[Congratulations, Host. You have completed your 100th draw and triggered the pity system, obtaining an S-rank item: 5% Ōtsutsuki Bloodline.]
"Use."
A familiar surge of power slammed into Rasa's body.
His physique strengthened. His chakra reserves exploded upward.
...
"Twenty-five percent bloodline concentration."
"In other words, a full quarter of my body is now pure Ōtsutsuki."
Rasa felt it immediately—a sharp, electric stimulation focused on his eyes. Something was shifting. Something big.
"Could the increased bloodline purity be triggering another eye evolution?"
His pulse quickened.
The true power of the Ōtsutsuki clan didn't just lie in their monstrous bodies and chakra. It was their eyes. Byakugan. Rinnegan. Tenseigan. Every branch had its own terrifying variation. Some eyes sat in the center of palms. Others bloomed on foreheads. Otsutsuki Urashiki could freely switch between Byakugan, blue Rinnegan, and red Rinnegan.
Rasa's eyes burned with anticipation.
What would his bloodline give him?
Fresh intelligence poured in from the border.
The Land of Wind frontier had turned razor-sharp. Konoha scouts flooded the area, probing for weak points and perfect strike windows. Sand scouts hunted them ruthlessly the moment they were spotted. The war hadn't officially started, but the opening moves were already brutal.
Inside Konoha, Hiruzen laid out three clear objectives to his inner circle.
"First: deliver a heavy blow to Sunagakure. They've grown arrogant after crushing the Mist. They think they're untouchable. Time to remind them who the real powerhouse is."
"Second: gather every scrap of intel on the Sun Disk. Sand has poured massive resources into it. Whatever that thing is, it could threaten the Leaf."
"Third: Devil Fruit intelligence. One fruit can elevate a regular chunin straight to special jonin level. If Sunagakure has stockpiled these things…"
Hiruzen's expression turned deadly serious.
They already had confirmation. Two Sand navigation group members had eaten Devil Fruits—one turned into a half-wolf monster, the other a half-crow that could fly. The crow user had already caused chaos from above, dropping explosive tags that Konoha couldn't easily counter.
Air superiority was a massive advantage in the ninja world. Until now, only Rasa with his Magnet Release and Yatagarasu, or Iwagakure's few who mastered Ultra Light-Weight Rock Technique, held that edge. But Devil Fruits could multiply it fast. No one knew how many bird-type fruits Sand possessed.
The meeting ended.
Hiruzen sat alone, staring into his crystal ball at the village below. The ugly rumors about him had quieted. Everyone's attention had shifted to the coming war with Sand. Parents, siblings, and friends were heading to the front lines.
A classic political move—use an external enemy to silence internal dissent.
Still, he thought, Sand really does need to be taught a lesson. Rasa went after Danzo before—that was personal. But this time he came straight for me. I never wronged him or his village. What the hell is he really after?
Hiruzen didn't believe for a second that Rasa was just defending Minato's honor. A Kage didn't move without profit.
On the border, small clashes erupted, mostly between young shinobi.
With Baki stuck at the navigation group and Ryo buried in Mechanism Sand Boat research, the standout performer on Sand's side was an outsider.
Kisame Hoshigaki.
Water Style plus the Infinite Armor's chakra absorption made him a nightmare. Konoha, remembering the tournament, sent Might Guy specifically to counter him.
But this wasn't a tournament stage.
Kisame refused to play Guy's game. He dodged direct confrontation and went straight for other Leaf ninja.
"Water Style: Great Shark Bullet!"
A massive shark made of water chakra tore through the air and slammed into a Konoha shinobi. The man's chakra was ripped out in seconds. He collapsed, limp. The shark grew even larger.
Guy's eyes burned. "Kisame! Fight me like a man!"
Kisame glanced back, fired another Water Style jutsu, and put even more distance between them.
Guy exploded in rage.
"Mist traitor!"
"Coward!"
"Village deserter!"
Every insult landed, but Kisame ignored them all. He kept hunting easier targets.
Until a new voice cut through the chaos.
"Genjutsu: Tree Binding Kill!"
Kisame's body locked up.
Guy's eyes lit with savage joy. He charged, fist cocked back, aiming straight for Kisame's spine.
But before the punch could land—
"Monkey Fruit, Silverback Gorilla form!"