as a Konoha shinobi?
If so, then this person before him must be Uchiha Madara!
Attempting a surprise attack?
"Though I don't know how you took Uchiha Obito away… your schemes won't succeed."
Shūichi feigned ignorance of Madara's true identity.
Uchiha Madara looked at Shūichi and said calmly, "Are you so confident because you've never failed?"
"Well, today will be your first failure!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, fierce blue flames ignited around Madara.
However, this technique did not harm Madara in the slightest.
A dense blue chakra emerged around him, forming a half-bodied skeletal structure.
Susanoo!
Boom!
Susanoo raised its fist, striking toward Shūichi from a distance.
Rumble!
The ground exploded, and Shūichi barely managed to dodge using Body Flicker. As he landed, a surge of flames rolled toward him.
Water Release – Water Formation Wall!
Water swirled around Shūichi, clashing with the oncoming flames in a great burst of steam.
In the next instant, Susanoo's hand broke through the steam and water barrier, grabbing Shūichi.
Splash!
Shūichi dissolved into a puddle of water.
Water Clone!
Shūichi's real body appeared in mid-air, with his Totsuka Blade expanding.
Blue Flame Vacuum Slash!
This was a powerful blade combining Fire and Wind Release, more concentrated and much stronger than the original Blue Flame Sky Blade.
He slashed down fiercely, striking Susanoo's skull.
Crack!
Susanoo's skull fractured, shattering with a thunderous impact, and the blade's light sliced downward.
Boom!
The energy blade struck the ground, carving a charred trench.
But Madara dodged the strike with Body Flicker at the last second.
Just as he landed, Shūichi's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken came whistling down from above.
Dense chakra erupted from Madara's body, and Susanoo appeared again—this time not as a skeleton but with muscle and tissue, resembling a fully formed humanoid.
Boom!
Susanoo raised a powerful fist, colliding with the Rasenshuriken in a blazing explosion that shone like a newborn sun.
"As expected of Susanoo…" Shūichi narrowed his eyes.
As the light faded, the sound of air splitting filled the air as a series of blue magatama came flying toward him.
Yasaka Magatama!
Shūichi flickered, dodging the magatama while launching another jutsu.
Earth Release – Swamp of the Underworld!
The ground beneath Madara turned to a swirling mire, pulling his body downward.
"Using jutsu without hand seals?"
Madara, sinking slowly, chuckled with mild interest.
Meanwhile, Shūichi had activated his Fire Release Chakra Mode along with his Bijuu Sealing Mark, diving down with another slash.
This time, the blade's glow turned purple as he struck Susanoo's head once again, shattering it.
Clang!
Chains shot out, plunging into the mire.
Shūichi knew that a mere Earth Release wouldn't hold Madara.
Sure enough, a blue arm emerged from the swamp, grabbing a chain and yanking it, snapping it.
Boom!
A massive blue figure rose from the mire, only to be quickly ensnared by Shūichi's Fire Nether Chains wrapping around its limbs, torso, and neck.
Shūichi sheathed his blade and formed two Rasenshuriken, one in each hand.
Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken!
Lava Release Rasenshuriken!
On his shoulder, a dragon's head appeared, charging a blue sphere, then blasting it out as a blue-violet beam.
Dragon Flame Breath!
Two beams streaked toward Madara's head in Susanoo.
At that moment, Susanoo transformed once more, now clad in crow-headed armor resembling a cloak. With a mighty swing, it shattered the Fire Nether Chains and deflected the Dragon Flame Breath.
Crack!
Susanoo drew its sword, slicing through the remaining chains with ease.
Perfect Susanoo!
Seeing the towering entity before him, Shūichi smirked slightly.
Compared to that, his Fire Release and Blaze Release Chakra Modes were indeed insignificant.
Shūichi swung both arms, launching the Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken and Lava Release Rasenshuriken.
"You're the second person to force me into this form!"
With a casual swing, Madara effortlessly deflected both of Shūichi's Rasenshuriken, causing them to explode in mid-air.