"Wood Clone has been tested repeatedly, but without success."
Takeshi perched atop a tree, observing C, who wore a grim expression, or Ai as he was known in this world. Despite Takeshi's somewhat carefree posture, there was a hint of fear in him.
"Why is this guy so formidable? His strength seems to have surpassed historical levels, leaving little room for further enhancement."
Takeshi couldn't help but ponder whether his mentor, Sarutobi, might no longer be a match for him in the coming years.
The third Hokage, renowned as the strongest in history, had his work cut out for him. Perhaps it was to maintain stability and deter any overblown claims?
C gazed coldly at Takeshi, who exuded an ethereal aura amidst the treetops, resembling a nocturnal predator. His brow furrowed, and the massive scarlet scar on his body gleamed like a tattoo.
Little did Takeshi realize that C's sudden surge in strength was purely accidental.
On that fateful day, the first-hokage cells within Genjiro's body went berserk, causing Wood Release to spiral out of control. Engaging C in a life-or-death struggle, he ensnared him in a bind and drained his chakra.
Trapped in the relentless grip of the entwining vines, C, in a desperate move, tapped into his true nature as a brash warrior, willingly channeling chakra into Genjiro's towering arboreal form.
Though Wood Release boasted the ability to absorb and suppress chakra, it was no match for C's overwhelming reserves, leaving him vulnerable.
In the end, the surplus chakra permeated every branch of Genjiro.
The setting was the Land of Rain, where the rain poured relentlessly, turning Genjiro into a towering lightning rod. Tragically, he was struck by a bolt from the sky...
Genjiro's wooden frame splintered and charred under the ferocious onslaught. He succumbed to the calamity, perishing on the spot.
C, while spared the brunt of the lightning strike, benefitted from Genjiro's intervention, which mitigated much of the direct harm.
Many of the Cloud Ninja shinobi tempered their bodies with thunder. Among them, C excelled, employing a method to fortify his physique with thunder and lightning.
However, they didn't subject themselves to direct lightning strikes for training; lightning's power was too unpredictable, posing a fatal risk even to skilled ninjas.
The Cloud Ninja employed specialized techniques and protocols, their secret to bodily enhancement.
Thus, the lightning's potency was sufficient to be absorbed by the first-generation cells, resulting in Genjiro's demise but failing to claim C, who practiced Lightning Release Chakra Mode and possessed a robust physique.
Surviving a calamity often brings unexpected blessings. The lightning's brilliance was akin to thunder. While its formidable voltage made C wish for death, it paradoxically bolstered his potential and fortified his physique.
An abundance of electrical energy lay dormant within C's body, awaiting integration. When C eventually recovered from his injuries sustained in the battle with Genjiro, the lightning's power merged seamlessly with his cells!
This unforeseen fusion became the catalyst for C's meteoric rise in strength—a blessing in disguise.
"Uchiha Dragon, where are the bodies of Ginkaku and Kinkaku?" C inquired, his tone cold and demanding.
"Bodies? Haha! They've long since disappeared, scattered to the winds!" Takeshi replied nonchalantly.
"Is that so?"
C suspected the other was lying, yet he contained his anger and pressed on, "Since you've slain them, their six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths must be in your possession. Hand them over!"
"Six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths? Hehe, aren't those Ginkaku and Kinkaku's personal weapons? I don't recall them being yours!" Takeshi retorted.
Realizing he was getting nowhere with words, Takeshi abandoned the pretense and stated plainly, "Those are my spoils."
Though the Six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths had limited efficacy, its reputation was formidable, rivaling even Kirigakuren's Seven Ninja Swords.
However, unlike the revered Seven Ninja Sword, a spiritual emblem of Kirigakure's lineage, the Six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths was merely a tool. Without surrendering it, Takeshi remained formidable.
C gritted his teeth. The six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths, once their abilities were known, proved underwhelming. Even the Banana Fan paled in comparison to the Kusanagi sword.
Following the Fourth World War's conclusion, it had fallen into Konoha's possession, becoming a trophy of war. Cloud Ninja had tacitly accepted it as Konoha's spoils, leaving it to gather dust in their armory, a non-negotiable relic.
C had vowed before Ai's tombstone to exact retribution upon the two with Ginkaku and Kinkakus. Even if they couldn't be found, retrieving their symbolic weapons was imperative.
Furthermore, C believed the Six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths was Land of Lightning's rightful property, lost to Konoha due to wartime alliances.
But this Uchiha Dragon—what was his stake? The remnants of Konoha, adversaries turned terrorists!
To fall into the hands of such dubious actors wasn't just a monetary loss but a disgrace to Cloud Ninja. How could they face Ai, whose remains still lay cold and silent?
And Takeshi had a rather simple goal. He was drawn to the sealing prowess of the Six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths.
In future encounters, Akatsuki wouldn't immediately eliminate Jinchūriki upon capture. Their concern lay in the possibility of the tailed beast going berserk and becoming unmanageable.
Armed with the Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals capable of extracting the tailed beast's Chakra, along with a Gedo Statue for containment, they had their methods.
Takeshi possessed a potent devouring ability, capable of absorbing the tailed beast's chakra on his own. However, the process was arduous and slow, challenging to assimilate the chakra into his own power. It would take him a month just to consume a trace of chakra, let alone that of the nine tails.
Hence, sealing it within Ginkaku and Kinkaku was a temporary measure. At present, the amber bottle served as a means to store the tailed beast's Chakra, addressing their immediate needs. Takeshi had no intention of relinquishing control over it.
Tension filled the air between them once more, with Ai emanating an intense thunderous aura, rendering him akin to a formidable adversary in Takeshi's eyes.
Despite the nominal conclusion of the First Ninja World War, the most intense and thrilling confrontation persisted!
Words were futile; the breaking of bones served as the most effective lesson.
Antagonizing an exceedingly perilous figure like Takeshi yielded no benefits, yet C remained unflinching, ready to engage!
"Roar--!"
C unleashed a thunderous roar, shedding his Lei Dun coat to resemble an incandescent thundercloud.
Electric ions dotted the air, generating friction and forming a menacing current. As C made his move, the entire space seemed to warp and distort!
"Bang————!!"
Thunder and lightning erupted, with countless currents sweeping across the sky like a raging torrent. What was more ominous was the semblance of consciousness within the continuous flow, hinting at the formation of a thunderous domain, with lightning bolts streaking across the sky!
"Lightning Release: Forbidden Thunderfield!!"
The deluge of thunder engulfed everything, eliciting a profound change in Takeshi's expression.
Beneath the thundercloud, silence reigned, and all that remained were ashes.
In that moment, C remained suspended in mid-air, his illuminated figure resembling a colossal light bulb. However, onlookers wouldn't find this sight amusing; instead, they'd feel an unsettling chill, a grim reminder of impending doom.
With arms outstretched, C's body bore azure scars illuminated by the thunder's light. He gazed down indifferently, as though orchestrating the very thunder itself.