"Earthbind Talisman—Seal!"
—
The talisman ignited the instant it touched the ground—
Dissolving into a murky glow that seeped deep into the earth.
—
The two Sarutobi ninja at the front stiffened immediately.
—
Their bodies grew heavy—
As if invisible chains had wrapped around their organs.
—
Even their chakra—
Turned sluggish.
Viscous.
—
No pause.
—
Xiuren's hand flicked again.
—
"Profound Yin Talisman—Seal!"
—
The paper burst silently midair.
—
No dazzling ice.
—
No flashy technique.
—
Only—
A pale, deathly chill—
Spreading outward.
—
One ninja reacted quickly—
Leaping back.
—
But—
Too late.
—
The frost brushed his arm.
—
Instantly—
The cold invaded.
—
Bone-deep.
—
His arm went numb.
—
Half his chakra network—
Froze.
—
As if pierced by countless icy needles.
—
"Watch the talismans!"
—
A seasoned jōnin shouted sharply.
—
"Their effects are abnormal!"
—
But before the warning finished—
—
Another talisman was already in motion.
—
"Mind Chaos Talisman—Seal!"
—
The paper ignited without wind.
—
An invisible wave—
—
Struck directly at the mind.
—
Several chūnin froze.
—
Eyes vacant.
—
Their ears filled—
With the wails of countless spirits.
—
Fear surged.
—
Negative emotions—
Out of control.
—
Their hand seals—
Collapsed.
—
Even the jōnin—
Though he forced it down with sheer chakra—
—
Couldn't prevent the formation—
—
From breaking.
—
"…Time to test the small tools."
—
Xiuren moved without hesitation.
—
From his sleeve—
A handful of crude paper dolls.
—
He bit his fingertip—
—
Blood sealing three of them.
—
Murmuring low incantations—
—
He flicked his wrist.
—
Whoosh!
—
The dolls shot forward—
Like arrows.
—
Simple mechanism.
—
Lock.
Attach.
—
Then—
Override the target's will—
With invading chakra.
—
"Watch the dolls!"
—
The leading jōnin barked.
—
Two ninja reacted in time—
—
Cutting them down midair.
—
But—
The third—
—
Too slow.
—
"Ugh—!"
—
His body stiffened.
—
Eyes—
Still conscious.
—
But his body—
—
Moved on its own.
—
He turned—
—
And slashed at his own teammate.
—
"Ryota! Wake up!"
—
His ally blocked desperately—
—
Refusing to strike him down.
—
"He's controlled! Subdue him!"
—
Two more rushed in.
—
The formation—
Collapsed further.
—
Xiuren didn't linger.
—
The moment chaos spread—
—
He moved.
—
Retreating at full speed—
—
Straight toward a gap.
—
While moving—
—
More dolls scattered from his hands.
—
This time—
—
Not precise.
—
Not controlled.
—
They swarmed.
—
Like parasites.
—
Clinging to faces—
Arms—
Forcing defense.
—
Then—
—
The battlefield changed.
—
A presence descended.
—
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
—
The Adamantine Staff fell—
—
Tearing through the air.
—
Simple.
—
Direct.
—
But—
—
Terrifying.
—
The three talismans Xiuren threw—
—
Shredded instantly.
—
No resistance.
—
No delay.
—
In that instant—
—
Xiuren twisted his body.
—
The staff grazed past his shoulder—
—
And slammed into the ground.
—
BOOM!
—
Stone shattered.
—
Debris exploded outward.
—
Hiruzen's wrist turned.
—
The downward strike—
—
Became a horizontal sweep.
—
The staff cut through the air—
—
Like a falling mountain.
—
Aimed—
—
At Xiuren's waist.
—
Xiuren gritted his teeth—
—
Retreating sharply.
—
Throwing out more dolls—
—
Trying to interfere.
—
But the moment they left his hand—
—
They were crushed—
—
By the sheer wind pressure.
—
"…Too strong."
—
"…So this is a Kage."
—
A chill ran down his spine.
—
Before absolute power—
—
Tricks meant nothing.
—
The staff struck again.
—
This time—
—
Straight for his forehead.
—
Too fast.
—
No escape.
—
And yet—
—
Xiuren smiled.
—
"Pfft—!"
—
The staff pierced his skull.
—
Cleanly.
—
But—
—
No blood.
—
No flesh.
—
The "Xiuren" froze.
—
His skin—
—
Turned gray.
—
Withered.
—
Then—
—
Collapsed.
—
Into a life-sized paper doll.
—
At its forehead—
—
Where the staff struck—
—
A sickly green flame ignited.
—
At the same moment—
—
Every paper doll—
—
Scattered across the battlefield—
—
The torn ones.
—
The deflected ones.
—
The ones midair.
—
Even the one attached to the controlled ninja—
—
All ignited.
—
Silently.
—
Burning.
—
Reducing everything—
—
To ash.
—
Hiruzen withdrew his staff slowly.
—
A trace of doubt—
—
Flickered in his eyes.
—
By day—
—
He had just learned—
—
That Uchiha Obito might still be alive.
—
By night—
—
An unknown infiltrator—
—
Appeared.
—
Too coincidental.
—
"Clan Head!"
—
The leading jōnin knelt.
—
"This is our failure—"
—
"Enough."
—
Hiruzen interrupted calmly.
—
"The enemy's methods are unusual."
—
"This is not your fault."
—
He crouched—
—
Examining the ashes.
—
Residual chakra lingered—
—
Cold.
—
Unfamiliar.
—
Not ninjutsu.
—
"Inform the ANBU."
—
"Reinforce all key areas."
—
His tone—
—
Steady.
—
After they left—
—
He remained alone.
—
Night wind stirred his robes.
—
His gaze—
—
Drifted.
—
Toward the Uchiha compound.
—
"Uchiha Obito…"
—
"This intruder…"
—
"Are they connected?"
—
Talismans.
—
Paper techniques.
—
Not typical of the Uchiha.
—
But—
—
If that masked man could control the Nine-Tails—
—
Then such methods—
—
Were not impossible.
—
...
—
Elsewhere—
—
Uchiha Xiuren stood near the Memorial Stone.
—
He glanced toward the distant Sarutobi compound.
—
Through the fading connection of his paper clone—
—
He had seen everything.
—
The Third Hokage's strength—
—
Overwhelming.
—
"…As expected."
—
"Against a Kage…"
—
"These techniques are still lacking."
—
No frustration.
—
Only analysis.
—
Paper constructs—
—
Fragile by nature.
—
That he lasted this long—
—
Was already a success.
—
Forcing the Hokage to act—
—
Exceeded expectations.
—
"…Still…"
—
"These techniques have potential."
—
He adjusted his glasses.
—
Already refining.
—
Combining effects.
—
Enhancing durability.
—
Optimizing control.
—
—
This test—
—
Was a success.
—
Shimura grounds—
—
Seed planted.
—
Memorial Stone—
—
Second anchor set.
—
Combat viability—
—
Confirmed.
—
Kage-level threat—
—
Understood.
—
But more importantly—
—
There was something unexpected.
—
Even he hadn't predicted it.
—
That person—
—
Was dead.
—
And not buried within the clan—
—
But—
—
At the Memorial Stone.
—
"…Now that…"
—
"…is interesting."