Back on the battlefield...
Before Gengetsu could even think of a way out of his predicament, Hiruzen had already closed the distance.
With his raw physical capabilities, further amplified by Spirit Release Chakra Mode, Gengetsu simply couldn't keep up with him.
He tried using Water Release to block Hiruzen's approach, but Hiruzen simply nullified it with Dōjutsu: Spirit Release...
Gengetsu suddenly spun around.
"I'm good at taijutsu too!"
Hiruzen smiled and feinted with a punch. Gengetsu hurriedly raised his arms to guard his face.
But an even faster punch followed!
Black sealing patterns coiled around Hiruzen's fist as it slammed squarely into Gengetsu's abdomen!
The Second Mizukage was instantly blasted away, a massive hole punched straight through his abdomen!
Off to the side, Nakamaro swallowed hard.
He found himself wondering whether, with his Shikotsumyaku fully unleashed, he could withstand one punch from Hokage-sama.
The pressure was seriously getting to him...
He really needed to get those Byakugan transplanted and become a jinchūriki as soon as possible. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to see Hokage-sama's back anymore!
And if that happened, how was he supposed to become a Konoha Council Member?
In the distance, the dust finally settled.
Gengetsu staggered unsteadily to his feet.
If he weren't currently an Impure World Reincarnation body modified into a Six Paths puppet, that blow alone would've made him bleed to death...
The Kiri shinobi stared dumbfounded.
Impure World Reincarnation bodies really were bizarre...
But even stranger was the fact that Gengetsu's reincarnated body had stopped repairing itself.
Black sealing lines were spreading outward from the hole in his abdomen, one after another, crawling toward all four limbs.
"Sealing techniques attached to your fists, so you're sealing me while you hit me?"
"And you can nullify other people's techniques..."
"You've been training yourself with Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara as your benchmarks..."
Gengetsu let out a long breath, his expression remarkably carefree.
"As the loser, saying this isn't exactly cool, and it won't change anything."
"But I've lost."
"By Kirigakure's rules, I, Second Mizukage Hōzuki Gengetsu, hereby acknowledge you as the new First Mizukage!"
Gengetsu looked Hiruzen straight in the eye and simply let the sealing patterns spread across his body.
Life as an Impure World Reincarnation had come with plenty of entertainment, but being reduced to a puppet still felt awful.
Even if his soul itself wasn't being tormented, having a body that gave him absolutely no physical feedback was miserable in its own way.
Kirigakure's affairs were already settled.
He could finally rest in peace...
"If any of them have committed crimes, kill whoever needs killing. Don't hold back. You can blame it on me."
Gengetsu spoke with utmost seriousness. "You can't be a proper Mizukage if you refuse to kill when necessary. Just a little advice from experience..."
The Kiri shinobi present couldn't help twitching at the corners of their mouths.
Whether it was Nakamaro on Konoha's side or the still-unconfirmed Karatachi Yagura...
Why did every Mizukage this village produced seem to have something wrong with his head?!
Why were they always talking about killing people...?
Hiruzen smiled, finally at ease.
Kirigakure really did have some problems at its roots...
"As for the ones who haven't done anything wrong, I hope you'll give them work. Truth is, nobody really wants to spend their days killing. Who wouldn't want a life where they can make a living, go fishing, drink tea, spar every now and then, and take a few missions?"
The black sealing patterns had gradually climbed all the way to Gengetsu's neck.
He bowed his head deeply.
"I'm leaving Kirigakure in your hands, First Mizukage. Please take care of it!"
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Don't worry. I understand."
At that moment...
A new First Mizukage was officially born!
Just as Gengetsu was about to close his eyes, he happily thought to himself: 'Mū, you can keep working for Senju Tobirama! Kirigakure now has the strongest Mizukage in history. What are you Iwa bastards supposed to do now?'
Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!
From high above, a translucent pillar of light came crashing violently toward Hiruzen!
Mū had made his move!
Hiruzen's heart tightened, but he had already been prepared for this.
Back during the Sky Village's attack, an invisible flying shinobi capable of evading even Mito's precise sensing had briefly exposed part of an Impure World Reincarnation body when Mito launched a large-scale attack...
That was also one of the reasons everyone believed Madara was actually Tobirama...
'Kekkei Tōta, Dust Release...'
'Let's give it a try!'
Hiruzen gathered Spirit Release chakra and copied Mū's stance as best he could.
Spirit Release: Technique Detachment Technique!
A bluish-white pillar of light collided head-on with the gray-white pillar!
Hiruzen and Mū narrowed their eyes at the same time.
Compared to Gengetsu's secret techniques or ordinary Kekkei Genkai, Dust Release was not immediately erased by Spirit Release.
But neither was it able to display its supposed ability to decompose everything.
The two pillars of light clashed violently...
And after only a moment, the situation began to change!
The Spirit Release pillar showed no signs of being eroded, while the gray-white Dust Release pillar started to transform.
First, the barrier forming the Dust Release changed shape. A violent storm erupted inside it, and the least stable component—Wind Release chakra—began to peel away first...
Dust Release, a Kekkei Tōta formed from Wind, Earth, and Fire chakra, rapidly degraded once it lost the vital Wind Release component.
It dropped down into Lava Release and turned a blazing crimson!
Mū's eyes widened.
At this point, he wasn't sure whether he should feel proud or depressed...
Hiruzen's Spirit Release truly had failed to dismantle Dust Release instantly.
He had even been forced to counter it with a technique of a higher level than anything he'd used against Gengetsu...
But Mū's Dust Release, which he had always believed capable of disintegrating anything—even Susanoo—had actually been blocked!
Not merely blocked, either.
It was being taken apart.
Degraded.
A flash of understanding passed through Hiruzen's eyes.
He had wanted to experience Dust Release for a long time!
He had synthesized Kekkei Genkai before...
He also diligently practiced every day according to the composite chakra threads described on the Uchiha Sage Stone Tablet...
But he had never managed to grasp the key to Kekkei Tōta.
All his hard work had still been missing that final spark of inspiration.
This collision between Spirit Release and Dust Release, however, was essentially Mū personally guiding Hiruzen through the internal structure of Dust Release, allowing him to carefully take apart and examine the mysteries of a Kekkei Tōta.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
Gengetsu's eyes widened.
"Hokage, this has nothing to do with me! I told him to get lost, but that two-faced bastard with the rotten ass refused to leave! I genuinely want to return to the Pure Land!"
"Put this debt on Iwagakure! It has nothing to do with Kirigakure! You're the First Mizukage now, and I, the Second Mizukage, would never lie to you—aaaahhh!"
"Don't touch me! I don't want to go back!"
Gengetsu wailed like a ghost, the whole thing almost comical.
Because at that moment, Mū activated the Naraka Path!
A gigantic demonic face emerged from another dimension.
Its long tongue coiled around Gengetsu, yanked him over, and stuffed him straight into its mouth, where it began chewing furiously.
"Hmph. Trying to run?"
Mū's pupils contracted, and he once again unleashed Dust Release at Hiruzen.
This was his fission clone.
Ordinarily, a divided Mū shouldn't have been capable of using Dust Release.
But thanks to Madara's intervention, all of them were somewhat stronger than they had been in life.
"The Hokage is the first shinobi I've ever genuinely not wanted to use Dust Release against..."
"But I don't have a choice. I can't let that bastard Gengetsu run off by himself!"
"I helped him, so he has to stay and help me!"
It wasn't as though...
Mū had developed any strange feelings toward Hiruzen—the inheritor of Hashirama's Will, Madara's Will, and Ashina's kinjutsu; the Third Hokage; the First Mizukage; and the Shōgun of both the Land of Fire and the Land of Water—and therefore didn't want to hurt him with Dust Release...
Rather, Mū had a very strong premonition.
Every time Hiruzen dismantled his Dust Release, the likelihood of something terrible happening would increase dramatically...
Hiruzen's heart stirred.
Spirit Release and Dust Release collided once more!
But this time, Dust Release deteriorated and degraded noticeably faster than before.
Meanwhile, Mū's main body wrapped Gengetsu up and rapidly entered an invisible state using Dustless Bewildering Cover, then fled through the sky at full speed!
Just as Mū had said...
If a Kage wanted to escape, there were plenty of ways to do it.
And with his triple combination of fission, invisibility, and flight, Mū was already one of the foremost authorities on running away in the entire shinobi world.
He was no worse than Tobirama with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and under certain circumstances, might even be better.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes but did not pursue him.
Instead, he closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of having just dismantled Dust Release.
While the feeling was still fresh, he memorized several key nodes he hadn't understood before.
He had already caught hold of something crucial...
Nobody present dared disturb him.
Then Hiruzen abruptly opened his eyes.
Two masses of chakra appeared in his hands.
First came Earth and Fire.
The two rapidly merged, forming the Kekkei Genkai, Lava Release!
Wind chakra was then mixed in.
As Wind Release entered the crimson Lava Release, its temperature gradually rose to an extreme level, and its color began approaching a translucent white...
Nakamaro stared blankly.
Was he seriously reproducing it right now?
Because of his lingering psychological trauma from the Uchiha Clan, Nakamaro specifically looked closely at Hokage-sama's eyes.
There were no Sharingan tomoe there...
And even a Mangekyō Sharingan had never been said to possess the ability to copy Kekkei Genkai, much less Kekkei Tōta!
'So that's roughly how it works...'
Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully.
'There are still some details. For example, using a barrier to fix the area where the three kinds of chakra merge, allowing them to blend completely inside...'
'If I practice it a little more, I'll basically have it down. As expected of the Second Tsuchikage. Dust Release really is remarkable!'
Nakamaro and Kisame both twitched at the corners of their mouths.
Even Yagura in the distance couldn't keep a straight face.
So the Third Mizukage and Genji, those two bastards, had seriously believed a Hokage like this was weak all along?
Were they under genjutsu or something?
What kind of thought process even led to that conclusion?!
Yagura's thoughts raced.
He hurried forward and dropped to one knee before Hiruzen.
The Kiri shinobi behind him immediately knelt in a large group as well.
"First Mizukage-sama!"
Hiruzen swept his gaze across him and said calmly: "Disarm yourselves first. Kisame, take them to register. Since the Second Mizukage didn't kill you, I'll show him some consideration."
"Nakamaro, you're responsible for screening them. Deal with anyone who has problems according to the circumstances. Reorganize those who don't."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Nakamaro puffed out his chest.
Kisame obediently nodded and immediately led the others away to carry out Hiruzen's orders.
He really was born to do grunt work...
Yagura breathed a sigh of relief and said solemnly: "Thank you for your mercy, First Mizukage-sama!"
At least he himself was safe now...
"Hokage-sama, may I ask why Ice Release could break the Second Mizukage's illusion?"
Nakamaro finally gave in to his curiosity and asked.
"That technique of his is very simple."
"It's called genjutsu, but it's actually a physical phenomenon created through chakra—an application of light refraction."
"The clam releases high-temperature, high-salinity steam. Once the steam is expelled and naturally cools, it creates a continuous density gradient of the same substance in the air."
"Under those conditions, light is refracted, producing what people call an illusion."
Hiruzen patiently explained it to Nakamaro.
"Using Ice Release causes the high-temperature saline vapor to undergo salting-out. In theory, I should then use Wind Release to create turbulence and further disrupt the density layers, but Gengetsu obviously knew I could do that, so he stopped using the technique."
Nakamaro listened with a dazed expression.
Compared to Tenzō-ojiisan, Hokage-sama was the one who was truly educated!
"None of this is particularly difficult. In the future, the Konoha Research Department's papers will be open to you. Just study hard..."
Hiruzen patted Nakamaro on the head.
"Being eager to learn is a good thing."
"This is way too hard..."
Nakamaro scratched his head.
"To be honest, Hokage-sama, when it comes to fighting, I still want to follow Fugaku-aniki's path. But culturally, I want to learn from Council Member Jiraiya."
"I want to publish books!"
"His Shinobi Battle Through the Heavens is really good, but Saving Jōnin Yashiro is amazing. It's an absolute bestseller in the Land of Water right now. Everyone is learning about the Will of Fire through it."
"Maybe one day, I can become a bestselling author too and introduce everyone to Konoha and the Will of Fire!"
As Nakamaro spoke about his dream, a long-absent trace of youthful spirit appeared on his face.
But the moment he said it, Terumī Mei beside him and Kisame, who was working farther away, both struggled to hold it together.
Even Yagura unconsciously rolled his eyes.
A member of the Kaguya Clan writing books?
Even if Nakamaro was extraordinarily talented, there was no way he could write something of that caliber!
For once, Nakamaro's composure cracked.
His expression grew slightly annoyed.
Who were they looking down on?!
Hiruzen, however, felt a thought stir in his mind.
A Kaguya writing books sounded ridiculous, but if Nakamaro really could pull it off, it would be enormously beneficial for Kirigakure's cultural development and cohesion...
As for whether Nakamaro himself could actually do it, Hiruzen thought it would be very difficult.
But there was one problem.
Jiraiya hadn't come up with his own outlines and ideas either...
This was exactly where the Hokage's helping hand came in.
"Nakamaro..."
Hiruzen beckoned to him.
Nakamaro obediently came over.
"I have an outline and a concept here. Listen to it. If you think it works, I'll draw up a more detailed outline for you."
"Then you can adapt it based on your own experiences."
Hiruzen lightly cleared his throat and recounted a story he had once read—Oliver Twist.
At its core, Oliver Twist was about showing how terrifying an environment could become once humanity was stripped away.
The title was easy to adapt, and the content fit perfectly.
They could simply launch it as Orphan of Kirigakure!
Nakamaro was stunned at first, but the more he listened, the more excited he became, nodding repeatedly.
This, he knew!
He genuinely understood this!
"I understand! I understand, Hokage-sama!"
"This is perfect!"
A light unconsciously appeared in Nakamaro's eyes.
He might actually become the first bestselling author produced by the Kaguya Clan in a thousand years...
"Work hard, kid."
"You need to stay on top of the Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku, but you also need to advance culturally. Both sides matter."
Hiruzen spoke seriously.
"Don't get arrogant just because of a small advantage. The Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage were both able to return from the dead, but that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what's hidden in the shinobi world."
"Who's behind them? And is there someone else behind whoever is behind them? You absolutely cannot become arrogant or impatient."
"Of a hundred-mile journey, ninety miles are only half the road. And we're nowhere near ninety yet. Neither Konoha nor Kirigakure can afford to become complacent. We need to quickly digest the resources we've obtained."
Nakamaro wiped the smile from his face and replied with utmost seriousness: "Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Even so, he still couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart...
He was going to write the Land of Water's shocking masterpiece, Orphan of Kirigakure!
Just imagining the stunned looks his companions would give him made Nakamaro want to laugh.
A Kaguya...
Writing a book?
Even Tenzō-ojiisan would probably lose it when he heard about this.
"Hokage-sama's kindness..."
Nakamaro sighed repeatedly in admiration.
The best decision he had ever made in his life had been coming to Konoha to study for a year.
It had completely changed his destiny!
And at that very moment...
A man no larger than a grain of rice floated high in the sky with his arms folded.
As an observer unknown to everyone below, a trace of interest appeared in his eyes.
This man's name was Jigen.
His true name was Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
"Watching ants fight among themselves really is quite entertaining."
Originally, Isshiki had not been interested in the shinobi of this world at all...
Because compared with his current body, Jigen, even the other strongest shinobi of the world were still extremely limited in strength.
Fundamentally, there was no difference between them.
None of them could bear his power.
But the upheaval of the Third Shinobi World War was something he inevitably noticed as someone who genuinely lived within the shinobi world.
And while watching simply to relieve his boredom, Isshiki saw Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The man immediately aroused his intense interest...
This man was different!
And it wasn't only Hiruzen.
As one of the hidden masterminds of the shinobi world, Isshiki could clearly see traces of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's power lingering within Hōzuki Gengetsu and Mū...
That was also the core reason they were stronger than they had been while alive.
"There's actually a Rinnegan... and someone who can use it to this extent..."
"One Hokage, and one mysterious man hiding in the shadows. So the shinobi world does have suitable vessels after all!"
"This body won't last much longer. It's time to replace it. Far too inferior..."
Isshiki muttered to himself.
In truth, Jigen's body could still last several more decades.
But to an Ōtsutsuki's sense of time, a few decades was hardly enough to inspire confidence.
Isshiki had wandered the shinobi world for a thousand years without finding a suitable vessel.
And today, he had discovered two at once!
"Judging by the current situation in the shinobi world, that hidden figure with the Rinnegan is competing against the Hokage. The two of them will clash sooner or later..."
"Let me see which one is better first..."
Isshiki considered his options with a discerning eye.
"There's no need to seek out the one with the Rinnegan yet. Once the Hokage returns to Konoha, I can spend some time in the village and observe him more closely."
In Isshiki's eyes, although he had lived in the shinobi world for a thousand years and found some of humanity's schemes and creativity mildly novel, inferior life-forms were still inferior life-forms.
Having the qualifications to serve as his vessel did not mean they were capable of detecting him.
But what Isshiki didn't know was that Konoha did not contain only one Ōtsutsuki or one hidden mastermind.
There was also the Sage of Six Paths, who had spent a thousand years without interfering in the conflicts of the shinobi world, just like Isshiki, and who had created the brand-new concept of the Pure Land to gather chakra and souls while earning the reputation of being the fairest person in the entire shinobi world...
Inspired by the Will of Fire and the original ideals of Ninshū, he had taken on the identity of Ichiraku, a ramen chef in Konoha...
Nor did Isshiki realize that, even setting the Sage of Six Paths aside, the overall strength of the shinobi world—especially Konoha—was rising at an abnormal rate...
Natural energy, space-time techniques, powerful taijutsu, and other methods capable of harming an Ōtsutsuki were continuously emerging in Konoha.
Some were connected to Hiruzen.
Some were connected to the Sage of Six Paths.
And others existed because of Madara.
...
Mountains' Graveyard.
After Gengetsu and Mū returned...
Hi-kun found Obito and spoke to him earnestly.
"Obito, do you know why the Great Clan Head is treating you this way?"
"Because Konoha is in danger right now!"
"You have to do everything you can to become stronger. You need to learn everything you're capable of learning. Just like Hokage-sama said, you need to become strong enough that no matter what enemy stands before you, you'll have the ability to fight them to the death!"
Obito looked completely bewildered and pointed at himself.
"Huh? Hi-kun, you mean me?"
"Yes. You."
Hi-kun solemnly picked up a quotation he'd copied from Shinobi Battle Through the Heavens.
"Those destined to shoulder great responsibilities must first be tested by hardship. Adversity tempers the mind, strengthens the will, and forces people to develop abilities they never had before."
"The next Hokage might be Orochimaru, and the one after that might be your sensei, Minato."
"But can they, like Hokage-sama does now, perfectly balance Konoha's ever-growing situation and all its factions? I'm not convinced..."
"Civilians, shinobi clans, scientific research—and now we have the Tailed Beasts too, along with the new situations involving Kirigakure and Rōran. Compared with the Konoha of the past, the scale of everything has grown beyond recognition!"
"So you need to work hard!"
"I can see you becoming Hokage someday, Obito. You have that ability."
Obito blinked and unconsciously asked: "Really, Hi-kun?!"
"Really."
"However, in order to temper you, the Great Clan Head may come up with some rather extreme methods..."
Hi-kun was just about to continue.
It had actually come here to give Obito some advance warning.
But the impatient Obito immediately waved its words away, his Sharingan even appearing in his eyes.
"It's fine! I'm not afraid of extreme methods! Hi-kun, I really, really want to become Hokage. I dream about it all the time..."
"I'll listen to everything you say! Everything!"
"I'll respect you even more than the Great Clan Head does. I'll honor you even more. I really don't want to lose this chance!"
The moment Obito imagined himself wearing the Hokage's hat, his breathing unconsciously grew heavier.
The emotions on his face seemed almost tangible.
He grabbed Hi-kun's arm tightly, looking as if he were one step away from bursting into tears.
Even Hi-kun found itself struggling to keep up with the act.
Wait...
I was just trying to encourage you a little...
You seriously want to be Hokage that badly?
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I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
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