Chapter 37: Flaming Sword, Fatal Forbidden Technique!
Seeking death is a skill too.
Especially in a complicated situation like the Land of Hot Water's current state.
On the battlefield, opposing sides can fight without burden due to their conflicting positions and ideologies.
But when fighting alone, seeking death requires extreme caution.
If Tsukasa impulsively charged in and started slaughtering people without proper provocation, forcing the enemy's strongest fighters to intervene and kill him—that wouldn't be insurance fraud, that would be suicide. A complete lack of strategy.
Even if you know the enemy is a heinous criminal destined to commit terrible atrocities with disastrous consequences, they're harming the people of the Land of Hot Water. What business is that of a ninja from the Land of Fire?
In such a situation, you still have to be patient.
A ninja's stance is never clearly divided between good and evil—it depends more on perspective and allegiance.
The Jashin Cult will kill countless people in the future, yes, but how much better is the Uchiha Clan's history?
Right now, the clueless Uchiha Obito will eventually become the villainous mastermind standing against all of humanity.
So if Tsukasa wants to commit insurance fraud... ahem, to fight evil! He first needs to clarify his own position.
A Fire Country native, a Konoha ninja, a member of the Uchiha clan—such positions clearly have nothing to do with the suffering civilians of the Land of Hot Water.
But as a caring older brother to his savior Hidan, provoked and attacked by members of the evil cult while trying to help his younger brother escape their twisted ideology—in righteous fury, he stormed the cult's headquarters and slaughtered them all, only to be tragically slain by a single miscalculation.
His righteousness is truly heartbreaking.
And if that weren't enough, he even embodies the heroic image of a "heaven-sent warrior" determined to change history and transform the world.
This—this is perfect! Everything is ready, only the final catalyst is missing!
Indeed, Tsukasa has never been careless.
All of this was part of his plan.
A full moon hung high in the sky, its clear light spreading across the fields, dyed a faint, ethereal hue.
Tsukasa bid farewell to the three and marched forward against the wind.
His upper body was wrapped in bandages, and he wore the same standard uniform he'd worn since leaving the ninja village. His ninja tool pouch was completely empty. After encountering the Kumogakure trio and the Jashin Cult, he had used up all his ninja tools.
Not even a single kunai remained.
The one-time Summoning Cat Contract meant for emergency resupply had been given to Seiichiro.
His equipment was now completely depleted.
In this state, with only the strength of a genin, attempting to infiltrate the Jashin Cult's headquarters would undoubtedly mean certain death.
Since his fate was sealed, Tsukasa wondered if there was still something meaningful he could accomplish.
After all, he'd promised Hidan that he would eliminate the Jashin Cult, so of course he had to give it his absolute best effort!
Tsukasa pondered for a moment, then pulled out the scroll left to him by the Uchiha Clan's Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, from inside his leggings.
"Uchiha Style: Secret S-Rank Forbidden Sword Technique"!
Unfolding the scroll, Tsukasa examined one particular technique, deep in thought.
The reason this scroll was classified as an S-Rank Forbidden Technique wasn't because of how flashy or powerful the sword techniques were, or how difficult they were to master.
It was because one of the techniques was an A-Rank Ninjutsu.
Fire Release: Chakra Mode.
Among all ninjutsu techniques, the most well-known enhancement jutsu are the Eight Gates and the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, also known as the "Lightning Release Armor."
The former is a taijutsu technique that will be perfected by Konoha's Might Guy and his son. In the near future, Might Guy will open the Eight Gates and on the battlefields of the Mist Village, forcibly reduce the legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to just three survivors.
The latter is a signature technique of Kumogakure's Raikage lineage.
Kakashi's Raikiri and the Four-Tails Jinchūriki's Lava Release Chakra Mode also fall into this category, similarly enhancing physical abilities through chakra manipulation.
Any technique related to chakra mode enhancement is incredibly complex.
So if Lightning Release can be developed into a chakra mode, why not Fire Release?
This brings up the question of the body's tolerance.
Simply put, chakra mode development is based on dramatically increasing the metabolic rate of a ninja's cells.
Lightning Release stimulation is like injecting adrenaline—while it boosts performance significantly, the side effects remain within tolerable limits.
Fire Release, however, due to its intense heat, can directly scorch cells during activation, making development nearly impossible. You'd be lucky to avoid burning yourself to death.
The Four-Tails Jinchūriki was only able to develop his Lava Release Chakra Mode because of his connection to the tailed beast. His mode resembled a protective shell of chakra formed outside his body rather than coursing through it.
The Uchiha clan, renowned masters of Fire Release, had copied countless ninjutsu over the generations. Their archives of fundamental techniques even exceeded those of the Second Hokage.
Naturally, they had researched this powerful enhancement jutsu.
Through the precise observation capabilities of the Sharingan, they were able to meticulously control fire-attribute chakra, burning their cells in exchange for explosive power.
This resulted in an A-Rank ninjutsu that became the core of this S-Rank forbidden technique.
However, due to the inherently lethal nature of this technique, the duration of safe use was extremely brief.
The user endured excruciating pain and the cost of being consumed by flames in exchange for an uncontrollable, devastating strike.
Once activated, they literally burned themselves up from the inside out.
Physically, the user was completely incinerated.
Over time, this technique fell into disuse and was shelved away.
Those powerful enough to use it considered its limited power worthless—believing a casual strike from their Susanoo could achieve far greater results.
Those not strong enough to pilot a Susanoo but desperate enough to learn this technique had to consider whether they even possessed the ability to control it.
Playing with fire is extremely dangerous. Without the supervision and guidance of an experienced master, one could easily burn themselves to death during practice alone.
And even if you mastered it—was the cost of such a fatal, single-use attack truly worth it?
Even an Uchiha with access to Izanagi would struggle to withstand such horrific side effects.
Uchiha Setsuna, the Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan, had used this forbidden technique once, manifesting a forty-meter-long flaming sword and striking with it just a few times.
Even now, the old man's life hangs by a thread.
However...
Tsukasa, staring at the scroll in his hands, swallowed hard.
After thoroughly reading the description of this technique, he could barely contain his excitement, his breathing quickening. His expression resembled someone who had just discovered the perfect solution to an impossible problem.
His eyes practically glowed with anticipation!
This—this—THIS!
Isn't this exactly what Tsukasa needs most?!
Uchiha Setsuna still has Izanagi available to reset his condition. After burning himself up, he can restore himself and potentially use the technique again.
But Tsukasa has neither Izanagi nor the three-tomoe Sharingan required to activate Izanagi!
After a single devastating slash, he would simply be dead. Completely, utterly, permanently dead!
This technique—this technique is literally self-cremation!
A one-stop funeral service, skipping all the intermediate steps, rushing straight to the crematorium—hell, he'd BE the crematorium!
The cremation speed would be instantaneous. Damn it, Tsukasa genuinely doesn't know how he could possibly fail at dying!
Someone please tell him—how could he possibly survive this?!
(Fists on hips, absolutely triumphant expression!)
End of Chapter 37
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