Upon returning to Konoha, Shūichi parted ways with Shisui and made a brief stop at the research facility before heading to the Hokage's office.
Seeing his student arrive, Minato Namikaze greeted him with a warm smile.
"It seems everything went smoothly."
"Indeed, it did."
Shūichi approached Minato's desk and placed a glass vial on it.
Minato's expression sharpened as he recognized its contents.
"This is… a Byakugan. Is this the one the Mist ninja had taken?"
Shūichi nodded.
"I saw it, so I retrieved it along the way."
"In a few days, the Fourth Mizukage should send someone to negotiate a peace agreement."
Minato's eyes widened.
"The Fourth Mizukage? Shūichi, did you… kill the Third Mizukage?"
Shūichi shook his head.
"No, just severely injured him. However, the Third Mizukage is already quite old, and given the humiliation of this incident, I doubt he'll last long. He's likely to step down soon."
Minato nodded, finding this explanation reasonable. After a moment's thought, he asked,
"What about the Cloud ninja? When do you plan to take action against them?"
Shūichi considered it briefly.
"We'll wait a bit. Let the situation with the Mist Village ferment for a few days."
Minato chuckled.
"That way, the Cloud ninja will have more time to prepare. You want to create a stronger deterrent, don't you?"
Shūichi gave a thumbs-up.
"As expected of you, Sensei. Your insight is unmatched."
Minato shook his head with a smile before turning serious.
"After this, the Daimyō's initiative to train his own ninja forces will likely begin. How do you plan to approach this?"
Shūichi already had a plan in mind.
"The wandering ninja and small clans recruited by the Daimyō should follow the framework used by the Root division, though without the use of genjutsu for control."
"These people will be difficult to manage since they're employed by the Daimyō. However, for the secret training base the Daimyō wants to establish—akin to a ninja academy—it should focus on members of the Fire Country's nobility and ministers. I'll even recommend that some of their heirs be trained as ninjas to ensure future control over this force."
"But ultimately, the group we truly need to win over is this segment of nobility and ministers."
"Winning them over means gaining the economic backbone of the Fire Country. And the main force of this ninja group should actually consist of samurai and carefully selected commoners."
Shūichi had painted a grand vision for the Fire Country's Daimyō. But in reality, this vision was not meant for the Daimyō to enjoy.
After all, ninjas don't contribute to production, are consumed by training, and cannot manage an entire nation.
But does the Daimyō truly understand governance?
Not a chance!
And besides, ninjas don't need to govern the entire country.
Shūichi wasn't planning to replicate a system from his previous life. This is a world with extraordinary powers.
No, it wasn't about ninjas replacing the Daimyō or the existing ruling order.
It was about Shūichi Hoshita replacing the Daimyō, reshaping the ruling order!
---
Minato listened intently, slowly realizing the immense ambition hidden within his student's words.
It seemed that Shūichi's aspirations extended far beyond merely unifying all ninjas.
Could it be… he intended to replace the Daimyō?
Minato was shaken by this revelation, a thought he had never before entertained.
Wouldn't this cause turmoil throughout the nation?
No.
Minato quickly dismissed that idea. Shūichi's strategy started by winning over the Fire Country's nobility and ministers—the pillars of its governance.
But would these people betray the Daimyō?
Could Konoha offer them greater benefits?
Minato pondered but found no clear answer.
Shūichi, however, did not elaborate further. For now, it was all just a concept.
Before anything else, he needed to unify the ninja world and consolidate it into a massive collective interest.
---
The commotion caused by Shūichi in the Mist Village spread rapidly, reaching every nation and ninja village with astonishing speed.
The Other Great Ninja Villages received the intelligence almost immediately that same day.
Whether it was Ōnoki, Rasa, or the Fourth Raikage, their initial reactions were disbelief, followed by silence.
The intelligence couldn't be wrong.
The fact that Shūichi had gravely injured the Third Mizukage and forced him to concede defeat spoke volumes.
It meant that Konoha's Blue Flash now possessed enough strength to challenge an entire ninja village alone.
---
In the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki finished reading the report, his expression grim. He couldn't help but recall a legendary duo:
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha!
"A Mangekyō Sharingan… it has reappeared."
Ōnoki's mood grew heavier, tinged with jealousy and envy.
First came the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, who outshone his generation and stood as an unparalleled force.
Now there was the Blue Flash, who seemed to have surpassed even Minato, exuding an aura reminiscent of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.
And as if that wasn't enough, the Mangekyō Sharingan had returned.
"However, this old man isn't the same brat from back then."
Unwilling to admit defeat, Ōnoki turned to his son, Kitsuchi.
"Strengthen the protection around the Five-Tails Jinchūriki!"
The intelligence from the Mist Village mentioned their Six-Tails Jinchūriki.
Konoha hadn't just forced the Mist Village to surrender; they had also targeted their Tailed Beast.
Whether this information came from their spies or was deliberately leaked by the Mist Village, Ōnoki believed it.
After all, Shūichi had a history.
His Lava Release? Taken from the Four-Tails.
Kitsuchi immediately left to make arrangements, but Ōnoki stopped him to ask another question.
"What's the situation in the Rain Village?"
Kitsuchi replied, "There were rumors that Hanzō had been killed, but he's recently reappeared. For now, the Rain Village seems stable."
"The only notable change is that Hanzō appears to have subdued the Akatsuki organization."
Ōnoki muttered, "The Rinnegan, perhaps?"
"That massive battle… was Konoha aiming to seize the Rinnegan?"
The Rinnegan's legend wasn't exclusive to Konoha; Iwagakure was well-versed in its lore too.
And they had noticed Nagato's Rinnegan.
Kitsuchi speculated, "We have too little information right now. Few witnessed that large-scale battle."
"But it's highly likely. Beyond the Rinnegan, I can't think of any other reason."
"Konoha wouldn't possibly aim to annex the Rain Village, would they?"
Ōnoki nodded thoughtfully and said,
"Send someone to the Rain Village. We could secretly form an alliance with them to counter Konoha."
"We could even delegate some missions to the Rain Village."
Kitsuchi was startled but nodded.
"Understood!"
---
In the Sand Village, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa couldn't help but recall the moment Shūichi had threatened him when he read the report.
It seemed the Third Mizukage hadn't submitted to the threat—and yet he still lost.
"Another figure like Hashirama Senju?"
Rasa sighed inwardly, feeling immense pressure.
Although Suna was allied with Konoha, it wasn't to the extent of complete subordination.
The stronger Konoha grew, the greater the pressure on Suna. In the future, they might have to yield to Konoha in all matters, potentially becoming little more than a vassal state.
This was something Rasa, as Kazekage, had to consider.
Rising to the window, he gazed outside at his youngest son, Gaara, happily playing with his siblings. His heart filled with hope.
The previous One-Tail Jinchūriki had nearly become a perfect Jinchūriki but had tragically died in battle.
Even so, Shukaku's cooperative attitude had been maintained. Rasa held high expectations for his youngest son to become the second perfect Jinchūriki in the ninja world.
With such a trump card, they could face Konoha with greater confidence.
Rasa's gaze shifted to his daughter, Temari, and he remembered the kunai Shūichi had given her on their last encounter.
Although his daughter displayed remarkable talent, Rasa had no confidence that she could ever defeat someone like Shūichi.
But a different thought crossed his mind.
Konoha was now as powerful as it had been during the era of Hashirama and Madara. Direct opposition would be unwise.
While he needed to guard against becoming a vassal, Suna could also establish a closer relationship with Konoha—similar to the bond between the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha in the past.
By leveraging Konoha's strength, Suna could further its development.
---
Kumogakure.
The Fourth Raikage turned to Dodai and asked, "Are you certain that Shūichi will come?"
Dodai nodded. "Based on the situation in Kirigakure, whether it's to end the war or for the power of the Tailed Beasts, he's bound to come."
The Fourth Raikage slammed his hands on the desk, exuding a powerful aura. "Good!"
"If that's the case, we'll prepare in advance and ensure he stays here permanently!"
Dodai broke into a cold sweat. "Fourth Raikage, such an action could result in tremendous losses."
"Besides Shūichi, there's also Shisui of the Body Flicker, who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Don't forget Uchiha Madara from back in the day, Raikage-sama."
The Fourth Raikage snorted. "Of course, I know that."
"That's exactly why we need to take this opportunity to eliminate them—even just one of them."
"So, have we come up with a plan to counter Konoha's teleportation technique?"
Dodai shook his head helplessly. "It's incredibly difficult to counter a space-time ninjutsu, perhaps even impossible."
The Fourth Raikage was visibly displeased but could only relent. "In that case, we'll focus our efforts on Uchiha Shisui."
"We'll take him out and seize the Mangekyō Sharingan in the process."
"Although that teleportation technique is fast, as long as we land a hit during the battle and prevent him from activating the technique, it's not impossible to bring him down."
"Yugito has already mastered part of the Two-Tails' power. She'll join the battle."
Dodai wanted to say more, but the Fourth Raikage cut him off with a firm wave. "That's final. Start drafting the battle plan!"
"I'll go check on Bee. If he can gain better control of the Tailed Beast's power, our chances will be even greater."
"Hmph, I refuse to accept the same result as the Third Mizukage!"
With that, the Fourth Raikage strode out of the room, heading for the Valley of Clouds and Lightning to oversee Killer Bee's training.
---
As time passed, the Mist Village's envoys had yet to arrive in Konoha, but the situation continued to escalate.
Because the Third Mizukage was dead.
Yagura had ascended to become the Fourth Mizukage.
The news that the Third Mizukage had been killed by Konoha's Blue Flash spread like wildfire throughout the ninja world.
---
Amegakure.
In the tower's meeting room, a spiral-patterned White Zetsu emerged from the ground, detaching from Uchiha Obito. Addressing Nagato, Black Zetsu, and the others, he said, "Good news. The new Fourth Mizukage has personally sealed the Three-Tails and become its Jinchūriki."
Nagato turned to Uchiha Obito. "The Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails. A mere Three-Tails shouldn't be an issue, right?"
"This place has already drawn Konoha's attention. The Akatsuki needs to find a new cover."
"Kirigakure just went through major turmoil. It seems like an ideal target."
Uchiha Obito nodded. "Indeed, Kirigakure is an excellent target."
"Controlling the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki is not an issue. It'll provide the perfect opportunity to use Kirigakure for certain operations."
Nagato said, "Then let us witness the power of the Sharingan's genjutsu when the time comes."
Konohagakure, Experimental Base.
Staring at the sticky slices of the Six-Tails on the tray, Shūichi suppressed his disgust, shoving each piece into his mouth, chewing, and swallowing it in a matter of seconds.
A warm sensation spread through his stomach, followed by the sudden surge of the Six-Tails' chakra, brimming with malice.
However, this had no effect on Shūichi. Such hostility was far from enough to shake his mental fortitude.
After the initial mental attack, the chakra of the Six-Tails began to corrode his body.
Yet, having already assimilated the Eight-Tails, Shūichi was utterly unaffected by the Six-Tails' power.
As the flesh was gradually digested, the Tailed Beast chakra enveloping him shrank and seamlessly integrated into his body, becoming indistinguishable from his own.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and the Six-Tails' flesh was completely absorbed.
This marked the fifth Tailed Beast Shūichi had assimilated. Not only did his physical constitution improve further, but a new chakra nature transformation also emerged within him.
"Boil Release—formed by combining water and fire chakra natures."
Shūichi smiled. "Not bad at all."
With this, he now possessed Scorch Release, Lava Release, Boil Release, Magnet Release, and the Fire Nether Chains, totaling five Kekkei Genkai.
However, since the Fire Nether Chains originated from his Tag System, he was still one Kekkei Genkai short of unlocking the [Kekkei Genkai Expert] tag.
"Once I consume the Five-Tails, I should be able to obtain Boil Release."
Shūichi pondered whether the Two-Tails possessed any Kekkei Genkai abilities.
After dealing with the Two-Tails and Five-Tails, the only ones left to consume would be the Seven-Tails and Nine-Tails.
"It's truly exciting to imagine. If I assimilate parts of all nine Tailed Beasts, aside from a massive chakra increase, what other transformations might my body undergo?"
Shūichi's mind buzzed with anticipation.
The Seven-Tails resided in Takigakure, though he wasn't sure if it already had a Jinchūriki.
Well, this could be assigned to the Immortal White Zetsu for investigation.
After tidying up his tools, Shūichi left the Tailed Beast cell cultivation room and resumed his research on Hashirama's cells and Asuka's cells.
The research had progressed significantly. Previously, he had successfully modulated and fused Hashirama's and Asuka's cells, achieving preliminary balance. These fused cells had been transplanted into his summoning beast, Shiro, greatly enhancing its power.
The only drawback was that the physical enhancement caused mental overexcitement and restlessness in the experimental subject.
Thus, Shūichi had been working on further analysis and improvement.
This process also allowed him to study the differences between Hashirama's Yang Release and Asuka's Yang Release nature transformations.
Of course, there was also Wood Release.
However, Shūichi had far too many tasks on his plate. Even with shadow clones to share the workload, his focus was stretched thin.
Moreover, research like this was far slower than using chakra to establish a mental link.
---
Mid-November.
One day, while Shūichi was in his home study analyzing curse marks, he suddenly frowned slightly.
"So, Orochimaru beat me to it…"
Shūichi sighed, somewhat resigned.
The shadow clone he had sent to track Jūgo reported back that the young Jūgo had already been taken away.
By none other than Orochimaru.
"Sage Transformation…"
After some thought, Shūichi mused, "I'll negotiate with Snake Bastard for a sample of Jūgo's cells when the time comes."
For him, researching cells was far less efficient than directly learning in the mental realm.
Huh?
Just as Shūichi was about to return to his studies, another shadow clone's memories surged back.
"Finally, some good news."
A smile spread across Shūichi's face.
The clone at the experimental base had made a breakthrough in studying the Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki Clan.
Rising from his desk, Shūichi walked toward the courtyard, pondering the potential applications of the Hydrification Technique.
While the technique didn't directly increase his combat ceiling, its immunity to physical attacks was undeniably valuable.
"Perhaps I could use heavy water as a base to create a Water-Style mecha."
"Immense power, immunity to physical damage, excellent defense—and heavy water could even counteract its weakness to Lightning-Style."
Standing at the center of the courtyard, Shūichi clasped his hands together. His body instantly transformed into a humanoid water form, which quickly expanded to a towering three meters.
Except for his head, located on the forehead of the water giant, Shūichi's other physical features had entirely vanished.
"Doesn't feel particularly powerful…"
Shūichi frowned. "Without favorable terrain, this state wouldn't be hard to deal with."
Of course, that was relative to opponents of a similar level.
Shrinking back to his normal form, Shūichi reflected, "Using heavy water to nullify the Lightning-Style weakness is enough for me. But as for offense… Could I use hydration to 'hydrate' an opponent?"
"After all, water makes up 70% of the human body…"
Lowering his gaze, Shūichi's mind raced, his thoughts operating at maximum speed and focus.
Moments later, he opened his eyes and first created a tangible shadow clone. Then, raising one hand, he filled the courtyard with a swirling mist.
It Was None Other Than the Hidden Mist Jutsu !
Shūichi briefly considered it but ultimately dispersed the Hidden Mist Jutsu. The thick mist in the courtyard quickly dissipated.
Clap!
Shūichi clapped his hands together, concealing his chakra within the water vapor suspended in the air.
However, he immediately noticed a problem—the air's humidity was insufficient.
"In that case, I'll artificially increase the humidity…"
Shūichi shifted strategies, using Water Style to saturate the surrounding air with heavy water vapor, infusing it with his chakra.
The chakra-laced water vapor naturally entered the clone opposite him as it breathed.
Once inside, these specialized water molecules didn't leave through exhalation. Instead, they circulated through the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, becoming part of the clone's fluid exchange system.
Then, Shūichi raised one hand.
In an instant, streams of water erupted from the clone's nose, mouth, and ears. Its body shriveled rapidly before collapsing entirely.
Boom!
The clone exploded, dispelling itself.
The sensations from the clone's death flooded back to Shūichi. Lowering his hand, he frowned briefly before smiling in satisfaction.
"Not bad. The technique has excellent stealth capabilities—unless the opponent has dojutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan to detect chakra."
"Hmm, but the preparation time is a bit long…"
"Still, it's suitable for large-scale deployment or long-term ambushes."
Unfortunately, the technique was only rated as an A-rank jutsu.
Similarly, the earlier Water Giant transformation was also A-rank.
"What should I name it?" Shūichi mused before deciding:
"Let's call it Corpse-Dissolving Water!"
Even though such a technique might not always come in handy, it was better to have it than not.
---
Shūichi returned to his study to continue his work. Time slipped by until the alarm rang.
Stretching lazily, Shūichi turned off the alarm and stepped outside for some training.
"Though training always yields progress, even a waterfall feels like no challenge to me now."
"For further development, my body needs greater pressure."
Shūichi had considered weighted training, but for him, even increased weights would be too cumbersome to manage effectively.
"How about training with a blade in the ocean?"
Another thought struck him—he could increase gravity!
In other words, he could cast Added-Weight Rock Jutsu or even Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Jutsu on himself.
However, he'd first need to develop those jutsu. The shadow clones currently working on Earth Style techniques hadn't completed them yet.
"Until then, I'll try training in the ocean."
Shūichi sent a shadow clone to mark a Flying Thunder God seal near the coast. For today, he stuck to his usual routine.
Even if the effects were negligible, he still completed an hour of training before returning home.
After a shower, he found Asuka busy in the kitchen.
Drying his hair, Shūichi walked over. "Asuka, let me help!"
Asuka turned her head. "Aren't you busy with the Star Curse Mark?"
Shūichi smiled, stepping forward. "Taking a break might spark some new ideas."
"That's true."
Asuka's face lit up with a smile. "Alright, Shūichi, you can help peel this potato!"
"As you wish!"
Shūichi didn't use a knife; instead, he employed his Chakra Scalpel, deftly peeling the potato.
"My blade skills are top-notch."
Asuka chuckled. "Speaking of which, you don't seem to use blade techniques much in combat anymore, right?"
Shūichi grinned. "Not entirely true. If I'm up against a close-combat ninja, I'll still use them."
"In general, though, blades are more efficient than fists."
"Still, there aren't many close-combat opponents nowadays who can push me to use a blade."
Eyes sparkling with admiration, Asuka exclaimed, "That's because you're so powerful, Shūichi!"
"But developing so many jutsu and not using them—doesn't it feel like a waste?"
Feigning distress, Shūichi sighed, "You're right… it does seem like a waste."
"But I've thought of a solution."
Curious, Asuka turned toward him. "Oh? What's your solution?"
With a mischievous smile, Shūichi replied, "Of course, it's for you, Asuka, to have more kids!"
Asuka's face flushed bright red, but she nodded shyly, her eyes brimming with expectation.
At that moment, a cold voice echoed from the doorway:
"You perverted brat!"
"Lady Tsunade!"
Startled, Asuka quickly turned back to her work.
Shūichi glanced at the doorway, where Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, glaring at him. Behind her, Shizune peeked out timidly.
"Shūichi, need any help?" Shizune asked.
"Of course!" Shūichi answered without missing a beat, his expression thick-skinned as ever.
Watching Shizune step forward to help, Tsunade couldn't help but grit her teeth in frustration.
This shameless brat—what's so great about him?!
Meanwhile, Shūichi leaned in close to whisper something in Shizune's ear, "You should have a few more kids too."
Shizune's voice became as faint as a mosquito's buzz, overwhelmed with embarrassment.
After delivering his cheeky remark, Shūichi provocatively glanced at Tsunade and said with a grin, "I've mastered several Kekkei Genkai now. Of course, I need to pass them on. Otherwise, it'd be such a waste."
Tsunade immediately retorted with a cold snort, "While Kekkei Genkai are inherited through bloodlines, there's no guarantee they'll pass down to the next generation."
Shūichi didn't miss a beat. "If the First Hokage had more children, his Wood Release could've been passed down, don't you think?"
Tsunade's temper flared. "My grandfather mastered Wood Release only after he had my father!"
Shūichi laughed, "Which is why it's better to have more kids!"
"Besides, speaking of Wood Release, I feel like I'm close to mastering it myself."
"Tsunade, soon enough, Wood Release will belong to the Hoshita clan!"
Shizune quickly tugged on Shūichi's arm. "Shūichi, don't provoke Lady Tsunade on purpose."
Tsunade's fists clenched tightly, her teeth grinding in frustration. She couldn't explain why she was so angry—everything about Shūichi's smug tone and expression made her want to punch him flat.
"I've lost my appetite!"
Tsunade flipped her ponytail and stormed out.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune stood up quickly, but Shūichi held her back with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll go bring her back."
Shizune nodded, though concern lingered in her eyes.
After Shūichi left, Asuka smiled and reassured Shizune, "Don't worry. Shūichi knows what he's doing."
Shizune nodded but added, "I'm just afraid Lady Tsunade might hit him."
Asuka chuckled, confident in her husband's abilities. "Then there's nothing to worry about. Shūichi can handle it."
---
Sure enough, thirty minutes later, Shūichi returned with Tsunade in tow, sporting only a black eye.
This minor injury did nothing to disrupt their harmonious dinner together.
After the meal, they all went out for a walk to digest.
True to her habits, Tsunade wandered into a bar, with Shizune rushing after her.
Shūichi shook his head subtly but chose not to intervene, continuing to stroll with Nonō Yakushi and Asuka.
---
By 10 p.m., Shūichi retired to bed right on schedule. However, just as he lay down, Immortal White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"Lord Shūichi, I have some news—neither good nor bad. The Akatsuki has already taken control of the Fourth Mizukage."
Shūichi sat up. "So soon?"
Just days ago, the Mist Village had formally agreed to end the war with Konoha. The negotiators were Ao and Mei Terumī.
With Ao no longer possessing the Byakugan, it would likely be challenging for the Mist Village to uncover the truth about the Fourth Mizukage being controlled by the Sharingan.
A smile spread across Shūichi's face. "Looks like I'll have to play the hero."
Immortal White Zetsu chuckled. "So, Lord Shūichi plans to lend Mei Terumī a hand?"
Shūichi didn't respond directly but instead said, "Keep an eye on her. If she's in danger, report to me immediately. It'd be a shame to lose such talent."
White Zetsu grinned slyly. "A woman with two Kekkei Genkai—if she were to have children with you, the offspring would undoubtedly be extraordinary."
Shūichi nodded. "That's the right way to think."
White Zetsu continued, "Meanwhile, the Cloud Village has already made preparations to deal with you. If you go, you'll need to be cautious."
Shūichi smirked. "They're ready, are they?"
"In that case, let's act tomorrow."
White Zetsu chuckled again. "Speaking of which, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki is quite impressive as well. It'd be such a waste if she were to die after losing her tailed beast."
Shūichi glanced at White Zetsu, certain that this creature was a perfect example of a scheming courtier.
"Go inform Shisui."
"Understood!"
White Zetsu's body sank slowly back into the ground.
---
The next morning.
After finishing breakfast, Shūichi sensed Shisui waiting outside.
Asuka helped him tidy his clothes and said earnestly, "Shūichi, you're already very strong, but please be careful."
"Of course."
Shūichi leaned down and planted a kiss on Asuka's forehead. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon."
With that, he disappeared.
Outside the Hidden Cloud Village, Shūichi appeared alongside Shisui.
Immortal White Zetsu emerged from the ground and reported, "The Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails are still training together in the same location. However, if you can't subdue both simultaneously, the Cloud ninja will react immediately."
"That's part of their contingency plan," White Zetsu continued. "After all, we're talking about two tailed beast Jinchūriki. While Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, isn't a perfect host, she can already control a portion of the tailed beast's power—she's no pushover."
Shūichi turned to Shisui and said, "Shisui, Yugito is yours to handle."
Shisui nodded confidently. "No problem."
White Zetsu chuckled. "Since you're set, I'll make my move."
Shūichi calmly replied, "No need."
As soon as he finished speaking, both he and Shisui disappeared from sight.
White Zetsu blinked in surprise, then laughed. "It seems he left a mark during their last battle—truly prepared for any scenario!"
---
At the outskirts of the Hidden Cloud Village, beneath a barren mountain, Shūichi and Shisui reappeared inside a tall building.
In the spacious hall, two figures sitting cross-legged—Killer B and the young Yugito Nii, barely twelve or thirteen years old—opened their eyes simultaneously.
Clang!
The Fire Nether Chains shot forth with a roar. Behind Killer B, multiple tails of chakra emerged as he snarled, "I knew you marked me, fool, ya fool!"
"But if you think you can catch me so easily—"
Before he could finish, Killer B's consciousness was dragged into the Memory Palace illusion created by Shūichi.
The Fire Nether Chains swiftly restrained Killer B, one of the chains piercing his body and breaking the seal to suppress the Eight-Tails.
Meanwhile, Yugito hadn't even stood up before being completely immobilized.
Shisui activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, and the immense power of his eyes left both Yugito and the Two-Tails powerless to resist.
Shūichi, now vastly more powerful than during his previous battle with Killer B, easily extracted the Eight-Tails. However, before splitting the tailed beast, he summoned Shukaku, the Four-Tails, and the Six-Tails to make their case.
Upon seeing his old friends, the Eight-Tails stopped struggling.
After hearing them out, the Eight-Tails was left dumbfounded. "Are you sure you're not under some kind of genjutsu?"
Shukaku immediately bristled. "You idiot ox! Don't lump us in with that brain-dead Nine-Tails!"
The Eight-Tails turned to Shūichi. "What does this have to do with splitting me apart?"
Shukaku sighed. "As expected, you're all idiots."
The Four-Tails chimed in, "The five great ninja villages don't trust each other. With Madara Uchiha dead, the one wielding the Rinnegan and collecting tailed beasts is someone named Nagato."
"If we can't stop the beasts from being captured, our only option is to split ourselves apart first."
Shūichi added, "Of course, I also have personal motives—I want to study your powers. However, I promise to grant freedom to the tailed beasts in the future."
The Eight-Tails was silent for a moment before asking, "Do I have a choice?"
Shūichi smiled. "Sorry, no."
"Whether you agree or not, I will split you. I have no desire to face a complete Ten-Tails in the future, nor to live forever under its shadow."
"So, I hope we can cooperate. For now, you need to keep the split a secret."
"To unite the five great nations, the timing has to be right. Only when they all face a massive crisis will they come together."
The Eight-Tails sighed. "So, we're just going to stand by and watch as Jinchūriki die when their beasts are extracted?"
Shūichi replied calmly, "That depends on their luck. I can't promise to save them every time."
"Of course, if all the beasts learn your tail-splitting technique, it won't be much of a problem."
The Eight-Tails was startled. "You've mastered that ability? No wonder they call you Konoha's Blue Flash."
"Fine. Do what you must—I'll cooperate for now."
Shūichi grinned. "You won't regret this."
With that, Shūichi and the tailed beasts disappeared. The Fire Nether Chains began extracting the Eight-Tails' soul, splitting it into yin and yang halves.
Sealing the Yin Eight-Tails into himself, Shūichi moved over to Yugito.
Despite her young age, Yugito seemed small and vulnerable next to Shūichi's imposing stature.
The job of persuading her was left to the tailed beasts, while Shūichi marked Yugito's shoulder with the Flying Thunder God seal. He also left a mark on the Yang Two-Tails after splitting it.
---
Turning to the tailed beasts, Shūichi said, "I'll need you to stick around for the next act."
The Eight-Tails, controlling Killer B's body, asked, "Are you planning to fight the Fourth Raikage?"
"Is it going to be like what you did to the Third Mizukage?"
Shūichi chuckled. "For your sake, I won't kill the Raikage. I just want to spar and see whose Lightning Style is stronger."
The Eight-Tails snorted. "Sparring with Lightning Style? Your skills are impressive, but I doubt they surpass the Fourth Raikage's. That guy can suppress even me with his Lightning Style."
The Two-Tails added, "I don't like him either, but without Flying Thunder God, you can't win."
Shūichi smirked. "How about a bet?"
He addressed both the internal and external Two-Tails. "If I win, you'll give me some of your flesh."
The Two-Tails asked, "And if you lose?"
"I'll grant you one request, as long as it doesn't harm those close to me. Anything within my power."
The Two-Tails readily agreed. "Deal."
The Yin Eight-Tails protested, "Hey, what about me?"
Shūichi chuckled. "Sorry, I've already absorb your cells before."
The Eight-Tails was speechless.
"All right, sit back and enjoy the show."
Shūichi and Shisui stepped outside, opening the door to face the guards.
The startled guards broke into a cold sweat at the sight of the intruders. "How did they get out? And Killer B and Yugito…"
At that moment, Killer B and Yugito emerged, controlled by the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails.
"Are they under Sharingan control?"
The three Cloud ninjas' eyes widened in horror.
Shūichi smiled. "Go inform the Raikage. Tell him if he doesn't come for a duel and sign a peace treaty with Konoha, the Jinchūriki will die."
"Damn it!"
One of the guards immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to report the situation.
---
In the Raikage's office, the Fourth Raikage smashed his desk into splinters upon hearing the news.
"That damned brat! This time, I'll—"
Unable to contain his rage, the Raikage smashed through the office wall and charged out, leaving his subordinates scrambling to follow.
...
In front of the gate, after waiting only five minutes, Shūichi's eyes sharpened.
"He's here!"
Boom!
The ground quaked as cracks formed and dust billowed. Emerging from the haze was a towering figure, enveloped entirely in crackling lightning—none other than the Fourth Raikage himself.
"Release Bee and Yugito, or else…"
The Fourth Raikage glared fiercely at Shūichi.
Shūichi smirked.
"Raikage-sama, the advantage lies with me right now. If you don't want your Jinchūriki to meet their end, you'd best behave."
"You bastard…"
The Fourth Raikage growled in fury but found himself momentarily helpless.
If it were anyone else, he would've acted immediately, but Shūichi's speed—faster than even his own—gave him pause.
Unbothered by the Raikage's anger, Shūichi continued, his tone relaxed.
"By now, you should've received intel about Kirigakure's situation, correct? Raikage-sama, you should be thankful I'm a man of peace. Otherwise, Kumogakure would already be in ruins."
"Stop spouting nonsense!" the Fourth Raikage roared.
"If you want a fight, then let's go! But if you lose, you're dead meat!"
As he spoke, the Fourth Raikage tore off his shirt.
"Raikage-sama!"
Dodai arrived at the scene, landing beside the Raikage. His sharp gaze swept over Shūichi, then shifted to Shisui behind him and the eerily calm Killer Bee and Yugito Nii.
Dodai whispered, "Raikage-sama, Bee and Yugito are likely under the influence of Shisui's Sharingan. And considering how they infiltrated unnoticed and subdued both Jinchūriki in an instant, they must've marked Bee with a Flying Thunder God seal during the last battle."
"I know…"
The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth, weighing his options. Otherwise, he would've already attacked.
Dodai advised, "No matter what, we can't restrain Shūichi. Stick to the plan—deal with Shisui first."
"Understood…"
The Fourth Raikage nodded before barking an order.
"You take command! Wait for the right moment to capture Shisui and secure Bee and Yugito."
Before Dodai could reply, the Fourth Raikage surged forward in a flash of electricity, charging straight at Shūichi.
Zzzzt!
Lightning erupted from Shūichi's body as he calmly met the Raikage's attack.
"Liger Bomb!"
The Raikage's roar echoed as his arm, sharp as a blade, cleaved down.
Shūichi raised his arm to block.
Boom!
The ground beneath him shattered and sank, but Shūichi stood firm as a mountain.
The Fourth Raikage's eyes widened.
"This guy... He stopped my attack head-on? His Lightning Release has grown even stronger!"
Watching from a distance, Shisui marveled silently.
"Amazing... His speed and strength are leagues above before. At this pace, even I might have to use my Susanoo to keep up."
Though Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was fast, it paled in comparison to the Raikage's pure physical might in his Lightning Chakra Mode.
Still smiling, Shūichi addressed Shisui mid-combat.
"See that, Shisui? Talking alone won't make people listen to reason."
"They won't hear you out unless you've beaten them down first."
With those words, Shūichi's right arm surged with power.
The Fourth Raikage retreated quickly, pivoting mid-air to deliver a powerful kick.
"Guillotine Drop!"
Lightning burst from Shūichi's body once more, his cells fully activated as he entered a state identical to the Raikage's Lightning Chakra Mode.
The Raikage's astonishment deepened.
From the sidelines, Dodai couldn't suppress his shock.
"What?! He's using the exact same Lightning Chakra Mode as Raikage-sama!"
As more Kumogakure shinobi arrived and surrounded the area, Shūichi sidestepped the Raikage's kick, countering with a sweeping blow of his own.
"Elbow Bolt!"
The Raikage countered with an elbow strike.
Crack!
Electricity clashed violently, splitting the earth and sending a figure flying.
"That fool dared to face Raikage-sama head-on! He's done for!"
"Is it over?"
The Kumogakure shinobi watched the fallen figure with bated breath. But as the dust settled, their eyes widened in disbelief.
"Raikage-sama?!"
It wasn't Shūichi who had been sent flying—it was the Raikage himself!
"How is this possible?! That's the Raikage, who can wrestle even the Eight-Tails!"
Dodai swallowed hard as his gaze fell on Shūichi, who stood unscathed amidst the chaos.
"This kid's strength… It surpasses the Fourth Raikage… Unbelievable!"
He recalled Shūichi's intelligence file.
"This brat... He's not even 16 yet!"
The Fourth Raikage emerged from the rubble, his face contorted with anger. His eyes locked onto Shūichi, who stood in a state identical to his own.
"You thief! How dare you steal my secret technique?!"
Shūichi's gaze turned cold, though his smile remained.
"Raikage-sama, you have no right to say that."
"Kumogakure has always been fond of stealing other villages' techniques, hasn't it?"
"Oh, wait—you don't call it stealing. You call it seizing."
The sarcastic jab made the Raikage's golden hair bristle in fury as his chakra flared even stronger.
Unperturbed, Shūichi smirked.
"Raikage-sama, your Lightning Chakra Mode is hardly a difficult jutsu. It's only B-rank, after all. There's no need to steal it."
"And today, besides seeking peace, I'm here for one thing—to determine who truly wields the strongest Lightning Release in the shinobi world!"
With those words, the lightning radiating from Shūichi's body began to condense, the blue electricity shifting into a deep violet.
Under the astonished gazes of Dodai and the gathered Kumogakure shinobi, the lightning solidified into jagged, armor-like structures, covering Shūichi's body and limbs in a striking violet glow.
The onlookers were left dumbstruck.
"Such a transformation… This isn't human!"
"Lightning Release… taken to this level? Impossible!"
"This… This must be Storm Release! Only Storm Release could achieve something like this!"
"Amazing. When did Shūichi achieve something like this?"
"It's almost on par with my Susanoo."
Shisui was equally astonished; this was his first time witnessing Shūichi's new form.
The lightning armor Shūichi now wore bore a striking resemblance to the armor donned by Shisui's Susanoo.
The resemblance lay in its cohesiveness and intricacy.
"It must involve Yin Release, using it to shape the form with precision," Shisui speculated.
"Only Yin Release could achieve something of this caliber, right?"
But Shisui's guess was wrong.
Shūichi hadn't used Yin Release at all. Instead, he had harnessed electromagnetic fields to constrain and shape the Lightning Release chakra. By constructing numerous fields, from large to micro-scale, he formed the armor currently enveloping his body.
He called this technique… Takemikazuchi Armor!
---
Within the Eight Trigrams Seal, the Eight-Tails murmured to the Two-Tails:
"Looks like you're going to lose. That guy's Lightning Release has already surpassed the Fourth Raikage."
"At his age, achieving this… he's practically inhuman."
Shukaku, speaking lazily, chimed in.
"He isn't human anymore."
"This guy's devoured parts of me, as well as the Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Six-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails. And except for that stinky fox's, he's fully digested the rest—completely absorbed them. It's boosted his chakra to an unbelievable level, rivaling even the Eight-Tails."
"You must've noticed by now."
The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails were stunned.
"No wonder he feels so different from last time. But, Shukaku, you're made of sand. He could eat you too?"
The Eight-Tails added with a chuckle, "You must trust him a lot to let him do something like that. That's rare among us."
Turning to the Nine-Tails, the Eight-Tails teased, "Kurama, didn't Kinkaku and Ginkaku eat parts of you too?"
The Nine-Tails snorted in disdain.
"Those two? Yeah, they did."
"But just like this guy, they only got a fraction of my power—enough to reach a six-tailed form, tops."
"My power isn't something that's easy to digest. Not like you lot, who let yourselves get completely dominated by him."
Shukaku bristled at the remark, sneering.
"Big words for someone who couldn't even put up a fight. Back then, I at least went toe-to-toe with him. You? You were subdued in an instant, stinky fox."
The Nine-Tails' fury ignited, glaring daggers at Shukaku.
"Stupid raccoon! You want to get beaten up?"
Shukaku snarled right back, fur standing on end.
"Come over here and try it, dumb fox!"
Of course, the Nine-Tails couldn't reach him, leaving it to angrily glare at Shukaku from a distance.
The Six-Tails, ever calm, interjected.
"Let's not forget that the Sharingan and Rinnegan are natural counters to us. And if the Ten-Tails is resurrected, you all know what that means."
"For now, Shūichi is undoubtedly the strongest shinobi alive. He's also our best chance of standing against the Rinnegan."
"Plus, according to the latest intel, the Three-Tails has already fallen into the hands of the Akatsuki."
The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails exchanged a look of realization.
"So that's how it is…"
---
Inside Shūichi Hoshita's body, the tailed beasts were on the verge of fighting each other. Meanwhile, Dodai stood frozen, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"This level of technique... in terms of shape transformation, it completely surpasses the Fourth Raikage."
"No, it even surpasses all previous Raikage."
"With such defense, it means he's more terrifying than even the Third Raikage."
"Even the Fourth Raikage has no chance of breaking through his defense."
"I completely underestimated this brat's strength. Just his Lightning Release alone rivals the Kage of any village!"
Dodai shifted his gaze to Uchiha Shisui, realizing that this man must have made equally astonishing progress. Otherwise, why would Kirigakure compare him to the legendary Uchiha Madara?
They needed to tread more cautiously and strategically!
The Fourth Raikage, meanwhile, wore a grim expression. But as the Raikage, retreat was not an option.
Boom!
The ground beneath him exploded as the Fourth Raikage launched another attack.
Lightning Style: Liger Bomb!
He descended from above, his hand slicing downward like a blade.
Shūichi raised his left arm to block the Raikage's strike.
Boom!
The sheer force caused Shūichi's feet to sink into the ground, but in the next instant, his right fist slammed into the Fourth Raikage's abdomen.
A vicious uppercut sent the Raikage flying.
"Raikage-sama, it's my turn to attack now!"
Shūichi appeared behind the airborne Raikage in a flash, unleashing a barrage of strikes that rained down like a storm.
The Kumo-nin below could only watch in disbelief as their Raikage was tossed around mid-air like a sandbag.
Boom!
After a relentless series of attacks, Shūichi delivered a powerful kick, sending the Raikage crashing to the ground, creating a massive crater.
Dodai shouted, "Attack now!"
The Kumo-nin snapped out of their daze, splitting into two groups. One charged toward Shisui under Dodai's lead, while the other swarmed Shūichi to buy the Raikage time to recover.
But as Shūichi descended from the air, purple high-voltage electricity erupted from his body.
Thrown shuriken were deflected, explosive tags shattered and failed, and ninjutsu fizzled out harmlessly.
Even genjutsu cloaked in lightning was rendered ineffective.
In an instant, Shūichi's figure blurred as he sped into the crowd of Kumo-nin. Screams echoed as one by one, they fell, writhing in pain, ensnared by the purple lightning.
"I've already said, this is a fight between me and the Raikage. Why is it so hard to understand human language?"
Shūichi sighed inwardly.
The Fourth Raikage, having caught his breath, emerged from the crater and charged again.
Shūichi turned to face him, and the two clashed once more, their battle too intense for anyone to intervene.
Their movements were blindingly fast, their collisions generating sparks of electricity.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Buildings crumbled as the two battled up the mountain, leaving destruction in their wake, debris flying and dust billowing.
---
On the other side, amidst the Kumo-nin attacking Shisui, two suddenly turned on their comrades.
"Watch out for the Sharingan! Don't look into his eyes!" Dodai shouted, catching a glimpse of the Mangekyō Sharingan's intricate patterns.
"So, it's the legendary Mangekyō after all."
Two of Dodai's teammates froze mid-action and collapsed.
Dodai's pupils shrank as he quickly used Lava Release to block Shisui's line of sight.
"This guy… doesn't even need direct eye contact to cast genjutsu. Just locking onto a target with his gaze is enough?"
"This kind of ability is…"
Using the distraction, Dodai circled to Shisui's side and blew an expanding rubber balloon to trap him.
Several Kumo-nin took the chance to evacuate Killer Bee and Yugito Nii from the battlefield.
Rip!
Suddenly, the rubber prison tore apart as a half-formed Susanoo emerged, scattering the attacking Kumo-nin with a single sweep of its arm.
"That's… Susanoo!"
Dodai immediately shouted, "Retreat!"
With the Jinchūriki secured, they couldn't afford further losses. A new strategy was necessary.
As they fell back, Dodai turned toward the Raikage's fight, only to see a flash of purple lightning.
Boom!
The Fourth Raikage crashed down nearby.
"Raikage-sama!"
Dodai rushed over, dispersing the smoke with a wave, only to find the Fourth Raikage lying in the crater, bruised and battered, with obvious fractures in his arms and legs.
As Dodai reached to help him, a sense of danger prickled. Looking up, he saw a purple lightning pillar descending from above.
"Protective Shield!"
Dodai enveloped the Raikage in a rubber dome, but the lightning pierced through it, striking the Raikage's chest.
Takemikazuchi Thunder Beam!
"Raikage-sama!"
Cries of alarm erupted as medics rushed in to tend to the Raikage.
Descending like a thunder god, Shūichi declared, "Raikage-sama, you've lost."
The Fourth Raikage, supported by his subordinates, stood defiantly, his gaze as fierce as ever.
At that moment, Killer Bee and Yugito, now conscious, joined his side.
"Big brother, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," the Raikage replied tersely, staring down Shūichi. "I'll send someone to negotiate a ceasefire with Konoha."
"But if you dare lay a hand on any Jinchūriki again… even at the cost of everything, I and all of Kumogakure will destroy you!"
Despite Shūichi's overwhelming strength, the Kumo-nin radiated defiance, their fighting spirit undeterred.
Shisui, retracting his Susanoo, stepped forward to stand beside Shūichi, his heart heavy with caution.
Yet Shūichi remained composed and nonchalant.
The Third Raikage had been worn down by ten thousand Iwa-nin, but Shūichi knew that fate would never be his. Ignoring the Fourth Raikage's threats, he chuckled lightly and offered a kind reminder:
"Raikage-sama, you'd better protect your Jinchūriki well. Times are changing."
The Raikage couldn't understand his meaning.
Unbothered, Shūichi disappeared with Shisui, leaving the Kumo-nin to heave a collective sigh of relief.
Among them, Darui wiped the sweat from his brow and muttered to C, "This guy's pressure is even more terrifying than the Third Raikage's. That purple Lightning Release is on par with the Third's Black Lightning."
C's expression was grim.
"The Fourth Raikage lost, the Third Mizukage was killed by him… Is this guy aiming to become the next God of Shinobi?"
The title of God of Shinobi once belonged to Hashirama Senju, the strongest in the ninja world.
Darui sighed.
"He's about the same age as us. I guess we'll need to work harder."
C grumbled, "This isn't something effort can achieve."
"Besides, effort sounds strange coming from you."
---
Raikage's Office
The Fourth Raikage's wounds had already healed, and now only four people remained in the room: the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, Yugito Nii, and Dodai.
"Bee, can you explain now?" the Fourth Raikage asked, his gaze fixed on Killer Bee.
The situation surrounding them being taken hostage was indeed peculiar.
"This matter seems a bit complicated, you fool, you idiot!" Killer Bee scratched his head, struggling to put it into words.
At this moment, Gyūki spoke up. "Let me handle this!"
Killer Bee nodded. "Alright, go ahead!"
The next second, Gyūki took over Killer Bee's body and said, "That guy, Hoshita Shūichi, was after Matatabi's power."
"However, he shared an important piece of information: the wielder of the Rinnegan intends to gather all the Tailed Beasts, unite their power, and revive the Ten-Tails. Using the Rinnegan, they plan to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, trapping all humanity in a dream world to create everlasting peace!"
Dodai was startled. "The Rinnegan? The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths? One of the Three Great Dōjutsu, said to possess the power to destroy and create worlds? Such eyes truly exist?"
Gyūki confirmed, "They do exist. The current wielder of the Rinnegan is a man named Nagato, from the Land of Rain. He is one of the leaders of the Akatsuki."
Dodai's expression turned grim. "The Akatsuki? That organization claiming to advocate peace? To think they harbor such a terrifying plan! If everyone is trapped in a genjutsu, can that even be called living?"
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist on his desk. "Gyūki, can we trust what that Shūichi said?"
"As for the Ten-Tails' power… just how strong is it?"
Gyūki replied, "I think his words are credible. As for the Ten-Tails' power… it's overwhelming. Its strength far surpasses all Nine Tailed Beasts combined. That kind of power can truly destroy the world."
"The Sage of Six Paths was the first Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails!"
Everyone in the room was shocked.
"Damn it!" the Fourth Raikage roared. "If Konoha knows so much, they should have informed the other villages instead of acting in secret."
"That Shūichi… his goal is clearly to take the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails, right?"
Gyūki remained silent about being split, and Yugito Nii added, "He did extract a portion of Matatabi's chakra."
Dodai analyzed the situation. "Raikage-sama, Konoha likely avoided forming alliances because of the lingering distrust among the villages from past wars. Without mutual trust, unified protection of the Jinchūriki seems impossible."
"And even if we did agree to centralized protection, who would we trust to hold them? Konoha is the strongest, but no other village would willingly hand over their Jinchūriki to them."
"As for dealing with the Rinnegan wielder…"
Dodai hesitated before continuing, "The Rinnegan, once wielded by the Sage of Six Paths, is the most powerful Dōjutsu. Dealing with it won't be easy. If it were, Shūichi might have already…"
He trailed off, suddenly recalling something. "That massive battle that took place north of Amegakure… could it have been between Shūichi and the Rinnegan wielder?"
The Fourth Raikage frowned, recalling similar reports. "So, the Akatsuki might actually control Amegakure?"
Dodai speculated, "Or they could be allied with Hanzō. There have been reports suggesting Konoha's Danzō might be involved as well. It seems there's more going on behind the scenes than we realize."
"Raikage-sama, we need more intelligence on the Akatsuki and Amegakure."
The Fourth Raikage nodded. "I understand."
He turned back to Gyūki. "Gyūki, that teleportation marker Shūichi left on you… can it be removed?"
Gyūki shook his head. "I don't think so."
Crash!
The Raikage's newly replaced desk shattered under his fist.
Dodai quickly interjected, "Raikage-sama, Konoha is eager to end their conflicts with us and Kirigakure, likely to focus their efforts on the Rinnegan wielder. For now, they are not our enemies. We still have time to study the teleportation jutsu and find a solution."
"I also suggest that during peace negotiations, we demand Konoha share all intelligence they have on the Ten-Tails and the Rinnegan."
"If Shūichi shared this information with Gyūki and Matatabi, it was likely with the intent to form an alliance. Otherwise, there was no need for him to do so."
The Fourth Raikage begrudgingly accepted the reasoning but remained displeased.
Konoha had the upper hand.
"They could act against Killer Bee at any moment."
His expression darkened. "Shūichi has likely left markers on Matatabi, Six Tails from Kirigakure, and even One Tails and Four Tails. He's probably convinced those two Tailed Beasts as well."
"Is his plan to seize control of all the Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts once the Five Great Nations form an alliance?"
Dodai nodded grimly. "That's very likely."
Gyūki relinquished control back to Killer Bee, who said, "Big bro, that guy might be arrogant, but at least there's a silver lining. Yugito can now better synchronize with Matatabi's power, just like me, fool, you idiot!"
The Raikage glanced at Yugito, who nodded. "It's true. Matatabi is now willing to lend me her power freely."
The Raikage restrained his anger. "If that's the case, Dodai, you will head to Konoha and gather more intelligence on the Ten-Tails and the Rinnegan."
"However, we will never hand over Bee or Yugito!"
Dodai saluted. "Understood!"
The Raikage then addressed Killer Bee and Yugito. "You two will train in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. Master the power of your Tailed Beasts as soon as possible!"
Yugito immediately replied, "Yes, Raikage-sama!"
Killer Bee sighed. "Got it, big bro."
Konoha Village
Shūichi and Shisui appeared together in a flash.
"Shisui, I'll head to the Hokage's office first," Shūichi said.
Leaving behind a shadow clone to continue training with Shisui, Shūichi departed Shisui's home and made his way to the Hokage's office to report to his teacher, Minato Namikaze.
After listening to the report, Minato immediately asked, "The Fourth Raikage won't die, will he?"
Shūichi smiled. "Don't worry, sensei. I was careful. Even though the medical techniques in Kumogakure aren't as advanced as ours, his injuries are manageable and shouldn't be life-threatening."
Minato sighed in relief, then asked, "So, your next task is to help the Daimyō establish a ninja training facility, right?"
Shūichi nodded. "I believe the Daimyō is already quite eager."
"Sensei, I'll take Aburame Ryōma and the other three with me to the Daimyō's base."
Minato agreed without hesitation. "No problem. Do you need anyone else?"
Shūichi shook his head. "Not for now. We should leave some room for the Daimyō to insert his own people."
"However, sensei, please assign a Hyūga ninja to the Special Root Training Division."
"A Hyūga?" Minato tilted his head slightly in thought. "I'll speak with Hiashi. You retrieved a Byakugan for them; they shouldn't refuse."
Shūichi smirked. "If they do, they can't blame anyone else for being left behind by the times."
While Shūichi had an interest in the Byakugan, he hadn't kept the one he retrieved for himself.
He didn't want to follow in Danzō's footsteps, becoming another Danzō-like figure in the process.
Though he was ambitious, he had his principles.
That said, he still intended to study the Byakugan thoroughly.
The power of the Tenseigan was on par with the Rinnegan and the Mangekyō Sharingan.
As his power ceiling grew harder to push higher, Shūichi was determined to explore every possible avenue to enhance his abilities.
Even if immediate breakthroughs weren't possible, expanding his arsenal and deepening his foundation were key to maximizing the effects of "Flash of Insight".
After leaving the Hokage's office, Shūichi pondered a critical issue—how to integrate his powers effectively.
The Takemikazuchi Thunder Armor was immensely powerful, capable of overwhelming the Fourth Raikage.
If he could master Electromagnetic Release, its power would be even more devastating.
However, in that state, he couldn't utilize other abilities.
"At the moment, I can only use other jutsu when in either Nine-Tails Chakra Mode or Sage Mode," Shūichi mused, frowning. "Am I stuck with Rasengan and Rasenshuriken for now?"
The Nine-Tails Chakra Mode didn't provide the same level of defense as the Takemikazuchi Thunder Armor.
Of course, he could theoretically layer the Takemikazuchi Thunder Armor over the Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak, akin to Susanoo armor overlaying the Nine-Tails.
But for someone like Shūichi, who wouldn't always have the Nine-Tails at his disposal, he needed a mode of his own—something akin to Sage Fox Mode or Susanoo—that allowed him to unleash his full power.
"Lava Release can build a giant. Scorch Release, Wood Release, Ice Release, and even Lightning Release can achieve similar effects."
"Wait… Wood Release seems capable of combining with other powers."
Shūichi recalled that the reanimated Third Hokage had once used a massive Five-Element Bullet jutsu against a Wood Buddha controlled by Yamato through White Zetsu.
"However, the Wood Buddha is still inferior to a fully realized Susanoo," Shūichi sighed inwardly. "If I could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, Susanoo would be a great foundation."
"Step by step… I'll start by combining the Lava Giant with Scorch Release."
After returning home and taking a shower, Shūichi teleported to his experimental base using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He released the Yin-attribute Two-Tails, severed a portion of its tail for a sample, and sliced the rest into smaller pieces for analysis.
This process had become second nature to him.
Compared to Saiken, the Two-Tails' flesh was more palatable, though Shūichi had no interest in savoring it. He swallowed it in large chunks without hesitation.
A wave of heat surged through his body as the Two-Tails' chakra erupted from within.
However, this power was quickly absorbed and digested by Shūichi's body.
His physique improved again, and his chakra reserves increased.
Unfortunately, this time, he didn't gain a new kekkei genkai.
Upon communicating with the Two-Tails, he learned that it didn't use pure Fire Release but rather Blaze Release—a kekkei genkai formed by the fusion of Fire Release and Yin Release.
While Shūichi had previously mastered Blaze Release, it wasn't a kekkei genkai but a combined jutsu. It utilized Yin Release to enhance the shape transformation of Fire Release, resulting in a Blaze Release Chakra Mode.
This was similar to how Uchiha Sasuke manipulated the flames of Amaterasu using the abilities of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
However, this Blaze Release fundamentally differed from the kekkei genkai version.
"It seems compatibility with the body adds a bit of luck to the absorption of Tailed Beast powers," Shūichi reflected. "But I suppose that's understandable."
"Fortunately, my physique and chakra reserves have grown."
"And with the Two-Tails' power integrated, learning Blaze Release should be much easier."
Shūichi's disappointment quickly dissipated. After carefully assessing his chakra reserves, he smiled in satisfaction. "They're now comparable to a fully realized Eight-Tails."
In terms of chakra, the Eight-Tails was second only to the Nine-Tails among the Tailed Beasts.
But compared to the Nine-Tails, there was still a noticeable gap.
After all, the full power of the Nine-Tails surpassed that of the other eight Tailed Beasts combined.
Shūichi was fully confident that he could surpass the Nine-Tails.
He still had several opportunities to improve his physique, and with each subsequent enhancement, the 100% increase would be even more remarkable.
"For now, my chakra reserves are sufficient," Shūichi mused. "What I need to focus on is the quality of my chakra."
He contemplated, "If I can attain the same chakra quality as the Nine-Tails, I should be able to effortlessly create my own chakra mode—something akin to the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode."
"I'm just one Kekkei Genkai away from unlocking the [Kekkei Genkai Expert] tag, which will also improve my body's compatibility."
"As for Wood Release, I'm almost there. I'll aim to master it this year!"
After tidying up his equipment, Shūichi strolled through the experimental base. He noticed Tsunade and his clones were busy working, so he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to the Daimyō's experimental base.
Here, Pakura was organizing experimental data.
This base also housed one of Shūichi's clones, and he had transferred several captured Kirigakure shinobi here to serve as test subjects.
"Lord Shūichi!"
Seeing him appear, Pakura instinctively stood up. Though her expression remained calm, her eyes betrayed a hint of joy.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, Shūichi pulled her into an embrace and whispered in her ear, "Did you miss me?"
Pakura closed her eyes, suppressing her embarrassment, and gave a slight nod. "Yes."
That was all the encouragement Shūichi needed. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom to practice some of the secret techniques he'd recently developed.
Unfortunately, the gap in their power had grown significantly—Shūichi had advanced rapidly, while Pakura had remained at her previous level. Within half an hour, she admitted defeat and begged for mercy.
Though he wasn't entirely satisfied, Shūichi decided to reward Pakura, ensuring she was well taken care of.
After their intimate moment, Pakura began briefing Shūichi on the experimental base's progress and the Daimyō's situation.
Since the death of the Third Mizukage, the Daimyō had already urged Asuma Sarutobi to press Shūichi for updates three times.
Clearly, the Daimyō was eager to establish the base and train his own forces.
This didn't surprise Shūichi, who nodded and said, "Let's head to the Daimyō's estate together."
The two immediately set off.
Shūichi valued his reputation and commitments. Since he had promised the Daimyō results, he was determined to deliver. Whether the Daimyō could capitalize on the opportunity was not Shūichi's concern.
When they met, Shūichi sincerely offered advice and painted an ambitious vision for the Daimyō.
For the next several days, he and Pakura remained at the Daimyō's estate, working on the establishment of the secret training base.
---
Meanwhile, news of Shūichi defeating the Fourth Raikage began spreading throughout the shinobi world.
Although the commotion caused by this battle wasn't as significant as his clash in Kirigakure, it couldn't escape the attention of interested parties.
Konoha hosted visiting merchants, intelligence agents, and spies from other villages, including Kumogakure. There was no way to suppress the information.
Besides, Konoha itself was deliberately spreading the news.
---
Amegakure — Meeting Room in the Tower
Nagato and the others gathered once more.
At this moment, Black Zetsu and Spiral White Zetsu were fused together and not attached to Uchiha Obito.
In addition to the usual members, there was a new face—Kakuzu.
"It seems Shūichi has leaked our information to Kumogakure," White Zetsu said regretfully. "It's a pity he didn't kill the Fourth Raikage. Otherwise, we could have taken the opportunity to seize the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails."
Black Zetsu disagreed. "It's not that simple. Don't underestimate the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
Kakuzu, attending his first meeting, remarked, "So it's true that the Fourth Raikage was defeated by that brat, Shūichi Hoshita?"
White Zetsu grinned. "Of course! I saw it with my own eyes."
"And the most impressive part? Shūichi didn't even use his full strength. He defeated the Fourth Raikage using only Lightning Release!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened in surprise. "In that case, the rumors about the Third Mizukage might also be true."
"What an astonishing junior… it's hard not to think of the First Hokage when hearing about him."
Uchiha Obito, seated separately and posing as Madara, added, "Indeed, he possesses strength comparable to Hashirama at his peak."
"Otherwise, we wouldn't have to go to such lengths."
Kakuzu turned his gaze to Obito. "Hashirama is dead, yet Lord Madara is still alive. Truly unexpected."
His tone carried a hint of suspicion about Obito's identity.
Obito, sensing the doubt, replied indifferently, "You once tried to assassinate Hashirama. Why not test me as well?"
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes but snorted coldly. "I have no interest in that—unless there's a bounty on your head."
Turning to Pain, Kakuzu said, "I've joined this organization for the sake of the bounties."
Tendo Pain said, "Rest assured, Akatsuki has always made the best use of its members' talents. From now on, you'll serve as the organization's treasurer."
(T/N: Tendo = Deva Path)
"As for bounty missions, we won't be lacking in those."
"We recently received a commission from Iwagakure. The earnings won't disappoint."
Kakuzu nodded in satisfaction and remarked, "For Iwagakure to turn to us, it must be a shady and unspeakable task."
"But it doesn't matter. Bounty rewards are all that matter."
At this moment, White Zetsu interjected, "Speaking of bounties, we can discuss that later. Right now, we should address something more pressing."
"Kumogakure has already sent people to infiltrate the village. Although they were easily dealt with, it's clear that such troubles are likely to increase in the future."
Black Zetsu added, "Shūichi is clearly laying the groundwork to unite the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
Tendo Pain replied, "That's not something we need to worry about for now. Hanzō has already resumed control of Amegakure."
"However, the organization does need to find a new, suitable base of operations."
"Kirigakure seems like an excellent choice."
With that, he turned his gaze toward Uchiha Obito.
Obito replied, "No problem."
"The Fourth Mizukage is under my control. Continuing the 'Bloody Mist' policies of the Third Mizukage—and even intensifying them—combined with Kirigakure's geographical advantages, makes it an ideal base."
Kakuzu, hearing this, was inwardly startled. "Could this guy really be Uchiha Madara? He's even managed to control the Fourth Mizukage."
"Such genjutsu prowess… only someone from the Uchiha clan could achieve this."
"This organization might truly have some potential…"
White Zetsu chuckled, "Using Kirigakure as a cover is indeed a brilliant idea."
"However, I must remind you that Shūichi likely left a Flying Thunder God mark on the Tailed Beasts he didn't take. Capturing the jinchūriki might be tricky."
Tendo Pain said calmly, "He can't monitor all the Tailed Beasts simultaneously, and the Gedo Statue is sufficient to block his sensory abilities."
"When the time is right, with enough intelligence and manpower, I'll personally keep him occupied."
White Zetsu nodded. "Then there's no issue."
Tendo Pain continued, "From now on, all missions will be assigned in pairs."
"Madara, you'll team up with Zetsu."
"Kakuzu, you'll operate solo for now, but we'll assign you a partner soon."
Kakuzu shrugged. "As long as it doesn't interfere with my bounty hunting, I don't care."
"But I have to ask—what's the current financial status of the organization?"
Tendo Pain remained silent.
Konan, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Previously, the organization's finances were tied to Amegakure. Starting today, they'll be separated, and you'll take over managing them."
Kakuzu fell silent, sensing the weight of responsibility.
Konan quickly added, "Don't worry. There will be plenty of missions coming up."
"Additionally, Pain and I can quickly produce explosive tags, which will allow us to accumulate funds rapidly."
"Of course, we'll need sufficient capital to procure the necessary raw materials first."
The paper used to craft explosive tags wasn't ordinary.
Kakuzu nodded. "Understood."
It seemed he'd have to collect more heads than usual.
---
The meeting adjourned.
Obito and Zetsu headed to Kirigakure, while Konan assigned tasks to Kakuzu. Once done, she returned to the tower.
"Pain, should I also relocate to Kirigakure?"
Tendo Pain shook his head. "No, you'll stay here."
"You'll take over managing Amegakure in place of the Animal Path. At the appropriate time, the Animal Path will hand over leadership to you."
The Animal Path, after all, was crafted from Hanzō's corpse.
Konan frowned. "Are you heading to Kirigakure as well?"
Tendo Pain explained, "The Rinnegan draws too much attention. Amegakure is already under Kumogakure's surveillance. To operate more effectively, I must create some distance."
"Moreover, if the Five Great Shinobi Villages do form an alliance, you'll need to lead Amegakure in joining them."
Konan was puzzled. "But Shūichi knows who I am."
Tendo Pain was unfazed. "He won't refuse."
Konan frowned. "Are you trying to protect me?"
"That's unnecessary…"
Tendo Pain raised a hand, cutting her off. "This isn't about protecting you—it's about serving our goal."
"If I fail, you'll have to carry the hopes of Yahiko and me forward!"
Konan understood his meaning and fell silent. After a moment, she nodded slightly. "I understand."
Tendo Pain then said, "Contact Shūichi and ask him to arrange someone for the task."