341-345

Chapter 341: The Bait Set Free

The Tsuchigumo clan on Katsuragi Mountain suffered a devastating attack, leaving only a group of young survivors who "miraculously" escaped. This incident, already a significant event in the wave of clan exterminations, has escalated to a critical level. Previously, the motivation behind uncovering the truth lay in the survivors’ requests and the need to investigate the unidentified forces within the Land of Fire.

Now, this matter is directly tied to Konoha’s interests.

The Tsuchigumo clan has been an ally of Konoha. Though this alliance was never publicly proclaimed, other allies of Konoha, such as Kirigakure, the Fire Temple, and Yugakure, are well aware of it. These allies are now watching Konoha’s response, expecting it to uphold “justice” for the Tsuchigumo clan as their leader.

Thus,

A message soon spread from the Hokage’s office: the Hokage had decided to send one of his most trusted aides to Katsuragi Mountain to oversee the investigation. That aide’s name was *Chihaya Uchiha*.

For those who closely monitor Konoha’s every move, this name was not unfamiliar.

During the Sixth Hokage’s tenure as an advisor, all the prominent members of the Uchiha clan were well-documented. Based on their knowledge, Chihaya Uchiha, as one of the Sixth Hokage’s most trusted subordinates, ranked just below Shisui and Arashiyama Uchiha in importance.

Shisui Uchiha’s movements have been elusive for the past six months, and while his whereabouts remain unclear, there are unspoken assumptions. Meanwhile, Arashiyama Uchiha, having inherited the position of Chief of the Police Force, maintains firm control over the significantly expanded and strengthened department.

It was evident that these two were unlikely to be dispatched for a mere mission.

As a result,

Chihaya Uchiha was the natural choice.

Especially now that Chihaya Uchiha, accompanied by three particularly notable Genin, was being sent to Katsuragi Mountain. This decision clearly demonstrated the Sixth Hokage’s serious stance on the matter.

---

“Miss Hotaru, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off about this situation.”

The elderly Retainer, Donbee, stood at the door of the young girl’s bedroom, sighing deeply. “It’s true that other attacked ninja clans have had occasional survivors, but most of them are only one or two individuals. This time, over thirty people escaped. It’s hard not to suspect there’s something fishy about it!”

“I’m worried this is a trap set specifically for you, Miss Hotaru.”

Donbee’s heart was full of concern.

Having experienced many storms in his lifetime, he immediately noticed something amiss when interacting with the young survivors of the Tsuchigumo clan. He quickly realized that the one who came to them claiming to be from the clan likely had ulterior motives, and that Miss Hotaru was likely being targeted.

Thus, he couldn’t help but worry.

Within Konoha, he felt completely at ease. There was no safer place in the ninja world. But outside Konoha... Even with the Hokage as her teacher, she wouldn’t be entirely safe—after all, even Hokage could fall in battle.

“I know,”

The girl, busy packing her belongings, replied from inside the room. “Sensei mentioned it too. This situation might involve some scheming, but he told me not to worry too much and to just focus on what I want to do. The rest is in his hands!”

Hearing this, Donbee was momentarily at a loss for words.

With the Hokage’s assurance, what more could he say? Still... If the Hokage himself had such confidence, then there must be a plan. Thinking it over, it made sense. This mission wasn’t a solo endeavor for Miss Hotaru; her entire squad would accompany her. Both Yakumo and Fujihana were close associates of the Hokage.

If precautions weren’t in place,

How could they send these girls to a probable trap in Katsuragi Mountain?

Donbee quickly realized the truth. His earlier panic was due to concern clouding his judgment. Now that he had calmed down, it became clear that this was likely a calculated move by the Hokage. The bait? Miss Hotaru and her team. If any sinister forces dared to act, their futures were sealed.

“Ah, Miss Hotaru, please be cautious. Battles between ninja aren’t just about strength. There are countless stories of strong ninja falling to clever traps by weaker ones. Be careful of ambushes, and take these antidote pills I got from Yakushi Hospital, along with these special ration pills I made...”

Perhaps due to his age, Donbee couldn’t stop himself from rambling on. He knew many of his words were redundant, but he couldn’t help it. If conditions permitted, he would have packed his own bags to accompany Miss Hotaru.

Unfortunately,

That wasn’t an option.

It wasn’t about young Genin being prohibited from seeking help for their missions. If they had the means, even enlisting the Hokage as a bodyguard wouldn’t be an issue. But this was clearly the Hokage’s way of training his disciples and younger sister while setting a trap. If Donbee’s interference disrupted the plan, the consequences would be dire.

Moreover,

The Hokage had already warned him from the start. His role was to care for Miss Hotaru’s daily life. Matters of her training were out of his hands. Even learning the Tsuchigumo clan’s secret *Word Bind Jutsu* was under the Hokage’s personal guidance. The high-level oversight ensured a solid foundation.

As for how far Miss Hotaru would go in the future,

That would depend on her talent and effort. True strength couldn’t be hand-fed.

“Mm, I understand.”

Having packed her belongings into a storage scroll, Hotaru smiled and nodded, patiently listening to Donbee’s advice. Compared to the so-called clan relatives she shared blood ties with, Donbee was her true family. The rest were merely clansmen.

"Hand over the detox pills; I'll be taking them with me. The special ration pills too." Ying smiled brightly as she took the detox pills and ration pills from Tonbei's hand, placing them carefully into her ninja tool pouch. After bidding Tonbei farewell once more, she left her dwelling.

Left behind, Tonbei crouched at the doorway, unmoving for a long time. Only after Ying's figure disappeared from view did the elderly man slowly rise, letting out a silent sigh. In his heart, he prayed for everything to proceed smoothly.

Ying sprinted at full speed toward the designated meeting point, arriving at the gates of Konoha Village just before the appointed time.

This was where they had agreed to gather.

"Sorry, I took longer to pack than I thought," Ying said, slightly out of breath. "Teacher Chisaya, are Yakumo and Fujika not here yet?" She glanced around but couldn't spot her two friends. Instead, Uchiha Chisaya stood calmly against the wall, arms crossed, resting with her eyes closed.

"There are still ten minutes before the meeting time."

Chisaya didn't even open her eyes, casually dismissing the girl's query.

Ying, understanding her teacher's personality, didn't push for a more specific answer. Instead, she kept looking around, hoping her friends would arrive soon. Fortunately, it wasn't long before Yakumo Kurama and Uchiha Fujika appeared, approaching from different directions, just minutes apart.

Their arrival, however, wasn't without its challenges.

In fact, Yakumo and Fujika faced more significant delays than Ying. Both of their families, with a host of relatives and friends, were understandably concerned about their children leaving the village for a mission. As ninja clans, they accepted this inevitability but couldn't help busying themselves with preparations. This familial attention nearly caused the two to be late.

"Are we all set?"

Uchiha Chisaya opened her eyes once the girls had gathered, scanning them thoroughly.

"Double-check your packs."

Direct and to the point as always, Chisaya wasted no time on pleasantries. "If nothing is missing, we’ll move out immediately."

"Everything's packed."

"The storage scrolls are full."

"My grandpa gave me a savings book and said we could withdraw money from the bank if we ran short."

While the responses were varied—some bordering on odd—Chisaya ignored any peculiarities. She led the first team of girls to fill out their mission departure forms at the village gate before heading toward Mount Katsuragi at full speed.

---

Not far from the village gate, atop the crimson walls, stood two figures. A closer look revealed them to be the Sixth Hokage and his secretary, Kabuto Yakushi. However, some kind of concealment barrier seemed to be in place, as no one noticed their presence.

"Hokage-sama, aren’t you going to meet them in person?" Kabuto adjusted his glasses, lowering his voice.

"No need."

Sougen clasped his hands behind his back, watching Uchiha Chisaya and the three girls as they disappeared into the distance. "We’ll see each other again soon enough—no need to make this dramatic."

"..."

Kabuto rolled his eyes internally. If you truly didn’t care, why would you be standing here? Of course, he wisely kept these thoughts to himself. Pointing this out would only spell trouble.

“Wait… Hokage-sama, don’t tell me you’re planning to follow them yourself?”

The thought struck Kabuto suddenly, leaving him a little flustered.

“Calm down, Kabuto. With this shadow clone’s chakra level, as long as I maintain minimal expenditure and avoid combat, it can last three days. This matter should be resolved well within that time. If not, we’ll adapt as necessary.”

Sougen—or rather, his shadow clone—spoke matter-of-factly.

“Hokage-sama, you’re really something,” Kabuto said with a helpless smile. “I didn’t expect you to get directly involved. With Chisaya leading them, are you worried she won’t handle those hidden threats?”

“I’m not sure.”

Sougen spread his hands. “We don’t even know who’s behind these events—the destruction of multiple ninja clans remains a mystery. The culprit’s identity and strength are unknown. Chisaya can likely escape unscathed herself, but she has Yakumo and the others with her this time. Speaking of which, Kabuto, how’s your progress with the forbidden technique I assigned you?”

“I’ve mostly mastered it, but… is it really okay for me to be studying something like that?”

Kabuto’s unease was evident.

The once-cold genius spy had, over time and through his foster mother’s influence, softened considerably. Studying forbidden techniques now felt foreign and unsettling.

“Power itself is neither good nor evil; it depends on how it’s wielded. True, some forbidden techniques challenge ethical norms, but Kabuto, I trust you’ll use it wisely.”

Sougen’s shadow clone placed a reassuring hand on Kabuto’s shoulder, issuing a challenging yet encouraging directive.

“For now, your job is to cover for me over the next three days. I can’t have anyone realizing I’ve left the village. If they do, it might alert our enemies, wasting all our efforts.”

“...That’s no small task.”

Kabuto ruffled his hair in frustration.

He already foresaw a whirlwind of responsibilities in the days ahead. Managing Konoha under the Hokage’s shadow clone, all while maintaining discretion, wasn’t going to be easy.

“Hokage-sama, you sure know how to make things tough.”

“Ha! Kabuto, this will be good training for you.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 342: Awkward Circumstances*

A towering peak rose solitary above the wilderness. The Land of Fire wasn't like the Land of Lightning or the Land of Earth, where mountain ranges dominated the terrain. Plains and forests covered most of the Land of Fire, making a peak like Mount Katsuragi a rare sight. As the saying goes, rarity brings value. What was common and unremarkable in the Lands of Lightning and Earth became a priceless treasure in the Land of Fire.

To claim such a scenic and advantageous location as their territory, the ancestors of the Tsuchigumo clan must have been quite formidable.

One couldn’t hold onto a place like this without some skill.

The mountain winds howled, rustling the branches and leaves of a large tree at the cliff’s edge. Looking up, the dense foliage intertwined to form a verdant canopy, the vibrant green providing a refreshing contrast to the blazing sunlight. Beneath this small patch of shade stood a young man with short purple hair. Despite the coolness of his surroundings, his mood was anything but calm.

He wasn’t sure if his plan would work, yet he couldn’t think of anything else to do. For now, all he could do was wait.

“Boss, there’s news!”

A jubilant shout, like rain in a drought, arrived just in time. Although the content of the message was still unknown, the unrestrained joy of his subordinate was evident. The news had to be good.

“What is it? Benten, speak quickly.”

Watching his subordinate rush toward him, the young man couldn’t help but urge him on.

“She’s left the village! Tsuchigumo Hotaru has already left Konoha and is heading toward Mount Katsuragi!” The red-haired subordinate delivered the news with excitement. “If nothing goes wrong, she’ll arrive by this evening. At the latest, she should be here by tomorrow.”

“Good!”

The purple-haired young man couldn’t suppress a smile.

“She’ll probably arrive this evening? Perfect!”

Indeed, waiting idly would never work.

Taking action was the only way to get results.

It all began with a sudden whim.

After learning about the serial massacres of ninja clans within the Land of Fire, a thought struck him—what if the Tsuchigumo clan met the same fate? Would that draw Tsuchigumo Hotaru, who had been lingering near Konoha, to Mount Katsuragi?

Once the idea took root, it grew uncontrollably, like a poisonous weed. It eventually shattered what little familial affection he still harbored for his clan.

Quietly, he left Konoha.

His movements were so discreet that even the Anbu agents monitoring them were deceived—not that they were aware of being watched. After leaving Konoha, he made his way to Mount Katsuragi with all haste, swiftly exterminating the Tsuchigumo clan, which had few competent fighters left.

He spared a group of young survivors, allowing them to flee to Konoha and report the incident. Of course, he wasn’t sure if this would attract Hotaru.

Fortunately, it seemed his luck wasn’t bad.

“Benten, have Daikoku, Bishamon, and Hotei prepare to welcome our guest... Who’s underground?” The purple-haired young man suddenly noticed an unusual disturbance in the earth beneath him. His expression changed instantly as he raised his right palm toward the ground.

In his palm, a black symbol for “thunder” appeared.

The Tsuchigumo clan’s Jibaku Fuda technique wasn’t written with a pen but was formed by condensing chakra into a curse mark. This method wasn’t unique, as many techniques like summoning jutsu and sealing jutsu also relied on such a foundation.

“Crack!”

The sound of thunder echoed.

A bolt of lightning struck the ground, creating a deep crater.

“No matter how many times I see it, the Tsuchigumo clan’s sealing techniques are truly impressive!” A voice exclaimed from afar. The purple-haired young man frowned, resisting the urge to strike again. Instead, he turned toward the source of the voice.

A man dressed like a wandering monk, complete with a staff and straw hat, approached step by step.

“Who are you?”

It was only then that Benten snapped out of his shock and realized an enemy was approaching.

“I was just curious to see who was impersonating us,” the man chuckled coldly. His killing intent surged like sticky tentacles.

What did he mean? Impersonating?

Benten wasn’t slow-witted. After carefully considering the man’s words, he quickly deduced his identity.

“So, those clan massacres... they were all your doing?” The purple-haired young man stared at the straw-hatted figure. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but the hat obscured his face too well to confirm.

“Massacres? No, no. I simply turned useless people into something useful. Calling them massacres is so melodramatic. I never inflict meaningless suffering. Everything I do has purpose. But now’s not the time for such discussions. I happened to overhear your plans against Konoha. Are you planning to oppose them?”

“What of it? Are you here to join us?”

The purple-haired young man noticed the man’s peculiar attitude.

At first, he’d worried the newcomer was a Konoha ninja.

But now it seemed otherwise. Perhaps this man was also an enemy of Konoha?

“I am indeed intrigued by what you’re doing.”

"Then, why don't you take off your hat first?"

The young man with purple hair made the request.

Cooperation?

He didn’t mind.

The straightforward principle of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" was something he understood well. As long as there were no conflicts of interest between them, working together was not out of the question.

The man wearing the hat was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Fine,” and reached up to remove the hat from his head. Beneath it, he revealed his unaltered, true face. Upon seeing this man’s appearance, the expressions of the young man with purple hair and Benten changed dramatically.

“It’s Haruma!!”

Benten shouted in astonishment.

Indeed, the man holding the metal staff and dressed as a wandering monk was none other than Haruma.

“Hahaha! It really is a case of searching high and low only to find it effortlessly!” The purple-haired youth broke into a maniacal laugh, his eyes fixed on Haruma. Leaning forward into a battle-ready stance, he shouted, “Give back the forbidden technique that belongs to my clan!”

His voice rang with fury.

Haruma paused for a couple of seconds, caught off guard. This development was unexpected. He had assumed these individuals were motivated by animosity toward Konoha, but now it seemed his understanding had been wrong—they were after the forbidden technique, Raging Hair Heaven.

Still—

No matter.

In that instant, his mind spun rapidly, formulating a new idea.

“Don’t be so quick to attack,” Haruma said, shaking his staff.

“You want the forbidden technique, Raging Hair Heaven, don’t you? I won’t say it’s impossible to return it to you, but the question is, can you extract it from me and transfer it to yourself?” Haruma’s tone was calm as he addressed the purple-haired youth and Benten, who were poised to strike.

“You’re part of the Tsuchigumo clan, aren’t you? And since you’ve come for this technique, I imagine you’ve done your homework. Without a specific method, this forbidden technique cannot be removed from me.” Haruma then pulled open his robe, revealing a pitch-black, pearl-like core embedded in his chest. The skin around it was a ghastly pale color, reminiscent of a corpse, almost devoid of any warmth.

“When I took this technique from Ikuzugyōsha, I had outside help. Even so, the process caused me immense suffering, and that method cannot be replicated. Unless you can find that person…” Haruma let out a regretful sigh. “Unfortunately, after last year’s failed attack on Konoha with Hiruko, that person has vanished. He might have been killed by Konoha.”

He wasn’t lying.

If not for Uchiha Obito’s intervention, Haruma would never have been able to seize the Tsuchigumo clan’s forbidden technique. After the failed assault on Konoha, he had lost all contact with the masked man who claimed to be Madara Uchiha.

Haruma didn’t know if that man was dead or simply unwilling to maintain their connection. Regardless, he hadn’t given up on his goals. After fleeing Konoha, Haruma regrouped and began targeting ninja clans across the Land of Fire to amass power.

And then—

When he was ready to make a move against the Tsuchigumo clan, he discovered someone else had beaten him to it.

That piqued his curiosity, leading him to personally investigate, which brought about the current situation.

“Boss?”

Benten turned toward the purple-haired youth, whose expression shifted from dark to thoughtful.

Waiting for his leader’s decision.

“...What do you want?”

The purple-haired youth gritted his teeth and asked.

Ultimately, he didn’t attack.

As Haruma had said, being a member of the Tsuchigumo clan meant understanding that Raging Hair Heaven required a special method for transfer. That was why he had targeted Tsuchigumo Hotaru, believing that the secret was hidden with her.

His belief was only strengthened after massacring most of the Tsuchigumo clan and finding nothing among the survivors but children. He was convinced the answer lay with Tsuchigumo Hotaru.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to plot against her, especially since she was a student of the Sixth Hokage.

Of course, the premise of his confidence was his belief that acquiring the forbidden technique would allow him to dominate the ninja world.

“I want to destroy Konoha.”

Haruma stated his ultimate goal bluntly.

“Of course, I know that’s a difficult task. So… from your conversation, it seems you plan to capture Tsuchigumo Hotaru and force her to reveal the transfer method. If I’m not mistaken, one of her teammates is the Hokage’s younger sister. Hand her over to me. As long as you do that, I’ll return the forbidden technique to you.”

“How can I trust you’re not lying to me?”

The purple-haired youth was skeptical.

He wasn’t the type to trust strangers easily.

“Lying to you? What would be the point? From the moment you slaughtered most of the Tsuchigumo clan, whether you like it or not, both of us have become Konoha’s targets. Especially now that you plan to attack the Hokage’s student and sister. This is a fight to the death,” Haruma said with a laugh.

He looked at the youth as if he were an oblivious fool. These brash youngsters had no idea what they were doing. Like him in the past, they were probably consumed by fantasies about forbidden techniques, believing they could reshape the world with such power.

But—

Setbacks breed growth.

Forbidden techniques might be powerful, but they weren’t as invincible as they imagined.

“I swear, if I’m lying, I’ll never achieve my goal,” Haruma declared solemnly.

It sounded like a childish promise, but the purple-haired youth didn’t dismiss it. He stared at Haruma for more than ten seconds before nodding slowly.

“Fine. We’ll work together. But once we capture Hotaru and the Hokage’s sister, they must be handed over to me first. You’ll transfer the technique before I hand them over to you.”

“Deal.”

Haruma didn’t bother negotiating.

They didn’t even have the targets yet!

Once they were captured, as long as this guy was still alive, Haruma didn’t mind surrendering Raging Hair Heaven. He’d already realized that relying on a single forbidden technique to destroy Konoha was unrealistic. If it were that powerful, the Tsuchigumo clan would have ruled the ninja world long ago.

The logic was simple.

But people often ignored logic when they were fixated on something.

“I’m Tsuchigumo Shirou.”

The purple-haired youth finally introduced himself.

“Haruma.”

Haruma responded curtly.

“So, are we allies now? Mind telling me how you plan to deal with our targets? If my information is correct, they’re not an easy bunch, especially with a renowned Konoha jōnin leading the team. It won’t be a simple task.”

Despite having lost several comrades from the Twelve Guardian Ninja, Haruma still had loyal subordinates gathering intelligence for him. These operatives were originally part of the Daimyo’s Onmitsukidō but had fallen under Haruma’s control after he destroyed part of their archives during his defection.

“Just one jōnin and three genin... Is there anything to worry about?” Shirou gave Haruma a puzzled look. “Our clan’s secret techniques can easily wipe out such a minor threat.”

Hearing this, Haruma fell silent.

He began to question whether he’d made the wrong decision.

Could he really rely on someone like this?

Chapter 343: Fertilization

Walking along the mountain trails of the Land of Waterfalls, passing through dense forests so thick they blocked out the sun, the view suddenly opened up. Before them stretched tiered rice paddies cascading down a sloping hillside. At the base of the mountain, scattered houses dotted the flat terrain, and thin wisps of smoke rose lazily into the air, painting a picturesque scene of rural tranquility.

"Finally, signs of civilization. Obito-senpai, how about we find a place to eat lunch here?" Deidara asked politely.

His tone was calm and respectful.

After parting ways with Orochimaru, he had teamed up with Uchiha Obito to form a new duo. Initially, Deidara had been highly critical of the masked, one-eyed man, finding his mysterious demeanor irritating. However, Obito quickly used genjutsu to teach the arrogant youth a lesson about humility.

Losing once could be chalked up to carelessness.

Losing twice could be excused as an off day.

But losing three times? That was impossible to brush off. Deidara’s deeply ingrained pride wouldn’t allow him to deny the truth—Obito was indeed powerful. In comparison to Orochimaru’s eccentric and sinister personality, Obito’s cold demeanor was almost "charming."

That being said, Deidara’s arrogance wasn’t entirely broken. This prideful young man, despite his repeated failures, simply thought, I can’t beat him now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future. Determined, he waited eagerly for the next opportunity to challenge him.

In the meantime, however, their partnership was relatively harmonious.

"Sure," Obito replied indifferently with a nod.

Such minor matters didn’t bother him. The two of them descended the winding mountain path and entered the small village below. They found the only izakaya in the village—a rustic little tavern that could barely be called a proper establishment. During the day, it was almost devoid of customers, only becoming lively in the evenings when weary villagers came to drink cheap sake and chat.

Despite the strange appearance of Obito and Deidara, the tavern's proprietress didn’t seem fazed. To her, travelers passing through were always odd in one way or another. As long as they paid, she didn’t care what her patrons looked like.

"I'm going to the restroom," Obito said, leaving the tavern.

He wasn’t lying. Walking to a nearby grove of trees, he took care of business against an old tree, all while speaking aloud, “Zetsu, what is it?”

As he spoke, a plant-like figure with a split black-and-white face emerged from the tree.

“Obito, can’t you do that a little farther away?” White Zetsu complained loudly, clearly disgusted by Obito’s choice of location.

“What does it matter? It’s not like it affects you. Besides, my time is limited. If I’m gone too long, it’ll be hard to explain to Deidara. So, speak up—what’s the issue?” Obito said curtly.

“About the Land of Fire—you’ve probably already heard. After investigating, it’s confirmed that Hama is behind it. He seems to have mastered some kind of forbidden jutsu that uses the dead. He’s been slaughtering ninja clans in the area to collect corpses. What’s your take on this?” Black Zetsu asked directly.

“Hama? That guy’s still alive?” Obito muttered, surprised. “I thought Konoha would’ve taken care of that loser ages ago.”

Obito’s tone was dismissive. He had long given up on Hama, finding him utterly incompetent. During their earlier assault on Konoha alongside Hiruko, Hama had failed to defeat even a handful of Konoha’s young ninjas, cementing his reputation as a useless ally in Obito’s eyes.

As a result, Obito had abandoned any plans to recruit Hama into the Akatsuki.

Back then, Obito had been dealing with the aftermath of his own identity being revealed as Madara’s shadow. He was preoccupied with more pressing matters and had no interest in babysitting Hama, who had proven himself unreliable. Even if Hama had been captured alive by Konoha, Obito wouldn’t have cared.

“Not only is he alive, but he’s causing quite a stir this time,” Black Zetsu continued. “From the looks of it, Hama might even be targeting Konoha. Isn’t this an opportunity worth seizing?”

“I couldn’t care less,” Obito replied coldly. “Do you really think Hama is capable of anything significant? Are you hoping he’ll actually destroy Konoha?”

“With the Akatsuki’s support, it’s not impossible…”

“Stop dreaming. The Akatsuki has no reason to confront Konoha head-on right now. Nagato isn’t ready to act, and he won’t approve of such a reckless move. Besides, the current Akatsuki isn’t strong enough to take down Konoha outright. Just Shisui Uchiha and Sougen Uchiha alone aren’t opponents you can overwhelm with numbers. Unless Nagato himself steps in with the power of the Rinnegan, there’s no way.”

Obito’s tone was resolute.

“And as for Hama, I have no faith in him whatsoever. If he wants to throw his life away, let him. There’s no reason for us to get involved in his mess. Acting prematurely will only make things harder for us in the future. Once Nagato is fully prepared, our chances of success will be much higher. Until then, don’t bring up pointless ideas like this again.”

The memory of last year’s disastrous raid on Konoha still haunted Obito. Coordinating with Hiruko to attack Konoha had ended in a crushing defeat, and he had barely escaped with his life. That battle had driven home the danger of Konoha, especially after the death of his former teacher, the Fourth Hokage.

The once-unassailable power of his Kamui had proven far from invincible. With Shisui mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique and Sougen’s overwhelming strength, Obito knew better than to underestimate them. Even Nagato, with the Rinnegan, might struggle against such opponents.

The Akatsuki had its share of powerful members, but Konoha was thriving, boasting a lineup of elite shinobi. Any direct confrontation would result in a pyrrhic victory at best. Moreover, there were still other villages—Mist, Sand, Cloud, and Stone—waiting in the wings, ready to exploit any weaknesses.

“Anything else? If not, I’m going back to eat lunch,” Obito said, his tone impatient.

Obito Uchiha stuffed his belongings into his pants.

He shot a sidelong glance at Zetsu. "Looks like it's settled? If that's the case, I'm off to eat."

With that, Obito turned and strode toward the tavern without looking back, leaving Zetsu behind, perched on a fertilized tree, watching his retreating figure.

"What now?"

White Zetsu asked.

"That guy, Obito... could he really have been beaten to the point of losing his nerve?" Black Zetsu mused, staring at Obito’s disappearing figure at the tavern door. "Whatever. Since he’s made his stance clear, let’s observe for now. Anyway, Kamakiri is still in the preparation phase. Let’s see what cards Obito is holding."

The voices faded into the warm breeze.

The pitcher-plant-like figure of Zetsu also disappeared.

---

It was nearing dusk, and the sky darkened gradually.

Twenty miles southwest of Katsuragi Mountain, far from its base, the silhouettes of Team One appeared on a desolate road. Apart from them—four members from Konoha—there were no other travelers in sight. They had only encountered a few solitary peddlers on the way.

The reason for this desolation was simple:

Recent reports of entire shinobi clans being wiped out had spread far and wide. Such news was impossible to conceal, as many shinobi clans and villages couldn't sustain themselves in isolation.

These clans often had varying degrees of cooperation with nobles and merchants.

After all, hiring Konoha shinobi was expensive.

And most of the time, it was a one-time deal. Establishing a long-term relationship with Konoha wasn’t something just anyone could afford.

By contrast, smaller shinobi clans offered cheaper rates and were more amenable to forming enduring partnerships. So when these clans started being annihilated, nobles and merchants quickly caught wind and grew wary, fearing they might be next.

The atmosphere was tense, like the proverbial "flurry of alarms at every rustling leaf."

People were genuinely terrified.

Not long after Team One set out, the village received a request from the daimyo’s estate. They urged Konoha to uncover the truth behind these massacres and bring the culprits to justice.

In short,

The situation had escalated.

---

"Chisaya-sensei, how much longer until we reach Katsuragi Mountain?"

Looking up at the sun setting in the west, its fiery glow painting the clouds like flames, Touka, weary from a day’s travel, couldn’t help but ask.

Though it should have been a question for Hotaru, who bore the Tsuchigumo name, Hotaru had been away from Katsuragi Mountain for many years. Having left at a young age, she no longer remembered the way.

“At this pace, we should reach the mountain base before sunset,” Uchiha Chisaya answered calmly. She, too, glanced at the expansive sky. “But... we won’t proceed further today. We’ll travel a bit more, find a suitable spot, and camp for the night. Tomorrow morning, we’ll head to Katsuragi Mountain.”

A battle-hardened warrior,

Chisaya retained her sharp and aggressive nature.

But this didn’t mean she was reckless or impulsive. On the contrary, her mind was astute. From the start, the mission briefing had warned of potential traps at Katsuragi Mountain. If she were alone, she might have charged in boldly.

However, she wasn’t alone—

She had three students to protect.

Regardless of how talented these girls were, their lack of combat experience was an undeniable shortcoming. Leading an exhausted team into unfamiliar and potentially dangerous territory was far from a wise decision. Even with the possibility of backup, Chisaya would never gamble on unreliable intelligence.

“Resting now?” Touka sighed in relief. “I thought we’d push on to Katsuragi Mountain tonight!”

“That’s out of the question,” Yakumo interjected decisively. “No need to rush. Hotaru, don’t worry too much. Once we’re well-rested, we’ll start investigating tomorrow morning.”

Although her field experience was limited, Yakumo’s theoretical knowledge was solid. She quickly grasped Chisaya’s reasoning for not advancing tonight. The team wasn’t at peak condition after traveling all day, and night battles were inherently challenging.

Even with Touka’s Sharingan and Yakumo’s strong sensory abilities, their inexperience made them vulnerable to the unpredictability of real combat.

“I understand,” Hotaru nodded quietly.

Though her emotions weren’t particularly stirred, as her attachment to the Tsuchigumo clan wasn’t strong, most of her concern stemmed from her grandfather’s influence. If not for this, she wouldn’t have cared much for the clan’s affairs, preferring to train at home and one day avenge her grandfather.

---

Team One eventually found a suitable camping spot. They began gathering wood and preparing a meal to sate their growling stomachs. The chef was Hotaru, the only one among the girls skilled in cooking. Yakumo and Touka, meanwhile, were more adept at art and destruction, respectively.

As for Uchiha Chisaya...

She excelled in butchery.

In the dense forest near their camp, shadows lurked beneath the thick canopy.

“Kama,” one kneeling figure reported. “The targets are four kilometers ahead, near the river. They’ve stopped to make camp and are cooking now. It seems they won’t move tonight.”

“I told you, Konoha shinobi aren’t fools,” Kama said, gently tapping his staff. He turned to Tsuchigumo Shirou, smiling sinisterly. “Instead of waiting in the mountains, why not strike proactively? Catching them off guard gives us a better chance of capturing our prey.”

“Hmph!”

Shirou sniffed in irritation, suppressing his annoyance. “Fine. What’s the plan? Are we attacking now?”

“No need to rush. Let’s wait until it’s darker,” Kama replied with a ghastly grin. “Then, we’ll send them a little gift.”

The madness in his eyes made Shirou shiver involuntarily. Is this guy... completely insane?  

End of Chapter.  

Chapter 344: The Soil of the Dead

By the time the first group finished dinner, night had fallen. The deep darkness blanketed the surroundings, and when one looked up, they could see the vast night sky that had only recently emerged. With the faint light of the moon, one could barely discern the sea of clouds rolling like angry waves beneath the heavens.

It was a moonless night.

Uchiha Chisaya gazed at the dimly lit sky, her senses heightened to their maximum.

From her past experiences,

a moonless night was the perfect time for killing.

She had already instructed the girls to take turns sleeping and resting. As for herself, she had managed to grab a quick nap earlier. Staying awake for a night wasn’t a big deal for her. Sitting cross-legged by the campfire, her beloved blade cradled in her arms, she appeared to be dozing. However, she was keenly observing her surroundings.

Time passed second by second.

The area remained peaceful, with the comforting chirping of insects sounding like a natural symphony. Rather than being annoying, the sounds were oddly reassuring. These insects were like nature's sentinels—any disturbance in the forest would cause a noticeable shift in their harmonious melody.

For instance, now.

The insect chorus had abruptly weakened, as if falling off a cliff.

“Can’t wait any longer, huh?”

Chisaya stood up and drew the Kusanagi Sword: Vacuum Blade from its sheath. Nearby, Kurama Yakumo and Tsuchigumo Hotaru, who were on watch with her, immediately shook awake the peacefully sleeping Uchiha Touka. The girls quickly prepared for battle.

But—

to everyone’s surprise,

the attack from the darkness wasn’t as swift and fierce as a thunderstorm.

Instead, it came gradually, almost deliberately allowing them time to prepare.

Unsteady silhouettes slowly approached the campfire in the forest. Their pace wasn’t fast—about the speed of an average person walking at a steady rhythm. However, what was strange was that these “people” staggered forward as if they were all drunk.

As they drew closer to the fire, its bright light dispelled the darkness, revealing their features.

What they saw were blank, lifeless eyes, skin tinged a sickly blue-gray, and a staggering gait... They looked exactly like the zombies depicted in movies!

In recent years, the Leaf Village had advanced rapidly in entertainment. Movie theaters were no longer a novelty; the village now boasted three of them. The film industry, flourishing in the peace of recent years, produced all kinds of movies, including zombie films.

Thus, the concept of "zombies" wasn’t unfamiliar to the girls.

“Th-These are… zombies?”

Hotaru swallowed nervously, feeling a twinge of fear.

Whenever they watched movies together, horror films were the ones she dreaded the most.

“Are these really zombies?”

Touka’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Her single-tomoe Sharingan activated instinctively as she gazed at the approaching “zombies,” her face lit with fascination. Unlike Hotaru, she enjoyed the thrill of horror movies.

“Hotaru, why didn’t you ever mention that your hometown had such interesting things?”

Hotaru felt wronged, nearly on the verge of tears. “Interesting”? Her hometown certainly didn’t have such terrifying things! She had never even heard of anything like this before. Zombies were supposed to be fictional, weren’t they?

No,

this wasn’t real.

Everything before her eyes had to be an illusion.

“It’s a genjutsu,” Hotaru declared with conviction. “Yakumo, this has to be a genjutsu. Break it!”

Yakumo, however, didn’t have a chance to act.

“Uchiha Style: Tempest Slash!”

In an instant, Chisaya made her move. The Kusanagi Sword: Vacuum Blade sliced through the air, sending six swift slashes toward the approaching “zombies.” These mindless creatures made no attempt to dodge—perhaps because the attacks were too fast, or they simply lacked the awareness to react.

The six leading corpses fell instantly.

The slashes were powerful.

The moving bodies were chopped into pieces of varying sizes, and the fragments scattered to the ground like oddly shaped cookies spilled from a box. Strangely, there was no blood. Instead, the pieces began to fade, crumbling into piles of soil. The result resembled dirt-colored cookies more than anything else.

“It’s not a genjutsu,” Chisaya said calmly, shattering Hotaru’s hopes.

Her scarlet Sharingan spun as she observed the scene. Before being destroyed, these walking corpses had chakra systems remarkably similar to those of living people. However, once they were cut apart, their chakra systems collapsed and vanished instantly.

It was all incomprehensibly strange.

But one thing was certain:

this was real.

These walking corpses were no illusions. Based on her observations, this seemed to be some kind of forbidden technique rooted in Earth Release.

Chihaya-sensei was right. These entities aren’t illusions, but they’re not living beings either. They possess some basic instincts but lack complete cognitive abilities, rendering conventional genjutsu ineffective against them. As Yakumo spoke, four animated bodies abruptly collapsed to the ground, scorched black as if struck by lightning, and quickly crumbled into piles of fragmented earth.

Although standard genjutsu is useless, the Kurama clan's kekkei genkai can still be effective. Their ability to turn illusions into reality can interfere with even inanimate matter, let alone corpses with residual combat instincts. Thus, the girl still has a fighting chance against these walking dead.

However, it seems that the Uchiha clan’s genjutsu won’t be of much use here.

Before drawing her blade, Uchiha Chihaya had attempted to use genjutsu, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea—no response at all. Genjutsu was ineffective. She wasn’t too bothered, though, as genjutsu was not her strongest suit. Among all the Jonin in her clan who had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, her genjutsu proficiency was merely average.

Her true expertise lay in Wind Release techniques and the Uchiha swordsmanship style.

When combined, these skills earned her the moniker “Wind of Death.”

Currently, her concerns were twofold. First, the fact that these creatures seemed to have complete chakra systems—could they actually perform ninjutsu? Second, the heavy and chaotic footsteps that echoed from all directions, like an overwhelming tidal wave.

The next moment, her worries were confirmed.

One of the "zombies" that had broken through their defenses to approach Team One began forming hand seals. It unleashed Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique as an attack. Although the weak jutsu was effortlessly nullified by Chihaya with a single slash, the situation instantly grew dire.

Not only could these cursed zombies use ninjutsu, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming. They surged in from all sides like a relentless tsunami, exerting immense pressure.

“Conserve chakra. Focus on taijutsu as much as possible. Don’t waste explosive tags,” Chihaya commanded swiftly.

“And break through in the direction we came from.”

The principle of avoiding prolonged engagements was clear—lingering too long in a defensive battle without knowing the enemy’s numbers was a foolish choice. Instead of waiting to be encircled, it was better to carve out a bloody path before that happened.

From a high vantage point, one could see that the Team One camp was the center of a massive tide of corpses stretching for kilometers. Moreover, more bodies continued to crawl out of the deathly soil, further swelling the horde.

“What kind of technique is this?” Tsuchigumo Shirō stood atop a tree, staring in stunned silence at the overwhelming sea of corpses. It took him half a minute to regain his senses before he blurted out the question, his gaze shifting to Koma. Shirō couldn’t believe that Koma, aside from mastering the Tsuchigumo clan’s forbidden Fury of the Hair, also possessed such incredible methods.

Though Shirō remained convinced that Fury of the Hair was superior and that it was wasted on an outsider like Koma, even he couldn’t help but feel awe at the sight of the corpse tide sweeping across the plain.

“It’s just a small trick,” Koma replied with a smile, showing no intention of explaining further.

He added, “For now, we’ll just sit back and enjoy the show. Once our targets are completely worn out, capturing them alive will be much easier.”

“...Hmph.” Tsuchigumo Shirō snorted dismissively but chose not to press further. Deep down, he still clung to the belief that Fury of the Hair was far more potent. Without it, he’d struggle against such a mass of enemies, so he remained silent, secretly hoping the targets would last longer to deplete more of Koma’s summoned zombies. That way, if they turned on each other later, Shirō’s chances would improve.

“Tianmu, keep a close watch. Don’t let our targets slip away, and alert me immediately if reinforcements appear,” Koma instructed.

“Relax. Unless they burrow underground, they won’t escape my secret surveillance technique,” Tianmu replied confidently, as he had during their time as members of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

“Then I’ll leave it to you,” Koma said, reassured, turning his attention away.

As long-time partners, Tianmu and Koma understood each other better than anyone else. However, Koma didn’t notice the brief flash of hesitation on Tianmu’s face after his words.

The spirit bird Tianmu created to survey the battlefield soared high above, spotting both Team One’s desperate struggle and the group led by Koma and Shirō. Yet another figure appeared behind Koma’s group—a man wearing a white robe adorned with flame patterns and the Uchiha clan’s fan crest on the collar.

Despite clearly seeing the man, even down to the details of the crest, Tianmu said nothing, as though completely blind to his presence.

The night wind rustled the dense forest, carrying the sound of swaying leaves.

“Spiritual techniques... Not bad. But if you’re going to flaunt your spiritual energy so openly, I’d be embarrassed not to counter you with genjutsu.” The man glanced at the transparent spirit bird and smirked, his lips curling into a faint smile.

In the instant the spirit bird locked onto him, he struck back with a genjutsu, seizing control of the skilled sensory ninja.

To be precise, ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan users wouldn’t have been able to achieve such a feat. Tianmu’s Aerial Vision Technique was not without merit; most Uchiha Jonin wouldn’t even notice the surveillance, let alone counter it with genjutsu. Even Shisui might struggle. Only the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—or the Rinnegan—could achieve such results with ease.

Standing behind Koma’s group, the man listened to their conversation, confirming they had no connection to Obito Uchiha. After pondering for a moment, he decided not to act immediately.

Initially, he’d rushed here fearing a potential link to Obito, wanting to ensure the safety of his disciples and younger sister. However, finding no such connection, he saw this as an excellent opportunity to test Yakumo, Touka, and Hotaru.

With him on standby, there was no risk of fatal danger. Yet, from their perspective, this was a real battle, both a trial and a chance for growth.

“Swarm tactics, huh? Yakumo, Touka, Hotaru—do your best!” Standing on a treetop, he smiled as he observed the thrilling spectacle of the girls battling the zombie-like creatures. This bizarre yet fascinating scene was a first for him. The "zombies," however, weren’t true corpses but constructs made from earth, reverting to soil when destroyed.

As for how these constructs could use ninjutsu, it was likely due to the heavy death energy surrounding them.

“Earth Release: Ultimate Creation Technique—Soil of the Dead... If I recall correctly, this was developed by the Yamakuchi clan in the Land of Rivers but was later stolen by Ounin ninjas,” he murmured, recalling intel from the village archives.

Apparently, the Second Hokage developed the Impure World Reincarnation technique after encountering a Yamakuchi ninja using the Soil of the Dead during battle. Whether true or not, the Second Hokage had left behind detailed analyses of the technique for future generations to study and counter.

The problem was that the Second Hokage’s notes were voluminous. Even someone like him hadn’t read them all, though he’d skimmed the notes on Soil of the Dead.

With this knowledge, he calmly observed the unfolding battle, confident in his ability to protect the younger generation while letting them grow through adversity.

*Chapter 345: The Wind of Death*

This lively drama was not something only Sougen could enjoy as a spectator. Beneath the dim moonlit sky, a White Zetsu slyly hid within the trunk of a large tree. Its face was almost invisible, blending seamlessly into the bark unless viewed from a specific angle.

Even sensory ninjutsu couldn’t detect its presence.

Only an awakened Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, with the ability to perceive malice, could unmask White Zetsu’s camouflage. Except for the rare instances when Nine-Tails Jinchūrikis uncovered them, White Zetsu’s stealth techniques had never been detected. It could even evade the Tengan’s advanced sensory abilities.

Not even Sougen noticed its existence.

However,

Similarly,

White Zetsu also failed to detect Sougen.

After using genjutsu to control Tengan, Sougen activated his specially crafted Hokage robe, blending seamlessly with the surrounding tree trunk. This perfect camouflage was one reason Hama and Shiragumo Byakuro were entirely unaware of Sougen’s presence.

Even if they weren’t specialized sensory ninjas or skilled at perception techniques,

At close range,

Unless one was a master of assassination, it was almost impossible for someone to approach unnoticed.

The reason they remained oblivious was due to the Hokage robe designed by the Equipment Development Department. The technology behind this robe came from the genius puppeteer, Sasori. Under Sougen’s directive, Sasori had developed remarkable techniques inspired by his forbidden art of human puppets.

Sougen’s Hokage robe was one of these innovations.

Its true name, *[White Cloak: Synthetic Skin]*, was a product of Sasori’s research on White Zetsu’s corpse. Leveraging Sougen’s intelligence about White Zetsu’s unique abilities, Sasori meticulously analyzed its camouflage and stealth techniques, leading to the development of the White Cloak’s creation technology.

The version Sougen wore was a customized and exclusive model, patched up and slightly modified by the Equipment Development Department using Sasori’s original technology. Apart from additional inscriptions and patterns on its appearance, it was functionally identical to the original.

When infused with chakra, the White Cloak could perfectly integrate the wearer into their environment, making it an ideal tool for evading enemies or launching ambushes. Its utility depended entirely on the wielder’s intent.

Interestingly,

For reasons unknown, Sasori never reported the technologies he developed in Konoha to the Akatsuki or shared them with his comrades.

As a result,

Even White Zetsu had no idea that Sougen possessed such a trump card. If it had known, it would have carefully scouted the entire area instead of casually hiding in the tree to watch the show.

Of course, if White Zetsu had dared to do so,

It would have inevitably met a grim fate upon crossing Sougen. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and knowing too much can be a dangerous burden.

For the two unseen spectators from opposing factions,

Hama and Shiragumo Byakuro remained utterly oblivious, confidently believing their plans were proceeding smoothly. Relying on sheer numbers, they intended to exhaust their prey’s energy, paving the way for an effortless capture to achieve their respective goals.

Without the interference of these hidden spectators—primarily Sougen—Hama’s plan would likely have been effective. Despite its simplicity, the strategy was undeniably practical.

Using the forbidden technique, *“Soil of the Dead,”* Hama’s army-of-the-dead tactic achieved its intended effect.

Squad 1’s teacher and students could not break through the relentless waves of the dead all at once,

Eventually becoming mired in a grueling battle.

Uchiha Chisao, wielding her famed blade alone, swept through the battlefield like the *Wind of Death*, felling the once-resting dead back into their eternal slumber. The fearsome reputation of the Wind of Death was no exaggeration.

Chisao instructed her students to conserve their chakra, but she herself fought with no such restraint.

As their teacher,

She bore the responsibility of ensuring her students’ safe return to the village. This duty transcended her students’ identities, reflecting her personal creed and pride. Even if leading other students, she would make the same sacrifices—laying down her life if necessary to carve a path to safety with her blade.

Of course, such a dire outcome was the worst-case scenario.

The situation was dire but not hopeless.

Meanwhile,

The girls formed a basic triangular formation,

Entrusting their backs to each other and focusing on the enemies ahead.

Yakumo fully unleashed her clan’s Kekkei Genkai, decimating the zombies with each wave. Their bodies were left scorched as if struck by lightning, crumbling into dirt and debris.

The destruction she wrought within her illusions manifested flawlessly in reality.

This was the essence of the *Kurama Clan’s Kekkei Genkai: [Dominion Over the Five Senses].*

Its ultimate form—*[Illusions Made Real].*

Among the three, Yakumo was the least burdened, not only because of her formidable Kekkei Genkai but also due to her extraordinary natural mental strength, which even Sougen admired. Like Naruto, she was a stamina monster with seemingly bottomless reserves.

Thus, she ignored Chisao’s directive to rely on taijutsu.

If her Kekkei Genkai were more advanced, fully exploiting her immense mental strength, she could perform feats far beyond her current capability. To draw an analogy, her potential was like a vast lake, but she could only draw water with a bucket, lacking high-powered tools for large-scale attacks.

By nature,

The Kurama Clan’s Kekkei Genkai was not bound by specific techniques, allowing its users to freely project the consequences of illusions into reality. However, this freedom came with limits. While Yakumo could summon meteors within her illusions, their size and impact in reality were restricted.

The broader the scope and deeper the effect on reality, the exponentially greater the difficulty of control.

At present, she still couldn't summon a meteor to clear away the surrounding zombies without endangering herself and her teammates. All she could manage was to bring small-scale lightning strikes into reality—a feat that already represented the peak of her abilities.

In truth, Yakumo's performance was already exceptional. Meanwhile, Tōka and Hotaru were locked in a desperate struggle, as expected.

Unlike Yakumo, they lacked innate talent. Although their chakra reserves were among the best for their age, they still couldn't compare to Yakumo or Naruto. They couldn’t afford reckless battles, especially in this unfamiliar territory. Unsure of reinforcements arriving, they faithfully adhered to Chihaya-sensei's instructions:

*"Rely on taijutsu as much as possible."*

Fortunately, the girls wielded long katanas—over a meter in length—rather than smaller blades. This wasn’t surprising. Tōka, as a member of the Uchiha clan, was required to master Uchiha sword techniques. Hotaru, a disciple of Sougen, had learned a sword style modified to function without the Sharingan. Although their weapons weren't legendary blades like Chihaya Uchiha’s *Kusanagi Sword: Vacuum Blade*, they were still expertly crafted chakra-infused weapons made by the best blacksmiths in Konoha.

Thus, with their superior swordsmanship, they precisely targeted the zombies' necks. Their sharp katanas helped conserve effort, allowing them to decapitate the creatures with relative ease, putting the unfortunate souls to rest.

However, these zombies weren’t mere mindless beasts. Many among them were advanced variants capable of using ninjutsu. While the techniques weren’t particularly powerful, they created enough of a challenge to force the girls into using their own ninjutsu and secret arts. Despite their efforts, some attacks still slipped through.

To say they were “covered in wounds” might be an exaggeration, but the once-bright and cute girls now looked disheveled and grimy, with arms covered in cuts. Worse still, their chakra reserves were nearly depleted. At this rate, they wouldn’t last another minute.

Yet—

They still couldn’t see the end of the zombie horde.

Chihaya Uchiha fought desperately to carve a path through, but the sheer number of corpses was overwhelming. Even the famed “Wind of Death” couldn’t break through the towering wall of bodies.

These zombies were the result of years of effort. Five years earlier, Kazuma had begun amassing his army—not just from the Land of Fire but also from the Lands of Lightning, Wind, and Earth, and countless smaller nations. Entire clans, villages, and wandering shinobi groups had been eradicated to create this vast horde. For him, losing a portion of it meant nothing. The shinobi world was vast, and there was never a shortage of warriors to harvest. Even the samurai of the Land of Iron were excellent raw materials. When numbers ran low, he would simply replenish them.

Thus, this massive, despair-inducing zombie tide had effectively formed an impenetrable wall, halting the advance of Chihaya’s deadly blade.

*"Sensei Chihaya, I’m at my limit. Even soldier pills are no longer working."*

Tōka’s curiosity about the zombies had long evaporated. The pain and exhaustion served as constant reminders of her weakness. The “genius” title she had earned at the academy now felt meaningless.

Not stubborn enough to insist on pushing through, she mustered all her strength to shout, her crimson eyes filled with frustration and despair.

*"I’m out of strength too,"* added Hotaru.

Her voice trembled as she swung her wind-cloaked katana, decapitating yet another zombie. But her hands were shaking. Though she could likely keep swinging out of sheer willpower, her next strike might result in complete exhaustion, leaving her defenseless.

The night remained dark, the moonlight hidden behind thick clouds, and no sign of dawn in sight. Judging by their chakra depletion, it was likely the dead of night—around two or three in the morning. There were still long hours until daylight.

*"Damn it! Get out of my way!"*

Chihaya Uchiha, usually composed and ruthless, now showed her rage openly. Her *Kusanagi Sword: Vacuum Blade* cut through hordes of zombies, slicing them to shreds. Yet, more swarmed in immediately, many among them skilled in basic ninjutsu, which only added to the frustration.

The relentless waves, combined with the backlash from overusing soldier pills and her nearly exhausted chakra, pushed Chihaya to her limits. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. The emotional turmoil—her inability to save Tōka and Hotaru, her powerlessness, and her fury at the endless tide of enemies—felt like a volcano erupting within her.

*"Tōka, Hotaru, stay close to me!"*

Yakumo, equally anxious, had been closely monitoring her teammates’ conditions. Her own situation was far from comfortable, but she lacked the chakra reserves to create shadow clones to assist them.

Then, the inevitable happened.

Tōka struck a zombie’s neck but failed to fully decapitate it. The creature’s grayish-blue hands grabbed her katana and wrenched it away. Another set of hands emerged, seizing her ankle. In the blink of an eye, she was swallowed by the horde.

Hotaru soon followed, despite Yakumo’s furious cries. Alone, Yakumo struggled on, unable to break through to save them. Chihaya, witnessing it all from a distance, felt a surge of despair and rage.

The volcano in her heart finally erupted.

Her anger wasn’t only directed at the enemy but also at herself. The grief of losing Tōka and Hotaru, combined with her helplessness, burned within her.

*"Give me Tōka and Hotaru back!"*

She slashed through another wave of zombies, her Sharingan glowing as she strained to locate her lost comrades. But all she saw was more of the endless tide. Amid her blood-boiling emotions, a sharp, stabbing pain struck her eyes.

In an instant, her world changed dramatically.

*"This is..."*

(To be continued...)