The Village Hidden in the Rocks, located in the Land of Earth, was surrounded by towering rocky mountains. Its natural terrain provided formidable defense, creating a significant obstacle for any enemies attempting an invasion.
Outside Iwagakure, in a spacious circular area enclosed by rocky hills, a battle was underway between a ninja from Iwagakure and one from Amegakure.
This marked the final stage of the joint Chūnin Exams between the two villages: a life-and-death combat trial.
Various ninjutsu and ninja tools were showcased, but the most eye-catching was the iron umbrella wielded by the Amegakure ninja. Umbrella-shaped tools were quite rare in the ninja world, seemingly exclusive to Amegakure, which specialized in their design and procurement.
This iron umbrella was no ordinary tool. Its tip could extend into a sharp blade, which could be infused with chakra to enhance its cutting power further.
Additionally, the iron umbrella could spin autonomously in midair, firing a barrage of steel needles at its target with precision akin to automatic tracking.
Coupled with the impressive skills of the Amegakure ninja wielding it, the duel between the two village representatives quickly reached its conclusion.
"You Amegakure folks have developed remarkably fast in recent years!"
"This is the first time I've seen such an innovative ninja tool. If you could equip your entire village with these, the young ones in Iwagakure wouldn't stand a chance against you..."
Ōnoki, clad in his Tsuchikage robes and straw hat, sat on a spectator platform carved from the rocky terrain. He spoke with a hint of amusement to the person beside him.
The individual seated next to Ōnoki was a large, orange-haired man with a plump face and a Rain Village forehead protector. His massive frame resembled a small mountain, and he bore peculiar black rods embedded in his body.
Yet his most striking feature was his pair of spiral-patterned eyes.
The legendary Sage Eyes?
The pressure they exude is truly...
So the rumors about Akatsuki were true after all...
The leader of Amegakure had long since changed from Hanzō to a young man possessing the Rinnegan.
As these thoughts swirled in Ōnoki's mind, the plump-faced man continued to watch the victorious Amegakure ninja on the battlefield in silence.
When a Special Jōnin from Iwagakure leapt into the arena to end the match, an unexpected event unfolded.
The Amegakure Genin, still shielding his face with his umbrella, began walking slowly toward the defeated Iwagakure ninja, whose body was riddled with steel needles.
"Stop!"
"The match is over!"
"If you don't cease your actions now, I will represent Iwagakure and administer punishment!"
The Special Jōnin, with his sharp chin and square face, spoke sternly, blocking the Amegakure ninja's path with an air of confidence.
After all, in his eyes, this young Genin, who had barely reached Chūnin-level strength, was only noteworthy for his ninja tool.
Whoosh!
The Amegakure ninja's figure suddenly blurred into a streak of light. When he reappeared, he was standing before the fallen Iwagakure ninja.
Meanwhile, the Special Jōnin who had tried to intercept him now had a massive gush of blood spraying from his waist.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"A mere Amegakure brat..."
His eyes widened in disbelief, his face frozen in shock. When he turned to look at the young ninja, he noticed an intense surge of chakra radiating from the boy's body.
The chakra was so immense that it overflowed, forming a blue aura around him.
"So that's what it is..."
In the next instant, the Special Jōnin's vision abruptly shifted, as if he were lying flat on the ground, staring skyward.
When he tried to command his legs to stand, he realized he had lost all sensation below his waist.
Only then did the searing pain from his waist register in his mind, flooding his senses with agony that turned his vision dark.
"So, I've already..."
The Amegakure ninja holding the iron umbrella flicked away the blood staining its tip. He paid no attention to the bisected referee behind him, as his mind was consumed entirely by the lust for slaughter.
He swiftly swung his umbrella at the fallen Iwagakure ninja, cleanly severing his head.
As fresh blood sprayed forth once more, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in the Amegakure ninja's eyes.
Blood...
Emptiness...
More... warm blood!
"Huff! Huff!"
His eyes had turned completely blood-red, and he gripped the iron umbrella tightly, his breaths carrying a scorching heat as if his blood were beginning to boil.
If the higher-ups of Sunagakure witnessed this scene, they would find it eerily familiar.
The effect resembled that of ingesting a secret medicine, yet it was distinctly different. The Amegakure ninja had clearly lost his sanity, transforming into a berserk beast.
And this terrifying beast wasn't alone. Dozens of others simultaneously erupted, turning on their fellow Amegakure ninjas nearby.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
Explosions rang out continuously, and thick clouds of smoke and fire began rising from various points across Iwagakure.
"Leader of Amegakure!"
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"Do you seek to challenge us, only to meet your own destruction?!"
Ōnoki's face turned ashen, his voice icy and sharp.
He floated swiftly into the air, scanning the surroundings. His expression grew darker, and a sense of dread crept into his heart.
Iwagakure's rugged, towering terrain should have made it impossible for enemies to infiltrate silently, especially during the Chūnin Exams when all Amegakure ninjas were under surveillance. So why...
Ōnoki was unaware of the existence of White Zetsu, a unique being for whom such treacherous terrain posed no obstacle.
"You nations are too vast, forced to protect your interests in battles with other great powers. Otherwise, your countries, villages, and people would suffer."
"But the battlegrounds of your wars always fall upon us small, weak nations."
"With every war, my country is left destitute, its people starving amidst the ruins... After countless wars, the great nations remain prosperous, while we small nations are left with nothing but endless pain."
"Today, I want to let you great nations feel what true suffering is!"
The man with the Rinnegan maintained his calm demeanor, showing no fear toward the enraged Ōnoki.
As his words flowed steadily, the sky seemed to echo with a grand, solemn, and awe-inspiring chant, as if welcoming the descent of a divine being. Yet it also carried the mournful cries of countless souls sinking into despair.
The golden light of the horizon transformed into a dark crimson glow. Nearby clouds ignited with fiery hues, casting a blood-red reflection upon the jagged peaks and rugged earth, as though the land had been bathed in blood.
Through the crimson sunset, a figure clad in a black cloak with red clouds could be seen ascending rapidly, as if swimming through an ocean of blood, striving to transcend its endless expanse.
If Ōnoki's eyesight were sharp enough, he would notice that the figure's eyes were also a pair of purple Rinnegan.
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