76-80

Chapter 76: If This Isn’t a Monster, Then What Is?

Yoru’s skills had nearly all reached their limits—except for Silent Technique Arrays, which hadn’t been enhanced yet. However, to unleash the full potential of these ninjutsu, he’d first need to achieve the "Kage-Level Invincibility" milestone.

Even so, with his current abilities, Yoru was already a formidable force among Kage-level shinobi. While he might not yet rival the Five Great Kage, defeating him would be no easy feat—especially given his unparalleled defensive prowess.

In other words, Yoru had finally reached a level where, even if his true identity were exposed, he could escape Kumogakure unscathed.

"A twelve-year-old Kage-level? With monsters like Uchiha Itachi running around, I guess it’s not too outrageous."

In the original timeline, Itachi had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan at twelve, mastered Susanoo by thirteen, and stepped into Kage-tier strength. Yoru himself was just three months shy of turning thirteen.

"Honestly, the biggest thing holding me back right now is probably my age."

"I should slow down a bit. If I keep pushing my strength to grow at this insane rate, it’ll only strain my body."

"Once I enhance one more attribute, I’ll take it easy for a while."

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Since he’d already achieved his primary goal—reaching a level where he could fight the Mizukage on equal footing—there was no need to push himself to the brink. Overdoing it now would only risk damaging his body.

"Then again, even if I went all-out, further growth won’t come easy from here."

"The higher my level, the more ridiculous the reinforcement costs become."

Enhancing a single Kage-level attribute required 500,000 reinforcement points, and surpassing that to S-Kage level demanded a whopping 1,000,000 per attribute! Just reaching S-Kage would take him nearly two months of grinding for a single stat.

The road ahead was long and grueling.

Status Panel

Host: Yoru

Age: 12

Kenjutsu: Flash Annihilation

Ninjutsu:

• Hiding in Mist Technique

• Water Clone Technique

• Lightning Pillar Wall

• Gratitude Wave

• Falling Thunder Array

Barrier Techniques:

• Sensory Array

• Six Pillar Flame Array

Sealing Techniques:

• Binding Current Curse

Genjutsu:

• Gold Binding Technique

• Spirit Torment Technique

Weapon: Tempered Tachi

Rank: Kage (Genin, Chūnin, Special Jōnin, Jōnin, Elite Jōnin, Kage, S-Kage, Six Paths)

Reinforcement Points: 335,000

Afternoon – A Training Ground in Kumogakure

Yoru swung his blade relentlessly, adjusting to the rapid surge in his strength. Nearby, other Kumo-nin trained, casting occasional glances his way.

"That’s Kirai again… Does this guy ever take a break?" one muttered, watching the razor-sharp arcs of Yoru’s swordplay.

"No wonder he’s so strong. With this kind of dedication, it’d be weirder if he wasn’t a monster."

"But why’s he so obsessed? He’s already loaded—must’ve made millions from S-rank missions alone!"

"Who knows? Geniuses are weird like that. Maybe he just enjoys training."

Their voices buzzed with admiration and envy. After all, who wouldn’t envy the strongest prodigy of their generation—a shinobi even Darui acknowledged as superior?

"His swordsmanship is terrifying. Even from this distance, I can feel the killing intent—like my neck’s already on the chopping block."

"Look at the ground. Just the pressure from his swings is splitting the earth!"

"If he weren’t a ninja, he’d still be a legendary swordsman."

"That’s talent for you—effortless mastery in everything."

Yoru tuned them out, focusing on synchronizing with his power.

"Hah!"

A flash of steel—then a surge of chakra-infused剑气 (sword energy) erupted, cleaving a massive black boulder clean in half. The slash carved a twenty-meter fissure into the earth before finally stopping.

"Still not perfect. My chakra control needs work."

He resumed his drills, each swing refining his precision.

"Hah!"

"Hah!"

With every strike, the surrounding terrain shattered—yet the slashes grew shorter, his chakra denser. By the end, his movements seemed almost mundane.

A single, effortless slash.

No wasted energy. No excess force.

Just a blade passing through stone like it was air—leaving a mirror-smooth cut in its wake.

The difference was stark: his first strike had left a jagged fracture, but the final one? Flawless.

"Incredible…" the onlookers whispered, awestruck.

That brief burst of Yoru’s chakra had felt like staring death in the face—an oppressive, inescapable force.

"How strong is he?!"

The boulder he’d sliced was no ordinary rock—it was chakra-infused ore, harder than steel. Normally, only a high-level lightning jutsu (A-rank or above) could damage it.

"Does that mean… to him, steel is as soft as tofu?"

They stared at Yoru like he was some kind of mythical beast.

"A casual slash now matches the full power of his old ‘Flash’ technique. Worth every reinforcement point."

"Though if I go all-out, my body can only handle a few full-powered strikes before giving out."

Wiping sweat from his brow, Yoru nodded in satisfaction. After an hour, he’d mostly adapted to his new strength. The rest would come with real combat and daily training.

Under the Kumo-nin’s stunned gazes, he sheathed his sword and left.

Not long after, the Fourth Raikage appeared at the training ground. His eyes locked onto the bisected boulder.

"So this is your true strength, Kirai? You might’ve already surpassed your superior, Wolf Fang."

He’d sensed Yoru’s chakra from afar—a pressure so intense it had shocked even him. For the past hour, he’d observed in silence, growing more unsettled with each passing minute.

*Chapter 77: Then I Shouldn’t Be Surprised*

"Just that terrifying swordsmanship alone could probably defeat most of the village’s elite jonin!"

"Kirai… is keeping you in the assassination squad really the right choice? You’re far too difficult to control!"

"And the speed at which you’re growing stronger… it’s downright terrifying."

——

"If this is your true strength, then the sheer willpower it must have taken to hide it all this time…"

"But if you were only that strong before and reached this level in just four months? That’s monstrous."

"Your growth is like a rocket—no one could possibly keep up!"

To be fair, if not for Amachi’s investigation, the Fourth Raikage might have been thrilled by Yoru’s rapid ascent.

But now? All he felt was unease.

"It’s time to remove you from the assassination squad. You shine too brightly."

"Until your identity is cleared, I won’t fully trust you."

"I’ll assign you to the Dragon’s Den, where the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki is sealed. You and Yugito can keep an eye on each other."

"That way, you’ll be cut off from the outside world."

During this time, the Raikage had sent numerous spies to Kirigakure, hoping to uncover information about "Kirai."

But after Amachi’s infiltration, Kiri’s defenses had tightened exponentially—no one could slip through.

Just as Yoru had predicted:

The Kiri elder, after "framing" him, had sealed the village’s borders like a fortress.

The Raikage’s spies returned empty-handed.

——

Yoru, of course, knew none of the Raikage’s scheming.

But he had sensed the man watching him train earlier.

The Raikage’s chakra was too violent to miss—even without activating his sensory barrier.

"So… what will you do now, Raikage?"

After stopping by a tackle shop, Yoru settled by a river below Kumo and cast his line.

As he waited, he meditated, replenishing the chakra spent during training.

Since reaching Kage-level stamina, chakra reserves were no longer a concern.

In fact, his reserves now ranked among the highest in the shinobi world—

—barring outright monsters like the Tailed Beasts, the Sage’s heirs, or Kisame Hoshigaki.

"Having ample chakra really does bring peace of mind."

Meditation, too, was training.

The calmer the mind, the purer the chakra.

Yoru preferred avoiding a second refinement process.

He’d prioritized stamina because, unlike strength, speed, or agility, it offered the most immediate power boost.

With Kage-level reserves, enhancing his skills became far more effective.

——

"Splash!"

Fifteen minutes later, his first catch—a plump saury.

"Not as hard as I thought."

He smiled, recalling how reaching Kage-level had felt similarly effortless.

Second fish.

Third.

…

Tenth.

"Time to head back."

As twilight faded into starlight, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of dusk accompanied him home.

"The wind is unusually soft today."

"Or is this just the calm before the storm?"

"Heh. I look forward to the thunder and rain."

No one could decipher his words.

Like a wandering poet’s idle verse—perhaps meaningless, perhaps profound.

——

*The Next Day*

"Today’s mission is critical. Prepare yourselves—for death, if necessary."

Assassination Squad Leader Tōrou’s gaze swept over the team, lingering on Yoru.

"Death? Captain, when haven’t we been ready? This is the assassination squad."

"Yeah! How many of us original eighteen are left? Just you and Kykō, right?"

"Heh. Death? I made my peace long ago. No regrets here."

Even as a spy, Yoru admired their resolve. These were true warriors.

"Our client is the Land of Lightning’s Daimyō. Retrieve the ‘Ancient Stele’ lost in Uzushiogakure."

"But the Land of Fire, Water, and others are also after it."

"Rumors say it’s a key to a Warring States-era treasure—one worth a kingdom’s ransom. Every faction wants it."

"The Daimyō offered 200 million ryō. Failure means the Raikage faces political backlash."

"We must secure the stele. Understood?"

Yoru mused: "200 million… a king’s ransom indeed."

Standard S-rank missions paid a million ryō at most.

Ten million was rare—let alone 200 million.

But context mattered:

A bowl of ramen cost 600 ryō.

Daily meals easily exceeded 1,000.

A lavish dinner? 10,000 minimum.

"Shinobi really aren’t that wealthy."

"To survive, we become pawns. Our fates aren’t our own."

"No wonder only clan heirs afford specialized weapons. Commoner shinobi can’t compete."

As Yoru reflected, Tōrou finished briefing the team. They set out.

——

On the road, Tōrou whispered to Yoru:

"Kykō… if the fighting gets dire, and you have the strength… watch their backs. Don’t let them die pointlessly."

Yoru smirked. "I’ll do what I can."

So the icy captain did have a heart.

---

*Chapter 78: The Center of Attention*

"With both the Land of Fire and the Land of Water getting involved, I wonder if I’ll run into anyone familiar." Yoru mused silently.

"The Land of Fire isn’t a big deal, but the Land of Water… Should I go all out against them?"

The thought troubled him. Many of these shinobi might one day serve under his sister, Mei Terumī. They were Kirigakure’s elite—killing them now would be like tearing down his own future defenses.

But as if sensing his hesitation, Tōrō (Wolf Fang) warned him coldly:

"Kirai, we will cross paths with Kirigakure’s forces on this mission. When that happens, show no mercy. Failure is not an option."

His tone left no room for argument.

"Yeah, yeah, got it," Yoru replied halfheartedly, though inwardly, he was curious:

"I wonder who’s leading Kirigakure’s team this time."

He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anticipation.

---

As Yoru’s squad set out, Kirigakure and Konohagakure also dispatched their own teams.

*Konoha’s Elite*

The Third Hokage placed a hand on Hatake Kakashi’s shoulder.

"Kakashi, this mission is critical. Don’t disappoint me."

"Understood, Lord Third," Kakashi responded firmly.

Behind him stood an impressive lineup:

- *Might Guy*

- *Uchiha Itachi*

- *Tenzo (aka Yamato)*, the legendary Wood Release user

Itachi clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.

"White Flash… If we meet again, I won’t let you slip away so easily."

Six months had passed since their last encounter—six months of relentless training. He was ready.

*Kirigakure’s *

Meanwhile, in the Mist, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, addressed three infamous figures:

"Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and you, Jūzō Biwa—this mission is yours. Retrieve the Nagomi Stele at all costs. The Daimyō’s orders are absolute."

"Understood, Lord Mizukage," they replied in unison.

Before departing, they received additional instructions from Mei Terumī herself. Their squad also included:

- *Hōzuki Suigetsu*

- *Ameyuri Ringo*

- *Shima Isshin*

A force to be reckoned with.

---

Off the coast of the Land of Whirlpools, two figures watched the unfolding chaos.

"Hey, Haku," Kimimaro murmured, licking his lips. "Should we step in? Help Lord Yoru secure the stele?"

At ten years old, Kimimaro’s strength already rivaled a *Special Jōnin*, and with Haku’s Ice Release, even full-fledged Jōnin stood little chance against them. Their reputation in the underworld was growing.

"A sound plan," Haku agreed. "But we’ll need to be careful. That mercenary offer we received recently… Why not accept it as cover?"

Kimimaro smirked. "Then it’s settled."

Unbeknownst to Yoru—currently aboard a ship, lost in thought—his two young allies were already weaving their own schemes.

---

But Konoha, Kumo, and Kiri weren’t the only players.

Somewhere along the coast, two figures trudged forward—one grumbling, the other counting coins.

"Oi, Kakuzu, why the hell are we stuck on this job?"

Hidan twirled his crimson scythe in irritation.

Kakuzu didn’t even glance back. "Because treasure of this scale requires expertise. And unlike you, money never betrays me."

"Tch. Whatever, you greedy bastard."

The Akatsuki’s financial advisor and its most fanatical zealot—an unlikely duo with a single goal: *Claim the stele, no matter the cost.*

Elsewhere, a band of rogue ninja argued among themselves.

"Are we really doing this? Stealing from the Five Great Nations? We’ll be hunted down!"

Their leader scoffed. "Cowards starve. The strong take what they want! Why should the big villages hog all the wealth?"

Murmurs of agreement spread.

"He’s right! By the time their forces arrive, we’ll be long gone!"

Greed glittered in their eyes.

"For once, let’s be the ones eating well!"

---

Amidst the gathering storm, the monks of *Nagomi Temple* could only pray.

"Hurry, Konoha… Please…"

Their prized stele—once a sacred relic—had become a curse. Two greedy monks had sold its secret to rival nations, unleashing this disaster.

Now, with rogue ninja at their gates and no sign of salvation, the head monk trembled.

The first to arrive weren’t Konoha’s saviors.

It was a band of thugs, led by a hulking, fur-covered brute.

"Old man," the leader sneered, cracking his knuckles. "Hand it over, or we’ll paint this temple red."

His chakra flared—*Chūnin-level*, but more than enough to slaughter unarmed monks.

The stele’s value meant nothing now.

Only survival mattered.

---

Chapter 79: Without Strength, You Can’t Afford It

"Benefactor…"

The temple’s head monk tried to speak, but before he could finish, the bandit leader’s hand pierced straight through his chest.

"Shut your damn mouth, old man. Boys, search the place! Find the treasure, and we’ll live like kings!"

"Yeah!!"

With a roar, the rogue ninja swarmed into the temple like starving wolves, smashing and looting everything in sight.

Though the Meiko Temple wasn’t famous, it was still a temple—there was money to be had.

The monks could only watch in horror, their eyes burning with rage, powerless to stop it.

Those who tried now lay in pools of blood.

"Amitabha… Amitabha…"

"Sin… Such sin…"

Beyond these muttered prayers, they could do nothing.

Helpless.

——

"Boss! I found it!!"

A lackey’s shout rang out as he clutched a small, ancient stone slab—about the size of a washbasin—carved with the characters "Meiko."

"Good work! Fall back, boys!"

The leader grinned wildly, and just like that, they vanished as quickly as they came.

"Hahaha! No more starving! Screw this wandering life—we’re gonna be rich!"

"Women, money, everything’s ours now!"

The leader’s triumphant laughter echoed…

Until—

"Guh—!"

A blade erupted from his chest.

Behind him stood a man with moss-green hair, yanking the sword free as the leader crumpled.

"A treasure like this? You lot aren’t worthy."

Standing on the temple’s stone steps, the green-haired ninja smirked at the panicking bandits.

"BOSS!!"

"You bastard!!"

"Kill him!!"

The lackeys charged, eyes bloodshot.

"Tch. Insects."

Hands flashing through seals, the ninja spat:

"Fire Style: Sacred Flame Technique!"

A tsunami of fire engulfed the men, igniting the surrounding forest.

"AAAAHH—!!"

Screams filled the air as the green-haired ninja blurred forward.

Within minutes, the Meiko Stele was his, and every bandit lay dead.

"Hmph. Trash like you don’t deserve this. Only I do."

"With this, I’m done being a lousy B-rank missing-nin!"

He dashed downhill—

But the stele’s allure was too great.

Soon, he was dead too, cut down by another rogue.

And so it repeated.

In just two kilometers, the stele changed hands ten times, leaving a trail of corpses.

The final "winners"?

The same group that had sneered, "Why should the Five Great Villages rule the shinobi world?"

"Move out!"

"Cover our tracks!"

"We’re set for life!"

Their leader barely contained his glee.

His men grinned, greed dripping from their faces.

But were they truly the last?

Of course not.

——

"Mind handing that over?"

Just as they reached the forest’s edge—freedom in sight—a squad materialized before them.

"Sharingan… Konoha uniforms… Wait—Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi?!"

The leader’s blood ran cold.

Fighting was suicide.

Yet surrendering their hard-won prize? Unthinkable!

Then—

"Whoosh!"

Another group landed behind them: Kirigakure ninja, forehead protectors glinting.

"Or… you could give it to us."

"Think carefully. Konoha’s ‘merciful’—they might spare you."

"But if you refuse? Well… we Kiri-nin aren’t so kind."

"Do you really want your men to die for your greed?"

Momochi Zabuza licked his blade, grinning like a shark.

"S-Seven… Swordsmen…?!"

The leader’s throat went dry at the sight of Kubikiribōchō on Zabuza’s back.

"N-not just him! That’s Demon of the Hidden Mist, Haku!"

A lackey pointed at the masked figure beside Zabuza, trembling.

"And behind them—that’s White Light, Yoru, right?!"

Someone else spotted Hōzuki Mangetsu, his masked face eerily calm.

"Tch."

The rogue leader gritted his teeth.

"B-boss… let’s just… g-go…"

A teammate’s voice shook with terror.

Against this lineup? They stood no chance.

"Damn it!!"

The leader’s fists clenched.

But what choice did he have?

"Without strength… you can’t afford such treasures."

With a roar, he hurled the stele skyward.

"SCATTER!!"

As his men fled into the trees, he spat:

"Konoha dogs! It’s yours! I’m out!"

——

"Smart move."

Both Kakashi and Zabuza thought the same thing.

Then—

"Go!!"

"Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!"

Konoha’s Yamato’s arms morphed into writhing timber, shooting toward the stele—

—while barricading against Kiri’s advance.

"W-Wood Style?!"

The Kiri-nin recoiled.

"Another Wood user?! But after Hashirama—?!"

A Wood Style user changed everything.

"Water Style: Exploding Water Wave!"

While his team hesitated, Hoshigaki Kisame acted.

A tsunami of chakra-born water erupted, swallowing the forest whole.

Chapter 80: Twelve Years of Singlehood Hand Speed

"Uwah—! What monstrous chakra!"

The Konoha shinobi scrambled back as a tsunami-like wave crashed toward them. No one dared face it head-on—even Tenzō’s Wood Release splintered under the crushing water pressure. The Nagomi Stele plunged into the depths.

"Fine work, Kisame!" Jūzō Biwa grinned.

A Kiri-nin moved to dive for the stele—

"Not happening, mist-dwellers!"

A masked ANBU landed on the water’s surface, hands already a blur.

"Lightning Style: Earth Flow!"

Crackling electricity spiderwebbed across the lake, racing toward the Mist ninja.

"Fools. Did you forget water conducts lightning?" the ANBU sneered.

"All units, Lightning Style—pin them down!" Kakashi ordered.

His hands moved faster than sight.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Wolf!"

A snarling wolf of lightning erupted from Kakashi’s body, lunging at Kisame’s squad. Behind him, ANBU pressed palms to the water—

"Lightning Style—!"

"You think we’d just stand there?" Jūzō barked. His hand slapped the surface.

"Water Style: Raging Tides!"

The lake exploded. Ten-meter waves avalanched down, swallowing the ANBU’s attacks whole.

"Lightning? Amateurs."

Zabuza’s hands sealed.

"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"

The lake split—a clean fissure severing the electric current.

"Kisame, now!"

Zabuza’s smirk widened as Konoha’s forces dodged the deluge.

"Roger."

Kisame’s shark-like grin flashed. Hands slammed down—

"Water Style: Shark Bomb!"

A chakra-formed shark torpedoed toward the submerged stele—

"Water Style: Water Fang!"

A calm voice cut in.

Twin hydro-spears erupted beneath Kisame, forcing him back.

"Who—?!"

Kisame’s gaze snapped up—

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower!"

Itachi exhaled.

Dozens of superheated fireballs streaked like meteors toward the Mist-nin.

"Water Style: Water Wall!" Zabuza’s hands flew up—

Flick.

Itachi’s sleeve twitched.

Thwip-thwip-thwip!

Kunai blurred, interrupting Zabuza’s seals mid-motion.

"Too fast—!" Zabuza barely dodged. That hand speed…!

The Mist-nin scattered, but Itachi’s flames curved, hunting them.

"Gah—!"

One took a direct hit, sent flying.

"Tch!" Jūzō hefted his cleaver, charging Itachi—

Growl.

Kakashi’s thunder wolf pounced, forcing Jūzō to wheel back.

"Damn it—!"

Zabuza seized the opening, lunging at Itachi—

Meanwhile, Kisame dove for the stele—

"Not so fast!"

A blue comet slammed down.

"Sixth Gate: OPEN!"

Might Guy’s roar shook the lake. Power erupted—ANBU were blown back, water blasted into a crater.

"Hah! Now this is a beast worth fighting!" Kisame’s grin turned feral. Fear? Nonexistent.

He plunged underwater, Guy hot on his tail.

Elsewhere:

• Jūzō vs. Kakashi – Cleaver against lightning, neither yielding.

• Zabuza vs. Itachi – Mist and fire, a dance of lethal precision.

• Suigetsu & Ringo vs. Tenzō – Water and lightning barely holding against Wood Release.

"Hmph. So the ‘White Flash’ is just this much?" Tenzō taunted.

"The hell?! I’m Suigetsu Hōzuki, you blind bastard!"

"…Not Yoru?" Tenzō’s disappointment was palpable. And here I hoped to test myself against him.

"Oi! That look pisses me off!" Suigetsu’s veins bulged.

Tenzō ignored him.

(The ultimate insult.)

"Hiding in Mist Technique… Impressive, ‘Demon’ Zabuza."

Itachi stood motionless in the soundless fog.

"Heh. Flattery won’t save you." Zabuza’s voice slithered from nowhere. "Throat, skull, heart, spine—pick your grave."

Itachi’s lips curved.

"I choose… none."

He spun, foot cracking the water.

Hand-seals—faster than thought.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"

A five-meter inferno roared forth, vaporizing the mist in its wake.