"Naruto: The Ōtsutsuki Bloodline"Chapter 296: Dance: Kitagawa Minamoto Edition (Double Chapter, Please Subscribe)
"Has Kitagawa Minamoto made his move already?"
Nagato raised his eyebrows slightly upon receiving the news from White Zetsu. He had been deliberating when to act or which front to support. After all, in his mind, he was the "earthly representative" of the Sage of Six Paths. The only opponents worthy of his attention were the Kage.
As for other ordinary ninjas, he didn't even consider them worth his time. Clearing them out was merely a convenient task. To find a meaningful target, he could better unleash his power and accelerate its growth.
"But now, it seems my target has appeared."
Nagato murmured softly, his Rinnegan glowing with an unusual light. White Zetsu, who had delivered the news, blinked curiously.
"It seems you're ready. But don't underestimate Kitagawa Minamoto—his strength is far beyond ordinary."
"It's precisely because of strong opponents like him that I can better awaken my own power."
Nagato didn't bother hiding his thoughts from White Zetsu. He didn't harbor any ill will toward White Zetsu, especially since White Zetsu had been instrumental in his physical recovery.
"Where is he now? I need to get there quickly."
"He's near the borders of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Iron. Need me to help you get there?"
White Zetsu blinked and asked curiously.
"Although I'm not as fast as Tobi, I can still manage the journey."
"Then I'll trouble you. I need to get there as quickly as possible!"
Nagato didn't hesitate. He felt his power surging through his body, and he couldn't wait any longer!
Meanwhile, Kimimaro was equally impatient. He stared at White Zetsu without hesitation.
"Kitagawa Minamoto is a worthy target. And I won't forget what he's done."
Kimimaro still vividly remembered his first encounter with Kitagawa Minamoto—how that wretched Earth Release technique had left him in a miserable state. That mission had exacerbated his illness, preventing him from becoming Orochimaru's "vessel." This time, he intended to settle the score once and for all!
"Jūgo, you and the others stick with the main force. I have some personal matters to attend to."
Kimimaro didn't forget his teammates, especially Jūgo. But as soon as he finished speaking, White Zetsu enveloped him, and they sank into the earth together.
"Tch, what a pain."
Suigetsu Hōzuki grumbled at the sight, unable to resist complaining.
"Seriously, does he really think he can take on the Fifth Hokage? This is just reckless!"
"Sigh..."
Jūgo initially felt annoyed at Suigetsu's words, but he stopped himself mid-sentence. The current Kitagawa Minamoto was an enigma—no one could predict his true power. And in Jūgo's opinion, Kimimaro's decision to confront Kitagawa Minamoto was unlikely to end well.
"Let's focus on our own tasks and stay cautious."
In the end, Jūgo could only sigh, silently wishing his friend good luck.
"Kitagawa Minamoto has moved already?"
Obito was visibly surprised upon receiving the intel from White Zetsu. He hadn't expected Kitagawa Minamoto to act so quickly. The battle had just begun, and this guy was already planning to make a decisive move?
"Perhaps there's some other motive behind this... or maybe..."
Suddenly, Obito thought of something, clenching his fists tightly.
"His 'evolution' requires constant combat. Only through continuous fighting can he fully complete it!"
Thinking about this, Obito began to understand why he always seemed to lag behind Kitagawa Minamoto. Since their first encounter nine years ago, Kitagawa Minamoto had faced an unimaginable number of battles. Even as a Genin, he constantly fought against powerful enemies—to the extent that even Akatsuki had become his "stepping stone."
"Now, he's probably nearing the final stages of his 'evolution.' That's why he's so eager to enter the fray."
Realizing this, Obito couldn't help but feel unsettled. He didn't know the limits of "evolution," nor how much combat was required to complete it. But he did know that his inner "Rin" continued to inspire him to fight and unleash his power through battle!
"I probably can't start with low-level battles. Accelerating through him might not be a bad idea."
With this thought, Obito decided to head over as well. After all, Nagato was also moving toward that area. And those Rinnegan eyes couldn't remain solely with Nagato!
"What about Uchiha Madara? How's his preparation coming along?"
"They're probably getting ready to act too."
White Zetsu blinked at Obito's question, then replied with a sly grin.
"Since Kitagawa Minamoto has entered the field, they can head to Konohagakure to search for what they're after."
"Tell them to hurry up."
Obito thought for a moment before speaking.
"Even if it's not urgent, getting results sooner is better than knowing nothing at all."
Kitagawa Minamoto likely didn't realize that he had already become a "disaster star" in the eyes of certain individuals. As soon as he arrived at the border between the Land of Hot Water and Kumogakure, the entire Akatsuki organization began mobilizing against him.
Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't care too much. After all, he hadn't hidden his intentions from the start.
"Minamoto? What are you doing here?"
It wasn't just Akatsuki that noticed his movements—the Allied Shinobi Forces detected him immediately as well. Shikamaru's squad was currently operating in the area, alongside Jiraiya and Tsunade.
These two hadn't joined any special operations unit; instead, they had chosen to directly enter the battlefield. This particular front was under their command.
"Strange. Aren't you supposed to be in the command center?"
"I asked someone to call the Third Hokage over to fill in. He's retiring soon anyway, so it's a good time for him to stay busy."
Kitagawa Minamoto replied nonchalantly, his gaze shifting toward the distance.
"Besides, as a Kage, I can't leave everything to you guys, can I?"
"I get the feeling you're just bored and decided to come over."
Jiraiya squinted suspiciously at him. Meanwhile, Tsunade shrugged.
"Well, it's good that you're here. At least we can deal with fewer problems now."
Though Tsunade had spent most of her time back in Konohagakure drinking and gambling, she was fully aware of Kitagawa Minamoto's capabilities. His presence here was undoubtedly beneficial.
"But I can't shake the feeling that you came here knowing exactly who the enemy is."
"Hmm, more or less."
Kitagawa Minamoto shrugged, his gaze fixed on the horizon as a mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"After all, they're old acquaintances of ours—some are even familiar to your grandfather. I figured they'd want to see me."
"In short, you're doing this on purpose."
Jiraiya scratched his head, unable to resist rolling his eyes. Tsunade nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. You loved messing with them while they were alive, and now you won't let them rest in peace?"
"You two are supposed to be my seniors. Why do you always look at me like this?"
Kitagawa Minamoto's grin grew wider. While the three of them bantered, Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino felt utterly overwhelmed. Even though the three had a close relationship, they couldn't join in this casual conversation. Moreover, wasn't idle chatter a bit inappropriate given the circumstances?
"Kitagawa Minamoto!"
Sure enough, amid their banter, a thunderous voice echoed across the battlefield. In the next moment, several figures descended from the sky, landing heavily before them.
These individuals were towering, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure. At the same time, White Zetsu began to appear stealthily around them, surrounding their group.
"Oh? They arrived pretty quickly, didn't they?"
Kitagawa Minamoto observed the scene, a mocking smile spreading across his face.
"But isn't it a bit underwhelming with just the few of you? Especially you, Fourth Raikage."
The Fourth Raikage's expression darkened upon hearing Kitagawa Minamoto's words. Painful memories involuntarily surfaced—whether it was his defeat at Kitagawa Minamoto's hands in the Land of Forests, where he lost his left arm, or the subsequent incident during the Chūnin Exams in Konoha, where he was counter-killed along with two others while fighting one-against-three.
These memories haunted him, even in death!
"I've heard that after my death, you launched a surprise attack on Kumogakure."
Most importantly, Kumogakure's current situation was dire. He had learned about the village's plight from others. He was even aware of Kumogakure's "fence-sitting" strategy.
And the one who had broken Kumogakure's "backbone" was standing right in front of him!
"Yes, I did."
Kitagawa Minamoto admitted straightforwardly, crossing his arms disdainfully.
"If you hadn't made that decision during the Chūnin Exams, Kumogakure wouldn't be in its current state. Isn't all of this your fault?"
"You—"
The Fourth Raikage's fists tightened, while the Third Raikage frowned deeply and spoke in a low voice.
"Kid, after doing something so extreme, aren't you afraid of karma?"
"What about you? You never seemed afraid of karma, did you?"
Kitagawa Minamoto's expression changed slightly, looking at them as if they were idiots.
"For years, you've acted recklessly in the shinobi world, plundering countless small villages and secluded ninja clans. You've acquired all their secret techniques, haven't you? Not just them—you even dared to take advantage of Konohagakure during its crisis.
Under the pretext of peace talks, you sent a group of death squads to Konoha to steal the Byakugan, even threatening war. I think your current situation perfectly matches everything you've done before, doesn't it?"
The atrocities committed by Kumogakure were so numerous they could be described as "too many to list." This was why, after Deidara's "glory to everyone, responsibility to me" declaration, Kitagawa Minamoto was more than willing to cause trouble in Kumogakure.
He never denied that the Raikage were brave in their own way, but everything was relative. They might have been good to their own people, but not necessarily to other villages. Such accumulated grudges were difficult to resolve.
Kitagawa Minamoto had even given them a chance, but they squandered it through their own actions. That was on them.
"Hey, this might not be the best time to provoke them, Minamoto."
Shikamaru, hearing Kitagawa Minamoto's words and seeing the enraged Raikage and the increasing number of White Zetsu surrounding them, couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Fortunately, Allied Shinobi Forces troops were rapidly approaching from behind, indicating that battle was imminent.
"Be careful, Minamoto."
Ino silently stood beside Kitagawa Minamoto, quietly warning him while drawing a kunai. Clearly, she was prepared to fight alongside him against these foes!
"Don't worry, they—"
Kitagawa Minamoto chuckled softly, but at that instant, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck. This forced him to pause mid-sentence as everyone leaped to avoid the lightning. Then they heard Kinkaku and Ginkaku speak.
"We heard you're similar to the Second Hokage?"
"Well, that's perfect. The Second Hokage died by our hands, and you, the Fifth Hokage, seem like a worthy target too!"
Kinkaku and Ginkaku were militant faction members from Kumogakure, among the first to advocate conquering other villages through warfare.
Seeing these two lunatics, Kitagawa Minamoto didn't even bother responding, though Kaguya was surprised.
"They possess Nine-Tails chakra emanating from within them. How strange..."
"In this world, there are all kinds of strange people. Don't be surprised."
Kitagawa Minamoto inwardly chuckled, but Kaguya remained puzzled.
"By the way, what's your plan now? Or rather, those three..."
"Don't rush. Those three won't appear so quickly. And you know what? Even without me, this world might not fear the Ōtsutsuki."
Kitagawa Minamoto took a step forward, calmly addressing the White Zetsu army and the Kumogakure shinobi before him.
"After thousands of years of warfare in the shinobi world, battle techniques have reached an unimaginable peak, and the will of shinobi is extraordinarily strong. You know all this, but do you know..."
"To what extent it has developed?"
As he spoke, natural chakra suddenly gathered around him, and his eyes transformed into glowing white orbs.
Whoosh—
With a subtle pulse of chakra, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji were instantly teleported away. When they reappeared, they found themselves among the main Allied forces!
"Minamoto!"
Ino called out worriedly, while Shikamaru and Chōji looked solemn. Jiraiya and Tsunade also frowned.
"He's going to..."
"Next..."
Kitagawa Minamoto remained calm, his white eyes surveying the thousands of White Zetsu and the four Kumogakure shinobi before him.
"Watch what this world's battle techniques look like when pushed to their absolute limit!"
Kaguya found his words puzzling, not understanding what Kitagawa Minamoto was thinking. Similarly, the Allied Shinobi Forces behind him were equally confused.
They had been excited when they discovered Kitagawa Minamoto's arrival, as the "future Fifth Hokage's" strength was immeasurable. His presence would solve many problems, but now he was standing alone at the front—what was he planning?
"Jiraiya-sama, should we—"
Shikamaru hesitated, speaking softly. Ino and Chōji also looked concerned. Even Tsunade frowned, seemingly considering rushing to his aid.
"Let's just watch."
However, after a moment of silence, Jiraiya shook his head with a bitter smile, surprising Tsunade.
"Are you sure? Even if he once conquered Kumogakure and faced Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, still..."
"Wait, he conquered Kumogakure with the Tsuchikage and Mizukage, right?" Chōji blinked, unfamiliar with the details. Meanwhile, Shikamaru thought about Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
When had Kitagawa Minamoto ever faced that terrifying being? Why hadn't he heard about it?
Unfortunately, no one was available to explain, as Kitagawa Minamoto was already walking slowly toward the White Zetsu army.
"It's sad to see these White Zetsu being used like this."
As Kitagawa Minamoto advanced, Kaguya's voice sounded again.
"They contain traces of Asura's power, but it's too weak. Will they pose any challenge to you?"
"Not at all. The key is that I need to warm up, and at the same time..."
Kitagawa Minamoto continued walking step by step toward the front, emanating an aura as imposing as thousands of troops despite being alone.
"There are some things I don't want to share with others."
"?"
Kaguya was confused, but Kitagawa Minamoto stopped talking. His pace quickened, soon breaking into a run straight toward the White Zetsu army.
"This guy..."
The Third and Fourth Raikage, along with the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers, frowned, unsure why they all felt a strange palpitation in their hearts.
As Kitagawa Minamoto accelerated, they either instinctively gripped their sacred tools or clenched their fists as chakra began to surge. They hadn't even noticed that cold sweat had formed on their foreheads!
Even the White Zetsu seemed to hesitate, their movements becoming sluggish as if they too struggled to withstand Kitagawa Minamoto's overwhelming presence.
"Why does he seem even more terrifying than before?"
The Fourth Raikage couldn't understand the situation. The previous Kitagawa Minamoto had been formidable, but he hadn't reached this level.
Now, the terrifying aura made him feel unable to face Kitagawa Minamoto directly, despite being reincarnated through Impure World Reincarnation. Even standing alongside his father, with two other reincarnated shinobi and countless White Zetsu surrounding them, he still felt uneasy.
This unease made his breathing heavy, though even he couldn't explain why!
"Attack!"
The White Zetsu seemed to reach their limit, especially as Kitagawa Minamoto drew closer. The pressure was so intense that even these mindless creatures felt uncomfortable.
Finally, one White Zetsu shouted, and the rest surged forward toward Kitagawa Minamoto!
The vast White Zetsu army spread like a white tide, covering the sky and earth, while Kitagawa Minamoto advanced alone, directly toward them.
"I hope nothing goes wrong..."
Despite knowing Kitagawa Minamoto's strength, Shikamaru, Jiraiya, and the others couldn't help but worry. But in the next instant, their jaws dropped in astonishment.
Not just them, but the confused Allied Shinobi Forces who hadn't received orders to act, and even the Fourth Raikage's group on the opposing side!
BOOM—
At the moment of contact, a tremendous roar erupted. In that split second of engagement, countless White Zetsu were thrown high into the air.
Their bodies hit the ground in irregular, twisted shapes, completely immobilized and lifeless!
Within the White Zetsu army, screams rose and fell. Kitagawa Minamoto moved through their ranks like a butterfly flitting through flowers.
His movements were concise and efficient. Each swing of his Yin-Yang Release dagger meant another White Zetsu's demise.
Whoosh—
With a sidestep, he avoided an attack from behind, then sliced through the White Zetsu's neck with a single stroke.
A quick backstep allowed him to dodge another White Zetsu's sneak attack. Lowering his body, his blade instantly pierced through the creature.
Next, he delivered a punch that sent a White Zetsu flying backward, crushing dozens more behind it with the sheer force.
Stepping forward again, two White Zetsu's fists barely grazed his body as they passed by. But he grabbed one White Zetsu's arm, forcing it to punch its own comrade!
Thud—
One White Zetsu instantly collapsed, and before either could comprehend what had happened, both were sent flying backward.
Their chests had completely caved in, and simultaneously, his dagger slashed through the air again. Another White Zetsu was cut in half before it could even react!
"Ahhh!"
Wails and screams echoed across the battlefield as Kitagawa Minamoto danced through the White Zetsu army like a performer.
Despite the White Zetsu numbering in the tens of thousands, none posed any threat to him. He was executing a cold, efficient slaughter with a unique rhythm, leaving devastation in his wake!
In just a few dozen seconds, countless White Zetsu had fallen by his hand.
"So this is the Fifth Hokage's power..."
The Allied Shinobi Forces watched in awe. Though they could tell these White Zetsu weren't particularly strong, their sheer numbers would intimidate anyone.
Yet Kitagawa Minamoto faced them so casually, so effortlessly—it was truly frightening!
Most importantly, they couldn't even follow his movements. All they saw was a blur, and the White Zetsu falling in waves.
"Can you see clearly what's happening?"
Tsunade swallowed hard, asking in a low voice.
"And could you achieve this level if you tried?"
"You're overestimating me..."
Jiraiya's face was filled with embarrassment. He wished he could reach this level, but he knew his own limitations.
"Minamoto's speed is too fast—I can't even see clearly. I might be able to clear these creatures, but at this efficiency..."
This efficiency could only be described as inhuman—too fast and too overwhelming. Most importantly, Kitagawa Minamoto was only using taijutsu; he hadn't employed any ninjutsu yet!
Once he started using ninjutsu to attack, Jiraiya couldn't even imagine what the scene would become.
"Tch, has the gap grown this wide..."
While Jiraiya and the others watched in amazement, Shikamaru's trio was equally stunned by Kitagawa Minamoto's efficiency.
"How terrifying..."
Chōji couldn't help but swallow nervously, and Ino nodded in agreement, though her eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Senpai is truly incredible. Is this his real power?"
The Allied Shinobi Forces were dumbfounded, and the Fourth Raikage's group wasn't faring much better.
"No wonder he could conquer Kumogakure..."
Kinkaku and Ginkaku exchanged glances. With this level of strength, Kumogakure stood no chance.
More importantly, they had heard this guy not only knew the Flying Thunder God Technique but also Wood Release. Initially, they thought he might be a fusion of the First and Second Hokage, but now it seemed different.
"Does he also have some of Madara Uchiha's style? But it's not quite the same?"
They sensed that he was merely warming up.
"Hmph, faster than I was in my prime?"
The Third Raikage frowned deeply, while the Fourth Raikage could no longer contain himself.
"We can't let him continue! We must do something!"
"Indeed. Since he's the Fifth Hokage, we should try to keep him here if possible!"
The Third Raikage took a deep breath, then turned to the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers.
"Though I despise you, we need to act now. What do you think?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
The Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers revealed cold smiles, their gazes fixed on Kitagawa Minamoto, who continued his relentless slaughter.
Meanwhile, Kitagawa Minamoto continued weaving through the tens of thousands of White Zetsu. Suddenly, he sensed something.
In an instant, he paused, grabbing a White Zetsu by the neck and twisting sharply. With a "crack," the White Zetsu's neck snapped, and he immediately used the body as a shield.
Almost simultaneously, a bolt of lightning flashed toward him!
BOOM—
The lightning struck the White Zetsu's corpse, producing a muffled explosion. Kitagawa Minamoto leaped backward, effortlessly evading the sneak attack!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
With several sharp sounds cutting through the air, the Fourth Raikage and his companions appeared before Kitagawa Minamoto.
"Kitagawa Minamoto!"
The Fourth Raikage growled in a deep voice, while the Third Raikage's body was already enveloped in lightning.
"Though I find you interesting, this isn't a place for you to act recklessly. Besides, we have a score to settle!"
"Kid, I wonder how you compare to Tobirama Senju?"
Kinkaku and Ginkaku also stared intently at Kitagawa Minamoto, their sacred tools glowing with power.
"Ha!"
However, Kitagawa Minamoto merely shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the four of them before he sighed.
"Honestly, I'm puzzled why you always have this misconception that with a bit more effort, you could defeat me. I really want to ask..."
"What exactly gives you such a strange delusion?"
Though he asked this, he understood that this mentality was inevitable for shinobi who had survived thousands of years of warfare. After all, without such an attitude, how could they have the courage to face powerful enemies?
However, when directed at him, it became somewhat irritating.
"Anyway, talking to you dead people is meaningless. It's better to send you on your way quickly."
"You're quite confident."
The Third Raikage frowned, while the Fourth Raikage snorted coldly.
"I'm fully recovered now, and in this state, can you kill me again?"
"Hmm?"
Kitagawa Minamoto was momentarily taken aback, then laughed disdainfully.
"What, are you still proud even in death? Besides..."
As he spoke, a vast surge of chakra suddenly began to flow, followed by a torrent of fierce flames.
"What makes you think I can't handle you just because you're reincarnated through Impure World Reincarnation?"
The raging flames spread across the sky like a mountain wildfire, instantly turning the entire sky crimson!
"This!?"
Witnessing the flames that filled their vision and feeling the intense heat, the distant Allied Shinobi Forces were stunned.
They had seen powerful Fire Release techniques before, and many were quite proficient in them. But a Fire Release like Kitagawa Minamoto's, casually unleashed yet resembling a natural disaster, was unprecedented!
"Dodge!"
The Third Raikage immediately sensed something was wrong. These flames seemed to contain a special power that threatened them.
His warning was unnecessary—the other three had already leaped away.
BOOM—
A massive explosion erupted as the fierce flames engulfed half the battlefield. The White Zetsu caught in the inferno let out despairing wails as they were instantly consumed!
"What's going on?"
The Fourth Raikage and the others dodged quickly, their speed allowing them to avoid being swallowed by the flames.
But such intense flames exceeded their expectations. Before they could think further, another powerful force exploded above them.
"Watch out! He's coming again!"
Looking up, they saw several fire dragons roaring menacingly in the sky. Kitagawa Minamoto hovered in midair as these dragons ferociously descended upon them!
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
Tremendous explosions shook the earth, and the intense flames turned the sky an even deeper red. The ground was practically shattered by these flame dragons, and Kitagawa Minamoto had already flashed toward the Fourth Raikage!
"You—"
The Fourth Raikage never expected Kitagawa Minamoto to target him directly. His eyes narrowed as he prepared to counterattack, but in the next moment, Kitagawa Minamoto's figure vanished!
"Don't you know that even if you die, the Flying Thunder God mark remains?"
At the same instant, Kitagawa Minamoto's voice sounded by his ear.
"Damn it!"
The voice made his expression darken. He instinctively swung his left arm to counter, but a blade had already sliced through his arm.
"And didn't you say you were fully recovered? This is much better now."
The Fourth Raikage was shocked, looking in disbelief at his left arm being severed again. This time there was no blood splatter, but it was even more terrifying because he somehow sensed he had completely lost his left arm!
Thud—
Another muffled sound, and his abdomen was struck hard. Though he felt no pain, his body instinctively curled up. Kitagawa Minamoto didn't give the Fourth Raikage any chance to react, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him into the air.
"So..."
The Fourth Raikage tried to struggle, but Kitagawa Minamoto's voice sounded again.
"With just you, did you think you could dance with me?"
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