Moreover, it was all done in a single step.
If this had occurred on Planet Vegeta in the Dragon Ball universe, Kawaki Aoba's bloodline density would now be comparable to that of the Saiyan royal family—at the very least, he would possess the talent of an elite-class warrior.
This can be referenced by comparing it to Vegeta himself.
Thanks to his innate talent, all of Kawaki Aoba's abilities underwent a qualitative leap. Whether it was his advanced-level Observation Haki or his base combat power, both had now reached unfathomable heights.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sit comfortably in Konoha and still use Observation Haki to perceive beings on the level of Kaguya Otsutsuki.
And it wasn't just Kaguya's clone—he had also discovered other intriguing figures across the ninja world.
One such figure was Jigen: a monk overflowing with natural energy, and a mysterious individual who had survived for centuries in secrecy.
At the same time, Jigen served as the vessel for Isshiki Otsutsuki's "Karma" seal.
Having bided his time and recovered for over a thousand years, Isshiki was now capable of resurrecting through Jigen's body at any moment.
From what Kawaki Aoba observed, Jigen didn't appear to be ignorant of the world's affairs—on the contrary, he was plotting something substantial.
Kawaki Aoba tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the table.
"Is this some butterfly effect caused by my presence? Or, in the original timeline, did Isshiki also plan to use the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"Even though my knowledge of the Boruto timeline is limited, I seem to recall that Isshiki Otsutsuki had a juvenile Ten-Tails under his control. It might have been small, but the Ten-Tails is still the Ten-Tails. Sacrificing it for his resurrection… that's a significant move."
Ever since discovering Jigen, Kawaki Aoba had been monitoring his movements through Observation Haki. However, his interest wasn't rooted in fear—he was simply curious about Isshiki's next steps and how much he truly valued his plans.
He casually flicked the Saiyan tail that had recently sprouted from his back, a confident smirk spreading across his face.
Kaguya's clone had fled.
Isshiki lurked in the shadows, quietly laying out his schemes.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki remained in the Pure Land, trying to manipulate events through his chosen intermediary—Madara Uchiha.
And beyond them, other Otsutsuki from unknown corners of the cosmos might descend at any moment.
They could do as they pleased.
He was invincible.
The complete Saiyan bloodline granted Kawaki Aoba boundless confidence.
If he knew the location of the Otsutsuki homeworld, he'd teleport there just to stir up some chaos for fun.
---
Konoha Village, Kawaki Aoba's residence.
Today was not a commemorative occasion, yet the presence of major figures like Minato Namikaze, Kurenai Yuhi, and Tobirama Senju signaled that something important was brewing.
In the living room, after everyone had gathered, Kawaki Aoba didn't waste time with pleasantries. Everyone here was already familiar with the strategies he'd devised for the other Great Ninja Villages.
No need to rehash the details.
He turned toward Tobirama and said bluntly:
"Tobirama, among us, you're the most cunning. Why don't you come up with a believable way to get Kurenai assigned to an out-of-village mission without raising suspicion?"
Tobirama twitched slightly at the comment.
"…Most cunning? Are you trying to ruin my reputation?"
But he answered seriously.
"Elder Aoba, this shouldn't be difficult. As long as Kurenai acts a bit more arrogant and self-important, no one in the village will dare stop her. She's a Jōnin squad leader—stepping outside protocol for the sake of her students is perfectly reasonable.
Besides, the higher-ups are just looking for an excuse to accept her departure. Even if her reasoning is shaky, they'll take it. They don't have any other choice."
"You make a fair point," Aoba replied, "but could you at least consider my feelings while saying it? I am sitting right here, you know."
Kurenai sighed in exasperation. "Thanks for the consideration, Tobirama."
Tobirama bowed his head slightly. "Apologies, Kurenai-san. I didn't mean to make it sound like a burden, but… for this plan—"
"It's not a burden," Kurenai interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "Actually, I like this mission quite a bit."
Tobirama: …
I'm starting to think this couple is just picking on me. Did I owe them something in a past life?
Still, he chose not to speak further. Sometimes silence was the best choice.
"Ahem." Kurenai's cough broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention and defusing the lingering awkwardness.
"With Kurenai's assignment resolved, let's move on to something even more critical—the Nine-Tails," she said, turning to Aoba.
"Aoba, since this was your plan from the beginning, I assume you've also thought of a solution for the Nine-Tails situation? After all, those groups said if Danzo fails, they'll join forces to attack Konoha."
Everyone in the room went silent. The extraction of a Tailed Beast meant certain death for its host.
Kushina Uzumaki was the current Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and as the Hokage's wife, sacrificing her wasn't an option.
…Then again, no one should be sacrificed lightly. Konoha didn't have the luxury of the "Madara F4" anymore.
"I've already come up with two potential solutions," Aoba said. "First, we extract a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra and reseal it into Kushina's body post-extraction. As long as that residual chakra remains intact, her life will not be in danger.
With her expertise in sealing techniques, she can ensure that the chakra remains stable—so long as she doesn't attempt to draw on it actively.
We can also harvest a significant portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra beforehand. It's entirely possible for Kushina to live a long, healthy life afterward."
Minato stood up and added:
"We've confirmed this approach already, and Kushina has agreed to it. She's actually relieved—happy to no longer be a Jinchūriki and to help the village in a new way. There's no reason to oppose it."
"Even so," Tobirama interjected, "her contribution is immeasurable. This will go down in history—her name should be etched into Konoha's textbooks."
Kushina Uzumaki rolled her eyes from the side. What do you mean by writing it into textbooks? Do you even know the kind of people who end up in textbooks?
Aside from Hiruzen Sarutobi, the others listed there were already dead.
Thank goodness Hiruzen isn't the one in power anymore, Kushina thought sarcastically. Otherwise, just saying something like that would be enough for me to worry about being sacrificed again.
Tobirama Senju, standing nearby, also realized his words had been inappropriate. But once something was said, it couldn't simply be taken back. His face darkened, and although he said nothing, he made a mental note about his former student—the old monkey.
"Alright," Tobirama said at last. "Now that the matter of the Nine-Tails is settled, we need to address the next threat—the so-called Allied Shinobi Forces preparing to attack our village."
"Indeed," another figure said. "Even though Danzo—our former traitorous elder—is now acting as a collaborator on the inside, it seems far too easy that they would expect to get their hands on the Nine-Tails. We can't assume they're all fools."
"Well said," Tobirama agreed grimly. "Which means we still need to prepare for battle."
"Aoba," he added, turning toward Kawaki Aoba, "since you allowed them to gather their forces, I assume you've planned accordingly?"
Kawaki Aoba nodded. "Of course. Since those four villages have gathered so many elite shinobi, we should give them a warm welcome. It would be a shame for their efforts to go to waste."
He smiled slightly, but his words carried a cold undertone. "Since they've taken the trouble to come all the way to Konoha, I say we let them stay—permanently."
"More importantly," he continued, "if we don't put real pressure on them, how else are they going to commit fully to reviving the Ten-Tails?"
"I have no intention of dragging this trivial matter out. The faster it's resolved, the better."
Minato Namikaze nodded in agreement. "That's true. With our preparations and Konoha's current strength, even against the elites of the four great villages, we should be able to hold our own with minimal casualties."
He glanced at Aoba. "That's also thanks to you. Your defensive ninja tools have already proven their value."
Aoba nodded back. "No need to worry. Before the battle begins, I'll ensure that every unit is supplied with ample defensive gear. The goal is to minimize casualties as much as possible."
"Then I can rest easy," Minato said with a faint smile.
Tobirama, ever practical, now turned serious. "Elder Aoba, with the operation plan set, I must ask—what is your true strength? Do you really understand the Ten-Tails this time?"
Kawaki Aoba frowned slightly—not out of offense, but because the question was difficult to answer.
"Super Kage level?" he murmured. "That doesn't quite describe it…"
In truth, his base strength had already reached a level comparable to the Sage of Six Paths. And if he fought seriously, it would be even more overwhelming.
After some thought, he finally offered a comparison.
"You're all familiar with the moon in the sky. If I went all out, destroying seven or eight of them in a minute wouldn't be a problem."
A moment of stunned silence followed.
"…What's with those expressions? Maybe using the moon as an example is too abstract. Fine. Let's use the shinobi world itself. Something on that scale—"
"Aoba," Minato interrupted with a strained smile. "We understand. You don't need to prove it. We trust you."
"That's right, absolutely," the others chimed in, wiping cold sweat from their foreheads.
Finally, they managed to convince the eager Aoba to tone it down.
Time passed slowly. The higher-ups of the Shinobi Alliance waited anxiously.
Just yesterday, they received intelligence: Team Kurenai had departed Konoha on a mission to the Land of Craftsmen. By now, they should have arrived.
Inside a hidden base in the Land of Fire, several high-ranking members of the Alliance were staring intently at a trembling ninja dog in the middle of the room. The sight was a little absurd.
Don't misunderstand—it wasn't that the stress had made these leaders unhinged. They weren't interested in the dog itself. They were waiting for a signal.
This dog had been prearranged with Team Kurenai. If they encountered Kawaki Aoba in the Land of Craftsmen, they would summon the dog back—alerting the Alliance.
Hence, several powerful shinobi were now fixated on a shivering animal.
"Based on timing, Kurenai's team should have reached the Land of Craftsmen by now," one elder said.
"Don't be so impatient," another replied. "Even if they've arrived, it'll take time to guide them to Takumi Village."
"Takumi Village…" someone muttered. "If it weren't for that mole leaking information, we'd never have guessed that such a small place harbored such dangerous secrets. A ninja tool capable of resurrection… what a stroke of luck for Konoha."
"It doesn't matter. In the end, it's worth the cost."
The Shinobi Alliance had sacrificed a great deal. While the weapons and secrets in Takumi Village weren't theirs, they still couldn't help but covet them. But for survival's sake, they had to use those secrets as bait.
They knew Kurenai alone couldn't stall Aoba. Perhaps angering him might buy some time—but not enough. That's why Takumi Village, with its ambitions and hidden power, was brought into play.
It was a risk. But it was their best shot.
Back in the Land of Craftsmen, Team Kurenai had indeed been guided—step by step—to Takumi Village by Cloud ninja.
Or rather, Kurenai had allowed herself to be led there. She knew someone was manipulating things from behind the scenes and decided to play along.
Once they arrived, they uncovered the truth: the conspiracy of Takumi Village, and its staggering ambitions.
Even Kurenai, who had braced herself, was stunned.
She had expected something, yes. After all, the Alliance wouldn't gamble everything on Aoba unless the situation was serious.
But even she hadn't expected this—resurrecting shinobi dead for centuries, capturing tailed beasts for energy, aiming to destroy the five great nations.
The goals were insane. Arrogant. Delusional.
And yet…the ninja tools Takumi had developed were undeniably powerful.
That night, Mitarashi Anko returned from an intel-gathering mission—unaware that a faint shadow had been quietly trailing her from the darkness.
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