belamy20

231-235

Added 2025-03-22 20:44:38 +0000 UTC

Chapter 231: White Snake Sage, You've Chosen Your Path to Destruction!

*Sage Art: Transmutation of Remote Shadows.*

This technique, introduced in the original story by Kabuto Yakushi, is a powerful ninjutsu.

By merging the cells of numerous shinobi—Orochimaru, Kimimaro, Sakon, Ukon, Jirōbō, Kidōmaru, and Tayuya—Kabuto utilized Sakon and Ukon’s kekkei genkai, "Twin Demons’ Assault," to perform it. This ability allowed cellular assimilation, enabling attacks to be launched from any part of the body through the free movement of cellular structures.

When this kekkei genkai was fused with Sage Art: Transmutation of Remote Shadows, Kabuto gained the ability to use the techniques of any individual whose cells were integrated into his body. He could even activate their kekkei genkai. Theoretically, there were no limits to what jutsu he could use.

Of course, this was merely theoretical.

If it were that simple, Kabuto—armed with the cells of Uchiha Madara and countless other powerful shinobi reanimated through Edo Tensei—could have fused their DNA and easily dominated the battlefield.

Had that been the case, Kabuto could have overwhelmed the Uchiha brothers during the Fourth Great Ninja War, leaving them utterly defenseless.

This limitation brings us to the mechanics of the Transmutation of Remote Shadows.

After thoroughly analyzing the technique in his mind, Uchiha Shinji finally understood its origins:

This Sage Art was born from the White Snake Sage’s ambition to surpass serpent-style sage techniques and master the Yin Release Sage Art. It was designed to steal and replace the fallen Dragon Vein’s body, achieving unity of Yin and Yang, transforming from snake to dragon, and ascending to true immortality.

In other words, it’s a sinister possession technique—allowing a weaker individual to control a stronger one.

To successfully execute this jutsu, one must first deeply understand the target of fusion. Kabuto, for instance, fused with Orochimaru’s test subjects—individuals whose data was readily available to him as Orochimaru’s assistant.

Even fusing with relatively powerful cells like Orochimaru’s and Hashirama Senju’s nearly killed Kabuto.

Integrating the cells of even stronger individuals exponentially increases the risk of backlash. Consider Danzō Shimura—who, despite having integrated Hashirama’s cells, Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan, and an armful of Sharingan eyes, had to constantly seal his arm and eye to prevent losing control. In combat, a single mistake could have turned him into a plant.

While abandoning one’s humanity can raise potential power, even in this world of bloodline supremacy, there are limits to how much power one can handle.

Kabuto’s use of this Sage Art cleverly exploited the loophole in the Twin Demons’ Assault kekkei genkai: combining scientific cellular fusion, the Sage Art’s suppression of side effects, and the Twin Demons’ unique properties to mimic Orochimaru’s ultimate goal of mastering all techniques.

This is why Orochimaru, after his resurrection, immediately abandoned this shortcut.

It was a flawed and artificial solution, born from Kabuto’s warped psyche, far from the perfection Orochimaru sought.

The true purpose of the Transmutation of Remote Shadows was to steal stronger bodies—not to master techniques.

For Uchiha Shinji, the technique allowed him to suppress and control the mutated personality that emerged as a side effect of mastering serpent-style sage techniques.

That said, these conclusions were only possible because Uchiha Shinji had knowledge of the original story.

Without that perspective, this Sage Art from the White Snake Sage would seem like a genuine technique meant to help him control his mutation.

In that light, the White Snake Sage didn’t seem so bad, did he?

Uchiha Shinji smirked at the thought, shaking his head as he silently observed the dragonified personality that emerged after unlocking the Heaven Curse Mark. It unconsciously continued the actions the White Snake Sage had imprinted while recording the Sage Art, mirroring the movements now etched onto his arm.

“You specifically passed on this Sage Art to me, not so I’d destroy this mutation, but control it.”

“So, who’s really in control here? Am I suppressing this dragonified personality, or is it subtly influencing me?”

“Moreover, who’s pulling the strings behind this personality, born from the Ryūchi Cave?”

A cold, penetrating gleam flashed through Uchiha Shinji’s eyes.

“White Snake Sage, you’ve sealed your fate.”

Though Uchiha Shinji often seemed like a hotheaded fool, even he admitted that his intelligence wasn’t his strongest suit.

But this was because those around him—Hidan, Shinnō, Mei Terumī, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Uchiha Setsuna, Seichirō, Shinichi, Shisui—had approached him with genuine goodwill. With their help, he had made it this far, and he naturally reciprocated with sincerity and honesty.

However, when faced with someone who pretended to have his best interests at heart while harboring malice, it was a different story. As someone who possessed most of the shinobi world’s secrets and could weaponize that knowledge to devastating effect, Uchiha Shinji could easily identify such deceit.

And he would ensure they paid the price.

“Hmph.”

With a cold snort, Uchiha Shinji activated the Heaven Curse Mark on the back of his neck, refining a burst of Sage Chakra.

By invoking the Transmutation of Remote Shadows, his snake-like pupils briefly glowed with a crimson light as he instantly reclaimed control over his left arm. In the mental realm, he suppressed the mutated personality and asserted dominance.

“While this technique is indeed a vile possession art, its ability to suppress mutations is undeniably effective.”

He noted the newfound mental clarity—a secondary consciousness, as if his mind had gained an extra processor. This granted him an extraordinary ability:

*Multitasking.*

After regaining control of his body, Uchiha Shinji immediately pulled out a sheet of paper from the table in the room. Holding a brush, he clumsily transcribed the entirety of the *"Sage Art: Transcendent Shadow Projection"*, which the White Snake Sage had taught him.

He then placed the document into an envelope.

To take down the White Snake Sage, his plan was simple.

To put it plainly, it was like tattling to a teacher.

Imagine telling the biology teacher, who acts as the homeroom teacher, that the gym class was hijacked by an outside literature teacher, and then asking for a gold star as a reward.

In reality, this meant Uchiha Shinji wrote a letter detailing the situation and its contents, addressed it to his dear mentor, Orochimaru, and then requested a technique in return—*Living Corpse Reincarnation*.

As a technique for soul transference, Orochimaru’s creation, which could be considered true immortality, was far more refined than the *"Sage Art: Transcendent Shadow Projection"*.

It was also much simpler and more brutal!

The strong overpower the weak, devour them, and seize everything—body, memories, ninjutsu, bloodline limits, and more.

The victor takes it all, while the loser is left with nothing.

In the original story, Sasuke used this very technique to wrestle for control of his body with Orochimaru in the mental realm. By relying on his Mangekyō Sharingan, he defeated a weakened Orochimaru and took everything from him.

Uchiha Shinji sneered, first touching his own Sharingan, then glancing at the panel engraved in his soul, where a line of golden text shimmered brilliantly:

*"Talent: Combat Instinct (S+)"*

"You little punk want to take over my body?"

"Then come on, let's see who takes over whom!"

What does it mean to have food in the bowl and feel at ease?

Thinking about this, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but lick his lips and narrow his scarlet snake-like eyes.

Because he had just thought of another very interesting tactic.

If he could use *Living Corpse Reincarnation* to defeat the White Snake Sage and take everything from him,

then apply *"Sage Art: Transcendent Shadow Projection"*, with its ability to control multiple entities simultaneously,

he could essentially create a unique and fascinating skill set—

*"Avatar Creation"!*

This would grant him a clone with a body containing immeasurable amounts of senjutsu chakra, as massive as a tailed beast—

a *Sage Snake Clone*!

"Looks like I have no choice but to embrace this ninja world’s tradition of master-killing!"

Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but grin, his smile carrying an icy chill.

"White Snake Sage, huh?"

"Alright, let me play with you first,"

"I’ll skin you alive and deal with you properly!"

"I’ll show you what it really means to win as the underdog!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 232: No Shortcut in Swordsmanship

The night passed in silence, with no one aware that Uchiha Shinji had narrowly brushed past the gates of death.

The following morning, as usual, he headed to Uchiha Hikaru for a brutal training session. His proficiency level noticeably increased:

*[Uchiha Style: Dance of the Solar Halo (S+), Proficiency: (Skilled, 41/300)]*

Under the guidance of this Uchiha clansman, his swordsmanship proficiency increased by 30 points. By analyzing the improvement, Uchiha Shinji experimented with adjusting his breathing, posture, and attack rhythm. He discovered that maintaining a highly focused, error-free state led to faster gains in proficiency compared to his usual pace.

This insight into S+ level swordsmanship also translated into rapid growth in his basic swordsmanship proficiency, which rose by dozens of points. At this rate, within a few days, his basic swordsmanship could likely advance from “Skilled” to “Mastered.” Upgraded skills could, in turn, enhance related abilities.

Thus, Uchiha Shinji devised another way to exploit this “bug.”

---

At the training ground,

After being sent flying once again by Uchiha Hikaru's wooden sword, Uchiha Shinji hit the ground hard. He quickly raised his hand, calling out, "Hikaru-senpai, wait!"

"Hmm?" Uchiha Hikaru raised an eyebrow slightly. He skillfully interrupted the follow-through of his downward slash, sheathed his sword, and turned to look at Uchiha Shinji with a puzzled expression.

Pointing to the *Curse Mark of Heaven* on his neck, Uchiha Shinji proposed:

"May I activate this? I believe it’ll help me progress faster."

After mastering the ability to suppress the curse mark’s side effects with *Sage Art: Distant Shadow Suppression*, Uchiha Shinji had significantly advanced his control over the mark.

He could now swiftly activate the second stage of the curse mark at will. In this form, the enhanced control over his body allowed him to execute movements with precision matching his thoughts. This could drastically improve his training efficiency.

Uchiha Hikaru neither agreed nor refused. He simply watched Uchiha Shinji calmly, his gaze unreadable.

“Here I go!”

Without further ado, Uchiha Shinji activated the curse mark. The black markings rapidly spread from his neck as natural energy stored within the mark surged into his body. White scales emerged, forming a smooth, armor-like layer over his skin.

Unconsciously, his Sharingan awakened, and his pupils narrowed into sinister crimson snake-like slits.

“So, this is the technique Orochimaru taught you?”

Uchiha Hikaru’s eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the subtle changes in Uchiha Shinji’s musculature.

In this state, even the simplest taijutsu radiated raw, primal power.

However, Uchiha Hikaru shook his head quietly. Without further comment, he activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, drew his wooden sword, and stood straight with one hand behind his back.

"Careful now, Hikaru-senpai!"

Uchiha Shinji gripped his wooden sword tightly and charged forward like a coiled black mamba. He raised the sword high, delivering a powerful diagonal slash with all his might.

But Uchiha Hikaru remained composed. He shifted his body and swung his wooden sword with one hand, perfectly countering the strike.

Clack!

The blades collided, sending splinters flying.

Uchiha Hikaru’s brow twitched as he felt the tremendous force through his sword hilt, nearly numbing his hand. Although shaken, he suppressed his reaction to maintain his dignity as a senior.

“This won’t do,” he said coldly.

With a sudden twist, he deflected Uchiha Shinji’s sword, exploiting the opening in his stance.

Before Uchiha Shinji could recover, Hikaru decisively struck, landing a clean hit on his wrist with a sharp “snap” before kicking him in the lower back, sending him tumbling across the ground.

Uchiha Hikaru coughed lightly and switched his grip on the sword, asking, “Your eyes are sharp enough to see my sword path now, almost as good as the three-tomoe Sharingan. So, did you figure it out?”

Frowning, Uchiha Shinji carefully analyzed the exchange. His enhanced vision allowed him to discern that Hikaru could predict his movements several steps ahead, as if seeing into the future.

However, he doubted such precision could be consistently maintained.

“Again!”

With determination, Uchiha Shinji reset his stance. His crimson snake-like pupils gleamed as he charged once more.

Uchiha Hikaru calmly blocked each strike with mechanical precision. No matter how varied Uchiha Shinji’s attacks became, Hikaru’s movements were always the same: block, close the path, and counter with taijutsu techniques—elbow strikes, kicks, grapples, and ground slams.

For five exhausting minutes, the battle continued until Uchiha Shinji depleted the natural energy fueling his curse mark. Forced to exit the cursed form, he collapsed to the ground, panting.

As he checked his progress on the skill panel, his frown deepened.

*[Uchiha Style · Dance of the Solar Halo (S+), Proficiency: (Proficient, 43/300)]*

Logically speaking, completing this round of practice should have earned 5 points of proficiency. However, after activating the Cursed Seal state, my stamina, strength, speed, and precision of movement—all aspects—were enhanced.

Yet, the result was that this round only increased proficiency by 2 points.

What exactly went wrong?

For a moment, Uchiha Shinji was at a loss.

At that moment, Uchiha Hikaru turned his back, crossed his trembling arms, and calmly said:

"Uchiha Shinji, I can sense it—"

"In your heart, there seems to be a target that drives you forward relentlessly."

"However, technique and skill are two different things."

"Rapid growth has unconsciously led you to rely on straightforward methods to solve problems. But this is detrimental, even harmful, to the practice of swordsmanship."

"Swordsmanship has no shortcuts!"

"As they say, haste makes waste, and chasing small gains often leads to failure in greater endeavors."

"Your eyes can no longer see the path ahead clearly. Starting tomorrow, there's no need to spar anymore."

Uchiha Hikaru shook his head.

"From now on, every morning, practice the sword sequence here three thousand times according to the manual."

"During this process, take the time to reflect on something as well—"

"Without these flashy techniques, what remains of you?"

With that, he clenched his nearly fractured hand, kept a stern expression, and left the training ground without another word, leaving Uchiha Shinji sitting dazed at the center of the field.

"Without these techniques, what remains of me?"

He muttered to himself, pondering for a while before furrowing his brow deeply.

"But... aren’t ninjas defined by their mastery of ninjutsu?"

After thinking for a long time without finding an answer, Uchiha Shinji shook his head and stood up.

"Still, if Hikaru-senpai says so, there must be a reason!"

With this thought, he stood upright, firmly grasped the wooden sword's hilt, and began practicing swings in the crisp morning air of spring. Following Uchiha Hikaru's advice, he performed each move with precision.

He continued practicing until noon.

Looking at the sky and judging it was about time, Uchiha Shinji wiped the sweat pouring down like rain from his face and pulled out a letter he had written the night before from his belongings.

Concerning the White Snake Sage, the communication channels of Ryuchi Cave could no longer be trusted.

So, he had already decided that this letter would be delivered to Orochimaru through Uchiha Setsuna’s network. Even if it took longer, it didn’t matter.

After all, Orochimaru probably hadn’t yet completed the full development of Living Corpse Reincarnation at this point.

What Orochimaru might do after learning of the White Snake Sage’s plan was something even Uchiha Shinji couldn’t predict.

However, since the original storyline had already been completely altered because of him, adding another twist hardly mattered now.

After all, when you’re covered in lice, another one doesn’t itch.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 233: Training Gains, Konoha’s Secret Taijutsu Techniques!

“Handing this over to Orochimaru?”

It was a calm afternoon at the training ground.

Uchiha Setsuna held the letter, his brows furrowing slightly.

It was his decision to let Orochimaru take Uchiha Shinji as his disciple. He was well aware that those who had signed the Ryūchi Cave contract had a unique way of contacting each other.

However, Uchiha Shinji came to him, requesting to use the clan's resources to deliver a letter to Orochimaru.

The implications of this made Setsuna raise an eyebrow.

“Alright, I understand.”

After putting the letter away, Uchiha Setsuna gave a small nod and said:

“However, according to the latest intel from the village this morning, Orochimaru has already left Konoha, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Thankfully, he hasn’t been gone for long. We should be able to find him by exchanging intel with the Ninneko Clan.”

“Orochimaru left the village?” Uchiha Shinji was momentarily stunned.

Based on the original timeline, during the Third Shinobi World War, only Jiraiya was constantly outside gathering intelligence. Tsunade stayed in Konoha due to her hemophobia, and Orochimaru was secretly conducting experiments funded by Danzo. His eventual betrayal of the village stemmed from his inhumane human experiments conducted during this period.

Now, Orochimaru—who used to be a recluse within the village—had become unexpectedly active. Shinji couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were.

Then again, perhaps this wasn’t such a bad thing. At the very least, if Orochimaru stayed busy, he might not betray the village.

Given his position, leaving the village was simple. He could easily use an excuse like Jiraiya’s wandering. If Orochimaru became a rogue ninja, it would spell trouble for the Uchiha clan at this time.

After handing the letter to Uchiha Setsuna and resolving the matter, Uchiha Shinji promptly began his training under the sharp gaze of his elder.

Time Flew By

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Uchiha Shinji followed a strict routine: swordsmanship in the morning, combat practice in the afternoon to reinforce his fundamentals, and studying the sealing techniques from the scroll Kushina had given him at night.

The scroll was incredibly precious, and he had preemptively stored it using a summoning snake to keep it safe. This precaution saved it from being lost during the Kumogakure raid.

With the foundation of his self-developed S-rank sealing technique, Super Deathmatch Barrier, his progress in learning other seals wasn’t slow. Thanks to additional practice scrolls provided by his clan, the system soon displayed three new updates:

[Mastered: Single Light Array (C)]

[Mastered: Shadow Clone Jutsu (B)]

[Mastered: Triple Seal Technique (B)]

These were all foundational techniques. Their power couldn’t surpass that of the Super Deathmatch Barrier. However, the Triple Seal Technique stood out as it required the simultaneous use of shadow clones to form the sealing formation. As a result, Shinji learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu as a prerequisite.

Apart from sealing techniques, his swordsmanship also improved:

[Uchiha Style: Solar Eclipse Dance (S+), Proficiency: Expert 0/500]

Through rigorous combat and training, the proficiency of this technique quickly reached the Expert level.

At this stage, Shinji could seamlessly blend genjutsu into his swordsmanship, using it to hypnotize enemies unexpectedly. He could also manipulate the trajectory of fiery sword energy mid-air.

His earlier feats, like flying sword slashes, were purely due to brute force—a crude, unrefined approach.

Once his swordsmanship reached this level, further training yielded diminishing returns. Thus, Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Setsuna shifted his focus to mastering the clan’s fire release techniques, including:

Fire Release: Grand Fire Destruction

Fire Release: Great Flame Destroyer

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu

As an Uchiha, one simply couldn’t neglect fire techniques.

However, Shinji’s talent in learning these techniques was, at best, mediocre.

Fortunately, with the Sharingan, he could forcibly copy these jutsu. Combined with his understanding of fire release’s nature transformation and relentless combat training, his progress, while slow, was visible. This frustrated Uchiha Setsuna, who frequently cursed under his breath, but Shinji’s steady improvement ultimately quelled his complaints.

And so, the training continued relentlessly.

One Month Later: Valley of Hell

At the edge of a cliff in the Valley of Hell, the setting sun cast long shadows across the terrain.

The silhouette of a flying bird leaped across the horizon.

Standing at the cliff’s edge, Uchiha Shinji opened his status panel and carefully examined his progress.

[Character: Uchiha Shinji] (Details expandable)

Looking at the rows of skills and techniques he had acquired through sheer effort, Shinji couldn’t help but curl his lips into a faint smile.

Although he wasn’t significantly stronger than before, the fruits of his labor wouldn’t betray him.

Even if he lost everything, he could still exist as a capable Uchiha.

This sense of security calmed the unease that had lingered in his heart due to his rapid growth.

“Why are you smiling, senior?”

A young voice suddenly called out from behind him.

Walking under the shadow cast by the clouds in the twilight, a boy of about seven or eight years old slowly approached and curiously asked:

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Uchiha Shinji glanced at the approaching Yamato and shook his head.

He had just returned to the team after completing a period of personal training. During his absence, the team consisted of Aburame Ryoma and Yamato, who were tasked with patrolling Hell Valley.

Technically speaking, going off to train on his own instead of performing missions was against the rules. However, nothing major had occurred during that time. The Blood Pool Clan, who had been causing disturbances recently, had also been unusually quiet. Moreover, the client funding the mission was the Uchiha clan, and Shinji was officially recognized as the young clan leader.

So, in this case, bending the rules for personal reasons was both reasonable and justifiable. Yes, absolutely!

"At least now you can finally join me on missions!"

Yamato looked at Uchiha Shinji expectantly, his face showing a hint of excitement.

"So, senior, shall we start now?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji was momentarily stunned and asked in confusion:

"Wait a minute. Start what?"

Yamato immediately straightened his posture, placed his hands on his hips, and said earnestly:

"Senior, have you forgotten?

"I was specifically assigned as a tool to keep you under control if you go berserk!"

"According to Ryoma-senpai's instructions, you need to train me until I can knock you down!"

Uchiha Shinji: "..."

So, you're telling me I have to teach you how to beat me up?

Thinking about this, Uchiha Shinji's lips twitched slightly. He glanced toward Aburame Ryoma, who was leaning against a tree trunk not far away, three black lines forming on his forehead.

No need to guess—this was definitely Ryoma's revenge for having to babysit Yamato for over a month.

But the problem was, Shinji didn’t know wood-style techniques or sealing jutsu. Yamato’s method of controlling Jinchūriki, the Kakuan Nitten Suishu, required the necklace Tsunade wore.

What on earth was he supposed to teach him?

Uchiha Shinji shook his head helplessly.

But after stroking his chin and thinking for a moment, a smile suddenly appeared on his face. He formed the "tiger" hand sign in front of Yamato.

If he had to say, as a senior, there was still something he could teach Yamato!

"Alright," he said.

"I’ll teach you an incredibly powerful sealing jutsu!"

"A high-level sealing jutsu?" Yamato’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement as he looked at Uchiha Shinji.

Ci, however, said in a mysterious tone:

"That’s right. This technique is known as the ultimate taijutsu secret of the Hidden Leaf..."

"From now on, we’re enemies. I will use this ultimate technique on you! Yamato, are you truly prepared?"

Gulp.

Hearing this, Yamato swallowed nervously, his words faltering slightly.

"Wait, senior, why is a taijutsu secret technique also a sealing jutsu?!"

But under Shinji's unwavering gaze, Yamato quickly regained his composure.

"Yes!"

"I’m ready!"

"Very good!"

Uchiha Shinji smiled in satisfaction, unable to help recalling a certain humiliating event at a bathhouse in the Land of Hot Springs.

"As your superior, the first lesson I’ll teach you today is this—"

"A ninja must never turn their back on the enemy!"

"Huh?" Yamato froze for a moment, then realized that a gust of wind seemed to sweep past him from behind.

He turned around in shock.

There, another Uchiha Shinji was crouched on the ground, forming the tiger hand sign with his fingers extended horizontally. He suddenly thrust forward with a powerful jab aimed directly at Yamato's backside!

Meanwhile, the real Uchiha Shinji, standing in front of Yamato, gently patted him on the shoulder with a rueful expression.

"Yamato," he said solemnly.

"This is the Hidden Leaf’s ultimate taijutsu secret technique—"

"A Thousand Years of Death!"

The next moment, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind—

Thunk!

Yamato’s eyes widened in shock and agony as his face twisted in pain.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 234: What! Am I the Culprit?

After casting a sealing technique on Yamato, which left him groaning and clutching his backside for half an hour, Uchiha Shinji turned to greet Aburame Ryoma, who was approaching. With a smile, he called out,

"Senior Ryoma, long time no see."

“You have such a twisted sense of humor!” Aburame Ryoma commented, looking exasperated. He glanced at Yamato, who was crawling away to self-heal, then approached the edge of the cliff.

“Thank you, thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment! Never mind.” Ryoma shook his head in resignation.

“I have some information for you. It’s likely related to you.”

Ryoma’s expression turned serious as he continued,

“But you must promise not to overreact.”

Seeing his superior’s grim demeanor, Uchiha Shinji realized that something significant must have transpired in the ninja world during his month-and-a-half of training. He quickly composed himself, looking back solemnly.

“I’m calm. So, what’s happened out there?”

Aburame Ryoma took a deep breath before saying gravely,

“You’ve been declared a wanted man!”

“Me? Wanted again?”

Uchiha Shinji froze in confusion. The last time he had been declared wanted was a month and a half ago, but that ended with Kumogakure retreating, bounty stations across the ninja world being decimated, and the capture of the S-rank rogue ninja Kakuzu by the Uchiha clan.

He couldn’t make sense of it.

Who would dare provoke the Uchiha clan, especially now when tensions were at their peak, and issue a bounty on him again?

“It’s not a bounty from the underground black market,” Ryoma clarified, shaking his head.

“It’s from the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning!”

Ryoma elaborated,

“A month ago, an organization called ‘The Immortal Cultists’ infiltrated the capital of the Land of Lightning. Under the banner of ending the war, they launched a terrorist attack during the Daimyo’s outing.

“Twenty ninjas from the organization carried out suicide attacks, sacrificing 19 lives in the chaos to obtain the blood of the Daimyo and his guards. They then demonstrated a sinister technique on the spot.

“The last surviving member used a technique called Cursed Technique: Death Possession Blood. By sacrificing their own life, this low-level ninja cursed and killed one of the Daimyo’s elite guardian ninja.”

“They demanded the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning:

‘Stop the war immediately, or a divine child will descend upon the land to torment you a thousandfold!’”

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji’s pupils contracted sharply. He immediately recalled the letter he had once received in Konoha from Hidan.

Cursed Technique: Death Possession Blood.

This technique should only be known by the remnants of the Jashin cult who survived at its headquarters, as well as Hidan, who possessed the High Priest Higashiyama Hayato’s relic, the Jashin Ritual Manual!

The cultists couldn’t possibly be peace-loving idealists.

Thus, the one orchestrating this had to be Hidan!

Moreover, this was likely Hidan manipulating the remaining Jashin cultists using tactics he’d learned from Uchiha Shinji.

Perhaps, while Hidan was still figuring things out, the remaining cultists spontaneously rallied around him, worshiping him as their leader. Driven by this impossible but intoxicating “greater cause,” they willingly sacrificed everything.

Having experienced the struggles in the Land of Hot Water and the subsequent misunderstandings, Uchiha Shinji understood how terrifyingly infectious this kind of “greater cause” could be.

For the Hot Water ninja, caught between the war of Iwagakure and Kirigakure, this “greater cause” must have seemed nothing short of divine intervention.

When a group of individuals with access to advanced Jashin cursed techniques and ultimate one-for-one tactics banded together, this ragtag group began to grow, eventually reaching the point where they could influence the ninja world.

However—

“This is reckless! He’s playing with fire!”

Uchiha Shinji furrowed his brow.

The Jashin cult’s techniques were most effective when shrouded in mystery. Once their mechanics were exposed, countless methods to counter them would emerge!

Yet now, the group surrounding Hidan had opted to publicize the information, converting their “power” into “intimidation.” They aimed to force the leader of a major nation to capitulate using such extreme tactics.

But this was an impossibility!

Especially with an elite guardian ninja dead, and the Third Great Ninja War raging on, Kumogakure wouldn’t stand by idly. They needed the Daimyo’s support and could not afford to lose face as a major power.

Which meant that Hidan was now in grave danger!

Uchiha Shinji’s first instinct was to worry about Hidan’s safety. But then, he caught on to another implication in Ryoma’s words. Looking up in disbelief, he asked,

“I get what you’re saying. You mean...

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning has put a bounty on me?”

“But why? The Daimyo was attacked. Why am I the one being hunted?”

"I didn't do anything, damn it!"

That group of cultists devoted to evil gods shouldn't have survived. During that horrifying sacrificial ritual, Hayato Tōgō linked their lives to Hidan's. They were meant to serve as offerings, but Uchiha Shinji's sudden appearance interrupted Tōgō's spell.

As a result, those people managed to survive. Adding to the chaos was Hidan's influence.

Tracing it all back to the root cause, the assassination of the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning—

Uchiha Shinji turned out to be the true culprit!

However, only those present at the time, Uchiha Shinji and Hidan, knew the truth, and neither had leaked it. So how could anyone else possibly know about this?

Thinking about it, Uchiha Shinji suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to take off his shoe and start smacking someone.

Before he could react further, Ryōma Aburame clicked his tongue and looked at him with a face full of admiration.

"Of course, you didn’t do anything," Ryōma said.

"But someone else did it for you!"

"The group calling themselves the ‘Immortal Zealots’ had been promoting their philosophy of ‘ending war and ushering in peace’ for a while before launching a terrorist attack and assassinating the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning."

"During that time, they openly declared the god they worshipped and their leader to be—"

"Someone named ‘Uchiha Shinji.’"

"A man destined to bring about the end of the ninja world!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but cover his face with both hands.

Goosebumps erupted all over his body and scattered everywhere.

For a moment, he felt an intense wave of secondhand embarrassment wash over him, starting from his toes and rushing all the way to the top of his head. He wished he could dig a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment out of the ground with nothing but his toes to hide in.

He thought back to when he had jokingly told that kid, "Let me be your god." At the time, it was just a silly remark. Little did he expect that Hidan would take it seriously. Not only that, but Hidan even acted on it, forming a pseudo-religious organization and allowing Shinji to enjoy a fleeting taste of being a deity.

At first, it was touching for Shinji to see someone take his words to heart so earnestly.

But—

Why the hell did you have to associate my name with something like this?!

And now, look where we are.

The entire world knows that Uchiha Shinji is an extremist terrorist!

Taking a deep, shaky breath, Shinji resisted the urge to rush to the Land of Lightning immediately, string up that little brat, smack him eight times a day, and then starve him for ten days straight.

The priority now was figuring out if there was any way to salvage the situation.

He raised his head, his eyes sharp, and asked Ryōma Aburame, standing before him:

"So, what’s the current status of this organization?"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 235: Roaring Prelude, Dual Preparations!*

"Current status?"

Ryoma Aburame adjusted his sunglasses, hesitated for a moment, then said,

"The assassination occurred the day before yesterday. The information we received was delayed."

"The last piece of intelligence we received stated that the son of the Raikage, 'A,' the designated successor of the Raikage, appeared in the capital of the Land of Lightning."

"After that, the entire capital was placed under lockdown, making it difficult to receive any further news."

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji couldn't help but pause in surprise.

"What did you say?"

He had left the village this time to counter the Hidden Cloud's AB Combination attacking Hell Valley.

But now, with Killer B—the jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails—already appearing and proving that he alone couldn't overcome the defenses of Konoha and the Uchiha clan at Hell Valley,

At this critical juncture,

A, B’s partner, had left to capture members of the Jashin cult?

So who was orchestrating the assault on Hell Valley now?

"This is just a minor twist, Shinji," Ryoma Aburame said seriously.

"Both our village and the Hidden Cloud know that the leader mentioned by the immortal cultists is not you."

Ryoma's expression grew grave as he continued,

"The real issue is this:

"After the Iwagakure forces withdrew from the Land of Hot Springs, they quickly regrouped and, in alliance with Sunagakure, advanced into the Land of Rain."

"On the other hand, this morning, the village received intelligence from one of our top spies in Root, the 'Walking Priestess,' who has located a large Hidden Cloud force. They have crossed the Frost-Lighting Gorge and positioned themselves at the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Springs."

"Unless something unexpected happens—"

He raised his head, his face solemn, and said gravely,

"A larger war is coming!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji furrowed his brows and began contemplating the trajectory of this imminent conflict.

The Third Great Ninja War wouldn't end just because he had killed Ebizō and dealt a significant blow to Sunagakure.

On the contrary, that conflict was merely the beginning of a much larger, more brutal, and chaotic war—a war that was quietly taking shape, revealing its ferocious face.

Now, in the 47th year of Konoha, according to the original timeline, aside from Sand and Stone pressing from the Land of Rain, Konoha would also face the Hidden Cloud advancing southward from the Land of Fields.

It was during this campaign that Minato Namikaze, already known as the "Yellow Flash," would first face off against the AB brothers leading the Hidden Cloud forces.

But now—

As this thought struck him, Uchiha Shinji's expression changed abruptly. He looked up at Ryoma Aburame and questioned,

"You said the Hidden Cloud has stationed troops at the border of the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Springs, not the Land of Fields?"

This question seemed more like he was asking himself.

Before Ryoma could answer, Uchiha Shinji immediately deduced the reason:

Because the Blood Pool Clan had yet to be annihilated by the Yomiya Castle flames, the Hidden Cloud had chosen an alternative and better strategy.

Thus, they stationed their troops at the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Springs.

From this position:

- *Advancing*, they could cross treacherous terrain to reach the opposite side of the Land of Hot Springs, marching directly toward Konoha.

- *Retreating*, they could circle through the Land of Fields, following the previously established strategy to gradually erode the Land of Fire’s territory.

Their next move would depend on whether the AB brothers could secure Hell Valley.

However, if A had been reassigned, it suggested that the Hidden Cloud was confident about Hell Valley and didn't even need A's strength.

Coupled with the sudden and seemingly aimless Hidden Cloud attack that had come and gone quickly—notable for its connection to a large bounty—the attack likely served another purpose.

From these conclusions, it was clear that the Hidden Cloud’s operation leader would be—

Uchiha Shinji's eyes widened as a chilling possibility dawned on him. He gazed down from the cliff's edge.

In the Hell Valley below, under the golden clouds rolling in the setting sun,

In the shadowy depths untouched by sunlight,

Amid the desolation, cries of men, bird carcasses, boiling springs, and blood pools,

Uchiha Shinji suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Somewhere deep in the unseen valley, he could almost feel a pair of blood-red eyes streaming tears of blood, silently locking onto his own.

"Not good!" Uchiha Shinji's face turned pale as he shouted urgently to Ryoma Aburame,

"At this rate, Hell Valley might not hold!"

Startled by Shinji's sudden outburst, Ryoma Aburame froze.

"What did you just say?"

Uchiha Shinji shook his head, his face grim as he reached into the ninja tool pouch at his waist and pulled out a uniquely shaped kunai.

This was the Flying Thunder God kunai of Minato!

"I hope it's not too late."

Holding the kunai and planting it into the ground on the cliff’s edge, Uchiha Shinji immediately raised both hands and began to form hand seals.

From the kunai that was planted in the ground, his palms pressed onto the earth!

Rows of intricate sealing script patterns appeared, surrounding the kunai to form an inverted bowl-shaped sealing formation.

*Sealing Technique: First-Phase Light Array!*

This sealing technique was a basic one. The advantage was that it could be used without needing to hold onto anything. It was meant to protect this somewhat inconspicuous kunai from damage, and it should be sufficient for the task.

"Is that... a yellow flashing kunai? Shinji, what are you doing?"

Oil Woman Ryoma stared at Uchiha Shinji’s actions, momentarily stunned, not understanding what was happening.

"Ryoma-senpai, there's no time to explain!"

Uchiha Shinji shook his head, his hands continuing to form seals as he briefly turned his head to speak to Oil Woman Ryoma.

"Come back to the camp with me immediately, the mission’s canceled. I have something important to tell everyone!"

"What’s going on? You…"

Oil Woman Ryoma looked bewildered, but soon, he recognized the hand seals that Uchiha Shinji was performing.

*Boar - Dog - Bird - Monkey - Horse!*

This was the Summoning Jutsu!

Seeing this, Ryoma realized that Uchiha Shinji was likely trying to summon a spirit beast. Combining this with the action of taking out the Flying Thunder God kunai, he quickly understood what was happening.

These preparations were both for summoning aid!

One hand, the Flying Thunder God kunai, was meant to summon Minato and seek help from Konoha’s fastest reinforcements, to quench their immediate need.

The other hand, the summoning technique, was likely meant to summon a messenger snake from the Dragon Cave, which would then relay the information he had realized about the dire situation to Orochimaru, alerting the village so they could quickly respond.

But what kind of crisis had he foreseen that would make him prepare so dramatically?

After all, the Hell Valley below had more than ten elite jōnin, and with such a natural defensive advantage, even a Kage-level fighter wouldn't be able to easily tear through such a defense, right?

Ryoma couldn’t help but feel a sense of realization.

At that very moment, just as Uchiha Shinji was about to complete the final hand seal,

from below the cliff where the two were standing,

an unsettling chakra wave suddenly surged up.

Whoosh—

The wind from the valley floor swept upward, forming a tangible blast of air, carrying broken stones, grass, small bones, and scalding water droplets into the sky!

In the moment of quiet, when one breath seemed as long as a day,

it was like the calm before a storm.

The swirling debris, mist, and steam rose into the sky,

and beneath the setting sun, the glorious curtain of water looked like a shimmering light trail—

Then, it suddenly shattered!

It turned into a torrential downpour in the dusk!

Immediately following, earth-shattering roars rang out from below the Hell Valley’s cliffs!

"Kill—!!"

"Charge out of Hell Valley with me!!"

Hearing the roar,

feeling the violent tremor beneath their feet, Uchiha Shinji’s face changed drastically, and his hand seal faltered.

Instinctively, he injected a large amount of chakra, raised his index finger, altered the final seal,