Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 140 The Evolution of History, Dual Bloodline

Deep underground.

The soil enveloped everyone like flowing water.

This is Orochimaru's earth-diving technique. Although fast, it's not comfortable.

It was pitch black all around, filled with a dull, oppressive feeling and the smell of earth.

"arrive."

Orochimaru's hoarse voice rang out from the front.

The surrounding pressure decreased sharply.

*Poof.* Everyone burst out of the ground.

This is the border of the Land of Fire.

Sosuke walked to a large tree and cleaned the mud off his body.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

Hyuga Masaru knelt on the ground, panting heavily. Most of his bones were broken, revealing the bloodied muscles beneath.

Even with the Corpse Bone Vein technique, it's impossible to recover this quickly.

Kakashi stood to the side, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Just now, his teacher, the man known as the Yellow Flash, stood right before his eyes, choosing to face death for the sake of the village.

"teacher----"

Kakashi's voice was low.

"Don't act like a stray dog."

Orochimaru glanced at him coldly.

"Minato traded his life for the future Raikage of Kumogakure. Konoha didn't lose out in this deal."

"Not a loss?"

Kakashi suddenly looked up, staring intently at Orochimaru.

"That was a life! A living, breathing human being!"

"Everyone has to die eventually."

Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and licked a wound on his cheek—a scratch caused by the Third Raikage's chakra.

"If one does not possess eternal life, then death is the final destination."

"Minato died a worthy death. He bought us time to retreat and severely damaged the Cloud Village's command system."

Orochimaru walked up to Sousuke.

"Sousuke-kun, you don't look well."

Zongjieshen does not guard his home.

"I'm fine."

He came to his senses.

"I'm just thinking."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Consider the long-term impact of this battle."

Sousuke looked at Orochimaru.

"Minato is dead. Next—the selection of the next Hokage—"

Orochimaru was taken aback.

Then, he let out a chilling laugh.

"Hehehe————"

"You really are a businessman through and through."

"And you're thinking about this at a time like this?"

"but----"

Orochimaru's eyes became playful.

"you're right."

"Minato is dead. The perfect successor in the old man's eyes—is gone."

"So, what about the position of the Fourth Hokage—"

Orochimaru didn't continue.

However, the chakra fluctuations around him clearly became more excited.

He had no interest in the Hokage position. To him, dealing with those tedious documents every day was a waste of his life.

However, if he could seize the highest power in Konoha, it would greatly benefit his research career!

"Let's go back to the village first."

"7

Orochimaru waved his hand.

"This news must be brought back as soon as possible."

"This is a truly earth-shattering news story."

Konoha, Hokage Building.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in a chair, his pipe already extinguished.

He looked at the battle report on the table and sighed deeply.

"Watergate————"

That was the young man he had the highest hopes for, the perfect successor in his heart.

Sunshine, strength, and the will of fire.

-

He originally planned to abdicate and hand over power to Minato as soon as the war ended, allowing Minato to lead Konoha into a new era.

But now, all hope is lost.

"Hiruzen, now is not the time for sorrow."

Xiaochun, who was turning over to her room, pushed open the door and entered, her face stern.

"Once the news of Minato's death spreads, the morale on the front lines will be devastated."

"Moreover, with the death of the quasi-Raikage in Kumogakure, the Third Raikage will definitely go berserk."

"We must prepare for a full-scale decisive battle."

Mitokado Yan also came in, holding a list in his hand.

"There are even more important questions."

He looked at Hiruzen.

"The position of Fourth Hokage is vacant."

"Danzo's side has already made some moves. The Root organization has been frequently relocating recently."

"And Orochimaru—he led the mission this time, and judging from the results, it was a great success—"

Hiruzen raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Orochimaru, huh?

He knew his disciple's ambition and talent.

Without Minato, Orochimaru would indeed be the strongest candidate.

However, the coldness and blasphemy in Orochimaru's eyes made Hiruzen uneasy.

"Where's Sakumo?"

Hiruzen suddenly asked.

"White Fang is still at the front lines," Mitomon Homura replied. "He has stabilized the situation on the battlefield in the Land of Rivers and enjoys a high reputation."

"Sakumo————"

Hiruzen tapped the table.

Sakumo Hatakeki. White leaves and ivory.

In terms of strength, he was no less than Minato. In terms of reputation, he was a hero of Konoha.

However, his personality was too rigid. Moreover, Danzo disliked him intensely.

"Let's suppress the news for now."

Hiruzen relit his pipe.

"Do not publicize the news of Minato's death internally."

"Externally—strengthen vigilance."

"As for the choice of Hokage—"

Hinata closed her eyes.

"Wait a little longer."

It rained in Konoha for three whole days.

Many new names have appeared in front of the memorial stone.

The name at the very top was particularly jarring.

Minato Namikaze.

There was no grand funeral. Because it was wartime, everything was kept simple.

-

Moreover, in order not to dampen morale, the village did not publicize Minato's death, but only held a funeral inside the village.

Not many people came to pay their respects.

Jiraiya stood before the monument, like a stone statue. Rain streamed down his face, indistinguishable between tears and rain.

Kakashi stood in the corner, his eyes turning into dead fish eyes.

But the most heartbreaking thing is that red-haired figure.

Uzumaki Kushina.

She was dressed in black mourning clothes and knelt before the tombstone.

There was no crying, no screaming.

She stared blankly at the name, as if her soul had been ripped out.

That was her lover, her home, her whole world.

Now, it's all broken.

Sosuke stood not far away, holding a black umbrella.

He looked at Kushina.

In Snake Eyes' vision, Kushina's chakra was extremely unstable.

That was the Nine-Tails' chakra. The fox sensed its host's emotional breakdown and was stirring, wanting to break the seal.

Around Kushina, dozens of dark auras were hidden.

The shadows. And the roots.

They weren't protecting her; they were spying on her.

If she shows even the slightest sign of losing control, these people will not hesitate to take action and suppress her.

This is the tragedy of Jinchūriki. They not only lose their loved ones, but also face the suspicion and distrust of the village.

"How pitiful," Sousuke said in a low voice.

After the funeral.

Kushina was "escorted" home.

It was called an escort, but it was actually a forced transport.

Her home was surrounded by multiple layers of protective barriers.

"Lady Kushina, for your safety, please refrain from going out for the time being," a member of the Anbu said coldly.

Kushina didn't say anything. She closed the door and drew the curtains.

The room was pitch black.

The broken pieces of the plate from that day are still on the table; no one has cleaned them up.

A photo of the two of them hangs on the wall, and Minato is smiling so brightly in the photo.

Kushina slid to the ground and hugged her knees.

Finally, the tears that had been held back for so long burst forth.

"Minato—how could you leave me like this—"

"You said you wanted to become Hokage—you said we wanted to have a home—"

The sound of crying echoed in the empty house.

No one responded.

Only the beast within me was mocking me maliciously.

"Look, kid. This is what humans are like. This is Konoha."

"They locked you up and treated you like a monster."

"Lend me your power—to destroy all of this—"

The whispers of the nine-tailed fox seemed to possess a magical power, eroding her reason.

A red glow began to appear in Kushina's eyes.

Just then.

"Knock knock knock".

A knock sounded on the door. It was rhythmic, neither hurried nor slow.

Kushina was taken aback.

Who will come at this time?

Anbu? Or Jiraiya-sensei?

She wiped away her tears, stood up unsteadily, and opened the door.

A man stood outside the door.

She was wearing a black kimono and an eyepatch over her left eye. She was carrying an exquisite food box.

"Takaya——Sousuke?" Kushina recognized him.

"Kushina-sama."

Zongsuke bowed slightly.

"I apologize for disturbing you."

"What are you doing here?" Kushina's voice was hoarse.

"I'm here to deliver something."

Sosuke held up the food box in his hand.

"Before his death, Jonin Minato ordered a dessert from my shop."

He said that if he came back late, I should give this to you.

This is a lie. But it's a white lie.

Kushina's body trembled slightly.

"Watergate—was it pre-arranged?"

"Yes."

Sosuke entered the house and placed the food box on the table.

I opened it. Inside was a bowl of red bean and rice cake soup. It was still hot.

Next to it, there was a card.

That was written by someone imitating Minato's handwriting, as Sousuke had done:

Don't forget to eat.

It only has a few words.

Kushina picked up the card and gently stroked the familiar handwriting with her fingers.

Tears welled up again.

"Fool—big idiot—"

She cried as she picked up a spoon and ate the bowl of red bean soup.

The sweetness melts on the tip of the tongue.

That was the last bit of sweetness he left for her.

Sosuke stood to the side, watching quietly.

His snake eyes saw that the violent red chakra within Kushina's body was slowly calming down.

The Nine-Tailed Fox's whisper was suppressed.

"Thanks----"

After finishing the last bite, Kushina looked up, her eyes red and swollen.

"Thank you for bringing it."

"It's what I should do."

Sosuke put away the food box and left.

Now, no one is allowed to have too much contact with a Jinchūriki.

Back at Kikyo-kan, Sousuke began to ponder a very important question.

"Minato's death means that the original timeline has completely collapsed."

Will Naruto be born again?

Kushina isn't married to Minato yet, nor is she pregnant, so the original Naruto Uzumaki no longer exists. Will Ashura's reincarnation line end? Or will he be reincarnated into someone else?

"However, this is not something I can control."

Sosuke shook his head.

"I only care about what I can gain from this upheaval."

He took out paper and pen and began to deduce the results.

After Minato's death, only three people remained as contenders for the Hokage position.

Orochimaru. Hatake Sakumo. Danzo Shimura.

Danzo has always been in the shadows, and his reputation is too bad, so he has the lowest chance of coming to power. However, he will seize power by manipulating puppets or creating chaos.

Sakumo has the highest prestige, but lacks political acumen and is easily targeted.

Orochimaru —

"If Orochimaru becomes Hokage—then Konoha will become a giant laboratory."

"For me, this is probably the best outcome."

Because he is Orochimaru's "partner".

But what about the Uchiha?

Sousuke's gaze fell on a document on the corner of the table. It contained the latest intelligence on the Uchiha clan.

Thanks to his material support, the Uchiha clan performed exceptionally well on the battlefield and gained a great deal of merit.

The current Uchiha clan is much stronger and more confident than they were at this point in the original story.

If Minato dies, will the Uchiha clan also have designs on that position?

After all, Fugaku Uchiha was also an S-rank powerhouse, a man who had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan.

"It's a mess. Everything's a mess."

Sosuke put down his pen.

Just then, a black crow landed on the windowsill.

A small piece of paper was tied to its foot.

This is the exclusive summoning beast of the Uchiha clan.

Sosuke took the note.

The above contains only a short sentence:

Please come to my humble abode for a chat tonight. — Uchiha Fugaku

Sosuke burned the note over the candle flame.

"It seems the Uchiha clan can't sit still any longer."

Uchiha clan territory, clan leader's residence.

This is a typical Japanese garden, quiet and solemn.

Sosuke, dressed in a black kimono, entered the inner room.

The room was filled with the aroma of tea.

Fugaku Uchiha was sitting on the tatami mat, his expression serious.

Beside him, Uchiha Mikoto was kneeling and making tea.

"Mr. Sosuke, please have a seat." Mikoto's voice was gentle.

She placed a cup of hot tea in front of Sosuke with graceful movements.

"Thank you, Mikoto-sama." Sousuke bowed slightly.

"Sousuke-kun, it's a bit presumptuous of me to invite you here so late at night."

Fugaku gets straight to the point.

"We are aware of the news from the front."

"Minato Namikaze has died in battle. Konoha has lost a pillar."

"Yes." Sousuke took a sip of tea. "This is a huge blow to Konoha."

"but----"

Fugaku's eyes sharpened, revealing the ambition unique to the Uchiha clan.

"This is also the beginning of a change."

"Some of the clan elders were very emotional. They believed that this was an opportunity for the Uchiha to return to the center of power."

7

"If it weren't for Minato, wouldn't the position of Hokage successor have fallen to the Uchiha clan?"

Fugaku stared at Sousuke.

"You're an outsider, but also a friend of the Uchiha. I'd like to hear your opinion."

Sosuke put down his teacup.

"Lord Fugaku, my advice is—do not move."

"Do not move?"

"The current situation presents both opportunities and crises."

Zongsuke analyzed.

"With Minato's recent death, the higher-ups are in a state of extreme sensitivity and vigilance."

"That old fox Danzo is just looking for an excuse to suppress the Uchiha."

"If, at this moment, the Uchiha clan shows any interest in the Hokage position—"

"Danzo will not hesitate to pin the blame for Minato's death, even if it's indirect, on you. For example, for inadequate rescue efforts—"

""

.

Mikoto's face paled slightly.

"Would he really do that?"

"If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext. Therefore, my advice is to lie low."

"How long can we endure this?" Fugaku asked, somewhat unwilling.

"Endure until the higher-ups need your help."

Sosuke's eyes were sharp.

"Minato is dead, and the frontline is lacking in high-level combat power. Who can stop the berserk Third Raikage?"

"Jiraiya? He's grieving the loss of his students and isn't in good shape. Orochimaru? He's an egoist; he won't fight to the death."

"At this moment, only the Uchiha clan, only the power of the Sharingan, can confront that monster head-on."

"The village will soon realize that they cannot do without the Uchiha."

"Wait until then—then you will reappear. Not as power contenders, but as—saviors."

"With this achievement, even if I don't get the Hokage position, the scope of the Security Force's authority can be expanded."

As Fugaku listened, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

This was a brilliant move. By exploiting Konoha's crisis, they elevated the Uchiha clan's status.

This is a businessman's mindset: waiting for the right price to go.

"it is good."

Fugaku made a decision.

"I will suppress the radicals in the clan."

"Sousuke-kun, your judgment is indeed sharp."

The conversation ended.

Sosuke got up to take his leave.

Mikoto saw him to the door.

"Mr. Sosuke."

Mikoto said softly.

"Thank you. If it weren't for your words, Fugaku might have really been coerced by the elders—"

"I'm just doing this for my own business."

Sousuke smiled.

"If the Uchiha clan falls, my dessert shop will have no business."

Mikoto looked at him, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes.

Late at night, Nanga Shrine.

A secret gathering of the Uchiha clan.

Fugaku sat at the head of the table, facing the many excited clansmen.

"Clan leader! We must strive for the Hokage position!"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Amidst the commotion, Fugaku suddenly opened his eyes, his three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotating.

"Shut up!"

An overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped the entire area.

"Pass down the order."

Fugaku's voice was as cold and hard as iron.

"The entire clan is on high alert. However, no one may engage in combat or discuss the selection of the Hokage until a formal request is received from the Hokage Building."

"We want to show the village just how vulnerable Konoha is without the Uchiha."

What we need to do is wait.

Although the tribespeople were unwilling, they had no choice but to obey under the authority of their chieftain.

Sosuke was walking home.

The night breeze was cool.

He touched his left eye.

"The Uchiha side has stabilized."

He exploited the Uchiha's ambition, turning them into bargaining chips in his hands.

But this is not enough.

If we want to fundamentally change the world, political maneuvering alone is not enough.

We still need more strength.

Having witnessed the monsters' battle, he was eager to become stronger. But before that, he had to ensure everything went perfectly—

"The experiment should move to the next stage."

Sosuke whispered to the air.

-

"Since I have the bone marrow of the Kaguya clan and the serum of the Senju clan—"

"Then, could we create a monster that possesses both of these bloodline limits?"

He thought of Hyuga Katsumi, who was still in his hospital bed.

Perhaps, he can become even stronger.

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