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JST Chapter 135: The Future is Murky but Stylish
🕑 Added 2024-12-22 15:39:43 +0000 UTC"Kazuki-sama, I'm going to start!" Hiruko took the sample of the cultured tissue and, looking at the root shinobi with a determined expression, said: “This will cause some pain, but you must endure it. If there is any problem, I will attend to you in time…”
“Kazuki-sama, I am not afraid of death! What I am afraid of is not having the strength to protect Konoha.” The root shinobi muttered, almost to himself. “To be a root that makes Konoha grow, what does it matter if I have to give my life?”
“Excellent determination…” Kazuki praised, smiling. “But don’t worry, as long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you.”
The root shinobi lowered his head in humility and said: “Hiruko-sama, please go ahead!”
Hiruko nodded, he thought that with such a disposition, this kind of experimental subjects could only be found in the root of Konoha.
He placed the experimental tissue on the shinobi’s arm and bonded it with a special liquid. Then, he manipulated his chakra, before placing his palm. “Chimera Technique!”
Hiruko's palm released a black, viscous liquid that began to snake through the root shinobi's body.
The root shinobi gritted his teeth, feeling the pain as if thousands of ants were eating away at his skin. His eyes became bloodshot, but he didn't scream even once.
A few moments later, the Chimera Technique managed to successfully integrate the experimental tissue into the shinobi's arm.
“How do you feel, can you try it?” Kazuki's hand glowed with a green glow as he removed the fatigue of the first root shinobi with Explosion Release.
"I succeeded, I succeeded!" The root shinobi shouted in joy, as an explosion spread from his hand.
Hiruko clenched his fists tightly, more excited than the shinobi himself. He shouted: “We did it, my technique has succeeded!”
“Thank you, Kazuki-sama, thank you to the root, thank you to Konoha, and also thank you Tobirama-sama!”
Hiruko, as if giving an acceptance speech for an award, looked at his first successful case of the Chimera Technique, feeling deep emotion.
Kazuki also laughed. "This is the result of our hard work, everyone."
And inside it, Kazuki smiled as he spoke to Tobirama: "Why don't we set up a Tobirama Award in the future? Reward those forbidden technique masters who inherited your will and continued to provide various surprises for the shinobi world..."
Tobirama rolled his eyes and said: “I really appreciate it…”
...
A few days later.
Land of Frost.
Kazuki came here in search of the Sword of Totsuka and the Yata Mirror.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara was awakened by the call of the swirl-faced White Zetsu. “Get up, Madara-sama, Kazuki-san has arrived at the location in the Land of Frost that he asked us to guard!”
Madara's eyes snapped open, his glare locking onto the swirl-faced White Zetsu. In a grave tone, he asked: "Has Kazuki abandoned Konoha?"
"Yes, Madara-sama!"
Madara frowned and thought about Kazuki's reason for going to that area.
Lately, the winds in Konoha had been changing in bewildering ways, something even he couldn't understand.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, that useless apprentice of Tobirama, had always been a weak and indecisive person.
However, he had surprisingly abandoned Tobirama's useless ideas against the Uchiha and transferred all the power of the Root to Kazuki. This drastic decision made Madara doubt whether Hiruzen was under some genjutsu.
This made Madara a little irritated.
If Tobirama could be like Hiruzen, not using those conspiracies to exclude him, but letting him be the Second Hokage, he would even have let him specify the future policy and attitude towards other villages...
Maybe he would have given up on the Eye of the Moon Plan. Unfortunately, it's too late now.
Hiruzen's attitude also complicated Madara's plans. Although he had some appreciation for Hiruzen's pragmatic attitude, he knew that it would sway Kazuki towards Konoha.
With Hiruzen's support, it was likely that Kazuki was determined to work for the welfare of Konoha.
Without experiencing the baptism of war, Kazuki cannot realize that peace on this land can only be temporary and cannot exist forever.
If Madara tried to tell Kazuki about the Eye of the Moon Plan now, it would likely not accomplish anything good and could even have the opposite effect.
While Madara was lost in his thoughts, a White Zetsu emerged from the ground. "Madara-sama, Kazuki-san has entered a valley within the area he asked us to guard. He seems to be searching for something."
Madara frowned. He quickly formed seals and connected to the vision of another White Zetsu. His heart skipped a beat.
"Get ready to merge with me. Let's go there."
The Whirlpool-headed White Zetsu was stunned.
But Madara's gaze frightened him. Obediently, he transformed into a white armor that covered Madara as they both disappeared into the depths of the ground.
...
In the Land of Frost, inside a valley...
Following the guidance of the Susabi technique, Kazuki could clearly sense the presence of the Sword of Totsuka and the Yata Mirror.
"Kazuki, what are you doing here?" Tobirama asked doubtfully: "Those things in the root can still run without you, but you are still needed..."
"In three months, the other shinobi villages will be sending their shinobi for the joint Chunin Exam. As the leader of the Root, you should be overseeing the preparations. Monkey doesn't have enough strategic vision for such things."
Tobirama was about to call Kazuki the Hokage.
But there is no way. Ever since Hiruzen adopted the philosophy of go with the flow and everything will flow, all of Konoha's large and small matters have been handed over to Tsunade, the Hokage's assistant.
However, since Tsunade had almost no talent for administration, she ended up delegating most of the important decisions to Kazuki.
Authority had been transferred from one to the other, and although Kazuki did not officially hold the title of Hokage, he already held its de facto power.
Furthermore, the shinobi clans that had joined the Root were deeply tied to him by shared interests, which consolidated his position.
Tobirama didn't understand why Kazuki had decided to travel to the Land of Frost.
"Tobirama, I have awakened a new eye technique. It's called Susabi..." Kazuki spoke calmly. "This ability allows me to see visions of the future and guides me towards certain predestined objects."
Tobirama was stunned. Another Mangekyo technique?
However, what worried Tobirama most was the ability to see the future that Kazuki mentioned.
Inside Kazuki's body, Tobirama had heard about Jiraiya's search for the child of prophecy and always considered it absurd and childish.
In his opinion, the so-called future cannot be predicted.
Just like a scientific experiment, with infinite variables, there will only be countless possibilities. It is okay to guess the most likely situation, but if you can determine a unique result...
Tobirama doesn't believe it.
Combined with the paranoid demonic nature of the Uchiha clan, Kazuki's consideration of the falsehood and reality of the world, and his recent thoughts on peace...
Tobirama was a little frightened. If Kazuki used Susabi to pursue peace, and this damn eye technique gave Kazuki the most extreme method, it would be troublesome!
"Kazuki, don't believe too much in the power of this eye technique..." Tobirama had no time to worry about avoiding suspicion, and said in a deep voice: "The future is only in the hands of those who act now."
Kazuki nodded. "Tobirama, the prediction of this eye technique is related to my strength..."
Kazuki explained to Tobirama, and also gave the example he feared the most.
"Suppose I predict the peace method of the shinobi world. If I want to get an accurate result, then I need to be above everyone in the shinobi world, otherwise I will only get a vague prediction."
"And this prediction is only one possibility for achieving peace, not the only one."
Kazuki smiled gently. "There are still too many strong people in the shinobi world, so my current prediction will not be accurate."
Tobirama breathed a sigh of relief.
Kazuki's ability to face Mangekyo eye techniques with calmness and a critical perspective pleased Tobirama.
This is his contribution... If it weren't for his power, how could the evil nature of Uchiha be neutralized so calmly?
An average Uchiha with Mangekyo Sharingan, in Tobirama's opinion, would use this ability to obsessively predict the resolution of his greatest internal conflict, blindly believing in his vision and carrying it out madly, without listening to anyone.
What Tobirama didn't know was that his guess was very accurate. Another Uchiha, Fugaku, who had the Susabi, did exactly that.
"So, I am just following the guidance of this eye technique to see my chance..." Kazuki said with emotion: "Prophecies about the future, before reaching the pinnacle of power, are nothing more than fleeting reflections in water, illusions in a mirror. They have no value as a reference."
Tobirama nodded in agreement, and continued: "That's right, Kazuki."
"But if I become the strongest in the shinobi world, but still can't cut off the chain of hatred and bring peace to the world..." Kazuki changed his tone, pondering seriously. "Maybe at that time I will have to look for a solution through this ocular technique. Then, the prophecy will be accurate."
Tobirama's face froze, and he nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, right... you're right..."
