Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 142 An Ordinary Steel Escape Technique (Updated 1/3)

The changes that Jiraiya noticed were not the changes that occurred during the three years he was away from Konoha after he last left the village.

What he saw was himself being brought back by Sarutobi-sensei, witnessing the changes that occurred after the Fifth Hokage took office and reorganized the Konoha Village organization.

This period of time was really short, only 9 days.

However, the ninjas demolished the illegal buildings that made the streets narrow and difficult to navigate.

The ninjas repaired the potholes on the road that were filled with water and dust.

The houses on both sides of the road, which had been in disrepair for years and were even dilapidated, were repaired by the ninjas.

Even the haphazardly strung and tangled electrical wires, a problem that used to be a headache, are now being neatly reorganized by ninjas.

Jiraiya discovered that the visible signs of decay in Konoha Village after the Uchiha clan incident had completely disappeared.

In just a few days, everything became tidy and orderly.

After noticing this situation, he became increasingly alarmed and bewildered as he looked at it.

In Jiraiya's view, the Fifth Hokage, Natsume, didn't cause much trouble.

Xia Zuo was appointed Hokage and only assigned a few tasks on his first day.

After bringing Tsunade back, he focused even more on his own training, leaving all the work to the other Konoha ninja.

Two days ago, he left Konoha Village to capture Orochimaru, and then he immersed himself in training again.

Although Xia Zuo was not as busy with heavy work every day as the Third Hokage, Konoha Village was revitalized and became vibrant and orderly.

This is truly incredible.

The changes in Konoha Village are certainly a good thing, but for Jiraiya, they don't seem to be a good thing at all.

Once Konoha Village is restored to order, how can Jiraiya still leave the village at will and wander the ninja world searching for the Chosen One?

Jiraiya sat atop the Third Hokage's head, staring blankly at the tidy Hidden Leaf Village, unsure of what to do.

Should I become a rogue ninja of Konoha Village because of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy and in order to find the Child of Destiny?

But he himself had always sought the Child of Destiny in order to protect the ninja world, and the purpose of protecting the ninja world was to protect Konoha Village.

Wouldn't doing it this way be putting the cart before the horse?

After much thought, Jiraiya still couldn't find a suitable solution, and that's when he realized he was trapped in Konoha Village.

We can't leave.

Jiraiya still had a way to leave Konoha, but it was pointless.

Because the only way now is to go to Mount Myōboku using the Reverse Summoning Technique.

However, when leaving Mount Myōboku, one still has to return to Konoha Village.

Only with the guidance of other Myoboku-san contractors can one be sent by the Great Toad Sage to the location of other contractors, without having to return to the place where the [Reverse Summoning Technique] occurred.

Since Minato Namikaze's death, Jiraiya is now the only contractor left with Mount Myōboku, and they are walking different paths.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Jiraiya's mind: why not ask the Great Toad Sage about the problem he couldn't figure out? He was so wise; he must have a solution.

Without hesitation, Jiraiya immediately used the Summoning Jutsu to summon the toad, and after communicating with it, he immediately dispelled the Summoning Jutsu.

Soon Jiraiya turned into a wisp of white smoke and disappeared.

A few minutes later, Chunin Uchiha En arrived at the Hokage's office and reported to Xia Zuo: "Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya-sama used the Reverse Summoning Technique through the toads of Mount Myōboku. He must have gone to Mount Myōboku."

Xia Zuo sneered, "It seems that Jiraiya is going to seek help from the giant toad. My idea of ​​preserving the Legendary Sannin of Konoha is still not going to work out."

"Let's see what kind of solution the Great Toad Sage, who can see into the future, can come up with for Jiraiya."

After that, Xia Zuo stopped caring about the matter and continued to ponder the fusion of bloodline limit break.

He set his sights on Steel Escape.

The reason is simple: the Konoha ninjas discovered information about the Steel Release ninjas.

Although intelligence indicates that the Steel Release ninja is not powerful, and even the Steel Release itself does not have the strength of the Bloodline Limit, it only demonstrates the strength of the Bloodline Limit.

The ninja world's research on bloodline limits is so poor that they can't even figure out the strength of different limits.

For example, the Dark Release, which can absorb all chakra, and the indestructible Steel Release, which are clearly powerful beings on par with the Dust Release, which can disintegrate all things, are classified as bloodline limits.

As for the even more incredible abilities like Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan, and Sharingan, they were all crammed into the category of Kekkei Genkai.

Therefore, Xia Zuo completely disregarded the description in the intelligence report and decided to try obtaining his flesh and blood first.

The Steel Release ninja came from the River Village in the Land of Rivers. When the Konoha ninja Uchiha Shisui came to his door, it meant that the Konoha Village needed his flesh and blood.

Upon hearing this, the Steel Release ninja, Jie, did not hesitate to cut off his own flesh and bleed, carefully sealed it up, and respectfully handed it to Uchiha Shisui.

Immediately bow down to the powerful and fulfill all their demands.

This is the essential awareness for ninjas from small countries that live between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. Even if they have awakened their bloodline limit, they cannot stubbornly resist.

Because it's not just one person who dies.

When Uchiha Shisui handed the Steel Release ninja's flesh and blood to Natsu, he couldn't help but ask with doubt, "Fifth Hokage, that ninja was really weak. Is Steel Release truly beyond the reach of bloodline limits?"

Xia Zuo chuckled and said, "Since when have bloodline limits and bloodline elimination been determined by the strength of ninjas?"

Shisui was completely bewildered: "Huh? Isn't that how it is?"

Xia Zuo said, "After you came back, I also showed you the information on the Wood Release ninja, Tenzo."

"You know how big the gap is between my strength and Tianzang's. Our Wood Release techniques are also worlds apart, but he has undoubtedly awakened the Wood Release bloodline limit as well."

Uchiha Shisui shook his head repeatedly, then nodded.

Both Tianzang and Xiazuo possess Wood Release, and the trees they create are almost identical, but the difference in scale is enormous. One is an ornamental tree planted in a courtyard, while the other is an endless primeval forest.

Xia Zuo said, "The level of bloodline limit and the strength of a ninja are complementary, but the dominant factor is the ninja's own strength, not any bloodline limit."

"If a ninja is too weak, awakening a powerful bloodline limit is not a good thing for him either."

"Kimimaro Kaguya, one of Orochimaru's subordinates, had a very pure Shikotsumyaku awakening, but as a result, she developed a severe bloodline disease and was in danger of dying at any time when she was only a teenager."

Uchiha Shisui nodded, then suddenly asked, "Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Itachi, did Itachi also suffer from a bloodline disease?"

Xia Zuo nodded: "That's only natural. He was only 13 years old when he awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan. His frail body couldn't withstand such a powerful bloodline."

"I dare say that Uchiha Itachi, that rogue ninja, will definitely not live past 35."

"If Orochimaru's information is accurate, he has been using the Mangekyou Sharingan quite frequently over the past three years, so it would be difficult for him to live to 25."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shisui felt a pang of sadness, which was quickly overwhelmed by a raging fire of anger.

He said bitterly, "How could Uchiha Itachi die so quickly?"

"What!?"

Suddenly, a childish roar came from next door; it was Uchiha Sasuke, who had come to play with Uzumaki Naruto.

The child scaled the wall over Uchiha Izumi's house and asked, "That bastard Itachi, that bastard, how come he only lived for such a short time!"

"If he dies, won't I be unable to avenge my father and mother?"

"Hokage-sama, I want to graduate early! I want to become a ninja as soon as possible!"

Xia Zuo gave Uchiha Shisui a wink, and Shisui immediately flicked Sasuke on the head, making him squat on the ground, clutching his head.

Then Xia Zuo finally spoke up: "No, I won't allow you to graduate early."

"Don't worry, Sasuke. Although Itachi Uchiha doesn't have long to live, it's enough time for you to grow up, then take him down and avenge your parents and clan."

"However, the prerequisite for you to do all this is that you must lay a solid foundation as a ninja and prepare for rapid growth in a few years."

Sasuke Uchiha took a few deep breaths to control his emotions and said softly, "I understand, Fifth Hokage. I was rude."

Although Sasuke still lost his parents and became an orphan, the Uchiha clan still existed. Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Izumi took good care of him and did not blame him because of Uchiha Itachi.

The care from his older cousins, along with Naruto's friendship and concern, prevented Sasuke from developing the twisted personality that Itachi Uchiha had hoped for.

More importantly, there's Xia Zuo, the ninja who clearly defeated Uchiha Itachi during the clan massacre.

He told Uchiha Sasuke with absolute certainty, "Sasuke, you have the potential to defeat Itachi."

He even promised, "Shisui and I will wait for you, wait for you to grow up, to defeat Uchiha Itachi with your own hands, and to take his head off with your own hands."

Xia Zuo's promise greatly comforted Uchiha Sasuke, allowing him to calmly and methodically study and grow at the Ninja Academy.

But Sasuke couldn't help but get anxious when he heard that Itachi Uchiha was about to die.

He worried that his growth rate was too slow, which would prevent Itachi Uchiha from being punished and cause him to die of illness at an early age.

After apologizing to the Fifth Hokage, Sasuke thought about how he had been unable to awaken his Sharingan with two tomoe, and he couldn't help but shed tears.

Uchiha Sasuke asked tearfully, "Hokage-sama, how can I further awaken my Sharingan?"

Xia Zuo shook his head and said, "Sasuke, the Sharingan isn't necessarily better the earlier it's awakened."

Do you know who the strongest clan leader of the Uchiha clan has ever been?

Sasuke Uchiha nodded and said, "My father once told me about Madara Uchiha."

Xia Zuo raised his finger and said, "Did you know that Uchiha Madara only awakened his Sharingan at the age of 14? It was a single-tomoe Sharingan."

"But this did not prevent him from awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan; rather, it laid the foundation for him to become the strongest Uchiha clan leader."

"Sasuke, the stronger your body becomes, the more powerful your Sharingan will become."

"If you put the cart before the horse, you will repeat the mistakes of Itachi Uchiha, but more likely you will be stuck at a certain stage and unable to grow any further."

"At that point, I will have no choice but to break my promise and take down Uchiha Itachi myself."

"In the name of the Fifth Hokage, I advise you not to consider awakening the Sharingan before you graduate at the age of 12."

Uchiha Sasuke was persuaded by Xia Zuo.

After apologizing again, he climbed over the wall and returned to Uchiha Izumi's house.

Uchiha Shisui smiled helplessly, "These two brothers react completely differently, but they are both so prone to getting stuck on trivial matters."

"Fifth Hokage, does Sasuke truly have the potential to surpass Itachi Uchiha?"

Xia Zuo nodded: "Without a doubt, Sasuke has it."

Uchiha Shisui was relieved: "That's good."

He then left Xia Zuo's house, leaving Xia Zuo alone to cultivate.

Steel Release ninja Jack's strength is quite average. By Konoha's standards, he's not even a Jonin; at best, he's a decent Chunin.

But his flesh and blood do indeed contain the secret of Steel Release, and Steel Release is indeed a bloodline limit.

As Earth Release, Wind Release, and Water Release successively underwent qualitative changes and simultaneously came into contact with the flesh and blood of Steel Release ninja Jack, the Steel Release chakra successfully fused.

When the Steel Release chakra was first created, it did not form a core. Instead, it was dispersed into thousands of tiny Steel Release chakra strands that circulated throughout Xia Zuo's body.

Steel Release chakra modified Xia Zuo's skin, flesh, fascia, internal organs, and bones.

When Steel Release chakra enters these modified human organs, they become incredibly hard, completely immune to attacks from shuriken, kunai, and ninja swords.

Even when Kakashi Hatake personally used the A-rank ninjutsu [Lightning Release: Chidori], he was unable to penetrate skin filled with steel chakra.

What's amazing is that these seemingly indestructible human organs also possess incredible flexibility, and Xia Zuo was even able to maintain his original high speed.

Kakashi Hatake, who had come specifically to help, was stunned and exclaimed, "Fifth Hokage, you are truly amazing. If my enemies were as indestructible as you, I would feel utterly hopeless."

"As a ninja, all attack methods are powerless to break through the defense, which is no less intimidating than Wood Release."

Uchiha Shisui remarked with a sigh, "Just as the Hokage said, the same bloodline limit can manifest in vastly different ways in different ninjas."

"The steel-style ninjas of Kawagakure can barely withstand even ninja swords, and can hardly withstand B-rank ninjutsu, but the Hokage is immune to all ninjutsu damage below S-rank."

Xia Zuo himself was quite satisfied. He said smugly, "If the Fourth Raikage dares to provoke me again next time, I'll let him know that the Lightning Release Armor is not the strongest defense in the ninja world."

"But the next fusion of bloodline elimination will be difficult, what about Dust Release—"

Kakashi Hatake and Shisui Uchiha exchanged a glance, both feeling a pang of unease. The Tsuchikage, Onoki, was not so easy to deal with.

Afterwards, guided by Wood Release, Xia Zuo successfully embedded Steel Release into the Bloodline Limit Ring.

Driven by the Bloodline Elimination Ring, even without activating the Steel Release Bloodline Elimination, Xia Zuo's body can still be continuously strengthened.

Just after the Fifth Hokage successfully fused with Steel Release, Uchiha En brought him a report that annoyed him.

Jiraiya secretly made contact with Naruto Uzumaki!

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