421-425

Chapter 421: Deception and Heart Extraction!  

Sage Transformation: Cell Absorption  

This is a technique that can only be used by those who possess the Sage Transformation ability. It allows them to rapidly absorb the flesh and cells of others, converting them into their own, enabling swift regeneration of injuries.  

At the same time, this was a power Shinji only obtained after the Hell Valley battle, one he had previously used in his fight against Kisame Hoshigaki.  

Since Jugo had yet to be discovered by Orochimaru at this point in time, this technique was a complete unknown to Ying.  

At this moment, Ying felt his very life force uncontrollably surging toward Shinji’s palm.  

As the opponent grew stronger while he himself weakened, panic set in.  

"What… is this?!"  

Ying's heart skipped a beat, his face instantly turning deathly pale. His eyes locked onto Shinji, filled with shock and terror, his mind thrown into turmoil. Fear overtook him in an instant.  

"How do you possess such an ability?! This is impossible!"  

Indeed, Shinji’s earlier analysis had struck directly at Ying’s greatest weakness.  

Because he lacked the means to counter Uchiha Madara, Ying feared him. He believed that Shinji’s actions were doomed to fail. Despite having multiple Kekkei Genkai and near-perfect offensive and defensive capabilities, he still feared the aging Madara.  

It wasn’t hard to deduce why—  

The Rinnegan.  

More specifically, the chakra absorption ability derived from it, a power that surpassed sealing techniques and could effectively counter regenerative abilities.  

With the Gedo Statue as a vessel, even the chakra of all nine tailed beasts could be absorbed effortlessly. What chance did Ying stand, relying solely on the Dragon Vein and Sage Body?  

The core of his immortality was based entirely on this massive chakra reserve.  

But now, Shinji’s move was akin to cutting off the very source of that power.  

And combined with the earlier display of casually sealing a Tailed Beast within his Susanoo, it was proof that—  

Even if Shinji lacked Madara’s perfect chakra absorption ability, he might still possess a method to drain him completely!  

A chilling realization shot through Ying’s entire body, from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.  

It terrified him.  

It unsettled him.  

It left him at a complete loss, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.  

Without realizing it, the very thought Shinji had planted in his mind—to run—began to take hold.  

"No! No!"  

"I won’t let you succeed! Never!"  

Ying’s entire body softened in Shinji’s grasp, liquefying into a puddle of yellow earth.  

The ground trembled. Something ominous was about to emerge.  

BOOM!!  

A colossal eight-headed serpent, now shrunken to barely sixty meters in height, burst forth from the earth. Sixteen crimson snake eyes gleamed with panic. It didn’t even spare Shinji a glance—pure survival instinct drove it to flee.  

But—  

"You fool. You’ve miscalculated again!"  

Seeing this, a cold smirk curled at the corner of Shinji’s lips. The black markings and the dark sun on his arm vanished.  

Sage Transformation: Cell Absorption was far inferior to Madara’s chakra absorption—it could only absorb cells and life force, making it significantly limited.  

If this technique alone could have killed Ying, Shinji would have used it long ago.  

No—his true purpose now was to break Ying’s mental defenses and force him to expose his real body, the one carrying Shinji’s stolen heart.  

If Ying had continued hiding, even Shinji would have struggled to deal with him.  

But now—  

As Ying attempted to flee, enhanced Sage Mode perception revealed a burning, white-hot heart, pulsing with fierce, violet energy—like a firefly in the dark.  

Without hesitation, Shinji raised both hands before his chest, bringing his index and middle fingers together in a "Tori" seal.  

"Susanoo: Yasaka Magatama!"  

A cold voice echoed through the vast and ruined battlefield.  

A towering, 120-meter Susanoo erupted from the ground, carrying Shinji within. It swung its arm, hurling a chain of blazing crimson magatama into the sky.  

The magatama spun like a falcon diving from the heavens.  

Nine projectiles screamed through the air—  

Eight of them struck the eight-headed serpent, pinning its heads firmly to the earth.  

The final magatama streaked forward, aiming to sever its massive tail.  

But—  

With its heads pinned to the ground, blood splattering from its fanged jaws, Ying screamed in desperation.  

"Totsuka-no-Tsurugi! Save me!"  

From the distant horizon—  

A brilliant white light flared, crossing thousands of meters in an instant.  

A blade extended for miles, streaking through the wasteland—  

Colliding head-on with the ninth Yasaka Magatama, deflecting it mid-air!  

Then, without losing momentum, it drove straight toward Shinji within his Susanoo!  

This sword—  

Shinji had seen it once before, in the Land of Hot Water.  

The Kusanagi Sword: Sky Blade.  

"Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword?"  

Watching the blade hurtling toward him with terrifying sharpness, Shinji’s gaze sharpened.  

"This sword… is actually the true form of the Totsuka Blade?"  

A realization struck him—  

If he could obtain the real bodies of these legendary weapons, the power of his right-eye Mangekyō Sharingan, which projected the Totsuka Blade, might evolve even further.  

Moreover, it would drastically reduce the toll on his ocular abilities.  

Just like how the Yasakani Magatama, now hanging from his chest, amplified Susanoo’s Yasaka Magatama technique—  

If he could gather the Totsuka Blade and Ame-no-Murakumo, his right-eye dojutsu might undergo an unprecedented transformation.  

A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind—  

But at this moment, there was no time to hesitate.  

The divine blade that could cut through anything was upon him.  

Shinji’s right eye flared open.  

With a single thought, his Susanoo raised its own spectral Totsuka Blade—a mirror image of the incoming divine weapon—  

"CLANG!!"  

Steel met steel. Sparks scattered like embers in a storm.  

A real and an ethereal sword clashed—yet neither gave way.  

"A chance!"  

Seeing the Susanoo momentarily held at bay, Ying’s expression lit up with hope.  

Half of his body melted from the serpent’s jaws.  

Emerging from the massive, serpentine form—  

Unlike his previous, fully serpentine body, Ying’s left chest now bore the image of an Ouroboros, a snake devouring its own tail.  

And within—  

A heart burned with white-hot flames, its pulse revealing a network of violet, jagged veins.  

Staring at it, then back at his own colossal, mythical serpent form—  

Ying panted, his expression torn between reluctance and resolve.  

At last, his gaze hardened.  

"If I take the heart and fake my death, I can escape."  

"As long as this heart remains, I can rise again!"  

"Shinji—I will return!"  

However—  

SHLK!  

A fiery red blade pierced through his chest from behind.  

Ying’s eyes widened in shock.  

Slowly, he turned his head—  

And saw—  

The young man who was supposed to be inside Susanoo, locked in a struggle, was now standing right behind him.  

His posture was relaxed.  

A smirk played on his lips.  

Shaking his head slightly, he sneered—  

"Idiot."  

"Even a Saint Seiya wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice."  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 422: Interlude – Blazing Flame Pierces the Heart!  

[Ding!]  

[You have forcibly extracted the female counterpart of Yachi Orochi · Ying (Sage), who attempted to turn you into a submissive form. She is on the verge of death, unable to rise again. You have obtained a random skill from her: Super · Eight-Headed Serpent Technique (S, Mastered).]  

[Unlocked related sub-skills: Snake Limb Hardening (A, Earth Release · Enhanced Earth Spear), Great Serpent Summoning (A), Soft Body Transformation (A), Serpent Disintegration Technique (A), Shadow Snake Limbs (C), Sage Art · Invisibility (B), Sage Art · Distant Phantom Transmission (A), Sage Art · Spirit Light Manifestation (S).]  

[All the above skills are at the ‘Beginner’ level. Due to the effect of "Master of All Martial Arts," they are upgraded to ‘Proficient.’]  

[Due to the intensity of the counterattack, the reward has triggered a critical hit!]  

[You have additionally obtained a random skill: Summoning Jutsu · Fivefold Rashomon (A, Beginner).]  

[Your "Heart of Steel" counter has increased.]  

Standing behind Ying, Shinji slowly pulled the Totsuka Blade from her back.  

With this movement, at such close range, Ying could no longer use the Serpent Disintegration Technique to escape the sealing power of the Totsuka Blade. She was utterly powerless against the might of this divine weapon.  

She could only stare blankly as her body twisted and contorted, flesh and blood being stripped away inch by inch. 

Amidst the ruins of what was once a bustling city, 

Feeling her life force gradually slipping away, facing the imminent death and eternal silence, 

Her heart was filled with endless fear and despair.  

Ultimately, 

This fear and despair ignited into rage, setting her heart ablaze.  

Her face contorted with fury, teeth chattering from anger, 

She spat out the most venomous curse at the victor who had stabbed her in the back—  

“Shinji.”  

“You think you've won? No, you're merely stepping into a deeper hell!”  

“You are destined for a life of suffering and torment!”  

“Every step of your life will be riddled with obstacles; nothing will go your way. You’ll face rejection and scorn from the world!”  

“Betrayed by all, left in solitude, with no hope of redemption!”  

“You won't be able to protect anyone, nor save anyone!”  

“In the end, you'll fall into the filthiest mire and dance with me!”  

“That day... is not far off. Hehehe... Hahaha! It’s coming soon!”  

Amidst the ringing sound of rewards triggering critical hits, Ying's venomous curses echoed in Shinji’s ears.  

Feeling irritated by the noise, his expression remained calm and indifferent. 

At that moment, he reached out his hand,  

To seize his greatest prize from this battle—  

A heart wrapped in an ouroboros formed by Zero-Tail, sealed tight as if isolating it from the entire world, 

Yet within, it pulsated with a powerful and vigorous rhythm—the Blazing Heart!  

Through the combined efforts of Orochimaru and the White Snake Sage, 

This heart had uniquely absorbed Hashirama's cells, becoming the core of the Sage Body, flowing with unquenchable flames and merging with the power of the Dragon Vein.  

Anyone compatible with Shinji's cells who transplanted this heart 

Would gain a Sage Body with power infinitely close to that of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.  

Feeling the overwhelming power emanating from this heart, Shinji's gaze grew solemn.  

He lamented Ying's misguided choices, 

“This was a direct path to surpassing even the shadows, perhaps even Hashirama Senju. Yet, how unfortunate...”  

“If you can't accept the will within this heart, then you can never wield its true power.”  

Shaking his head, Shinji extended his hand, releasing his chakra to carefully peel away Zero-Tail’s body wrapped around the heart, piecing together its original form.  

A hideous serpent... 

Though reluctant to admit it, 

This tailless Tailed Beast that had accompanied him through countless fierce battles had been dead for some time. 

Zero-Tail, Orochimaru's will, and the White Snake Sage's will were all gradually devoured by Ying, who was born from the fusion of their minds.  

Before its consciousness was extinguished, Zero-Tail did not recognize Ying, whose will was influenced by Orochimaru and the White Snake Sage.  

Perhaps it felt that Ying was too cunning and devoid of any genuine emotions, even in life-and-death struggles. 

Therefore, it formed the flawless ouroboros, sealing the heart.  

With a simple belief—*If I can't eat, then neither can you,*—  

It cut off Ying's access to the heart's deeper power.  

Unable to further develop the Wood Release and Sage Body, Ying focused entirely on perfecting the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique.  

Otherwise, Shinji would have faced an opponent proficient in Sage Arts, Wood Release, regeneration techniques, and various forbidden jutsus, 

Possessing Battle Instinct, capable of seamlessly combining all these powers into new jutsus, with unparalleled battle will and skill.  

Although the outcome might not have changed much, if Ying had accepted Shinji’s will, they might not have fought at all. Yet still... 

There was a sense of regret.  

A series of coincidences led to the current situation.  

It only proved that this world was a vast and chaotic stage, 

Where no matter how meticulously plans were laid, they would inevitably go off course due to the most absurd reasons, leading to an unpredictable and often ironic future.  

Holding Zero-Tail’s broken body, Shinji infused his chakra, sensing for a moment, then seemingly confirming something. 

Finally, 

He looked eastward, a smile forming on his face, 

Toward the Land of Fire, where Shennong had once pointed out the location of the "Sky Ninja Village ruins."  

Just like Tailed Beasts that could be reborn, Zero-Tail, born of negative emotions, would also be reborn.  

At the location Shennong had mentioned, and the time of rebirth—  

“Three years, huh?”  

Shinji's lips curled into a grin.  

“Heh, foolish serpent... We’ll fight side by side in three years.”  

“I hope I’m still alive by then!”  

With that thought, Shinji’s eyes focused, gazing at the blazing heart in his palm, 

Even without support, it throbbed energetically, scorching the air with crackling sounds—  

His own heart.  

In the next moment, 

He gripped the incandescent heart tightly. 

“Breathe...”  

Taking a deep breath, his left hand raised, summoning the Kusanagi Sword. Teeth clenched, face contorted in pain, 

He reversed his grip and plunged the blade into his chest! 

“Squelch!”  

The blade tore through flesh, splitting bone, laying his chest wide open!  

Under the silent night sky, the moon had completed its cycle from crescent to full.  

Moonlight poured down,  

Illuminating the battlefield like a stage set for the grandest performance,  

Taking his first step toward wholeness, 

Under the moonlight, the boy gritted his teeth, hands trembling, enduring immense pain, 

Finally, 

He placed the world’s most blazing flame into his chest!  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 423: The Immortal Form · Eternal Body! 

When the long-wandering heart returned to where it truly belonged,  

It began to beat once more, 

Blood surged through the heart, flowing into the aorta, then into the medium and small arteries, reaching the capillaries throughout the body. It then traveled back through the small, medium, and large veins before returning to the heart.  

Beating wildly at a rate of 180 times per minute,  

This compressed the roughly 20 seconds required for a full circulatory cycle even further.  

New blood, enriched with enhanced vitality, greater adaptability, and the power of the Kekkei Genkai, was continuously produced, replacing the old blood.  

“Urgh!”  

Shinji's eyes widened abruptly as he vomited a mouthful of black blood,  

A mixture of necrotic tissue and tainted blood.  

Simultaneously, bulging blood vessels appeared across his skin, seeping blood from beneath his epidermis.  

This heart transplant was supposed to be performed by Tsunade, the greatest medical ninja, with the procedure meticulously designed by Orochimaru, the most cautious scientist, to suppress and resolve any intraoperative complications or rejection reactions.  

Yet, Shinji completed it in a crude, almost reckless, manner, akin to an amateur doctor’s approach.  

Inevitably, 

The Senju body capable of using Wood Release clashed violently with Shinji’s own Immortal Body, Sage-Transformed Physique, cells mutated by natural energy, and tissue reinforced by the Sage State, resulting in severe rejection reactions.  

One could say, 

Shinji’s body was already a unique Kekkei Genkai composite, forged by countless forbidden techniques.  

And now, he had forcefully implanted another, or even two more, Kekkei Genkai into his body.  

This triggered an uncontrollable and unpredictable war between the Kekkei Genkai, leading towards the ultimate evolution known as Kekkei Tōta!  

But Shinji had no other choice.  

To achieve his ultimate goal,  

He could trust no one, confide in no one, and rely on no one.  

If he wanted to stop the Eye of the Moon Plan,  

He had to confront Uchiha Madara, the man whose power loomed over the entire Shinobi world.  

And to assassinate or defeat even the elderly Uchiha Madara,  

Shinji's power before this battle was simply insufficient.  

Though the original story did not depict Madara’s elderly form in much detail, Shinji believed that even as an old man, Madara was more terrifying than at the time of his peak or the Valley of the End battle.  

Many focused on Madara’s reliance on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to survive, mistaking his frailty and reduced mobility as signs of weakness,  

Overlooking the fact that the Demonic Statue was an enormous chakra reservoir. Even without the Tailed Beasts, it held nearly infinite chakra.  

Not to mention, Madara had already fused his power with Hashirama’s. Coupled with limitless chakra, he could summon dozens of Wood Clones, each capable of using the Perfect Susanoo.  

This would be even more devastating than the scene where he toyed with the Five Kage in the original story.  

And who knew how many Rinnegan abilities he could still use, even without his eyes?  

His remark to Kabuto during the Edo Tensei, "You think your power now surpasses my prime?" might not have been baseless arrogance.  

Given the stakes, Shinji didn’t hesitate to assume the worst-case scenario regarding Madara's power.  

Indeed, Shinji now possessed explosive strength far beyond the Kage level, confident he was on par with anyone below the Six Paths level from the original series. 

However, his system had a glaring weakness:  

His chakra reserves were insufficient!  

There were two ways to solve this:  

• Capture a Tailed Beast and use it as a chakra reservoir. 

But there was a problem: 

Although Shinji could capture a Tailed Beast, 

Bringing it to fight Madara, who controlled the Demonic Statue, would be akin to delivering power to his enemy and aiding the Eye of the Moon Plan.  

The chains of the Demonic Statue were like the parent of all Tailed Beasts, making even the Sharingan seem inferior in controlling them.  

Moreover, Madara possessed a sealing technique specifically designed to extract Tailed Beasts from their Jinchūriki.  

If that happened, the tragedy of the Valley of Hell would repeat itself.  

Therefore, only one option remained: 

Finding an alternative chakra source.  

At first, Shinji set his sights on the White Snake Sage and the Dragon Vein. He didn’t care much about Orochimaru's so-called Dragon Vein Ascension. Both sources offered chakra comparable to or even surpassing the Tailed Beasts.  

That’s why he followed Orochimaru’s plan to Roran, 

But a series of unexpected events led to an unforeseen outcome.  

Ultimately, he regained his heart, infused with Senju Cells, White Snake Sage’s Chakra, and Dragon Vein Chakra.  

The first step of his assassination plan was not only a complete success but also yielded unexpected gains.  

Now, 

He had to prepare for the second step: 

Ensure that Madara could neither reclaim his Rinnegan nor use the Demonic Statue! 

Before Madara could reconnect his life support,  

He would be slain!  

This plan required lightning-fast execution and absolute secrecy, ensuring no information leak.  

The gap between super-Kage-level and Six Paths-level power was insurmountable.  

Madara must never reclaim his Rinnegan! 

Otherwise, Shinji would be doomed.  

Determined, Shinji gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain as he clenched his fists, focusing on the turbulent fusion of power within him.  

Soon, a threshold became clear in his mind:  

“One month.”  

“To fully renew my blood and complete my evolution, I need one month.”  

“During this month, I’ll complete all the necessary preparations,”  

“Then—”  

“I’ll assassinate Uchiha Madara!”  

A full blood cycle through the body took only 20 seconds, but a complete renewal, including all blood cells, typically required 3 to 4 months.  

However, with his heart beating at 180 times per minute and his blood flowing at superhuman speed, this process was significantly accelerated.  

Once each cycle was completed, the power emanating from his heart surged through his entire body,  

Triggering the first evolution of his physique.  

Bathed in boundless natural energy and overflowing vitality,  

A transformation that would normally take years was happening at a nearly insane pace, visibly nearing perfection!  

“Just one cycle of blood circulation, and my body’s toughness already exceeds the fourth stage of Susanoo!”  

“This is...”  

A flash of astonishment crossed Shinji’s eyes as he muttered in shock, 

“Immortal Form · Eternal Body!”  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 424: Nuclear Explosion · The Concept of the Sage Form and Orochimaru’s Inquiry  

The Sage Form— 

This was a technique Shinji had discovered through this body, a method of purely utilizing natural energy.  

When activated, the Sage Form dramatically enhanced the body's durability, granting him the sheer strength to tear tailed beasts apart with his bare hands. However, after using it, he would experience a prolonged period of weakness.  

This limitation was mitigated after obtaining a Sage-like transformation ability similar to Jūgo’s. Thanks to the power of Heaven’s Descent, Shinji could activate the Sage Form twice in quick succession.  

Furthermore, the continuous use of Sage Form was actually a process of absorbing natural energy into his cells, gradually reinforcing them.  

Over the years, this enhancement would push his body to its limits, permanently granting him the ferocious power of the Sage Form without needing to activate it.  

This state was known as—  

Sage Form: Eternal Body 

Now, with the initial fusion of Hashirama’s cells manifesting within his body, this technique was approaching its perfected form.  

In other words—  

The Sage Form was no longer something Shinji had to manually activate. It had become a permanent enhancement, an ever-present buff in his body.  

From this moment onward, he had permanently acquired the overwhelming power to tear apart tailed beasts with his bare hands.  

But…  

“Is this really the limit?” 

Shinji furrowed his brows slightly.  

Through his heightened perception, he could sense that his body still possessed abundant vitality, an overflowing reservoir of natural energy.  

And yet, the technique's ceiling had seemingly been reached—it was no longer progressing.  

It appeared that natural energy could only enhance the body to a certain threshold.  

This level of power was roughly comparable to opening the Seventh Gate (Shock) of the Eight Gates, somewhere between it and the *Eighth Gate (Death)*—without the devastating drawbacks.  

This was already immensely powerful, a broken ability by the standards of the shinobi world.  

But against the opponents he would face in the future?  

It wasn’t enough.  

At the very least, his body needed to reach the level of Naruto’s Baryon Mode, allowing him to effortlessly dominate Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who was lurking somewhere on this planet, secretly pushing the shinobi world’s technological development from the shadows.  

And right now, he was still just a step away from that level.  

"Through Sage Physique, Dragon Vein, Sage’s Heart, and Sage Transformation..." 

“My sheer volume of power has already reached its absolute limit.”  

“The only path forward is to change the principles of the technique itself—to transform quantity into true quality.”  

“Naruto’s Baryon Mode, triggered by Kurama’s sacrifice, is similar to nuclear fusion—the process where the sun generates energy by fusing light particles into heavier ones.”  

“I don’t have Kurama… and I don’t have time to play house with a tailed beast.”  

“But…”  

Shinji’s Sharingan flickered as he gazed down at his chest—at his brilliantly pulsating, incandescent heart.  

The Concept of Fire Release · Chakra Mode 

This technique was designed to ignite chakra itself, triggering a chain reaction similar to a nuclear explosion.  

He had accidentally relied on this ability to annihilate three hundred Sand shinobi on the battlefield of the Land of Rain.  

Later, while traveling to Hell Valley, he had nearly obliterated the Eight-Tails, Gyūki.  

There was no exaggeration in saying that Fire Release · Chakra Mode was the pinnacle of the Uchiha Clan’s millennia-old mastery of ninjutsu.  

Though forgotten and dismissed as impractical, its underlying principles were flawless, and its true power—once mastered—was devastating.  

Even now, despite obtaining numerous high-level abilities, this technique remained a core pillar of his entire combat system.  

"Tch. The wisdom of my ancestors…" 

Shinji couldn’t help but sigh.  

Even after all this time, the great elder Uchiha Setsuna and the countless Uchiha predecessors who had contributed to this technique were still guiding him forward.  

"If I fuse Fire Release · Chakra Mode with Sage Form…" 

The key was to shift the energy source— 

Instead of burning chakra, he needed to ignite the natural energy within his cells directly.  

"Yeah… it’s really just like switching the faucet, right?"  

A moment of clarity flickered through Shinji’s mind.  

And then—  

"You idiot!" 

A harsh, raspy voice suddenly cut through his thoughts, laced with alarm and urgency.  

"You’ll blow yourself up on the spot if you try that!"  

Just as he returned to the ruins of Rōran, Orochimaru had overheard his reckless disciple contemplating suicidal experiments.  

The legendary Sannin pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly struggling to hold back his frustration.  

"If you want to complete this technique, you first need to understand the mass-energy equivalence equation: E=mc². You have to determine the mass of natural energy, research whether it behaves like chakra and can actually burn, then calculate the exact instantaneous energy release and—"  

"Orochimaru-sensei!" 

Shinji’s lips curled into a grin as he turned and waved playfully.  

Right now, as his Sage Physique, Sage Transformation, and Sage Form were undergoing their final fusion, his perception had never been sharper.  

He had sensed Orochimaru’s arrival long ago.  

More importantly—  

He had sensed something unusual.  

Orochimaru was struggling. 

Shinji didn’t know how to describe the expression on his master’s face.  

It was a mix of humanity and rationality, torn between the two.  

It resembled the hesitation of a mad scientist, about to kill a lab rat that had grown into a beloved pet.  

It also carried a sense of pride—the satisfaction of watching a windmill spin faster and faster—alongside the cruelty of realizing that it had to be stopped.  

Shinji had no idea why Orochimaru was looking at him like this.  

But he did know one thing.  

Because of him, Orochimaru had acquired an immense amount of knowledge from the deceased White Snake Sage— 

Knowledge of twisted history, long-buried truths, and the potential fates of this world.  

Orochimaru had been nurturing him.  

He had been carefully raising a monster— 

A creature he could no longer control.  

He had hoped to trace a once-forgotten path through Shinji.  

To recreate it—and ultimately surpass it.  

But now—  

Shinji had exceeded even Orochimaru’s expectations. 

The windmill that had once turned gently at 15–30 RPM had suddenly mutated— 

Now it spun with nuclear-powered velocity, breaking through the sky itself— 

At a rate of 100,000,000 RPM.  

For the first time, even Orochimaru, a man who never looked away, was at a loss.  

Perhaps this path had finally reached its end.  

Or maybe—  

They had arrived at a crossroads, a place where their paths would inevitably diverge.  

Both of them felt it.  

Both of them chose to ignore it.  

But now—  

It could no longer be ignored.  

Orochimaru fell silent. 

He stood amidst the ruins.  

He watched as the moon moved from the center of the sky—  

To the western horizon.  

Shinji waited patiently, enjoying the quiet moment with his teacher.  

Then—  

Orochimaru let out a long, weary sigh.  

Turning toward him, his golden snake-like eyes studied him more intently than ever before.  

And then—  

With immense resolve, he rasped—  

"Shinji…"  

"What kind of person… do you want to become?"  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 425: Shinji, You Have Graduated  

"What kind of person do you want to become?"  

Hearing Orochimaru’s deeply meaningful question, Shinji was momentarily stunned. He didn’t have an immediate answer.  

From the moment he arrived in this world, from being forced into the role of a ninja of the Uchiha clan, he had always been driven by necessity, struggling on the blurred edge between life and death. Over time, he had come to embrace this instability and madness, resolving to shoulder the burden and change everything.  

To be honest, he had never had the luxury or time to think about something as seemingly childish as the question one might ask a preschooler: 

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"  

At this moment, however, Orochimaru fixed his gaze on Shinji and chuckled hoarsely.  

"Shinji," he began.  

"In this world, there are two types of people—or rather, two types of—"  

"Heroes."  

"One type is enamored with the glory of heroism. They perform acts of kindness, not because they truly believe others need saving, but because they enjoy the admiration and praise. Some seek fame, others seek material rewards—either way, their actions are driven by self-interest."  

"These people follow the philosophy of ‘judge a man by his deeds, not his heart.’"  

"The second type is a true hero—completely selfless. As long as they can save others, they will choose the most effective method, even if it means bearing immense responsibility, enduring the scorn of society, the nation, or even their own village."  

"I once believed you were the first type, just as you once claimed to be."  

"But then you abandoned your own life to perform acts of foolish kindness, never expecting anything in return. It made me question whether you actually possessed the spirit of the second type—a true hero."  

"And now—"  

"I realize you are a third kind altogether."  

Orochimaru narrowed his golden snake-like eyes, reflecting the deepest darkness before dawn. Within his pupils, visions flickered like illustrations from ancient legends— 

But these were not myths. They were real.  

The age of gods, the rise of the ninja sect, the warring states, the era of the great ninja villages...  

An endless cycle of chaos. Disorder from beginning to end. A war that had never ceased.  

It was as if some invisible will loomed above all, orchestrating this cycle. Yet no matter how deeply one searched through this bloodstained history, the true puppet master remained elusive.  

Orochimaru’s gaze turned cold, indifferent, and resolute as he looked at Shinji. Then, in a low voice, he said:  

"You seem foolish—reckless and impulsive, never considering consequences or caring about how others perceive you."  

"And yet, long ago, you chose to become something else entirely—"  

"A Sage."  

"From the very beginning, I underestimated you, Shinji."  

"You think farther ahead than anyone else in this world. Your thoughts transcend time, reflecting deeply on history. Your understanding surpasses even the greatest minds of our era."  

"Even after enduring countless unforeseen tragedies—trials beyond your control—you still pondered. You questioned why these things happened. You questioned why the world was this way. And then, you sought solutions, determined to prevent history from repeating itself."  

"And finally, you took action."  

"Someone like you—you're either a Sage or a Madman!"  

"Right now, without a doubt, you are walking this path! You are trying to seize control of the world's future! You are trying, by your own will alone, to shatter the darkness that has loomed over the ninja world for millennia!"  

"You want the entire world to operate according to your vision!"  

"You are more selfish than anyone. More greedy than anyone."  

"And yet now, your selfishness and greed have become—"  

Orochimaru’s golden eyes widened suddenly as he rasped:  

"The boundless love of a Sage!"  

Hearing this, Shinji blinked hard, his eye twitching.  

"Orochimaru-sensei, what the hell are you on about now?"  

"All I want is to kill Madara or get killed by him—how did I suddenly become a hero? A Sage?"  

"And what’s all this about controlling the world, controlling the future, breaking through the darkness...?"  

"Come on, I’m not some dark Ultraman!"  

"Pfft—cough, cough, cough!"  

Orochimaru’s dramatic speech nearly made him choke. Yet beneath his amusement, Shinji felt a growing sense of unease.  

For Orochimaru to say such things could only mean one thing—he had learned too much from the White Snake Sage.  

He might even have some idea of what Shinji intended to do.  

And if Orochimaru—his teacher, his benefactor, the man who had guided him so far—decided to stand in his way…  

Then what would he do?  

That thought crept into his mind before he could stop it. His eyes lifted instinctively to meet Orochimaru’s.  

After a brief silence, he deliberately changed the subject, smiling.  

"Orochimaru-sensei, how about we talk about something practical?"  

"Hidan—he’ll be staying with you for a while. As for his accommodations, well, as long as he doesn’t starve, it’s fine. After that, I’ll probably take a trip to the Land of Water to help a friend with some trouble. And—"  

Orochimaru suddenly chuckled, his sharp demeanor softening slightly.  

For a moment, it was as if they had been pulled back to some ordinary, peaceful afternoon.  

Looking at Shinji’s bright, toothy grin, he picked up the conversation, smiling wryly, his gaze filled with a mix of amusement and something deeper.  

"Do you remember what I told you about Turtle Island?"  

"Training must not be neglected. To perfectly complete the final ritual and achieve our ultimate goal—"  

"For a long time to come, you must follow me and undergo a series of rejection tests."  

Shinji scratched his head and asked, half-joking, half-serious,  

"So, just how long is this ‘long time’?"  

Orochimaru’s expression darkened. His voice was hoarse as he replied:  

"Twenty-one years."  

"The Nine-Ring Solar Eclipse—the most powerful celestial event—will occur in Konoha Year 68. By then—"  

"Sorry, Orochimaru," Shinji interrupted with a sigh. His voice was firm.  

"That’s too long."  

"I can't wait that long."  

"Is that so?"  

As if he had already foreseen this answer, Orochimaru’s expression did not change.  

But they both knew—  

Neither of them had spoken their true thoughts.  

And so, the conversation ended.  

At that moment, their paths diverged.  

Orochimaru wanted to continue shaping Shinji’s future.  

But he needed time.  

Shinji, on the other hand, still sought battle.  

In the end, Orochimaru cast him one last, meaningful glance.  

He said nothing. He did not reveal his true intentions. He did not tell Shinji how much he had already uncovered.  

Instead, he turned away.  

And before the first light of dawn broke the horizon, he walked alone into the final darkness.  

Only a faint, somewhat wistful sigh lingered in the air—  

"Shinji, you have graduated."  

(End of Chapter)