Chapter 76: Going All Out
"Come out!" Tonari shouted into the dark forest.
The sun had already set, and the dim light in the forest cast long shadows.
Despite the darkness, he could feel the danger looming nearby—or rather, it wasn't his own senses but the Two-Tails giving him a warning.
"Are all Cloud shinobi this cowardly?" Tonari taunted, hoping to provoke a response.
"Hm? Kid, how did you know I was here?"
A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed through...
Chapter 75: The Hokage's Plan
"Kushina is missing?!"
Tonari felt a sense of unease. It was as though he had forgotten something crucial. Now, it dawned on him—Kushina's abduction!
It had to be the work of the Cloud Village!
But wait… wasn't it the Mist Village who orchestrated this in the original events? Could his memory be wrong?
"Could it be that when Kushina leaked the Nine-Tails' chakra during her fight against Dekai, it caught the Cloud's attention...
Chapter 74: The Steady Tonari
"Eat up. Someone's treating us today."
It was the same barbecue shop and the same seating area, but with a different group of people.
Tsunade's so-called "test" had simply been a pretext to understand her three new charges better.
The task of being a guidance teacher hadn't initially been assigned to her. However, yesterday, after promising Tonari that she'd get him some benefits, Sarutobi Hiruzen had suggested she lead Tonari's team.<...
Chapter 74: Does Your Cow Smoke?
So many shinobi—are they all from Konoha?
Seeing thousands of shinobi standing behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, all of them at least Chūnin-level, both Konoha residents and spies from other villages were deeply shocked.
It wasn't about how powerful these shinobi were but about how suddenly they appeared and how many of them there were.
"Third Hokage, are these shinobi all from the Sarutobi Clan?"
"Neji" asked in mock astonishment,...
Chapter 73: Hokage-sama, You Acted Too Fast!
"Is it true?"
"The fate of avoiding war lies entirely with Asuma."
The crowd collectively turned their gaze to Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. The ultimate decision rested on his shoulders: Konoha or his son?
Would he choose to be the Hokage of Konoha, sacrificing his son to preserve the village's fragile peace?
Or would he choose to be the Hokage of the Sarutobi Clan, protecting Asuma at the cost of pushing the H...
Chapter 82: Infiltration
"Ah—what a relief!"
Baishi finally woke up from his deep sleep. He stretched, feeling the lingering warmth of the hot spring, and sighed contentedly.
"This was the best sleep I've had in ages," he muttered as he stood up and dressed.
The sky outside had already darkened, signaling the approach of night. Baishi returned to his training chamber, but instead of diving straight into his usual regimen, he paused to reflect.
The recent b...
Chapter 81: The End
Below the central peak, the surviving Mist ninjas struggled to regain their footing. The aftershocks from Baishi's relentless attacks left them dazed and battered, crashing into the trees scattered around the battlefield.
Seizing the opportunity, Baishi launched a flurry of attacks with the Flying Thunder God Technique, targeting the injured Mist ninjas. Within moments, he mercifully ended their suffering.
Now, only three Mist ninjas remained, includin...
Chapter 73: The Slightly Half-Hearted Test
"Shouldn't you start first, Tsunade-neechan?" Tonari muttered, immediately regretting his words. His voice trailed off as he realized what he'd said.
Tsunade shot him a sharp glare but sighed before starting her introduction.
"I'm Tsunade. I enjoy gambling and drinking, and I hate sweets. My dream… is for everyone I care about to live long and healthy lives."
Her words hung in the air, casting a subtle heaviness over the...
Chapter 72: Guidance Teacher
The Next Morning
Led by the experienced "veteran" Minato, Tonari and Kushina completed their ninja registration, filling out the necessary forms and receiving their unique Konoha forehead protectors.
Kushina tied hers securely to her forehead, matching Minato's style. After a moment of contemplation, Tonari followed suit, opting to wear his forehead protector on his head as well.
"Better not stand out too much. It's easier to avoid unn...
Chapter 71: Graduation
Tsuchidai, carrying a battered and semi-conscious Dicai, cast a long, scrutinizing look at Tonari, who was still being treated by Tsunade. He etched Tonari's face into his memory.
Truth be told, Tsuchidai's opinion of the young boy had undergone a complete transformation from disdain to respect.
This seemingly insignificant child had proven to possess formidable strength and remarkable hidden potential. If not for Dicai's exceptional abilities, Tona...
Chapter 70: Toxic Water Tidal Wave
Orochimaru's Snake Techniques!
Since Tonari had already summoned Green Serpent, he decided to stop holding back. If his opponent dared to take his weapon, then he would retaliate with overwhelming force.
To him, it didn't matter that the blade wasn't his to begin with. Once it fell into his hands, it was his property.
Three dark gray serpents slithered from Tonari's sleeves, baring their fangs and darting toward Dicai.
The...
Chapter 80: Cleansing
"Who are you?"
Baishi's relentless slaughter finally drew attention. With so few surviving Cloud and Mist ninjas left, his presence became increasingly difficult to conceal.
The remaining combatants instinctively halted, pulling back from one another to survey their strange surroundings.
Baishi glanced around at the wary figures and muttered, "Looks like it's time."
Without hesitation, he formed a series of rapid seals, unleashing one o...
Chapter 79: The Dark Forest
"So, it really is Orochimaru's doing…"
From Matsudaira Susumu's memories, Baishi confirmed that the man's superior was none other than Orochimaru. In fact, the entire amphibious division of Konoha fell under Orochimaru's command.
As for why Matsudaira had recognized him instantly, the reason was simple. These operatives had been given secret orders by Orochimaru to search for him during their missions.
Naturally, with orders to search,...
Chapter 72: I'm a Good Person—Villainy Isn't My Role!
Hiashi's words were a bombshell.
Everyone present was stunned into silence, their expressions a mix of disbelief and shock.
The Hyuga Clan, one of Konoha's oldest and most prestigious clans, was declaring its intent to leave the village. This wasn't just unprecedented—it was unthinkable.
For decades, even amidst wars and betrayals, no village had ever seen a clan attempt to sever ties like this.
The c...
Chapter 71: Sarutobi's Loyal Disciple, Jiraiya!
"Neji… he…"
Sigh.
Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth as if to say something, but after a moment's hesitation, he stayed silent.
Deep down, he felt overwhelming guilt toward Hizashi and his son. This guilt had silenced him, making him a mere observer while "Neji" openly voiced radical and seemingly treasonous thoughts. Hiashi did nothing to intervene, letting the young man represent the Hyuga clan without restraint.
...
Chapter 72: The Seed of Life
When Baishi appeared, the group immediately fell silent, bowing in unison. "My lord!"
"Hmm."
Baishi nodded slightly and said, "Follow me."
Passing between them, he strode toward the depths of the forest.
Kamimura Takashi and the others exchanged glances but dared not speak, hurriedly following him.
Soon, the group left the misty area around the hot spring laboratory. The dense fog dissipated, and the warm sunlight once aga...
Chapter 70: Who Does the Will of Fire Truly Protect?
"Wait!"
"I have something to say!"
The sudden interruption came from the Hyuga clan's ranks, as a young boy stepped forward. It was none other than "Neji Hyuga," or rather, Uchiha Yi disguised as Neji.
Seeing the hesitation on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, Yi immediately grasped the direction of his thoughts. As expected, the Hokage seemed ready to deploy his usual rhetoric about the Will of Fire, persuading the Hyuga...
Chapter 69: A Repeat of Hizashi's Death Incident!
Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived late to the scene, only to find a large crowd already gathered. To his surprise, the heads of the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans, as well as Hyuga Hiashi, were present. Adding to the tension, Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy stood nearby, showing no acknowledgment of Hiruzen's arrival.
The tension between Hiruzen and Kakashi was palpable. Following the recent allegations of betrayal, Kakashi's loyalty to ...
Chapter 78: Clues
Slice!
The sharp sound of a blade cutting through flesh broke the tense silence.
Everyone turned their eyes toward Daira Kaito, who had just pushed away the Cloud ninja supporting him. Without hesitation, he swung his blade and severed his own right arm.
Baishi initially thought Kaito was preparing for a suicidal fight. But then, Kaito said calmly, "We're leaving."
Without looking back, he led his men toward Moon Island, leaving the severed lim...
Chapter 77: Forced Into Action
In the shinobi world, no one had ever dared to openly claim ownership of a territory under the watchful eyes of the major villages.
Even someone as bold as Orochimaru had to bribe the daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields to establish the Hidden Sound Village, masking it with a legitimate front to gain recognition.
Baishi's declaration shattered these norms, a blatant challenge to the established order of the shinobi world.
This audacious...
Chapter 69: Stand Back, Time to Show Off!
Sitting in the graduate students' rest area, Kushina and Minato froze as they saw the weapon snatched from Tonari's hand.
Their expressions turned grim as they exchanged a glance, silently agreeing—if Tonari was in true danger, they would intervene together.
Rules? Kushina didn't care, and Minato was willing to abandon them for the sake of a friend.
Onlookers from the stands felt the same concern.
It was evident th...
Chapter 68: Danger!
Tonari held the chakra-conducting short blade he had just picked up, casually infusing it with his chakra.
He had long tried to attach chakra to weapons, but his previous ones, though sturdy, couldn't handle it. He never expected his luck today—finding a chakra-conducting blade by chance.
Boom!
Tonari dug his feet into the ground, but Dicai's overwhelming strength still pushed him back, sliding him several meters.
This guy, thin as he l...
Chapter 76: Supreme Power
"Quick! Turn the rudder!"
"It's no use—the ship's being pulled in!"
The sudden appearance of the water tornado left the Cloud ninjas completely disoriented. Although they recognized it as a controlled ninjutsu, understanding its origin was irrelevant against such a calamity-level technique.
Several Cloud ninjas attempted to counter it, but every attempt failed.
Watching the tornado draw closer, the leader of the Cloud forces gritted h...
Chapter 75: The Gathering of Three Forces
Moon Island.
In the crescent-shaped natural harbor, the Mist Village's warship rested at anchor.
---
Aboard the Ship.
Two Mist squads remained on guard along the ship's sides. Though they feigned vigilance, their demeanor betrayed a growing complacency.
After all, over an hour had passed since they docked. If danger existed, it would have already shown itself.
What they had forgotten, however, was Murph...
Chapter 67: Can We Not Fight?
"Ugh—"
Kushina groaned, her eyes shut tightly as she struggled against the raging chakra of the Nine-Tails within her.
Tonari noticed the unusual surge of energy radiating from her and quickly turned to Minato.
"Minato, keep an eye out for sneak attacks."
Minato nodded silently, his face calm but focused.
Tonari placed a hand on Kushina's shoulder, and slowly, the wild chakra receded. His sharp eyes caught sight of the...
Chapter 66: Kneel and Sing "Conquer"
"This Cloud ninja is incredibly strong! Even the Uchiha prodigy couldn't stand up to him!"
"The Inuzuka girl is falling behind too. Looks like her defeat is just a matter of time."
"Are all Cloud Village newcomers this powerful? We can't let Konoha fall behind..."
Whispers spread among the spectators. Although they were well aware of the Cloud forehead protector on Gitai, it didn't stop them from comparing the two groups of chi...
Chapter 68: Putting the Facts Aside, Does Konoha Bear No Responsibility?
Just as the scandal of Hiruzen Sarutobi allegedly framing Kakashi Hatake was beginning to stir public opinion, another bombshell exploded in Konoha. The revelation of Asuma Sarutobi's outrageous public incident sent shockwaves through the village, outraging villagers and tarnishing the Sarutobi family name even further.
The repeated scandals left Konoha in shambles, a laughingstock across the ninja world. T...
Chapter 67 At this point, it has become art—a world-famous painting!
---
After the Kakashi incident, Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation in Konoha plummeted. While his authority as Hokage remained intact, the damage to his public image left him reeling.
However, Uchiha Yi had no intention of letting him recover.
"Time to add more fuel to the fire," Yi muttered with a smirk.
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, his sinister chuckle filling the room. "Everything is in...
Chapter 66: The World's True Nature is Matryoshka Dolls
The drama ended temporarily when the "Kakashi" imposter disappeared, but it wasn't the finale. Although the guests didn't get their hands on the Six Paths Sage's Great Treasure, the scandals they heard about Konoha filled them to the brim.
While the visitors left with satisfaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood paralyzed, a sense of utter defeat washing over him.
Not only was he forced to carry a burden not his own, but the...
Chapter 65: Konoha's Scandal Exposed
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew it was time to put his acting skills to the test.
Feigning shock and disbelief, he adopted a grim expression, his voice laced with suppressed anger.
"Go after him! We must retrieve the Great Treasure at all costs!"
Turning to the guests at the table, he wore an apologetic face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I deeply regret this incident."
"I underestimated the allure of the Six Paths Sage's Great Tre...