Naruto: The Age of Ninja Swords Begins in Kumogakure

Not only was Jiraiya talking about the war with Shimura Danzo, but the Uchiha clan members with three tomoe were also gathered together talking about the war, though they all looked gloating.

They had long seen through the sinister intentions of the Hokage faction, so they prioritized their own safety when going into battle. In addition, they were already familiar with the Cloud Ninja, so their losses so far have been minimal.

"At least a hundred men were lost in today's battle."

"You didn't see it, Jiraiya was beaten up and covered in blood."

"Tsk tsk, how pathetic!"

……

The Uchiha ninjas exchanged gloating remarks, since the ones who died in the battle were just ordinary civilian ninjas from the Hokage's faction, and it had nothing to do with them.

Sitting in the corner, Uchiha Shisui watched his clansmen gloating and felt very uncomfortable. He felt that this was wrong, very wrong.

He even had an impulse to reveal his awakened eyes and change the patriarch's will.

But reason told him that this would not succeed, because it wasn't just the chieftain who was dissatisfied with the village, but also the villagers.

Even if he changed the clan leader's will, he still couldn't motivate the clansmen to fight with all their might and help end the battle.

That technique can only be used on one person; it can't affect everyone.

This left him feeling anxious and confused, unsure how to end the war.

"Brother Zhishui".

Just then, a voice came from behind, and Uchiha Shisui turned his head to look, giving a rare smile.

"Itachi!"

He valued this son of the clan leader very much. He couldn't change the clan leader's will, so he could only earnestly guide Itachi onto the right path and wait for Itachi to become the clan leader in the future before leading the clan to change.

"Is something on your mind, Brother Zhishui?"

Itachi asked softly, having just noticed that the other person's expression was a bit off.

"I'm wondering when this war will end."

Shisui sighed, not wanting to continue fighting like this. Too many people had already been lost in the past three years.

Not to mention those who died here in previous wars.

"According to the Hokage and the others, it won't end until all of us and the Hyuga are dead. According to us, it will end when Jiraiya and that Shimura Danzo are dead."

A middle-aged tribesman standing nearby sneered, saying that he had known all along that this was the crux of the war.

Even the Hidden Cloud Village secretly informed them that they had not obtained the Hyuga bloodline at all. The Hyuga side even said that there was something wrong with what happened back then, and that the leader of the Hidden Cloud Village delegation was deliberately placed in the Hyuga clan's territory.

Furthermore, they didn't believe that a little girl from the Hyuga clan was worth the village attacking to this extent; there must be some other purpose behind it. Do we even need to guess what that purpose was?

Uchiha Shisui frowned and remained silent. He also felt that the war was being fought strangely, but he did not believe that the Hokage would act this way; there must be other reasons.

It wasn't just the Uchiha clan that was discussing this; on the other side, several members of the Hyuga clan's main branch, led by Hiashi, also gathered together again. They all believed that the Third Hokage and others were deliberately trying to weaken their Hyuga clan by using the war, and that it would be impossible to stop the war without achieving this goal.

At the very least, the leader of that Cloud Village delegation must have been deliberately let go by the Anbu ninja; the Anbu couldn't possibly have failed to keep an eye on him.

This was all a conspiracy by the Hokage and his associates.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya arrived at Mount Myōboku and sought help from the Great Toad Sage.

Since Gamabunta and the others were brutally murdered by Kirigakure, he had not received any help from Mount Myōboku, but he had no choice but to come this time.

He wanted to ask the Great Toad Sage if he knew the whereabouts of Minato's child, since the Great Toad Sage possessed the ability to foresee the future and might know.

However, after hearing Jiraiya's words, the Great Toad Sage was somewhat confused.

Minato, that child, has been kidnapped?

He knew about that child, and he knew that the child would inevitably be chosen.

As early as when he learned that Jiraiya had taken in a child with the legendary Rinnegan, he guessed what was going on and knew that the new generation of the two would inevitably reappear.

It's hard to say about the Uchiha clan, since there are quite a few clansmen still alive today, but Ashura's bloodline is now quite small.

The Senju clan has been wiped out, leaving only one member who remains single.

That leaves only Minato's wife from back then, and since Hagoromo would definitely not let the two of them separate, it's highly likely that it's Minato's child.

But now that Minato's child has gone missing, he doesn't know what to do.

"Are you sure they were kidnapped by Kumogakure?"

The question was grave; the child had to be taken back, and the two of them had to be reunited, or there would be big trouble.

"I'm not entirely sure."

Jiraiya was slightly embarrassed. There was really no way to be sure unless he captured the Fourth Raikage or the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and interrogated them.

These words silenced the Great Toad Sage. "You're not even sure yourself, yet you come to ask me?"

How would I know?

"Bring the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki here, I'll ask him a question."

Ultimately, the Great Toad Sage decided to ask the Eight-Tails. Because of Hagoromo, he had some connections with the nine tailed beasts, so asking him a question shouldn't be difficult.

"Fukasaku, Shima, help Jiraiya capture the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and bring him here."

Turning his gaze to his two juniors, the Great Toad Sage knew that Jiraiya's current strength was insufficient to defeat a perfect Jinchūriki, let alone the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, so he had no choice but to step in and help.

"Yes, Great Immortal!"

Fukasaku accepted the order, while Shima on the other side was not very happy about it, but she did not refuse either.

"Thank you, great immortal."

Jiraiya was overjoyed. With the help of the two great immortals, he was sure they could end the war in the Land of Hot Springs and find out the whereabouts of Minato's child.

At least confirm whether it's in Kumogakure.

After receiving help from Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya returned to his camp and ordered preparations for battle. He also recovered from his injuries after half a month of recuperation and led the ninja army to charge towards the Cloud Village front.

This time, he doesn't intend to allow the ninja army to make large-scale contact; he only needs to capture the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Two immortals, I beg you."

With his eyes fixed on the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki opposite him, Jiraiya knew very well that he had to take advantage of the fact that the opponents did not know Sage Mode to finish the battle quickly, otherwise it would be difficult to fight once the Cloud Ninja realized what was going on.

"That can't be fought using ordinary methods."

Seeing the Jinchuriki opposite him who had transformed into the Eight-Tails form, Fukasaku found the situation quite troublesome.

Jinchuriki are different from ordinary ninjas; they possess two types of chakra, making them difficult to target with ordinary genjutsu.

Especially since these perfect Jinchūriki can dispel each other's genjutsu, it's useless even if they use that.

"He is still far from being truly perfect. He has not fully displayed the power of the Eight-Tails. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to fight here for so long."

Furthermore, if the Third Raikage could suppress the fully-formed Eight-Tails, I should be able to as well.

Jiraiya was very confident in his current state, believing he was at least no worse than the Third Raikage.

Moreover, the opponent is not truly perfect, which means that an extremely powerful attack can be used to break the opponent's perfect tailed beast transformation, thus allowing the person to be captured.

Then we can use the Summoning Jutsu to take them to Mount Myōboku, where the Great Sage can communicate directly with the Eight-Tails. That should be enough to find out whether Minato's child has been captured by the Hidden Cloud Village.

"Are you planning to use that technique? Even Minato didn't perfect it back then; it's very risky."

Fukasaku guessed Jiraiya's thoughts. He could indeed use that technique, but it was only a technique that existed in his imagination and was not so easy to control.

"I can handle it!"

With unwavering resolve, Jiraiya crouched down and channeled his Sage Chakra to further enhance his frog-like transformation.

His Sage Mode isn't perfect, but the continuous frog-like transformation enhances his explosive power, which comes in handy at this moment.

After transforming into a frog, the body slowly gathered its strength, and then suddenly burst out, its speed several times faster than before.

"So fast!"

The Uchiha ninja were shocked. Jiraiya's speed at this moment was too fast; they could hardly see his three-tomoe Sharingan.

The Hyuga ninjas were even more shocked, because they discovered that the man's chakra had changed and become much stronger.

"war!"

Danzo Shimura decisively gave the order and led the Root ninjas in a charge behind Jiraiya.

Jiraiya had previously explained the battle plan to him, and he agreed with it, also wanting to end the war here as soon as possible through this battle.

Otherwise, if the fighting continues, all the manpower he has trained will be wasted here.

Although the opposing team, including Yotsuki Ai, was puzzled by Konoha's swift counterattack, they had no choice but to fight back, and the two sides quickly clashed.

The Uchiha and Hyuga ninjas continued to fight half-heartedly, without actually engaging in a direct confrontation.

The Cloud Ninja were already familiar with this, so the focus was on the other Konoha ninja.

"Immortal Technique·Super Large Jade Rasengan!"

Jiraiya didn't linger. Once Aya and the others were entangled, he decisively unleashed all his chakra to create a gigantic Rasengan.

At the same time, Fukasaku and Shima poured Wind Release chakra and Fire Release chakra into the Giant Rasengan, which was absorbed and fused by it.

This is the technique they envisioned. The Rasengan is the ultimate form of transformation. If combined with nature transformation, it will surely unleash even more terrifying power, perhaps even comparable to the Tailed Beast Ball.

The wind attribute is the most suitable for the nature transformation of the Rasengan, followed by the fire attribute. Infusing both attributes at the same time will produce a qualitative transformation.

Of course, the reason they were able to merge like this was mainly because the two great immortals were using the technique of two lives to merge with Jiraiya and guiding natural energy to maintain immortality mode. Their powers had already merged, which allowed them to merge smoothly.

However, since it wasn't one person's chakra, the fusion wasn't perfect. The wind-style chakra, driven by the high-speed rotation of the Rasengan, was rapidly cutting through Jiraiya's arm, along with the burning sensation from the fire-style chakra. The pain was unimaginable to ordinary people.

But Jiraiya gritted his teeth and persevered. He had to end the war here as soon as possible and find out where Naruto was.

"break!"

With a roar, he forcefully pushed the Rasengan with both hands, slamming it into the Eight-Tails.

"It's too late!"

The Eight-Tails was furious, realizing that it was too late to condense another Tailed Beast Ball, so it could only control its tails to wrap its body.

Under the control of Jiraiya and the other two, the Super Giant Rasengan unleashed its power towards the Eight-Tails. The cutting power of Wind Release and the burning power of Fire Release worked simultaneously, even merging and transforming, further increasing its power.

The Eight-Tails' tail was quickly shredded, revealing its body that was protected inside. The power of the Super Giant Rasengan also erupted in full, transforming into a huge ball of light that enveloped the Eight-Tails' massive body.

Such immense power made it extremely difficult for the already imperfect Eight-Tails to cope. Although it persevered to the end, its body was riddled with holes.

"By the way, it seems your next concert won't be able to take place."

The Eight-Tails, having reached its limit, uttered a sentence before its body disintegrated, transforming into pure chakra that disappeared into the seal, revealing Killer Bee, who had also suffered severe injuries.

"You white-haired bastard, you'll never get Hachi."

Seeing Jiraiya rushing towards him, Killer Bee said something in a rapping tone before laboriously gripping his ninja sword and stabbing it into Jiraiya's head.

They had long realized that Konoha wanted to capture them, or rather, the Eight-Tails, during the war.

Although he didn't know what Konoha was plotting, he was already aware of it.

I can die, but I absolutely cannot let the Eight-Tails be captured by Konoha.

With Killer Bee's death, the Eight-Tails, whose life was intertwined with his, was also sealed and destroyed, causing Killer Bee to rapidly disintegrate.

Goodbye, Bi!

The Eight-Tails, whose body was disintegrating, was filled with grief. He had gotten along quite well with Killer Bee over the years, but he was not concerned about this death and even looked forward to it.

Because of this death, he gained his freedom, and after being reborn, he immediately went to Kirigakure to get a position.

These past few years, I've been filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred because of those three bastards, Nine Lamas, who have been showing off so much.

There was also Sun Wukong, who had been resurrected last year and ran over there, along with Chongming, who had also taken him there. They were all enjoying themselves just as much, which filled him with envy. He had long wanted to join the Hidden Mist Village, get a position there, and enjoy a new life as a beast.

So this death was not the end for him, but a new beginning!

"Damn it!"

Jiraiya was shocked and furious to see Killer Bee commit suicide so resolutely, never expecting it to end like this.

"Compare!"

Over there, the entangled Yotsuki Ai roared in despair, having taken a hit from Shimura Danzo's Vacuum Ball, and charged towards Jiraiya.

He wants revenge for Bi!

Having nearly exhausted his chakra, Jiraiya looked at the approaching Yotsuki A and felt extremely guilty and gloomy.

He could have ended the war, but now it seems he has made it even more brutal.

laugh!

A hand slash imbued with lightning chakra pierced the heart, rupturing it, and the lightning chakra also destroyed the heart cells.

However, everyone present was shocked, including Jiraiya.

Because that chop didn't pierce his own heart, but rather the heart of the Fourth Raikage, Yotsuki A.

In other words, Ye Yue Ai committed suicide.

What happened?

"kaleidoscope!"

Danzo Shimura suddenly looked at the boy rushing towards Jiraiya. He recognized the boy; he was Kagami's grandson. Considering the Fourth Raikage's sudden suicide, it was clearly the boy's doing.

It was a kind of illusion, but it was definitely not a simple illusion; it was a kaleidoscope-like eye technique.

He has awakened his kaleidoscope!

"Stop the water!"

Fugaku Uchiha also spotted Shisui Uchiha, who had gone to rescue Jiraiya, and his expression turned grim.

He also recognized that it must be the kaleidoscope eye technique, but when did Shisui awaken the kaleidoscope?

Why didn't I tell myself?

Considering Shisui's attitude and philosophy towards his family and village, especially his willingness to risk his life and reveal his Mangekyou Sharingan to rescue the Hokage's disciple, his expression darkened further.

"Lord Jiraiya!"

Uchiha Shisui was unaware of what those people were thinking, and he rushed to Jiraiya's side immediately.

"Go and take a piece of their flesh."

Jiraiya didn't have time to think further and signaled to Shisui to quickly take the meat.

Although the two are dead, information can still be gleaned from the dead. It just requires finding that guy, but it's better than getting nothing at all.

Despite his confusion, Uchiha Shisui obeyed and swung his ninja sword, preparing to take a piece of flesh from the two men.

Just then, countless explosive tags suddenly surged out from the ground and exploded with a bang.

When the firelight died down, the bodies of the Ye Yue and Ai brothers were nowhere to be seen; they seemed to have been destroyed in the explosion.

Only a green giant with only his upper body remained in the original spot.

"Susanoo!"

Looking at the green giant, Fugaku Uchiha's face darkened. He was certain that the child had indeed awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, and that his eye power was extremely strong.

This is a good thing, but the child doesn't seem to be on the same page as the family.

But Shimura Danzo was filled with greed; he had been coveting those eyes for a long time.

But the war was not over yet. The successive deaths of Killer Bee and Yotsuki A thoroughly enraged the Cloud Ninja, especially Yugito, who was the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails.

A Tailed Beast Ball, several meters in diameter, was quickly condensed and shot towards Susanoo. Then, without stopping, a second one was condensed, clearly intending to kill everyone with the Tailed Beast Balls.

The other Cloud Ninja, under Tsuchikage's command, quickly regrouped to protect Yugito and prevent Konoha ninja from launching a surprise attack.

Uchiha Shisui then conjured a spiral spear and fiercely lashed it at the incoming Tailed Beast Ball, smashing it into the air with all his might.

The Spiral Spear itself also rotated rapidly, generating a strong wind that propelled the Tailed Beast Ball to change direction.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the Tailed Beast Ball exploded hundreds of meters in the air. Uchiha Shisui further enhanced the Susanoo with his eye power and chakra, and withstood the Tailed Beast Ball.

But it was also unpleasant; it felt like the life force in the body was being rapidly drained, and Susanoo was nearly half destroyed.

"Retreat! Spread out and retreat!"

Once he had recovered slightly, Jiraiya roared and ordered a retreat.

There's no need to continue this battle, especially with the Uchiha and Hyuga ninjas still slacking off.

Furthermore, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's suicide made him realize that it was highly likely that the person who kidnapped Minato's child was not from Kumogakure, otherwise the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki would not have had any reason to commit suicide.

Even if they capture him, they'll only use him to exchange for the Nine-Tails. The Hidden Cloud Village shouldn't sacrifice a perfect Jinchuriki for a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki who isn't from their own village.

So, was the person who released the Nine-Tails the one who kidnapped Naruto's child?

At that very moment, a giant snake's mouth suddenly emerged from the ground, swallowing Jiraiya and Uchiha Shisui whole, before quickly retreating back underground, leaving behind a huge hole.

Seeing that their commander, Jiraiya, had fled and given the order to retreat, the people of Konoha quickly scattered and ran away.

At this point, it all comes down to luck. If you're lucky, you can escape; if you're unlucky, you'll get hit by a Tailed Beast Ball.

Enraged, Yugito could only keep gathering and launching Tailed Beast Balls. Unfortunately, she hadn't fully transformed into a Tailed Beast yet, and her ability to draw upon the Two-Tails' chakra was limited. After launching six Tailed Beast Balls, her own chakra was exhausted to the limit, and the Konoha ninjas had already run far away.

"Yugito, are you confident you can take over the Raikage's position?"

Arriving at the crater where the Raikage and Killer Bee perished, Tsuchida suppressed his grief and anger, turning to look at Yugito, whose face had turned pale.

"We need a new Raikage to stabilize the village, otherwise it will be very dangerous."

"have!"

The teak man paused for a moment, then nodded seriously.

She knew the gravity of the Raikage's death. The sudden death of the Third Hokage had nearly thrown the village into chaos, and the same thing was happening now. Someone had to step forward and stabilize the village as quickly as possible. (End of Chapter)