[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
====
"Jiraiya-sama, where are the enemies?"
"They fled. Quickly, tend to the wounded!"
Jiraiya promptly ordered. The two toads on his shoulders then jumped down.
As they left, the toad features on Jiraiya's body gradually faded away. His face and limbs had nearly fully transformed into a toad.
"Little Jiraiya, this fusion lasted a bit too long. If the enemy hadn't retreated, you would have turned into a toad statue."
Fukasaku warned. Although they could help Jiraiya absorb natural energy and maintain balance, the longer they did, the more pronounced Jiraiya's toad-like traits became.
Shima asked, "Little Jiraiya, why were you fighting that boy with the Rinnegan? Isn't he your disciple?"
Jiraiya had previously bragged about his disciples at Mount Myōboku and even wrote a book about Nagato, though the main character's name was Naruto. The character was based on Nagato, and the book was published.
"It's a complicated story. That disciple might now be an enemy of Konoha. A Konoha ninja mistakenly killed his friend, another one of my disciples."
Jiraiya seethed with frustration, feeling a strong urge to throttle Danzō, who had conspired with Hanzo.
"I see. It seems he's not the Child of Prophecy as the Great Toad Sage predicted. You still have much to do, little Jiraiya."
"After such a long battle, I'm exhausted. There's no food at home; let's head back, little Jiraiya."
Fukasaku and Shima spoke one after the other, preparing to leave now that the battle was over.
"Thank you for your help."
Jiraiya waved them off as they dispelled the summoning jutsu and returned to Mount Myōboku.
Jiraiya then assisted in treating the wounded. The battle had inflicted significant casualties. After providing initial care, they needed to evacuate quickly.
In the Land of Rain, such intense fighting would undoubtedly attract the attention of Rain ninjas. Hanzo might already be on his way.
Thirty-two were dead, thirteen severely injured, but with proper treatment, they could fully recover. The remaining twenty had minor injuries and were nearly out of chakra.
Their only gain was Yahiko's body, which was sealed in a storage scroll that Jiraiya carried. Once back in Konoha, the Intelligence and Medical Departments would analyze it.
Jiraiya felt regretful. Without the masked man who appeared at the end, he could have severely injured and captured Nagato.
"Nagato, you've become an enemy of Konoha."
Jiraiya sighed inwardly. If he had captured Nagato, he would have fought to protect him back in Konoha, even pleading with Orochimaru and fetching Tsunade to help.
But after killing so many Konoha ninjas and escaping, Nagato would now be classified as an S-rank threat, with Konoha relentlessly pursuing him.
With such clear hostility and possessing the powerful Rinnegan, Konoha would not let such a dangerous enemy roam freely in the ninja world.
Shortly after Jiraiya and his team left, Hanzo arrived at the battle site with some Rain ninjas.
The intense battle had devastated several kilometers, even affecting the nearby forest.
Seeing the aftermath, Hanzo's expression darkened. No wonder Konoha had sent an envoy—they had intended to stall him.
"Was it for that Rinnegan kid?"
Hanzo speculated, increasingly convinced. The Rinnegan, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, had tempted him too.
However, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been too intimidating. It had slaughtered dozens of elite Rain ninjas and Danzō's subordinates in an instant, and they had no way to counter it.
"Konoha ninjas are truly daring."
Hanzo pondered. This was his territory. If Konoha took the Rinnegan, it would be a significant loss for him.
Upon returning, he decided to capture all Akatsuki members.
However, back in Konoha, Jiraiya reported to the Hokage office after ensuring the injured were taken to the hospital.
Hiruzen, informed of Jiraiya's return through his remaining Anbu, arrived even before Sakumo summoned him. He also notified Minato, who had just completed a mission and was resting at home.
"Fourth Hokage."
Minato scratched his head sheepishly as he entered. Without any official position, he wouldn't normally be summoned, but the Third Hokage had called him, so he had no choice but to come.
"Since you're here, listen in, Minato. You'll likely be involved in this mission later."
Sakumo addressed Minato, generally lenient with the village's ninjas unless it involved a breach of principles.
"Apologies, Fourth Hokage, Yoichi. This mission was a failure."
Jiraiya's face was grim as he recounted the mission.
They hadn't made any mistakes, but intelligence failures had cost them, underestimating Nagato's new ally with space-time jutsu.
"Such heavy casualties."
Sakumo's expression darkened. He had sent a large force to ensure safety but had still underestimated the Rinnegan.
He hadn't expected Nagato to have such a powerful helper.
"Jiraiya, hand over the body you brought back to the Intelligence and Forensics Departments. I find it hard to believe there are two pairs of Rinnegan, and this Yahiko should already be dead."
Sakumo then turned to Yoichi, "What do you think?"
Yoichi pondered briefly, "We should continue searching for them. This encounter provided valuable intelligence on the Rinnegan. Next time, we can send elite squads to capture him. If necessary, I'll go myself."
The room fell silent. Everyone knew that if Yoichi personally intervened, Nagato was as good as dead.
Over the years, Yoichi had never failed a mission, even turning the tide in Konoha's favor during times of adversity.
Any mission he undertook was guaranteed to succeed.
"Fourth Hokage, Yoichi, please let me handle this. I swear I'll capture Nagato next time."
Jiraiya took a deep breath. If Yoichi acted, Nagato would certainly die.
"Jiraiya, you're injured."
"I'm fine. Let Minato and me handle it. We'll capture Nagato!"
Jiraiya looked to Minato for support.
Minato stepped forward, "Fourth Hokage, Yoichi, give Jiraiya-sensei and me one more chance. We promise to bring Nagato back."
Sakumo considered, then asked Yoichi, "Yoichi?"
"Let them handle it. If Jonin Minato and Jiraiya can't capture Nagato, I'll step in."
"Very well. Jiraiya, Minato, the mission is yours."
Sakumo said, "Increase efforts to track Nagato and Konan. Gather intelligence on other Akatsuki members too. If necessary, I'll coordinate with Hanzo and notify you of any updates."
"Jiraiya, your previous mission is on hold."
Jiraiya, feeling a bit embarrassed, agreed. That mission was purely to pursue leads on Ryuchi Cave but had yielded no progress in months.
"Yoichi, about the strong defensive ninja gear of the Uchiha clan—can we purchase it for the village?"
Sakumo asked. Since seeing Kakashi in the armor, he had noticed its effectiveness. Today, many Anbu had been severely injured, but the Uchiha ninjas only had minor wounds.
"That armor is hard to make and rare even within our clan. But if you need it, we can supply ten pieces a month at cost price."
Yoichi pretended to ponder, "You can distribute them as needed."
"Thank you, Yoichi."
Sakumo smiled gratefully, "We'll inform everyone once the Intelligence Department has analyzed the information. If there's nothing else, let's adjourn and rest."
Everyone nodded and left after Sakumo's words.
Leaving a wood clone behind, Yoichi went to handle other matters.
He and Sakumo had clearly defined roles—Yoichi focused on village renovations and coordinating with major merchants in the Land of Fire to boost Konoha's prosperity.
With the Ninja Park completed, several projects were underway, including railroads, new residential areas, and even requests from nobles and merchants to establish a "noble district."
Yoichi hadn't agreed to this yet.
Affluent areas would attract more people, and the average Konoha resident already felt the change, with offers to buy their homes at high prices.
Few sold, preferring to stay in Konoha, hoping their children would attend the ninja academy and become ninjas.
Konoha was becoming more prosperous by the day. Though many credited Sakumo for revitalizing Konoha post-war, the leadership knew much of the credit belonged to Yoichi.
Returning home, Yoichi was greeted by Mina holding Karin, proudly showing off their daughter.
"Look, Yoichi-sama, isn't Karin adorable?"
"Indeed, she is, as expected of my daughter!"
Using the Sharingan and sensing techniques, Yoichi checked Karin, noting her strong life force. She might awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan by ten.
Yugito rolled her eyes at Yoichi's self-praise but couldn't deny Karin's cuteness, often holding her herself.
Mikoto, sitting on the sofa, no longer envied Mina. She gently patted her belly, anticipating Sasuke's birth in a few months.
Mikoto had already told Itachi about his upcoming brother. Itachi, still a child, looked forward to having a sibling, unaffected by other concerns.
...
"You were too reckless today, Nagato."
Back in their base, Tobi scolded, "After we left, dozens more Konoha ninjas arrived. Tobi was reaching his limit, and you'd have faced them alone."
"Yeah, I'm almost done."
Tobi scratched his empty head. Whether he was at his limit was debatable, but he agreed with Tobi.
"Sorry, Konan. I lost Yahiko's body."
Nagato ignored Tobi, apologizing to Konan.
Though saddened, Konan reassured him, "It's okay, Nagato. I'm glad you're safe. Don't be so reckless next time."
"We can't stay here. Konoha's pursuit is relentless. Over a hundred ninjas today, and more will come. We must leave."
Tobi's words were blunt but true.
Nagato and Konan silently agreed.
"Where to?"
"The Land of Earth. Staying in the Land of Rain risks Hanzo hunting you too. Konoha covets your Rinnegan, and so does Hanzo."
Tobi stood to leave, "I've said my piece. Decide for yourselves. But think about how many more assaults like today's you can withstand. If you decide to leave, find Zetsu."
With that, Tobi departed. He realized Konoha's strength needed to be weakened.
Though his Kamui was hard to counter, Konoha's formidable forces, like the Leaf Thunder God, posed a threat.
More intel on Konoha was necessary.
After Tobi left, Nagato and Konan discussed and decided to leave the Land of Rain temporarily.
This place was Yahiko's dream. Nagato vowed to return after mastering the Rinnegan, seeking revenge, reclaiming Yahiko's body, and fulfilling his vision.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
====
With a long exhale, Yoichi stretched, finishing his training with gene primordials. Disconnecting the monitoring cables and tubes from his body, he turned to Orochimaru and asked, "So, any findings?"
"There might be some, but further research is needed," Orochimaru replied, looking at the data. Yoichi sensed Orochimaru was stalling and questioned, "Orochimaru, is your research actually stuck?"
Orochimaru's mouth twitched before he admitted, "Such a novel concept isn't easy to grasp. It's natural to hit a bottleneck. But I've made significant breakthroughs in other areas, like the Reincarnation Jutsu."
"How about it, Yoichi? Interested in a technique that lets you switch bodies and live indefinitely?"
Yoichi shook his head vehemently, "Not at all. My body is already the strongest in the ninja world. Wait, on second thought, give me a copy. But Orochimaru, is this the incomplete Living Corpse Reincarnation from last time?"
"Indeed, I've perfected it now. Coupled with the Cursed Seal technique, the reincarnation effect is even better!"
"Can you split the soul into two like a shadow clone during reincarnation? That way, you can control two bodies simultaneously. I should study this more. The Spiritualization Jutsu might have the principles needed."
Yoichi's suggestion made Orochimaru's eyes light up.
Before leaving, Yoichi added, "Orochimaru, your biggest misconception about the Reincarnation Jutsu is using others' bodies. Why not clone your own body? That way, there's no competition."
With that, Yoichi left, taking the Reincarnation Jutsu scroll with him.
A while later, Orochimaru snapped out of his thoughts, "You're right, Yoichi. But I think... Hmm? He's already gone?"
Though Yoichi had left, Orochimaru's mind was abuzz with ideas. He had significant research on Wood Release and the Sharingan, and was considering cloning technology.
Leaving Orochimaru, Yoichi planned to improve the Spiritualization Jutsu and the Reincarnation Jutsu.
A new power he had acquired would help him achieve this.
Research Assistant: Based on the host's current knowledge, this ability offers research insights and solutions. Requests can be completed within the time frame determined by the host's knowledge.
Yoichi experimented with this new ability, finding it could save him time in research. It was essentially like having a more efficient version of himself do the research.
He aimed to develop the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to a tenth level, creating a Flying Thunder God Space. But submitting this goal to the Research Assistant showed it would take sixty-seven years, meaning his current understanding of space-time ninjutsu required continuous research for that long.
This was too difficult. Monthly lottery draws could barely account for half a month's ability, making the years needed for the Flying Thunder God Space impractical. Only by deepening his understanding of space-time ninjutsu could he shorten this time.
Back home, Yoichi researched the Spiritualization Jutsu, an S-rank soul forbidden technique he had acquired earlier but hadn't practiced due to its limitations.
The jutsu required the user to abandon their body, something a lone wolf like Yoichi couldn't afford. But with the idea of creating a soul clone for reincarnation, he believed the Research Assistant could help him realize this jutsu.
"Mental control over chakra, separating the consciousness from the body."
Yoichi noted that the Spiritualization Jutsu had high Yin Release requirements, probably the highest among Konoha's forbidden techniques.
"Conveniently, I'm quite adept at Yin Release. I can try this jutsu."
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was the pinnacle of Yin Release, and Yoichi's frequent practice of sensory jutsu for the Flying Thunder God Jutsu gave him exceptional control over his mental energy.
After some study, Yoichi began forming the hand seals for the Spiritualization Jutsu: Rooster, Rat, Ox, Snake, Boar.
"Spiritualization Jutsu!"
Upon successful execution, Yoichi felt his consciousness lighten and began to float.
He soon saw his own body, still in the hand seal position.
"The soul feels so light, and chakra can be drawn out with it. My eyes are still Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, but I can't use Dōjutsu."
Yoichi quickly tested his soul state, noting he could use familiar ninjutsu. More complex jutsu requiring bodily coordination were challenging to execute.
"I can use Lightning Release chakra in this state, so other jutsu should be possible with practice. This could turn me into a mobile aerial turret, with the soul moving swiftly."
He tested a Lightning Beam on a wooden wall, leaving charred marks.
Satisfied, he ended the jutsu and returned to his body.
Back in his body, Yoichi felt the contrast between the soul's lightness and the body's heaviness.
"No difficulty, but highly limited in use. Similar to the Sharingan, but far less versatile."
Both the Spiritualization Jutsu and the Sharingan offered significant one-on-one advantages, but the jutsu's limitations were severe. It was excellent for ambushes, but if the enemy dodged the first attack, the user was in trouble.
In the ninja world, many techniques allowed evasion. Mastery of the Body Replacement Technique alone could let one escape twenty meters in a second.
"Let's see how long it takes to research a soul clone jutsu. If I research alongside the assistant, will it be faster?"
Yoichi opened the superpower roulette.
Research Assistant could handle three simultaneous projects. With only a month, Yoichi chose simpler tasks for the first two.
Doubling the speed of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode: 21 days.
Optimizing the Navy Six Styles: 9 days.
The third was combining the Spiritualization Jutsu with the Clone Jutsu. The assistant estimated 43 days.
"Over by thirteen days. I'll use three lottery draws."
Yoichi decided. The soul clone was crucial for controlling clone entities. With both Kamui eyes, he could have an entire Kamui space.
Delegating the research to the assistant, Yoichi left his room. Outside, Rin approached quietly, asking, "Sensei, have you finished training?"
"Yes, sorry, Rin. I've been busy with village affairs lately."
Rin shook her head quickly, smiling sweetly, "It's okay. You're an important figure in the village. Teaching me ninjutsu occasionally is already great."
"You're so well-behaved, Rin."
Yoichi smiled, patting her short reddish-brown hair. Rin closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.
"Rin, the village recently found clues about the mastermind behind sealing the tailed beast in you during a mission. We suspect it's Black Zetsu, who watched Jiraiya's mission."
Yoichi decided to inform Rin, modifying the truth about knowing Obito's involvement, saying he had just discovered the intelligence.
"Once the village confirms everything, you can come out."
Rin's face lit up with joy, nodding like a little bird, "I trust you, Sensei."
Living here was nice, but she longed for freedom. Despite the comforts and Yoichi's guidance in training and medicine, freedom was priceless.
"Thank you, Sensei."
"It's nothing."
Yoichi waved off her thanks, contemplating Obito's reaction if he learned Rin was alive. Obito might grovel for forgiveness, making it harder for Yoichi to deal with him due to his pride.
But Yoichi wanted Kamui, so Obito had to die.
If Obito committed more serious crimes, even knowing Rin was alive, he couldn't return to Konoha. And if he did, he'd still face death.
Yoichi wasn't a saint. Forgiveness wasn't his style.
"Sensei..."
Rin, overwhelmed with joy, impulsively grabbed Yoichi's sleeve, blushing, "You've been busy all morning. Should I give you that massage we talked about?"
Yoichi remembered the promise he made before getting called away by village affairs.
"If it's not too much trouble, Rin."
"It's no trouble. I've been studying a lot."
Rin's sweet face reddened. She led Yoichi to a resting area, patting the bed, "Please lie down, Sensei."
Her recent reading suggested sitting on the man's back during a massage enhanced the experience. Illustrations had made her blush intensely as she read alone, wanting to discard the book but determined to finish.
Recalling Yoichi's care and instruction, her affection for him grew. Her memories of the past faded, replaced by her time with Yoichi.
These happy memories brought a youthful smile to her face.
"Lying down?"
Yoichi hesitated to use Rin's bed, preferring to create one with Wood Release. But Rin's shy agreement made him comply.
"Alright, Rin."
Rin, her face glowing with a blush, sat on Yoichi's back, feeling his iron-hard muscles. The sensation deepened her blush, but she focused on her task, using medical ninjutsu to ease his muscles and meridians.
This genuine massage, using medical ninjutsu, brought unparalleled comfort to Yoichi, consuming significant chakra. Palm Healing was an A-rank technique for emergencies, rarely used for massages.
Rin adjusted her position frequently, movements Yoichi noticed. However, he immersed himself in the soothing effects of the medical ninjutsu.
Used to the pain from his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, this sudden comfort was extraordinary.
After a while, Rin, sweating from the exertion, finally stopped.
"That was great, Rin. Thank you."
"You're welcome. If you like, I can do it regularly."
Though tired, Rin felt fulfilled seeing Yoichi's smile.
His strong body had impressed her, recalling the firmness under her touch, making her heart race.
(End of Chapter)
You may also Like
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT