Chapter 40: Return To The leaf
A/N: Our target is to reach 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones! Let's increase our power ranking!
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Goro stood atop his water phoenix, the cool wind brushing against his skin as he flew back toward Konoha. He had finally shed the disguise he'd worn for weeks, transforming back into his true self. It felt awkward, almost unnatural, as if the face staring back at him when he caught his reflection in the water phoenix's back was unfamiliar. His body ached, his mind tired from the long mission.
'It's strange... being myself again.'
He sighed and spoke softly to the water phoenix beneath him. "Slow down. I need to rest."
The phoenix obeyed, its wings slowing as it glided through the sky at a more comfortable pace. Goro lay down on the bird's back, his body sinking into its cool, smooth surface. His eyes began to close, the distant horizon blurring.
'Kabuto... you'll see the consequences of messing with my plans.'
Those were his final thoughts before he fell asleep.
By the time he awoke, the sun was already high in the sky, casting its warm rays down onto Konoha's gates, which were now visible in the distance. Goro rolled over lazily and looked down. Below, Izumo and Kotetsu were waving frantically at him, trying to catch his attention.
Goro sat up and stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from the long ride. "Alright, take us down," he commanded the phoenix.
The creature obeyed, descending toward the ground and landing softly in front of the gates. Goro hopped off, his legs still a bit wobbly from the flight.
Izumo and Kotetsu jogged up to him. "Good to see you back, Goro," Kotetsu greeted with a smile. "The Hokage told us to direct you straight to his office when you returned."
Goro let out a long, exasperated sigh.
'Of course he did.'
He nodded to the two, thanking them. "Alright, I'll head there now," he replied.
Goro jumped onto his phoenix and gestured toward the Hokage's mansion. "Fly us there," he commanded.
The phoenix took off once again, carrying Goro swiftly to the top of the Hokage's mansion, where it landed lightly on the roof. Goro climbed down and dismissed the phoenix, its water form falling apart and creating a large puddle on the roof of the mansion.
After walking down the steps and into the building, Goro found himself standing outside the Hokage's office. He knocked on the door, and almost immediately, a familiar voice called from within.
"Enter," the Hokage said.
Goro opened the door and stepped inside. The room was tense, with Hiruzen Sarutobi sitting behind his desk, his face a mixture of disappointment and anger. Danzo stood to the side, his expression unreadable, though Goro could see the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Goro," Hiruzen began, his voice sharp, "Where exactly have you been?"
Goro bowed respectfully, already prepared for the question. "I've been handling a mission in the Cloud Village, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "You know as well as anyone that missions can only be assigned by the Hokage. You cannot take orders from anyone else.
Goro nodded in apology. "I understand, Lord Hokage. It won't happen again."
Hiruzen seemed ready to dismiss Goro, but Danzo's voice cut through the tension. "Before you go, Goro, what exactly did you learn from your time in the Cloud?" he asked.
Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. Goro could tell that Hiruzen was annoyed at Danzo's brazenness, yet there was a part of him that also wanted to know what Goro had uncovered.
'It's like he can't get rid of Danzo, even when he oversteps like this.'
Goro took a breath and spoke. "The Cloud is discussing retaliation against the Leaf. From what I've gathered, they're serious about it. They've been planning to hit key trade routes and stifle our economy. They've also issued orders to kill any Leaf ninja that set foot in the Land of Lightning."
Both Hiruzen and Danzo's eyes widened at the revelation. Danzo was the first to speak, his words harsh, but steeped in reality. "This is the result of your leniency, Hiruzen. The Cloud has continued to carry their hostility because they still view us as weak. If they truly are discussing retaliation against our village, then there's only one viable solution— war. We've lost enough respect, and if we don't act now, we'll lose our standing as a major village."
Hiruzen's face tightened, his gaze hardening as he rubbed his temples in frustration. "War isn't an option. Not again." Hiruzen began.
He sighed heavily, his voice strained, and continued, "I've already led this village through two wars in my lifetime. I've seen the destruction, the lives lost, and the consequences that linger for years. I don't want another one."
Danzo's jaw clenched. "You're being too soft, Hiruzen! They've left us no choice!" he exclaimed.
"We have other options," Hiruzen cut in, responding firmly. He paused for a moment, then added, "I'll call for a Kage Summit. We need to address this diplomatically before we consider any drastic measures."
Goro, who had been observing the back-and-forth between the two, couldn't help but think strategically.
'A Kage Summit... It's a bold move, and one that could potentially prevent a war. It's a smart decision. If they manage to de-escalate the situation, it'll avert any unnecessary bloodshed.'
Danzo grunted, displeased but unable to refute the logic. Even in his mind, he had to admit, Hiruzen's plan had merit. "Very well," he said, though his tone made it clear he wasn't entirely convinced. "But if this summit fails, we must be prepared for the worst," he carried on.
The Hokage nodded, his expression still tense but resolute. "We will. But until then, we'll pursue every avenue of peace."
Hiruzen turned to Goro, his expression softening slightly. "You've done well, but remember that you only take missions and orders from the Hokage," Hiruzen said sternly, his eyes shifting to Danzo.
Goro nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the Third Hokage's words.
"You're dismissed," Hiruzen said, leaning back in his chair, clearly exhausted.
Danzo's eyes lingered on Goro for a moment before he, too, nodded curtly, signaling Goro's release.
Goro bowed, then turned to leave the room. As he walked out of the office, he couldn't help but reflect on what had just unfolded.
'The Cloud Village is a real threat... and now, everything depends on this summit.'
With a quiet sigh, Goro stepped out of the Hokage's mansion.
Arriving at his apartment, Goro wasted no time and took out the scroll the Raikage had given him—the Lightning Chakra Mode jutsu. Holding onto the edges of the scroll, Goro unrolled it on his table, revealing the blueprint of the jutsu.
[Successfully stored the Lightning Chakra Mode jutsu. It will be added as a skill upon use.]
Goro smirked. The efficiency of the system never failed to amaze him. He barely had time to absorb the details before the jutsu was stored.
'So, what're the hand signs?'
The system began to detail the hand signs of the jutsu, and Goro followed them exactly as the system instructed. Upon completing the hand signs, Goro could feel the chakra engulf his body, blue lightning crackling around him.
'I can already feel the rise in power. This is impressive, but I have Storm Release. With my chakra control, the system should be able to push this further and change the jutsu to Storm Chakra Mode.'
'System, you're able to shift this into Storm Release with my current stats, right?'
[Your chakra control is sufficient. Do you want to modify the element?]
'Yes, modify the element to Storm Release.'
In an instant, Goro could feel the chakra around him change. Instead of stiff, crackling energy, he now felt liquidy chakra flowing around his body, occasionally flashing from light blue to white.
Goro raised his arm, watching as his limb appeared to ripple and distort slightly, as if the energy itself made his very form unstable.
'Perfect. The Storm Release is working. It appears to have an illusionary effect. It creates the impression that my limbs are moving like water. This could deceive any enemy in combat.'
His body felt lighter, faster, more dangerous. The combination of liquid energy and lightning created a fluidity in his movements that gave him a new level of unpredictability.
"I need to test this at the training grounds," he muttered, his gaze drifting toward the door. The training grounds were the only option, and Goro knew that only through real practice would he see the full extent of his new power.
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Reminder: Our target is to reach 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones! Let's increase our power ranking!
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