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Chapter 141: Strength Increases, Mid Kage-Level!
🕑 Added 2025-08-20 14:45:34 +0000 UTCChapter 141: Strength Increases, Mid Kage-Level!
[Having mastered one elemental-release-type Kekkei Genkai [Lava Release], your [Ninjutsu] and [Wisdom] stats have been enhanced! Overall evaluation has increased!]
[Ninjutsu: A → A+]
[Wisdom: A → A+]
[Overall Evaluation: A- → A (Mid Kage-level)]
With the blast of that "Great Eruption," new message prompts were immediately transmitted from the panel.
"The mastery of the three Kekkei Genkai, [Scorch Release], [Explosion Release], and [Lava Release], has finally raised these two A-rank stats by a small level!"
Nara Keisuke glanced at the message on the panel, feeling even more pleased. "The [Ninjutsu] stat in front is secondary; its improvement only represents an increase in my mastery of techniques. The key is the [Wisdom] stat. The growth of my spiritual energy has increased the amount of Yin Release chakra I can command, thereby enhancing my comprehensive combat power."
Keisuke closed the panel and silently checked the situation with his [Yin Seal]. Since his spar with his three team members, where he had basically confirmed their comprehensive strength, he had placed the [Yin Seal] within his own shadow. For the past few months, he had been continuously storing his Yin Release chakra into it. Day by day, it accumulated.
He estimated that his [Yin Seal] should have now accumulated about "one and a half of himself" worth of Yin chakra—of course, this was "one and a half" before his [Wisdom] stat had increased. If converted into a value, it would be about an S-rank amount of chakra. It would still take some time to completely fill the [Yin Seal]. But if this chakra was just used to consume and maintain the [Shadow Transformation Technique]...
"Since my [Wisdom] has increased, the amount of Yin Release chakra that can be stored in the [Yin Seal] in the future will also increase."
Keisuke decided to continue to increase the amount of Yin Release chakra he invested into the seal to increase the operational time of his "Shadow Gundam."
"Speaking of which, who said you can only have one [Yin Seal]? If conditions permit, I can totally set up a few more, which can also serve as reserve energy for the 'Shadow Gundam'..."
Lost in thought, Nara Keisuke steered the [Shadow Creature], crossing half of the Land of Grass, and returned to the Konoha camp.
Having not returned for a while, the camp no longer had the crowded scene from when he and his team had first arrived. The continuation of the war had caused a visible reduction in the number of active ninja in the camp. But the landing of the [Shadow Creature] still attracted the memories of many ninja, and they all cast looks of respect at him.
Keisuke responded to the greetings of the surrounding ninja while heading towards the main command tent in the core area of the camp. As the supreme commander of the front line, unless necessary, Orochimaru would basically not leave the camp.
After being announced, Keisuke smoothly entered the main tent and met with Orochimaru. Compared to a few months ago, Orochimaru's complexion had become even paler, and his whole person exuded a cold aura that kept strangers at bay, like a poisonous snake coiled on a chair.
"Nara-kun," Orochimaru's signature hoarse voice sounded. "Long time no see."
"I'm here to deliver mission intelligence." Keisuke wasted no time on pleasantries and got straight to the point. "On the way back just now, I was ambushed by Iwagakure in a planned attack. After wiping out a small Iwa unit, a ninja in the team used the Reverse Summoning Technique to transmit a message to the outside and summoned the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Ōnoki of Both Scales, and the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Rōshi. Ōnoki was not seriously injured in the battle, but the Four-Tails inside Rōshi went out of control. This Jinchuriki should not be able to be active on the battlefield for a long time."
At first, Orochimaru's expression was very calm. After all, in the past few months, it wasn't as if Keisuke hadn't returned to deliver intelligence before. But as he continued to narrate the content, Orochimaru suddenly couldn't keep his composure.
The Third Tsuchikage plus the Four-Tails Jinchuriki? They jointly ambushed you, and were instead beaten, one injured and one fleeing? If my ears and brain aren't failing me, your intelligence just now can be translated like that, right?
"Nara-kun." The calm expression on Orochimaru's face disappeared, replaced by one of full gravity. "Are you sure your intelligence is accurate?"
"This is the location where I fought Ōnoki and the Four-Tails Jinchuriki." Keisuke presented a pre-prepared intelligence scroll. "Originally, I could have also requested support from the Konoha camp just like Ōnoki, but considering the opponent's strength, I couldn't be bothered with the effort. If you're not at ease, you can send someone to confirm."
"It does indeed need to be confirmed." Orochimaru very frankly handed the scroll to a nearby intelligence ninja.
For the past few months, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki had been active on the Land of Grass battlefield, using his special and powerful Lava Release to cause no small amount of trouble and trauma for the Konoha ninja. If the other party was really, as Keisuke had said, "seriously injured" and "temporarily unable to act," then Konoha would surely welcome a rare opportunity to catch its breath. It wouldn't be impossible to use this to launch a counter-attack on the Iwagakure front...
Although Keisuke had not been too detailed in his report, how could Orochimaru not guess that Rōshi's loss of control was definitely related to him!
'If what he said is true, from the previous Five-Tails to the current Four-Tails, this brat from the Nara family seems to have some kind of special counter against Jinchuriki...' A thought flashed through Orochimaru's mind, but not a hint of it showed on his face.
"In any case, Nara-kun has been active on the battlefield for so long and has even earned the title of 'Black Beast'—"
"Wait! What the hell is with this broken nickname?" Keisuke somewhat impolitely interrupted Orochimaru. "The Iwa side also calls me that... Is this my title now?"
Orochimaru was a little puzzled by the focus of his attention. In the ninja world, a "title" was just that. For example, himself. Was the title "Sannin" very pleasant to hear? It was just the pity of a victor for the vanquished...
"In short." Orochimaru collected his thoughts and did not respond to his question. "Please rest in the camp for two days, Nara-kun. Also, Shisui-kun and your other two team members will also return to the camp to rest today."
Actually, Uchiha Shisui and the other three did not have a vacation at present. But considering Keisuke's bombshell news, Orochimaru decided to temporarily recall those three from the front lines, and also to tie down Keisuke to prevent this guy from coming to find trouble with him again later.
After receiving the supreme commander's order, Keisuke turned and left without any hesitation. The research plan had temporarily come to an end. He was indeed planning to rest in the camp for a few days.
In the afternoon.
Uchiha Shisui, Hyūga Retsu, and Shizune returned from the front to the rear camp. The information they heard along the way filled the three children's hearts with doubt.
"What? The captain fought the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure?"
"What? The captain took down the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure?"
"What? The captain is going to be the Fourth Hokage?"
Hearing the three team members' doubts, Nara Keisuke was even more confused than them. "Where did you all hear this from?"
Shisui, Retsu, and Shizune said in unison, "That's what everyone is saying."
"Orochimaru confirmed the intelligence and spread it widely?" Keisuke thought about it and could only come up with this possibility. "To boost morale and at the same time strike at the enemy?"
"Captain, is what everyone is saying true?" Shisui came closer, so excited he almost activated his three-tomoe. "Did you really fight the Third Tsuchikage?"
"No, I did not fight the Tsuchikage," Keisuke said in a foul mood. "What I fought was an old turtle."
"An old turtle?" Shizune blinked,ignorant.
"And what Four-Tails?" Keisuke sneered. "It was just an absurdly ugly red-haired baboon."
After hearing the captain's description, the three team members belatedly reacted. What old turtle, what red-haired baboon. Aren't those the Tsuchikage and the Four-Tails? So what everyone was saying is true!
"So Captain, are you really going to be the Fourth Hokage?" Shisui asked with great interest. "Speaking of which, I've also received a promotion from the village during this time and have become a Jonin. If you're going to be the Fourth, I'll definitely vote for you!"
Keisuke looked at him in surprise. "Jonin?"
"Special Jonin," Hyūga Retsu coolly cut in, while also stepping forward. "Captain, I want to challenge you!"
Uchiha Shisui and Shizune at the side looked at this scene, already not finding it strange at all.
"Uh..." Keisuke opened his mouth and brought up the old matter again. "Ah, Hyūga, look at Shisui over there..."
"I have already fought Shisui many times," Retsu said calmly. "So far, I have beaten him once."
"Next time?" Keisuke subconsciously added.
Retsu's gaze immediately became colder and sharper than the biting wind in the dead of winter.
"Alright, I apologize." Keisuke bowed slightly to show his apology. "I shouldn't have teased you like that."
Retsu's expression warmed. "Then accept my challenge."
"That really won't do." Keisuke once again shook his head, feigning a weak and powerless state. "You know, Hyūga, I just fought an old turtle and a red-haired baboon for a long time. The consumption was really too great. How about... we talk about it next time?"
Retsu frowned and confirmed, "Next time for sure?"
Keisuke made an empty promise. "Next time for sure."
(End of Chapter)
