281-285

Chapter 281: I'll Beat You Down with Amenotejikara 

“It’s simple. Absorbing attacks isn’t my only trick. Back then, when I tried to absorb your jutsu with my own chakra and failed, I already figured out the solution—using the Rinnegan’s Preta Path at the same time. With both methods combined, no matter how powerful your attack is, it won’t do a thing to me.” 

“You bastard… You little runt really do have some skills. But even so, there’s no way you’ll be able to kill me!” 

As Dark Emperor Flame spoke, he instantly activated his incredible speed to dodge Kazama’s next attack. 

But Kazama only sneered coldly, because he had already figured out a way to take him down. 

He turned quickly to Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura and said, “Form a circle. Hit the center with your strongest techniques—everything you've got.” 

“What?!” 

None of them could make sense of what he meant—not even Kakashi, who was usually the best at analyzing battle situations. 

After all, the biggest threat right now was clearly Dark Emperor Flame. Why would Kazama have them surround a point and attack the center of it? What did that have to do with their enemy? 

“What does that have to do with fighting Dark Emperor Flame?” Kakashi asked sharply. 

“There’s no time to explain. If you trust me, just do as I say!” 

“…Alright, fine. We’ll go with your plan.” 

Though confused, Kakashi and the others decided to go along with Kazama’s orders—because they trusted him. If it was Kazama’s strategy, then it had to have some real purpose. 

So Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all launched their strongest jutsu straight at the center point Kazama had indicated. 

Meanwhile, not far away, Dark Emperor Flame watched them in confusion. 

He assumed they were just bluffing—trying to bait him into a trap. 

So, he mocked them loudly. “Hah! Kazama, you little fool. Can’t beat me, so now you’re playing tricks? What a joke! You think I’m gonna fall for that? In your dreams—” 

Before he could finish, he suddenly realized… he was right in the center of their formation. 

“What the—?!” 

He didn’t even have time to react before all of their attacks slammed into him at once. 

The force was devastating. His body was shattered, his spirit was scattered—it was a brutal, full-force combo. 

“W-What?! This is impossible! What kind of demonic technique did you use to teleport me here?!” 

Dark Emperor Flame was totally stunned. 

And he wasn’t the only one—Kakashi and the others were equally shocked. 

They had clearly seen how far away Dark Emperor Flame was just moments before. Yet somehow, he had appeared right in the middle of their formation out of nowhere. 

“…Oh, right. I forgot to mention—I can teleport myself or others wherever I want.” 

“What?!” 

Hearing that, Dark Emperor Flame was utterly dumbfounded. 

He couldn’t believe it—yet the reality had already hit him. Literally. 

Kazama had used Amenotejikara, the space-time technique granted by the Rinnegan, to swap Dark Emperor Flame into the kill zone right before impact. 

And now, the tide had completely turned. 

Chapter 282: Suddenly Obtaining Twenty Types of Different Flames 

At that moment, it was clear—Kazama had already landed a decisive blow on the Dark Emperor Flame. 

By all rights, the Dark Emperor Flame should’ve been invincible, having fused with twenty types of different flames (Ika). His power was at an all-time high, beyond anything seen before. 

But Kazama’s strength was no joke either. And more importantly, he possessed the number one-ranked Emperor Flame (Teien). 

So, in just a few exchanges, Kazama managed to burn the Dark Emperor Flame into nothingness. 

With his death, the twenty types of Ika he had absorbed began to scatter and flee in every direction. 

But in that critical moment— 

Kazama immediately activated the core power of the Emperor Flame. 

As the number one-ranked flame erupted into existence, more than half of the scattered Ika were instantly drawn toward and absorbed by it. 

However, in a final act of defiance, the Dark Emperor Flame made a desperate move. Refusing to let Kazama absorb all twenty-three types of Ika… 

He detonated several of them on the spot. 

The resulting explosions caused severe spatial distortions. 

Before long, the remaining flames were sucked into an alternate dimension. 

Thankfully, Kazama was fast—really fast. 

In that split second, he split the Emperor Flame into several threads and marked each of the fleeing Ika that had entered the alternate space. 

This way, even if the flames were no longer in this world… 

Kazama would still be able to track them down. 

Now that the Dark Emperor Flame had completely vanished… 

Only three Ika were unaccounted for: 

• Crimson Lotus Hellfire (Guren Yakaen) 

• Pure Lotus Demon Flame (Jōren Yōka) 

• Flame of All Living Things (Seirei no En) 

The rest had already been fully absorbed into Kazama’s body. 

“Damn it! That bastard Dark Emperor Flame just had to mess things up at the last second!” 

Kazama cursed under his breath, feeling the absence of those three Ika in his chakra system. 

“Kazama! Did we defeat the Dark Emperor Flame?” Kakashi and the others rushed over to him. 

“Yeah… He’s done. But right before he died, he threw my last three Ika into some alternate dimension.” 

“What?! What should we do now?” Kakashi looked visibly anxious. 

They might not have fully understood what Ika were… 

But they did know that Kazama’s insane strength came largely thanks to them. 

So hearing that he’d lost three was a huge concern. 

Kazama, meanwhile, was growing increasingly worried. 

He knew that it wouldn’t be long before the Ōtsutsuki Clan made their move—Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki would come to Earth to reclaim the Tailed Beasts. 

Not only that, they’d see every living person on Earth as nothing more than fodder for the God Tree. 

If he wanted to stand a chance against the Ōtsutsuki trio… 

He had to recover the lost three Ika as soon as possible. 

“If you’re missing three of those flames, then we’d better find them fast!” said Kakashi. 

“Yeah, Kazama, if you need any help at all, just say the word. We’ll do whatever it takes to help you!” added another comrade. 

Kazama gave them a grateful smile and nodded. “Thanks, everyone. But right now, I have no clue where those three flames ended up. Let’s return to Konoha first and figure things out from there.” 

“Alright then.” 

With that, Kakashi and the others followed Kazama back to the village, ready to support him in the challenges ahead. 

Chapter 283: The Kurama Clan Joins the Sound Village 

At that moment, the shinobi of the Kurama clan, seeing that Kazama and his group had just saved their lives, were overwhelmed with gratitude. 

They quickly stepped forward and said to him, “Kazama-sama, we’ve all heard of your name. We know that you single-handedly saved the entire Shinobi World!” 

“We attacked you earlier because we were under a genjutsu’s control, so please don’t hold it against us!” 

“Yes, Kazama-sama! If you’re willing, we’d like to live in your Sound Village (Oto no Kuni). We’d love to contribute and do our part for your village!” 

“Huh… really?” 

Hearing this caught Kazama completely off guard. 

He had never expected the Kurama clan to willingly request to join the Sound Village. 

After all, the Kurama clan was one of the most ancient and historically respected clans in the shinobi world. 

Their power may have declined from its former glory, but they were still not to be underestimated. 

So for them to voluntarily want to join his village—Kazama couldn’t help but feel thrilled. 

“But I’ve heard the Kurama clan has been living peacefully for some time now. Why the sudden change of heart?” 

Even though he was happy, Kazama couldn’t help but voice his curiosity. 

“Well, about that…” 

As soon as Kazama asked, the Kurama shinobi all started talking over each other to explain. 

“Kazama-sama, the peaceful life you’ve heard about is just a façade we put up. In truth, we’ve been suffering greatly.” 

“Since our clan has declined, many greedy and scheming people have been eyeing our secret genjutsu techniques. We’ve been constantly harassed, and it’s become impossible for us to protect ourselves.” 

“That’s why we’re looking to shelter under a strong and dependable leader. But rest assured, Kazama-sama—we’re not freeloaders. We’re willing to go through fire and water for the Sound Village if you’ll let us!” 

“Alright then!” 

Kazama smiled and nodded in approval. 

“As long as you treat the Sound Village as your true home, I believe everyone there will welcome you with open arms.” 

With that, Kazama began preparing to use the space-time ninjutsu Yomi no Hirazaka to send the Kurama clan members to his village. 

However, just then, one member of the clan chose to stay behind—Kurama Yakumo, the youngest and most powerful among them. 

Kazama was immediately confused. 

One of the biggest reasons he even agreed to take in the Kurama clan was because of Yakumo. He had already witnessed her potential firsthand. 

With proper training, she was bound to become one of the top-tier shinobi in the future. 

“This whole situation was my fault… My clan only ended up controlled because of me. I caused all of this. So I have no right to continue living among them, and I definitely don’t deserve a place in your Sound Village. Please, just leave me be…” 

“What? That’s ridiculous.” 

Kazama shook his head firmly. 

“No one’s perfect, Yakumo. We all make mistakes. And it wasn’t even really your fault—this all happened because you unintentionally absorbed the Fallen Heart Flame (Inrakushin’en). That’s what caused you to lose control.” 

“If anything, it was my mistake for not noticing it sooner. So don’t carry that weight all by yourself.” 

Chapter 284: The Battle at Kannabi Bridge 

"That's right!" 

At that moment, members of the Kurama Clan also stepped forward to speak to Kurama Yakumo. 

“You’re the hero of our clan! When enemies came after us before, you were the one who protected us and drove them away. How could we move to Otogakure without you by our side?” 

“You all… you really don’t blame me?” 

Yakumo looked around in surprise. Seeing their sincerity—and the hopeful look in Kazama’s eyes—she smiled and nodded. 

After Kazama safely brought the Kurama Clan to his newly established Otogakure, he began preparing for his next goal: tracking down the lost flames—Guren Yaka, Jōren Yōka, and Seirei no Homura, which had been sucked into alternate dimensions. 

Though he had told Kakashi and the others that he didn’t know where these mystical flames had gone, that was only to stop them from joining him. These otherworldly spaces were far too dangerous, and Kazama didn’t want them risking their lives for his sake. 

Not only that—Kazama himself didn’t even know what kind of threats lurked in those dimensions. 

So, he had no choice but to go alone. 

He quickly activated his enhanced sensory abilities, searching for chakra fluctuations linked to the three unique flames. It didn’t take long for him to pinpoint their locations. 

Kazama’s heart raced with excitement—each flame was hidden in a different timeline: 

• One during the Third Great Ninja War 

• One in the era of the Second Hokage 

• And one during the Founding of Konoha, in the First Hokage’s time 

“So if I go back to the past, I can reclaim the flames I lost… But changing the past—wouldn’t that alter the current timeline of the shinobi world?” 

Concerned, Kazama quickly asked the system for clarification. 

“Don’t worry, Host. The dimensions where Guren Yaka, Jōren Yōka, and Seirei no Homura are hidden are actually parallel timelines. Even if you alter history there, it won’t affect the current world’s development.” 

“Oh? That’s perfect!” 

Relieved, Kazama let go of his worries. He already planned to save the Fourth, Second, and First Hokage—after all, they were his heroes. 

And now that he had the chance, there was no way he’d pass it up. 

To travel through time, Kazama needed a specific artifact stored deep within the Konoha Research Facility—an ancient relic once brought to Earth by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself. 

Because no one knew what it was for, the artifact had long been forgotten… But for someone like Kazama, who had studied every detail of the Naruto storyline, he definitely hadn’t forgotten it. 

It was none other than a time-traveling device, a true treasure of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. 

Late at night, with the help of a space-time jutsu, Kazama snuck into the facility and quietly took the artifact. After infusing it with chakra, its true form appeared—a turtle small enough to fit in his palm. 

“A time machine… shaped like a turtle? The Ōtsutsuki sure have a sense of humor.” 

Kazama chuckled to himself. 

Just as he was preparing to travel to the time of the Fourth Hokage, during the Third Great Ninja War, the turtle suddenly spoke up. 

“This artifact belongs to the Ōtsutsuki Clan. Unless you possess Ōtsutsuki blood, I will not allow you to travel through time.” 

“Heh, so even a turtle’s looking down on me now?” 

Kazama laughed, then activated his Rinnegan with nine tomoe Sharingan. 

“How about now? Does this count as Ōtsutsuki power?” 

“Yes, yes, absolutely!” 

The turtle was immediately stunned. The power Kazama displayed was far beyond even an ordinary member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. 

With that, Kazama successfully traveled back to the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War. 

And this particular battlefield… was the legendary Battle of Kannabi Bridge— The very battle that changed the lives of Kakashi and Obito forever. 

“Chidori!” 

Just as Kazama arrived, he saw a silver-haired boy charging forward—lightning roaring in his hand—rushing straight toward an enemy in the distance. 

It was Hatake Kakashi, unleashing his signature move. 

Chapter 285: Rescuing Kakashi 

Although Kazama still hadn’t tracked down the whereabouts of the Flame of Life, running into Kakashi here changed everything—he couldn’t just stand by and watch him die. 

Kazama knew this was the period when Kakashi had just learned to use Chidori. 

But Kakashi was unaware of Chidori’s biggest flaw. 

Chidori was a Lightning Release jutsu that greatly boosted the user's speed. However, that very speed made it nearly impossible for the user to see the enemy’s counterattacks clearly. 

If Kakashi had a Sharingan, he could anticipate enemy moves and strike safely. But right now, he didn't. 

So even if Kakashi managed to hit the enemy, he’d likely be killed in retaliation. 

Thinking of this, Kazama immediately used the Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu) and appeared in front of Kakashi, blocking a steel blade that was just about to strike him. He then swiftly kicked the enemy to the ground and tossed Kakashi aside to safety. 

“Huh?! Don’t tell me… there are more enemies?!” Kakashi hadn't seen the attack clearly and had no idea Kazama had just saved him. In fact, he thought Kazama was trying to attack him! 

Without hesitation, he began charging up another Chidori, aiming it at Kazama. 

But the moment he noticed the Leaf symbol on Kazama’s forehead protector, his expression changed. 

“Who are you?! I’ve never seen you around the village. And why did you stop my attack just now?! Are you a spy sent by the enemy?!” 

Kakashi launched a flurry of questions, suspicion written all over his face. 

Kazama, seeing how chatty young Kakashi was, couldn’t help but laugh to himself. “So the legendary cold-hearted Kakashi was actually a talkative kid, huh?” 

As he was thinking that, the enemy he had kicked earlier suddenly sprang back up with a perfect kip-up, charging at Kazama again. 

“You little punk! You dare attack me?! You’ve got some nerve!” 

Smack! Bam! Thud! 

While the enemy was yelling and charging, Kazama casually landed a few swift punches and kicks, knocking the guy out cold in seconds. 

His moves were so fast and clean that even Kakashi was shocked. 

Just then, Minato-sensei (Namikaze Minato), along with Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, arrived at the scene. 

They saw the enemy already dealt with, and although Kazama was wearing the standard Konoha shinobi uniform, his face was completely unfamiliar. The group couldn’t help but feel suspicious. 

Kakashi quickly ran up to Minato. 

“Sensei! This guy’s acting sneaky! He interfered in my battle with the enemy and then took the guy down with just a few hits. He’s wearing a Konoha forehead protector, but I’ve never seen him before—not even once! I think you should interrogate him properly. He might be a spy!” 

“Heh… Kakashi, you’ve got me all wrong.” 

“What?! How do you know my name?!” 

Just as Kakashi was still badmouthing Kazama to Minato-sensei, he suddenly heard Kazama call his name out loud. 

Kakashi was stunned and instantly turned back, glaring at Kazama with even more suspicion.