Chapter 269: Monkey, Shut Your Damn Mouth!

Jiraiya lay sprawled on the ground, not even caring about the pain coursing through his body. Glaring furiously at Senju Tobirama, he shouted, "You actually killed the Sage Toads—do you even know what you've done?!"

Tobirama's fury only deepened, but at that moment—

Dozens of Flying Thunder God kunai flew in—Namikaze Minato had arrived to support them.

Although Minato didn't agree with some of Jiraiya's views, the fact remained—this man was still his sensei...

Tobirama evaded them with ease, but the moment a kunai passed by, Minato instantly teleported above his head—

—his hand already forming a swirling chakra sphere!

Long ago, after realizing the gap between himself and Kazuki, and witnessing the destructive power of Tailed Beast Bombs during the war, Minato collaborated with Jiraiya to develop a hand-sign-free ninjutsu most suited to him—

Its original name, inspired by one of Jiraiya's own clumsy creations, was Light Wheel Ice Pop – Double Jiraiya Spiral.

But after a harsh scolding from Kushina, the name was eventually changed to Rasengan...

"Got him..."

Minato stared intently at Tobirama's body, which had surged forward due to inertia, and said in a low voice, "This is Flying Thunder God: Second Stage!"

He drove the Rasengan down toward Tobirama—

But in that very moment, Tobirama's figure vanished, reappearing behind Minato—and smashed a punch into his back, sending him flying!

Compared to the ruthless force he'd used on Jiraiya, Tobirama had clearly held back against Minato.

Even though this blonde brat had also formed a summoning contract with Mount Myōboku, at least he still had some clarity of mind—perhaps he could still be salvaged.

"As a fellow Flying Thunder God user, you're trying to match instantaneous reflexes with someone like me who possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan..."

Tobirama said coldly, "You're still too green, kid."

"Did you see that? This is how my sensei fights!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen rapidly formed the hand seals for the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Behind him, a massive Shinigami began to manifest!

In Hiruzen's mind, Tobirama had let down his guard while speaking with Minato...

And only in this instant did he have the chance to complete the full set of seals.

Otherwise, Tobirama would've interrupted him for sure!

"Let me be the one to end this sin. But before that, I'll need all of you to help restrain him!"

Hiruzen's expression was solemn.

Truthfully, he didn't even know if he could successfully seal Tobirama...

But if he died in the attempt—then even if Tobirama's crimes against Kazuki couldn't be undone—his death would still prove that the Will of Fire wasn't entirely a lie...

That there were still Hokage willing to uphold it and believe in it!

Realizing that Hiruzen was not long for this world, Might Duy narrowed his eyes and said to Shisui in a low voice, "Young Master Shisui, your dōjutsu can push the human body to its utmost potential, right...?"

"Use that jutsu on me! I—Crazy Duy—will let my final burst of youth explode here and now, to protect Kazuki-sama!"

Given Tobirama's mobility, only Might Duy—by opening the Eighth Gate—had the sheer speed needed to keep him in check...

This was their last trump card.

One was Sarutobi Hiruzen's Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

The other—Might Duy's Eighth Gate!

And under Tobirama's Mangekyō Sharingan, he could clearly see it—these two men were putting their lives on the line!

"Stop!"

Tobirama suddenly shouted. Hiruzen had already pushed himself to the brink—he couldn't let Might Duy throw his life away too!

But his words were meaningless now.

Under the enhancement of Shisui's ocular technique, Might Duy had already begun the warm-up movements for opening the Eighth Gate...

And just then—

Tobirama's presence disappeared completely.

As if everything had been a ruse from the beginning—he had become utterly undetectable...

"Sensei… I'm still so far beneath you…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a bitter smile.

He had assumed that Tobirama had lost track of his earlier Flying Thunder God markings, which was why he'd gone to the Forest of Death and kept fighting them after turning against them.

But it now seemed—Tobirama had merely been adapting to the strength of his new body...

"I should've known. Someone like you, always ten steps ahead—even Kazuki was part of your calculations. There's no way you'd make such a rookie mistake…"

Gazing at the Shinigami that would soon claim his life, Hiruzen murmured, "So be it. If nothing else, let my death serve as atonement for yours."

And just as everyone was sinking into utter despair...

Senju Tobirama came back!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression lifted slightly, but he shook his head again.

"Sensei, we can't stop you… So why bother coming back just to mock us?"

"Some things aren't about whose fist is stronger being automatically right!"

But at that moment—

Senju Tobirama finally lost his composure. Even when he's about to die, they're still trying to smear him?

Tobirama pointed furiously at Hiruzen and shouted, "Monkey, shut your damn mouth!"

"I came here to ask for your help in saving Kazuki—can you all just let me finish what I'm saying for once?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen simply shook his head, refusing to respond. Even as the Shinigami's blade came swinging down upon him, he still said to the people of Konoha:

"Don't believe him…"

As the Reaper's blade made contact, Hiruzen regretfully closed his eyes.

It seemed he would never be able to deliver his final warning to the others...

He could only hope they wouldn't be deceived by Senju Tobirama!

But a moment later, when he didn't feel his soul being torn away by the Reaper, Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his eyes in astonishment—

Only to see the Mangekyō pattern rotating within Tobirama's eyes, and a brilliant blue barrier of flowing light surrounding his body.

Under the shield's protection, the Shinigami seemed unable to locate Hiruzen's soul. Roaring in frustration, the spirit soon vanished, begrudgingly and empty-handed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Tobirama in stunned silence...

So the forbidden jutsu he had offered his life for—wasn't even enough to affect his sensei?

"Alright, everyone shut up!"

Tobirama raised a finger and said with exasperation, "I really came back to save Kazuki… I've been wrongfully accused!"

Hiruzen looked at Tobirama as he moved back and forth, and had even saved him from the Reaper itself, and confusion stirred in his heart.

If he was only adapting to his new body...

Then why would he go out of his way to rescue a disciple who had just tried to drag him down with his own life?

Could it be...

Senju Tobirama really was innocent?

But if that were true—

A cold sweat suddenly soaked Hiruzen's back.

He felt an oppressive pressure greater than even the Shinigami's touch!

He would rather be dead than face this!

Meanwhile, within the Blackwater Nine-Dragon Coffin—

Kaguya and Kazuki stared at each other, his ocular power growing ever stronger, and her composure had utterly collapsed.

She—the progenitor of chakra—

Could she really be drained dry by Kazuki inside this coffin?

Why? Why?! She had clearly sealed off her chakra and couldn't feel it leaking at all.

Yet Kazuki continued to grow stronger at a pace visible to the naked eye!

This man…

Was utterly terrifying!

Though Kazuki still possessed the body of a mortal, his fearsome potential reminded Kaguya of the prodigies once legendary among her own clan...

Kazuki looked at the sheer terror in Kaguya's eyes and sighed helplessly.

"What's wrong? Want to talk about it?"

Kaguya immediately nodded frantically.

She desperately wanted to talk!

She wanted to tell Kazuki that she was the mother of the Sage of Six Paths—

Not the Sage himself!

...

[From the target Uchiha Shisui: You get 'Dōjutsu: Kagutsuhane', 'Dōjutsu: Butōgyoku', and Mangekyō ocular power!]

Dōjutsu: Kagutsuhane: Ignites the latent potential within a target's body using ocular power, triggering a temporary explosive increase in both physical and spiritual toughness and strength. After the effect ends, backlash occurs depending on how much potential was overdrawn. When used on non-dōjutsu users, it requires the target to either share a strong mental bond or be under control.

Dōjutsu: Butōgyoku: Consumes ocular power to heal the target's injuries, effective on both body and soul.

[From the target Uchiha Yashiro: You get 'Dōjutsu: Kanayano', 'Dōjutsu: Takemikazuchi', and Mangekyō ocular power!]

Dōjutsu: Kanayano: Greatly enhances physical functions—boosting strength, speed, and resistance to physical damage.

Dōjutsu: Takemikazuchi: Releases soul-damaging lightning, which can be adapted based on the user's mastery over lightning-nature chakra transformation. This lightning can be imbued into physical weapons.

After his conversation with Kaguya, the silent Goddess of the Divine Tree said nothing further—waiting for Kazuki to speak.

But Kazuki remained quiet, pondering the ocular techniques obtained from his younger brother and Yashiro...

They were perfectly aligned with his goals—and this was by design.

In a supernatural world, it all boils down to power. Everything hinges on whose fist is stronger...

Kazuki had already mastered a comprehensive array of destructive ninjutsu: the Five Elemental Releases, multiple chakra nature transformations, kekkei genkai, genjutsu, and even taijutsu.

Adding more of the same would only be redundant—yielding minimal substantive gains.

Instead, supportive and control-type abilities were what could truly raise Kazuki's upper limit.

Now, with Kanayano's drastic physical enhancement, Kagutsuhane's explosive potential awakening, and Butōgyoku's powerful healing...

These were exceptionally practical skills. Compared to an overabundance of techniques, these were what mattered most to Kazuki at this stage.

As for Takemikazuchi, the soul-piercing lightning—this was an unexpected bonus. Kazuki hadn't expected Yashiro to harbor such deep hatred toward Senju Tobirama...

Not even willing to spare his soul?

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