Just like Tobirama's 'Scroll of Seals,' powerful ninjutsu and the like were usually stored within it, serving as a legacy. The large scroll Hibari saw now was likely used to store some of Kumogakure's powerful ninjutsu.
Thinking this, Hibari couldn't wait to take the large scroll off the wall, then carefully unrolled it on the ground.
With just one glance, a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of Hibari's eye. If the various pieces of intelligence obtained before were considered benefits for Konoha, then what he was seeing now was his own 'private work' added to the mission.
That's right, what was recorded on this large scroll were indeed Kumogakure's powerful ninjutsu. The very first ninjutsu that caught his eye was the 'Lightning Release Chakra Mode,' also known as the Lightning Release Armor Technique, which Hibari had coveted for a long time.
Although this ninjutsu was a B-rank ninjutsu, it was incredibly powerful. The reason it was recorded on this scroll wasn't because the technique itself was so formidable, but because it was now something passed down through generations of Raikage.
The First Raikage passed this technique to the Second Raikage, who were master and disciple. The Second Raikage then passed this technique to the later Third Raikage, who were also master and disciple.
The Third Raikage later passed this technique to the Fourth Raikage, who were not only master and disciple but also father and son.
In short, this 'Lightning Release Armor Technique' could only be learned by the Raikage and the Raikage's disciples throughout Kumogakure. It was a ninjutsu symbolizing the Raikage's succession. Being taught this technique meant that the current Raikage was training you to be the next Raikage!
This was the main reason why this technique made it onto Kumogakure's 'Great Scroll.'
However, at this moment, Hibari, the uninvited guest, was carefully examining the principles and learning methods of this technique.
Hibari had already realized that his proficiency in taijutsu wasn't very good, completely wasting his status as a 'Zoan-type Devil Fruit user.' Although it was the Human-Human Fruit, it should still be high-end, shouldn't it?
Originally, Hibari planned to secretly research the 'Eight Gates Formation Technique' behind Tobirama's back, but he ultimately didn't get the chance. The Eight Gates Formation Technique was closely guarded by Tobirama, who seemed to have sensed that Hibari might have designs on it.
Therefore, Hibari had to change his mind and look for other powerful taijutsu. However, there weren't many extremely powerful taijutsu in Konohagakure.
Besides the Eight Gates Formation Technique, the only other notable one was the Gentle Fist style. But that was a secret technique of the Hyūga clan that wasn't passed down.
Even though Hibari was the young master of the Senju clan, he didn't have the standing to learn it. Moreover, this taijutsu needed to be combined with the Hyūga clan's Byakugan to reach its perfect state, so learning it wouldn't be of much use to Hibari.
Finally, Hibari set his sights on other villages. His primary target was Kumogakure's 'Lightning Release Armor Technique.' To be precise, this technique should actually be a 'nin-taijutsu,' but none of that mattered. What mattered was that the technique was strong enough, and that was all he needed.
Hibari himself possessed Lightning Release chakra, but he didn't have many impressive Lightning Release ninjutsu. If he learned this technique, that would change everything.
Originally, Hibari's plan was to wait until the First Great Ninja War broke out before looking for an opportunity to obtain this technique from Kumogakure. To his surprise, the village provided him with a legitimate chance to infiltrate Kumogakure so early, and he even found this scroll so easily.
"I searched high and low for it, only to find it effortlessly," Hibari murmured softly.
Of course, he wasn't confident enough to learn this technique right here.
Are you kidding? The Second Raikage of Kumogakure was just beyond a wall. If he made a big commotion now, his chances of survival would be very slim.
Thinking this, Hibari didn't continue reading. Instead, he quickly unrolled the scroll further to see if any other powerful ninjutsu were recorded there, hoping to get them all from Kumogakure.
However, what was recorded further down the scroll was somewhat beyond Hibari's expectations. Hibari had originally thought there would be three to five powerful forbidden jutsu or something similar. However, in reality, most of what was recorded afterward were related to the expansion and extension of the 'Lightning Release Armor' nin-taijutsu.
For example, extensions like the 'Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite series,' 'Liger Bomb,' 'Elbow Bolt,' 'Lightning Oppression Horizontal,' and 'Lightning Release: Lariat.'
Although there weren't the mysterious kinjutsu Hibari had imagined, these extensions were also very powerful, so Hibari wasn't disappointed.
After finishing the page on Lightning Release: Lariat, Hibari continued to unroll the scroll further. At this point, the text that came into Hibari's view made him frown. It wasn't that he couldn't understand it, but the content was somewhat unexpected.
"Forbidden: Lightning Release Living Body Secret Technique? Incomplete... Extremely high mortality rate... Body unable to withstand conversion pressure..." Hibari quickly skimmed it, then murmured in confusion, "What the hell is all this?"
He first looked at the secret room's hidden door, faintly hearing the Second Raikage muttering about something. After some thought, Hibari decided to read more about this detailed record of the living body secret technique.
After all, he couldn't leave right now, could he?
As he read, Hibari became completely engrossed. Time flew by rapidly. More than two hours later, Hibari finally snapped back to reality. By then, there was no sound outside, suggesting that the Second Raikage and his companion had gone back to rest.
"My goodness, these shinobi are truly unbelievable; they dare to delve into anything... But this technique... it definitely needs further research. The cost is simply too great. If Kumogakure were to continue this research, I don't know how many people would die. No wonder the Second Raikage sealed it away," Hibari licked his lips, thinking with a somewhat greedy gaze.
Hibari had gathered a general understanding of this so-called 'Lightning Release Living Body Secret Technique' from the large scroll.
Its concept was proposed by the First Raikage's father. Back then, Kumogakure hadn't even been established. The Five Great Nations were still in constant warfare, and the entire world was in a 'Warring States Period.' Various ninja clans battled each other daily for profit and employment.
At that time, the First Raikage's father was hired by the Land of Lightning's Daimyo to deal with some shinobi hired by the Land of Water. This esteemed figure was already an expert highly skilled in Lightning Release, and his targets were the Hozuki clan, who also had an old grudge with Hibari.
As is well known, the Hozuki clan mastered the Hydrification Technique. During the Warring States Period, they often caused trouble for the Land of Lightning. The Daimyo finally couldn't stand it anymore and dispatched this 'Lightning Release expert' to deal with the Hozuki clan's shinobi, who feared Lightning Release.
The final result, of course, was that the 'Lightning Release expert' emerged victorious, annihilating many Hozuki clan experts. At the same time, he somehow obtained some information related to the Hozuki clan's Hydrification Technique.
The 'Hydrification Technique' itself was not something the expert valued; after all, he had killed countless people who mastered this secret technique. This technique had a very obvious side effect: once learned, the user would fear the counter of lightning.
However, various pieces of information about the Hydrification Technique greatly interested him. In his view, Lightning Release was the strongest defensive technique, although it wasn't very suitable for flashy ninjutsu. But if combined with taijutsu related to physical prowess, it would be extremely unresolvable.
Theoretically, Lightning Release is countered by Wind Release, but this is far less obvious than Earth Release countering Water Release, Water Release countering Fire Release, or Fire Release countering Wind Release.
The reason it's said that Wind Release can counter Lightning Release is simply that some Lightning Release ninjutsu can easily be 'dispersed' by wind. However, Lightning Release nin-taijutsu is completely immune to this.
Therefore, in the eyes of this 'Lightning Release expert,' if he could research and develop a 'Lightning Transformation Secret Technique' based on the principles of the Hozuki clan's 'Hydrification Technique,' wouldn't he be invincible? Who else could oppose him in the ninja world?
Once this idea struck him, he couldn't stop. He then began to frantically research related topics. The ultimate product was the 'Lightning Release Armor Technique.' At this point, he couldn't continue his research; his life quickly came to an end, and he passed away.
Subsequently, his son, the First Raikage, inherited his dying wish and also frantically developed this ninjutsu. During this period, an unknown number of people died; in short, none succeeded.
Later, he, along with the other four Kage, pacified the chaotic world and founded "Kumogakure." Then, he continued to cause trouble in the village until he stepped down not long ago. Coupled with his advanced age, he no longer intended to continue his endeavors, finally halting this trend.
Now, the Second Raikage has taken office. Upon his assumption of power, due to insufficient prestige and the presence of troublemakers like Kinkaku and Ginkaku in the village, he has been unable to stabilize the situation and centralize power.
As a result, he dared not conduct these chaotic ninjutsu experiments, fearing that he might incite public outrage someday, and also worried that Kinkaku and Ginkaku might use this matter as a reason or leverage to 'attack him.'
So, as soon as he took office, he prohibited the research and experimentation of this ninjutsu, and meticulously recorded all these materials in this large scroll, sealing them away, thinking that it wouldn't be too late to take them out for research once he had truly solidified his position in the future.
In short, by a stroke of luck, Hibari got his hands on this large scroll and was very interested in this technique. After all, if it could truly achieve the level of the Hydrification Technique as envisioned, what would that mean?
It would mean this person could cameo as 'Enel the Thunder God' in the neighboring pirate world—elementalization!
"Damn it, how great would it have been if that bastard had given me a Logia-type Devil Fruit back then..." Hibari looked at the large scroll in his hand, thinking with some annoyance.
However, reconsidering, it seemed there was now an opportunity for him to 'fulfill his dream.'
"This trip truly wasn't in vain. Although I didn't get any other forbidden jutsu or anything like that, this large scroll alone is enough for my gains..." Hibari softly muttered to himself, wiping away the drool that almost dripped.
Without further delay, Hibari quickly began to copy all the information recorded on this scroll. His attitude was extremely serious; after all, he was copying a treasure.
"Once this young master gets back, all of this will belong to our Senju clan... Hahahaha." Hibari couldn't help but laugh.
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