Hearing Yami's assessment, Tobirama's eyes flashed with sharp light.
"You're saying Ryūchi Cave is misleading you?"
"No, no, what they taught me is indeed the orthodox Sage Art of Ryūchi Cave."
Yami shook his head, confusing even Tobirama. He explained, "After mastering Sage Mode, I gained the ability to see into others' hearts. Don't worry, I'm not talking about humans."
"I mean the snake princesses of Ryūchi Cave. They wouldn't dare mess with me."
Yami rotated his fingers, and the green dragon-shaped chakra dispersed. He had quietly exited Sage Mode.
"Snakes are still snakes. Katsuyu is Katsuyu. And toads are, well, just toads."
The boy shared his guess, "They're all natural creatures. Their Sage Arts were developed to match the characteristics of their own species."
"Humans can learn Sage Arts from the three holy places, but it's done through sheer talent and force. In the end, it becomes a mismatched Sage Mode with less efficient use of senjutsu energy."
"Think about it. Do those so-called Great Toad Sages or the White Snake Sage even have a concept of Sage Mode?"
Yami had been researching Sage Mode for some time, trying to reach the proficiency of Senju Hashirama, who could enter Sage Mode instantly with a simple hand clap.
But after training for several days, he realized it was impossible. He had absorbed natural energy for thirty seconds, yet used up all the senjutsu chakra in just one Inorganic Reincarnation.
This was his current limit. Not only could he not maintain Sage Mode for long, but even his absorption efficiency in short bursts hadn't improved.
With these doubts, he pulled Tobirama out of the lab, hoping the one who knew Hashirama best could help him find the answer.
Tobirama did give him that answer.
Hashirama wasn't more talented in senjutsu than Yami. He had simply used a trick.
Using the sealing technique inherited from Uzumaki Mito, Hashirama had created a secret method similar to Tsunade's Hundred Healings Seal. Normally, it stored accumulated senjutsu chakra in a seal and released it when needed.
To outsiders who didn't know the truth, it looked like he could enter Sage Mode instantly and limitlessly.
Yami suddenly understood.
No wonder.
In the entire shinobi world, only Madara and the Nine Tails had ever forced Hashirama to exhaust all his senjutsu chakra. Naturally, the secret had never been exposed.
"That makes sense."
Tobirama understood Yami's thoughts and nodded. "So, what will you do? Are you going to create a sealing technique like my brother's to store Sage chakra?"
"That's just a backup plan."
Yami shook his head slightly. "I still plan to collect the Sage Arts training methods from all three holy places and try to create my own method for absorbing natural energy."
Tobirama advised, "You can ask Tsunade for the Shikkotsu Forest contract. It's likely she also has my brother's Sage Arts scroll."
"Let's talk about it after the Chūnin Exams," Yami nodded in agreement.
He intended to bring Tsunade back after the exam, but not to become Hokage.
Speaking of the Chūnin Exams, Tobirama suddenly fell silent. After a while, he said, "Does it have to be this way?"
"Just wait a few more years. The monkey is already almost seventy. Even if he clings to power, how much longer can he hold on?"
The dead are the best at keeping secrets.
Since Yami summoned Tobirama, he never intended to send him back to the Pure Land.
To prevent him from going out of control, Yami had even modified the Impure World Reincarnation technique.
Even its creator couldn't reverse it with the anti-seal.
So, Tobirama now knew many of Yami's secrets, including what was going to happen in the third round of the Chūnin Exams.
They were still master and disciple. Even if Tobirama disapproved of Hiruzen's leadership, he didn't want to see his student end up that way.
"Second Hokage…"
Yami patted Tobirama's shoulder with a smile. He didn't use force.
"You're a smart man. How can you still not understand the key?"
"Even if the Third steps down, the successor he chooses won't be me. That's why he must die in an unexpected situation, leaving chaos behind."
"What about the innocent villagers?" Tobirama asked in a deep voice. "Do you know how many people will die because of your plan? They could have lived."
He had no doubt Yami would eventually win. But every minute and second of delay meant lives lost in Konoha.
"The sacrifices now are for future stability."
Yami played with his palm lazily. "Konoha has been too peaceful. It's time to wake up to reality."
"The enemies are always there. They're watching from the shadows like hungry lions. The moment we slip up, they'll lunge in and tear off a chunk of our flesh."
"You see, that's the flaw of the ninja village system. If you really want to place blame, don't blame me—blame the First Hokage."
Yami spread his arms and smiled.
"Two Jinchūriki. One of them includes the Five Tails he split off back then."
"Does that count as the First colluding with outsiders and betraying Konoha?"
"Enough!"
Tobirama interrupted, his voice cold. He silently activated Flying Thunder God and returned to his lab.
He knew he couldn't persuade Yami. And besides feeling regret for Hiruzen and frustration with the villagers, Tobirama didn't feel much anger.
In the end, it wasn't bad if Yami became Hokage.
It might even be good.
He wasn't just the Shimura clan's future, but a Senju descendant as well. His lineage was excellent.
Tobirama himself was no moderate. He had once wanted to kill Uchiha Madara completely and had many ambitions toward the other villages.
He and Hashirama had argued many times about distributing the tailed beasts. Deep down, he still blamed his brother. If Hashirama hadn't been so indecisive, Konoha would already dominate the shinobi world. They wouldn't have so many problems now.
—
"Yami, news from Danzō-sama."
After returning home, Pakura excitedly handed over a scroll.
Yami opened it and immediately understood why she was so happy.
The scroll contained intel from Orochimaru, including the time and place of the ambush.
Even after being badly beaten last time, Orochimaru hadn't held a grudge. As long as his soul wasn't damaged, physical injuries were trivial to him. In the face of his grand plan, he still kept his promise and sent the information.
Suna was truly pitiful. The movements of their Kage—supposedly top secret—had fallen into Orochimaru's hands so easily.
"Yami…" Pakura called out nervously and expectantly.
Yami came back to his senses and smiled. "Still worried I'll back out? Since I promised you, I won't interfere."
"But…" Yami changed the subject and gently stroked Pakura's back. "Just in case, Hikari will go with you. Not just to guard against Rasa, but also against Orochimaru."
"As long as nothing changes, she won't act."
"Okay. Thank you, Yami." Pakura kissed the boy and ran to her room to prepare.
The next morning, Pakura dragged a sleepy Hikari out with her.
Seeing Hikari's tired, groggy face, Yami sighed helplessly.
What to do? She's supposed to be a powerful weapon capable of taking on the entire shinobi world, but he's raised her into a lazy otaku who just reads books and eats snacks all day.
—
Land of Wind
A desert country covered in yellow sand. Ninety percent of the land was desert, and the poor natural resources made the Land of Wind the weakest of the Five Great Nations.
Why was Sunagakure the only village that prioritized puppet development?
Because the country was weak and couldn't afford to train too many shinobi. Puppetry was a way to supplement their forces.
After becoming Kazekage, Rasa had lofty ambitions and wanted to develop Suna. But in the end, his greatest contribution was extracting gold buried deep beneath the sands to relieve the village's financial crisis.
It wasn't until Orochimaru proposed the Konoha Crush plan that he saw hope.
Teaming up with Iwagakure to attack Konoha's command center—a move never done even in past shinobi wars—could severely damage Konoha and allow them to demand major compensation.
But he had to be cautious, or he risked being sold out by Ōnoki.
Among all the Kage, Ōnoki had the worst reputation and had betrayed almost every ally he ever had.
Two guards followed quietly behind Rasa, not even making a sound with their footsteps, so as not to disturb the Kazekage's thoughts.
Puff!
"Ah!" A scream rang out. Rasa spun around to see both of his guards stabbed through the throat by long swords.
The blades spun, and two heads flew into the air. Then, the swords merged and stabbed straight toward Rasa!
"Orochimaru!"
Rasa's eyes widened in fury.
He immediately recognized the attacker.
He quickly formed hand seals, and water surged up from the ground, turning into a tall wall in front of him.
At the same time, he retreated quickly to create distance from Orochimaru.
But a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!"
Rasa dodged with all his might but was a step too slow. His right arm was hit by the intense fireball, and the searing pain made him gasp.
Pakura had chosen a tricky angle for this attack. She deliberately targeted his right side. Even if it didn't hit completely, wounding his right arm would still delay his ability to form seals.
Seeing Pakura's attire, Rasa's eyes were filled with shock and fury. "Anbu?! Orochimaru, you're working with Konoha?! This plan—it was all a trap!"
"Hehe, Kazekage-dono, you're overthinking it."
Orochimaru descended slowly with golden sand swirling behind him. He and Pakura formed a pincer attack.
"I just thought your identity would help me get closer to Sarutobi Hiruzen. So, I came here… to borrow your head."
Orochimaru licked his lips. "As for this person, she's not Anbu. She's a helper sent by Root."
Even among Konoha's own, many couldn't tell the difference between Anbu and Root—let alone shinobi from other villages.
"Orochimaru, support only," Pakura warned coldly.
Orochimaru smirked and stepped aside.
Pakura turned to Rasa. "What? You don't recognize old friends anymore? Am I that forgettable?"
"Who are you?"
Rasa frowned.
The voice was familiar, but he couldn't recall it.
Pakura said nothing. She calmly removed her mask.
Rasa's pupils shrank instantly. He couldn't suppress the shock in his voice.
"Pakura?! You… you're alive?!"
"Thanks to you and those elders, I nearly died. But Yami saved me—for this day."
Pakura sneered. Rasa's fear and disbelief filled her with satisfaction.
She had waited ten years for this moment.
Without another word, she raised her hands. Dozens of high-speed fireballs burst forth.
Rasa quickly controlled his gold sand to defend.
The massive golden wall was blasted open. Under the high temperature, the gold liquefied and slipped from his control.
This was why Rasa had feared her.
Against most ninjutsu, Sakin's defense was impenetrable. But Scorch Release was one of the most powerful kekkei genkai. His gold sand couldn't withstand it.
As a Kage, he could never allow powerful elites to threaten his position.
In this, Rasa had much in common with the Third Hokage.
(To be continued.)
***
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