I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 362 and 363: A Date at the New Senso-ji Temple (Revised)

"The first Holy Grail War didn't go very smoothly; it seems we were rushing things a bit."

Naruto Uchiha stood on the steel bridge frame of the Kobe Bridge, looking down at the entire situation.

Water mist swirls around the bridge, and a sea of ​​clouds surges.

Zabuza Momochi's Hidden Mist Technique, while able to conceal the three-tomoe Sharingan, was ineffective against the Mangekyou Sharingan, allowing him to witness the entire battle from beginning to end.

"Whether it's Zabuza Momochi or Guy's Shadow Ninja, they can only barely exert Chunin-level combat power."

Naruto Uchiha narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled softly:

Ultimately, it's because the natural energy supplied to the Shadow Ninjas is insufficient, resulting in them being reduced to weaklings fighting each other.

After several days of preparation, Uchiha Naruto has set up a barrier in Kobe City and established a connection between the Shadow Ninjas and the Earth's ley lines, drawing natural energy from the ley lines to power the Shadow Ninjas.

The time is still short, and the accumulated natural energy is too shallow. For a Kage of Jonin level or above, the power that can be exerted is less than one-tenth.

If it were Zabuza in his prime, a single Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique would have been enough to destroy the entire Kobe Bridge; not to mention Guy, who almost brought the series to an end, the Kobe Bridge would be no stronger than a stack of building blocks under his iron fist.

"Yes, yes, yes. The data on the physical compatibility of a Shadow Ninja possessing a human body in actual combat has been collected. Using a living person as the object of a Shadow Ninja's possession is a sound approach."

Shadow Ninjas are unstable beings that should not exist in the world, so they need a vessel as a physical entity to fight, because the object they are attached to is crucial to them.

Zabuza Momochi's strength is far inferior to Guy's, and his potential is even lower. However, due to the equal supply of magic power from the ley lines, he is currently on the same level as Guy.

Because the judo club president, who was staying there, was much stronger than Kouzo Kurogane, he had the upper hand in their first encounter, but ultimately lost because he was just a step behind.

"Let's leave it at that for now. Retrieve the Shadow Ninja before the fog clears."

Naruto Uchiha leaped down from the height and landed steadily on the bridge.

He glanced at the judo club president's bloodied and mangled body.

After eating a lotus flower, he was thrown from a height of over ten meters to the ground, his head shattered, his brains and liver splattered everywhere, and he was beyond saving.

Although the judo club president was a scoundrel, he was ambitious and cunning. Unfortunately, he wasn't destined to be a protagonist and died an untimely death.

Uchiha Naruto waved his hand, and a shadowy figure shrouded in black energy stood up and followed behind him.

"He only has one breath left... He opened the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation and didn't die on the spot. His bones and life are pretty tough."

Turning his head to look at Kurogane Kouzo, who was barely breathing, Naruto Uchiha felt a complex mix of emotions.

Kouzo Kurogane's situation is roughly that of an orphan high school student from the Yin Corner, who is poor and has an ordinary appearance, but possesses a simple sense of justice and has also practiced some martial arts.

Although he may seem a bit weak on ordinary days, he can shine in crucial moments.

Tsk tsk tsk, looking at it this way, he's a pretty good seed.

"His compatibility with Guy the Shadow Ninja was quite good, and he successfully opened the Eight Gates. If he hadn't been so weak, he wouldn't have ended up like this."

Naruto Uchiha's eyes swirled with the three tomoe in them as he observed the flow of chakra within the Kurogane Hikaru meridians and the opening of the gate on the right side of his brain.

In the meridian system of chakra flow, there are eight acupoints that inhibit and control the chakra in the body: the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Rest, the Gate of Life, the Gate of Injury, the Gate of Closure, the Gate of View, the Gate of Shock, and the Gate of Death.

The Eight Gates technique can remove the body's restrictions on chakra flow, causing the user's taijutsu power to increase exponentially.

Although the power of the Eight Gates depends on the user, generally speaking, opening six gates is equivalent to being a near-Kage, and opening seven gates is equivalent to being a Kage.

The state of having all eight gates open is known as the "Eight Gates Formation," which can instantly grant power ten or even dozens of times greater than that of a Kage-level user. However, once the user's life force is completely exhausted, death is inevitable.

"Data collection for the Eight Gates Formation is very important. You're a rare guinea pig, so I'll give you another chance."

After a moment of contemplation, Uchiha Naruto extended his palm to Kurogane Kouzo, from which a ghostly green light emanated.

Palm Immortal Technique!

After saving Kurogane Kozo's life, Uchiha Naruto flicked out a fireball, turning Noro's corpse to ashes and destroying all evidence.

He doesn't want this "Holy Grail War" to be exposed to official scrutiny for the time being.

After the barrier is set up, the natural energy in the earth's veins begins to accumulate. It will take some time to fill the ninja's energy gauge. If the officials intervene too early, it will disrupt the balance between the participants.

The fighting on the Kobe Bridge was just a minor skirmish, without any major destruction; in the end, it only left a crater in the bridge surface.

The battle took place late at night on the Kobe Bridge, and the thick fog created by Momochi Zabuza obscured the view. As long as the corpses were disposed of, it wouldn't attract much attention for the time being.

"However, you can't hide it forever. As the natural energy within the earth's ley lines increases, the Kage's strength will grow stronger, and it's only a matter of time before they're exposed to the public eye. After all, there's no government here to help us out and use a gas pipeline explosion as an excuse." Uchiha Naruto frowned, then relaxed.

It doesn't matter.

Kobe was just the first testing ground; once enough data was collected, its mission would be over.

With the help of hundreds of shadow ninjas under Naruto Uchiha's command, a "Holy Grail War" could be recreated in any city in Japan.

"disease!"

Naruto Uchiha formed a hand seal with his right hand and held it upright in front of his chest. The wind rose and the clouds surged, and the thick fog dissipated faster and faster.

After the fog completely dissipated, the Kobe Bridge was deserted.

-

The following day, Tokyo, Asakusa Line.

The colorful railway lines on Tokyo subway station signs crisscross like a spider web. When outsiders see the maze-like route map for the first time, they are often dazzled and feel a sense of awe towards the big city.

"Clang, clang..."

The long train traveled through the underground tunnel, the tunnel lights and the glow of the GG sign flickering, illuminating the expressionless faces of several middle-aged office workers in the carriage, who looked like walking corpses.

Their eyes were all fixed on the other side of the carriage, where a male college student with black hair and a bun was surrounded by a group of girls.

Unlike his stiff expression, his eyes were full of envy.

The carriage wasn't particularly crowded, but ever since this male college student wearing round sunglasses and a white shirt boarded, he seemed like a human black hole. Not only were the girls' eyes involuntarily drawn to him, but their bodies also moved towards him uncontrollably.

Even more outrageous, every time the subway train passes over the tracks and vibrates slightly, a young and pretty girl would clumsily bump into the boy's arms.

This is the fifth one already!

Is this guy even human?!

One single office worker thought bitterly.

His eyes, which had been hiding anger, were now practically spitting fire as the overworked office worker glared fiercely at him.

In that instant, the tram hummed as it emerged from the tunnel, and in a flash, warm golden sunlight flooded into the carriage, shining like a spotlight on the boy's back.

Although his face was hidden behind sunglasses, it still shone brightly and was incredibly handsome.

Even the most hardworking office worker, who harbors hostility towards men, felt a surge of emotion at this moment.

This kid is actually quite handsome...

"We've arrived at Asakusa Station!"

Finally, they arrived at their stop. Uchiha Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and ran off the train amidst the girls' regretful and reluctant gazes.

Naruto Uchiha took out his phone, looked at himself, and fixed his hair.

It wasn't that he was narcissistic, but he had a date today, and tidying himself up was the most basic courtesy.

Naruto Uchiha adjusted his sunglasses, which had been slightly askew from being jostled on the train.

And it seems that some girls were trying to take off their sunglasses when they bumped into him.

Although I haven't taken the subway for a while, how did it become so dangerous?

As he stepped out of Asakusa Station, Naruto Uchiha looked around the station entrance and immediately locked onto his target.

"Hey, over here!"

Matsudaira Chiyo, dressed in a white dress, stood gracefully not far away and waved to Uchiha Naruto.

"I didn't keep you waiting long, did I? The archery club gave us a last-minute notice, which caused the delay."

"Five minutes earlier than the agreed time."

The beautiful and charming Matsudaira Chiyo stepped forward and took Uchiha Naruto's arm, smilingly and playfully scolding him:

"But why didn't you let me send someone to pick you up by car?"

"It's not far, taking the subway will be faster," Uchiha Naruto replied.

"You stood me up on our Wednesday date. As compensation, you have to give me all your time today, darling," Matsudaira Chiyo whispered affectionately in Uchiha Naruto's ear, standing on tiptoe.

Naruto Uchiha nodded helplessly.

Matsudaira Chiyo is now considered his girlfriend, and to solidify their relationship, they go on dates several times a week.

Naruto Uchiha wasn't very interested in such trivial matters, and the location and arrangements for their dates were mostly decided by Chiyo Matsudaira.

The place we're meeting today is the new Senso-ji Temple, which was built on the original site three years after the Asakusa Incident to enshrine Taisan Fujun.

Matsudaira Chiyo made her New Year's visit to Shinsenso-ji Temple to fulfill a vow, praying for success in her love life.

During the Japanese New Year, there is the tradition of "Hasatsu" (はつもうで).

After the New Year's bells ring, Japanese people begin to visit shrines and temples to pray for a smooth and peaceful new year.

Many Japanese people begin their pilgrimages as soon as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Day. Long lines form at major shrines and temples before midnight, creating a spectacular and crowded scene.

Naruto Uchiha's expression was somewhat subtle.

He himself had no idea that the Lord of Mount Tai had suddenly acquired the divine duty of protecting love.

It must be admitted that the Japanese government went to great lengths and spared no expense in trying to please the Lord of Mount Tai.

Senso-ji Temple was razed to the ground in the battle between the Toad Sage and Obi. The Japanese government did not have any plans to rebuild it afterward. Instead, it spent a huge sum of money to build a new Senso-ji Temple dedicated to the God of Mount Tai, claiming that it was a sacred site where the God of Mount Tai manifested his power.

As for the original owner, the Holy Guanyin Sect, the Japanese government allocated a piece of land in another part of Taitung Ward as compensation.

Anyway, the Asakusa Incident turned half of Taitung District into scorched earth, leaving plenty of vacant land.

The Holy Guanyin Sect dared not speak out against their anger, but since Guanyin Bodhisattva had not performed any miracles to save all sentient beings, they themselves were uncertain about their own fate. Under pressure from various forces, they were forced to accept the situation out of consideration for the "overall situation."

The new Senso-ji Temple is far more popular than the original Senso-ji Temple, which was already the most popular.

However, this is only natural, after all, the Lord of Mount Tai is the only deity to date to have manifest himself before the whole world, enjoying unparalleled glory and overshadowing all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens.

While it's impossible to question whether the divine power of the Lord of Mount Tai surpasses that of other gods and Buddhas, his power truly shines throughout this island nation.

The Japanese also approach seeking divine intervention with a pragmatic approach.

Since the Lord of Mount Tai is a genuine deity, worshipping him must be more effective than worshipping other gods or Buddhas whose existence is unknown.

Naruto Uchiha didn't care that others built a shrine for him, but it felt a bit strange to add some random or even love-related divine duties to Mount Tai, the Lord of the Underworld who is in charge of reincarnation.

Japanese shrines and temples have always been known for taking care of everything from marriage and love, academic advancement and career advancement, to peace and health.

"Are you going to pay homage to the Lord of Mount Tai? Perhaps we should go somewhere else."

"Lord Taishan is incredibly efficacious. In this extraordinary era where demons, monsters, and evil spirits roam, Lord Taishan protects mortals from harm. I also want to pray for Uncle Uchiha."

Naruto Uchiha was both amused and exasperated.

What's so great about worshipping a clay or wooden puppet of the Lord of Mount Tai? The real deity is right in front of you.

I don't know the true face of Lushan, I am only in this mountain.

"Speaking of which, although I've informed the Immortal Clan about my 'relationship' with Chiyo, I haven't let him meet me yet. Should we find an opportunity to arrange a meeting between the two of them?"

However, as the head of the Supernatural Police Department, Uchiha Senmon's schedule was packed, and even Uchiha Naruto could only be seen a few times a year.

Moreover, he has been overseas recently and has no time to spare.

Not to mention, this year marks the expiration of the three-year agreement between the two sides, and the international situation is becoming increasingly turbulent.

It was filled with a sense of urgency, like a storm brewing.

He couldn't say much more, and could only helplessly let Matsudaira Chiyo pull him toward the entrance of Shinsenso-ji Temple.

It's not the weekend yet, but the Shinsenso-ji Temple is still bustling with tourists, and you can occasionally spot a few blond, blue-eyed faces.

Just then, Uchiha Naruto's expression changed slightly, and he looked to the side.

A man dressed in a black robe with red cloud patterns and wearing a swirling mask swaggered down the street.

It immediately attracted the attention of tourists and pilgrims near the temple gate.

The man swept his hair from bottom to top, pressed his hand on the mask, and revealed blood-red eyes in his swirling eyes.

The expressions on everyone's faces suddenly became incredibly interesting.

"dawn?!"

(End of this chapter)