Chapter 154: The Strongest Sage of This Era

It wasn't that the sages didn't want to approach Shanks—it was that, as sages, they understood exactly what sage power represented. 

And that was precisely why they feared him so much. 

Shanks had broken the very limits of sage mode. The rumors that he possessed Future Sight with his Observation Haki and a Conqueror's Haki so strong that the world itself rejected him only made him more terrifying. 

Who knew what would happen if they went looking for him? None of them wanted to die. 

What if Shanks just cut them down on the spot and used them as some kind of sacrifice?

After all, no one really knew what Shanks' "Reverse Sage Mode" was, and the idea of a sacrificial ritual wasn't unheard of. In fact, it even made sense. 

Shanks himself was practically a force that defied the natural order, while sages were considered the rightful path of this world. 

Top-tier sages all had their own unique abilities, so it wouldn't be surprising if someone as strong as Shanks had one too. 

Thinking about it this way, it all seemed reasonable. 

But not all sages were cowards afraid of death. The ninja world's history was long, and in such a long history, it wasn't unusual for a few eccentric sages to appear. 

Fukuda Seimeng was one of those outliers. 

The sages couldn't understand Shanks' way of thinking, and they couldn't understand Fukuda Seimeng's either. That seven-point-eight-billion bounty wasn't just for show. 

It was a true acknowledgment of Fukuda Seimeng's strength. Even if he was a little unhinged, to the sages of today, he was undeniably the strongest sage alive. 

"The strongest sage, huh?" 

The next day, Jiraiya left the capital of the Land of Fire. He had learned everything he needed to know. By now, the sages had already started investigating Shanks. 

Some sages had even set out to sea, hoping to gain more power from the Dragon Vein. 

Right now, there were over ten sages in the ninja world, but only two "Reverse Sages." 

One was Shanks. The other was Orochimaru. 

"This era really is something else… Shanks, that guy, he's not simple at all. He must have already seen the bigger picture of the ninja world, which is why he made his move at such a crucial moment." 

Jiraiya thought back to the first time he had met Shanks. Back then, Shanks was still in the process of breaking through—at his weakest. 

But Jiraiya knew that before that moment, Shanks must have spent a long time building up his power, only breaking through at the very last step. 

"With Shanks' determination and intelligence, no matter what the sages try, they won't be able to interfere with his plans. 

He's not someone who relies on small schemes to get what he wants. His intelligence is enough to outmaneuver the entire world—his path is the real, righteous one." 

After learning about everything, Jiraiya actually felt a sense of relief. 

Even though Shanks had never interacted with the sages, it was clear that he had already accounted for them in his plans. 

So what if he hadn't made contact with them? 

The sages had already seen the power of the Dragon Vein and were heading out to sea. 

Shanks didn't even need to make a move—they had walked straight into his plan on their own. 

The more Jiraiya thought about it, the more he realized his own mind couldn't keep up with Shanks' level of thinking. 

"That guy's brain really isn't normal. How can he plan things so far ahead? Even the sages ended up getting dragged into his game. 

Looks like the arrival of a new era was already set in stone long ago." 

"The only real wildcard left… might be that sage named Fukuda Seimeng." 

Fukuda Seimeng was said to be just as crazy as Shanks. 

And in a world like this, the ones who weren't right in the head were often the biggest variables. 

A few days later, Jiraiya returned to Mount Myoboku and made a quick trip to Ryuchi Cave, where he drove Orochimaru and his group out. 

Surprisingly, there wasn't much of a conflict. Orochimaru had only come to mess with the White Snake Sage, but after Jiraiya showed up, he started having second thoughts. 

Some things… were better left unknown. 

"Orochimaru-sama, did something happen?" 

Kabuto looked at Orochimaru's expression and immediately knew he was in a bad mood. 

And if Orochimaru was in a bad mood, there was an 80% chance it had something to do with Shanks. 

"…It's nothing. Shanks, that bastard… he really is despicable. He used me again." 

"The sages, after learning that I used the Dragon Vein's power to break through, couldn't sit still anymore. Now they're all rushing toward the open seas. The forces beyond the ninja world might already be stronger than what's left here. 

It's not just me—those sages got played too." 

Hearing Orochimaru's complaint, Kabuto didn't seem to care at all. Instead, he even smiled casually. 

"Orochimaru-sama, didn't you know from the start? Someone like Shanks would never be at a disadvantage. 

He's the biggest dealer at this new era's gambling table." 

"Besides, this kind of rough plan—any normal person can see through it. But in the end, they still can't resist the temptation of power. 

Even you, Orochimaru-sama. You knew things wouldn't be that simple, but you still chose to work with Shanks." 

Kabuto had always seen things clearly. 

When Orochimaru set his sights on the Dragon Vein back then, didn't he know it would come at a price? Of course, he did. 

But he had no choice. 

Even knowing the risks, he still had to go along with it. That was the brilliance of Shanks—no tricks, just open schemes. You knew what was happening, but you still had to play along, sometimes even taking a loss just to cooperate with him. 

"Even though I understand it, it still feels so unfair." 

Orochimaru scratched his head in frustration. Ever since his dragon horns grew in, his head always felt itchy. 

Now, Orochimaru was tall and imposing, with wild white hair and a pair of dragon horns, making him look incredibly powerful. 

But he understood his own situation well. Even though he had gotten much stronger, after seeing Jiraiya again, Orochimaru became even more cautious. 

Jiraiya… had also grown much stronger. 

"Let's go! Hiruko has been pushing us to set sail." 

The people in Orochimaru's team were all top-tier. With researchers like Hiruko and Orochimaru himself, their strength was now among the best in the ninja world. 

Kabuto had also mastered the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave, officially stepping into the ranks of the strongest. The only question was how much of that power he could actually use in battle. 

As for Kimimaro, Kidomaru, Jirobo, and the others, 

Their strength was nothing to scoff at. They were among the best of the new generation, dominating their peers. 

Just looking at their track records was enough to see how ridiculous their abilities were. 

For example—Jirobo once got beaten by Shanks… and survived. 

That alone was enough to make Jirobo's name famous. 

And Kidomaru? There wasn't even a need to mention him. 

Right now, Shanks was still around. But in a few decades, when Shanks was gone, Kidomaru could probably even claim that Shanks himself would have shown him respect. 

Orochimaru had no shortage of strong people on his side. On top of that, his relationship with Dark was also complicated—they were technically allies. 

Though at this point, no one even knew where Dark had disappeared to. 

Meanwhile, in Land. 

Land had become a place where martial strength was highly valued. It couldn't be helped—pirates were everywhere, and bounty hunters were on the rise. 

The location of Land itself was just crazy. 

The Land of Waves and the Land of the Sea were just as chaotic, both swarming with pirates. 

But… no one dared to cause trouble there. 

Even the Five Great Nations wouldn't dare target the Land of Waves or the Land of the Sea, let alone some ordinary pirates. 

At this moment, after months away, Teuchi was finally preparing to return to Konohagakure. 

At first, he had only planned to be away for a month. But somehow, he had been gone for much longer. 

Stepping into the tavern, Ichiraku habitually glanced at the bounty posters on the wall. It was only after traveling that he learned about Shanks' true identity. 

"Teuchi! Long time no see. Were you out at sea again looking for ingredients?" 

The tavern owner, Sancha, poured him a cup of hot water. Yep, hot water was free. 

"This time, I came to say goodbye, Sancha. It's about time I head back to Konohagakure." 

Teuchi replied, but his eyes remained fixed on the bounty poster on the wall. 

"Really?" 

Sanchai was curious. Why would Teuchi suddenly decide to leave at a time like this? 

"I can't just leave the shop unattended forever, haha. Sanchai, if we get the chance, let's meet again in Konohagakure." 

Ichiraku took a sip of water and left Sanchai's tavern. 

Whether he returned to Konohagakure or not wasn't the main concern. What mattered more was that a madman seemed to have appeared nearby. If he didn't leave now, it might be too late. 

Teuchi squinted. Though his eyes weren't fully open, it was clear he was being extremely cautious. 

He just wanted to be a simple chef and didn't care about the affairs of the ninja world. Otherwise, he wouldn't have only just learned about Shanks. 

He really was nothing more than an ordinary person. 

"I'd better hurry back to Konohagakure!" 

Carrying his backpack, Teuchi took off running as fast as he could, even choosing a longer route to avoid trouble. 

But the next morning, when he woke up again, he found himself at sea—on a small fishing boat. 

Ichiraku sat up, rubbed the back of his head, then turned his gaze to the other person on the boat. 

At the bow, an old man lay sprawled out, snoring loudly. Each time he snored, strange ripples spread across the water around them. 

"Long time no see, Teuchi." 

The next moment, the old man opened his eyes. A wave of energy spread out from him, gathering around his body with a faint glow, making him look extraordinary. 

"Long time no see, Lord Kiyomu." 

Teuchi scratched his head. Great, now he had really been caught by this lunatic. 

"Don't worry. I'm an old man now. I won't do anything reckless." 

"Really?" 

"Hahaha, of course not." 

Fukuda Kiyomu burst into laughter. As if he could just sit around doing nothing. But even he hadn't expected that in this era, there would still be someone like Ichiraku—a sage. 

His strength wasn't anything special, but the fact that he had set his sights on Shanks made him stand out. There weren't many people like that anymore. 

Fukuda Kiyomu acknowledged this ramen sage. 

"I heard you're looking for Shanks too. Perfect, let's go together." 

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