Chapter 28: Min's Support, Cursed Poison Beast Hunt, and Hiruzen's Stand
Upon returning to the Uchiha compound, Naraku saw Uchiha Min waiting for him and immediately knew it was about the weapons.
"Uchiha Chikara came to see me! But I refused! Naraku, I understand you—you're just like me: not good at expressing yourself, but you always keep the clan in your heart!" Uchiha Min said earnestly to Naraku.
Naraku could only think: I'm not! I don't!
However, as the power in his hands and his own strength grew stronger, Naraku had already changed his view of the Uchiha clan.
He suddenly realized he had been too narrow-minded before. In the future, once he controlled the Uchiha clan, he would arrange marriages between the Uchiha and Senju clans! Then he would selectively bestow weapons on the best offspring. One bloodline not enough? Then two! Two not enough? Three! Three still not enough? Mixed blood! Mixed blood not enough? Then more is better!
In the future, even if the entire Ōtsutsuki clan came to the ninja world, they'd have to call him grandpa!
Of course, there was also the possibility that with system upgrades, he could directly obtain weapons capable of crushing the Ōtsutsuki. But that was uncertain. Naraku preferred to secure what was certain first.
He then told Uchiha Min about the previous deal with Hiruzen and Danzō. Min didn't understand at first, but when Naraku explained that he did it so the Uchiha wouldn't make meaningless sacrifices...
Uchiha Min seemed to see a radiant light shining from Naraku.
Then Naraku sincerely said to Uchiha Min: "Great Elder! I want to improve so badly!"
Uchiha Chikara nodded with satisfaction: "Good! I will fully support you!"
...
This time the dangerous species capture location was one of Root's bases. From the outside it looked like an ordinary dirt mound, but inside it was a completely different world.
The entire base was surrounded by thick walls with almost no vulnerabilities for infiltration.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at one of Danzō's bases being so lavishly built—his face stayed dark the entire way inside.
Once inside, Naraku finally saw the central setup.
In the middle stood several Root ninjas ready to use sealing techniques at any moment. Outside that center area, dense rows of Root ninjas waited on standby.
Naraku calmly walked to a spot just outside the center and released the Cursed Poison Beast.
As soon as the beast was released, the prepared ninjas in the center immediately activated Four Violet Flames Formation.
Only then did everyone see the Cursed Poison Beast's appearance. Surprisingly, it wasn't particularly ferocious—it looked more like an enlarged rabbit, except for its unsettling scarlet eyes and pure black teeth.
The ninjas inside the Four Violet Flames Formation immediately launched their attack: senbon, shuriken, Fire Release—all fired at once.
But the Cursed Poison Beast moved with terrifying speed and dodged every single projectile.
It wasn't as docile as it appeared. It counterattacked the ninjas.
One Root ninja was happily throwing shuriken when he suddenly noticed a tiny cut on his hand.
In the next instant, countless curse marks spread rapidly from the wound, covering his entire body in less than a second. Then the Root ninja collapsed dead on the spot.
Hiruzen, watching the Cursed Poison Beast's performance from the side, broke out in a cold sweat. He had briefly considered handling it himself earlier. Now, seeing its method, he could only think: too诡异. One scratch and instant death.
Even he couldn't guarantee 100% evasion against that kind of attack. The beast could miss countless times, but he only needed to be hit once.
Danzō, however, had a different thought: Such terrifying curse poison—touch of death. If I could obtain this weapon, I could kill anyone I wanted.
Danzō glanced at his old friend Hiruzen beside him and thought: If this old friend refuses to give up his power and won't hand over the Hokage position, then there's no need for him to exist anymore!
Danzō's dark thoughts made Hiruzen's back feel cold—he simply attributed it to the Root base being too chilly.
As for their friendship—let's just say I'm crying.
Naraku watched as fewer and fewer Root ninjas remained inside the barrier. Now only one was still using Body Replacement and Clone Techniques to buy time and look for a counterattack. Just as Naraku was worrying about how to deal with the Cursed Poison Beast inside—
Danzō suddenly formed a seal. Every ninja inside the Four Violet Flames Formation exploded instantly—including the one still holding out.
Only then did Naraku notice that every Root ninja's body was covered in densely packed explosive tags.
Naraku's evaluation: As expected of Danzō—truly trash!
He mentally noted: I still have a lot to learn from this.
The massive explosion shattered the entire Four Violet Flames Formation. The four ninjas who had cast it were blasted outward.
Immediately after, the waiting Root ninjas outside beheaded the bloodied and mangled Cursed Poison Beast.
Naraku looked at Root's coordination and thought: They've got some skills.
Hiruzen beside him wasn't pleased—perhaps feeling ashamed. This kind of fighting style really didn't align with the Will of Fire.
Seeing the Cursed Poison Beast beheaded, Naraku sent a shadow clone to collect it into the pre-prepared container.
Just as Naraku prepared to release the second dangerous species, Hiruzen stepped forward: "Little Naraku, leave this second special dangerous species to me. If it's only controlling the dead, then the fewer people involved the better."
With this action, Naraku's impression of Hiruzen improved instantly. In this era, Hiruzen still deserved the title of "Ninja Hero."
Compared to Hiruzen, Danzō really seemed like a rat hiding in the sewer—utterly shameful. No wonder Hiruzen never worried about Danzō becoming Hokage.
Naraku suspected Danzō's actual chance of becoming Hokage might be even lower than his own!
Danzō watched Hiruzen slowly walk to the center of the base and felt nothing but disgust.
Back when the Second Hokage chose to stay behind, Hiruzen was the first to save his own skin—and ended up getting the Hokage position.
Now, in this mostly empty Root base, Hiruzen was still trying to win hearts!
Hiruzen waved the surrounding Root ninjas back, then performed the Summoning Technique.
With a burst of smoke, a massive, muscular monkey appeared before everyone—Enma, the Monkey King.
Enma looked around and saw no enemies, so he asked Hiruzen: "Old partner! What's the matter?"
Hiruzen replied: "An enemy will appear soon. Transform!"
--------------------------
You can support me here patreon.com/inkshield
Your support boosts my motivation and confidence, helping me focus and release chapters more consistently.
Every bit of support inspires me to keep creating better content.