261-265

Chapter 261: The Incomplete Immortality and the Curse of Failure

Kimimaro was drenched in sweat. His arms ached, weak and sore.

Once again, he sighed inwardly, frustrated by how his young, undeveloped body was limiting his capabilities. In terms of martial arts skill, he could hold his own against Ogawara Uemon, but the vast difference in physical strength was too much to bridge. After just under ten minutes of fighting, his stamina was nearly spent.

Across from him, Ogawara Uemon had barely broken a sweat, showing only a light sheen on his forehead. His breathing remained steady, with no signs of fatigue.

Kimimaro saw his own shortcomings clearly—countless flaws and weaknesses. However, he was unaware of how others perceived him: to them, his talent and natural ability were absolutely top-notch. Ogawara Uemon, his current opponent, was particularly struck by this.

He felt like a failure.

After nearly ten minutes, he still hadn’t defeated this child. His confidence, his pride—they were crumbling. Despite his faults—cold-bloodedness, bloodthirstiness, and a love for fighting—he held swordsmanship in high regard, honing it to the level of an elite ninja. It was his singular devotion.

Yet today, his cherished swordsmanship was failing him against a child.

Being chased down by Mifune-sama like a rabbit didn’t faze him; evading the crazed followers of the Jashin cult didn’t trouble him. But to be held off by a child for nearly ten minutes? That was truly humiliating.

Five minutes in, he’d been cautious, keeping an eye on the backing Uchiha Itachi while sparring with Kimimaro. But as the five minutes passed without him landing a serious hit on Kimimaro, he grew angry. Ignoring Itachi and forgetting his objective to join up with Heike Kyokei, he focused all his energy on trying to take Kimimaro down quickly.

But it still didn’t work.

Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku, his bone-manipulating kekkei genkai, proved to be a formidable close-combat weapon. Each time Ogawara Uemon attempted a seemingly perfect strike at Kimimaro’s head, a bone would suddenly emerge, blocking his sword and allowing Kimimaro to launch a counterattack. Lacking strength, Kimimaro would compensate with speed, inflicting small wounds on Ogawara Uemon, hoping for a cumulative effect.

Though that was his aim, it wasn’t yielding the desired results.

Ogawara Uemon’s swordsmanship was highly refined, and while Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku made his attacks unpredictable, they were still often blocked. His speed was limited by his underdeveloped physique, so his strikes weren’t as effective.

Thus, the battle reached a strange stalemate.

Kimimaro, an orphan of the Kaguya clan with taijutsu barely at the level of an elite ninja, faced a warrior who had forsaken his homeland and pledged his faith to the Jashin deity. In many ways, they were well-matched opponents, neither hindered by genjutsu or ninjutsu distractions, focusing solely on their respective strengths.

Now, though, Kimimaro was reaching his limit. His underdeveloped body restricted his intake of chakra pills, and his chakra reserves were nearly depleted. Clenching his teeth, he resolved to make one last aggressive push, unable to drag things out any longer.

Gripping his bone sword tightly, Kimimaro lunged forward, aiming to get close to Ogawara Uemon and thrust his bone blade into his abdomen. Compared to Uemon’s towering frame of over six feet, Kimimaro’s height of barely 4'7" put him at a significant disadvantage.

But after nearly ten minutes of fighting, both knew each other’s fighting styles well.

As Kimimaro lunged, Uemon remained unruffled, raising his sword for a move called “Reverse Gut,” an upward slash aimed at an enemy’s abdomen—a cut reminiscent of a samurai’s ritual seppuku, only inflicted upon one’s enemy.

Clang!

As the katana met the bone sword, Kimimaro instantly released his grip, arching backward in a backbend with remarkable flexibility, narrowly dodging the blade that barely grazed his chin, sending shivers down his spine.

Even so, Kimimaro remained quick, delivering a kick toward Uemon’s left shin. From his sole, a sharp bone quietly protruded, piercing through his shoe. If it landed, it would leave a hole straight through Uemon’s shin.

Yet, in an instant, Uemon lifted his left leg into a one-legged stance, gracefully evading Kimimaro’s attack. Kimimaro couldn’t help feeling frustrated; his short height had both advantages and disadvantages. Had he been taller, he could have aimed for his opponent’s thigh or even his abdomen.

His attack had failed again.

Kimimaro withdrew a fresh bone sword from his arm, using his flexibility to ward off Uemon’s rapid strikes, retreating step by step until Uemon’s momentum dissipated. Their skirmish thus reached a temporary pause, returning them to their previous standoff.

But this time, Kimimaro’s condition was visibly deteriorating. He couldn’t avoid Uemon’s attacks perfectly, and the bones he summoned were appearing more slowly. Several shallow cuts marred his arms, while Uemon’s blade glinted in the morning light, glowing a golden-red.

Under the watchful eyes of Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro, Ogawara Uemon then did something unsettling.

He suddenly licked the blade, tasting the blood. Kimimaro shivered—what kind of twisted hobby was that? But his next action made it clear it was more than just a disturbing quirk.

Ogawara Uemon slit his own wrist, severing his artery. Blood poured onto the ground like a fountain.

Using his foot as a brush and blood as ink, he quickly drew a symbol—a circle with a triangle inside, the mark of the Jashin cult. Judging by his swift strokes, he’d practiced drawing circles with his foot frequently.

“Playtime is over. Now... let the ritual begin!”

Ogawara Uemon raised his katana again, licking the blood that belonged to Kimimaro from the blade's tip. In that moment, his body transformed, turning jet black with white patterns appearing on his skin below the neck. His head remained unchanged.

“What... is that?”

Kimimaro's eyes widened.

His instincts screamed of an overwhelming, indescribable threat that demanded he stop Uemon immediately, regardless of what he was about to do. Acting on pure instinct, Kimimaro lunged forward, swinging his bone blade viciously toward Uemon’s chest.

Just as Kimimaro expected, Uemon raised his katana to block the attack.

However—

Contrary to expectations, Uemon seemed to lose all his strength as if paralyzed. The katana and bone blade collided, but Uemon's sword was easily deflected. Kimimaro’s blade pierced toward Uemon’s chest—yet despite the impending blow, Uemon's face showed no fear, his gaze fixed on Kimimaro as if staring at a dead man.

Something was wrong. A feeling of confusion clouded Kimimaro’s mind.

But there was no time to think. His blade had already pierced Uemon’s left chest, and at that moment, he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his own chest.

Just then, in the corner of his eye, Kimimaro saw a shadow appear beside him. Pain shot through his abdomen as a tremendous force struck him, bending him over like a shrimp. He released his grip on his bone blade, which had yet to deeply pierce Uemon’s chest, and was sent flying backward like a severed kite.

As he flew through the air, Kimimaro struggled against the pain to open his eyes, seeing through tears that his attacker was none other than Itachi Uchiha.

“Damn it!”

Ogawara Uemon was both shocked and enraged. He was so close, and Itachi had ruined his plan at the last moment. He reached out with his left hand, grabbing the falling bone blade and drove it toward his own chest, determined to complete Kimimaro's unfinished strike.

“Don’t even think about it.”

Itachi met Uemon’s gaze, and then… nothing. Some warriors could withstand the Uchiha’s genjutsu, but Uemon clearly wasn’t one of them.

*Demonic Illusion: Shackles of Despair*

In Uemon’s illusionary world, his body was pinned to the spot by thick metal stakes. Other than his eyes and lips, his body was paralyzed, unable to move.

“What… what did you do to me?!” Uemon shouted, furious.

Itachi didn’t bother to answer. His eyes fell on the symbol drawn on the ground in blood. He formed a hand seal and used *Water Style: Water Fang Bullet* to shatter the symbol, washing away the fresh blood that hadn’t yet dried.

Seconds later, Uemon’s body returned to normal, the black-and-white patterns vanishing as if from a dream.

“Kimimaro, are you alright?”

Itachi quickly moved to Kimimaro, apologetically helping him up. “I’m sorry—I reacted too slowly and couldn’t think of a better solution in the moment. I had to kick you away.”

“If anything, I should be thanking you for saving my life!”

Kimimaro took a breath, steadying himself with Itachi’s help. He lifted his shirt to inspect the wound on his left chest, a small but bloody injury. “How… did he do this?”

“Judging by his actions—the blood on the blade, drawing on the ground, saying ‘start the ritual’—I think it was some sort of technique to reflect or share injuries.”

“…I nearly fell for it. I’m lucky you were here.”

Kimimaro fell silent for a few seconds, shaken by the bizarre technique. He also reproached himself for overlooking the strange behavior, realizing that without Itachi, he might already be dead.

“I only saw things more clearly as an observer. If it had been me facing him first, I doubt I’d have figured it out that quickly.”

Itachi spoke humbly as usual.

Kimimaro didn’t argue, though he thought to himself that with Itachi’s Sharingan, he’d likely have defeated Uemon in a single exchange. The Uchiha’s visual prowess was overwhelmingly powerful and often made raw strength or destructive ninjutsu irrelevant, easily turning enemies into helpless targets.

It wouldn’t have been the protracted struggle he’d endured, barely escaping with his life. How humiliating!

But some things couldn’t be helped. Instead of envying the Sharingan, he resolved to work harder on improving his own Kekkai Genkai, the Shikotsumyaku.

“So… what should we do next?”

Kimimaro glanced at Uemon, who was still trapped in the genjutsu, and asked quietly.

“Keep an eye on him. We’ll wait—Senior Toratsuro already sent a signal for reinforcements, and they should arrive soon. But your injury… Are you sure you’re alright? If not, I could take you to a hospital first,” Itachi said, concern evident in his expression.

Thanks to Itachi’s intervention, Kimimaro hadn’t sustained a fatal wound to his chest, but the tip of the blade had penetrated. The wound appeared shallow, but its depth was unclear—and it was dangerously close to the heart, where even minor errors could prove fatal.

“I’m fine for now; running all the way to the hospital would be more taxing. Reinforcements will have a medical-nin.”

“…True.”

Itachi agreed, helping Kimimaro sit against a relatively intact wall.

Keeping one eye on Kimimaro’s condition and another on Uemon for any sign of breaking free from the genjutsu, Itachi stayed alert for any additional enemies, mentally urging the reinforcements to arrive soon.

Finally, after a grueling minute and twenty-nine seconds, they arrived.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 262: The Akatsuki Needs More Personnel*

The first wave of reinforcements was led by Uchiha Yachou, Deputy Director of the Police Department's Security Division, who brought a twenty-man combat unit. However, to the disappointment of Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro, there were no medical ninja among them. Uchiha Yachou had prepared for a tough battle but found upon arrival that there was no fight to be had.

After surveying the scene, Yachou radioed the remaining backup, ordering a medical team to arrive ahead of the second wave. They conducted a thorough check on Kimimaro and quickly provided a report that allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Kimimaro’s injuries weren’t severe. The wound on his chest hadn’t reached any organs, and the medical ninja assured that with some rest, he’d be back to normal in just a couple of days.

Of course, Kimimaro’s situation was minor in Yachou’s view. The real problem lay before her: in the secret room under the destroyed tea house, she saw a pile of corpses arranged in what looked like an altar, alongside disturbing evidence reported by Uchiha Itachi—was this another forbidden jutsu case, similar to the Orochimaru incident?

But that wasn’t all.

She ordered contact with the envoy, only to receive news of his murder.

“What? The envoy is dead? Are you certain?”

Yachou pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling the weight of the situation.

“Yes, I saw the body. I checked against his photo. If he doesn’t have a twin brother, then it’s him.” Her subordinate responded grimly.

“The envoy…is dead.”

Yachou took a deep breath, her expression darkening, as she quickly ordered, “Lock down the envoy’s residence. No one gets in or out without authorization. Have the second wave hurry up. Also, contact the clan head and report this immediately…”

The Police Department agents scrambled to carry out her orders. Aside from the injured Kimimaro, Yachou also mobilized Itachi and Torajiro’s squad to assist, as the envoy residence was expansive and required a large team to secure it fully.

“Deputy Director, one more thing.”

The reporting officer hesitated until they were alone.

“What is it?”

“The envoy’s body was first discovered by his deputy, who insists it was the envoy’s bodyguard leader, Ogata Uemon, who killed him. But...the body, though decapitated, didn’t look like it was cut by a blade. And the envoy’s brain and heart were missing when I checked.”

Today was proving to be a nightmare. One death wasn’t a big deal, but the envoy sent by the daimyo to Konoha? That was huge.

“Damn it!” Yachou scowled.

She had suspected the envoy’s involvement in this affair from the start. Still, given his connection to the daimyo, she hadn’t rushed to apprehend him, intending instead to track his movements first. Handling this would likely require the Hokage’s approval.

But now the envoy was dead.

And based on her subordinate’s report, there were some strange circumstances around his death.

Guided by her team, Yachou arrived at the crime scene. The envoy’s body lay face-down, motionless. The top of his head and his back each had a gaping hole where his brain and heart had been removed. The envoy’s personal guards had also been killed at another location.

“Looks like the killer dealt with the guards first, who were likely left to buy time for the envoy’s escape, then caught up with the fleeing envoy near the tea house, attacking from behind and decapitating him—with a hand strike.”

Yachou observed the scene, easily piecing together the massacre.

Yet—

The wounds on the bodies and traces at the scene suggested a ninja, not a samurai, had been responsible. This pointed to…certain suspicions.

“Detain all necessary individuals. For now, we await the director’s orders.” After some thought, Yachou chose not to alter her directive. This was out of her hands, and her best course was to secure the area and wait for further instructions.

This case involved the daimyo’s envoy, making it far from an ordinary case. As a mere deputy in the Police Department, Yachou couldn’t handle a case of this magnitude.

---

“Captain, Kabuto, something big must have happened, right? Did we…get ourselves into some huge trouble?” Uchiha Izumi sensed the tension in the air as they carried out their task of securing the envoy residence.

With a growing sense of foreboding, Izumi began to worry that they might have inadvertently triggered a massive incident.

“It’ll be fine,” Kabuto reassured her. “Don’t worry, Izumi. The director authorized us to investigate this case. We were just doing our duty. Plus, we saved survivors from that underground room. We did nothing wrong. Just relax.”

“Kabuto’s right.” Uchiha Torajiro added, “We’re just doing our job. Breaking a big case like this might even earn us a reward!”

“I’ll pass on any reward—just hope we don’t get in trouble.” Izumi remained apprehensive. Sensitive and thoughtful, she couldn’t help overthinking possible consequences.

Torajiro and Kabuto tried to comfort her, though their words didn’t fully ease her worries. But she seemed only mildly distressed, and they hoped she’d return to her usual self once this incident settled down.

After all, time was a powerful healer; everything eventually passes.

---

After executing Uemon, Hama didn’t bother with his fate. He returned leisurely to his study, spread open a sheet of paper, picked up his brush, and began writing a confidential letter—one meant for the Fire Daimyo.

In the letter, he detailed the events leading up to the incident and the aftermath, though he omitted the part involving the masked man. He even admitted to personally killing Taira no Miyashita, explaining his reasons and asking the daimyo for forgiveness, requesting punishment.

After finishing the letter, he used the direct communication line between the embassy and the daimyo's residence. He sent the letter through the highest security measures, bypassing even the blockade order issued by Uchiha Yachou over the embassy, ensuring no one dared intercept or spy on the confidential message.

Spying on it might have provided some intelligence, but any information obtained that way couldn’t be openly used, and attempting it would bring the wrath and distrust of nobles. No one likes their secrets exposed, especially by such methods.

"Is this enough?"

Uchiha Obito appeared silently in the study, hands behind his back, looking up at the famous calligraphy on the wall as he spoke to Homa. "Are you sure the village will pin all the blame on Ogawara Yemon?"

"I'm not sure, obviously. I can’t read Konoha leadership's minds," Homa glanced at Obito, restraining himself from lashing out at the intruder in his study.

"Aren't you worried that Konoha will take you down?"

Obito knew it was a bit of a foolish question, but he still voiced it.

"Take me down? What grounds would they have? I haven’t killed a single Konoha ninja. Even if someone were to take action against me, it wouldn't be Konoha’s place. If they ignore the daimyo's will and target me, so much the better. It’ll reveal Konoha’s true face to the daimyo and those fooled by their false virtue. That wouldn’t be a bad outcome."

"But it’s unlikely Konoha would be foolish enough to make that choice," Homa sighed in mild disappointment.

Attempting to place Konoha under the daimyo’s direct control isn’t easy. Many influential nobles strongly oppose the idea, so even if the daimyo were willing, appeasing those nobles means maintaining the “one nation, one village” policy, which they see as the foundation of the Land of Fire.

"Naive!" Obito mocked.

"What did you say?" Homa’s gaze turned icy.

"I said you're naive. Do you expect the daimyo or those nobles to actively oppose Konoha? They’re fully aware Konoha is a military power outside the daimyo’s control, but they also know they’re no match for Konoha. As long as Konoha remains strong, the daimyo won’t dare act, even if Konoha executed you."

Obito’s words were like knives, exposing truths Homa preferred to ignore.

Though Homa’s stare grew colder, he held back his anger, only watching Obito coolly.

"It wouldn't make a difference. Even if Taira no Miyashita, the official emissary, were killed by Konoha ninjas, the daimyo wouldn’t risk a confrontation with Konoha. He couldn’t bear the consequences. At most, he’d feel a grudge—but what could he do? Hurt Konoha in any way?"

"Stop deceiving yourself, Homa. Trying to bring Konoha under the daimyo’s control peacefully is impossible, and you know it. For the daimyo to become the absolute ruler, military force will be required. Yet… the truth is that your strength alone isn’t enough to contend with Konoha."

"So I have to cooperate with you?" Homa sneered.

"Yes, working with me is your best option," Obito replied without hesitation.

"…Then tell me your identity! I can’t trust someone who hides their face."

"You've already guessed, haven’t you?"

Beneath the mask, a single scarlet eye gleamed with an eerie light.

"So, you’re saying you're Uchiha Madara? Then I could put on a mask and claim to be Senju Hashirama," Homa retorted skeptically.

"Let’s not kid ourselves, Homa. I don't need to prove anything to you. Just because I want your cooperation doesn’t mean you're indispensable. Your companions might not be as reputable as you, but if they can give Konoha any trouble, that’s enough for me."

Obito spoke casually, unfazed by the sudden surge of killing intent in Homa’s eyes or his attack.

As Homa threw a kunai, Obito didn’t dodge; it simply passed through his mask as if through an illusion, embedding in the wall behind him.

"An illusion? Or some forbidden jutsu?" Homa tensed, unsure how his kunai was avoided. It didn’t look like a space-time technique since there wasn’t even a split second of disappearance—Obito stood still the whole time.

He speculated it might be some unknown forbidden technique, akin to the Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki Clan in the Mist, which lets users evade most physical attacks perfectly.

"Homa, you'll come to understand. You and your friends alone are no match for Konoha. Cooperation with me is your best course. Next time we meet… it’ll be the start of our collaboration." Obito took a deep look at Homa.

For now, that was enough.

These recent exchanges were sufficient groundwork; now, Homa just needed to experience a setback. Then, convincing him would be easier. Meanwhile, Obito could focus on recruiting more allies—the Akatsuki still needed more manpower. Homa alone wouldn’t suffice!

*Chapter 263: Daimyo Palace, Forbidden Book Library*

54th Year of the Konoha Calendar

At the end of February, a shocking incident shook Konoha Village. The special envoy from the Daimyo's palace, Saikei Hiraimiya, was assassinated within the envoy residence. This explosive news spread like wildfire, stirring the waters of the Land of Fire with turbulent undercurrents... or so it seemed.

However, before any upheaval could truly take hold, the Daimyo’s official response quickly dispelled the tension. The Daimyo, in a swift move, reached out to the Fifth Hokage, expressing regret over his poor judgment in appointing the envoy. He offered a generous sum to compensate the envoy’s family, recalled his deputy envoy and other staff from the residence, and sent a fresh team to Konoha.

Even the Hiraimiya family—a notable and prestigious clan in the Land of Fire—opened their doors to allow Konoha’s shinobi to conduct a thorough search, confiscating or destroying any remnants of artifacts related to the Jashin cult left by Hiraimiya Saikei and his subordinate Ogawara Emon.

Beneath the surface, however, the covert division, known as the "Hunter Unit," sharpened their claws and began a mission to track down and investigate the Jashin cult across the borders in the Land of Hot Water.

And with that… the matter was closed.

The world continued as usual. Konoha’s shinobi remained active throughout the ninja world; the noble families of the Daimyo’s court indulged in their pleasures. Cherry blossoms of spring withered, and summer’s cicadas filled the air with their calls. By the end of May, time had quietly slipped away.

---

“Damn noisy things.”

Kazuma flung a shuriken, silencing a cicada perched on a cherry tree in the courtyard. Yet his peace was short-lived; the trees around the palace grounds were thick with cicadas, and their relentless calls filled the air. His throw merely subdued the nearby noise, leaving the distant hum lingering in his ears.

“Kazuma, what’s been going on with you lately? Losing your temper so easily… you can’t even control your emotions anymore?”

In the hallway, Kazuma walked alongside another figure.

“You’re still hung up on that incident?” the man asked.

“Forget? Why would I? Konoha overstepped by demanding that His Excellency, the Daimyo, apologize. It’s an outrageous insult! Asuma, aren’t you, as a servant of His Excellency, ashamed?” Kazuma’s cold gaze fell on his companion.

“Asuma shook his head, disagreeing. "Ashamed? Kazuma, you’re overreacting! There’s no need to take it so far.”

“Oh? So, your heart still lies with Konoha?”

“I am a Konoha shinobi by nature. And, to be clear, I’m only speaking on the matter at hand. It’s you, Kazuma—you’ve blinded yourself with resentment to the point where anything related to Konoha annoys you.”

“Hah!” Kazuma scoffed. “You claim to be a Konoha shinobi, yet your own father, your family, was betrayed by Konoha. Your father led Konoha to greatness, but he’s the only Hokage in history to be overthrown and die mysteriously. Most of your clan perished on the battlefield. And yet… you still consider yourself a Konoha shinobi?”

The words sliced into Asuma Sarutobi’s deepest wound, forcing a pain he had tried to numb for so long to resurface.

Since his father’s burial, he had left Konoha and had not returned for almost a year.

“Kazuma! You’re asking for a fight!” Asuma halted, glaring fiercely at Kazuma, his eyes storming with barely restrained fury.

“No courage to confront the real culprits, so you’re picking a fight with me? Is this all you have in you, Asuma?”

Kazuma sneered, facing Asuma without fear and continuing, “Come on, show me how far your Wind Release techniques have come. Let’s see if you can shatter my hardening technique.”

“You’re no different.”

Asuma did not engage physically, mindful that this was the Daimyo’s palace—a place where fighting was strictly forbidden. But refraining from violence didn’t mean he would let this slide. “If you’re so disgusted with Konoha, why don’t you just go after them yourself? Why brood about it every day?”

“To handle foreign threats, one must first have internal stability. Without you and Diraku in my way, I would’ve acted long ago.”

Kazuma’s expression darkened.

“Hah!”

Asuma gave a derisive snort.

“If you can’t even handle me and Diraku, spare yourself the trouble of fantasizing about fighting Konoha. It’ll get you killed.”

“So, you’ve resigned yourself to be helpless against those who overthrew your father, then? Doesn’t matter that he might be weeping in the afterlife, huh? Haha, having such a weak-willed son is truly the misfortune of the Third Hokage!”

This barrage of words made the veins in Asuma’s forehead throb. He had to muster every ounce of restraint not to strike right there.

“Kazuma, this is the last time. If you bring my father into this again, you won’t walk away unscathed.” With a final warning, Asuma turned to leave, his pent-up anger almost visible, simmering beneath his brow like a volcano.

Watching Asuma’s retreating figure, the fury on Kazuma’s face gradually faded, replaced by a slight smirk, which quickly returned to his usual impassive expression.

Not entirely untouchable after all.

If there was a chink in his armor, then there was a chance to deal with Asuma without resorting to violence—or, potentially, even persuade Asuma to join their side. Even if he couldn’t win him over, keeping Asuma and his moderate faction from interfering with their plans would be a success.

To handle foreign threats, one must first secure internal stability.

Kazuma’s intentions were genuine.

Among the Daimyo’s elite Guardian Twelve, a rift had developed due to ideological differences. Asuma led the moderates, believing the Hokage and Konoha held their place and significance. In contrast, Kazuma led the radicals, who felt the Daimyo should control the power of the shinobi directly, with Konoha’s authority under the Daimyo, rendering the Hokage redundant.

The factions had clashed repeatedly, though, to date, they had restrained themselves, limiting conflicts to verbal spats alone.

The reason for this is that neither faction is fully confident they can overpower the other. If an all-out conflict erupts, neither side is likely to claim a decisive victory; any success would be a pyrrhic one at best, and mutual destruction is a real possibility.

That’s why Kazuma prefers to avoid using force to settle things with Asuma Sarutobi and the moderate faction. Even if he could defeat them, his remaining power wouldn’t be enough to pose any real threat to Konoha. However, if he could win the moderates over to his side, it would greatly enhance his chances of destroying Konoha.

The four members of the moderate faction specialize in a terrifying, destructive Lightning Release forbidden technique.

That kind of devastating power…

Kazuma couldn’t help but covet it.

In the split between the Twelve Guardian Ninja, the radicals generally hold the advantage in one-on-one combat skills over the moderates. In a direct clash, only Asuma Sarutobi and Chiriku could likely match the radicals’ attacks without being outmatched.

However, the moderates’ Lightning Release technique could wipe out the radicals if fully deployed.

Of course, this technique has significant limitations and isn’t perfect, and Kazuma is grateful for that imperfection. If not for its severe limitations, the moderates, for the sake of maintaining stability, might have wiped out the radicals long ago—their conflict has been simmering for some time now.

"Still… relying on others is too uncertain; ultimately, I have to depend on myself."

Kazuma couldn’t forget how freely the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha had entered and exited his residence, leaving him with an unsettling feeling of helplessness. Kazuma desperately wanted to become stronger, so if he ever met someone like that again, he wouldn’t be paralyzed with fear.

"Forbidden techniques, secret arts… what should I do?!"

Kazuma walked back, mulling over how he could grow stronger.

Taijutsu wasn’t an option—he had already honed his body to the peak of its limits. The room for further advancement was slim unless he found some technique that could unlock the body's potential, but such techniques were rare, and even the archives didn’t contain many.

Genjutsu was out as well;

he simply lacked talent in that area.

After much thought, he concluded that ninjutsu was his best bet. Focusing on his forte, Earth Release, offered the most potential for strengthening himself. If he remembered correctly, there was an Earth Release forbidden technique in the archives. Once the thought struck him, he couldn’t resist; he immediately changed course, heading for the forbidden archives deep within the mansion.

When he reached the entrance to the archives,

Kazuma noticed a fellow agent standing guard, with hidden presences monitoring the area. It dawned on him that he couldn’t enter without authorization from the daimyo. This archive held forbidden techniques, secret arts, and other materials collected by past Fire Country daimyos from all across the Shinobi World.

It was this forbidden archive that upheld the strength of the Daimyo’s Intelligence Bureau.

Kazuma stood at the entrance, hesitating—should he request authorization from the daimyo, or simply head back?

As for forcing his way in or sneaking past,

that was out of the question.

"Kazuma?"

Just as he was about to turn back, someone emerged from the archive.

"Yabe-sensei, long time no see."

Seeing who it was, Kazuma halted and politely greeted him.

The man, Yabe Saburo, was a large, one-eyed elder with a deep scar across his face—a veteran member of the Bureau and one of its founding agents. He had even trained Kazuma and others in their early days, but as he aged, he retired from training newcomers and was assigned to guard the archive by the daimyo himself.

"Kazuma, are you here to study forbidden techniques?"

Yabe asked bluntly.

"Recently, I’ve felt a need to overcome my own limitations, so yes, I’d like to try learning a forbidden technique. But I just realized that I don’t have permission from the daimyo…”

“Come in with me!” Yabe gestured.

“Huh?”

Kazuma froze, caught off guard.

“Why are you standing there? If you want to study a forbidden technique, come in already.”

“But… I haven’t gotten permission…”

“The daimyo granted permission a while ago,” Yabe said impatiently, grabbing Kazuma and pulling him in. “Two months ago, the daimyo told me you’re driven and ambitious and would probably come to study the forbidden techniques. He said to let you in if I saw you. Frankly, if I hadn’t personally brought you in from the orphanage, I’d think you were his son!”

“Two months ago?”

That would be not long after he returned from Konoha. As Yabe pulled him along like a puppet, Kazuma felt a wave of emotion.

So the daimyo had granted this permission two months ago?

Such a favor!

A surge of loyalty filled him—he wanted nothing more than to rush to Konoha, eliminate the Hokage, and help the daimyo consolidate his power to rule the Fire Country completely.

“…Also, remember the rules here: only you have access to this archive. No bringing others in, and no sharing any forbidden techniques you learn here. When you leave, a seal will be placed in your memory as a safeguard… Kazuma, are you listening?” Yabe’s stern voice interrupted Kazuma’s drifting thoughts.

“Oh! Yes, Yabe-sensei, I’m listening. I won’t break any rules.”

Kazuma rubbed his ringing ear.

“Good, good. This is the archive where we’ve stored all forbidden techniques and secret arts collected over the years. You can study them all; there’s no time limit, and the daimyo has granted you unrestricted access. Though, honestly, it won’t take long to go through everything here.”

At the center of the room was a four-level bookshelf with numerous small compartments, each holding a single scroll, although many compartments were empty. The Fire Country daimyo’s efforts to collect forbidden and secret arts over the years had yielded only a modest collection—barely enough to fill one bookshelf.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 264: The Ultimate Creation Technique*

The Forbidden Scroll Library looked barren enough to starve a rat, but to be honest, the quantity of forbidden and secret techniques stored here would be hard for even Hidden Villages like Takigakure and Amegakure to match. After all, aside from the Leaf Village with grandmasters like the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who had pioneered the development of forbidden jutsu, other villages were quite limited in the number of such techniques they possessed.

As for secret techniques, they were even rarer than forbidden ones. Like bloodline limit abilities, they were passed down only within clans and never shared outside of them. Forbidden techniques, with some cost, could occasionally be learned, but acquiring a secret technique usually required brute force or was nearly impossible to obtain.

“Do you have a target in mind, Kazuma?”

Genpachiro asked from his spot beside the bookshelf.

“I want to try learning that Earth Release forbidden technique.”

There was only one Earth Release forbidden technique in the library, which Kazuma knew of but had never been able to access until now. His knowledge of it was limited to the fact that it existed—he didn’t even know its name.

“Oh, that one, huh…” Genpachiro wasn’t surprised by Kazuma’s answer but reacted with a somewhat hesitant expression as he carefully handed him a dark yellow scroll. “Take a look for yourself. It’s a rather cruel jutsu, one that could easily be met with opposition. If you manage to learn it, be sure not to reveal your true identity when using it.”

Kazuma froze, surprised.

Was this technique really so controversial?

It was well known that forbidden techniques were labeled as such for generally three reasons. The first reason was that they inflicted severe harm on the user, often falling under the “if I die, you’re coming with me” category, with some leading to mutual destruction. The second reason was a violation of basic ethics, the kinds of jutsu that could cause public outrage—like the infamous Reanimation Jutsu. The Second Hokage had ruined his reputation across the ninja world due to this technique, and the Human Puppet Technique of Sasori of the Red Sand was similarly despised. The third category encompassed techniques that were simply too destructive to control, putting innocents at risk.

“Earth Release: Ultimate Creation Technique – Soil of the Dead?”

Kazuma glanced at the introductory section, rendered speechless.

No wonder this was labeled a forbidden technique. Using soil infused with the bodies of the dead was highly offensive. If people discovered this, the families of the dead would surely seek vengeance. No wonder Genpachiro had warned him to keep his identity concealed if he ever used it.

This jutsu required preparing soil containing preserved corpses, kept relatively intact to avoid extensive decay. The corpses could only be revived once, as further damage would make them irretrievable. In a sense, this jutsu was like a weaker version of the Reanimation Jutsu.

It shared a disregard for ethics and was less effective than the Reanimation Jutsu in every way.

Overall, it was lackluster.

It was entirely different from the kind of forbidden technique Kazuma had been hoping to find. He wanted something with massive destructive power, not something so morally ambiguous and with such limited use.

It was awkward—too weak to call impressive, but with some limited utility.

“Genpachiro-senpai, may I look at other forbidden techniques?” Kazuma was reluctant to give up and wanted to see if there were other techniques in the library that might better suit his needs.

“Sure, go ahead. Just be careful not to damage or dirty the scrolls.”

Genpachiro settled into a chair in the corner, leisurely sipping tea and reading a novel.

Kazuma, meanwhile, eagerly browsed through the forbidden techniques on the shelves. Time flew by.

By sunset, he reluctantly put down the last scroll. There were indeed some powerful forbidden techniques, but they didn’t align with his nature. Techniques like Lightning Release were beyond his reach since his chakra nature was Earth, with Wind being the secondary one he developed. He had no affinity for Lightning Release.

Various other forbidden techniques caught his eye, but none seemed as practically useful as the "Earth Release: Ultimate Creation Technique – Soil of the Dead."

“Nothing of interest?” Genpachiro asked, noticing Kazuma’s disappointed expression.

“I couldn’t find anything that really suited me, so it seems I’ll have to stick with this Earth Release technique,” Kazuma replied, waving the dark yellow scroll Genpachiro had initially handed him. “I’ll try it out and see if I can master it.”

“You’ll need to read it here. Afterward, I’ll place a seal on your memory,” Genpachiro said.

“Understood.”

Kazuma sat across from Genpachiro and opened the scroll. Glancing around, he noticed a thin book titled Compilation of Forbidden Techniques lying on the corner of the table. Curious, he picked it up. “What’s this?”

“Oh, that,” Genpachiro glanced up from his book. “That’s a record compiled while gathering forbidden and secret techniques from around the world. Most of the ones listed have already been acquired, and the rest are probably out of reach. Just a way to pass the time now.”

“Got it,” Kazuma murmured.

Flipping through it, he found mention of the Earth Release: Soil of the Dead technique, with detailed notes indicating it originated from the Tsuchiyama clan of the Land of Rivers, with a “medium” acquisition difficulty.

However, as he skimmed further, he noticed a few forbidden techniques not in the library. One, in particular, held his attention for a long time.

---

At a hidden chamber beneath the Naka Shrine in the Leaf Village, Sougen pushed open the lab door just as a resounding crash echoed through the room. A monstrous half-man, half-tree creature broke free from its iron cage and charged at him like a runaway freight train.

“Sasori, planning a mutiny?” Sougen asked, stepping lightly as black curse marks coiled out like serpents, spiraling up the creature’s root-covered legs and instantly freezing it in place. The momentum sent the creature crashing to the ground at his feet, immobilized like a defeated animal.

The technique was known as—

*Curse Mark: Binding Curse of Karma.*

Subduing this mindless beast was easy enough, but Sougen didn’t want to risk damaging it, as it was a valuable experimental subject. After a split-second decision, he opted for the curse mark he had acquired from Danzo.

“This was an accident; your accusations are baseless,” Sasori replied coolly, clutching a record book as he began noting the creature’s responses.

“An accident… So no progress?” Sougen raised an eyebrow.

“Another ridiculous question. The experiment improves daily. This subject lasted two hours and seventeen minutes before the transformation and loss of control occurred. But never mind, you wouldn’t understand. Just know that the experiment is going well.”

Sasori shot Sougen a contemptuous look.

“You know you’re my prisoner, right?” Sougen replied.

“Yes, but you need me for this experiment, don’t you?” Sasori retorted, noting Sougen’s silence. “Instead of your usual useless questions, get me new materials soon. I’m running out of subjects.”

“But didn’t I bring you twenty new subjects just last week?”

Sougen glared over.

"So, as I was saying! We're running low—only three bodies left. If we don’t restock soon, the experiment’s progress will inevitably slow down," Scorpion remarked calmly.

“Fine! The materials will be delivered tonight, at the latest tomorrow.”

Sougen shook his head reluctantly.

Luckily, there were still quite a few death row inmates in the Konoha prison. But to be safe, he still planned to organize a team to gather experimental materials. After all, Konoha’s death row inmates weren't limitless, and Scorpion went through materials alarmingly fast.

“Also, about that, when can I borrow the Amber Purifying Pot for my research?”

Scorpion hadn’t forgotten Sougen’s earlier promise.

He’d coveted that ninja tool of Sougen's for some time. As a puppet master, Scorpion’s puppets were, strictly speaking, also ninja tools—just with a more unique form. Therefore, he was highly interested in ninja tools like the Amber Purifying Pot, which had mysterious abilities.

To be honest, he had reached a bottleneck with human-puppet techniques, where progress seemed almost impossible.

If he wanted to become stronger, making breakthroughs in human-puppet techniques in the next few years probably wasn't feasible. Just then, he noticed the various mysterious ninja tools that Sougen wielded, which expanded his thinking instantly. If he could learn the secrets of crafting such tools, his puppets would undoubtedly grow much stronger!

“I told you before, once you deliver some truly valuable research results, I’ll lend you the Amber Purifying Pot. Heck, I’ll even let you study the Flame Fan for a bit. But what have you shown me so far? Nothing yet. Get back to work.”

Sougen didn't mind if Scorpion pushed boundaries a bit with his words.

Scientists are like that!

With quirks that are sometimes unusual, Sougen gave Scorpion a lot of leeway in his boldness to drive his initiative and bring out that brilliant mind. But, if Scorpion seriously thought he could take advantage, Sougen would consider changing tactics—harsh control was always an option.

“Hmph!”

Scorpion didn’t respond, burying himself back into his work.

Sougen was also glad for the quiet. As the Uchiha clan leader, head of the police force, and Hokage assistant, he had plenty on his plate. Visiting the lab daily had only recently become a habit—to keep track of experimental progress and keep Scorpion in check, warning him not to get any ideas.

He knew very well:

Scorpion hadn’t entirely given up on escaping.

He looked obedient and immersed in his work now, but Sougen didn’t believe he’d stay if given a real shot at escape.

“So, Taro, how are things going?”

Sougen turned to speak with Uchiha Akitaro, Scorpion’s assistant.

Scorpion was clearly the lead in the safe transplantation experiments of White Zetsu cells, but Sougen wouldn’t blindly trust him to handle the research entirely. He had assigned Uchiha Akitaro, Uchiha Jun, and a few other loyal subordinates to rotate as Scorpion’s assistants. Technically, they were his assistants, but "overseer" was a more accurate title.

“Nothing suspicious so far.”

Uchiha Akitaro rubbed his temples. “I don’t understand any of this research stuff, but I’ve been monitoring his every move, and if there’s anything unusual, I’ll note it down. So far, he seems pretty well-behaved.”

“Well, don’t let your guard down.”

“Don’t forget what I told you before—the Third Kazekage was killed by that guy.”

“I know, it’s just...honestly, this research work is completely beyond me!”

“Well, do your best! If things get unmanageable, remember that protecting yourself is your top priority.”

Sougen gave a few more reminders before leaving the lab and heading to the police department. Recently, the village had been busy with intelligence on the Jashin Cult. First, the ANBU had gone to investigate in the Land of Hot Water, following information from Yamagawa Uemon.

Unfortunately, they didn’t find the Jashin Cult, only clearing out small fry without catching any big fish, though this was hardly surprising. If the higher-ups in the Jashin Cult weren’t foolish, they’d have gone into hiding and changed identities after Yamagawa Uemon betrayed the organization.

But the more elusive the cult, the more vigilant the village grew. Tracking down the Jashin Cult became a long-term mission for both the ANBU and the police department.

Sougen was also curious about this so-called “Jashin.” He wanted to know what kind of entity it was and how it might compare to the legendary “Rabbit Goddess” Kaguya Otsutsuki. After all, the ninja world still had quite a few mysterious beings.

Like the Death God summoned through the Reaper Death Seal.

Or Enma, who would one day be summoned by Nagato.

Or even the demonic creature, Moryo, sealed by the priestess of the Land of Demons.

Unfortunately, his energy was limited, and he simply didn’t have the bandwidth to investigate all these mysteries.

Returning to the police department, he hadn’t even sat down when an ANBU member appeared before him with a message from Kirigakure: the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, had finally taken his last breath four days ago.

“The Fourth Mizukage is dead, at last?”

The news didn’t surprise Sougen.

After all, following Konoha’s alliance with Kirigakure, communication between the villages had opened up. Konoha had been closely monitoring the situation in Kirigakure, particularly big events like the Fourth Mizukage's impending death.

*Chapter 265: Unrest from the Daimyō Capital*

The Fourth Mizukage is dead!

This is no small matter. With Yagura on his deathbed, the leaders in Konoha were already watching the situation in Kirigakure closely. They feared that if Yagura died, it could trigger a new wave of turmoil in Kirigakure, which might affect the hard-won alliance between Konoha and the Mist Village, potentially destabilizing the fragile peace that has only just been established.

After all, Kirigakure is notoriously unstable. Among the leaders of the Five Great Villages, the Mizukage has undoubtedly faced the most assassination attempts!

Therefore, when news of Yagura's death reached them, the Fifth Hokage immediately dispatched ANBU to meet with Sōgen. As an advisor to the Hokage and the head of the Police Department, Sōgen is a major figure in the village, one who cannot be excluded from such important matters. Additionally, he was instrumental in forging the alliance with Kirigakure, having personally visited the Mist Village, making him Konoha’s expert on the situation in the Land of Water.

“There's no need to worry,” Sōgen asserted confidently. “Kirigakure won't descend into chaos. As long as the old master, Genji, is still around, even if there is turmoil, it’ll be a controlled one. Besides, the previous instability in Kirigakure was largely fueled by that masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara. Now that he's no longer stirring things up, there’s no reason to worry about Kirigakure losing stability.”

Sōgen's firm words brought a brief silence to the room.

After a few seconds, Torifu Akimichi finally spoke up, “Since you say so, Sōgen-kun, I don’t foresee any major issues. However, as allies, should we send someone to pay respects in Kirigakure or do something to acknowledge the Fourth Mizukage’s passing?”

“This is unprecedented,” said Hiashi Hyūga, a newly appointed elder advisor.

After the positions of advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were vacated, the village elders struggled to agree on replacements. Eventually, near the New Year, they reluctantly settled on two new advisors: Hiashi, representing the main branch of the Hyūga Clan, and Moku Kōto, who represents the interests of Konoha's smaller clans.

“There’s no precedent for this,” Hiashi continued. “Moreover, the information came through ANBU intel, not official notice from Kirigakure itself. In truth, the Mist Village might prefer to handle this matter privately. If they formally notify us, we can respond accordingly, but there’s no need for grand gestures.”

“I think Elder Hiashi’s approach is sensible,” Sōgen agreed, feeling no need to involve himself with Kirigakure’s affairs right now. He was already busy managing Konoha’s own concerns.

“Fine by me,” the other elder, Moku Kōto, replied casually, not seeing this as a particularly pressing matter.

With that, the Hokage’s advisor and the two elder advisors agreed on how to handle the Fourth Mizukage’s death. Torifu Akimichi, the acting Hokage, thought for a moment before deciding to proceed with Hiashi’s suggestion. He himself held no strong feelings on the matter; his primary concern was whether the changes in the Mist Village would affect Konoha. But given the current weakened state of Kirigakure, he doubted they had the strength to disrupt the alliance or instigate trouble.

“Moving on from the Fourth Mizukage’s passing,” Torifu said, “there’s another issue. Do you all recall the incident at the envoy pavilion back in late February?”

“The envoy pavilion? Are you referring to the Cult of Jashin?” asked Moku Kōto.

The envoy pavilion incident involved the Daimyō’s capital and a previously unheard-of cult, the Jashinists. However, since then, the Daimyō’s office has distanced itself from the affair.

“No, the Jashinists are still under investigation, but their activities are mainly centered around smaller countries like the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Fields, and the Land of Frost,” replied Shikaku Nara, who continued after Torifu’s nod, “The real issue lies with the Daimyō’s office itself.”

“The Daimyō’s office?” Hiashi looked startled. “What could possibly go wrong there?”

Moku Kōto wore a similar expression, staring at Shikaku, waiting for a reasonable explanation.

Sōgen was equally surprised. He’d expected news on the whereabouts of Hidan, not an issue with the Daimyō.

“There is yet to be official confirmation,” Shikaku began, “but several reports have come in suggesting that some members of the Daimyō’s twelve guardian ninja are promoting a theory that the Hokage is an unnecessary institution, claiming that Konoha should be directly governed by the Daimyō…”

“What utter nonsense!” Moku Kōto exploded, enraged. “Do these people even understand the significance of the Hokage system? Without the First Hokage establishing the ‘one nation, one village’ system, there would be no Fire Country as it is today!”

Nara Shikaku, despite having his speech interrupted, wasn’t angry and only gave a helpless smile. “Elder Kime, I’m not the one saying this; I’m simply relaying some rumors circulating among the Guardian Ninja Twelve. Blowing up at me won’t change things. Based on the intel we’ve gathered, it appears that some members of the Twelve are attempting to plan actions against Konoha.”

“You brought up the incident at the envoy building. Does that mean this is connected to the former Deputy Envoy to Konoha, Houma? If I remember correctly, Houma is indeed one of the Guardian Twelve. Could he really be the mastermind behind all of this?”

As Sōgen spoke, certain long-forgotten memories came flooding back to him.

Houma, the Guardian Ninja Twelve, Sarutobi Asuma… A cascade of names began to sketch out the outline of events in his mind. Yet the current course of the shinobi world had been so distorted by his actions that, even if the same event were to unfold, it might not happen as it did originally.

In the original timeline,

the Guardian Ninja Twelve was torn apart by severe infighting,

and after a great battle, nearly all of them were wiped out.

In this hazy future of the shinobi world, Sōgen couldn’t be sure where things would lead.

“You guessed right, Sōgen. According to our intel, Houma is almost certainly the mastermind behind this plot against the village. I received this information a week ago, and I’ve been struggling ever since to figure out how to handle it. I just couldn’t come up with a good solution, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to ask for everyone’s opinions.”

Akimichi Torifu looked troubled.

It was a genuinely tricky situation. The Guardian Ninja Twelve was the most famous unit among the many guards of the Fire Daimyo. Composed of twelve elite jonin-level shinobi, the group had a fair amount of deterrent power. For Konoha, though, that force wasn’t overly significant. A mere twelve jonin, after all—both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans could field dozens of jonin without much difficulty.

The primary issue wasn’t that the Guardian Twelve would be particularly hard to confront,

but that they served as the Daimyo’s personal guards. Attacking them would mean directly affronting the Daimyo, which was more serious than even the death of Heikyu Saikei. The envoy building incident had ultimately been resolved without further issues because of its connections to the Jashin cult. However, taking action against the Guardian Twelve might not be so fortunate.

“Attack... not so simple!”

Kime Kungdao was furious, but his reason kept his anger in check. The issues that plagued Akimichi Torifu applied to him as well. Directly attacking the Guardian Twelve would be a direct insult to the Daimyo of the Fire Country. If the Daimyo felt he couldn’t even control his own guard force... who knows what the outcome would be?

“This… this is definitely a tough situation.”

Hyuga Masayuki furrowed his brow, looking conflicted.

Regardless of the Daimyo’s mild stance three months ago following the envoy incident, he was still the nominal leader of the Fire Country, so they couldn’t ignore him entirely. At least on the surface, they had to show him respect.

“How about… we first give the Daimyo a heads-up? Maybe he’ll take care of this Houma himself,” suggested Hyuga Masayuki.

“I tried that five days ago.”

Akimichi Torifu sighed. “I contacted the Daimyo, and he promptly replied, promising to investigate the Guardian Twelve thoroughly… but so far, we haven’t seen any results. I’m worried that if we let this drag on, something unexpected might happen.”

At that, Hyuga Masayuki felt stumped.

Even someone as clever as Nara Shikaku had no solution. Honestly, it seemed unlikely that anyone else would be able to come up with one anytime soon.

“If we can’t think of anything for now, why not wait and see?”

Sōgen spoke up at this point, “No matter what schemes the Guardian Twelve may have, we’ll do what we can. And if they dare come to Konoha and stir up trouble, we’ll simply meet them head-on. Lord Hokage, rest assured! With me in the village, no one can act recklessly in Konoha.”

Akimichi Torifu gave a helpless smile.

Such confidence.

At this point, continuing the meeting would be unproductive, so they concluded it. As everyone left the office, only Akimichi Torifu and Nara Shikaku remained behind.

“Shikaku, regarding the Daimyo’s residence, keep an eye on things…”

Akimichi Torifu started to stand, speaking mid-sentence, but suddenly felt a bit dizzy. His vision blurred, and he rubbed his temples, blinking hard. Gradually, his vision returned to normal, while Nara Shikaku looked on with concern from across the desk.

“I’m fine; I just got a bit light-headed from sitting too long… In any case, Shikaku, do what you can to monitor the Daimyo’s side of things.” With a sigh, Akimichi Torifu realized he wasn’t getting any younger; his health wasn’t what it used to be.

(End of Chapter)