Kakashi looked at the burning jet-black flames, his expression growing increasingly grim.
These flames were too terrifying!
Water couldn't extinguish them; even after the water had evaporated, the fire on the ground continued to burn, as if it wouldn't go out until everything was reduced to ash.
With a serious face, he used Chakra to gather the surface soil together, and the flames indeed became concentrated.
[Remember this site's domain name: Taiwan Novel Network for curing boredom, ƚɯƙαɳ.ƈσɱ is super practical]
Afterward... waiting until the soil was about to be incinerated and shattered, he tossed the handful of earth into the air.
Only then did the flames slowly die out.
"Flames that won't go out... what kind of Fire Release Ninjutsu is this?"
Kurenai Yuhi was shocked.
Kakashi shook his head slightly: "I'm not sure. Perhaps it's a technique attached to the Sharingan. I didn't expect Uchiha Itachi to be here as well."
He looked at his subordinates, as well as the two additional "Anbu"—
They were members of the Root Organization.
Kakashi swept them with a cold gaze and asked, "Where is Uchiha Shisui?"
"We didn't catch him. He was too strong, and... Uchiha Itachi suddenly jumped out to disrupt things. Our casualties are quite severe."
The ANBU Ninja replied.
As he spoke, he glanced at the two Root Organization members nearby, leaving a sentence unsaid—
Shisui hadn't killed many ANBU Ninjas; those who died were all members of the Root Organization.
Furthermore.
Shisui wasn't just resisting and killing; he was hunting with a target and a purpose, clearly killing Root Organization members for revenge.
Kakashi observed for a moment and likely understood. He said, "Focus on treating the wounded. For those killed in action... have their respective departments collect and bury them."
"Yes."
...Inside Kyoto, at a detached courtyard.
Kazuma struggled to crawl out from the earth.
The pain brought by the bone spurs was far greater than he had imagined.
It was bearable at first, but later, these bone spurs seemed to have adhered together, affecting his movement even more; the slightest motion caused excruciating pain.
If he were just an ordinary person, he might be able to endure it, but as a Ninja who wanted the Land of Fire to become the true Land of Fire.
Kazuma was unwilling to fall into such a state.
As for surgical removal... such a delicate operation was something an ordinary Medical Ninja simply couldn't do; only an elite among Medical Ninjas could possibly manage it.
He didn't have access to such conditions.
Kazuma leaned against the wall, feeling a sense of despair.
Shikotsumyaku.
A powerful Bloodline Limit.
"If I had a Bloodline Limit, why would I be in this state?"
"Unwilling to accept it?"
A cold voice came from above.
Kazuma looked up and saw the Black-Robed Man jumping down from above. He clutched his shoulder and stood up.
"What do you want?"
Unexpectedly... "What is your ideal?"
The other party didn't answer, but instead spoke with an unsettling sense of mockery.
Kazuma was silent for a few seconds before saying:
"The Hokage and the Daimyo—one has the power to command Ninjas, the other has the power of national governance and finance. Once war breaks out, disputes easily arise."
"I believe that compared to the two, the Daimyo is more important."
He voiced his thoughts.
"A truly powerful nation should have only one voice, instead of how it is now. I want to make the Land of Fire a truly strong nation!"
Kazuma stated his ambition with iron determination.
The Black-Robed Man couldn't help but sneer, saying, "You only see the surface; you don't see the essence of things."
"Although you are powerful, it's only because you have a Bloodline Limit, while I don't... If I had a Bloodline Limit..."
Kazuma glared, unyielding in his heart, and even more furious because the other party negated everything about him.
The Black-Robed Man laughed softly: "But you don't."
Kazuma choked on his words.
The Black-Robed Man looked at him:
"Bloodline Limits are not only inherited through bloodlines; there are also techniques that can be mastered later in life. You don't have those either, do you?"
Kazuma fell silent.
"So you see, people are born different."
The Black-Robed Man smiled.
Kazuma sat on the ground. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "What are you trying to say?"
"Is it better for a Village or a nation to be managed by members of a single family forever, or to select the most outstanding person from a school of thought to manage it?"
"So, you think the Hokage system is better?"
Kazuma asked.
The Black-Robed Man shook his head slightly and didn't answer directly, but instead asked: "Do you think the Daimyo possesses absolute power?"
"Naturally not..."
Kazuma replied, "The Sanjo, Konoe, Takatsukasa, and other families are all great clans of the Land of Fire. Combined, they are enough to contend with the Daimyo of the Madoka Clan."
"Indeed, the Daimyo cannot control everything. So how can you ensure that after the Ninjas return to the Daimyo, they can be completely controlled by him?"
The Black-Robed Man asked back.
Kazuma was momentarily unable to answer.
He knew that even if the power of the Ninjas returned to the Daimyo, they would still face various clan issues.
But before, he still thought... that would be better.
After all, Konoha Village also had various Ninja clans, and they were also bound together by the Hokage.
If the Hokage could do it, the Daimyo could too.
But just now, the other party's words had plunged him into deep thought.
Is the successor of a family stronger, or is the most outstanding person selected from a school of thought stronger?
The answer was naturally... the latter.
Take the Madoka Clan, for instance. This generation seemingly has several successors, but in reality, only Madoka Ikkyu is truly qualified.
Is Madoka Ikkyu outstanding?
He's decent enough.
But compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he's probably lacking a bit; even compared to Danzo Shimura, he's likely slightly inferior.
Kazuma gradually fell silent.
At this moment, the Black-Robed Man looked at the sky:
"I don't belong to any faction."
"The Daimyo system stipulates that the nation can only be inherited by one family. The Hokage seems like an election, but in reality, it has long been controlled by others..."
"That position shouldn't have an owner. The capable should rise, and the weak should step down."
"It has been controlled by fools for far too long!"
The Black-Robed Man looked at Kazuma, his voice carrying a hint of pity:
"Listen... this nation is weeping. It has been held by fools for too long, and many have died in battle because of the stupidity of others..."
"You..."
Kazuma's mouth hung open, his heart racing.
The other party's words struck at the very core, leaving him unable to refute. At the same time, he could feel that this person's ambition was even greater than he had imagined!
He vaguely felt that the other party's goal wasn't a specific position in a certain Village, but a higher, more unimaginable level.
He licked his lips.
"What makes you think you can reach that step?"
"If you always believe there's a cliff ahead and don't dare to walk over and look, then it really is a cliff."
The Black-Robed Man's tone was calm, exuding a sense of confidence.
The man looked down, peering at him: "Kazuma, two worlds, the old and the new, are spread out before your fate... What is your answer?"
Kazuma leaned against the wall, forgetting the pain in his shoulder.
He held his head high and didn't speak for a long time.
A few seconds later, Kazuma took a deep breath and said, "If I don't agree, will you kill me?"
"I'm not exactly a good person."
The Black-Robed Man replied.
Kazuma answered: "I'm willing to join."
He was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I agree with what you said—the Daimyo's rule might not be a good decision, but I also have doubts about the Hokage holding power."
"Of course, the most important thing is..."
"I want to see what kind of vision you have."
Kazuma answered.
The Black-Robed Man smiled: "Trust me, the final result will not disappoint you."
"What do you need me to do?"
The Black-Robed Man pressed his hand on Kazuma's shoulder, and Chakra flowed into the joint. Then, a bone needle was extracted and crushed.
Only then did the other party say:
"Right now, you might not truly believe in me, so... develop your forces in secret. Then, with your questions, open your eyes and look at this world."