belamy20

336-340

Added 2025-04-16 23:58:58 +0000 UTC

Chapter 336: There’s a Traitor Among Us!

*Knock, knock!*

The door of a house at the end of a remote alley was struck with two knocks.

However, the two people waiting outside had been there for a long time, and yet, no response had come from within.

Standing at the entrance, one could peer through the gaps in the wooden planks and see the inside of the house, covered in cobwebs—a desolate scene that had not been cleaned for ages. Occasionally, the cries of stray cats echoed through the surroundings.

Yuyashiro En frowned as he surveyed the environment. He glanced at Kakuzu, standing beside him, with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

"Kakuzu-san, do you really think a godforsaken place like this would contain the most classified intelligence in all of Yunming City?"

"I'm telling you, stop wasting time."

For Yuyashiro En, having spent twenty years in Hell Valley, most of his sustenance came from hunting birds with stones.

So when he said "godforsaken," it was already a harsh criticism.

And indeed, as he described, this place hardly looked like one where anyone would reside.

However—

Upon hearing his words, Kakuzu merely glanced at him without responding, as if he couldn't be bothered. Instead, he remained persistent, knocking on the dilapidated door once more.

*Knock, knock!*

And just after this second knock—

A shadow suddenly leaped down from the rooftop.

"Honored guests, please follow me, meow~!"

The agile figure that had landed was an orange ninja cat dressed in a red cloak. Its appearance was unmistakable—it was Hinata, the ninja cat once summoned by Uchiha Fugaku.

At that moment, Hinata stood up on its hind legs, pointing toward a nearby wall before swiftly leaping forward.

*Whoosh!*

A ripple emerged on the surface of the wall, allowing the ninja cat to pass through effortlessly.

Only then did Kakuzu finally speak in a calm tone, "Let's go. The barrier has been deactivated."

"An illusion?"

"Even my Blood Dragon Eyes can't see through it?"

Seeing this, Yuyashiro En was momentarily stunned, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he quickly followed Kakuzu through the wall.

With one step forward, the scene before him changed dramatically.

In the blink of an eye, they transitioned from a foul-smelling, desolate street to the interior of a vast and luxurious courtyard.

At the grand entrance, a ninja clad in Uchiha attire stepped forward.

He looked no older than twenty, yet his scarlet Sharingan gleamed with three tomoe.

"Even the gatekeepers here have three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age? Just what kind of people are inside?"

Yuyashiro En raised an eyebrow, unable to stop himself from silently musing.

The Uchiha ninja approached the two and, after giving them a calm glance, introduced himself:

"My name is Uchiha Seichirou.

"After your discussion with the elders, you may come to me for any details regarding affairs within the Land of Lightning."

After a brief self-introduction, Seichirou led them toward the main residence of the courtyard.

They passed through the mansion’s corridors before arriving at a tea room.

Seichirou slid open the door and gestured for them to enter.

Looking inside, they saw a middle-aged man and a young man sitting upright with impeccable posture.

The middle-aged man was none other than Uchiha Kagari.

During their time in Hell Valley, he had served as the swordsmanship instructor for Shinji. His keen intellect had allowed him to persuade even formidable individuals like Kakuzu, earning him a place as one of Uchiha Setsuna’s most trusted advisors and a candidate for the clan’s elder council.

Skipping over the familiar face, Kakuzu’s gaze shifted toward the square-faced young man seated beside Uchiha Kagari.

Since leaving Hell Valley, Uchiha Kagari had always been responsible for contacting him. But this young man—he had never seen before.

More importantly, the pressure emanating from him was overwhelming.

"Is this guy... the infamous 'Ruthless Eye' Uchiha Fugaku?"

Before they could process their thoughts further, Uchiha Kagari took out a scroll from his robes, placed it on the table, and looked at them.

"Kakuzu, this is the internal defense map of Yunming City that you requested."

After handing over the scroll, Kagari’s gaze turned toward Yuyashiro En.

He paused momentarily before asking bluntly:

"And you… should I address you as Yuyashiro En? Or as Yuyashiro of the Blood Pool?"

"Yuyashiro En."

"Alright."

Uchiha Kagari nodded, then looked at Yuyashiro En and spoke in a straightforward manner.

"I am a warrior. I don’t like beating around the bush, so let’s get straight to the point."

"For now, we’ll set aside past grievances.

"Yuyashiro En, the underground network of the black market you've been assembling in Yunming City has drawn a lot of attention. We've already handled some of the 'issues' for you.

"Additionally, regarding the arena and underground market you plan to establish, we are willing to invest in your endeavor.

"Furthermore—your daughter is now under the protection of the Uchiha clan."

At these words, the tea room fell into a dead silence.

Hearing Kagari’s final sentence, Yuyashiro En froze for a moment. Then, his eyes turned bloodshot on the spot.

"What did you just say?!"

He slammed the table with his palm, sending a powerful surge of chakra through the room.

However—

At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku, who had been silently sipping his tea, suddenly opened his eyes and locked gazes with Yuyashiro En.

In an instant—

An invisible clash of genjutsu unfolded.

With the activation of *Mangekyō Sharingan: Tsukuyomi*, the battle was over before it could begin.

A moment later, Yuyashiro En quietly sat back down.

"You want to use Shinji to carry out your revenge. But deep down, his life or death is inconsequential to you."

"You are the most unstable factor in this newly formed organization!"

"And that’s precisely why Kakuzu brought you here."

Yuyashiro En’s lips twitched. He abruptly turned his head, glaring furiously at Kakuzu.

This whole "finding the traitor" game he had started—

Only to realize, in the end, that he was the traitor?

Uchiha Kagari glanced at both men, his tone calm yet firm.

"So, call me despicable if you wish, say I’m heartless if you must—"

"But in tomorrow’s assassination mission, Yuyashiro En, I need you to understand one thing—"

"Shinji’s life is above all else!"

Then—

Kagari turned to Kakuzu and, after a brief pause, asked:

"One more thing—regarding this organization known as Akatsuki, Kakuzu, I need an explanation."

"Why did you choose to join them?"

Having finally dealt with Yuyashiro En, the unstable factor, Kakuzu let out a deep breath, feeling a rare sense of relief.

At Kagari’s question, his eerie green eyes narrowed in thought.

Then, he pulled out a ring from his sleeve—one designed to be worn on the middle finger.

On the ring was engraved a single kanji: *北* ("North").

This was one of Akatsuki’s ten rings—the "North" ring, representing the North Star.

The North Star symbolizes death, meaning the bearer holds the power to decide others' fates. This aligned perfectly with Kakuzu’s ability to steal and transfer lives through the Jiongu technique. After the last meeting, Yahiko had personally given him this ring.

"The three founders of Akatsuki aren’t so different from him."

Kakuzu shot a glance at Yuyashiro En, now obediently seated, and said indifferently:

"They all sought to exploit Shinji to achieve their own ambitions."

"However—"

"Five days ago, the actions of that little Mist ninja girl changed everything."

"It convinced me that joining Akatsuki—"

"Would be the best way to fulfill your request to protect Shinji."

At this, Uchiha Fugaku raised an eyebrow.

Curious, he asked:

"So, collecting Yunming City’s defense map—was that for this reason too?"

"Then—what exactly are you planning?"

Kakuzu glanced through the tea room window at the towering fortress in the heart of the city.

"Most likely—"

"A grand offering for the arrival of a god."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 337: Fugaku’s Mangekyō, Jiraiya’s Urgent Visit!

A genjutsu residence stood in the heart of the bustling capital.

After sending off Kakuzu, who had brought Oyakashiro Homura to undergo interrogation—

Inside the tea room,

Uchiha Hikaru turned his head to Uchiha Fugaku and asked in surprise,

"Fugaku,

"After our last clan meeting, you were supposed to stay within the clan and oversee the temporary dissociation of Shinji from the family. This was to prevent any ill-intentioned individuals in Konoha from seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble.

"So why have you suddenly come here today?"

Fugaku remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

The reason he had come was due to an extreme warning from his right eye.

This was the ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan, known as ‘Kurainadoumitama’.

Ever since he gave up competing with Shinji for the position of clan leader a month and a half ago, he no longer had to worry day and night about the future of the Uchiha clan. His stress had reached the point of insomnia, but now—he ate well, slept deeply, and could lounge around until noon. He was just waiting for Ji to officially take over, even ready to throw his Police Force duties onto him. Becoming a stay-at-home husband, playing with his soon-to-be-born son alongside Mikoto—it was the perfect life.

Unfortunately, good times didn’t last.

The Hell Valley battle brought terrible news: the young clan leader, Shinji, had fallen off a cliff and was presumed dead.

That day, countless Uchiha gathered at Fugaku’s home. Being pushed forward as their leader by the crowd was suffocating.

The heavy responsibility was back on his shoulders.

To make matters worse, his strongest allies within the clan were ambushed and killed while hunting the high-ranking officials of the underground bounty exchange.

And with Mikoto’s due date approaching,

It felt as if the birth of their child, Itachi, would mark the arrival of disaster.

One bad omen after another came crashing down, pushing him to his limit.

Lost in fear and uncertainty—

It was at that moment that he awakened those ominous eyes.

Mangekyō Sharingan!

His left eye's ability, Tsukuyomi, was an illusion technique born from his growing despair, a tool to decipher everything in an ever-shortening life.

Meanwhile, his right eye's ability, Kurainadoumitama, functioned passively—an ability like prophecy itself.

Also known as ‘Ukanomitama-no-Kami’, it was a divine name associated with Inari, the deity of harvest. This power, much like a fox acting as Inari’s messenger, could detect the key elements that would lead to destruction—hunting down pests, the rats that threatened the clan’s prosperity.

And now—

Fugaku had received a dire warning from his right eye, foreseeing an impending catastrophe.

Uchiha Hikaru, Uchiha Seiichiro, and a group of Uchiha members stationed in Unmei City, preparing to support Shinji—

—would all die today.

And beyond that moment of death, in a brief flash of vision, he saw—

A battlefield, vast and endless.

Standing at its center was Shinji, who, like him, had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Mad with rage, he slaughtered everything in sight.

And the key to this tragedy—

The guest who arrived at the genjutsu residence today.

Oyakashiro Homura.

Once Homura learned that his daughter had been taken away by Uchiha Hikaru, his fury would spiral out of control.

He would slaughter everyone in the residence and immediately betray the Akatsuki—turning to Shinji in a blind thirst for revenge!

Hikaru believed that with him, Seiichiro, and their dual three-tomoe Sharingan, along with a squad of Uchiha Chunin, the Cat Ninja, and Kakuzu—an elite shinobi of Kage level—

They could suppress Homura and force him into cooperating with the Uchiha.

But he had no idea—

That Homura possessed a forbidden eye rivaling the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Once he went berserk, none of them would be his match.

And all three would pay with their lives.

That was why—

Fugaku had traveled thousands of miles, defying the Third Hokage and the entire clan’s expectations, leaving Konoha and coming to the Land of Lightning.

Back in the underground cavern, Seiichiro was right.

He had been too hesitant, too indecisive when it came to the fate of his clan.

And that hesitation had cost them dearly.

But now—

Recalling Shinji’s words before he left the village, the way he called out "Fugaku Aniki",

Fugaku had made up his mind.

He would not let this tragedy happen!

At this moment, in response to Hikaru’s question, Fugaku felt a bit dazed.

Had he really changed everything?

Would his reckless intervention actually help the clan?

Was he protecting Shinji—or harming him?

By preventing Shinji from awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan through suffering, was he truly doing what was best for the clan?

And most importantly—

Had the future that ‘Kurainadoumitama’ foresaw really been averted?

"Hey!"

"Fugaku! Just because you’re not clan leader anymore doesn’t mean you get to slack off!"

"Don’t get lazy on me!"

Hikaru shoved Fugaku, grumbling in frustration,

"What’s with that look? You act like I’m already dead!"

"Cough! Cough!"

Fugaku choked on his tea, waving his hand frantically.

"Hikaru-san, don’t joke about things like that!"

"Hmph."

Hikaru rolled his eyes, his expression softening a little.

Shaking his head, he said,

"Still, your timing isn’t bad. Shinji’s planning to take revenge on the Land of Lightning tomorrow. The Hidden Cloud has plenty of elites. Having you here will make things safer for him."

"Family is always more reliable than outsiders."

Then, as if something else came to mind, his expression darkened.

With a slightly awkward look, he asked Fugaku,

"By the way… when Shinji comes home… how do we tell him? Have you figured it out yet?"

Fugaku’s face stiffened instantly.

"Well…"

Before he could answer—

A sudden rush of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the tea room.

Soon, Seiichiro’s head popped in through the door.

"Hikaru-sama! Fugaku-sama!"

"There’s a visitor outside the barrier. I can’t decide what to do. You should take a look—"

"A visitor?"

Hikaru frowned slightly.

"Kakuzu came back? Only he was informed of this residence’s location."

"No, not Kakuzu!"

Seiichiro’s expression twitched as he scratched his head, also struggling to understand the situation.

"It’s one of the Legendary Sannin—the one who arrived in the Land of Lightning as part of Konoha’s envoy."

"Jiraiya-sama!"

"And… he looks like he’s in a real hurry."

At those words—

Both Hikaru and Fugaku froze.

Their eyes met in shock.

"Jiraiya?"

"Why is he looking for us?"

"And how the hell does he even know we’re here?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 338: The Great Toad Sage’s Prophecy – The Child of Destiny!

Upon learning that Jiraiya had suddenly come looking for him, Uchiha Hikaru furrowed his brows slightly. After pondering for a moment, he turned to exchange a glance with Uchiha Fugaku.

“Jiraiya actually came, Fugaku. I haven’t even had the chance to ask you—”

“What’s the current situation within the clan?”

Hearing this question, Uchiha Fugaku’s expression tensed instantly.

“Within the clan... After the Hell Valley ambush by the Hidden Cloud, upon learning that Shinji was still alive and planning revenge against the Land of Lightning, nearly the entire clan supported him.”

“Some of the elder council members have even begun mobilizing for war. The hawkish leader, Uchiha Hachidai, bypassed me entirely and directly petitioned the Hokage, demanding that the Uchiha Clan take the battlefield in the Land of Lightning. And the only person who could restrain them, the Grand Elder Uchiha Setsuna, is…”

Hearing this, Uchiha Hikaru’s eyes flashed.

“So that’s how it is... This situation isn’t much different from when the Grand Elder conspired to assassinate the Second Hokage and attempted a coup.”

“Konoha must be getting nervous as well.”

“If Jiraiya has come at this time, he’s likely acting as an envoy for Konoha and the Fire Daimyō, trying to ease relations between the village and the clan.”

With that thought, Uchiha Hikaru exhaled deeply and looked at Uchiha Seichiro, who was waiting at the doorway.

“Seichiro, invite him in.”

Before long, a tall man with a stern expression entered the tearoom. He wore a forehead protector with the kanji for "oil" (油), his long white hair flowing down to his waist, and two red markings extending from under his eyes.

The moment Jiraiya sat down, Uchiha Hikaru frowned and spoke directly.

“Jiraiya, forgive my bluntness, but if you’ve come representing the Fire Daimyō to persuade Shinji to stop—”

Hearing this, Jiraiya was briefly stunned. Then, he shook his head and interrupted.

“Wait.”

“That’s not even important. You two don’t need to be so tense.”

Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively, as if unconcerned about their worries.

“This whole incident with the Land of Lightning… Sure, Shinji was reckless, but we’re still in a time of war. Assassinating enemy leaders is a legitimate strategy.”

“In the end, the only issue is that his actions weren’t officially sanctioned.”

“But that can be fixed. If we can find Orochimaru, who is commanding the front lines, and obtain a formal mission order from him, then Shinji’s actions can be justified.”

Jiraiya spoke with sincerity, even standing on the side of the Uchiha and offering a solution.

This left both Uchiha Hikaru and Uchiha Fugaku momentarily stunned.

The entire Uchiha Clan had already prepared for war, and due to Shinji, their relationship with Konoha’s upper echelon and the Fire Daimyō had reached a freezing point.

But now, Jiraiya was acting as if none of it was a big deal?

Seeing the skepticism in their eyes, Jiraiya’s expression turned serious as he spoke solemnly.

“I’ve come here today because of something very important.”

“I once received guidance from the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku. He told me that once I became strong enough to stand on my own, I would travel the world, take on disciples, and pass down my teachings.”

“And in his prophecy…”

“My disciple would bring about great change to the world, though it was unclear whether that change would lead to peace or destruction.”

“That child is the one I’ve been searching for—”

“The Child of Prophecy!”

Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku frowned in confusion.

“You came looking for Shinji because of a prophecy from the Sage?”

“And you’re saying Shinji is the Child of Prophecy?”

Uchiha Fugaku shook his head at the thought.

“But Jiraiya, Shinji is already Orochimaru’s disciple.”

“That’s right.” Jiraiya nodded before continuing.

“Shinji is not the Child of Prophecy. The one I’m looking for is someone else.”

“Then…”

Uchiha Hikaru looked at Jiraiya, puzzled.

“How did you find the Uchiha’s secret base in Yunming City?”

Jiraiya sighed and explained,

“I was able to find this place thanks to the Great Toad Sage’s guidance.”

“To be honest, I originally came to the Land of Lightning as a representative of Konoha. But five days ago, I was unexpectedly reverse-summoned to Mount Myōboku again, where I received the Great Toad Sage’s latest prophecy—”

Jiraiya’s expression grew solemn as he spoke in a grave tone.

“There will be someone who paves an entirely new path for this world.”

“More important than the Child of Prophecy!”

“A true Child of Destiny, like the legendary sages of old, has appeared!”

“This child will wield the Sword of Raijin and bear the Emperor’s Jade, descending upon this world as the truest of sages!”

“And in the Great Toad Sage’s vision, one name stood out with absolute clarity!”

“That name is—”

Jiraiya took a deep breath and declared with great reverence,

“Shinji!”

“Hiss…”

Hearing Jiraiya’s words, both Uchiha Hikaru and Uchiha Fugaku inhaled sharply, their pupils contracting.

“The Child of Destiny? And paving a new path for the world?”

“Are we really talking about Shinji?”

“That reckless fool who always charges in headfirst?”

“The same kid who’s been giving us headaches these past few days?”

Since when…

Since when did our Shinji become this powerful?!

The two men exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to believe what they were hearing.

But as high-ranking Uchiha members, they knew of Jiraiya’s reputation and background. They also had some knowledge about the Three Great Sage Regions and their mystical abilities.

The sages of these lands did possess unique powers, and Jiraiya himself was known to be a chosen one of Mount Myōboku.

Given his serious demeanor, and the fact that he had managed to locate this hidden base so effortlessly, his words carried undeniable weight.

“Could this really be true?” Uchiha Hikaru muttered, turning to Fugaku in disbelief.

“Of course it’s true!” Jiraiya exclaimed, his eyes wide with urgency.

“Moreover, my own disciples have already joined forces with Shinji!”

“The legendary Child of Prophecy and the Great Toad Sage’s chosen Child of Destiny have now converged!”

“This is fate!”

Jiraiya’s expression was grave as he spoke with urgency.

“The Great Toad Sage has ordered me to find and protect this child immediately, and to take him to Mount Myōboku!”

“This concerns the fate of the entire ninja world!”

“I ask you both—please, allow me to meet Shinji!”

Seeing Jiraiya’s anxious expression, Uchiha Hikaru pondered for a moment and nodded subtly.

However, as he faced Jiraiya’s earnest gaze, he hesitated and showed an awkward expression.

“Well…”

“If this is the Great Toad Sage’s request, arranging a meeting with Shinji isn’t an issue.”

“But… We don’t actually know where he is right now.”

“However,”

Uchiha Hikaru’s gaze turned firm as he looked at Jiraiya and said in a serious tone,

“Tomorrow—”

“At the Five Nations Summit, when the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning appears, he will show up!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 339: Divine Artifact - Yasakani no Magatama!

On the other side...

A massive creature, floating in the vast ocean like an island, steadily approached the shores of the Land of Frost, following a predetermined route.

The sea breeze swept past, carrying the cries of seagulls into the sky.

This was Turtle Island, the land of training.

Deep within the underground palace, beneath an enormous ancient mural, a pitch-black doorway lay open.

At the edge of the altar, Shinji sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees, eyes closed, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

In the next moment—

The peculiar natural energy flowing within the sealed chamber slowly swirled into a vortex, gradually converging into the young man's chest.

Whoosh!

As his deep purple serpent-like eyes snapped open, rows of glowing text appeared before him:

*[Based on your understanding of Yin Release and three days of continuous observation of the Yin-natured natural energy in this chamber, you have discovered a hidden ancient inheritance and gained some insight.]*

*[You have acquired: Sage Art - Yin Release: Wind Slash (-, Beginner)]*

*[You have acquired: Sage Art - Yin Release: Phantom Form (-, Beginner)]*

*[As your comprehension of Yin Release deepens, you may be able to integrate it with other elemental attributes, potentially evolving new Kekkei Genkai or even Kekkei Tōta.]*

“Phew...”

Shinji exhaled deeply as the deep purple hue in his eyes gradually faded, revealing his scarlet Sharingan with three tomoe.

"The original inheritance must have been shattered too quickly, leaving no complete legacy behind. In the end, this method of preservation was the only way to retain these ancient Sage Arts."

"Unlike elemental Sage Arts of lightning, fire, water, and earth, only 'wind'—which can be redirected and fixed within a structure—was able to survive the passage of millennia and present itself before me."

"So, this is why it manifests as Sage Art: Yin Release - Wind Slash?"

Raising his hand, Shinji focused as blood vessels bulged around his eyes, forming a single-handed 'Tatsu' seal.

In the next instant, a visible purple wind blade appeared on his palm.

Yin Release creates form from nothing, and Wind Release cuts through everything.

This Sage Art, combining Yin Release with Wind Release, was characterized by its astonishing speed—so fast it was suffocating—and its immense cutting power.

It was a level lower than the Sage Art: Yin Release - Thunder Strike wielded by Six Paths Madara.

As for reaching an even higher level...

“Yin Release - Thunder Strike requires mastery of Purple Lightning first, then its integration into Sage Arts.”

“The Sage Art: Storm Release - Light Fang, which was powerful enough to sever Truth-Seeking Orbs, first requires fusing lightning and water attributes to form the Kekkei Genkai of Storm Release. Then, through the addition of Yin Release, it ascends to Kekkei Tōta. Finally, it is integrated into Sage Arts.”

“Only with such mastery does the Sage Art: Storm Release - Light Fang become capable of threatening Six Paths-level opponents.”

After contemplating for a moment, Shinji casually dispersed the purple wind blade in his hand.

“In other words, the minimum requirement for battling Six Paths-level enemies is Sage Art + Yin-Yang Release + Kekkei Genkai.”

“The sages of the post-ancient era lacked this capability, which is why they had to fight Kaguya using crude, single-attribute techniques like Wind Slash and Thunder Strike.”

Thinking of this, he glanced at the magatama resting on the altar and shook his head.

“No wonder they were so easily suppressed by Kaguya.”

The altar holding the magatama was engraved with ancient murals depicting a tragic scene:

A group of weeping sages, each wielding various elemental Sage Arts, charging toward a figure silhouetted against a crimson moon adorned with nine magatama.

This imagery tied back to the ancient history described by Black Zetsu in the original story.

Setting aside Kaguya’s rise to power and personal history, one could observe a pattern:

After consuming the Chakra Fruit of the God Tree, Kaguya easily unified the two great nations of the ancient world, eliminating any resistance and suspending the entire population from the God Tree.

However, despite achieving unification, her control over the land weakened, requiring her to frequently suppress uprisings.

This era, which Shinji tentatively referred to as the "post-ancient period,"

Was the time when...

A young Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo (the Sage of Six Paths) learned from a traveling apothecary in the Land of Ancestors that the Land of Others was revolting against Kaguya.

Labeled a "tyrant," Kaguya personally traveled to suppress the rebellion, during which time Gamamaru (the Great Toad Sage) led Hagoromo to the God Tree, where he discovered the corpse of Haori—the woman he secretly loved—who had perished due to the "offering to the God Tree" ritual. (As depicted in the anime.)

The people rebelling at the time were the descendants of those whom Kaguya had previously suspended from the God Tree using Infinite Tsukuyomi, erased their memories, and released them to repopulate.

The reason they were able to resist Kaguya for so long was that, during this era, the native people of the ninja world had undergone genetic modification by the God Tree and had gained chakra.

The animals secretly seeking revenge against Ōtsutsuki Kaguya fused the ancient Sage Arts with the newly acquired chakra, creating Sage Chakra—giving humans the means to resist Kaguya.

Looking at it now...

The existence of Turtle Island, the True Falls, the headless statue, and the mind-depth training chambers—methods that purely utilized natural energy—must have been the remnants of an ancient, legitimate sage.

However, the buildings on Turtle Island and the murals obscuring the truth seemed to have been constructed in a later period.

At that time, humans, guided by the animals, discovered the True Falls, built this chamber, and left behind both techniques and a painful history.

Because the only ones who could truly defeat Kaguya were her sons.

These so-called "sages" were merely bait and sacrifices, drawing Kaguya out so Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo could have time to grow strong.

This was the second hidden history of Turtle Island.

Shinji stood up from the altar, sighed lightly, and gazed at the artifact before him.

Before discovering this hidden chamber, he had already explored the entirety of Turtle Island—including the training grounds where Naruto and Killer Bee perfected their Jinchūriki transformations.

The Sage Art: Yin Release - Phantom Form was merely an illusion cast on the entrance; with his eyes, Shinji had no trouble breaking through it.

However, his initial expectation of finding a way to enhance his *Sage Mode* had turned out to be futile.

His *Sage Mode* seemed to have surpassed even the sages of Turtle Island's past, providing him with no new insights.

As Orochimaru had said, this deepest chamber, while useful for mastering external powers, held little value for him.

Still, he hadn't come away empty-handed.

After deciphering the techniques hidden in the pitch-black chamber and absorbing its vast reserves of Yin-natured natural energy, the barrier surrounding the altar had vanished.

Revealing the magatama.

At that moment, as Shinji’s fingers touched the artifact, a new message appeared before his eyes:

*[You have obtained: Divine Artifact - Yasakani no Magatama (True Form).]*

*[This artifact has witnessed the fall of an emperor, the vengeance of a tyrant, and the dawn of the ninja sect. It has passed through the hands of the Emperor of the Land of Ancestors, Haori, and the Sage of Six Paths, playing a key role in Gamamaru’s revenge plan before being buried here.]*

*[Its divine power was extracted by the Sage of Six Paths and fused into his bloodline, becoming the summoning tool of the Complete Body Susanoo.]*

*[Those of his bloodline who possess this artifact can summon it in advance and unleash its full power.]*

“I see…”

Reading the description, Shinji’s expression turned serious.

This was the origin of Susanoo’s Yasaka Magatama!

Grinning, he hung the magatama around his neck.

"Well then—"

"Land of Lightning, here I come!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 340: Impenetrable Defense? Pain Breaks Through the City!

Early Morning, the Next Day – Yunming City

The sky was still dim at dawn, yet the inner gates of Yunming City had already been opened to receive emissaries from the Five Great Nations.

Atop the city walls, a tightly packed formation of samurai stood guard, forming an almost unbroken human wall along the fortress's perimeter. Elite Cloud Village (Kumogakure) ninja patrolled in squads of three, constantly monitoring and reporting the situation.

Crossing the drawbridge, passing over the moat, and stepping through the towering 20-meter-high walls, Jiraiya—arriving as the Fire Nation's envoy—finally laid eyes on the scene within this steel fortress.

The once-bustling city had been utterly transformed. Over 10 hectares of land had been cleared, with all non-essential buildings demolished. In their place stood countless fortified encampments, spike-ridden barriers, battering rams, grappling hooks, signal towers, and siege weaponry.

From where he stood on the open plain, he could see streams of Kumogakure ninja weaving through the fortified city like rivers, all focused on protecting the towering, three-tiered Tenshu Pavilion—perched atop a 50-meter-high earthen pillar raised with Earth Release techniques.

To the left of the Tenshu Pavilion, an ominous chakra cannon, forged from solid steel, loomed atop a newly constructed tower, radiating an unsettling presence.

This was no longer a thriving metropolis.

The city had been hollowed out, converted into an enormous military stronghold.

Or more precisely—a battlefield built solely to ensnare and kill Shinji!

A battlefield, located at the very heart of the capital!

"Hey, hey..."

"All this... just to guard against one person? Isn't that a bit overkill?"

As Jiraiya followed his escort through layer upon layer of formidable defenses, he couldn't help but gape in astonishment. He quickened his pace and leaned toward one of the Kumogakure guides, hoping to extract some information.

"Overkill?"

A cold voice abruptly cut in.

From the other side of the Tenshu Pavilion’s rocky base emerged a towering, broad-shouldered young man—clad in the Cloud Village's uniform. A, the future Fourth Raikage, strode forward with a piercing gaze, flanked by other emissaries from the Five Nations.

Casting Jiraiya a sharp look, he spoke in a deep, unwavering tone:

"No, this is not overkill."

"As long as we can kill Shinji here—no cost is too great!"

Jiraiya's brow furrowed slightly.

Though he had come as the Fire Nation's envoy, he had already resolved—after hearing the Great Toad Sage's prophecy—to protect Shinji and ensure he reached Mount Myōboku to meet the sage.

But now, seeing the overwhelming military presence before him—just the rough estimate of over 4,000 Kumogakure troops—Jiraiya felt an immense headache brewing.

If he were to act here, could he even rescue Shinji?

Even if he summoned Fukasaku and Shima to enter Sage Mode, the sheer scale of the Cloud Village’s army, combined with the countless traps and barriers along the way, made escaping seem nearly impossible.

More than that, why was Shinji worth all this trouble?

Jiraiya’s last memory of him was back in the Land of Rain.

Even then, that kid's power had far exceeded expectations—he had even fought Elder Chiyo’s brother, Ebizō, to a standstill.

But still…

Even a Kage wouldn’t warrant this level of preparation, would they?

Jiraiya lifted his gaze to the group of emissaries behind A—five shinobi from different nations, each wearing distinct forehead protectors.

Aside from himself, there were four others.

The Sand Village (Sunagakure) had seemingly given up on the hope of killing Shinji, as Chiyo and Pakura had been recalled. In their place were the young but loyal Maki, a trusted subordinate of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and another high-ranking Sunagakure ninja, Yura.

From Iwagakure (the Stone Village) came Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, along with a new representative—elite jōnin Higashi Shibito, who had replaced the now-deceased Kitsuchi.

Jiraiya scanned the group further.

"Hm? The Water Nation didn’t send anyone?" he asked, puzzled.

Yura from the Sand Village shook his head.

"I heard the Third Mizukage dispatched Hōzuki Suikazan, the leader of the hunter-nin, but… strangely, he never arrived. In fact, he completely vanished."

Tightening the scarf around his neck, Yura chuckled darkly.

"Maybe he got scared?"

"After all, facing that guy, who could possibly feel safe?"

A, who had been leading them up the spiraling stairs toward the Tenshu Pavilion, suddenly halted.

Turning back, his expression was resolute as he declared:

"Everyone, there is no need to worry about your safety."

"This time, to ensure the Five Nations Conference proceeds as planned—"

"We have mobilized the full elite forces of Kumogakure and summoned many additional reinforcements from various lands."

"Among them: the Mizugakure ninja of the Waterflow Clan; the Yūri Clan's Dark Release users from Kirigakure; the Hyūga Clan's Hianta and Shouta from Konoha; as well as the Fūma Clan, the non-ninja of the Forest Country, and the mercenaries of the Xuanyuan Sect.

"Additionally, smaller nations, including Grass, Taki, Hoshigakure, Bear, Rain, and the Land of Iron, have all dispatched reinforcements."

"These warriors have been divided into Sensory Divisions, Intelligence Divisions, Special Battle Units, Ambush Units, Daimyō Guard Squads, Disruption Forces, and Elite Annihilation Teams!"

"This is an impenetrable defense, formed by nearly 8,000 ninja!"

"Three layers of defense, absolute sensory coverage, and overwhelming firepower—no matter which direction he attacks from, he will be detected instantly. Our command center will immediately deploy units to extinguish any assault before it begins!"

Standing on the stone steps, A clenched his fist and gestured toward the massive force below. His face was as hard as steel.

"No one—

can break through this defense!"

The emissaries turned to follow A’s gesture, observing the vast Cloud Village army.

But suddenly—

"Look—!"

A startled shout rang out.

It was Higashi Shibito from Iwagakure. He pointed eastward, his face pale with shock.

"What… is that?!"

Everyone instinctively looked up—

From their vantage point, they could see it clearly.

A figure, soaring into the sky from the east.