Chapter 35: The Remains of the Ten-Tails from a Thousand Years Ago

After a fierce internal struggle, he had made his decision: to call upon the entire village to abandon the cultivation of the Peacock Technique. 

If they delayed any longer, the Hoshigakure would eventually be destroyed by this stone. 

"Today, I've gathered everyone here to announce an extremely important matter regarding the 'Star'."

"This stone has always been regarded as the greatest treasure of our Hoshigakure, the cornerstone of our village's strength."

"But I must tell you all, this stone is the very reason so many in our village have died mysteriously!"

"We've all noticed, haven't we? More and more villagers are falling ill, and in recent years, many children have died young."

"It harms our bodies and affects our descendants; it is a cursed object! The First and Second Village Heads died because of it!"

Standing before all the villagers, Hoshikage sincerely called out. He could no longer accept the village's current path.

"What! Do you have evidence? Does it really cause sickness?"

"How could it be? This is our village's most precious treasure. Even the Hoshikage cannot desecrate it!"

"Could it be true? My child died just days after starting the cultivation."

Various discussions filled the village meeting. This news was too shocking for everyone in Hoshigakure.

Without this stone, there would be no Hoshigakure. This was like tearing out the village's foundation.

Hoshikage signaled everyone to be quiet and, looking around, seriously said:

"It's true. After a detailed investigation, I found that all the ninjas who died unexpectedly were deeply involved in cultivating the Peacock Technique."

The hall became increasingly restless. Who could accept that the village's precious treasure was instead a deadly curse?

"We will not accept this! Without the Peacock Technique, Hoshigakure will cease to exist!"

"Yes, without the power of the Star, how can we hold any position in the ninja world?"

Many ninjas in Hoshigakure, who thought like the so-called "First Hoshikage," voiced their objections.

They had never seen the vast world outside and stubbornly believed that the power of the Star could elevate them to the peak of the ninja world.

A ninja from Hoshigakure stood up, glaring and accusing, "Hoshikage, do you intend to monopolize this power?"

Other ninjas, as if waking to the same realization, joined in, "Yes, how could the Star be harmful? It's the source of our strength!"

Hoshikage paled. He had expected some reluctance to give up this power, but he hadn't anticipated the accusations against himself.

The ninjas below began to gather, eyeing the Star in Hoshikage's hands. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

"Hand it over, Hoshikage. You are unfit to lead our village, you treacherous fool!"

The ninja who had questioned him earlier now stood tall, pointing and shouting angrily at Hoshikage.

Echoes of agreement filled the hall. The situation had spiraled out of control. Hoshikage looked dazed, not expecting such a strong backlash.

Hanma stood on high ground, watching the scene unfold. Seeing that the villagers were about to fight, the kind-hearted Hanma decided to intervene.

If he took the stone, neither side would have anything to fight over.

Yes, this logic should work.

Taking out a comical mask, specially prepared for such mischievous deeds, with a large picture of Danzo on it.

"Shh—"

In an instant, Hanma snatched the Star from Hoshikage, playing with it in his hand.

The leading troublemaker's eyes widened, shouting, "An intruder! Prepare for battle!"

He then turned back to Hoshikage, yelling, "See? If others are coming to steal it, how could you want to abandon it?"

Hanma had no high expectations for this so-called Star. 

But when he opened his senses to probe the little thing, he was pleasantly surprised. 

This strange stone had an aura similar to that of a tailed beast!

Hanma, who had interacted with Uzumaki Mito since childhood and had encountered other Jinchuriki while serving in the Anbu, was familiar with the tailed beasts' aura.

This stone had a reaction very similar to a tailed beast's chakra—chaotic and violent, though not in significant quantity.

"This so-called Star might be a remnant of the Ten-Tails!"

Back when the Sage of Six Paths chose a successor for the ninja creed, one major task was to cleanse the ninja world of the Ten-Tails' remnants.

However, no matter how thorough the cleansing, some remnants were inevitably overlooked.

Hanma took immediate action. This kind of high-level item, with its potential for mutation, had endless uses.

"Peacock Technique: Beast Form!"

Pinkish chakra poured from the backs of the Hoshigakure ninjas, shaping into tigers, leopards, and other forms.

Hanma frowned. This peculiar chakra release method seemed indelicate, akin to expelling some kind of gas—it hardly matched the elegance associated with a peacock.

Effortlessly dodging the Hoshigakure ninjas' attacks, Hanma was in no hurry to retaliate. He observed their techniques, wanting to understand how much they had developed the Star's power over a hundred years in seclusion.

Casually destroying a chakra tiger, Hanma assessed the strength of the technique, releasing a bit of his blood chakra to absorb the dispersed chakra.

"The strength is lacking, but the nature of the chakra has indeed changed—it's more resilient and denser."

The villagers watched in shock as their attacks proved completely ineffective. To them, the Peacock Technique's power was supposed to be unbeatable!

Hoshikage, seeing how easily Hanma evaded, grew solemn. "Sure enough, it brings disaster."

He stepped forward decisively. Whether the village continued using the Star's power was their business, not for outsiders to interfere.

"Everyone, follow orders: wartime status, Peacock Technique: Charging Form!"

The ninjas' expressions hardened, and they quickly focused, forming hand seals to gather chakra.

Hoshikage shouted, his pinkish chakra forming a pair of large wings. He soared into the sky, looking down coldly at Hanma.

"Outsider, return our village's treasure or die here!"

A trace of a smile appeared on Hanma's lips. Interesting, a flying form.

In the ninja world, flight was precious and held immense strategic value.

He applauded, signaling Hoshikage to proceed with his technique.

Anger flashed in Hoshikage's eyes. How arrogant was this outsider, underestimating the power of the Star!

All the Hoshigakure ninjas channeled their chakra towards Hoshikage, forming a vast purple dragon.

"Peacock Technique: Ultimate Move—Purple Dragon!"

The enormous dragon roared towards Hanma, covering him completely.

"This is the price for underestimating Hoshigakure."

Hoshikage said proudly. Yet he quickly grew worried—this attack once again highlighted the danger of the Star's power.

The villagers were already reluctant to give up cultivation; now, things would be even more difficult.

Watching the purple dragon continue its rampage, Hoshikage considered the village's future anxiously.

"Hoshikage, be careful. Something's wrong!"

The previously formidable purple dragon let out a scream, its enormous body rapidly shrinking, absorbed into Hanma.

An uncontrollable chakra source was the perfect feast for Hanma's blood energy.

"Zoom—"

A massive sonic boom erupted. Hanma flicked his fingers, releasing gathered chakra with immense force.

Each flick incapacitated a Hoshigakure ninja. They fell like wheat being harvested.

"Interesting. The chakra usage is akin to a perfect Jinchuriki sharing a tailed beast cloak with the ninja alliance."

Hanma remarked, targeting specifically the ones who had insisted on continuing to cultivate the Star's power.

Tucking the Star carefully, Hanma pondered the uses of the Ten-Tails' remains and then departed from the now-silent village.