Chapter 169: Madara Takes the Blame, Obito's Goal! (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)
Just as Sarutobi Asuma's eyes lit up, finally understanding the path to Kekkei Mōra.
In the Land of Fire's Daimyo's Mansion.
Killer B vented his anger with unique rhythms.
"What rude people, Baka yarou! Konoyaro!"
"Damn it, they used genjutsu to knock us out and drain our chakra! That villain Sarutobi Asuma, how could he disregard the great Killer B like this, Baka yarou! Konoyaro!"
Although it wasn't the first time his chakra had been drained, this situation, where he was like an ant with no power to resist, filled Killer B with fear alongside his rage.
Sealed away and still recovering, the Eight-Tails Ox-Demon lay weakly, just as furious.
That bastard had drained so much of his chakra this time, it had damaged his very foundation.
Damn scoundrel!
Damn Konoha!
The evil Sarutobi Asuma, that bastard was even more terrifying than them, the Tailed Beasts!
Killer B was so angry he wanted to go on strike.
But, thinking of the scene where countless people cheered for him, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
This was a perfect opportunity to showcase himself, Killer B, the genius rapper, to the world. If he missed it, he likely wouldn't get another chance like this once he returned to Kumogakure.
"He got off easy this time, Baka yarou! Konoyaro!"
Killer B gritted his teeth.
Meanwhile.
Kumogakure.
In the Raikage's office.
Upon receiving the intelligence sent back from Konoha, the Fourth Raikage's eyes widened, almost thinking he was mistaken.
Then.
BOOM!
His desk exploded into pieces.
"Bastard!"
The Fourth Raikage roared, crackling with electricity.
Dodai, standing nearby, was unfazed.
Who could have imagined that Killer B would hold a concert in the Land of Fire, and even use being a captive Eight-Tails Jinchuriki as publicity?
This was practically slapping Kumogakure's face repeatedly.
"That idiot Killer B!"
"Bastard!"
"To think... to think he'd do something like this!"
The Fourth Raikage wished he could immediately go to the Land of Fire and beat Killer B within an inch of his life. He roared through gritted teeth, "Agree to Konoha's demands!"
"Furthermore, send someone immediately to bring back that scoundrel Killer B!"
The ransom for Killer B had been negotiated to 500 million ryo, and neither side was willing to budge.
Now, the Fourth Raikage decided to stop negotiating.
In the Land of Fire's Daimyo's Mansion, Killer B, who had just stepped onto the stage amidst a thousand calls, inexplicably shivered.
...
Konohagakure.
In the afternoon, Sarutobi Asuma received news that the negotiations with the Cloud Ninja had officially concluded.
500 million ryo in income!
It was a double celebration!
He was feeling quite pleased.
And from today onwards, he would officially embark on the path to Kekkei Mōra.
After fusing the three chakra nature transformations of Earth Style, Water Style, and Yang Release, Sarutobi Asuma intended to continue integrating Yin Style, Lightning Style, Fire Style, and Wind Style into Wood Release.
To create Wood Release on the level of Kekkei Mōra!
This was difficult.
Because it was completely different from creating Truth-Seeking Balls.
Truth-Seeking Balls were merely a dense combination of seven chakra nature transformations. Compared to Kekkei Mōra, they actually lacked significant technical difficulty.
According to Sarutobi Asuma's estimation, as long as each chakra nature transformation reached Level 9, which was just entering the Six Paths realm, it would be achievable.
Both Kekkei Genkai, Kekkei Tōta, and Kekkei Mōra are highly purposeful.
Time trickled by.
Sarutobi Asuma's life was regular and monotonous, but fulfilling.
Three days later, Yūhi Kurenai and the others returned.
Life also became more vibrant and colorful.
In the blink of an eye, Konoha Year 48 had passed.
The turmoil in the ninja world caused by the Nine-Tails Attack, due to Sarutobi Asuma's powerful suppression of Kumogakure, also quickly subsided, with all conflicts swiftly moving into the shadows.
Intelligence, political assassinations, missions... the ninja world appeared to have returned to a state of peace.
The major ninja villages were all accumulating strength, hoping to break through the insurmountable mountain before them, a mountain named Sarutobi Asuma.
Konoha Year 49, February 18th.
Kirigakure's Third Mizukage finally closed his eyes forever. The Fourth Mizukage, who had become the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, began to take full control and initiated reforms in the Bloody Mist.
Konohagakure was also undergoing reforms.
After two years of groundwork with the Chunin and Jonin Special Training Classes, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, officially reformed the Ninja Academy.
Enrollment at 5-6 years old, still a 6-year program, graduating around 12 years old.
These basics remained unchanged.
However, the curriculum requirements were significantly higher.
The first three years were foundational, and starting from the fourth academic year, activities like water-walking and tree-climbing were incorporated into the curriculum.
In the final year of the program, as long as the Three Basic Ninjutsu exam was passed, every student could receive one Ninjutsu from the village, based on their Chakra Nature Transformation, to learn free of charge.
Concurrently, a Genin Preparatory Class was established in addition to the 6-year program.
This was a similar setup to the Chunin and Jonin Special Training Classes.
The Genin Preparatory Class was specifically for geniuses like Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi, who could graduate early.
If the regular 6-year curriculum was no longer sufficient, passing the assessment allowed entry into the Genin Preparatory Class.
Here, there would be more rigorous training and learning, along with the teaching of more profound knowledge and specialization.
This meant that teachers would be assigned to provide targeted training based on the students' different strengths.
Taijutsu, Sword Technique, Genjutsu, or the Five Elemental Ninjutsu, medical ninjas.
Similarly.
For these students in the Genin Preparatory Class, the village also opened up Ninjutsu access to them.
Furthermore.
In the new year of Konoha Year 49, Namikaze Minato also officially mandated enrollment for all school-aged children in Konoha, including those from major ninja clans.
No one opposed this.
Sarutobi Asuma was a teacher at the Ninja Academy, and even though everyone knew it was just a Shadow Clone.
However, the Ninja Academy reforms had actually been in the works for a year or two, so the reforms proceeded very smoothly.
With the arrival of Konoha Year 49, the most explosive news came from the Hokage's office building.
The Nine-Tails Fox was released by Uchiha Madara, who had betrayed Konohagakure in the past and fought in the battle at the Valley of the End against the First Hokage.
This news undoubtedly caused a huge sensation in Konoha.
Doubt!
Disbelief!
For a time, after decades, everyone in Konoha was talking about Uchiha Madara.
After all, he was a figure from the same era as the First Hokage, and he had been dead for decades, yet he had reappeared.
The Hokage's office building and the Uchiha clan jointly began to guide public opinion.
For example, Uchiha Madara had previously controlled the Nine-Tails and intended to destroy Konoha, but he was defeated by the First Hokage.
For example, Uchiha Madara had betrayed the Uchiha clan back then.
Soon, everyone believed it.
The Nine-Tails Fox had no connection to the current Uchiha; it was the act of a rogue ninja from decades ago.
Of course.
Not everyone could view this rationally. Many people in Konoha still blamed the Uchiha clan for the Nine-Tails Fox incident.
After all, Uchiha Madara was also from the Uchiha clan.
However, this wave of guided public opinion at least dispelled the various dark speculations about the Uchiha clan within Konoha, bringing everything out into the open.
Following this, the Uchiha clan also underwent significant changes.
A large number of female ninjas were sent to the medical ninja special training class controlled by Tsunade, gradually becoming medical ninjas.
In March of Konoha Year 49, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Yashiro officially became members of the Anbu.
With the new year, Konoha officially entered the era of Namikaze Minato, an era full of vitality.
Kumogakure.
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, looked at the intelligence from Konoha with a solemn expression.
The mastermind behind the Nine-Tails incident was actually the long-deceased Uchiha Madara, not, as originally believed, a loosening of the seal due to Jinchuriki production leading to the Tailed Beast's escape.
"Is this intelligence true?"
Onoki pondered silently, analyzing the intelligence about Konoha over the past period.
"The Fourth Hokage is consolidating Konoha's strength, the Uchiha clan... So, this intelligence is at least ninety percent true."
"The Nine-Tails was indeed controlled by the Sharingan... and only that person could control the Nine-Tails."
Onoki couldn't help but recall the time Uchiha Madara swept through Kumogakure, cold sweat breaking out unconsciously.
Regardless of whether it was truly Uchiha Madara, if that person was hiding in the shadows and they couldn't obtain the Nine-Tails, would they settle for less and covet other Tailed Beasts?
After thinking for a moment, Onoki issued another order to further strengthen the protection of Jinchuriki!
Kumogakure.
Cloud-Lightning Gorge.
After listening to the discussion of the two ninjas from the Night Moon clan guarding him, Killer B and the Eight-Tails exchanged glances in the mental world.
Although several months had passed, they still remembered the incident where their Chakra was extracted at the Land of Fire's Daimyo's mansion.
Now, it seemed something was amiss.
Uchiha Madara...
"Could it be that it wasn't that bastard Sarutobi Asuma last time, but this Devil of the Ninja World, Uchiha Madara?"
Killer B stopped rapping, "Besides Sarutobi Asuma, only Uchiha Madara, who can control the Nine-Tails, would have the ability to make us unknowingly controlled."
The Eight-Tails Ox-Demon remained silent for a moment before saying, "It's likely... true!"
"I can already feel that I wasn't just partially drained of Chakra, but rather split in half?"
Killer B was shocked, "What?"
"That bastard used Genjutsu on me, making me think only a portion of my Chakra was extracted."
The Eight-Tails Ox-Demon also became enraged.
"You damn it! You motherfu**er!"
"This must be told to big brother!"
Killer B stood up and started to walk out.
"Lord Killer B!"
"The Raikage ordered you to remain in seclusion here!"
The two ninjas from the Night Moon clan quickly chased after him.
Land of Rain, Amegakure.
On the tall tower.
Listening to the intelligence revealed by Zetsu, Uchiha Obito's expression under his mask was a little strange. "This must be that Sarutobi Asuma's idea."
"However, this is good."
At this moment, White Zetsu laughed, "Konoha has done a good thing!"
"This will greatly reduce Nagato's suspicion about your identity."
Uchiha Obito nodded and then asked, "How is the intelligence gathering on Kirigakure going?"
Black Zetsu said, "That Fourth Mizukage is no simple person. With the Three-Tails, his strength has become even greater. To control him, you'll likely have to severely injure him first."
"Then urge Nagato to gather personnel as soon as possible."
Uchiha Obito said, "Kirigakure is an excellent target."
"By controlling the Fourth Mizukage and continuing the Bloody Mist policy of the Third Mizukage, or even expanding it, Kirigakure's strength can easily be weakened."
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