196-200

*Chapter 196: Breaking the Limits, The Sword Subdues the Nine-Tails!*

Eight million deities—this is a unique belief in the Shinto traditions of Sakura Island.

Shinto teaches that "kami" reside in all things; every object and event is imbued with divinity, and wherever one goes, gods are present.

"Eight million deities" symbolizes infinity.

At this moment,

Uchiha Shinji channeled all his power into the Kusanagi sword.

Various levels of energy clashed, collided, and annihilated within it.

But thanks to the sword's unique ability to accommodate all forms of energy, every force poured into it was tightly contained.

Even as the energies raged violently, they remained confined within the capacity of this divine weapon.

Under a series of stringent conditions—

- Absolute control over physical strength granted by the Heaven Curse Seal;

- The ability to accept all things, bestowed by the Kusanagi sword;

- The temporary elevation of limits due to the Nine-Tails chakra absorbed by Uchiha Shinji—

These forces gradually fused together, reaching a mysterious state.

This state was known as—

*Limit Break!*

As the sword wielder, Uchiha Shinji could clearly sense it.

When power climbed to its utmost peak, one could perceive an invisible threshold at the limits of conventional strength in the shinobi world.

This was a shackle, a restriction.

A barrier formed by bloodline ties and the origins of chakra, confining mortals from ascending to the divine.

Gazing at the brilliant white greatsword forming in his hands,

Uchiha Shinji faintly understood.

It was as if, in a moment of unintentional clarity, he had stumbled upon a key that could unlock the true underlying logic of the shinobi world.

This realization flashed briefly before vanishing.

The immense power he now wielded was also a fleeting phenomenon, made possible only by the confluence of numerous factors.

Still,

Uchiha Shinji couldn't help but chuckle coldly.

"At the end of power lies such a shackle. Is this why Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta are so rare?"

"But—"

"The existence of ninjutsu is proof that miracles can happen!"

With this thought, Uchiha Shinji clenched his teeth, his face twisting with determination, and poured everything into the sword!

"Wind Style: Vacuum Blade!"

"Water Style: Water Fang Blade!"

"Fire Style: Heartflame Blade!"

Only Lightning Style: Chidori Blade and an Earth Style sword technique remained to create an unprecedented Five-Style Sword Technique in the shinobi world.

But even with just these three techniques, the might of the radiant sword surged dramatically!

Then, it erupted in growth!

Silently, the sword expanded to fifty meters, piercing through an invisible barrier,

and swiftly grew to a hundred meters in length!

The sword’s violent gusts tore through the sky, shattering the clouds in the night sky!

The clear light of the full moon bathed the land below.

Sensing the terrifying power gathering above its head, the Nine-Tails widened its eyes in disbelief.

"This power…

How is it possible?!"

This unprecedented force defied all logic. Over the millennia, the Nine-Tails had only felt it emanating from two people.

Just remembering their names sent shivers down its spine, filling it with dread—terrifying beings even the mightiest of tailed beasts feared!

*Uchiha Madara!*

*Senju Hashirama!*

At that moment,

Uchiha Shinji struggled to hold the massive sword, raising his head to roar in fury:

"Minato, Kushina—"

"Now!"

The violent energy radiating from the sword alone stripped layers of flesh and bone from his body!

This power, far beyond what he could currently control, was a curse and a burden to him.

Finally, Uchiha Shinji could no longer hold on.

He didn’t even have the strength to swing the forbidden sword he had created!

His arms exploded with a thunderous crack, scattering flesh and bone everywhere. The gigantic sword plummeted downward!

It descended like a colossal heavenly rod piercing the skies!

At the final moment,

Uchiha Shinji turned, bent low, and bit through a thread beside him. Clutching the snapping thread with his teeth, he swung over the Nine-Tails' head before tumbling to the ground in disarray.

And then—

The hundred-meter greatsword came crashing down!

The immense force blasted out waves of sand, obliterating everything nearby!

The sword's hilt plunged straight down, smashing into the Nine-Tails' head, which was bound tightly by Adamantine Chains and Earth Grudge threads.

*Boom!*

It was like a hydraulic press crushing clay!

The Nine-Tails' head was instantly deformed,

forcibly smashed back into the beam of light.

The hundred-meter-long incandescent giant sword showed no signs of slowing down, continuing its downward thrust!

It shattered the beam of light, crushed the chakra-formed body of the Nine-Tails into pieces, and reduced it to a pool of crimson, fox-shaped fury!

Then, it was captured, restrained, pulled back, and sealed by the Adamantine Sealing Chains!

“No!”

“Damn Uchiha brat!”

“ROAR!” The Nine-Tails let out a furious roar toward the sky. Unwilling to succumb, it bit down hard on the edge of a low cliff, halting its backward momentum by sheer force.

At the same time, it growled,

“This once-in-a-lifetime chance… I will kill you! I’ll kill you all!”

Despite being almost fully sealed, the complete Nine-Tails forcibly gathered an enormous amount of chakra from the outside world. Pressing against the colossal sword on its forehead, it stood its ground, unwilling to retreat even a single step.

To the Nine-Tails, dying outside—no matter if only part of its body perished—meant there was still a chance of rebirth.

But if it were sealed again, that would be nothing short of imprisonment.

At this moment, only the Nine-Tails' head remained unsealed, and the situation was locked in a stalemate!

Not far away, amidst the rubble of a collapsed stone pillar, Uchiha Shinji lay sprawled on the ground, staring at the scene with wide, tense eyes.

“Minato…”

“Isn’t this level of suppression enough?!”

He had already exhausted every possible means and could only pin his hopes on his teammate now!

At that moment, a kunai was hurled from the cliff where the Nine-Tails was biting. A flash of yellow light followed, and a figure appeared in midair—it was Minato Namikaze!

As he descended, Minato looked at the hundred-meter-long sword of light, so terrifying that even he felt a chill down his spine. His lips twitched uncontrollably.

“All I asked was for you to buy me some time,”

“Ji, you really gave me a heart attack!”

A helpless smile appeared on Minato’s face.

At this moment, he was holding a deep black orb in his hands—the ultimate weapon he had prepared to counter the Tailed Beast Bomb, approach the Nine-Tails, and reseal it into Kushina’s body.

The Great Rasengan Sphere!

In fact, when Uchiha Shinji used Sage Art: Grudge Chains Web to bind the Nine-Tails, it had already been enough. Minato was confident he could seal the Nine-Tails and save Kushina.

But now, because Shinji had created this uncontrollable monstrosity that was on the verge of exploding upon impact, Minato felt utterly drained.

This wasn’t just suppressing the Nine-Tails; this was nearly killing it outright!

The Nine-Tails still had part of its body outside Kushina. If it were destroyed, Kushina would also be affected, possibly gravely injured.

As a result, Minato now had to not only protect Kushina but also ensure the struggling Nine-Tails didn’t meet its end outside.

And he could already foresee that after dealing with the Nine-Tails, he’d have to use Flying Raijin to immediately evacuate Kushina and Uchiha Shinji.

Otherwise, the explosion of this terrifying giant sword would leave no survivors.

Taking a deep breath, Minato’s gaze sharpened. While midair, he flung six Flying Raijin kunai. Then, his figure vanished from sight!

In the next instant, he reappeared in front of the Nine-Tails, swinging his arm with full force. A massive Rasengan Sphere smashed into the Nine-Tails’ head!

Boom!

The violently expanding Rasengan Sphere left the Nine-Tails dizzy and disoriented.

The powerless beast was instantly dragged back by the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Amid the explosion, Minato disappeared again, reappearing in front of Kushina. Using the Four Symbols Seal, he assisted Kushina in locking down the Nine-Tails.

After lifting the weakened Kushina into his arms, he flashed to the next kunai’s landing point, where he scooped up Uchiha Shinji—who looked shocked and as if he had something to say but couldn’t muster the words.

Then, with three consecutive Flying Raijin teleports, Minato carried them far from the epicenter of the falling incandescent sword to the central tower of the Forest of Death.

Only then did Minato finally exhale in relief.

But just then, a crimson arm suddenly pierced through Minato’s abdomen, leaving him stunned.

Raising his gaze in shock, he saw Kushina, now partially transformed with seven swaying tails behind her. In her half-beast form, she was crying silent tears as she looked at him helplessly.

Uchiha Shinji tried to intervene, but with both arms empty and his body utterly spent, he could only watch the tragedy unfold before him.

“Guh…!”

Minato coughed up blood, staring blankly at Kushina.

On her face was a grotesque mix of crying and maniacal laughter.

In the distance, the hundred-meter-long incandescent sword touched the ground, unleashing a dazzling white light!

The blast wave, the roaring explosion, and the howling winds surged with boundless malice.

Amidst the chaos, the Nine-Tails' voice echoed in their ears:

“Hehehehe~!”

“You damned brats—!!!”

“It seems… I’ve won after all!”

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 197: Three Together! Celestial Art: Vortex Giant Spiral Wheel!*

Staring at Minato, whose abdomen was pierced,

Kushina's lips trembled as two streams of tears slid down her cheeks, dripping to the ground.

Her heart was instantly engulfed by overwhelming sorrow, regret, and exhaustion.

Yes...

Someone like her, a monster like her—

Why did she ever leave her cage?

Was she truly chasing love? Or was she merely indulging her selfish desires, acting recklessly, and dragging others down with her?

The mission of a jinchūriki, the heavy burden of the Uzumaki clan’s destruction, and the anguish of seeing her lover gravely injured by her own hands—

All of it. Every bit of it!

"Haah... haah..."

Kushina began to breathe heavily, a nearly hopeless expression on her face as she murmured:

"I've had enough!"

"Enough, enough, enough, enough, enough, enough, enough!!!"

She clutched her head with one hand, her wide eyes trembling, her face filled with pain.

Suddenly,

She lowered her head, her voice heavy with guilt, helplessness, and despair, sobbing softly:

"Minato... just stop worrying about me!"

"Take Tsukasa and leave this place!"

"Get out of here!"

"Hurry and leave now!!"

Uchiha Shinji let out a long sigh as he watched the scene unfold, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.

Without a doubt,

The plot of The Legend of Minato had reached its climactic chapter!

Despite his involvement and the many changes he'd brought, the story had still reached this fateful crossroad because of him.

This filled Uchiha Shinji with a sense of absurdity.

A theory of karmic entanglement echoed in his mind.

So after all he had done, what had he truly changed?

At this moment,

The voice of the Nine-Tails rang out once more.

"A brat who isn’t even from the Uzumaki clan but dares to modify the Four Symbols Seal to suit his own whims."

"And another—"

"A liar, reeking of deceit, fooling others, fooling himself, and not even knowing why he’s alive."

"Lost, confused, disconnected from his true self—"

"Yet strong, like a wandering ghost in the world. The little Uchiha brat."

The Nine-Tails' tone darkened, and it coldly declared:

"This ends now!"

"Release your grip on the seal. And you, stop your sacrilegious act of stealing my chakra this instant!"

Half of Kushina's face, cloaked in the Nine-Tails' chakra, turned to gaze coldly at Minato. Despite the gaping wound in his abdomen, he persisted in pressing his hand against her stomach, attempting to perform the Four Symbols Seal.

Then, the Nine-Tails turned to the side, glaring at the silent but sly Uchiha brat, who was secretly siphoning its chakra under its nose!

"Tsk, so I’ve been caught."

Uchiha Shinji clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Still, no matter what, stopping now was out of the question. Besides, Zero-Tails was absolutely thrilled at the moment. Asking it to stop now, even as its master, would be impossible.

If the Nine-Tails wanted to stop him, it could try stabbing him again.

At that moment, Minato instinctively countered, using the Four Symbols Seal to temporarily suppress the Nine-Tails. Uchiha Shinji naturally wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by.

The Nine-Tails glared darkly at the two of them, its voice cold and threatening:

"She is MY jinchūriki!"

"She has nothing to do with the likes of you!"

"Why would strong people like you fixate on this little girl?"

"Leave now, and you might still save your miserable lives!"

Hearing this, both Uchiha Shinji and Minato shook their heads simultaneously.

Uchiha Shinji thought to himself that if he left now, what would happen to the "prince"?

If Minato was gone, where would he find another savior?

And besides, Minato was a good person who had shown him kindness. Abandoning him was simply not an option!

As for Minato,

He painfully coughed up a mouthful of blood, struggling to lift his head. Through labored breaths, he firmly declared:

"No... no!"

"Haah..." He exhaled deeply and fixed his determined gaze on Kushina.

"I admire strong people!"

"I admire those who are stronger than I am!"

"That’s why I admire you, Kushina!"

Kushina froze, her head snapping up in astonishment. She stared blankly at Minato, her heart trembling at his confession in this life-or-death moment.

"And I can feel it—Kushina, deep down, you’ve always held me in your heart!"

With those words—

Minato’s gaze sharpened as he placed one hand on Kushina’s abdomen. He adjusted the Four Symbols Seal, transforming it into the Eight Trigrams Seal, which he had previously tested on Uchiha Shinji!

Then,

With his other hand, he rested it on Uchiha Shinji’s shoulder.

In an instant, through the link of their chakras—

The scene before the three of them changed dramatically!

Under Minato’s manipulation, they found themselves transported into Kushina’s spiritual world, inside the Eight Trigrams Seal cage that imprisoned the Nine-Tails!

The three stood ankle-deep in the swirling water that filled the grand hall.

They stood shoulder to shoulder before a colossal iron gate that stretched skyward, gazing beyond it at the oppressive, ferocious, and menacing figure—a nine-tailed fox of pure malice, as though the embodiment of all the world’s evil.

Kushina turned her gaze to the two figures standing steadfast beside her, one tall, the other shorter, neither willing to retreat.

Her eyes trembled slightly as she recalled the words of her predecessor as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Lady Mito Uzumaki. She had stood on the terrace of the Uzumaki clan’s ancestral home, gazing at the statue of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and imparting this wisdom:

“Kushina, we may have come here as vessels for the Nine-Tails...

But before that, we must find love and fill our vessels with it.

In doing so, even as jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails...

You can still find happiness!

Believe in yourself. Keep climbing upward, and you will eventually encounter people and things worth protecting.

Ultimately, turn the Uzumaki spiral into a vortex!”

At that thought, Kushina’s eyes flew open.

All hesitation vanished.

She looked at the two beside her and broke into a radiant smile.

“Thank you,” she said, “Minato, and you too, Shinji!”

With those words, Kushina took the lead, stepping forward and shouting firmly. Golden chains burst from her abdomen in an instant.

“Hah!!!”

Countless Adamantine Sealing Chains wrapped tightly around the Nine-Tails, eliciting an ear-splitting roar that shook the entire hall.

“Grrrr—!!”

“Kushina! What are you doing?”

“Even I won’t just sit back and accept this!”

Clenching her teeth, Kushina barked back, “Nine-Tails, I won’t let you hurt them again!!”

Seeing this, Minato couldn’t help but smile.

Then, turning to Uchiha Shinji beside him, his gaze steady, he spoke earnestly:

“Ji!”

“Let’s do this together! The three of us!”

Raising his hand, Minato conjured a bright blue sphere of chakra in his palm.

Following his gaze, Shinji noticed the sphere, raised an eyebrow, and smirked. He then placed his hand over it, drawing on the stolen Nine-Tails’ chakra within his body, converting it into Sage Chakra, and infusing it into the sphere.

At that moment, the Nine-Tails violently broke free of the chains around its neck.

It stomped the ground and roared furiously:

“You damned brats—!!

“Arrgh!!”

“ROAR!”

Its massive jaws opened wide as chakra rapidly gathered into its maw, forming an enormous Tailed Beast Bomb.

“Now die!!”

But Shinji cut off the Nine-Tails with a furious roar of his own, louder and more commanding.

“Nine-Tails!”

“Feel the heat of our combined technique—”

As his words trailed off, Shinji and Minato spoke in unison:

“Sage Art: Radiant Spiral Claw Uchiha Twin-Style Sphere!!!”

At that moment, Kushina suddenly placed her hand over theirs, wearing a deadpan expression.

“Seriously? That’s so lame!”

“And the name’s way too long!”

She infused the golden chakra of her sealing jutsu into the sphere.

“Let’s just call this technique...

Rasengan!”

The three exchanged a glance, their shared intent perfectly aligned.

In unison, they raised the golden, blue, and black Rasengan high into the air, leaping together.

With a spiraling orb small enough to fit in one hand, they charged fearlessly toward the massive Tailed Beast Bomb, which was over ten meters in diameter.

At the core of their attack was Minato’s concentrated Rasenshuriken.

The surrounding blue energy came from Shinji’s expanded Sage Chakra-infused Rasengan.

Encasing it all were Kushina’s golden Adamantine Sealing Chains, restraining the volatile Sage Chakra from spilling out.

The Rasengan underwent a dramatic transformation, merging into one cohesive whole.

Together, they created an ultimate Rasengan, surpassing even the Sage Art: Rasenshuriken—a technique born of unparalleled teamwork.

With a unified roar, the three thrust their combined attack forward.

“This is our fiery, heartfelt combination—”

“Sage Art: Grand Uzumaki Rasenshuriken!”

In an instant, the two vastly different spheres collided.

A brilliant three-colored Rasengan surged forth, shattering the air and tearing through the Tailed Beast Bomb.

A piercing beam of light shot straight ahead, carrying an unstoppable force that struck the Nine-Tails’ stunned and disbelieving face—

With a resounding crash!

In the next moment, warm, radiant light engulfed everything.

Love, hatred, and everything in between dissolved into its embrace.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 198: Interlude, Dragon Island

When Uchiha Shinji opened his eyes again, he found himself staring at a familiar ceiling.

The feeling of familiarity lingered, but his head felt as if it were wedged between two bricks. His thoughts moved at a glacial pace, weighed down by a stabbing pain behind his eyes—so intense that it tempted him to gouge them out.

For a moment, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t recall where he was.

Then, a pale, familiar face came into view.

The person leaning closer had violet eye shadow, golden snake-like pupils, and a pair of jade-green earrings dangling from their ears.

With an indifferent expression, the person stared at him silently.

"Orochimaru-sensei?"

Uchiha Shinji hesitated before speaking.

"Where am I—ah!"

The moment he uttered those words, a searing pain erupted in his eyes, as if they were about to explode. Writhing in agony, he clutched his face and let out a gut-wrenching scream.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

The pain was so unbearable that it felt like someone had driven ten iron spikes under his toenails, only to force him to kick a wall. It was a torment that transcended the physical, making him wish he could carve out his eyes or rip open his body to remove the source of his suffering.

But as Uchiha Shinji’s hands reflexively moved toward his eyes, he realized that his wrists were bound by specialized sealing bracelets.

These bracelets emitted a precise chakra scalpel that severed the nerves in his hands, preventing him from acting on his self-destructive impulses.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, standing beside the hospital bed, furrowed his brows. He pulled out a scroll, began jotting notes with a brush, and muttered hoarsely:

"Eight-twelve in the morning.

"No signs of dragonification. No immediate aggression upon waking.

"The rejection symptoms have resurfaced, but the intensity has lessened.

"The Four Symbols Seal on his eyes remains effective, and the Eight Trigrams Seal has prevented any surge or leakage of the tailed beast’s chakra.

"During this growth phase after cultivating Zero-Tails with Hashirama cells…"

"It seems he’ll need more time to adapt."

After finishing his notes, Orochimaru suddenly seemed to sense something. Without expression, he turned his head to the approaching figure—a blonde woman in a green robe with the kanji for “Gamble” embroidered on it.

“Tsunade,” Orochimaru rasped, “what’s the progress on the Wakeful Heart Pill?”

His tone carried the weariness of someone who hadn’t slept in days. Tsunade, who also bore signs of exhaustion, walked up beside him.

Glaring at the writhing boy on the hospital bed, she exhaled deeply and said in a stern voice:

“Orochimaru, you’ve gone this far for this child…

“I already learned everything from Jiraiya. You may fool others, but you can’t fool me!

“Why didn’t you tell us earlier? As your teammate, do you think we’d turn a blind eye to your student’s plight?

“This boy isn’t some power-hungry lunatic, and you… you’re not…”

Orochimaru’s icy gaze met hers, his voice calm yet detached:

“That doesn’t matter. Since you agreed to this deal…

“Fulfill your end.”

“You research the Wakeful Heart Pill for me, and I’ll bring back Nawaki and Dan.”

Tsunade shook her head, letting out a resigned sigh. She retrieved a small purple vial from her robes and tossed it to Orochimaru.

When Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru had followed the Third Hokage into the Forest of Death,

What they found was harrowing—

A limbless Uchiha Shinji, with both arms severed and a gaping hole through his abdomen; a barely alive Minato Namikaze; and Kushina Uzumaki cloaked in a faint red tailed-beast aura, her four tails fully manifested.

In a last-ditch effort, the trio managed to defeat the Nine-Tails in the mental realm, wresting control of its chakra and granting Kushina a new Tailed Beast Mode.

Thanks to this, Kushina sustained both Shinji and Minato’s lives by continuously channeling chakra into their gravely injured bodies.

The two were quickly taken for treatment, but Orochimaru nearly lost his composure—reminiscent of how Tsunade had once reacted to the deaths of her brother and lover.

Whatever Uchiha Shinji had done to cling to life, it had pushed him to the brink of death, skirting the very edge of the line between survival and the grave.

Had it not been for a series of coincidences and their timely arrival, Uchiha Shinji would likely have died there.

Tsunade had never seen Orochimaru wear such an expression—

That of someone deeply concerned but desperately masking it with a façade of cold indifference. He cleaned up the aftermath, presented a calculated argument at the high council, and justified sending Uchiha Shinji to the battlefield with reasons like:

"He doesn’t have long to live, and we’ve prepared a comprehensive recovery plan.”

“If he’s going to die in the village anyway, why not let him make one final contribution to Konoha?”

“As you’ve all seen, Uchiha Shinji possesses power beyond even the Nine-Tails, though it’s come at a heavy price.”

Orochimaru’s meticulous analysis of the Third Shinobi World War, troop movements, and operational necessities left even the Nara clan’s advisors speechless. In the end, the Third Hokage silently approved his proposal.

But Tsunade could see through Orochimaru’s cold exterior—

Beneath his calculated demeanor lay a deep, almost obsessive care for his disciple. He was willing to go to any lengths, no matter the cost, to save him.

And so, Orochimaru had sought her out, proposing a deal she couldn’t refuse.

Orochimaru took the small purple bottle, unsealed it, and poured out a black pill that emitted a sharp, pungent odor.

He then waved his hand, and seven or eight large snakes shot out from his sleeve. They tightly bound Uchiha Shinji, who lay on the hospital bed, forced open his jaw, and made him swallow the "Awakening Heart Pill."

Shortly after consuming the pill, Uchiha Shinji’s eyelids grew heavy, and he fell into a deep sleep.

The Awakening Heart Pill was a crucial drug that Orochimaru would only develop in Sasuke's youth. It was designed to help curse mark bearers overcome its side effects and transition from the first stage of the curse mark to the second.

At this point in time, however, Orochimaru had not yet mastered the advanced medical knowledge and pharmacology required to create such a pill. As a result, he had to seek Tsunade’s help, bringing the drug’s debut in the ninja world forward by over a decade.

“Orochimaru, I must remind you, given the senjutsu power residing within this boy, even the Awakening Heart Pill cannot completely suppress its side effects,” Tsunade said quietly, her gaze fixed on the sleeping Uchiha Shinji.

Orochimaru didn’t respond or even turn his head. Instead, he placed his hand on the Heaven Curse Mark and carefully examined his disciple’s condition.

Of course, he already knew this.

The pure Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave was not easily mastered. Even this weakened version, diluted through the curse mark, was perilous.

The closer one got to the "dragon," the greater the danger!

With his current level of expertise, Orochimaru was far from being able to fully decipher and harness this power.

However, Orochimaru suddenly narrowed his eyes, looked up at Tsunade, and asked in a low voice:

“Tsunade, don’t you think this mode resembles the relationship between tailed beasts and Jinchūriki? If he could master this sage power as one would perfect the Jinchūriki state, do you think it would be possible?”

Tsunade frowned slightly, then nodded after a moment’s thought.

“Yes, but to cultivate a perfect Jinchūriki state, one would need…”

Orochimaru straightened up, licking his lips faintly. Standing in Konoha’s hospital, he gazed out the window, toward the north, toward the Land of Lightning beyond Hell Valley.

A glint of greed flashed through his golden, snake-like eyes.

Orochimaru soon revealed a cold smile.

“What’s needed is Kumogakure’s Ryū Island!”

“On that island lies a peculiar place called the ‘Falls of Truth,’ capable of revealing one’s true self!”

Tsunade abruptly looked up at Orochimaru in shock.

“What… what are you planning to do?”

Orochimaru gave a ghostly smile as a mental map of the ninja world unfolded in his mind. His gaze locked onto Hell Valley.

From Hell Valley, Kumogakure could traverse the Land of Hot Springs to strike at Konoha’s core. Conversely, Konoha could also cross Hell Valley, pass through the vast plains of the Land of Frost, and march unimpeded to the gates of Kumogakure!

At that thought, Orochimaru chuckled darkly, licking his lips again.

“That place… belongs to me now!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 199: Innate Talent: Tailed Beast Physique! Vital Intelligence!*

When Uchiha Shinji regained consciousness, the headache he had suffered from had subsided considerably, and his thoughts gradually became clearer.

This newfound clarity allowed him to fully assess the condition of his body.

To put it simply, his entire body—except for his face—was now inscribed with sealing techniques.

Four Symbols Seal, Eight Trigrams Seal, Evil Sealing Method, Heavy Limbs Seal, Finger Engraving Seal, Four Black Snakes Binding...

And a whole bunch of other sealing techniques he couldn't even recognize.

After borrowing the Nine-Tails' chakra to unleash the Sage Art: Glorious Great Sword: Eight Million Gods' Suppression, he temporarily broke through to an entirely new realm.

That single strike had drained him of all his strength.

Even the immortal body's power, which locked his soul into his body to ensure continuous physical regeneration, had been partially consumed.

This left his body in a precarious state, akin to a leaky funnel losing energy.

The seals covering his body were there to lock in his dwindling vitality.

However, he couldn’t shake the feeling that these seals were applied haphazardly, like a desperate attempt to stabilize his condition. And truthfully, his situation might not be as dire as it appeared.

Uchiha Shinji immediately opened his status panel.

When he saw the words floating on the panel, his expression became rather peculiar:

*[Ding!]*

*[By bravely clashing with the Nine-Tails, Kurama, who sought to kill you, you have acquired a random ability from it: Talent: Tailed Beast Physique (S-).]*

*[Talent: Tailed Beast Physique (S-): Enables rapid chakra recovery, enhanced physical constitution, accelerated healing, increased chakra reserves, and the ability to share chakra.]*

*[Talent: Tailed Beast Physique (S-), Fire Release: Chakra Mode (A), Forbidden Technique: Physical Genesis (S), and Immortality (S-) have automatically combined to form a new ability: Pseudo-Tailed Beast Cloak.]*

*[Talent: Pseudo-Tailed Beast Cloak (S, Beginner): You can utilize vast amounts of chakra of any kind to form a tailed beast cloak. This cloak significantly enhances your resistance to damage and your ability to heal. Using chakra of different types will grant the cloak unique properties.]*

*[As long as you have enough chakra, you are now a genuine pseudo-jinchūriki!]*

*[Your Heart of Steel stacks have increased.]*

Uchiha Shinji could sense that this Tailed Beast Physique was generating a mystical energy within him. While this energy couldn’t directly be used for combat, it seemed to be compensating for the vital force his leaky body desperately needed.

This, perhaps, was what people referred to as vitality!  

The loss of vitality caused by the breach in his immortality was approximately in a 1:1.2 ratio compared to the vitality being replenished by this new power.

Moreover, with the various sealing techniques patching up the cracks in his immortality, it seemed that even without integrating Hashirama's cells, his vitality was gradually recovering.

To Uchiha Shinji, the most immediate sensation was a comforting warmth spreading through his body, akin to basking in the gentle sunlight of a winter morning.

The stiffness in his joints caused by genetic mutations from the curse seal, the hidden injuries from fierce battles, and the strain from overusing his eyes—all of it was being repaired under this mysterious power, as if he were soaking in a rejuvenating hot spring.

Additionally, his physical strength had visibly improved.

Unable to resist, Uchiha Shinji flexed his hardened chest muscles and admired his increasingly defined abs.

He felt like he could now face a speeding dump truck head-on, just like Madara might have once claimed.

“To all the opponents I’ve faced, none could surpass you in taijutsu!”

“I, Shinji, declare you the strongest!”

This time, though, he was confident he wouldn’t be flattened to death.

The thought brought an involuntary grin to his face.

After all, what true man wouldn’t relish the opportunity to tank a full-speed truck head-on with his bare face?

Just as he was lost in thought, a tall man with white hair and a forehead protector engraved with the kanji for "oil" suddenly leaned in close. His face was painted with red streaks running from his eyelids to his chin, and his expression was carefree.

With a hearty and melodic voice, he greeted Uchiha Shinji:

“Yo~!”

“Young man!”

“Were you dreaming about the soft and fragrant beauties of the Land of Hot Water?”

“That smile of yours has the look of someone who understands the finer things in life!”

“Uh, what?!” Startled, Uchiha Shinji instinctively recoiled and pushed the man’s face away with his palm, staring at him in shock.

“Wait a second… isn’t this Jiraiya?!”

“Alright, Jiraiya-sensei, let’s not tease him anymore,” another familiar, gentle voice interjected.

Turning his head, Uchiha Shinji saw Namikaze Minato lying on the adjacent hospital bed. His abdomen and forehead were wrapped in bandages as he skillfully peeled an apple with a small knife.

As expected of the fastest man in the ninja world, Minato had peeled the apple in one fluid motion, creating a perfectly shaped fruit.

Noticing Uchiha Shinji’s stunned gaze, Minato smiled warmly and tossed the apple over to him.

“The higher-ups originally planned for me to lead a highly dangerous mission in the Land of Hot Water...”

"However, given my current condition, according to Lady Tsunade, I’ll need at least three more months of recovery."

"So..."

Minato turned his head to look at him, his expression serious as he cautioned:

"Unless something unexpected happens, Shinji, you’re likely to be chosen for an extremely dangerous mission."

"This time, I won’t be there. You must be careful!"

As he spoke, Minato gritted his teeth, bent over slightly, and retrieved a Flying Thunder God kunai from the white cabinet beside the hospital bed.

He solemnly handed it to Uchiha Shinji.

"Also, take this. If you encounter a situation you can’t handle, make sure to send me a signal!"

"From Konoha to your mission location, it’ll only take me half an hour."

"I’ve already sent a shadow clone to leave markers along the route."

Minato’s gaze lingered on the sealing marks visible beneath Uchiha Shinji’s hospital gown. After learning from Lady Tsunade about the cost Uchiha Shinji paid to save him and Kushina—the price being the few remaining years of his life—both he and Kushina had fallen silent for a long time.

If only he had been able to form the Rasenshuriken just ten seconds faster, Shinji wouldn’t have had to resort to that life-consuming technique.

It was precisely because of this that, at this moment...

Minato looked deeply at Uchiha Shinji and made a solemn promise:

"This time, I won’t be too late again!"

Uchiha Shinji was slightly stunned but quickly smiled, accepting the kunai. Meeting Minato’s gaze, he responded with equal seriousness:

"I believe in you!"

At that moment...

Jiraiya shook his head with a faint smile, a look of exasperation on his face as he watched his student and Orochimaru’s disciple. He chuckled:

"Hey, hey, hey~"

"Is it really okay for you two to plot something this treasonous in front of me, a great Sannin?"

Hearing this, Minato scratched his head awkwardly, letting out a sheepish laugh.

"Come on, Jiraiya-sensei, you’d never do something like that!"

Jiraiya paused for a moment, his expression quickly turning serious as he looked at the just-awakened Uchiha Shinji and said in a low voice:

"Uchiha Shinji, I know it’s unpleasant to hear about a mission right after waking up."

"But based on the intelligence I’ve gathered for this mission..."

"I need to warn you—"

"Your enemies won’t just come from the Hidden Cloud."

"You need to be wary of two women!"

"The first is Chiyo from the Hidden Sand Village."

"The second is the newly risen genius kunoichi from the Hidden Mist Village—"

"Mei Terumi!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 200: The Secrets of Wood Release, A Hidden Danger!*

"Be cautious of Mei Terumi?"

Hearing Jiraiya’s words, Uchiha Shinji was stunned.

It wasn’t hard for him to understand why Chiyo might target him.

After all, he had killed Chiyo’s younger brother, Ebizo.

However, with Ebizo dead, Chiyo—one of the few remaining powerful figures in Sunagakure—would be needed on the frontlines.

At a time like this, how could she possibly appear in the Land of Hot Water?

But the other piece of information from Jiraiya’s mouth was even more bizarre—

*Be cautious of Mei Terumi?*

Just a month ago, Mei Terumi had fought alongside Uchiha Shinji as a teammate. The two, along with Hidan and Shinnō, had formed a team to eliminate the leader of the Cult of Jashin in the Land of Hot Water—a mission that was no small feat.

Though Mei Terumi possessed the unique dual Kekkei Genkai of the ninja world, Uchiha Shinji didn’t find her strength particularly remarkable during their time together.

Not only was she still young,

but her two Kekkei Genkai—Lava Release and Boil Release—didn’t seem impressive enough in conventional combat to match her "genius" reputation.

Based on his current strength, if they clashed, it was Mei Terumi who should be cautious, not him.

"I know this might be hard for you to believe, but never underestimate those two women," Jiraiya said, shaking his head.

He retrieved a scroll from a pouch tied to his waist.

"The situation in the Land of Hot Water is far more complicated than you realize."

"Take this and read it as we travel. For now—"

Jiraiya paused, as though sensing something, and looked toward the door.

At that moment—

Knock. Knock. Knock!  

A steady knocking sound came from outside the hospital room.

It didn’t seem like the person was asking for permission to enter but was merely announcing their arrival.

The door swung open,

and a man clad in a black cloak with a pair of stylish sunglasses and a purple marking on his right cheek stepped into the room.

It was none other than Aburame Ryoma, Uchiha Shinji’s superior, whom he hadn’t seen in some time.

Aburame Ryoma glanced at Uchiha Shinji lying on the hospital bed, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said indifferently:

"Looks like you’ve recovered well enough."

"Then come with me—"

"Ci, the Third Hokage wants to see you."

---

Meanwhile, in another location:

In a massive laboratory funded heavily by Orochimaru,

an elderly man, half-draped in a black cloak, with bandages covering his head and right eye, leaned on a cane with both hands and stood silently.

He stood behind Orochimaru, watching coldly as the latter dissected a Sunagakure spy captured by the Foundation right in front of him.

The materials for these experiments had been provided by the old man himself.

After a long while, seeing that Orochimaru was still engrossed in his work and ignoring him,

Shimura Danzo furrowed his brow and demanded coldly:

"Orochimaru, how much longer do you plan to waste your time on these fruitless experiments?"

"The events of seven years ago already proved that this method of incorporating Wood Release into the human body is utterly unfeasible."

"Stop this experiment immediately and focus on researching how to control the Sharingan for me! Then, join the battlefield, earn military merit, and claim the title of the Fourth Hokage. At that point, you can do whatever you desire!"

"You need to understand who has been supporting you all this time!"

Hearing this, Orochimaru calmly removed his blood-stained gloves. Without turning around, he replied in a raspy, amused tone:

"Tsk, tsk."

"What’s this? Danzo-sama, are you in such a hurry to move on to the next step?"

"Have you already implanted Wood Release? Is it Uchiha’s power that’s making you uneasy?"

"But it seems the Sharingan in your right eye is struggling to suppress that power."

"Which is why you’ve come to me."

"Heh, heh, heh."

Danzo’s expression remained unchanged, but his gaze betrayed a deep sense of wariness and confusion.

How could Orochimaru possibly know about this?

Danzo had only decided to undergo the Wood Release experiment after meeting Uchiha Shinji.

That day, he had summoned Uchiha Shinji,

intending to use force to take the tailed beast within him.

But the moment he laid eyes on the boy, Danzo immediately abandoned the idea.

Through the vision of his Sharingan hidden under the bandages on his right eye, Danzo observed that the boy’s eyes harbored an extraordinarily powerful force—

A chilling power entirely different from ordinary chakra and the Sharingan’s ocular abilities.

This power, coupled with the extreme capabilities of a jinchūriki, gave Danzo a sharp instinctive sense: *I am no match for him.*

A bead of sweat even trickled down his forehead.

Danzo had no idea what this power was, so he refrained from acting recklessly for the time being.

---

Upon seeing the fighting spirit in the eyes of the young Uchiha, who looked eager to challenge him to a fight right then and there, Danzo immediately changed his expression and opted for a different approach. He willingly handed over the Four Symbols Sealing Technique from the Root division.

Playing the role of a kind, benevolent elder in front of an evil little Uchiha nearly made Danzo sick to his stomach. Afterward, he promptly summoned the experts from the Root division to upgrade his own abilities.

Now, faced with Orochimaru’s exposure of his secrets, Danzo’s expression remained unchanged. He responded in a calm tone,

“Orochimaru, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh? You don’t?” Orochimaru chuckled darkly, his tone slow and deliberate.

“In that case, you should leave. I don’t have what you’re looking for here.”

“You can delay the process of woodification by replacing Sharingan eyes,” he continued.

“But…”

“How many Sharingan you can get your hands on—that depends entirely on the attitude of the Uchiha clan.”

“And as for whether I’m wasting my efforts…”

“Well, Danzo-sama, that depends on your sincerity, doesn’t it?”

Hearing these thinly veiled threats and blatant blackmail, Danzo’s expression finally shifted slightly. Only now, as Orochimaru explicitly pointed out that this was merely a stopgap solution, did Danzo become certain—Orochimaru must know something.

His face darkened as he fixed his cold gaze on Orochimaru and barked,

“Orochimaru! What have you done? How do you know all this?”

Orochimaru turned away, tossing his gloves into the trash. He let out a raspy chuckle, then looked back at the man called the "Darkness of the Shinobi" with an eerie calmness.

“Danzo-sama,” he said softly,

“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood something.”

“But that’s fine. Allow me to clarify—

“Right now, you’re the one begging me.”

Hearing this, Danzo nearly lost his composure. His expression turned extremely sour, and he spat out a single word,

“You—”

At that moment, Orochimaru’s gaze turned icy. His golden, snake-like eyes bore into Danzo, exuding an oppressive chill.

“Hand over that child named ‘Kai’ to me,” Orochimaru demanded.

“Otherwise… prepare to die.”

Danzo remained silent for a long while.

But at this point, Orochimaru held the key to a life-saving technology—something far beyond the capabilities of Danzo’s so-called experts in the Root division.

On top of that, with the Uchiha clan now enjoying a harmonious relationship with the village, Danzo found it increasingly difficult to act against them.

In the end, Danzo was forced to grit his teeth and suppress his anger. With a reluctant cold snort, he said,

“Hmph! You’d better deliver flawless results, Orochimaru.”

“Otherwise, you know the consequences!”

With that,

Bang!  

Danzo slammed the door shut and stormed out, seething with frustration.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru’s lips curled into a sinister, enigmatic smile.

He raised his hand, formed a seal, and summoned a small white snake. Handing it a pre-written scroll, he watched as it slithered silently toward the Hokage’s office.

(End of Chapter)