Chapter 46 Sage Mode
On April 3rd, it was a sunny day.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, a group of five people entered a relatively bustling town in the Land of Hot Water.
The Land of Hot Water was renowned in the ninja world for its hot springs and beautiful natural surroundings, making it a popular destination for tourists. As they walked through the town's streets, they could see numerous hot spring inns of all sizes, as hot springs were abundant throughout the Land of Hot Water.
In the heart of this town stood a large three-story pharmacy with a prominent symbol of the Purple Orchid flower on its signboard.
It was clear that this pharmacy was a branch of the Purple Orchid Medical Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of the Demon Country. In just a year, this corporation had expanded its operations across various countries in the ninja world. Even in smaller nations, the Purple Orchid's emblem was a familiar sight, and people were aware of the company's presence.
Two guards, one male and one female, stood at the entrance of the pharmacy, dressed in black hooded coats with the Purple Orchid emblem on their backs, making them easily recognizable.
Among the five individuals entering the pharmacy, the leader was a man.
Upon arriving on the third floor of the pharmacy, they approached a specific room, and the leader exchanged glances with the other four, instructing them to wait outside while he entered the room alone.
After closing the door behind him, the leader addressed the financial expert sitting on a couch, saying, "Mr. Kakuzu, it's been a while."
Kakuzu, the financial expert sitting on the couch, gave him a brief glance and spoke in his usual low tone, "I've completed last month's financial work; please settle the payment."
"Of course."
The leader glanced at the sealed documents that were already on the desk. These were the financial records that Kakuzu had prepared independently. After half a year of collaboration, they had come to trust both Kakuzu's financial abilities and his character. The leader placed a black briefcase on the coffee table in front of Kakuzu.
Rather than transferring the money to his account, Kakuzu insisted on receiving cash; he needed to see the actual currency to feel at ease. In this regard, Kakuzu was a practical man.
Ignoring the leader, Kakuzu opened the briefcase and began counting the money bill by bill. After counting three times, he was satisfied and closed the briefcase.
"The amount matches."
"We've been working together for a while; you don't have to count the money in front of me every time, right?" the leader sighed.
"No, in this world, only money can be trusted."
Kakuzu stood up from the couch, holding the briefcase, and turned to the leader with these words.
Implicitly, their collaboration was based solely on money. Money was something he could trust, and it would not betray him, nor would he betray it. Money was his true friend; everything else was not.
"Well, I wish you a prosperous business."
"That's a given. Also, I've noticed that the bounty on your head has been rising rapidly recently. I hope to see your name in my bounty hunter's ledger soon."
Kakuzu produced a ledger containing high-value bounty targets. However, the leader's name was not in it. He knew the leader had the qualifications to be included, but his reputation was not sufficient yet. So, the leader's name would only appear in another ledger containing lower-level bounty targets.
"It's terrifying to be targeted by Mr. Kakuzu. Perhaps I should consider pausing my career as a bounty hunter for a while."
The leader said with a smile.
Kakuzu glanced at the leader but didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he picked up the briefcase and left the room.
Not long after Kakuzu left, the four companions who had been waiting outside entered the room. They saw the leader sitting at the desk, examining the financial documents Kakuzu had left behind.
"We have received some information."
One of them said.
The leader put down the documents, looked up, and asked, "What kind of information?"
"It's about the Root from Konoha."
"Root from Konoha? What are they doing in the Land of Hot Water? It's not a holiday season now, is it?"
The leader chuckled.
He knew that their organization took the Root, a secretive branch of Konoha hidden deep within the village, seriously. They had been secretly gathering information on Root because when Root operatives were active, it meant that Konoha was up to something behind the scenes.
"We don't know. Based on information obtained accidentally by our informants, they apparently attacked a small village with less than a hundred residents yesterday. After that, they seemed to be operating in the southern part of the Land of Hot Water."
"They attacked a village in the Land of Hot Water?"
If they had come to the Land of Hot Water to steal something important from the village of Hot Shinobi, it would not have been surprising. However, attacking a small village didn't make sense and didn't align with Root's interests.
"We don't know the specifics."
"Then let's go meet these Root guys. We can't underestimate them."
In the dimly lit forest at dusk, four figures moved quickly through the dense trees. They wore cloaks and masks with elaborate designs. Each of them carried a child, and they had a total of eight children with them as they headed in a particular direction.
The four moved in silence, with no words exchanged, only focused on moving forward.
Suddenly, they all felt an eerie and chilling presence spreading through the forest. This strange aura seemed to come from all directions, and its source couldn't be pinpointed.
"Be cautious!"
One of them called out, and the other three immediately stopped, their guard up, scanning their surroundings.
Then, a brilliant white light illuminated the area ahead, briefly lighting up the entire forest. It was a fleeting moment that would have been easy to miss if one wasn't paying close attention.
The Root members became alert, their eyes behind their masks locked onto the sudden burst of intense light. While they remained vigilant, they also couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"An optical illusion?"
It seemed like that might be the case. After the brief flash of light, nothing else happened.
Although they were infuriated by what appeared to be a low-level provocation, as members of Root, they couldn't be easily provoked.
The Root operatives placed the children on the ground and one of them quickly began forming hand seals, channeling chakra within himself. Since they didn't know where the enemy was, they decided to launch an indiscriminate attack to force them out of hiding.
"Wind Release: Wind—Ah!"
The Root operative who was about to perform the Wind Release jutsu suddenly let out a pained scream. A massive, grotesque, insect-like growth protruded from his chest, looking extremely horrifying.
The other three Root operatives were shocked and didn't understand what had just happened.
One of them rushed over, gathering green chakra in his palms to begin healing his comrade. However, before he could do anything, he, too, let out a scream of agony as an equally grotesque insect-like growth manifested on his chest.
He writhed in pain on the ground.
Suddenly, the temperature in the forest skyrocketed. Ten or more fireballs rushed towards them from the front. As they tore through the air, tongues of fire danced, casting a fiery glow on the masks of the Root operatives.
"Watch out!"
The Root operative who had first been infested by the insect-like growths quickly pushed aside his comrade, who was trying to heal him but had also fallen victim to the affliction. Despite the excruciating pain, he managed to stand and began forming hand seals to release a jutsu to defend against the incoming fireballs.
This time, the insect-like growth on his chest expanded in an even more exaggerated manner, inflating his body like a giant, rolling balloon.
With a loud bang,
an explosion occurred in place.
Charred flesh scattered everywhere, accompanied by intense flames.
Two Root shinobi, along with the team's sole medical ninja, hurriedly escaped the pursuit of the fireball.
They had already suspected that their comrade's death was related to the release of ninjutsu. Thus, when their comrade's body exploded due to the ninjutsu release, they knew that using ninjutsu was undoubtedly fatal.
To make matters worse, the team's only medical ninja was also affected.
A massive insect-like lump appeared on their bodies, as if it had a life of its own, gently pulsating within the flesh on their chest.
Swoosh, swoosh! Suddenly, five figures stood upright on the surrounding trees, surrounding them.
"Are you guys... the Insect Clan?"
One of the two surviving Root shinobi seemed to recognize the appearance and figures of these five individuals.
It was the Insect Clan, a mercenary group that had gained some notoriety in the underground black market in recent years. They were known for taking money to eliminate problems.
"How honored we are that the name of our mercenary group has made its way onto the list of Konoha's Root division."
The man named Chudan had his hands in his pockets, looking down at the three remaining Root shinobi from above.
"Damn it!"
Since they knew the opponents were a mercenary group from the underground black market, it meant that someone had targeted them, the Root division, and wanted the lives of their shinobi.
But in a fight, their deceased comrade was the key. If they used chakra, their bodies would develop those strange insect-like lumps, leading to their deaths in a burst.
"Let's go."
Without giving the Root shinobi a chance to strategize, Chudan and his four members descended directly from the trees and began hunting the Root shinobi.
"Ahh!"
Occasional screams of agony and explosions echoed from the forest. In just a minute, only the medical ninja who had been tortured by the insect-like lump remained alive.
One of the two Root shinobi died in the explosion, and the other perished in the fiery onslaught of fire-style jutsu.
"Take him back and see if we can find any useful information."
Chudan broke the limbs of the medical ninja, injected him with a sedative to prevent suicide during interrogation.
"What should we do with these kids?"
"Take them to a nearby town and let the officials from the Land of Hot Water handle it. It's not our concern."
…
At the Land of Hot Water's stronghold,
A masked interrogator, dressed in gray-white attire with a white featureless mask and a violet asterisk emblem on the back, emerged from the interrogation room.
Upon seeing the interrogator come out, Chudan approached and asked, "How did it go? Did you obtain any useful information?"
"This Root team didn't know much. They were here in the Land of Hot Water on orders from their superiors to abduct children."
"Abduct children? Is it for training purposes?"
Chudan pondered.
"If that's the case, it would be better to look for children with special attributes. After all, Root wouldn't allow ordinary individuals to join."
The interrogator analyzed.
"You're right."
Chudan nodded. The eight children abducted by this Root team were just ordinary people, with nothing remarkable about them, worth abducting by Root shinobi for training.
"In that case, that guy is no longer useful. Dispose of him without leaving a trace."
Unable to decipher the purpose of Root's presence in the Land of Hot Water and their abduction of children, Chudan said to the interrogator.
"Don't worry, when it comes to handling corpses, our Interrogation Division is professional."
Watching Chudan leave, the interrogator reopened the rusty iron door and walked back inside.
…
In a cold laboratory, a dozen or so children stared vacantly at the pale walls and the almost-white overhead lights.
Several medical ninja wearing white masks surrounded them, injecting them.
Squelch!
Squelch!
Squelch!
Numerous trees sprouted from inside these children's bodies, spraying blood everywhere.
Outside, through the glass walls, Danzo watched indifferently as everything happened inside. He was accompanied by two elite Root shinobi.
Before long, one of the medical ninja walked out of the laboratory.
"Lord Danzo, the experiment failed."
"I know, we'll use a new batch."
"But if we continue like this..."
The medical ninja's face showed signs of distress, and he lowered his head deeply, his body trembling slightly.
"I'll give you two more months. You must cultivate an adult. As for the experimental subjects, don't worry; we have as many as we need."
Danzo's icy gaze pierced the medical ninja's heart.
"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo. I... I can't go on. You should find someone else."
The medical ninja's voice trembled.
Danzo looked at him coldly, grunting in displeasure.
Just as he was about to say something, a large number of figures suddenly burst through the iron door from outside.
Danzo's two elite guards immediately formed a defensive stance to protect him.
However, when they recognized the identity of the intruders, they were momentarily stunned.
Dressed similarly but with different mask designs, they were ANBU operatives directly under the Hokage.
At least four squads, a full team's worth of operatives.
Danzo narrowed his eyes and looked at the ANBU leader.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Sarutobi's face was dark, and he didn't say a word. He walked up to Danzo and ordered the medical ninja conducting the experiments, "Stop the Wood Release experiments, and all of you leave."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hearing the Hokage's command, the medical ninja breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left the laboratory.
"Danzo, I should have requested you to stop the Wood Release experiments two months ago. Why did you continue them secretly?"
Sarutobi stared at Danzo, his eyes containing simmering anger.
Although he had tacitly allowed the Wood Release experiments to happen, it was under the condition that Konoha's shinobi volunteered for them. Due to the slow progress and extremely low success rate, all the Konoha shinobi who volunteered had died in the experiments, and their deaths were recorded as casualties in the line of duty, with compensation provided to their families.
At that time, the Wood Release experiments had been halted by him as Hokage, and he had forbidden anyone else from conducting such experiments.
Facing Sarutobi's anger, Danzo remained stubborn and said, "I did this for the sake of Konoha. As long as we can cultivate a Wood Release shinobi, the sacrifices of those people will have meaning."
"In the Land of Rain, the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Tea... what you've been doing these days, dispatching Root shinobi into these countries, I believe you understand better than I do."
Sarutobi sighed.
"Fortunately, there haven't been any international disputes. I can forgive you this time, but it won't happen again. Erase all traces and data."
"At this time, stopping the Wood Release experiments, you will regret it. Sarutobi."
Danzo knew that with Sarutobi's intervention in this matter, the Wood Release experiments would come to an end here. He felt bitter about it.
Because he wasn't the Hokage, he could only obey Sarutobi's orders, and he expected that he would be subjected to even stricter surveillance afterward.
But this matter wouldn't end here.
Cultivating a Wood Release shinobi for Root was of great significance.
With Wood Release, they would no longer fear the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, and they might even be able to control the Tailed Beasts.
In that case... the position of Hokage would also be within reach.
Danzo left with his two elite Root shinobi, and Sarutobi's face showed a hint of melancholy.
Danzo had really crossed the line this time.
When did he become so ruthless?
Dealing with the Uchiha clan like this and now with the Wood Release experiments.
Danzo, this is my last time tolerating you. If there's another time, I'll definitely...
Sarutobi watched Danzo's departure and made a silent determination in his heart.
…
On the second day, in the morning.
Hiruzen arrived early at the Hokage's office, looking at the village bathed in the morning sunlight. It was a scene of tranquility and peace, and he smiled.
But when he thought of what happened with Danzo yesterday, his expression turned troubled.
After gazing out the window for a while, Hiruzen pushed aside these thoughts and began his work for the day.
As he got into his work, various Jonin and Chunin came to receive missions suited to their abilities. For Hiruzen, this routine had become quite familiar.
Around ten o'clock, the office door opened once more.
Rui walked in.
Not long ago, a Genin from her team had passed the intelligence exam. He had submitted his resignation yesterday, stating that he would work at Konoha's Intelligence Division.
Rui had not opposed this decision. Compared to regular teams, the work at the Intelligence Division was slightly busier but had high security. Moreover, the monthly salary was stable. Due to the smaller number of operatives, even probationary agents received good benefits. After all, such specialized talents were highly sought after in Konoha, just like medical ninjas.
"Here's the information on your team's new member. If he doesn't seem suitable, you can request a replacement."
Hiruzen handed over a file to Rui, containing the details of her team's new member.
Rui accepted it calmly and quickly scanned through the information. It was a boy with a kappa hairstyle and thick eyebrows, and he had gleaming white teeth.
He appeared to be quite physically fit.
"What do you think?"
"I guess he'll do."
Rui nodded. She didn't have any specific requirements for the Genin she led, and she didn't need to achieve any particular accomplishments herself.
She had taken on missions only because the Uchiha Guard Duty was too boring and wanted some excitement.
With the information about the new member in hand, Rui didn't linger in the office and headed to the designated meeting point for her team.
"Rui-sensei."
When she arrived at the meeting point, two children around ten years old were waiting there. They happily called out when they saw Ruri.
In her team now, there were only two Genin left, as one had gone to work at Konoha's Intelligence Division.
"Hayate, hasn't the new guy arrived yet?"
"No, we haven't seen him yet."
Hayate, one of the Genin, shook his head while holding a toothpick in his mouth.
"He's probably on his way; there's still half an hour until the agreed time."
The boy in black ninja attire, wearing black sunglasses, said.
They waited there for about fifteen minutes when suddenly a boy with a kappa hairstyle came running towards them.
"He finally arrived! We've been waiting for ages. Let's hope he doesn't bore us to death later."
Hayate smirked maliciously.
"I remember this guy..."
The boy with black sunglasses seemed to recognize the newcomer.
Breathing heavily, the newcomer stood before Ruri's group, grinned, and displayed his dazzling white teeth.
"Hello, I'm Might Guy, and I'm joining this team from today. Please take care of me!"
"..."
Those teeth were extremely bright.
His green outfit looked odd.
This seemed to be the unanimous thought in Rui's group.
"Uchiha Rri, the Jonin of this team and also the captain. Proficient in Fire Release and Taijutsu, but not skilled in Genjutsu."
Ruri nodded. The information matched precisely with the person standing before her, especially the proficiency in Taijutsu.
"Huh?"
Might Guy's face showed astonishment.
Why wasn't she skilled in Genjutsu? Se was an Uchiha ninja, after all. It seemed rather strange.
Hayate approached and patted Might Guy on the shoulder with a malicious smile.
"Guess you'll find out soon enough, newbie. I'm Natsuhirogengen, nice to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you."
Once again, Might Guy displayed his gleaming white teeth.
"I'm Ebisu, and my interests are..."
The boy with the black sunglasses began introducing himself.
"Reading hentai novels."
Hayate chimed in.
"That's right, my interest is reading hentai novels... Wait, why hentai novels?"
Ebisu's face turned bright red, and he protested loudly.
"Enough of that..."
Rui interrupted their meaningless conversation.
"You three, stop discussing nonsense. The newcomer will spar with me; that's the tradition."
Rui stood nearby and spoke.
"Yes, Rui-sensei."
Hayate and Ebisu watched the scene unfold with indifference. The newcomer had impressive speed and strength, but for them, he was nothing compared to their 'Ruri-sensei,' who seemed like a demon in their eyes."
"Are you up for a fight? That's exactly what I want – my youthful spirit is already blazing!"
Upon hearing the opportunity to spar with Rui, a Jonin, Might Guy didn't show any fear. Instead, he was excited to give it a try, and his heart raced with anticipation.
Opportunities to practice with a Jonin were rare, so Guy intended to make the most of it and leave a strong impression.
Rui glanced at him, then retrieved a shuriken from her ninja pouch, placed it on her finger, and spun it.
"Alright then, let's get started."
With those words, Rui flicked her palm, and the spinning shuriken shot toward Guy like a black lightning bolt.
Guy's face registered surprise as the shuriken's speed was so swift that he couldn't dodge it. He quickly drew a kunai to block it, but his arm stung with pain, causing him to grimace visibly.
Is this the strength of a Jonin? Just a regular shuriken possessed such power.
Guy felt his determination surge.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Without hesitation, after blocking the shuriken, Guy aggressively launched an attack against Rui.
Hayate and Ebisu watched the scene with impassive expressions. Although the newcomer displayed impressive speed and strength, when facing Mr. Rui, who appeared as an intimidating figure to them, it hardly amounted to more than a playful skirmish.
"As expected, Rui effortlessly evaded his combination kicks.
Might Guy didn't feel discouraged. If he could easily land a hit on a Jonin, then that Jonin wouldn't be a Jonin at all.
Even though it was just a test, Might Guy intended to give it his all in this battle.
"Eight Inner Gates - Open!"
To the astonishment of Genma and Ebisu, Meitakei's speed and strength surged once more.
"What?"
Might Guy's brow furrowed as he watched his attacks effortlessly dodged by Rui.
It was too easy.
Even though she was a Jonin, there was a strange feeling surrounding her.
No matter the kind of attack or how much he pushed his limits, he couldn't even graze Rui's clothes.
"Rui-sensei, you're really ruthless."
Hayate and Ebisu, seated on the ground, sighed as they watched Might Guy's relentless attacks. Behind them, sitting on a stone pipe, was someone else.
"I just wanted to confirm if this guy is as bad at Genjutsu as the intel said. Seems the intel was right. But that Eight Inner Gates... interesting little kid."
The person sitting behind Hayate and Ebisu was none other than Rui.
Aside from throwing a single shuriken at the beginning, she had been sitting there, observing Meitakei's performance.
"Damn it! Why can't I land a hit?"
Ten minutes later, Might Guy, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, stared at Rui. He felt like his limbs were cramping even though she hadn't attacked him.
"I give up. I can't go on."
Might Guy couldn't persist any longer, so he collapsed on the ground and conceded the match to Rui.
"You did well, but just so you know, Rui left about two minutes ago."
Hayate and Ebisu walked over, helping Might Guy up from the ground.
"What?"
Might Guy was taken aback. She left two minutes ago? Then who had he been fighting?
He looked ahead, but the area was empty.
What was going on?
"It's a Genjutsu," Hayate explained.
"Genjutsu? Don't mess with me; Rui-sensei doesn't even have Sharingan."
Might Guy looked skeptical.
"No, it's indeed Genjutsu. The moment you blocked Rui-sensei's shuriken with your kunai, you fell under Genjutsu. It's a unique Genjutsu triggered by contact with a tool. We've been through this before, looking like idiots, swinging at the air on an empty field."
Ebisu pushed up his glasses and said.
"..."
Might Guy recalled Rui's earlier introduction.
"But Rui-sensei said she's worst at Genjutsu..."
"If a Jonin says they're worst at Taijutsu compared to Ninjutsu or Fire Release, can you win against them with just Taijutsu?"
Hayate rolled his eyes.
Might Guy still looked puzzled.
"When she says she's not good at it, it means she's just 'average' in Genjutsu compared to her Taijutsu and Fire Release skills. Don't take it literally. Even if you did, don't judge with the eyes of a Genin. It could be fatal."
"Alright, stop thinking so much. This is the sponsorship money Rui-sensei left for us. Let's go eat barbecue together."
Hayate consoled Might Guy and then magically produced a stack of bills, the money Rui left them for the barbecue.
Meat! Meat!
Meat! Meat!
…
Uchiha Clan Territory
In an underground laboratory, Shiroshi, who was conducting experiments with Bunsen burners and test tubes, noticed some movement behind her and turned around.
"Weren't you supposed to meet the new member today? Why are you back so soon?"
The woman who appeared there had long black hair, and she was Rui.
"I came back to get some medical supplies."
Rui skillfully opened a cabinet and began searching for medical equipment.
Setting down his work, Shiroshi turned his head and asked, "By the way, Rui, do you want to try it yourself?"
"Try what?"
Rui stopped her actions and looked puzzled by the question.
"Sage Jutsu."
Shiroshi smiled, keeping his words concise.
…
In the midst of a training ground surrounded on three sides by a forest and facing a towering rocky wall, Rui stood at the center.
Adjusting her breath, she slightly lowered her body. With her chakra and the natural energy integrated into her body, she could instantly manipulate them through her thoughts, turning them into the nature of flames. Thus, with a simple hand seal, Rui completed the release of a Fire Release Ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The temperature in the vicinity rose sharply, and the air became filled with scorching energy. Then, at a visible speed, the air began to distort as a massive and fierce fireball danced wildly forward.
The moment this fireball appeared, it crushed any resistance that might arise. In terms of diameter, it was at least eight meters or more.
In the eyes of onlookers, the areas through which the fireball passed began to warp and deform.
It carved deep semicircular tracks on the ground, charging forward at high speed. With a deafening crash, it collided with the towering rock wall ahead.
Even the power of dozens of exploding tags detonating simultaneously couldn't match the magnitude of this single fireball.
The impact left a crater on the rock wall slightly larger than the fireball's diameter, and the searing flames continued to flicker within the crevices, turning the hard stones into a fiery red hue and emitting scorching heat.
Anyone standing nearby would likely have their windpipes burned from a single breath.
"Is this the enhancement from Sage Mode?" Rui looked at her hands, sensing that this Sage Mode Fire Release was somewhat different from the one she had used several years ago. The amplification's power wasn't as immense, but it was more stable.
"How does it feel, the prototype of the Sage Mode?" Shiroshi approached from the side and asked with a smile.
"Everything except for the power is fine," Rui replied.
"It can't be helped; this is a prototype of the Sage Mode, designed to prioritize safety in performance by reducing the amplification of Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu. My experiments have always been built on stability."
Shiroshi explained.
"Does this mean that with further training in the complete Sage Mode, the amplification can be increased?"
"That's right. After all, it's a prototype of the Sage Mode. There is room for improvement in many aspects."
But judging from the Ninjutsu she had just unleashed, even in the prototype Sage Mode, the amplification power of Fire Release was remarkable.
Under normal circumstances, Rui's Great Fireball Technique had a diameter of about four meters, but after entering the prototype Sage Mode, the fireball's diameter increased to over eight meters.
Its power had increased several times at the very least.
"It doesn't matter. The power you can't control is not real power. This is already more than enough for me to use." Rui clenched her fist, feeling the immense strength within her. Both her physical and mental states were superior to her usual state.
This Sage Mode, which excelled in stability, could be used continuously in battle without the drawbacks of other imperfect Sage Modes. This made it more suitable for her.
Shiroshi smiled but didn't say anything.
"Are you satisfied? Shall we move on to the Sage Mode's chakra and test other techniques?" Shiroshi asked next.
"No need to trouble you. Through the Great Fireball just now, I've already understood the limits of this Sage Mode's enhancement for Ninjutsu. Next is Taijutsu," Rui replied.
"Do you need a test subject?" Shiroshi inquired.
"I've already found a perfect candidate," Rui said.
With that, she disappeared from her spot.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the training ground, a hidden operative who had been secretly observing the situation from beneath the soil saw Rui vanish and couldn't hear her conversation with Shiroshi. Since she had her back turned to him and her mouth wasn't visible, he had no idea what they had discussed.
However, he could clearly witness Rui testing the Fire Release Ninjutsu, and it had become extraordinarily fearsome. It was apparent that she had some powerful technique that could greatly enhance the Great Fireball Technique.
This vital information needed to be relayed back.
But before he could retreat, he saw Rui vanish from his field of vision. He realized that his location had likely been detected.
He immediately began moving backward within the earth, preparing to escape from the area.
In the next moment, a deafening sound of earth shattering filled the forest, dust and debris scattered, and numerous rocks were sent flying. The hidden operative, who had just jumped out of the ground, was in shock from the sheer force of Rui's attack.
This strange power... he had only seen it once before, possessed by one of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade.
When had this Uchiha girl learned such a bizarre power?
What was going on?
Rui stood at the edge of the crater, calmly observing the now exposed Root operative. Her gaze was sharp, like a blade, imposing immense pressure on the Root ninja.
The Root ninja's face beneath the mask was soaked in cold sweat. Before he could react, Rui vanished from his sight again.
He tried to find Rui's figure, but there was nothing in front of him. At the moment of the atmospheric explosion, his body was sent flying toward the training ground where Rui had tested the Sage Mode.
After a brutal impact with the ground, he climbed out of the resulting crater, his body covered in blood. His right arm was twisted and broken, rendering it completely useless.
The mask on his face had cracked, falling to the ground, revealing the bloodied face of a young man, with blood dripping from his mouth.
He glanced at the slowly approaching Rui, seemingly having ample time to dispose of him, showing no concern that he might escape.
The Root ninja also understood that there was no way he could run away now, nor could he transmit the information from this location. With determination in his heart, he dragged his agonizing body and charged directly toward Shiroshi.
Even if it meant his own death, he would drag someone else down with him.
According to the intelligence, this guy was a medical ninja. Even though he was severely injured now, he could still take someone with him.
Seeing the Root ninja rushing towards Shiroshi, Rui simply glanced at him and made no attempt to stop him.
Shiroshi remained motionless where he stood, allowing the Root ninja's hand to touch his body.
"Victory!"
The Root ninja's face lit up with joy for a moment but was soon replaced by astonishment.
"Guhh—"
He found himself trapped within a massive water sphere, drowning as water gushed into his mouth. He struggled painfully inside the water, coughing up bubbles as he fought for breath.
Was this Water Prison Jutsu?
When had this happened?
The Root ninja couldn't comprehend what was happening before his eyes. The opponent hadn't formed any hand seals, so when did the Water Prison Jutsu come into play?
Could it have been triggered the moment he touched the opponent's body?
This guy's Ninjutsu... was truly treacherous!
With his last remaining strength, he forced his eyes open and stared at Shiroshi's innocent smile. In his mind, there was only one thought.
This was a trap Water Prison Jutsu that activated when someone attacked his body.
Setting up such a trap on his own body to ambush enemies who weren't familiar with his combat style was indeed a cunning tactic.
Moreover, he realized that the information Root had gathered about Shiroshi was shockingly inaccurate.
"How many mechanisms have you set up on yourself?" Rui walked over indifferently, shaking her head as she watched the scene.
"Let me explain. I'm very fond of my own life, after all. This technique is a combination of the Body Flicker Technique and Water Prison Jutsu. How do you like it? Although it's not very offensive, for people who don't know me and make contact with me for the first time, they'll be controlled by the Water Prison, allowing me to do as I please."
Shiroshi said with a grin.
Although his safety was primarily the responsibility of the Shadow Dancer within him, in situations where the Shadow Dancer couldn't handle it, the trigger mechanisms on his body had their uses.
This was an opportunity for Shiroshi to test how well this technique worked in actual combat, which was why he didn't let the Shadow Dancer control the Root ninja.
So far, it seemed that there were no major issues, and both the effectiveness and response were excellent.
Furthermore, as it incorporated natural energy, it could be maintained continuously until both chakra and natural energy naturally dissipated, even without Shiroshi's direct involvement.
It could be considered a very convenient trap Ninjutsu.
"Rui, do you want to use this guy to experiment with the Genjutsu under the Sage Mode?" Shiroshi asked.
Rui shook her head, observing the Root ninja struggling painfully in the Water Prison. He had lost his value as a test subject for experimenting with the Sage Mode's power.
"I don't need to. I'm in a hurry now, so I'll leave him to you."
Rui looked at the Root ninja trapped in the Water Prison, then shook her head and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the scene.
Seeing Rui leaving without hesitation, Shiroshi didn't say anything either. He simply formed hand seals to release the Water Prison Jutsu.
As the Water Prison Jutsu was released, the earth on the ground churned, and the Earth General directly swallowed the powerless Root ninja, vanishing into the underground.
A free test subject, especially a precious high-ranking ninja, was a rare find. Shiroshi greatly appreciated what Danzo Shimura, the leader of Root, had provided.
In reality, Shiroshi didn't know how to thank Danzo Shimura for this gesture.
He graciously accepted this gift.
…
Land of Demons.
This was a country shrouded in mystery.
Unlike other countries, it didn't have a feudal lord ruling it, but instead, it was led by entities known as "Miko."
A completely neutral nation, entirely governed by Miko.
In an era marked by constant conflicts between countries and villages, the Land of Demons, located in a remote corner, paradoxically became one of the few places that enjoyed peace.
The nation's territory couldn't be compared to the great nations, but among the smaller nations, it had a relatively spacious land.
The political environment within the country was transparent, and the people lived contentedly. In the shinobi world, it was an ideal place for stability, making it an attractive residence.
One could see that on the original map of the Land of Demons' capital, a new small city had been built to the north, serving as an annex to the capital.
This city was surrounded by towering white walls, with only two large gates serving as entry and exit points. One gate led south to the capital of the Land of Demons, while the other gate led north to the plains beyond.
Above both gates were inscriptions that read "No Entry," clearly indicating that this was a vital military area, inaccessible to ordinary citizens and visitors.
It implied that this place was an important military stronghold, and numerous guards were stationed at the two gate positions.
Initially, it had drawn crowds of onlookers, but as time passed, people had grown accustomed to it.
After all, constructing a military district near the capital was something that their revered Miko had personally approved.
The people of this country weren't particularly keen on the rule of daimyos and nobles; for them, the Miko was the sole ruler, a deity whose commands were to be followed without question.
From the outside, only the obstructive tall white walls could be seen. However, inside the walls, there were numerous buildings.
Dormitories, training grounds, infirmaries, playgrounds, office buildings, armories, classrooms, libraries, and even more secretive manufacturing factories and laboratories were constructed underground.
This place served as the headquarters for Shiroshi's organization.
About a year ago, the organization's total personnel had reached around seven hundred people. Through the expansion of the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Company and a steady stream of financial income, the organization's manpower had now expanded to over a thousand people.
Over six hundred people stayed at the headquarters, while the remaining four hundred were scattered throughout the shinobi world, assuming various identities, with the primary mission of gathering intelligence.
There were also elite teams, like Chudan's squad, who were renowned as bounty hunters within the underground black market.
"It's been a while since I've been back. Things have changed quite a bit here."
Chudan walked along the spacious corridor, looking out of the window.
"Since your last return was about two months ago. Indeed, quite a few buildings have been added here, and there have been some changes in personnel. It's natural to feel that there have been significant changes."
The staff member walking beside Chudan, dressed in a standard black windbreaker with the Purple Orchid emblem on the back, smiled and replied.
"That's true. So, how many people can we mobilize from the headquarters for combat now?"
Chudan casually asked.
"There are approximately four hundred and fifty people available for combat. Furthermore, I suspect we'll have a major operation soon."
Upon hearing this, Chudan's brows furrowed.
"A major operation?"
"The members of the Uzumaki clan who were recruited have expressed satisfaction with their lives here. They have gradually accepted the fact that they are now part of us, and some time ago, they informed me of a way to contact other survivors of the Uzumaki clan."
"This matter..."
Chudan pondered for a moment. Indeed, it had been quite some time since several survivors of the Uzumaki clan, who had been recruited by their group of five, had come to live here.
They enjoyed a stable living environment, clean water, and food, without anyone coveting their bloodline or sealing techniques. Moreover, their children received strength training.
It had to be said that the children of the Uzumaki clan were not to be underestimated. Their physical constitution and natural energy were a perfect match, and with a little training, they could develop formidable combat abilities.
Furthermore, the elite education provided to these Uzumaki clan children was thorough, both in terms of intellectual and physical training. Nothing was taken lightly.
Seeing all this, the Uzumaki adults naturally felt reassured. They wanted to use the power here to save their fellow Uzumaki clan members who were still suffering and on the run.
For them, this place was no less than a second suitable home.
"Have you contacted the leader?"
"I've already sent the contact letter to Konoha, where it was received by General Tsuchi. But this time, the operation might not go smoothly because bringing back those Uzumaki clan survivors is a bit troublesome."
The staff member sighed, clearly facing some obstacles in their work.
"Troublesome?"
"The day before yesterday, we successfully located more than a dozen Uzumaki clan survivors and brought them here. The rest of the Uzumaki clan survivors are also being contacted, and we're trying to bring them back as soon as possible. However, there's one group of Uzumaki survivors whose location has been traced to the Village Hidden in the Grass."
The staff member exhaled slowly, his expression extremely solemn.
"The Village Hidden in the Grass?"
Chudan showed surprise.
"You mean the village that switches sides between the major ninja villages? It's famous for its expertise in studying jutsu from other villages. It may not be a big concern for the major villages, but for us, it's indeed not easy to deal with."
Chudan was familiar with the Village Hidden in the Grass. It was known for maneuvering between the major ninja villages, having a corrupt and ineffectual aristocracy, and, like the Land of Rain, being a war-torn region.
After the First Great Ninja War, they declared their dominance by forming an alliance with Konoha. However, during the Second Great Ninja War, they quickly switched to Iwa and challenged Konoha.
After the Rain War ended in Konoha's victory, they swiftly returned to Konoha's embrace, establishing friendly relations once more.
In the end, during the Second Great Ninja War, they oscillated between the two villages and were considered a rather unprincipled ninja village.
Skilled at imitating and learning jutsu from other villages, they followed the principle of siding with the strongest party.
However, even so, the Village Hidden in the Grass was a ninja village recognized internationally, and their ninja strength was not to be underestimated among smaller countries.
For their organization, they were quite a formidable force.
If some of the Uzumaki clan survivors were in their hands... that would indeed be troublesome.
Going against a ninja village, even a small one, in direct confrontation, would be quite challenging.
"Let's see what the leader says about this. It's not something we can decide on our own."
Chudan felt that the situation was troublesome and said so.
"We can only do that."
The staff member nodded.
After all, with the current strength of the headquarters, they were capable of self-defense but ill-equipped for an offensive.
Moreover, many members had just begun their training and needed time to improve.
…
"Some of the Uzumaki clan survivors are located in the Village Hidden in the Grass? It's a bit troublesome."
In the Uchiha Clan's underground laboratory in Konoha, Shiroshi received the message from the Land of Demons and naturally noticed that some of the Uzumaki clan survivors had fallen into the hands of a ninja village.
Since the Uzumaki clan's annihilation, the surviving Uzumaki clan members had scattered across the shinobi world, in hiding and exile. They had secret ways of contacting each other, which didn't come as a surprise to Shiroshi.
However, for some of the Uzumaki clan survivors to fall into the hands of a ninja village, that was indeed a bit troublesome.
Fortunately, the silver lining was that these Uzumaki clan survivors hadn't ended up in one of the major ninja villages; they were hidden by the Village Hidden in the Grass, a smaller ninja village. This was a relief for Shiroshi.
However, he also knew that with the manpower available in the Land of Demons, it would be insufficient to extract these Uzumaki clan survivors from the Village Hidden in the Grass and safely deliver them to the Land of Demons. That presented a problem.
But Shiroshi couldn't leave Konoha at the moment. Rescuing the Uzumaki clan survivors wouldn't be a short-term task.
Even with the two days off each week, he still ran the risk of exposing himself by leaving the village.
General Tsuchi had weak combat abilities, and although he could carry a large number of explosives to create chaos in the Village Hidden in the Grass, it was still a small ninja village, and it would be impossible to draw all their forces there.
"The Shadow Dancer needs to protect him and can't be easily mobilized. Chudan's secret technique is excellent, but the process of creating Burst Bugs is very cumbersome, with very few and precious quantities, not suitable for large-scale group warfare. This is a real headache... but well, even though it's ahead of the original plan, since we have to deal with the Village Hidden in the Grass, we can't afford to be careless. We must approach it with caution."
Shiroshi pondered for a moment and decided to rescue the Uzumaki clan survivors imprisoned in the Village Hidden in the Grass as soon as possible. However, how to rescue them and who would be the mastermind to break through the Village Hidden in the Grass' defenses were serious issues that Shiroshi needed to consider carefully. This was also the source of his headache.
"It seems that I'll have to create a new clone to fill the gap in combat power."
Shiroshi muttered to himself. Upon closer examination, it seemed that this was the only feasible option. The design of the clone's model and its corresponding attributes had been conceived from the very beginning. The materials in the laboratory and the recently completed prototype of the Sage Mode were all prepared. However, due to the need to incorporate the Sage Jutsu system, the creation period would be longer than before. Moreover, compared to the previous creations, this clone would be more unique, requiring at least a month or more to complete.
This also meant that Shiroshi would have to replace General Tsuchi and the Shadow Dancer's "systems" with the Sage Jutsu system, which was a huge and time-consuming project.
Before creating the clone, Shiroshi also ordered a detailed investigation of the Village Hidden in the Grass from the Land of Demons' side. Since they needed to rescue the Uzumaki clan survivors from within the Village Hidden in the Grass, they had to first determine the location where these Uzumaki clan survivors were being held, the number of guards, and the strength of those guarding them, among other details.
All of this needed to be thoroughly investigated.
Once his new clone was created, it would be time for the surprise attack on the Village Hidden in the Grass. Moreover, this plan to attack the Village Hidden in the Grass could also serve as a practical exercise for attacking ninja villages in the future, accumulating valuable practical experience for larger-scale operations.
(Chapter End)
