During the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, activated his Konoha Crush plan.
He used his own hands as the sacrifice to send off Hiruzen Sarutobi—already disgraced by his scandal with Danzo—in a seemingly dignified way.
A twisted form of a teacher's kindness and a student's filial piety...
Naruto summoned the Chief Toad and transformed into the Nine-Tails to fight the tailed-beast-transformed Gaara, ultimately defeating him.
In the end, Konoha and Sunagakure cleared up their misunderstanding and re-established their alliance...
The ninja world once again returned to a brief but precious period of peace.
...
On the other side—
After breaking through to the fourth layer of the Ultimate Meaning of Swordsmanship, Uchiha Kirin awoke from his slumber.
He could feel it clearly—based on his current comprehension and insight, making further progress with the Sword Ultimate Meaning would be near impossible.
He needed more enlightenment, more experiences, and perhaps even some relaxation to move forward.
Looking at the metallic sheen on the surface of his body and the increasingly concentrated strength gathering near the Rule of Metal within his bones, Kirin could tell that his enhanced body now allowed him to activate the Battle Saint Scripture up to its fifth layer without leaking any energy.
This meant he was gradually adapting to the heaven-defying augmentation effects. With enough time, perhaps he could make this state permanent...
Kirin was very satisfied.
It seemed his method of continually nurturing himself through the Sword-Nurturing Art, transforming his body into a weapon, was indeed a stable path to strengthening his physique.
In time, he might even merge it with the Indestructible Body and forge a brand new path to the ultimate form!
He touched his empty stomach—clearly, it was time to leave.
But before that, he took out the Scythe of Death and handed it over to the Pangolin Clan, instructing them to use the Sword-Nurturing Art to refine and enhance this prototype Divine Tool.
Although he hadn't used the weapon much since acquiring it—his physical strength far outclassing it—he still decided to upgrade its power.
It would also serve as a way to conceal his most powerful trump card—his body. In future battles, he wouldn't need to go shirtless from the start and end up in constant disarray.
If he was ever outmatched, the weapon could buy him time or a way out.
After giving his instructions and leaving his weapon behind, this also served as an official declaration to the other Summoned Beast clans—that the Pangolin Clan was under his protection.
And that this previously unclaimed land now belonged to him!
Among Summoned Beasts—or more accurately, the upper echelon of the ninja world—power was everything.
Kirin possessed strength far beyond that of the White Snake and Toad Sages. Not having claimed a dragon vein of sanctuary level was itself unnatural.
So now that he had taken this place, no one would dare say a word!
...
Leaving the dragon vein behind, Uchiha Kirin set out toward a small country located between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind—
The Land of Bears.
Ever since his body had been further refined by the Sword-Nurturing Art, Kirin had felt something there calling to him.
It wasn't just a bodily attraction—his inner world was also yearning for something there.
"Is it the Mysterious Peacock Method? No... it's the 'Star'!"
Upon arriving, Uchiha Kirin quickly realized what he desired—
A meteorite that had fallen from the sky.
After being acquired by the ninja of Hoshigakure (Star Village), they had studied it extensively and developed a secret technique that could absorb the energy emitted by the "Star" for their own use.
—It was called the Mysterious Peacock Method.
Kirin concealed his presence and observed up close as the users of the Mysterious Peacock Method trained, and studied the sacred object—"the Star"—enshrined at the village's highest point, accessible only to elite talents and the village's leadership.
He found that the technique's operating principle was quite similar to Senjutsu, yet distinctly different—it carried a trace of deathly energy, as if the technique were draining the life from the user.
Those who used the Mysterious Peacock Method over long periods often suffered from shortened lifespans, premature aging, cracked and bleeding skin, and early organ failure.
As if they had been subjected to intense radiation.
When Kirin moved closer to the "Star," he could feel countless strange micro-particles constantly being emitted from it.
When these particles struck his palm, they actually neutralized the chakra and natural energy in his body...
"A type of natural energy... that's opposite in nature!"
Kirin stopped using his Breathing Art of the Sage Path and began circulating the stolen Mysterious Peacock Method.
Compared to the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave or the earliest versions of breathing techniques, the Mysterious Peacock Method was incredibly crude—barely worthy of being called a secret art.
Let alone compared to his current fusion of multiple powers in the Breathing Art of the Sage Path...
Yet, when Kirin operated the technique at full power, he discovered that the particles emitted by the Star were drawn into his body, where they accumulated—
Eventually merging with his chakra to form a powerful energy similar to Senjutsu chakra.
Unfortunately, when he activated Senjutsu at the same time, the natural energy particles immediately neutralized the Star's particles.
In the instant of their annihilation, an explosive burst of intense light and heat erupted. If not for Kirin's incredibly durable body, he would've been vaporized instantly!
It became clear—natural energy and Star energy could not coexist.
Yet this power was simply too tempting—especially after he witnessed the sheer destructive force unleashed by their mutual annihilation.
...
Kirin continued experimenting and made another discovery.
Just like natural energy, Star energy could also significantly aid in perfecting his inner world!
More importantly—in his small world, the two forces no longer completely canceled each other out. Instead, they formed a subtle balance.
Through the dual laws of life and death, water and fire within the world, the energies began an uneven but ongoing cycle of mutual transformation.
Although the process caused significant energy loss, it gave him hope for coexistence.
In the future, even if his body could only cultivate one energy type, he could always draw the other from his inner world—
Instantly unleashing overwhelming destructive force when needed!
...
Beyond that—
Kirin discovered that the essence of the "Star" was an incredibly hard metal. If used to forge weapons, it would undoubtedly surpass even chakra metal!
What exactly was this substance? And where could he find more?
To seek answers, he decided to visit the longest-living being in the ninja world—
The Slug Sage.
...
Arriving at Shikkotsu Forest, Uchiha Kirin suppressed all his strength as a show of sincerity and voiced his questions about the Star.
Compared to the Sage of Six Paths, the Slug Sage was far more serene and approachable in conversation.
Through their discussion, Kirin learned the true nature of the so-called "Star"—
It was the core of a planet!
Typically, a planet's core is formed of unique metals and filled with natural energy—connected to the dragon veins—but it doesn't possess the opposite energy known as Star energy.
The only way for natural energy to become Star energy…
Is through the complete annihilation of a living planet.