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[Konoha] Chapter 280: Truth-Seeking Balls!
🕑 Added 2024-12-18 09:30:01 +0000 UTC“Although they’re vast in numbers, the good news is that these creatures don’t possess significant combat strength.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi, acting as the commander, broke the heavy atmosphere with a steady voice. “Our preparations haven’t gone to waste; we’ve stockpiled enough ninja tools.”
“The next step is to devise a battle plan. We must wipe out these White Zetsu entirely!”
“Shikaku, I’ll leave this task to you.”
Nara Shikaku nodded immediately. “Understood!”
Onoki added, “The Third Hokage is right. Although the enemy is numerous, they are by no means invincible against us.”
“This isn’t just a battle for the Five Great Ninja Villages; it’s a fight for the survival of the entire ninja world!”
Hiruzen agreed promptly, saying, “Exactly. Then, Tsuchikage, could I trouble you to send people to other ninja villages and have them join us?”
Onoki nodded, then added, “There’s another matter: the safety of the daimyōs.”
“This battlefield may affect several northern nations. It’s necessary to relocate the daimyōs of those countries to Konoha for protection.”
Hiruzen had already considered this plan. Since Onoki brought it up, he immediately agreed and entrusted the task of protecting the daimyōs to the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumī.
Moreover, it wasn’t just the northern nations’ daimyōs; to be cautious, Hiruzen suggested relocating all daimyōs to Konoha for protection.
Of course, this proposal wasn’t an excuse to manipulate the daimyōs later but to ensure stability across all nations. This way, ninjas could focus on the war without worrying about logistics.
Such preparedness was one of the ninjas’ key advantages.
After all, no one could predict how long this war would last.
Just as the Kage prepared to discuss tactics, spatial ripples filled the air. Masked Uchiha Obito appeared.
“Obito!”
Minato Namikaze was the first to react.
“Akatsuki scum!”
The Fourth Raikage’s anger erupted. “You dare show up here? Are you courting death?”
Uchiha Obito replied indifferently, “Raikage, you’re welcome to try.”
In the next moment, the Fourth Raikage charged to Obito’s side, aiming a chopping hand at him, but it passed through Obito’s body without resistance.
The Raikage’s expression darkened as he retreated. “That space-time ninjutsu we’ve heard about... Damn it!”
Onoki spoke gravely, “Don’t waste your energy.”
“Akatsuki member, state your purpose!”
Obito chuckled. “Now that’s more like it.”
“Very well, I’ll formally announce on behalf of the Akatsuki—”
“The Fourth Great Ninja War has officially begun!”
With his mission complete, Uchiha Obito vanished swiftly.
He wasn’t interested in lingering here but didn’t leave Konoha entirely.
---
Root Division
In the Root Base, a clone of Shūichi, busy with paperwork, suddenly looked up with a knowing smile. “How impatient he is.”
Lowering his head, Shūichi continued his work, opting not to interrupt the reunion between Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin.
---
Meanwhile, Rin Nohara, initially startled by Obito’s sudden appearance, was overjoyed. “Obito?”
“Is it really you?”
Obito removed his mask. “Rin, it’s me!”
Rin’s eyes curved into happy crescents. “That’s wonderful!”
“Obito, are you planning to leave the Akatsuki and come back?”
Looking at the person who occupied his heart, Obito wavered but ultimately shook his head. “Not yet, Rin. Not now.”
“I still need to cooperate with Shūichi to unify the ninja world and eliminate war completely!”
“I see…” Rin looked slightly disappointed but quickly broke into a bright smile. “Then, do your best!”
“Obito, you’re going to become Hokage, remember?!”
Obito smiled softly. “Of course. I’ll definitely return!”
“And as for that smug Kakashi, tell him to be careful on the battlefield. Without me, no one’s there to save him in time!”
Rin laughed and nodded earnestly. “Got it!”
“I have to go now…”
Obito hesitated, reluctant to leave.
Rin activated her Mangekyō Sharingan and smiled at him. “Obito, I’ll always be watching you with your eyes.”
“Do your best!”
Obito gave a firm nod, his figure fading gradually.
Instead of leaving the Root Base, Uchiha Obito headed straight into Shūichi's office.
“Not planning to return just yet?” Shūichi asked casually.
Obito shook his head. “It’s not the right time.”
“Nagato has temporarily substituted the Nine-Tails with the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers, and the Ten-Tails is gradually reviving. However, Uchiha Madara hasn’t demanded Nagato resurrect him, though Nagato wouldn’t do so anyway.”
“That said, Madara’s situation feels... unusual. It’s as if he’s confident that even if Nagato becomes the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki, he’ll still be able to control him.”
Before Shūichi could respond, Obito continued, “While Madara left seals inside all of us, dealing with them isn’t difficult for those of us with Hashirama’s cells.”
Shūichi smiled faintly. “You’re underestimating Madara, someone who once awakened the Rinnegan.”
“Remember, the last person to awaken the Rinnegan—the Sage of Six Paths—was the one who sealed the Ten-Tails.”
“That seal of his is just a minor precaution to keep you from harming yourselves. Even without it, he’d still be able to influence Nagato.”
“After all, those Rinnegan eyes belong to him.”
As he spoke, Shūichi raised a single hand.
Obito’s expression shifted as he glanced at his left arm. Black rods began to protrude from it, only to disintegrate moments later as if weathered away.
Shūichi explained, “The Yin-Yang Release technique—surely you’re familiar with it, Obito?”
“Because I left my Flying Thunder God mark on you, and that mark contains my chakra, I can use Yin-Yang Release to produce black rods that transmit my chakra, enabling me to influence you.”
“So, with Madara’s Rinnegan, Nagato won’t be able to avoid similar techniques. The question is whether he can withstand Madara’s power.”
Obito’s eyes widened in realization. “I see... Do you think Nagato can resist him?”
Shūichi thought for a moment. “If Nagato becomes the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki, he should be able to hold his ground. But if he’s weakened in a fight with me, then probably not.”
“And let’s not forget, Madara likely has other contingencies in place.”
“The reason I allowed the Akatsuki to gather the Tailed Beasts was to uncover the deeper forces at play.”
Obito’s gaze sharpened. “Deeper forces? Are you suggesting there’s someone else behind Madara?”
Shūichi nodded. “That’s what I suspect.”
“The Eye of the Moon Plan seems to have an invisible hand guiding it. Madara altered the content of the Uchiha Stone Tablet left by the Sage of Six Paths. But even the content Madara read may have been tampered with by someone else.”
Obito was deeply shaken. He trusted Shūichi’s insights and knew they were rarely wrong.
“In that case, I definitely can’t leave the Akatsuki,” Obito declared. “Perhaps, when the time comes, I’ll have a role to play.”
Shūichi didn’t object but offered a reminder. “Then be careful around Madara. Your Mangekyō Sharingan abilities might prove useful against him.”
Obito nodded. “When the war begins, I’ll find a way to remove the seal on my heart. If Madara can’t control me... Black Zetsu, perhaps?”
“Black Zetsu alone shouldn’t be able to control me.”
The White Zetsu that had previously been used to monitor Obito had already been captured by Shūichi.
Seeing Obito’s confidence, Shūichi pondered for a moment and said, “Still, it’s better to have a contingency plan.”
As he spoke, a sealing formation appeared on the floor. With a puff, a familiar figure emerged—Spiral Zetsu - Tobi.
Obito looked on in shock. “This...”
Spiral Zetsu grinned at Obito. “Obito, we meet again.”
“Of course, my current master is none other than the new God of Shinobi, Lord Shūichi.”
Facing Obito’s stunned gaze, Shūichi smirked. “Just a minor precaution.”
“I’ve strengthened Spiral Zetsu. He’s much stronger than before. Let him accompany you; he might prove helpful at a critical moment.”
Obito nodded reluctantly. While he had his reservations, his goals aligned with Shūichi’s for now.
Spiral Zetsu placed a hand on Obito’s shoulder. Gradually, his entire body dissolved into foam and merged into Obito’s, becoming a tiny spore inside him.
Shūichi instructed, “When needed, just summon him.”
Obito nodded. “Then, I’ll be off.”
Before leaving, Shūichi asked, “Not planning to visit Kakashi?”
Obito hesitated, then shook his head. “No, I’d probably lose my temper and punch him for winning Rin’s heart while I wasn’t around.”
Shūichi chuckled, offering some lighthearted advice. “There are plenty of fish in the sea. The ninja world has no shortage of great girls.”
Obito scoffed, his tone haughty. “I’m not as fickle as you!”
Shūichi immediately retorted, “Hey, I’m serious about everyone! Obito, that’s slander!”
Obito couldn’t help but laugh genuinely. “You’re such a lecher, Shūichi. I don’t believe you for a second!”
With that, Obito made a quick exit, not wanting to risk an argument turning physical.
He was no match for Shūichi now—not even against one of Shūichi’s clones.
Watching Obito leave, Shūichi felt a bit more at ease.
For now, Obito’s mental state seemed relatively stable.
Meanwhile...
In the Land of Rain, within the former Hidden Rain Village—now a base for Konoha forces in the region—Konan met with Nagato in a tall tower.
“Konan, I’ll soon become the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki, and the war will begin shortly after,” Nagato declared with confidence and anticipation.
“Whether I win or Shūichi Hoshita does, this war will end quickly. When that happens, Yahiko’s dream will finally come true.”
However, Konan’s expression was tinged with concern. “Madara has planned all this for so long—it won’t be easy to overcome him.”
Nagato nodded. “I know.”
“Madara hasn’t demanded to be resurrected yet, and he knows I won’t do it.”
“So, he’s waiting for an opportunity to weaken me.”
“Konan, if I fail, I want you to ensure that Shūichi finishes me off as quickly as possible.”
Konan’s face changed, but before she could protest, Nagato raised a hand to stop her.
“For peace, this sacrifice is necessary. Just as it was for Yahiko, so it must be for me.”
“Next, I’ll clear the remaining obstacles to unity by eliminating all the daimyōs.”
Konan, unable to dissuade him, bit her lip and said with determination, “I hope we won’t have to lose anyone else.”
Gazing at the rain outside, Nagato replied, “Of course!”
“What I mentioned is only a contingency plan. I’m confident I can win this war.”
With those words, he stepped into the rain and disappeared.
Konan stood frozen for a moment before turning and heading to a room guarded by specialized shinobi. Inside was a space-time teleportation array. She used it to travel to Konoha and entered the Root Base.
---
Outside the Forest of Death
Seated on the ground, Shūichi’s attention remained fixed on the Tag Tree.
After acquiring the tags Taijutsu Master and Body Flicker Master, he finally had the requirements to synthesize the tag God of Ninjutsu.
The combination was as follows:
Fire Release Master + Wind Release Master + Lightning Release Master + Water Release Master + Earth Release Master + Taijutsu Master + Genjutsu Master + Sealing Master + Medical Master + Lord of Space-Time + Body Flicker Master + Clone Master + Transformation Master + Substitution Master + Sensory Master = God of Ninjutsu!
As the glowing light of the tag tree’s leaves converged, they formed a brand-new golden leaf.
After Prodigy, Shūichi now had another golden tag!
Its effects were extraordinary:
- Physical attributes increased by 100%
- Mental energy increased by 100%
- Recovery ability increased by 100%
- 50% immunity to all non-Senjutsu ninjutsu damage
- In the realm of ninjutsu, you are a god. Any ninjutsu within your scope is effortlessly executed. Understanding any ninjutsu requires merely a glance, and mastering it is instantaneous.
Undoubtedly, this tag was on par with Prodigy, if not superior.
With Prodigy, Shūichi had learned to harness the Sharingan from Shisui Uchiha.
Now, with God of Ninjutsu, his physique, mental strength, and recovery abilities surged. His body underwent a transformation, and an immense power roared within him. With just a thought, chakra poured out of him, forming nine black orbs floating behind him—Truth-Seeking Balls.
All nine orbs manifested.
Reaching out with his right hand, Shūichi commanded one of the orbs to transform into a straight-edged ninja blade.
At his whim, the blade shifted into a shuriken, then a staff, then a monk’s staff, and finally divided into several black coins, each imprinted with a lotus pattern.
The Truth-Seeking Balls, formed by fusing chakra of all seven nature transformations, could morph freely according to the user’s will.
Returning the orbs to their original form, Shūichi smiled with satisfaction.
“In my current base state, I’ve probably reached Six Paths-level.”
The so-called Six Paths-level was at least equivalent to the version of Madara with the Rinnegan.
Beyond that, there was the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki form and Kaguya herself.
“For me, the trickiest part of Rinnegan Madara’s abilities will be his Limbo clones,” Shūichi thought.
In the original story, only Sasuke and Naruto could perceive them.
Sasuke did so with his Rinnegan, while Naruto’s ability relied on Sage Mode combined with Six Paths Chakra—though it wasn’t clear if Sage Mode alone would suffice.
“Six Paths Chakra isn’t just about quantity—it’s about quality as well.”
Shūichi understood that his chakra quality still didn’t match that of the Sage of Six Paths.
“To reach that level, I’ll need the Ten-Tails and the Master Healer tag.”
Standing up, Shūichi recalled the Truth-Seeking Balls into his body, where they vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared in his experimental lab, inside the Tailed Beast Cultivation Chamber. His gaze fell on the fragments of the Ten-Tails’ husk—the remains of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
(End of Chapter)
