MTLNOVEL Chapter 72: Chapter 72
Zixu left after teaching the three ninjutsu. He had imparted everything they needed to know; the rest was up to them.
"It seems war is inevitable if we want to end the chaos in the ninja world." After absorbing Sarutobi Hiruzen's spirit, Zixu had gained a deeper understanding of the world's situation.
The ninja villages were like feudal lords, each ruling their own territory. None were willing to submit to the other; all sought an opportunity to eliminate their rivals.
In that case, Zixu wouldn't waste time negotiating. To solve the problem, he had to eliminate its root. His first goal: overthrow all the ninja villages, eradicate the daimyos, eliminate potential threats, and ignite a war that would sweep through the entire ninja and political class.
"I can't take on the entire ninja world alone. Even Kaido formed the Beasts Pirates. I need an army of my own... Tch, the Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) Army would be perfect. Too bad Orochimaru will never hand that over to me."
Ideally, Zixu wanted Orochimaru's Edo Tensei—an immortal army perfectly suited for war. But Orochimaru rarely used it and had no intention of sharing it. Expecting his cooperation was wishful thinking. That man only cared about his research.
As Zixu paced, deep in thought, he noticed Gaara and his team wringing out their soaked clothes. An idea struck him.
Gaara, still drenched, caught Zixu's gaze before his clothes even dried. He felt uneasy.
"What do you want?" Gaara took a step back warily.
"Why so nervous? I'm not a bad guy. I helped you seal that giant tanuki, didn't I? Now you're sleeping better and less cranky. See? Insomnia was the root of your bad temper. Anyway, I need to ask you something."
"Does Sunagakure have any promising talents?"
"???"
Unfortunately, according to Gaara, Sunagakure lacked any remarkable combat power and was mediocre across the board. Under his father's leadership, the village had at least used gold dust for economic development. But after Orochimaru assassinated the Fourth Kazekage, even that had collapsed.
Zixu believed Gaara. The boy had no loyalty to Sunagakure, only resentment. If given the chance, he'd likely destroy his own village.
"Konoha might be shady, but it has exceptional talents..." Zixu sighed. Konoha had a solid foundation, a vast collection of ninjutsu, and high-quality shinobi.
"Thinking of infiltrating another village? Causing trouble somewhere else? Konoha's not an option, though. We should settle things here before recruiting anyone."
His main concern was Orochimaru. If he left the village, that snake might act behind his back. He needed to keep Orochimaru in check.
Watching the civilians hard at work, Zixu formulated a plan.
---
Meanwhile, Konoha had its own problem.
Two figures emerged from the gray mist outside the village. Both wore black cloaks with red clouds and conical hats with white cloth strips draped over the edges, concealing their faces.
The man in the lead walked with steady steps, his exposed fingernails painted black. A ring inscribed with "朱" adorned his right ring finger. His high collar covered his cheekbones, but a faint crimson glow flickered in the darkness beneath his hat.
The second man was distinct—towering at nearly two meters, his stride precise and disciplined, each step identical in length. He carried an object tightly wrapped in bandages on his back. If Zixu were here, he'd chuckle at the attempt at concealment. "You swordsmen think wrapping a blade in bandages makes it invisible, huh?"
They reached Konoha's outer perimeter, where vigilant guards immediately raised their weapons. The flare signals behind them were ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"Stop right—" Before the guard could finish, the first man snapped his fingers. The guard's eyes fluttered shut, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
The intruders entered Konoha without a care, as if returning home. They made no immediate move, instead finding a teahouse to sit in.
---
Asuma Sarutobi and his wife, Kurenai Yuhi, strolled through the village. If anyone mourned Sarutobi Hiruzen's death, it was them. Under his rule, colleagues and neighbors had shown them kindness. But now, while still polite, the warmth and sincerity had faded. The only reason they weren't shunned was that Asuma and Kurenai had never abused their status.
As they chatted, Kurenai suddenly frowned. Something felt off. Changing course, she pushed open the teahouse curtain.
The steam from freshly made dango and tea lingered in the air, but the tables were empty.
---
In a dimly lit room, Danzo Shimura unwrapped the bandages from his arm, revealing pale flesh—almost corpse-like. More horrifyingly, numerous Sharingan were embedded in it, creating an eerie spectacle reminiscent of an ancient deity's limb.
Danzo stared at his grotesque arm with reverence, as if admiring a masterpiece. His expression darkened.
"Sarutobi is dead. Now, that cursed Uchiha brat—Sasuke—can finally be dealt with."
Smirking coldly, Danzo recalled the teachings of the Second Hokage. His resolve hardened—Uchiha Sasuke had to die.
---
Meanwhile, Sasuke himself was in turmoil.
He had worked tirelessly to master Chidori, believing it to be a formidable technique. He hoped to showcase its power in the Chunin Exams.
Then he had witnessed true lightning techniques.
The sheer voltage that the dragon had summoned just by existing dwarfed his Chidori.
And the Uchiha clan's famed fire techniques? Laughable. Against the dragon's breath, his fire jutsu would be nothing more than a gentle breeze warming the beast's scales.
Despite this crushing realization, Sasuke wasn't discouraged. He still had revenge to exact. He admitted he couldn't defeat the dragon, but he believed he could still surpass him—his brother.
Determined, he threw himself into his Chidori training with renewed intensity. One day, he would be strong enough to kill his enemies with his own hands.
And that day wouldn't be far away.
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