81-85
"Release!"
With a single hand raised, Kushina Uzumaki unlocked the Nine-Tails' seal.
Instantly, the chains binding the Nine-Tails snapped and vanished.
In that moment, the Nine-Tails let out a powerful roar, unleashing its enormous chakra. The crimson chakra, like molten lava, swiftly engulfed the remaining remnants of the seal, corroding it with intense energy.
The Nine-Tails freed one of its claws from the wooden stakes, then pulled out the stakes lodged in its abdomen and tails.
Boom!
The massive form of the Nine-Tails landed on the ground, its fierce gaze locking onto Shūichi and his two allies. A moment later, the air crackled as its tails lunged toward the three like giant spears.
But in an instant, a series of adamantine chains shot up from the ground, binding the Nine-Tails' tails, limbs, and body tightly.
Gritting her teeth, Kushina Uzumaki exerted all her strength to restrain the beast, the adamantine chains pulling taut with a sharp, creaking sound.
"Kushina, your strength is still not enough!" the Nine-Tails snarled.
Kushina scoffed, "Nine-Tails, I'm not afraid of you anymore!"
At that moment, Shūichi shouted, "Minato-sensei!"
"Understood!"
Having prepared himself, Minato Namikaze entered Sage Mode, his form flickering and reappearing above the Nine-Tails. In his hand, a colossal Rasengan began to expand.
The Nine-Tails looked up, opening its mouth to gather a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Reacting instantly, a set of fiery chains shot from Shūichi's back, coiling around the Nine-Tails' body and snapping shut over its mouth, forcibly halting the Tailed Beast Bomb from forming.
In the next moment, the massive Rasengan crashed down.
Boom!
The Nine-Tails collapsed under Minato's strike, pinned to the ground.
At the same time, a thick chain surged from Shūichi's abdomen, piercing into the Nine-Tails.
"You…"
The Nine-Tails looked at Shūichi in shock.
Its chakra was severely disrupted, preventing it from gathering energy, and an unshakable feeling of dread overcame it.
Grasping the chain extending from his abdomen, Shūichi gave it a powerful pull.
"A soul-sealing technique…" the Nine-Tails growled, struggling. "You won't succeed!"
"Behave yourself!" Kushina commanded sharply, pulling with all her strength against the Nine-Tails.
Meanwhile, a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken took form in Minato's hand.
The instant he released it, Minato disappeared from the Nine-Tails' back.
Boom!
The Rasenshuriken expanded upon impact, its powerful attack leaving the Nine-Tails unable to resist Shūichi and Kushina any longer.
The Nine-Tails was astounded.
The young brat it had once injured severely now possessed such power.
"Curse it…"
Caught in the Rasenshuriken's assault, the Nine-Tails was immobilized.
Seizing the moment, Shūichi extracted the Nine-Tails' soul, dividing it into two halves.
With the Nine-Tails now split, Shūichi's Fire Nether chains released its Yang half and wrapped firmly around the Yin half instead.
"Sensei, prepare for the re-seal!" Shūichi called out immediately.
Minato nodded beside Kushina. "Don't worry, everything's ready."
Shūichi nodded back, then with a puff, vanished.
However, the fire nether chains did not disappear; instead, they tightened further, dragging the Yin half of the Nine-Tails away.
Outside Kushina's body.
Shūichi leaped up, the fire nether chains pulling taut, forcibly extracting the Yin half of the Nine-Tails from Kushina's body. The beast's form rapidly expanded, its mouth opening in a furious roar, "You wretched brat, how dare you…!"
"Calm down!" Shūichi replied firmly, his body glowing with the Eight-Tails' chakra. Six tails appeared, extending quickly to bind the Yin half of the Nine-Tails even tighter.
"The Eight-Tails…"
The Nine-Tails was shocked once more.
At the same time, Shūichi himself was amazed at the unique nature of the tailed beasts.
He extracted the Nine-Tails' soul, splitting it into two halves.
However, when the Yin half of the Nine-Tails was pulled from Kushina Uzumaki's body, it spontaneously regenerated into a tangible form with flesh and blood.
Immediately, Shūichi created a shadow clone.
The clone drew its sword, leaping into the air with the sealing scroll that Shūichi had prepared. With a fierce slash, empowered by the shining Bijuu Mark, the clone's Blue Flame Vacuum SLash severed one of the Nine-Tails' tails.
"You bastard..." the Yin Nine-Tails growled, filled with rage.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, who had just completed the re-sealing, were equally stunned by the sight.
"Shūichi, what are you doing?" Kushina asked curiously.
Clasping his hands together, Shūichi smiled, "Researching the Nine-Tails' cells."
With that, he tugged the chains, pulling the Nine-Tails back into his body.
Sizzle
The powerful chakra of the Nine-Tails began to corrode his flesh, making Shūichi frown as a numbness spread across his abdomen.
Fortunately, his strong constitution allowed him to re-lock the Eight Trigrams Seal quickly, causing the discomfort to fade.
Exhaling, Shūichi grinned, "Perfectly done!"
Kushina smiled, "With only half of the Nine-Tails left, it's much easier on me now!"
With only half of the Nine-Tails' power, she could fully restrain it, meaning she wouldn't have to worry about it causing trouble inside her anymore.
Receiving the sealing scroll from his clone, Shūichi dispelled the shadow clone and said, "Next up is mastering the Nine-Tails' chakra."
"When the time comes, we'll work just like we did today."
"I'll handle restraining the Nine-Tails, Minato-sensei will attack, and Kushina-san, you can seize its chakra."
"With our combined strength, this step should be manageable."
"The main issue is the malice within the Nine-Tails' chakra; that part is up to you, Kushina-san."
Kushina nodded firmly, raising her fist. "Don't worry, I won't let you down!"
Shūichi added with a grin, "Minato-sensei's support is crucial as well."
Minato nodded, understanding exactly what Shūichi meant. In the process of extracting the Nine-Tails' chakra, he would be responsible for the offensive, and when confronting the chakra's malice, he'd provide Kushina with mental support.
"Shūichi, what about you?" Minato asked, "Will you need our help?"
Shūichi grinned, baring his teeth, "I can handle it myself. Compared to the Nine-Tails, I'm much more ferocious!"
"No way!" Kushina laughed, wrapping an arm around Shūichi's shoulders. "Our Shūichi is the best; how else could he have so many girls interested in him?"
Shūichi's face flushed with embarrassment, quickly glancing to Minato for help.
Scratching his head, Minato laughed awkwardly, "We've been at it for so long, everyone must be tired. Let's head back for dinner and pick up training tomorrow."
Shūichi raised his hand eagerly, "Agreed! I'm starving. That Nine-Tails sure is exhausting!"
With her attention redirected, Kushina released Shūichi and immediately began planning what dishes to make.
…
Back home, Shūichi, Minato, and Kushina prepared dinner together, while Sarutobi Shinnosuke handled the mission report.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in relief upon hearing the news.
Dividing the Nine-Tails not only reduced its threat but also prevented unexpected mishaps.
Even if one Jinchuriki encountered trouble, the other would still be there.
Based on Shūichi's previous performance, even if he didn't achieve perfect control as a Jinchuriki, mastering the Nine-Tails' power shouldn't be a problem.
This way, Konoha would gain genuine tailed-beast combat strength.
If Kushina also mastered the Nine-Tails' power with Shūichi's help, Konoha would face no fear from challenges by other ninja villages.
At that moment, Hiruzen felt a heavy weight lift off his shoulders, the pressure from the mysterious Mangekyo Sharingan user easing significantly.
Everything was progressing in a positive direction.
Reflecting on this, Hiruzen resolved to send Minato to the frontlines once Kushina had control over the Nine-Tails' power.
Iwa has been unpredictable and resentful, and he didn't want a prolonged standoff.
The war needed to end swiftly.
The decision was not out of weakness.
Konoha's current strategic gains were already substantial. Capturing the Land of Rivers had been enough.
Further expansion would provoke a life-or-death struggle with Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
But Konoha's strength wasn't sufficient for that yet.
"It's time to leave things to Minato..." Hiruzen mused quietly.
With age came more considerations, and his own ambitions had become difficult to pursue.
...
After lunch, Shūichi left the Namikaze household and headed directly to the secluded training chamber in the experimental base where Kakashi had previously trained.
Sitting cross-legged, Shūichi lowered his gaze.
In the next moment, his spiritual chakra form appeared within the Eight Trigrams Seal.
Inside were three iron cages, each housing a different tailed beast: the Yin Nine-Tails, the One-Tail, and the Four-Tails.
The three tailed beasts, who had been bickering, immediately stopped and looked over at Shūichi.
Shukaku and the Four-Tails were already accustomed to him and looked at him with calm eyes. However, the Yin Nine-Tails, recently imprisoned, glared menacingly, his tails lashing about as if poised to strike at any moment.
Unfazed, Shūichi said calmly, "Kurama, welcome to your new home. I'm sure you'll come to like it here."
The Yin Nine-Tails' eyes narrowed. "You little brat, you actually know my name."
He turned to Shukaku and the Four-Tails. "Did one of you tell him my name?"
Shukaku, lounging lazily, snorted, "Stupid fox, as if we'd bother."
"But I'll say this—this guy knows a lot."
The Four-Tails looked at Shūichi and said, "You even captured this stupid fox. Looks like you're planning to gather all the tailed beasts ahead of time?"
The Yin Nine-Tails looked at him, shocked.
To this, Shūichi smiled, "I already mentioned last time, I only plan to keep half of each of you—to prepare for the Ten-Tails' return."
The Yin Nine-Tails looked stunned, turning to the One-Tail and Four-Tails, "Did you tell him about that, too?"
Shukaku snorted, "Shut up, you stupid fox. He figured it out himself."
The Nine-Tails glared at Shūichi. "Who...exactly are you?"
With a sly smile, Shūichi replied, "Someone who knows fate."
"And someone who resists fate."
All three tailed beasts frowned.
Then Shūichi asked, "Are you aware of the stone tablet left by the Sage of the Six Paths?"
The Four-Tails replied, "We don't know anything about a stone tablet."
Shūichi explained, "It's a stone tablet in the Uchiha clan, created by the Sage of the Six Paths himself."
"The Uchiha are descendants of the Sage's elder son, Indra."
"The tablet is kept with the Uchiha to this day, and only those with Sharingan can decipher its contents. The stronger the Dōjutsu power, the more one can see."
The Yin Nine-Tails grumbled, "So, you learned about the Ten-Tails from that tablet?"
Instead of answering, Shūichi continued, "The tablet says that by gathering all nine tailed beasts to form the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, one can cast the ultimate genjutsu, the Infinite Tsukuyomi, which traps everyone in a dream world, creating a world without war."
At this, all three tailed beasts bristled.
The Nine-Tails growled, "There's no way the old man would leave such a thing."
The Four-Tails added, gravely, "That's nothing like his ideals. Trapping everyone in a dream world? Ridiculous!"
People called the tailed beasts evil, but he felt that idea was far more sinister.
Shukaku sneered, "That tablet was definitely not left by the old man."
"The Uchiha... It must have been Indra, right? That guy was no easy character to deal with."
The Yin Nine-Tails thought of Madara Uchiha and snorted, "The Uchiha are inherently evil."
Looking at the three tailed beasts, Shūichi said, "Regardless of who left the tablet, the part about the Ten-Tails is accurate, and someone has already started to act on the tablet's instructions."
"Which makes all of you targets."
"Of course, I'm not capturing you to protect you out of pity—that would be hypocritical."
"The truth is, I can't counter the Rinnegan's power, and I don't want to be trapped in some illusion and live a fake life."
"So, in a way, we're on the same side… as long as you trust me."
"But if you don't trust me, that's fine too. Just stay here quietly and don't get in my way."
Sincerity was the ultimate weapon, and the three tailed beasts fell silent.
With a thought, Shūichi loosened the Fire Nether Chains binding them and said, "Shukaku, Son Goku, consider what I said."
"Sometimes, resisting may not change anything. But if we don't resist, then nothing will change for sure."
Neither Shukaku nor the Four-Tails responded.
The Nine-Tails, however, sneered, "Don't think that makes us willing to cooperate or lend you our power."
Shūichi chuckled, "Kurama, I don't need your cooperation or your permission to use your power—I'll just take it myself."
The Yin Nine-Tails' eyes burned with fury. "Without those two helping you, you're no match for me!"
Shūichi raised an eyebrow. "Then let's see."
With that, he waved his hand, opening the iron gate confining the Nine-Tails.
In the next moment, the Nine-Tails' chakra surged out like a tidal wave, crashing toward Shūichi.
Raising his hand, Shūichi enveloped his palm in a blue blade aura, which extended outward, cleaving the oncoming chakra wave with a resounding clash.
Boom, boom, boom!
Three shadow clones appeared by Shūichi's side.
Meanwhile, in the other two cages, the Four-Tails chuckled, "Hey, Raccoon Dog, how long do you think the Nine-Tails can hold up?"
Shukaku scoffed, "One minute. If he lasts longer than that, I'll admit that stupid fox is stronger than me."
The Four-Tails laughed, "Thirty seconds—he's only got half his strength."
Hearing their wager, the Yin Nine-Tails roared in irritation, "You useless fools! You underestimate me just because I'm only half strength!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As they spoke, several of Yin Kurama's tails whipped out, and a Tailed Beast Bomb quickly began to form in his mouth.
Clang!
The Fire Nether Chains emerged from the ground in response to Shūichi's will, wrapping tightly around Yin Kurama's limbs, torso, and every tail.
Then, in a flash, Shūichi appeared above the Nine-Tails' head, his entire body surrounded by crackling lightning—he had activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Boom!
With a powerful punch, he smashed Kurama's head into the ground, dispersing the Tailed Beast Bomb entirely.
By this point, Shūichi's three shadow clones had completed their jutsu:
Scorch Release: Rasenshuriken!
Lava Release: Rasenshuriken!
Magnet Release: Rasenshuriken!
"What…?"
Yin Kurama looked on in shock.
"Kurama, did I forget to mention? Although I'm a student of Minato-sensei, I was the one who developed the Rasenshuriken technique!"
With that, Shūichi disappeared from the top of the Nine-Tails' head.
The next moment, the Magnet Release: Rasenshuriken whirled toward Kurama, striking him and unleashing magnetic energy that paralyzed him entirely.
Following this, the Lava Release and Scorch Release Rasenshurikens hit him, shattering his defenses and causing his chakra to pour out.
Seizing the opportunity, Shūichi pulled hard, draining Kurama's chakra.
Seeing this, Shukaku huffed, "This guy's gotten even stronger!"
"But damn, the fox is really having it rough!"
---
"Damn it…"
Kurama was furious, watching as Shūichi easily siphoned away his chakra. He had clearly underestimated him.
"But don't think you can just take my power that easily!"
Kurama sneered, and a wave of malice surged through his chakra toward Shūichi.
Yet, he quickly realized that his malice had no effect on Shūichi at all.
"How… is this possible?"
Kurama was stunned.
Seeing Kurama's reaction, the Four-Tails, recalling his own previous experience with Shūichi, felt somewhat consoled and remarked, "Kurama, don't waste your energy. This guy has a mind like no other."
"He's unusually clear-headed and can face the entirety of himself, good and bad."
"If we're talking about malice, this guy has plenty of it buried in his heart—no less than us."
Shukaku roared with laughter, taunting, "Stupid fox, you're pathetic! You couldn't even last thirty seconds, and you call yourself the strongest tailed beast."
Kurama's anger surged. "You two idiots! Shouldn't we be working together to take this guy down?"
Still lying there lazily, Shukaku replied, "I have no interest in teaming up with an arrogant blowhard like you."
"Besides, taking him down just means someone else will seal us in their gut. If we become part of the Ten-Tails, we're in real trouble. This place isn't so bad."
The Four-Tails added, "You'll get used to it, Kurama."
"If what this guy says is true, you'll understand—it's safer here."
"There's no way we can resist the power of the Sharingan and the Rinnegan!"
Kurama fumed in frustration. These two had no fighting spirit!
At this point, the effects of the Rasenshurikens had worn off, and the Nine-Tails, now regaining control, immediately stopped leaking his chakra.
Even so, he had grown visibly thinner.
Observing this, Shūichi couldn't help but be impressed. "As expected of the strongest tailed beast. Even with just half of him, his chakra is greater than the entirety of the Eight-Tails'."
When he had extracted chakra from Shukaku, it had shrunk him, while Kurama had only slimmed down.
Furthermore, this chakra he had just stolen was far greater than what Shukaku and the Four-Tails had in their complete forms.
It was clear just how massive the chakra reserves of the full Nine-Tails would be.
Of course, this was raw power—chakra alone.
It didn't guarantee absolute strength, though in terms of battle, Kurama was indeed likely the strongest among the tailed beasts.
And from Kurama's power, Shūichi could gauge how absurdly strong Hashirama Senju must have been.
"It's pretty clear now that, as a whole, the Nine-Tails' power surpasses the combined power of all other eight tailed beasts."
Shūichi reflected, "Right now, I'm about on par with Shukaku. If I keep training, I'll probably be on the same level as the Four-Tails once I reach adulthood."
"But there's still a long way to go to catch up to Kurama. I need to keep improving my physique!"
"With a few more boosts, I could reach the Nine-Tails' level in no time."
"Plus, consuming the flesh of tailed beasts could also strengthen my body…"
With his body compatibility trait and the [Devourer] tag, Shūichi had opened up a world of new possibilities.
He re-sealed Yin Kurama without further comment and disappeared.
---
In the Sealed Chamber, Shūichi Opened His Eyes.
In the next instant, a golden Nine-Tails Chakra cloak enveloped his body.
Nine-Tails Chakra Mode!
Shūichi rose to his feet, examining himself.
Around his collar were six tomoe markings, while a black curse seal extended from his torso down to each hand and shoulder.
Further down, a spiral pattern resembling an inverted bell adorned his abdomen, symbolizing the Eight Trigrams Seal.
This was where the Nine-Tails' chakra flowed from, and the black seal lines represented the chakra pathways.
It was identical to the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode he remembered Naruto using.
"Truly impressive!"
After inspecting himself, Shūichi focused on feeling the power of this form.
"It's on par with Sage Mode, yet different from other tailed beast forms."
"The Nine-Tails' chakra really is distinct from the other tailed beasts."
Shūichi began to contemplate.
He typically had two ways to use Shukaku, Four-Tails, and Eight-Tails' chakra.
First, he could convert it into his own stamina via the Eight Trigrams Seal, replenishing his chakra.
Second, he could use it directly to perform jutsu, with tailed beast chakra functioning as such.
But the Nine-Tails' chakra was different!
"The Nine-Tails chakra I absorbed has seamlessly integrated with my own chakra, making it as easy to control as if it were mine, yet retaining the quality of Nine-Tails' chakra."
"My chakra quality is already high, but it's still not at Nine-Tails' level; that difference enhances all aspects of my abilities."
"The strength of the tailed beasts lies not only in their immense chakra but in the unique quality of that chakra!"
Shūichi's understanding deepened further. "From One-Tail to Nine-Tails, the more tails, the closer they get to Ten-Tails' power."
"And the Ten-Tails' power originates from natural energy."
"That's why Nine-Tails Chakra Mode is comparable to Sage Mode; the former harmonizes with my chakra, while the latter fuses natural energy with my physical and spiritual power. Different paths, similar results."
With a solemn expression, Shūichi reflected, "So, natural energy is truly the ultimate path."
"The way of the Sage… the Sage himself!"
"The path of the Sage could even reach, or surpass, the Ten-Tails."
"But even to become someone like Gamamaru or the Snake Sage, relying solely on Sage Mode isn't enough."
Though no clear path lay before him, Shūichi had two potential directions.
The first was to leverage his physical compatibility, strengthening his body toward that of a tailed beast by consuming tailed beast flesh and gaining the ability to absorb natural energy directly to recover stamina.
Previously, he had relied on transformation jutsu to take on a tailed beast form for this.
The second was Sage Transformation!
That is, directly absorbing natural energy into his cells, rather than merely refining it into Senjutsu chakra.
However, just by its nature, Sage Mode couldn't extend lifespan.
At this thought, Shūichi considered, "Maybe I should meet Gamamaru…"
But he quickly dismissed the idea. "No rush. No need to hurry."
"Though Jūgo—he should be born around this time, right?"
---
After much contemplation, Shūichi deactivated the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
He differed from Naruto; when Naruto used the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Kurama would absorb his chakra whenever he wasn't actively using his own chakra.
But Shūichi had the Fire Nether Chains restraining Kurama even more tightly, sealing Yin Kurama's very mind and consciousness, so there was no chance for him to absorb Shūichi's chakra.
This completely avoided the one weakness of Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
Such was the strength of advanced sealing jutsu!
Naturally, this didn't interfere with Shūichi's use of Sage Mode, let alone his Bijuu Mark.
"My current strength," he mused, "should fall somewhere between Naruto's Sage of the Six Paths Mode and Nine-Tails Chakra Mode."
"As for actual combat power… hard to say."
Battle strength isn't simply a matter of chakra reserves; otherwise, he, Minato-sensei, and Kushina wouldn't have struggled against the Nine-Tails.
Exiting the chamber, Shūichi entered a specialized lab for cultivating tailed beast cells, took out the Nine-Tails' severed tail from a scroll, and began the process.
First, he sliced a portion for cell cultivation.
Then plucked some fur.
And finally, ate it raw!
Crunch! Crunch!
Hm, it's quite chewy.
With three quick bites, he swallowed it all, feeling his entire body ignite like a furnace.
Shūichi returned to the sealed chamber, and soon, boom! the Nine-Tails chakra burst from within him, covering him in a shroud of crimson chakra as waves of malice washed over him.
Unperturbed, Shūichi calmly observed as his body adapted, bit by bit, to the Nine-Tails' power, gradually merging with it.
In other words, he was harmonizing with the Nine-Tails' genes!
The process took far longer than when he had consumed the flesh of the Eight-Tails or the Four-Tails.
By the time he completed the fusion, night had fallen outside.
As the merging concluded, the tailed beast chakra surrounding Shūichi shifted, and the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode re-emerged.
"Body compatibility is truly a blessing!"
Shūichi felt immense satisfaction.
It was a wholly different experience from Kinkaku and Ginkaku; they too had consumed the Nine-Tails' flesh, yet they had failed to achieve the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
Meanwhile, in the seal, Yin Kurama sensed Shūichi's transformation, shocked beyond words. "This guy… how?"
"He actually managed to fully integrate and adapt to my power."
The Four-Tails, by now unsurprised, commented, "Don't be too shocked. His constitution is like no other; he's already mastered the powers of me and the Eight-Tails using the same method."
"If it weren't for Shukaku's sand body, he'd have managed that, too."
"So, when he said he preferred power he could control freely, he meant it."
Yin Kurama fell silent, reluctantly acknowledging that Shūichi was unlike any ninja he'd ever known.
---
Deactivating Nine-Tails Chakra Mode once more, Shūichi stretched his body: "My physical strength has improved again, and this boost is even greater than when I consumed the flesh of the Eight-Tails or the Four-Tails."
"This is practically more astonishing than a 100% boost to my physique!"
Shūichi was both surprised and delighted.
To match the Nine-Tails, even surpass it—seemed only a matter of time!
Filled with excitement, he left the chamber, and in the hallway, he spotted Tsunade stretching, her graceful curves a sight to behold.
Sensing his gaze, Tsunade turned. "Oh, you're here too?"
Shūichi stepped forward. "Running some experiments with the Nine-Tails."
"The Nine-Tails!"
Tsunade's eyes sharpened. "Has it been split already?"
Shūichi grinned. "Yes, everything went smoothly."
"We can now study the cells of the Nine-Tails. Its vitality rivals that of the First Hokage!"
Intrigued, Tsunade decided to drop by and take a look after dinner.
The two left the lab, walking under the starlight to the bustling streets of Konoha.
Shūichi invited her, "How about dinner at my place? I'll call for Shizune."
Tsunade firmly shook her head. "Too impolite without prior notice."
"Besides, Shizune has probably eaten by now."
Shūichi thought for a moment. "Next time, then!"
Tsunade hesitated slightly, knowing that Nonō Yakushi and Asuka's cooking was truly superb.
But…she glanced at Shūichi, gave a faint huff, then waved her hand and entered a nearby place to eat.
"We'll see about next time!"
Failure!
Shūichi chuckled and instantly teleported home.
The smell of delicious food filled the air, and the dining table was set with an array of dishes.
"Nothing beats the feeling of being home…"
Shūichi felt genuinely happy.
At that moment, Asuka peeked her head out of the kitchen, smiling. "Shūichi, wash up and get ready for dinner! There's just one last soup left!"
"At your command!"
Shūichi laughed, went to wash his hands, and by the time he returned, Asuka and Nonō had finished preparing the final soup.
The bountiful, heartwarming dinner began.
---
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain.
Inside a cave, White Zetsu (Tobi) emerged from the ground, turning to Black Zetsu and White Zetsu with a grin. "The time has come. Danzo from Konoha is currently negotiating with Hanzo. It seems Hanzo has been swayed by Danzo and intends to eliminate the Akatsuki."
The White Zetsu controlling Uchiha Obito chuckled. "This will make things a lot easier for us."
The other half, Black Zetsu, cautioned, "Don't be too complacent. Shūichi has been keeping a close eye on this place."
White Zetsu Tobi rubbed his chin. "Is he planning to snatch the Rinnegan?"
"If so, and he disregards the lives of others, stopping him may be quite difficult!"
"That Flying Thunder God Technique of his is truly a headache."
Black Zetsu was confident. "This is the difference between a ninja and us."
"Besides, Shūichi might not even be after the Rinnegan—his target could be Danzo."
"Of course, we should still prepare for all possibilities."
White Zetsu Tobi chuckled, "In that case, how about I head to Konoha and snatch someone close to him?"
White Zetsu nodded, "You could try, but be careful. Don't let Shūichi leave a Flying Thunder God mark on you. Not even Izanagi can erase that."
White Zetsu Tobi nodded, full of confidence. "Don't worry, I'll use a clone or my spore technique. He won't even notice!"
Black Zetsu added, "Then let's split up."
"If things go south, we'll join forces to stall Shūichi. We cannot allow him to interfere here."
Konoha Village.
After dinner, Shūichi returned to his study to continue refining the Bijuu Mark.
He intended not only to incorporate the enhancements from Yang Release but also to integrate the Strength of a Hundred Technique.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, Shūichi sent a clone to assist Kushina Uzumaki in her training, while he himself teleported to the Hokage Rock, surveying all of Konoha from above.
Then he activated the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, followed by entering Sage Mode.
Instantly, Shūichi's perception expanded to cover the entirety of Konoha.
Natural Sensory Perception + Malice Detection!
"As expected, there are White Zetsus here... and they're full of malice toward me. So, they've noticed I'm keeping tabs on the Akatsuki!"
Shūichi smiled, then his gaze sharpened. "Spore Technique!"
"So, they intend to prevent me from interfering with the Akatsuki?"
Just then, a voice appeared beside him. It was Sarutobi Shinnosuke, staring at Shūichi in astonishment. "This power, Shūichi—is it the Nine-Tails?"
Shūichi nodded. "Captain, there are enemies infiltrating Konoha!"
"What?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's expression beneath his mask changed drastically. "Where? I haven't sensed anything!"
"Could it be... like last time?"
Shūichi nodded. "They're using an extremely covert technique that can mimic chakra."
"In fact, even I can't detect it in my normal state once it's embedded within another person."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke said grimly, "Understood. Shūichi, you take command!"
Shūichi accepted without hesitation. "Captain, take the Anbu and alert Clan Leader Fugaku to bring the police force and prepare sealing tags."
"Coordinate with Konoha Hospital, the Interrogation Division, and the Intelligence Division..."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded, sending two shadow clones to relay the orders.
Moments later, the clones dispelled, returning their memories to him. Sarutobi Shinnosuke reported, "Shūichi, preparations are complete!"
Bam, Bam, Bam...
A series of shadow clones appeared, darting off in all directions.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke quickly used the Body Flicker Technique to follow one of the clones.
Meanwhile, Shūichi teleported directly to Konoha Hospital, arriving beside Shizune.
"Shūichi?"
Shizune was surprised.
"Come with me."
Shūichi took Shizune's hand and teleported multiple times, finally bringing Yakushi Nono, Asuka, and Shizune to a training ground outside the hospital, where an Anbu squad led by Chihiro was already waiting.
Placing a chakra-enhanced hand on the trio, Shūichi infused them with Sage Chakra.
Instantly, several White Zetsus emerged from the three, each of them hosting four.
"What are these things?"
Asuka, Shizune, and Chihiro felt a chill run down their spines.
Meanwhile, the White Zetsus were staring at Shūichi in utter shock. "How… how did you know?"
"I know far more than you do."
With a light chuckle, Shūichi summoned Fire Nether Chains to bind each White Zetsu.
Asuka swiftly activated her Adamantine Sealing Chains, securing the four White Zetsus from within her body and forcibly extracting them.
Chihiro and the other Anbu members moved in, sealing each White Zetsu with sealing tags.
Simultaneously, Shūichi's shadow clones appeared throughout Konoha, capturing White Zetsus disguised as Konoha shinobi or ordinary civilians. As with Asuka, they extracted hidden White Zetsus from within and bound them with seals.
When all the White Zetsus were gathered, there were as many as sixteen of them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado arrived soon after.
"Are they from the same origin as the one who killed Rin Nohara?" Koharu asked.
Only a few people knew that Rin Nohara was still alive.
"Yes."
Shūichi nodded and explained briefly, "They are replicas made from the First Hokage's cells."
"They have extremely powerful intelligence capabilities. For now, it appears they can mimic others' chakra, hide within people, and are incredibly hard to detect; ordinary chakra perception can't sense them."
"To detect them, one must either possess the First Hokage's cells, use Nine-Tails Chakra Mode with malice detection, or activate Sage Mode."
"And to force them out from within a host, you need Sage Chakra."
Everyone was stunned.
Homura Mitokado observed Shūichi in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. "So, Shūichi, you now have malice detection, like Lady Mito?"
Shūichi nodded, then turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Third Hokage, these creatures would be ideal for experiments on the First Hokage's cells and for research in medical ninjutsu."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "I'll leave all of this to you and Tsunade."
"Are there any more enemies like these still lurking in Konoha?"
Shūichi chuckled. "No more of these, but there are quite a few spies harboring malice towards me."
Hiruzen blinked, then said, "Mark out the spies for Anbu to handle, Shūichi."
Exposing spies without immediate capture often yields better results.
Shūichi nodded, leaving a shadow clone behind. He then led Shizune and the others to transport the White Zetsus to the lab facility.
---
Meanwhile.
On the Hokage Rock, White Zetsu Tobi emerged from the ground. "This is bad, really bad!"
"They've captured all of us at once. That Shūichi really is a menace—he's already figured out how to counter us!"
"This is a serious problem!"
"Looks like it won't be so easy to spy on Konoha from now on!"
...
Inside the lab, Shūichi, still in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and Sage Mode, suddenly turned his gaze towards the Hokage Rock before disappearing, reappearing instantly at the rock.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Fire Nether Chains shot forth, aiming straight at the White Zetsu known as Tobi, half-buried in the ground.
"So, I was found after all..."
White Zetsu Tobi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, distorting space to pull himself into a separate dimension.
"Kamui!"
Shūichi frowned.
Even though this White Zetsu wore a black cloak and mask, he could tell it wasn't Obito Uchiha.
"So, it seems Rin's staged death didn't fool Madara after all. In other words, Obito's other eye has been transplanted onto this White Zetsu."
Shūichi scowled. "Did Madara really entrust the Eye of the Moon Plan to beings like Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, whom he considered flawed?"
"Then again, Black Zetsu is actually more dependable than Obito..."
"So, is Obito now fully under Black and White Zetsu's control?"
"Dividing the eyes—was that to better manipulate Obito?"
With countless theories swirling in his mind, Shūichi grew increasingly wary, even considering the possibility of acquiring the Kamui eye.
"But it would be incredibly challenging. White Zetsus may lack combat awareness and are slow to react compared to me, but with Black Zetsu's cunning, he'll surely be on guard… and then there's Izanagi!"
Shūichi felt a bit frustrated.
There's no way to directly counter this technique, although he was confident he could deal with it now.
However, adding in the transfer seal and Izanagi, alongside Kamui, would make seizing the eye nearly impossible.
"I can't exactly place Caged Bird Seals on every Uchiha with three-tomoe Sharingan, can I?"
"Over the years, plenty of Uchiha with three-tomoe eyes have died… I wonder if Madara's been stockpiling those eyes."
Shūichi recalled that after the Uchiha Clan Massacre in the original story, the three-tomoe Sharingan eyes were split between Danzo and Obito.
Given the quantity, there seemed to be a surplus of them.
The collection of three-tomoe Sharingan eyes Obito held likely included those Madara had kept from his own time.
After all, Madara transplanted his Rinnegan to Nagato, so he would need spare eyes.
"I wonder if Madara's finally unhooked himself from the machine..."
Shūichi felt that the future was becoming increasingly unpredictable.
Meanwhile, it was clear that conspiracies had already engulfed the Akatsuki in the Land of Rain, and tragedy was on the horizon.
"But then…"
"Maybe it's time for me to start making my moves on the board?"
Shūichi cast his gaze in the direction of the Land of Rain.
There was little point in preventing Yahiko's death.
In fact, Yahiko's death and Nagato's descent into darkness were part of what Shūichi needed.
"The Akatsuki collecting the Tailed Beasts gives me a chance to strike."
"And the Ten-Tails… I need the Ten-Tails to appear for a clean resolution."
Though he had no desire to become the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki, Shūichi needed to study it.
And since he wanted to avoid becoming a target, using the Akatsuki's efforts to his advantage seemed the ideal path.
There was also the looming threat of Black Zetsu and Kaguya Otsutsuki…
Reflecting on all this, Shūichi chuckled to himself. "Indeed, with more power, my thoughts have shifted."
"Looks like I'll be playing the part of the mastermind from now on."
"So, there's no need to meddle in unnecessary affairs."
"Focus on strengthening myself; only then can I face any threat without fear and protect my vulnerabilities."
Retracting his gaze, Shūichi deactivated the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and Sage Mode, heading straight home.
The lab was in good hands with his clones and Tsunade handling things.
Now, he needed to focus on updating the Bijuu Mark and then apply it to Yakushi Nono and the others for added security.
---
Graveyard of Mountains.
White Zetsu Tobi returned here, dramatically reporting to Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu, "Regrettably, the plan failed!"
"That Shūichi has grown even stronger; he's actually mastered the Nine-Tails' power."
Madara's eyes opened as he listened. "Mastered the Nine-Tails… similar to Mito Uzumaki back then?"
"It seems he's found all the sleeper agents you left behind."
White Zetsu Tobi nodded. "As expected of Lord Madara; you seem well-informed about Shūichi Hoshita's capabilities."
Madara replied, "That's the Nine-Tails' unique ability—to sense malice."
"One can conceal their outward malice, but the heart's intentions cannot be deceived."
White Zetsu Tobi understood. "I see! No wonder even the Spore Technique failed!"
"So, what now?"
Black Zetsu interjected, "No need to overreact."
"After this, Shūichi will likely hesitate to leave Konoha."
"As for the Akatsuki members, you've already planted spores on them; they're just pawns. No need to worry. If we merge and approach Konoha, Shūichi won't dare act."
At that moment, another White Zetsu emerged from the wall, shouting, "Good news! Shūichi Hoshita's crow has vanished!"
"And Hanzo has already made his move!"
Madara said, "Go then!"
"Bring Nagato to me when the time is right."
Black Zetsu immediately directed Obito to activate Kamui, causing him to disappear.
White Zetsu Tobi sank into the ground, moving by earth-travel technique.
...
In Konoha Village, within his study, Shūichi felt a rush of energy as he received the memories from his crow clone: "It's finally started!"
Konan had just been ordered captured by Hanzō.
Shūichi stepped outside into the courtyard, raised his hand, and spread a technique across the area, summoning his flock of crows back from the Land of Rain.
Then, he created a shadow clone, who vanished instantly with the Flying Thunder God technique.
One shadow clone would be enough to handle Danzo.
---
Land of Rain.
As Shūichi's shadow clone arrived, having transformed into a hawk, he witnessed Yahiko's death at the hands of Nagato's kunai.
"So, this is just like when it was Rin and Obito back then…"
Scanning the area, Shūichi quickly spotted a cloaked figure watching from nearby.
Almost simultaneously, the cloaked figure looked up, noticing the hawk circling high above.
"Shūichi's summoned creature?"
"If we intervene now, we might delay him just long enough for Tobi to finish, and then we could merge, maybe even trap him in an alternate dimension," White Zetsu suggested.
"Shūichi isn't so easily handled," Black Zetsu replied, less optimistic. "But it doesn't look like he intends to interfere, so maybe he isn't here for the Rinnegan."
White Zetsu paused. "You think he's after Danzo instead?"
"Interesting!"
"From what we gathered, there's definitely a deep grudge between Shūichi and Danzo. Could he actually be here to take advantage and eliminate Danzo?"
At that moment, the Gedo Statue appeared.
Both their attentions shifted immediately to Nagato.
Above them, Shūichi also focused on the Gedo Statue, watching as chakra dragons emerged and effortlessly consumed the souls of Root ninjas and Rain shinobi alike.
That efficiency made his own fire nether chains locks look like a beginner's tool.
"Danzo, your attempt to escape is rather pathetic..."
Mocking Danzo under his breath, Shūichi flew off.
Meanwhile, below, after driving off Hanzō and Danzo, the now-lame Nagato dismissed the Gedo Statue and, along with Konan, retreated with Yahiko's body.
However, on their way back to base, they discovered that the rest of the Akatsuki members had also been killed.
Once they returned to their base, they fell silent as they faced Yahiko's body.
Just when things seemed to be improving, they had suddenly plummeted into despair.
"It seems peace and mutual understanding are impossible; peaceful methods are nothing more than a beautiful dream," Nagato muttered, looking up with a hardened expression.
A grief-stricken Konan whispered, "Nagato, you..."
With a stony face, Nagato declared, "I will fulfill Yahiko's vision!"
"When others make us suffer, the only way to avoid conflict is to make the perpetrators shed the same tears, to understand our pain. Only then can peace be achieved!"
"I'll use these eyes to make those who start wars feel the same pain!"
"I will become the God of Shinobi!"
Watching the change in Nagato, Konan trembled. This wasn't what she wanted to see, but with Yahiko gone, all the beauty of their past had been destroyed.
With tears falling, Konan nodded. "I support you!"
"But… what do we do now?"
"Your legs..."
Nagato was about to respond when he looked to the side.
A distortion in space and time appeared, and the cloaked figure emerged.
"It's you!"
Konan was startled, quickly moving to Nagato's side, fully on guard.
Black Zetsu ignored her, addressing Nagato. "It seems you've finally seen this world for what it truly is."
"However, while you possess the Rinnegan, achieving your goals alone would still be difficult."
"You need our support!"
"We can heal your legs; we can help you unlock the full potential of these Six Paths eyes."
"We can help you create a world without war!"
"And that, too, is our mission!"
Konan immediately shouted, "Nagato, don't trust them! We can manage this ourselves—"
"Konan!"
Nagato interrupted her.
He was well aware that this figure, unwilling to reveal their true face, was not to be trusted, but he could also make full use of them.
From this day forward, he would abandon all he once cherished, using any means necessary to reach his goal.
Once he mastered the full power of the Rinnegan, becoming the God of Shinobi, even Madara Uchiha would become a pawn for fulfilling Yahiko's dream.
Facing the cloaked figure, Nagato said, "You claim to be Madara Uchiha's emissary; in that case, show me the real Madara Uchiha!"
Black Zetsu replied immediately, "As you wish."
"Then, please don't resist."
With that, he stepped forward, using Kamui to pull Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko's body into the Kamui dimension.
---
At the same time,
Danzo, who was trying to escape back to Konoha, was intercepted by Shūichi, who descended from the sky.
"Shūichi, what are you doing here?" Danzo's face darkened.
Shūichi didn't hide his intentions. He looked calmly at Danzo and said, "I'm here to kill you, of course!"
"To kill me?" Danzo's gaze sharpened. "Are you planning to betray the village?"
Shūichi chuckled. "Killing you means betraying the village?"
"Danzo, you're overestimating your importance!"
"But if we're talking about betrayal, shouldn't that title belong to you?"
"You've been undermining the Third Hokage's strategic plans. How do you explain that, Danzo?"
Danzo scoffed. "Shūichi, do you really agree with compromising with the Iwa-nin?"
"Are you willing to hand over the Four-Tails so easily?"
"You should be on my side!"
Shūichi remained calm. "What I think doesn't matter. What matters is the Third Hokage's decision."
"The Hokage's will is our will."
"Danzo, this isn't the first time you've defied the Third Hokage's orders."
"And killing comrades… that's an unforgivable crime. The Third may have spared you out of respect for the past, but you used this issue of compromise with Iwa-nin to try and push him out of power for your own ambitions."
Danzo roared in anger, "Everything I do is for the village!"
"As leader of the Root, I safeguard the core of Konoha from the shadows. It's my duty to compensate for the Hokage's weaknesses, to do what he cannot!"
Shūichi's voice boomed, "Wrong!"
"For Konoha, there is only one will—the will of the Hokage!"
"The Root's purpose is to carry the village's darkness so that the Hokage can stand in the light."
"It's not to oppose the Hokage in the name of the village's interests!"
"And what about stealing the Sharingan from the Uchiha clan? Was that to protect Konoha too?"
"They were comrades, fighting for the village on the front lines!"
Danzo's tone grew cold. "The Uchiha clan is always on the verge of rebellion, harboring dangerous ambitions. Weakening them was a policy set by the Second Hokage; I'm simply carrying on his will."
"As for you, Shūichi, it seems you've grown too close to the Uchiha, letting this naturally evil clan influence you."
"There's still time for you to turn back. Otherwise, I'll be forced to handle you in the village's name, even if it means losing two valuable assets!"
Shūichi smirked. "Now that's more like it!"
"There's no point in arguing; a hundred reasons won't sway my resolve to kill you."
"From the moment you tried to threaten me through the orphanage, I wanted you dead!"
"I've waited so long for today…"
"So, Danzo, if you have any last words, say them now, and I'll deliver them accurately. This is in recognition of the service you once provided the village."
Danzo's pupils contracted. "You're an evil brat by nature!"
"I should've eliminated you back then!"
Shūichi nodded. "Yes, you should regret that."
"But now, you should thank me."
"I originally planned to wait until Minato-sensei became the Fourth Hokage, so I could expose your crimes to ruin your reputation before killing you."
"Killing you now is letting you off easy."
A cold gleam flashed in Danzo's eyes as he ordered, "Kill him!"
The remaining six Root shinobi lunged forward, but before they could perform any jutsu, each one collapsed suddenly.
Shūichi shook his head. "Too weak!"
Genjutsu!
Danzo retreated instantly, forming hand seals.
Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!
Crackle!
Electric light surged around Shūichi, forming a Lightning Armor. He became a streak of light, tearing through Danzo's Vacuum Serial Waves and closing the distance instantly.
"So fast!"
Danzo's heart raced, unable to react in time before Shūichi's hand thrust through his chest.
Shūichi withdrew his hand, and Danzo's body collapsed to the ground—only to vanish.
Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!
Whoosh!
The vacuum projectiles shot towards Shūichi, but he dodged them with ease.
In Lightning Chakra Mode, his speed was unmatched, save for the Flying Thunder God technique.
"Too fast!" Danzo's gaze darkened. He stomped on the ground, causing it to crack, then blew dust and smoke to obscure his surroundings.
"This tactic is useless against me!"
Shūichi pierced Danzo's chest again, now using Fire Release Chakra Mode.
Once again, the corpse disappeared.
Danzo reappeared in the distance, unwrapping the bandages from his head and right arm.
His right eye revealed a three-tomoe Sharingan, and his pale right arm was embedded with three additional Sharingan.
Biting his finger, Danzo formed a seal.
Summoning Jutsu!
A giant summoned creature, the Baku, appeared and began to inhale ferociously, drawing Shūichi toward its gaping mouth.
But Shūichi didn't even bother using his Rasenshuriken. One burst of fire sent the Baku screaming before it vanished with a poof.
Meanwhile, Danzo seized the opportunity to create two shadow clones, attacking from three directions simultaneously.
Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!
Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!
Yet Shūichi didn't move, as walls of earth rose up around him.
But Danzo's Wind Style was fierce, piercing through each wall in succession.
Shūichi, however, had already vanished, descending from above with a heavy impact, half-burying Danzo in the ground as he coughed up blood.
"Danzo, none of your tricks work on me."
"Even Izanagi with the Sharingan is useless!"
Shūichi stated calmly.
"Hiruzen will never forgive you!" Danzo roared, only to disappear once more.
Upon reviving this time, Danzo didn't attempt to continue fighting. Instead, he turned to flee.
Even with three Sharingan remaining, Danzo no longer held any confidence in victory.
Boom!
Just as he tried to move, Danzo was slammed into the ground by Shūichi, who had appeared in a flash.
"In front of me, you don't even have a chance to escape!"
Danzo died once more.
And then revived, once again.
But to Shūichi's surprise, this time Danzo didn't flee. Instead, he tore open his clothing, exposing his still-muscular chest.
"Shūichi Hoshita, one day, you'll bring harm to the village. Today, I'll seal you away with me!"
A black curse mark appeared as Danzo activated the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing technique, black ink-like sealing power expanding outward into a spherical shape.
Unfortunately for him, the sealing was far too slow for Shūichi.
With a light step, Shūichi lifted into the air, effortlessly dodging it.
Reviving once more, Danzo looked at the airborne Shūichi with a sense of unprecedented despair. At this moment, he realized he didn't even have the power to take this "evil brat" down with him.
"I'll have to wait for the right moment to restrain him with the curse mark the instant he attacks, and then seal him…"
Danzo strategized.
However, Shūichi in the air had no intention of closing in. Instead, he raised his hand, rapidly forming a Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken and flung it at him.
Danzo's face twisted as he was struck, dying once more in the ensuing storm. Reviving, he immediately tried to escape again.
As Shūichi landed, he noticed Danzo's feet hit the ground, only for his entire body to start sinking.
Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!
Following this, Danzo let out a pained scream as blue flames ignited on his body.
Fire Style: Firing Biscuit Jutsu!
He died again and revived again.
One by one, each Sharingan closed, until all were exhausted.
Once all the Sharingan had shut, Danzo could no longer suppress the cells in his arm cultivated from Hashirama's DNA. His arm started to mutate, giving rise to a large tree.
After severing his own arm, Danzo, panting heavily, glared up at Shūichi, who gazed down upon him. "Damn brat… I never thought I'd die by the hands of one of my own."
"But, Shūichi, you won't be able to keep my death hidden."
Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Who said I'd keep it hidden?"
"I'll report every detail of your death to the Third Hokage."
"So, anything else you want to say?"
Danzo froze, as despair, terror, unwillingness, and regret twisted his face into a hideous expression.
"Seems like there's nothing…"
A dragon's head materialized over Shūichi's shoulder, and two intense white beams shot out, slicing through Danzo and leaving his body cleaved in two.
This time, Danzo was truly dead.
Shūichi landed, looking at Danzo's fallen corpse with an overwhelming sense of relief, feeling a freedom he'd never known.
From today, he wouldn't have to worry about being stabbed in the back in Konoha!
"It seems this was definitely the right decision."
"Though Danzo's strength was hardly noteworthy, someone like him was a latent threat. Any threat, big or small, must be eliminated."
"This settles a grudge that's been simmering for years!"
One word: Satisfying!
…
"Lord Danzo!"
"Shūichi actually killed Lord Danzo!"
"Is this guy insane?"
…
Several Root ninja had broken free from the genjutsu, staring at Danzo's corpse in shock and confusion.
He was truly dead, and they could feel the curse marks on their bodies had vanished.
Shūichi exhaled a sigh and then turned to face the Root ninja. "Take Danzo's body back to Konoha and report to the Third Hokage. Explain everything that happened here in full detail."
He chose not to kill them.
First, it wasn't necessary—killing them would only weaken his own influence.
Second, he needed witnesses. He needed someone who could recount the events to Hiruzen Sarutobi from a neutral perspective.
And, the things he said to Danzo would reach Hiruzen without him needing to repeat them himself.
Was it wrong to kill Danzo?
Should Danzo not have died?
If it were anyone else, the grass on his grave would already be waist-high by now!
...
The Root ninja looked at Shūichi, uncertain whether to obey.
Shūichi glared at them coldly. "The Root is also part of the Anbu. Your highest leader is the Hokage, not Danzo!"
"Remember, you are ninja of Konoha, Anbu of Konoha, Root of Konoha—not Danzo's soldiers!"
The Root ninja, awed by Shūichi's presence, quickly nodded. "Yes!"
Shūichi gave a slight nod. "Go!"
The Root ninja exchanged glances, then bowed toward Shūichi before heading back to Konoha with Danzo's body.
Meanwhile, Shūichi activated Sage Mode, quickly expanding his sensing.
"Nagato and Konan's chakra signatures have vanished…"
Shūichi frowned. "Uchiha Madara hasn't pulled the plug yet. Are they meeting with Madara?"
"If so, then this would mean that Madara has entirely abandoned Obito and plans to use Nagato to gather the Tailed Beasts and carry out the Eye of the Monn Plan directly."
"But Madara would clearly see how deeply Nagato is influenced by Yahiko... so he'll likely withhold the full details of the Eye of the Moon Plan, instead crafting a version that aligns with Nagato's goals."
"Gather Tailed Beasts, resurrect Madara, wage war, experience pain, seek mutual understanding, achieve peace."
"Gather Tailed Beasts, resurrect Madara, wage war, Infinite Tsukuyomi, achieve world peace."
"Gather Tailed Beasts, resurrect Madara, wage war, Infinite Tsukuyomi, resurrect his 'mother.'"
Shūichi considered all the possibilities and then smiled. "So, which version will the real Madara go with?"
...
Back in Konoha, Shūichi, busy in his study, paused briefly as he received the memories from his clone, then refocused on the sealing techniques in the scroll.
The moment Danzo had died, he became history.
As for dealing with the aftermath…
There was no need. His clone had already taken care of it.
Hiruzen wouldn't move against him, Koharu and Homura were powerless to do so, and the Shimura clan wouldn't dare.
For Shūichi, his true enemies from now on were Black Zetsu, Uchiha Madara, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, and the Ōtsutsuki clan!
Compared to these opponents, Danzo was utterly insignificant—not even worth being called an ant.
However, while Danzo's death didn't concern Shūichi, its impact on Konoha, especially on Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, was profound.
The following day, the Root ninja returned to Konoha, heading straight to the Hokage's office to report.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi shot to his feet in shock upon hearing the report of Danzo's death. "What?"
The Root ninja who was reporting bowed his head. "Third Hokage, Lord Danzo was intercepted and killed by Shūichi Hoshita on his way back to Konoha."
Cold sweat ran down Hiruzen's back.
He knew Shūichi held deep hostility toward Danzo, but he hadn't expected him to take such a bold action.
Danzo was, after all, the head of Root, an advisor to the Hokage!
If this got out, while most in the village might dismiss it, Koharu, Homura, and the entire Shimura clan would be infuriated.
Hiruzen took a few long puffs of his pipe, his mind racing on how best to resolve this situation. He knew he couldn't let anything happen to Shūichi or force him to leave the village—such a loss would be something Konoha couldn't bear.
But after considering all possibilities, Hiruzen realized that neither Koharu, Homura, nor the Shimura clan could shake Shūichi's current standing.
Unless he, as Hokage, ordered it.
In a flash of insight, Hiruzen calmed down. After sitting down again, he spoke gravely, "Report every detail of the incident."
"Yes, sir!"
The Root ninja began recounting everything in detail, from Shūichi's interception to every word exchanged between him and Danzo.
Listening, Hiruzen could only sigh inwardly.
Any previous inclination to blame Shūichi had been replaced by resignation and a faint smile.
After the report concluded, Hiruzen pondered briefly before saying, "Shinnosuke, go summon Shūichi."
"Understood!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke responded and immediately set off to find Shūichi.
"Finally, it's done!"
In his study, Shūichi looked at the newly crafted seal on the scroll with joy.
It was an upgraded version of the Bijuu Sealing Mark, now enhanced with Yang Release and the Hundred Healings Technique.
The reason for incorporating the Hundred Healings Technique was its complexity, which had proven challenging for Shizune, who had yet to master it.
Moreover, neither the Yin Seal nor the Hundred Healings Technique had been mastered by Asuka. While this wasn't a huge problem, given that she had chakra reserves on par with a Tailed Beast, the Hundred Healings Technique served another purpose—it allowed one to transfer their chakra to others.
Asuka's chakra had incredible healing properties, rivaling Creation Rebirth. Using the Hundred Healings Technique could further amplify Asuka's healing abilities.
No hand signs, no medical ninjutsu were needed—just chakra transfer!
...
Deactivating the Hundred Healings Technique and the Bijuu Sealing Mark, Shūichi clasped his hands together. Chakra surged from his palms, and black tadpole-like symbols spread up his arms, extending throughout his body before converging at his forehead to form a purple lotus mark that quickly faded away.
He silently observed its effects. The Hundred Healings Technique now connected the new seal, the Yin Seal, and his physical body, using a minimal amount of chakra to nourish every cell and keep them in an active state.
This not only helped maintain youthfulness, longevity, and reduced fatigue, but with the amplification of natural energy, even a slight amount of chakra granted him some self-healing ability.
Additionally, Shūichi felt that the genetic components he held from the Nine-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Four-Tails were now especially active.
"It looks like there will be unexpected benefits, though it'll take time to fully validate."
"For now, this will be more than enough."
Feeling satisfied, Shūichi deactivated the seal completely.
In his everyday state, he didn't need his chakra nurturing every cell, as it could interfere with his physical growth.
This differed from someone like Tsunade, who was in her thirties and used the technique continuously.
While Shūichi had mastered Sage Mode, which provided a comprehensive boost and appeared far stronger than any seal, he still found the seal useful.
This was because the seal had a capability Sage Mode lacked: it could automatically absorb and store natural energy.
"So, what should I call this new seal?"
Shūichi began to feel a bit conflicted.
Currently, the new seal could boost both Fire Release and Yang Release and also integrated the Hundred Healings Technique.
"The Seal of Yang?"
"The Seal of Life?"
Just as Shūichi was thinking, the voice of Sarutobi Shinnosuke called out, "Shūichi!"
He turned to see Shinnosuke, masked, gesturing from the window.
Without hesitation, Shūichi put away the scroll and headed out. Shinnosuke's visit wasn't unexpected.
As they walked toward the Hokage's office, Shinnosuke seemed hesitant to speak.
Danzo's death had shocked him deeply, especially knowing it was Shūichi who had killed him.
In truth, a part of him felt a sense of satisfaction.
However, he also harbored concerns for Shūichi.
Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, Captain. It'll be fine."
"Danzo's actions warranted death; anyone else would have died seven or eight times by now."
Shinnosuke shook his head. "Danzo may have deserved it, but this could still have repercussions for you."
"You shouldn't have exposed yourself like this."
He knew that with Shūichi's abilities, he could have killed without anyone knowing.
Shūichi replied, "Danzo is different from the Third Kazekage."
When he had dealt with the Third Kazekage, he'd done everything possible to conceal it, to avoid dragging Konoha into a war.
But with Danzo, it was different. Keeping it a secret would only turn into a potential weakness, making his actions appear underhanded.
Killing Danzo openly, claiming it was for the Hokage, the Will of Fire, and the village, would still upset some, but the unstoppable momentum would drown out any opposition.
Shūichi was no longer alone.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and even Orochimaru would support him; the Sannin were all on his side.
He also had his teacher, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, as allies.
Not to mention that he himself was a jinchūriki, possessing three Tailed Beasts.
In terms of combat power, who in Konoha could say they were stronger than him?
Koharu, Homura, and the Shimura clan—just how many forces did they have?
As for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shūichi felt he was the least of his concerns.
His reputation had remained solid for nearly ten years, unwavering.
And Hiruzen would undoubtedly weigh the situation from the village's best interests.
Danzo was dead—so be it. He was nothing more than a useful, yet filthy, tool that could be replaced.
Would bonds of companionship matter more than the village's well-being?
Or, to put it more bluntly, did Danzo's value even come close to that of Shūichi Hoshita?
…
Shinnosuke, seeing Shūichi's unwavering confidence, felt somewhat reassured. "Don't worry; Chihiro and I will support you with everything we've got!"
Shūichi smiled. "Then there's really nothing to worry about!"
Soon, the two arrived at the Hokage's office. When Shūichi knocked and entered, he noticed that Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were present as well.
It seemed news of Danzo's death and the turmoil in Root had reached them.
As Shūichi entered, sharp gazes from Koharu and Homura fixed on him immediately.
Koharu wasted no time. "Shūichi Hoshita, why did you kill Danzo?"
"He was an advisor to the Hokage!"
Ignoring her barking, Shūichi respectfully greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Third Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen nodded slightly, taking a puff of his pipe before posing a single question: "Why did you choose to kill Danzo now?"
Hiruzen was well aware of Shūichi's hostility toward Danzo; Shūichi had never hidden his desire to take Danzo down, showing it openly and even aggressively.
Such fervor was entirely understandable at his age!
Shūichi glanced at a Root ninja standing nearby. "I take it the recent events in the Land of Rain haven't yet been reported to the Third Hokage?"
Hiruzen's eyes darkened. "Danzo's trip to the Land of Rain… was he planning to ally with Hanzo?"
Shūichi nodded. "Yes, but it wasn't related to Iwa-nin."
"It was connected to the Akatsuki."
Homura spoke up. "The Akatsuki? That ninja group in the Land of Rain recently gaining fame for promoting peace? I heard the leader was even taught by Jiraiya."
Shūichi nodded again. "That's correct."
"Originally, Hanzo had planned to accept the Akatsuki and join forces with them to end the war."
"But Danzo convinced Hanzo to change his mind and ambushed one of the Akatsuki's leaders, using it as leverage to eliminate Yahiko, one of the leader of the Akatsuki."
"And his goal…"
Shūichi looked pointedly at the Root ninja.
Despite the mask, the Root ninja, under the scrutiny of four intense gazes, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat and reluctantly confessed, "Lord Danzo's goal… was to take out the Akatsuki to halt their push for peace talks."
Hiruzen sighed internally, as he had already guessed as much.
Danzo had always opposed negotiations. After all, with both Shūichi and Minato in Konoha, two formidable fighters, why should they be the ones to back down and settle for negotiations?
Such was Danzo's uncompromising stance!
At this, Shūichi let out a disdainful snort. "Perhaps there's even more to it?"
"Danzo likely didn't mention that he had an additional goal—the Rinnegan of one of Akatsuki's leaders, Nagato. It's said to be one of the three Great Dōjutsu and the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths!"
Koharu gasped. "The legendary Rinnegan truly exists?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Jiraiya mentioned this to me some time ago—there indeed is a Rinnegan."
Homura looked at Shūichi. "Did Danzo succeed?"
Shūichi shook his head. "He came close… but ultimately, no."
Previously, Nagato had been cautious of the Rinnegan's power, yet the escalating chaos had driven him to gradually master its abilities.
He had summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path more than once already.
Shūichi's expression grew solemn. "The power of the Rinnegan, as it currently stands, is certainly not weaker—perhaps even stronger—than Susano'o, the ability granted by the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Recalling the events from the previous day, the Root ninja shuddered. "Shūichi-sama is right. The creature summoned by that man killed dozens of our Root ninjas and Ame-nin in an instant."
What?!
The faces of Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura changed.
Shūichi continued, "That jutsu drained the souls directly. Even my Fire Nether Chains technique can't do that."
If he were dealing with a similar group of people and unleashed his full power, he might be able to pull out dozens of souls simultaneously with the Fire Nether Chains.
However, it was clear that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path wasn't showing its full potential.
Koharu asked, "You were there at the time, weren't you, Shūichi?"
"With your skills, couldn't you have managed a sneak attack to deal with the Rinnegan user?"
Shūichi chuckled coldly. "I'll give you some good news."
"That mysterious force behind the Uchiha Obito incident was also there, and Obito himself was lurking nearby. It's now confirmed that Uchiha Obito is being controlled."
Homura shook his head in disbelief. "That's impossible!"
"Based on everything we know, Obito has unlocked his Mangekyō Sharingan. His dōjutsu should be strong enough to control Tailed Beasts, just like Madara Uchiha did. How could he be under anyone else's control?"
Shūichi shot a frosty glance at Homura, asking coldly, "Do you think I'm fabricating false information?"
Feeling the intense pressure emanating from Shūichi, cold sweat immediately beaded on Homura's forehead.
Hiruzen quickly intervened. "Shūichi, Homura didn't mean that."
"Besides, the person you fought also had a Mangekyō Sharingan. Given that Obito only recently awakened his, plus the use of cloned cells from the First Hokage, controlling Obito is not out of the question."
"Then, Shūichi, are you saying that the current holder of the Rinnegan has already joined forces with that mysterious group?"
Shūichi shook his head. "It's uncertain for now, but the signs are clear."
"Therefore, we must prepare for retaliation from someone wielding the Rinnegan."
"It wouldn't be too much to consider him on par with Madara Uchiha himself."
Hiruzen's expression darkened, the gravity of the threat weighing heavily on him.
Cold sweat broke out on Homura Mitokado's and Koharu Utatane's foreheads.
Uchiha Madara!
The Battle of the Valley of the End might feel like ancient history to Shūichi Hoshita, but for them, it was fresh. They knew very well the fearsome power of Madara Uchiha.
Their vigilance toward the Uchiha clan stemmed from more than just Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's teachings.
In that moment, thoughts of Danzo's death were entirely forgotten.
Koharu wanted to ask Shūichi if he was truly capable of confronting such a formidable enemy, but the words caught in her throat.
Madara Uchiha had used the Nine-Tails as his mount, after all! And currently, Shūichi had only half of the Nine-Tails' power and wasn't even a perfect jinchuriki.
The entire Hokage office grew oppressively tense.
Meanwhile, Shūichi couldn't help but chuckle to himself internally.
The Rinnegan was indeed powerful, but at this stage, Nagato couldn't yet unleash its full potential.
Madara, a shadow of his former self, had longed to regain his strength; once he "took control" of Nagato, he'd likely disconnect his support immediately.
So, for the foreseeable future, the real threat lay in Uchiha Obito's eyes that can use Kamui.
After a few moments, Hiruzen had the Root ninja dismissed and then asked, "Shūichi, what do you suggest we do?"
Shūichi thought for a moment. "Currently, we know too little about the enemy."
"First, their exact intentions in manipulating Obito are unclear. Could it really just be for his Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Shisui is much more gifted and capable than Obito, after all."
"Secondly, while it's been speculated that the mysterious figure might be Madara Uchiha, if Madara were alive today, he'd be extremely old. Even with cells from the First Hokage, he would be greatly weakened."
"So, there isn't much we can do for now."
"Our priority should be to protect the Nine-Tails and strengthen our forces."
"I'll use my sensory abilities daily to monitor the entire village in case of enemy infiltration."
"And as for the Uchiha, keep a close eye on those with the three-tomoe Sharingan. Danzo once possessed four three-tomoe Sharingan and even used the ultimate genjutsu, Izanagi."
The three advisors were momentarily speechless.
It was a lot to process, and the implications were overwhelming.
After contemplating for a while, Hiruzen said, "Let's leave it at that for now. Shūichi, you may go about your duties."
Shūichi nodded, bowed, and vanished.
Once he was gone, Koharu seemed to recall Danzo and asked Hiruzen, "Are we just going to let the matter of Danzo rest?"
Homura looked as if he wanted to say something as well, but Hiruzen's voice cut in first, firm and low. "Danzo went too far."
"However, we will announce that he died in service to the village."
Homura held back his words and instead asked, "Then what will happen to Root?"
"Konoha still needs a Root in the shadows to guard the village."
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke. "For now, Anbu will take temporary charge of Root. The choice of a permanent leader can wait until the next Hokage assumes office."
He had no intention of entrusting Root to Koharu or Homura.
Koharu was simply unsuited for the role, while Homura… Hiruzen didn't want to repeat past mistakes or burden the next Hokage with a future problem.
And deep down, he also wished to spare Homura.
After all, everyone harbors ambition, and although Homura might lack Danzo's stubbornness, self-centeredness, or grand ambitions, he was not immune to resting on his laurels.
Hiruzen understood well that Shūichi's elimination of Danzo wasn't solely personal; it was also an act for the village and the will of the Hokage. It carried a subtle political foresight—removing an obstacle for the next Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Shūichi's political acumen had always been evident to him.
With all factors taken into account, this was the outcome they had reached today.
Thus, Hiruzen wished to prevent Homura from following the same path as Danzo.
Ending this matter here was the best choice.
More importantly, they needed to be vigilant against potential threats!