"Heiyan-sama has awakened!"
This good news spread like wildfire—not only across Konoha, but also quickly reaching other nations and ninja villages.
As the leader among Konoha's Sannin, Uzumaki Heiyan had demonstrated overwhelming power during the battle in Uzugakure.
Among ninja communities in various villages, some called him Konoha's Red Flash, others hailed him as the Tailed Beast slayer. But more often than not, people discussing Heiyan instinctively compared him to Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
In time, practically the entire shinobi world came to an agreement: Given time, Uzumaki Heiyan would become the second Ninja God.
Therefore, when word spread about Heiyan awakening, even the strongest countries, no matter how unwillingly, could only abandon their plans for launching wars against the Land of Fire.
After all, Uzumaki Heiyan alone was an insurmountable mountain. And together with the other two members of Konoha's Sannin, they formed the very foundation securing peace in the Land of Fire.
As for Heiyan taking up the role of Hokage's advisor, anyone with sharp insight could tell—this effectively meant he had already been chosen as the next Hokage.
As for the former advisor, Danzo Shimura, honestly speaking, few people cared much about him. The main reason was that Danzo's reputation within the village had always been poor—he simply wasn't well-liked.
In the meeting room...
"The four jutsu Madara used—the first was Blocking Technique Absorption Seal, which absorbs chakra and renders ninjutsu ineffective. The second was Universal Pull, representing gravitational force. The third was Shinra Tensei, symbolizing repulsion. The last one was Planetary Devastation."
Heiyan directly explained the nature of each technique to the group, adding, "Judging from what I saw, Madara probably still has even stronger techniques he hasn't unleashed yet."
Tsunade, Fugaku, and Hiashi Hyuga all looked deeply grave upon hearing this. They furrowed their brows, trying hard to figure out how to counter or neutralize Madara Uchiha's dojutsu.
But after much thought, none of them felt confident.
Seeing their expressions, Heiyan spoke to reassure them:
"Don't lose heart. In this confrontation, we actually hold the advantage in timing, terrain, and popular support. So our strategy should be: if the enemy doesn't move, we don't move either—we'll wait it out and stay prepared."
Madara certainly wouldn't risk his life fighting Konoha recklessly, and likewise, Heiyan had no intention of charging into Kiri alone to face off against Madara in a decisive battle.
For now, both sides held back carefully.
However, Heiyan and his allies held a critical advantage—youth. Their combat prowess was rapidly growing. Meanwhile, Madara's body continued to decline with age, weakening his ability to wield Rinnegan's power.
Time passed, and strength waned on one side while growing on the other.
While Heiyan and his team couldn't actively weaken Madara's power, they could definitely enhance their own.
"Hiashi Hyuga," Heiyan said, addressing him after a brief pause, "starting today, you should focus primarily on training the Eight Gates. Your goal must be opening the Death Gate. Once achieved, combining your full Eight Gates transformation with Fugaku's River of Three Paths genjutsu could become our ultimate joint attack."
Hiashi Hyuga nodded earnestly, fully agreeing with Heiyan's suggestion. Then he turned his head and sincerely requested Fugaku Uchiha, "Fugaku-san, I'll leave it to you from now on."
"Don't worry. I'll continue refining my abilities in the River of Three Paths, striving to extend the time regression to its maximum so you can fully unleash your power. After all, the one who'll be risking his life back then will be you, buddy."
Fugaku Uchiha also nodded, speaking steadily.
Normally always teasing each other, the two now dropped their rivalry and stood together with full focus.
"Wait for me a second."
At this moment, Heiyan said this to the three of them before activating the Flying Thunder God Technique and disappearing from the meeting room.
Several minutes later, when he returned, he brought back two wooden gourds as tall as a person.
"Fugaku, I've decided to entrust [Two-Tails Matatabi] to you."
Heiyan pushed one of the gourds toward Fugaku and straightforwardly told the latter, "[Two-Tails Matatabi] has lived in the Void Region for a long time and is practically a member of the NekoNinja Clan, thus having certain karmic ties with the Uchiha clan. Moreover, Matatabi's demonic flame perfectly complements your Scorch Release and Fire Release techniques, undoubtedly greatly enhancing the power of your Ninjutsu."
"This..."
Though tempted by Heiyan's offer, Fugaku instinctively hesitated.
After all, this was a Tailed Beast they were talking about. In Fugaku's opinion, even if Heiyan generously offered it, could he really accept such an enormous gift with peace of mind?
"Hear me out first."
Heiyan detected Fugaku's thoughts and spoke before the latter could open his mouth, "In exchange, I hope to continue borrowing the Uchiha clan's sacred stone tablet. You must have already noticed as well—the power contained within that tablet is incredible. Combining that force with my Sage Art might allow us to confront Madara Uchiha."
This statement wasn't made without reason.
What Heiyan feared most about Madara Uchiha as an enemy wasn't techniques like Shinra Tensei or Planetary Devastation, but rather an unique ability of Madara's Rinnegan called the Outer Path—Edo Tensei.
Heiyan knew that once this jutsu was used, beings below the Six Paths Tier would be wiped out without mercy. The four of them, including Heiyan, might be instantly erased by Madara using just this single move.
To counter this ability,
Heiyan remembered that the shadows created by Edo Tensei could only be perceived by those possessing the Rinnegan, or someone who mastered Six Paths Senjutsu.
Since he himself didn't possess the Rinnegan, he could only seek solutions within Six Paths Senjutsu.
Actually, Six Paths Senjutsu was a fusion of Six Paths Chakra and Sage Mode—these two forms of power corresponded exactly to the Six Paths stone tablet and the Shikkotsu Forest Sage Art that Heiyan possessed.
In other words, if he successfully deployed [Sage Art: Six Paths Stone Tablet Meteor Hammer], he would have the opportunity to engage in battle against Madara Uchiha.
Once Heiyan finished, Tsunade and Hiashi immediately voiced their support, urging Fugaku to accept the deal.
"Well then, I won't refuse any further."
Taking a deep breath, Fugaku somewhat awkwardly accepted the wooden gourd.
Although Heiyan had described this as a mutual exchange, Fugaku knew he was still the one gaining far more than he gave.
After all, even if they returned the Six Paths stone tablet to the Uchiha Clan, no one within the clan could truly wield its power. But Matatabi, the Two-Tails, was simply a summoned beast the Uchiha Clan had longed for in their dreams—the Two-Tails Matatabi.
Seeing Fugaku's agreement, Heiyan carefully offered a suggestion:
"Matatabi has a gentle personality and is quite reasonable. You can try communicating with it first, persuading it into signing a Summoning Contract with you. If persuasion truly fails, then you can use the ocular power of the Mangekyou Sharingan to control it."
After saying this, Heiyan also blushed slightly, since he himself hadn't achieved this and had instead become bitter enemies with the Two-Tails...
"Mm, I understand. Thank you, Heiyan."
Fugaku nodded and sincerely expressed his gratitude toward Heiyan. Then, he gently touched the gourd (used for sealing spirits), sensing the Two-Tails' chakra inside while filled with anticipation.
"I've decided to continue refining the Sage Art from Shikkotsu Forest (literally 'moist bone forest,' known for its unique healing arts) and Wood Release techniques. I hope I can be helpful instead of being a burden to you."
Tsunade spoke up at this point, her tone remarkably humble.
However, Heiyan could sense the fierce resolve hidden behind her words. Clearly, she was a strong-willed woman who would personally seek vengeance for Nawaki rather than relying entirely on Heiyan and the others.
"If that's settled, let's disband for now so everyone can return and train. If anything comes up, we'll still use the traditional method—contact each other via ninja cats."
Heiyan concluded.
Thus, Fugaku, Hiashi, Heiyan, and Tsunade walked out of the meeting room together and exited the Hokage Tower. Fugaku and Hiashi returned respectively to their clans, while Heiyan accompanied Tsunade back to her home.
"I have a gift for you, as thanks for your hard work carrying me all the way back to Konoha."
Heiyan looked steadily into Tsunade's eyes as he said this. Then, as Tsunade looked on in surprise, Heiyan pulled out a Storage Scroll and retrieved from it an elegant piece of female armor.
Previously, he had forged five sets of living armor using Terrestrial Release—apart from one set each for the Trio, the fourth set had been transformed by Heiyan into the Two-Tails Catgirl Armor. The final remaining female set had specifically been prepared for Tsunade.
For the armor set's style and color scheme, Heiyan had deliberately referenced Hashirama Senju's personal attire, only adjusting the chestplate into a feminine cut, additionally incorporating a skirt guard and knee-high boots. Furthermore, he had added a red cape bearing the crest of the Senju Clan.
"Haha, then I won't be modest and accept it gladly."
Tsunade remained as generous as ever; instead of being bashful with Heiyan, she immediately scooped up the armor set, clearly delighted.
"You can try wearing it first—if you're dissatisfied or it doesn't fit well, I can still make adjustments," Heiyan thoughtfully suggested.
"Alright, wait here."
At that, Tsunade grabbed the armor set and stepped into the next room. After some rustling sounds of clothing changing, she came out again.
"What do you think?"
She twirled in front of Heiyan, then placed one hand on her hip confidently, proudly displaying her attractive figure.
Heiyan's eyes lit up instantly.
The red and black armor worn by Tsunade accentuated her figure perfectly—her impressive bust, slender waist, and long white thighs beneath the short half-skirted plating.
She looked fierce and magnificent.
The only slight flaw was…
"Is the chestplate maybe a bit too small?" Heiyan suddenly asked.
At those words, Tsunade blushed deeply and quietly nodded, barely above a whisper.
"Um... why don't you take it off and I'll tweak it for you?"
Heiyan scratched his head, a bit awkwardly. Truthfully, he'd already made the chestplate as big as he could remember—still not enough to fully cover her curves.
This little incident quickly passed.
Shikkotsu Forest.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Using the Reverse Summoning, Heiyan and Tsunade arrived once again at this oceanic forest. Heiyan found an open space, then with a "pop," pulled out the cork of the gourd.
The next second—
Boom!
A powerful burst of violent chakra erupted from the gourd, shooting high into the sky.
The solidified chakra kept reshaping and merging until finally, on the empty lot, it formed into a huge slug covered in mucus, possessing six milky-white tails.
This was Saiken, the Six-Tails Slug, released by Heiyan.
"Hmph!"
As soon as Saiken appeared, it flew into a rage and attacked Heiyan. Seven pores under its chin spewed torrents of corrosive acid, rushing toward both Heiyan and Tsunade.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
But the two were well-prepared. They leapt backward immediately, dodging the attack using the Body Flicker Technique.
Still unrelenting, Saiken tried chasing Heiyan, who calmly gestured toward something behind it.
Suddenly, a vast shadow appeared directly above Saiken, causing it to tremble in fear.
Saiken turned around nervously, and what it saw made its fur stand on end.
From the island's woods, countless blue-and-white tiny slugs gathered from all directions, stacking together like mountains forming one giant slug over a hundred meters tall—its entire body four to five times larger than Saiken's.
And yet, this was still only a clone of Sage Slug Katsuyu, not even close to her true form.
Katsuyu tilted her head down in curiosity, regarding Saiken with apparent interest and no ill intent, merely finding it amusing and mischievous.
Nonetheless, under the immense suppression of Katsuyu's ocean-like Sage Chakra, the Six-Tails Slug had curled itself up, trembling all over.
"Lord Heiyan, Lady Tsunade, where did this little one come from? It's so adorable."
Katsuyu then turned her head to greet the approaching Heiyan and Tsunade.
"It is Saiken, the Six-Tails Slug," Heiyan replied with a smile toward the sage slug. "It is of your own kind—a fellow giant slug. I subdued it on the battlefield but hadn't decided what to do with it yet. Later, I thought about how lonely you've been living here in Shikkotsu Forest, so I brought it along as company. Hope you don't mind."
"Of course not! I couldn't be happier!"
Upon hearing this, Katsuyu wiggled her pair of antennae joyfully in the air.
Then, it expressed gratitude to Heiyan and promised to take good care of the young Saiken.
"Don't be too soft on him. If this little troublemaker gets out of line, just give him a good punch."
Heiyan specifically instructed Katsuyu, then cast a glance at Saiken, who trembled slightly beside him, paralyzed with nerves.
If he wasn't mistaken, in the original timeline, The Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei's Boil Release Kekkei Genkai had been inspired by Saiken's acid-spewing ability.
Heiyan realized that if he used the Celestial Binding Chain to extract Saiken's chakra, he might end up with a living armor capable of using Boil Release.
Unfortunately, Heiyan had run out of living armor stock entirely. Producing one would drain a massive number of cells from his body, and currently still recovering from his coma, his physical condition couldn't withstand such stress at all.
Indeed.
When Heiyan asked Sage Slug to check his body condition, he received the report that his cellular depletion was severe — his actual physical state was far worse than it appeared.
"My Lord Heiyan, please refrain from using Sage Arts unless absolutely necessary," Katsuyu said, her tone filled with concern. Nearby, Tsunade couldn't help but glance over at Heiyan with worry in her eyes.
"I understand. I'll find a way to resolve this issue."
Heiyan replied calmly, already having his own ideas.
Then, he shared some insights into practicing Sage Arts with Tsunade and guided her through absorbing Natural Energy, helping her enter a meditative trance.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>