Chapter 111: Uzumaki Ashina: I Am Willing to Serve in the Future

Chapter 111: Uzumaki Ashina: I Am Willing to Serve in the Future

Mu stared coldly at Hozuki Gengetsu for a moment before suddenly laughing. "To study your clan's techniques and find weaknesses, I did collect your blood—though it turned out to be useless in the end."

He hadn't expected it to end up being used by Hyuga Fuji.

"…I see, so you really were looking for trouble on purpose," Hozuki Gengetsu said, pausing mid-action as countless bubbles appeared around him.

Mu's expression grew steady, his hand gathering the brilliance of Dust Release.

Their gazes clashed for an instant, and they were immediately locked in battle. Around them, scarlet chakra began to seep into the air.

'So you flew up here because I messed with you, and now you're messing with me?'

'Of course not! I need your help.'

In the midst of their clash, their eyes exchanged silent messages. Years of rivalry had forged a mutual understanding, allowing them to communicate without words.

After all, no one understands you better than your enemy. As opponents who respected each other, there was no need for explicit dialogue—just a glance or a movement was enough to convey their intent.

'You want to take down Hyuga Fuji?'

'No, we do!'

Hozuki Gengetsu squinted his eyes and suddenly spoke aloud. "You think he doesn't already know?"

"Of course he knows," Mu sighed. "But…"

"Then why not act openly? He hasn't bound us in any way," Hozuki Gengetsu said with a grin. "If even us dead men can't be subdued, he's got no right to rewrite the system. That's the confidence he has."

"As a gesture of respect, we should show the dignity expected of our predecessors!"

…

Watching the two former Kage locked in battle below, En Oyashiro's expression showed faint interest.

"Tailed Beast chakra shouldn't be able to affect them, right?"

Although it had been a while, he still recognized the faces of Mu and Hozuki Gengetsu.

Not to mention their signature jutsu was unmistakable.

Edo Tensei…

He had heard Orochimaru mention it before, but it had never seemed this terrifying. Had it been modified?

Hyuga Fuji glanced at En Oyashiro and replied nonchalantly, "They're just using the fight as an excuse to enjoy themselves and exchange information."

En Oyashiro looked at Hyuga Fuji in surprise, glancing back and forth between him and the two Kage below. He couldn't quite grasp Hyuga Fuji's motives.

Edo Tensei ninja wanting to rebel?

Then why hadn't Hyuga Fuji directly controlled them?

Pondering for a while, En Oyashiro failed to come up with a reasonable explanation. Shifting topics, he brought up what he had initially wanted to say.

"You seem to have been prepared before attacking this place. But is Konoha ready? They won't be able to handle the backlash from so many factions, will they?"

"I don't know what your relationship with Konoha is, but I've heard about the changes happening there recently. Aren't many of them your handiwork? Are you really going to watch it all be destroyed?"

"Change always comes with risk," Hyuga Fuji said calmly. "Hesitation brings consequences. Managing chaos is better than suppressing it… even if it means bloodshed—it has its benefits."

En Oyashiro's pupils contracted as understanding dawned on him.

So that's it.

He licked his dry lips and asked,

"…Where did Konoha get the intel about this place? It couldn't have come from you, right?"

While information about the island wasn't difficult to uncover, what had prompted Konoha to act had to involve details about its various transactions.

Such records wouldn't be left intentionally by merchants or nobles.

Instead, it was often those in the highest positions who collected such information as leverage—evidence they could use to wipe out competitors or confiscate assets when needed.

The art of turning on your own kind—some people excelled at it.

"The Daimyo of the Land of Fire," Hyuga Fuji said slowly.

"How neat and bloodless," En Oyashiro remarked with a tinge of admiration.

Having grasped the situation, he opened the door and left.

It seemed his next workplace would also be within the Land of Fire.

Of course, that was assuming Hyuga Fuji survived the impending backlash.

Even the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations had to handle places like this island carefully. Occasional underhanded moves were fine, but outright destruction would invite endless trouble.

Not to mention, Konoha already had plenty of enemies.

In the eyes of those factions, both Hyuga Fuji and Minato Namikaze were adversaries.

But…

As he stepped outside and saw the growing number of Edo Tensei ninja, En Oyashiro couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Hyuga Fuji had clearly prepared thoroughly.

But he had also made himself enemies.

By refusing to completely control the revived ninjas, he was giving them the chance to connect with each other in this era. Could he really be sure he wouldn't lose, Hyuga Fuji?

…

Not long after En Oyashiro left, Uzumaki Ashina stepped into the room, his expression complicated as he looked at Hyuga Fuji.

"I've found five in total."

"There are two more in the Land of Grass."

"…Thank you."

It was a bitter pill to swallow, realizing his clan members had fallen to such a state and that he had to rely on someone using Edo Tensei to save them.

Sighing inwardly, Uzumaki Ashina said to Hyuga Fuji, "I'll trouble you with their resettlement as well. In the future, I am willing to follow your commands."

Hyuga Fuji nodded slightly. "I'll be needing your help for what's coming."

This island was an excellent location for an experimental base. The various bloodline limit ninjas here were also exceptional material. Before leaving, everything had to be arranged carefully.

The surrendering bloodline ninjas also needed proper placement, along with experiments to test other abilities.

As Hyuga Fuji looked at the glowing green orb in his hand, a faint smile appeared on his face.

…

"Has the island been destroyed? Hyuga Fuji is truly remarkable," the Daimyo of the Land of Fire remarked as he reviewed the report handed to him. Hiding his face behind a fan, he turned to Homma, who stood at his side. "It seems Konoha's efforts to dismantle the black market are progressing smoothly."

His tone carried a deeper meaning, prompting Kazuma to bow his head. "My lord, the wealth on that island rivals that of entire nations. If Konoha brings it back to their village to develop, then our plans…"

The Daimyo chuckled and shook his head. "Without a sufficiently tempting bait, how would the fish take the hook?"

The island's treasures had been slowly transported there by merchants and nobles for their own indulgence. From luxurious architecture built with the finest jade to top-tier facilities, everything was of the highest quality.

Even their clothing was crafted by master tailors, with every stitch exuding unparalleled opulence.

It was a place more extravagant than even the Daimyo's own palace.

The buildings alone, if dismantled, could fetch astronomical prices.

And that didn't even account for the money, jewels, and kekkei genkai ninjas the merchants and nobles had brought with them.

After all, the greatest value of kekkei genkai users wasn't just their individual strength—it was their ability to pass on those powerful traits through their bloodlines.

Konoha, already lagging behind in some aspects, wouldn't be allowed to claim these treasures and bloodlines by other nations, would it?

Storm Release, Swift Release, Dark Release, Typhoon Release, Lava Release…

These bloodline limits, absent within Konoha, could develop into powerful clans within decades.

Would the shinobi nations and underground black markets really stand by and watch as Konoha claimed them?

(Chapter End)