Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 155
🕑 Added 2025-01-23 18:43:34 +0000 UTC"Masashi, I don't quite understand what you mean."
Matsu was now certain that Masashi was here to pick a fight.
As the intel suggested, he was the biggest obstacle in this negotiation.
"So, you admit it?" Masashi asked. "I already found it suspicious when I saw the documents. For a village as prominent as Kumo, how could they send just one leader? And now, suddenly, a jonin appears out of nowhere. Do you think Konoha is some random place? You missing-nin are so used to being unruly that you think the Five Great Villages share your lack of discipline?"
The temple groaned under immense strain, and in the eyes of the Kumo ninjas, the white chakra surrounding Masashi on the rooftop reappeared.
But this time, it wasn't just a faint layer. It spread rapidly, forming a massive outline.
Before Matsu could issue any orders, the Kumo ninjas quickly retreated. Barely a moment later, the temple collapsed with a deafening roar, and a towering, angular white giant rose from the rubble.
With a casual sweep of its hand, a torrent of debris rained down on the Kumo ninjas.
At this point, they abandoned all other concerns and used their jutsu.
A massive combination of water jutsu surged forth to block the barrage of debris.
"Water, huh..." Masashi, inside the Susanoo shaped like a mobile suit, said sarcastically. "You're pretending to be Kumo ninjas, but you're not even using lightning style? Alright, then."
A massive flaming sword extended nearly a hundred meters, slicing through the combined water attacks like tofu. Nearly half of the Kumo ninjas were engulfed by the massive flame sword.
As the spiritual energy of the engulfed ninja was drained through the flaming sword, their bodies first shriveled up before turning into burning human torches.
The three sacred treasures of Susanoo were truly convenient!
Not only did it drain spiritual energy, but it also nullified enemy jutsu instantly. Even the basic rules of element affinity, like water defeating fire, were ignored. The water created with chakra was decomposed as soon as it made contact with the sword, its spiritual energy absorbed, and the remaining water couldn't resist the high temperatures of his Kagutsuchi.
Of course, this was also because the skill level of the two sides was too far apart. If it were a water jutsu from someone like Yagura, Masashi wouldn't use such a simple and straightforward approach.
The giant flaming sword retracted into Susanoo's hand. With a leap, Susanoo covered over ten meters and landed heavily, crushing several still-burning figures into the ground.
True obliteration.
No wonder Madara loved activating his Susanoo—this thing was addictively powerful.
Especially when there were no side effects. For one-against-many situations, starting with Susanoo was more convenient than anything else.
Still, the full-body form was the best. Only the complete Susanoo could act as a multiplier for the user's ninjutsu and fully unleash their power.
Otherwise, it was merely a big brute that could throw punches. In high-level battles, both strength and skill were indispensable.
Take Hashirama, for example—call him simple-minded or foolish, but his fighting style was truly an art, dazzling with tactics and strategies.
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The remaining Kumo ninjas were running for their lives.
The White Ghost had gone mad! He was intent on killing the diplomatic envoy!
"White Ghost, are you insane? We really are an official envoy from Kumo!" Matsu shouted desperately, feeling like the world had gone mad.
The usually gentle Konoha had deliberately set a trap and was now slaughtering the envoy!?
Was this still Konoha?
And Kumo, known for its boldness and strength, sent an envoy only to be chased and cut down?
Was this still Kumo?
After Muzo, another madman had emerged in Konoha!?
"Masashi! Are you trying to emulate Muzo!?"
"First you call me White Ghost, then you call me by my name. Am I your dad or something? Do you get to call me whatever you want?"
Matsu's face turned beet red, not knowing if it was from running or anger. "You fucker—"
Before the words had fully landed, the familiar roaring sound erupted behind him, accompanied by suffocating heat waves.
Holy crap!
Matsu used the Lightning Body Flicker, diving sideways like a starving dog, smashing through several trees in the process.
The splintered wood nearly pierced his eye sockets, but he couldn't care less.
As he soared through the air, he looked back to see a sea of red flames surging past his feet, engulfing the area he had just fled.
Horrified screams echoed as his comrades' figures writhed and struggled in the inferno before falling silent.
Matsu shot out of the forest like a cannonball, landing heavily in the mud and rolling far.
Dazed and disoriented, a burning sensation spread from his foot.
Recalling the intel describing Masashi's jutsu, he acted without hesitation. He crudely reset his dislocated arm and, despite the pain, grabbed his water flask and poured it over his foot.
Hiss!
The sound of flesh searing on a hot griddle was accompanied by rising steam that scalded his hand, raising blisters.
He gritted his teeth, refusing to utter a sound.
When the flask was empty, the burning sensation on his foot finally subsided. He tossed the flask aside and examined his now mangled hand before looking at his foot.
It was visibly smaller.
At least it still had feeling—it wasn't completely useless.
Despair filled his heart.
Such overwhelming strength... It was unlike the Raikage's raw power.
Was this the rumored Kage-level strength?
No wonder they said only another Kage-level ninja could match one.
Raising his head, he saw the forest on the other side ablaze, flames soaring into the night sky, dyeing half the sky red.
As a jonin, he was in this state. His comrades were likely all dead by now.
Suddenly, he saw Masashi emerge from the forest.
"Your reflexes aren't bad."
"Are you really going to push Kumo to the brink!?" Matsu sweated profusely.
The air was heavy with overwhelming chakra pressing in from all directions.
Even his chakra release had reached such a terrifying level?
Facing the monster before him, he felt a bitter taste in his heart.
Kumo still underestimated the strength of Masashi. He had grown stronger—far stronger than before!
An ice giant? That was already in the past! The giant just now was pure, unadulterated, and cold chakra.
And that sword—there was something off about it. It had the power to break through jutsu!
"I've already told you, we are an envoy from Kumo, and the documents are on me," Matsu gritted his teeth and said.
Even though Masashi had slaughtered the envoy without mercy, he hadn't forgotten that Masashi was still trying to frame them as impostors disguised as Kumo ninjas.
Despite the rumors labeling Masashi as "bloodthirsty and cruel," he was no second Muzo. His brutality always operated within the framework of the shinobi world's rules.
A rogue, yes—but a rogue who followed the rules.
Thus, even if Matsu were to die here, he had to insist he was a true envoy from Kumo.
Whether the truth would come to light later wasn't his concern. His responsibility was to fulfill his role!
After speaking, Matsu reached for the documents on his person.
Even if Masashi were to pin him to the ground with his flame sword, he had to ensure the document in his possession would be safely presented to him.
He was betting on Masashi's underlying adherence to the rules—betting that the White Ghost wouldn't destroy the document!
Matsu's actions were all under Masashi's watchful gaze.
The tomoe in his Sharingan rotated slightly as he summoned a flame sword into his hand.
He looked at the Kumo ninja before him.
This ninja likely knew he was doomed but was still clinging to the document.
Masashi's mind wandered to another individual—a man he had only met once, who had been mocked his entire life yet left the world in a blaze of unparalleled heroism.
Though their purposes differed, their attitudes in the face of death were strikingly similar.
Finally, Matsu pulled out the document. Using his one remaining functional hand, he carefully extracted it, worried it might be stained with blood and ruin the writing.
He held the document high, avoiding what he thought might be the trajectory of Masashi's flame sword, and locked eyes with him.
Fear filled his gaze, but his hand was steady, as though holding not a document but his very life.
"What's your name?" Masashi asked.
"Matsu, jonin of Kumo."
"Since you're from the Yotsuki clan, why not use Storm Release?"
"You can learn any jutsu you see. Storm Release is not mine alone."
Masashi smirked.
So, his reputation had truly spread. That was inconvenient.
Couldn't these people have a little more confidence? Storm Release was a bloodline limit, for heaven's sake! Sharingan couldn't copy bloodline limits—this was common knowledge!
The flame sword vanished from his hand.
"Hand over the document," he said, extending his hand.
Matsu was overjoyed. He staggered to his feet and respectfully placed the document in Masashi's hand.
Masashi unrolled it.
It was authentic, bearing the Fourth Raikage's personal signature. The anti-counterfeiting markers matched the previous documents.
"I'll have the Hokage verify the Raikage's signature, but you still won't be meeting the Hokage."
"My mission was to deliver the Fourth Raikage's signed document," Matsu said with a pleading look. "That's enough, isn't it?"
"What are you thinking? If you might actually be from Kumo, of course you won't be killed," Masashi glanced at him. "Congratulations, you survived."
Matsu was stunned.
Masashi rolled the document back up and placed a hand on Matsu's shoulder to activate the Flying Thunder God.
The two instantly reappeared at the entrance of the Police Force.
The Uchiha ninja guarding the entrance saw Masashi holding a man and quickly approached.
"Send a squad to escort him to the hospital. This man is suspected to be an important figure from Kumo. Detain him for now, and if he acts up, kill him," he handed Matsu to his clansmen, then looked him in the eye. "You heard what I said. Behave, or you'll leave here dead."
Still dazed, Matsu nodded instinctively.
An Uchiha ninja took control of him, not caring about how miserable he looked. The ninja called into the Police Force building, summoning a four-man patrol team.
The team was composed of one Uchiha, one Hyūga, one Inuzuka, and one Aburame—a standard elite team configuration for the current Police Force.
The team took over the task of escorting Matsu and headed to Konoha Hospital.
"Where's Yaku-sama?" Masashi asked the Uchiha at the entrance.
"He is still in the office," the ninja replied. "Who was that guy?"
"Oh, you know how they said Kumo was sending envoys today? I checked it out and they didn't look legit, so I fought them. This guy's the only survivor."
"Ah, that makes sense," the younger Uchiha nodded in realization. "Anyone picking a fight with you is just digging their own grave."
"Hey, I was just defending myself," Masashi laughed and patted the young man on the shoulder. "Let Yaku-sama know what happened. I'm in a hurry and need to head to the Hokage's office."
"Got it. Leave the rest to me."
After saying goodbye to his younger clansman, Masashi used Flying Thunder God to teleport to the Hokage's office, heading straight in.
The Konoha ninja stationed at the office door had become so familiar with his comings and goings that they opened the door for him without a word.
Inside the office, the "Konoha Five" were all present—two drinking tea, one smoking, and two reading books.
They were clearly waiting for him.
"Hokage-sama, here's the new document," Masashi handed it over.
"A new document? So, there was a personnel change?" Minato set down his treasured tea and began reviewing the document.
Fugaku, sitting nearby, asked, "Were there any survivors?"
"Fugaku-sama, that's a bit harsh. Am I that kind of person?"
"If you're not, does that mean I am?" Fugaku retorted unhappily. "It's just a few people; what's there to feel guilty about?"
"Just so you know, I technically didn't start the fight," Masashi clarified. "I killed the others but spared the jonin."
"Since the Kumo ninjas attacked first, it's not an issue," Hiruzen said, pausing his smoking. The old man wore a nostalgic expression. "It was the same in the past, yet we still signed treaties."
Koharu and Homura both nodded, somewhat wistfully.
Even after all these years, the events of the past were hard to let go of.
But sitting in these positions meant many decisions were beyond personal preference.
Who would have thought that years later, they'd get another chance to assert themselves?
