They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 16 The Bet and Black Zetsu's Conspiracy

At noon, at the third training ground of Wuyin Village.

When people learned that the currently invincible Hozuki Shingetsu was going to fight the veteran genius Kaguya Hirotoshi, no matter what they were doing at the time, even if they were making babies, they immediately stopped what they were doing and prepared to go and watch.

After all, in the current closed-off state of the country, Kirigakure basically has no other forms of entertainment. All they can do is create babies, create babies, create babies. Except for changing the baby-making partner, for most people, it can be described as having nothing better to do than to be bored.

Furthermore, battles between Jonin are rare and unpredictable, so almost everyone who knew about the news came to the scene.

However, due to the need to keep battle information confidential, it was impossible for just anyone to watch. After a selection process, only people with special identities and ninjas were qualified to watch the battle.

—If the Kaguya clan hadn't intended to use the battle to suppress Hozuki Shingetsu, they would never have allowed anyone, not even a Jonin, to watch the fight.

It's not just about keeping one's battle information secret; any ninja with a bit of pride would refuse to be watched like a monkey.

"This is a secret external medicine of my Kaguya clan. Clan Chief Hozuki, please don't be shy. After all, your son is a genius of my Kirigakure. If he suffers any lasting harm because of his injury, it would be the fault of my Kaguya clan."

Kaguya Yoshio, the current head of the Kaguya clan, seemingly kindly handed Hozuki Zangetsu a bottle of medicine.

How could Hozuki Zangetsu not understand the implication in Kaguya Yoshio's words that Hozuki Shingetsu was about to be defeated?

Why are these thousand-year-old foxes playing with ghost stories?

He immediately retaliated without backing down: "These are calcium supplements made by my Hozuki clan. After Kaguya Hirotoshi pulls out all his bones, I'll give him a good boost."

"The Hozuki clan chief seems to have a lot of confidence in his son. How about we make a bet?"

Kaguya Yoshio chuckled, showing no anger, and instead took the opportunity to offer a suggestion.

"What are we betting on?"

"If Hozuki Shingetsu wins, then Kaguya Hirotoshi can be used by Hozuki Shingetsu without violating the interests of the Kaguya clan; and if Kaguya Hirotoshi wins, I won't ask for much, just ten drops of your blood, how about that?"

Hozuki Zangetsu stared in astonishment at Kaguya Yoshio, not understanding what his old rival was up to.

As a genius who became a Jonin at the age of fourteen, Kaguya Hirotoshi holds a high position in the Kaguya clan. If things go smoothly, he might even become the next Kaguya Elder. And now, such an important figure in the clan is being used as a wager?

Is he really that confident?

Moreover, the stakes on his side were ten drops of his own blood... It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with them, but the main question was, what did Kaguya Yoshio want his blood for?

Although the evil cult of Yugakure Village was not widespread, Hozuki Zangetsu had heard of the cult's secret techniques. Could it be that Kaguya Hirotoshi was going to use some kind of curse?

Unable to understand, Hozuki Zangetsu immediately rejected Kaguya Yoshio's proposal. He realized that if he didn't gamble, he wouldn't lose—a lesson he learned after losing the position of the Third Mizukage.

"Alright, then I'll compromise. If Kaguya Hirotoshi wins, I'll let him marry a member of your Hozuki clan; and if he loses, then a member of my Kaguya clan will marry Hozuki Shingetsu, how about that?"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Kaguya Hirotoshi's eyes, but she quickly offered another suggestion.

"this……"

To be honest, Hozuki Zangetsu is smitten.

Losing is fine, the key is that if we win, then the Hozuki clan will have the opportunity to bring the Shikotsumyaku bloodline limit into their hands!

Although the Hozuki clan is also a bloodline family, they are different from other bloodline families. Their bloodline limit can actually be considered a kind of physique, a physique that makes it easier to cultivate the "Water Transformation Technique".

If the Ino-Shika-Cho trio of Konoha continues to develop, they will one day possess this kind of bloodline limit.

Therefore, even if a member of the Hozuki clan were to marry into the Kaguya clan, without the "Water Transformation Technique" and guidance from elders, the chances of the Hozuki clan secretly leaving the clan would be extremely slim.

However, the Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse) is different. This type of physical bloodline limit automatically manifests its combat power as the user ages, making it entirely possible for the Hozuki clan to master it.

After a moment's thought, Hozuki Renge agreed, but considering that his son had always been very opinionated, he left an opening.

If Hozuki Shingetsu loses, the bet will be honored; but if Hozuki Shingetsu wins, whether or not to marry him will be up to him.

Hirotoshi Kaguya readily agreed. In his view, how could the Hozuki clan possibly give up such a rare opportunity to obtain the Corpse Bone Pulse?

I only said that out of consideration for appearances.

So… “Let’s hope the inscription on that stone tablet is true!”

Thinking of the stone tablet that Ren had given him, Kaguya Yoshio harbored such hopes in his heart.

"If the secret technique recorded on that stone tablet also fails, then under the scourge of the Bloodstain Disease, our Kaguya clan will eventually fade into obscurity."

If there is anyone in this world who can truly cure the Kaguya clan's blood disease, it is probably only the legendary Sage of Six Paths.

As it happened, the stone tablet was a fragment of the "Book of the Ninja World," said to have been left behind by the Sage of Six Paths, which contained detailed records of the origins of the Kaguya clan. This was also the reason why Kaguya Hirotoshi believed it.

It's very simple. If it weren't something left behind by the Sage of Six Paths, how could it accurately record the history and origins of the Kaguya clan? They even lost records of some ancient historical events.

It's impossible for someone who has lived for a thousand years and witnessed the history of the ninja world to plot against their own clan, right?

Similarly, under Black Zetsu's influence, Madara Uchiha would only believe that he created this stone tablet using the Rinnegan—a creation of Yin-Yang Release combined with the Kaguya clan history secretly provided by Black Zetsu, which is the origin of this fragment of the "Book of Shinobi".

As for their reasons for doing this... it was, of course, to further disrupt the situation in Kirigakure, secretly develop their power, and pave the way for Madara Uchiha's resurrection plan.

Therefore, based on the above information, the Kaguya clan naturally believed in the solution to the Bloodstained Disease recorded therein—using a secret technique to fuse the flesh and blood of other Bloodstained families.

This was precisely the reason why the Kaguya clan betrayed them in the first place. Only by helping the lonely Ren launch a battle against the other bloodline ninja clans could they obtain what they wanted.

Therefore, with the opportune moment approaching, the Kaguya clan not only wants to form a marriage alliance with the Hozuki clan, but also with the Yuki clan, thereby conveying the illusion that Ren does not intend to unite with everyone, but rather intends to sit down and talk things over.

Once the vigilance of the various ninja clans has been worn down, the Kaguya clan will cooperate with Ren to launch a purge of Kirigakure, thereby obtaining what they want in one fell swoop.

A marriage alliance?

It's just a measure to lower their guard!

(End of this chapter)