Konoha: Superman template, the spoiled brat becomes strong.

This is the backlash of the rules. The voice of the messenger of destiny pierced through the roar: You think you can defy the will of Heaven with the will of others?

Naive.

Bai Ye bit his tongue, and the taste of blood exploded in his mouth.

He could clearly feel his cells disintegrating and his bones groaning, but he had never been so conscious.

He remembered his trembling hands when he killed for the first time, the rain when Rin died at Kakashi's hands, and the warmth when Iruka-sensei ruffled his hair and told him not to skip class next time.

These fragments pieced together in my consciousness to form a mirror, reflecting my truest self—not a perfect hero, not a ruthless assassin, but someone who stumbles and falls in the darkness, yet never lets go of the torch in his hand.

That's why... he needed to burn even harder. He let out a low shout, and the lightning patterns on his bone wings suddenly lit up.

That wasn't ordinary chakra; it was the life force he shared with all those who resonated with him, the "us" formed by countless versions of himself.

Lightning swept across the entire area as if it were a tangible force, tearing the black vortex of the Messenger of Destiny to shreds. His white robes fluttered wildly, and true shock finally appeared on his face.

But the battle is far from over.

Just when Bai Ye thought victory was in sight, the Messenger of Destiny suddenly became transparent.

Countless black threads shot out from the void, precisely binding Bai Ye's limbs, throat, and even heart. "You've won this round." His voice surged from all directions, but do you know the truth about the will of the living?

It's not salvation, it's a shackle—you have to live for all those who resonate with you, fulfill their unfulfilled wishes, and bear their pain that should have dissipated.

Bai Ye's consciousness was suddenly pulled into darkness.

There was no light, no sound, only countless eyes watching him—Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan, Jiraiya's headband stained with blood, Tsunade's tears in Shizune's arms, and even the gazes of his parents whom he had never met, from another time and space.

This is a trial. The phantom of the First Raikage suddenly appeared before him. The old Raikage, known for his powerful fist, had a gentle look in his eyes. The will of the living was not a burden, but a spark.

You need to find... the place that can truly ignite it.

Chapter 547 Hot Mom from Hasi

Before he finished speaking, a golden light burst forth from Bai Ye's chest.

It was a map of the ninja world made of light, with the outlines of the five great nations clearly visible.

The most prominent marker in the center of the map points deep into Konoha Village—a forest shrouded in a barrier, a forbidden area that even the Third Hokage once said should not be entered unless absolutely necessary.

It seems you've found it. The messenger's voice carried a meaningful sigh, but remember, the price of a choice is always heavier than you imagine.

The darkness began to crumble.

Bai Ye's consciousness returned to the lightning field. He looked down at his palm—there lay half a tattered headband fragment, its edges stained with brown blood.

He found it in the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire. At the time, he thought it was just an insignificant relic, but now, under the glow of the map, it gleams with a faint yet resolute light.

In the distance, the figure of the Destiny Messenger had vanished, but the last words still drifted from the spatial rift: Go to Konoha, Byakuya.

The answer you're looking for is waiting for you there.

Bai Ye gripped the fragment of his headband tightly, and the lightning patterns on his bone wings gradually receded.

He gazed at the streak of light pointing towards the forbidden area of ​​Konoha and suddenly remembered what Minato had said: A true ninja never backs down when faced with a choice.

Because every choice you make is writing a new future for yourself and for those who believe in you.

The wind blew in through the cracks, carrying the scent of fresh grass from the direction of the fallen leaves.

He spread his bone wings, and lightning condensed into steps beneath his feet.

This time, he didn't hesitate.

Lightning crackled between the bone wings as Bai Ye's figure, like a thunder falcon tearing through the clouds, swept across the mountains and rivers of the Land of Fire.

The wind rushed into his collar, carrying the distinctive scent of grass and earth from the direction of Konoha. The fragment of his headband in his palm was slightly hot, like a piece of red-hot charcoal, leaving a light pink mark on his skin—he had found it in the rubble of the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire, initially thinking it was the relic of some fallen ninja, but now it had become a guiding light for him.

"We've arrived." He let out a low shout, his bone wings snapped shut, and the lightning staircase beneath his feet collapsed into starlight as he landed steadily in front of the broken pillar in the forbidden area of ​​Konoha.

An eerie stillness enveloped the forbidden area, which should have been deserted.

Spiderwebs hung from the branches of the ancient pine tree, and the moss on the ground had a faint green hue. But what made him frown the most was the barrier that stood across the entrance to the forbidden area—it was invisible, yet it was like a taut spider web. When his chakra sense swept over it, he was met with a sharp pain.

Welcome to the end of all, White Night. The voice of the messenger of destiny seeped from the depths of the barrier, carrying a metallic, scraping chill. Here lies the true secret of the will of the living.

Bai Ye did not rush to touch the barrier.

He took two steps back, his gaze sweeping across the center of the forbidden area—where stood a stone tablet three times the height of a person, its surface covered with cracks, yet clearly engraved with a yin-yang dual array diagram, its black and white fish eyes gleaming with a dark golden luster, the very same sealing core pattern he had seen in the Hokage's notes of past generations.

"You're stalling for time." He spoke to the air, his fingertips lightly tracing the kunai at his waist, but I guessed that the barrier existed so that I could see something clearly.

Before the words were finished, the barrier suddenly rippled and disappeared like a lake surface where a pebble had been thrown in.

Bai Ye's pupils contracted slightly as he saw a semi-transparent figure appear before the stone tablet—wearing crimson-gold armor, with black hair tied up high, and a headband split in two, yet it couldn't conceal eyes as calm as a deep pool.

The First Hokage? He blurted out.

The 548th Palm: A Deception That Has Continued for Hundreds of Years

The illusory figure turned, its face overlapping with that of Hashirama Senju in the portrait, only less gentle and more somber: "If anyone sees this, it means the Destiny Messenger's conspiracy has been exposed." He raised his hand and placed it on the stone tablet, pale green chakra seeping from the cracks. The so-called will of the living was not a means to seal the evil god... but rather a way to maintain the evil god's existence by utilizing the power of the ninja's conviction.

What? Bai Ye's breathing suddenly quickened.

He had heard Minato mention that the will of the living was the ultimate sealing technique created by the First Hokage, and the seal was strengthened through the passing down of the beliefs of successive generations of ninjas.

But the truth he heard from the first generation was like a bucket of ice water being poured over his head.

After my final battle with Madara at the Valley of the End, I discovered the remnant soul of the evil god. The voice of the First Generation was deep and resonant, like a bell. It required immense energy to maintain its existence, yet it could not directly devour living beings.

And so the Messenger of Destiny—my younger brother Tobirama—solved the problem in his own way. His phantom rippled, creating the illusion of the will of the living, allowing each generation of ninja to infuse their beliefs into the seal, in reality supplying nourishment to the evil god.

Bai Ye's fingernails dug deeply into her palms: that true sealing technique...

Here it is. The first one points to a depression at the bottom of the stone tablet that almost overlaps with the stone's texture. The key to deciphering it lies in your hands.

Bai Ye suddenly realized what was happening and opened his palm.

Under the light of the First Hokage's chakra, the bloodstains on the edge of the headband fragment suddenly transformed into golden runes, perfectly matching the concave shape of the stone tablet.

He pressed the fragment onto the stone tablet, and with a soft click, a hidden door appeared at the bottom, releasing a damp, musty smell mixed with the earthy odor of decay.

The air at the underground altar was ten degrees colder than that on the ground.

Bai Ye descended the moss-covered stone steps, lightning patterns flowing across his bone wings, illuminating the crystal in the center that was at least two people tall.

Countless golden runes floated inside the crystal, like stardust scattered by the wind. Each one emitted a faint yet coherent fluctuation—the power of a ninja's conviction. He had sensed similar frequencies within Minato, Tsunade, and even himself.

"Resonance of thunder," he murmured.

The remaining lightning-attribute chakra within his body suddenly stirred, and the lightning patterns on his bone wings shot toward the crystal as if they were alive.

The moment the tip of the bone wing touched the crystal surface, the entire altar trembled violently, and runes converged wildly, revealing blurred words within the crystal: Only sacrifice can bring liberation, only faith can restore order.

So that's how it is. Lightning flashed in Bai Ye's pupils.

He suddenly flapped his bone wings, and golden chains shot out from between his joints, piercing the crystal core like sharp arrows.

In an instant, the crystal burst forth with blinding white light, countless images flashing within it—Tobirama Senju infusing his conviction into the crystal at the Valley of the End; the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, biting his finger and pressing it against the crystal before the Nine-Tails' rampage; and the Fourth Hokage, Minato, sealing the Nine-Tails, not giving his final burst of chakra to Naruto, but instead sinking into the earth...

"Yes, you've finally seen the truth." The voice of the Messenger of Destiny rang out again, this time so clear it seemed to be standing right behind him, but can you bear the price?

The image suddenly distorted.

Byakuya saw the First Hokage coughing up blood before his death, saw the resentment in Tobirama's eyes as he was surrounded and killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and saw Minato's bitter smile as he looked back inside the Shinigami's belly—their belief was not to seal it away, but to prolong the life of the evil god.

A grotesque, blue-faced demon with fangs appeared on the crystal surface, its tongue licking its lips and emitting a laugh like a baby crying.

Chapter 549 The Beliefs of Shadows Through the Ages

This is a scam that has lasted for hundreds of years! Bai Ye gritted his teeth, and the lightning patterns on his bone wings began to crack. Since that's the case, then let me end it all! He gathered all his chakra, preparing to pierce the bone wings into the deepest part of the crystal.

But the crystal moved first.

Countless golden chains shot out from the runes, binding his limbs, and violent energy poured into his meridians like molten lava.

He heard the sound of bones cracking and saw his blood droplets condense into tiny lightning balls in mid-air. But what shocked him even more was that the phantom of the first generation suddenly appeared in front of him, arms outstretched.

"Go quickly...this is the only thing I can do for you." The First Generation's voice crackled with fragmentation. His body was being consumed by energy, the gold paint on his armor peeling away in patches. The true sealing technique...is within your heart...

No! Bai Ye roared as he tried to grab the phantom, but his hand pierced straight through the First Generation's chest.

In the last moment before the phantom disappeared, he saw a slight smile on the First Hokage's lips, just like the boy in the portrait who stood between the Senju and Uchiha and said he wanted to establish Konoha.

The crystal emitted a deafening roar.

Bai Ye was thrown back by the energy shockwave and crashed into the altar wall, spitting out a mouthful of black blood.

He barely managed to lift his head and saw a pitch-black crack in the center of the crystal, like a giant eye ready to devour its prey.

The voice of the messenger of destiny drifted from the crack, tinged with a manic laugh: The real game has only just begun...

The next second, the crystal burst forth with a white light even more dazzling than the sun.

Before Bai Ye's vision went black and his consciousness faded into chaos, his last shred of clarity allowed him to grasp only one thought—the fragment of the headband in his palm had somehow become one with his flesh and blood, and amidst the excruciating pain, he felt a warm touch, as if someone were gently holding his hand and saying: Don't be afraid, I'm here.

And within that dark crack, something is awakening.

When the white light from the crystal stung his retina, Bai Ye thought he would end up like those ninjas torn apart by energy storms, leaving not even a remnant soul behind.

But when his consciousness re-coalesced into a blurry outline, what he felt first was not the burning sensation, but the scalding hot fragment of the headband in his palm—it had somehow become one with his flesh and blood, like an inextinguishable fire, meandering through his meridians.

"Go quickly... This is the only thing I can do for you." The original's voice still echoed in my ears, carrying a static-like crackling.

Bai Ye propped himself up against the stone wall, a metallic taste rising in his throat, black blood dripping down his chin onto the stone bricks, sizzling and corroding into charred holes.

He looked up and saw that the giant crystal that had just covered the altar was now shattered, and the dark crack in the center was spewing out black mist, like a ferocious beast that had been dormant for thousands of years stretching its limbs.

Only faith can reshape everything.

Broken whispers suddenly exploded in my mind.

Bai Ye shuddered. The voice was clearer than the first generation's, as if it had been engraved directly into the depths of his soul.

He looked up following the sound and discovered that dark gold patterns had appeared on the bluestone slabs of the altar walls at some point—those subtle engravings that he had previously overlooked were now flowing with the tremors of the cracks, crawling on the stone walls like living things.

It's a rune array... Bai Ye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and staggered closer to the nearest stone wall.

The moment his fingertips touched the patterns, a chilling energy stung him, and countless images flashed before his eyes: Hashirama Senju standing at the Valley of the End, his Wood Release technique supporting a falling boulder; the Third Raikage fighting alone against thousands of enemies, his lightning armor shattering yet still clutching his broken sword; and even himself, cradling a lifeless Anbu in the ruins of Amegakure, blood soaking the Anbu's headband...

The beliefs of successive ninja leaders. Byakuya gasped.

Those flowing runes are not inanimate objects, but wills solidified by sealing magic—each golden rune contains the brilliance of a certain era, flickering like stars in the darkness.

You have seen the truth.

Chapter 550 It turns out it's always been there

A hoarse male voice seeped from the crack, carrying a harsh, metallic scraping sound.

Bai Ye abruptly turned his head, and half a face vaguely emerged from the black mist. A ghostly blue vein throbbed beneath the pale skin—it was the one who called himself the Messenger of Destiny. But can you bear the price? The black mist surged, and the face grinned, revealing that maintaining the balance of the seal required sacrifice, and the place where you stand now is an altar built from the beliefs of seventy-two Kage-level powerhouses.

So you've trapped their will here, using them as your batteries? Bai Ye twitched the corner of his mouth, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the headband in his palm.

The temperature suddenly became scorching, as if in response to his anger. The First Hokage said that the true sealing technique was in his heart. It seems that he knew about your trick all along—using so-called balance to hold living people hostage.

The laughter of the messenger of destiny echoed from the altar: You think the First Generation didn't think about breaking it?

He tried it, and Tobirama Senju tried it too.

But what happened in the end? The phantom of the first generation emerged from the black mist, just as it had appeared before it vanished. They ultimately chose to leave their will here, because they understood that there is no peace without sacrifice.

That was their choice, not mine. Bai Ye suddenly raised his hand, and bone wings suddenly unfolded behind him.

Unlike the usual dark purple, the surface of the bone wings was now shimmering with tiny golden rays—a sign that the Thunder Resonance had been awakened by the headband fragments. If maintaining balance required human sacrifice, then I would rather overturn this chessboard.

Before he finished speaking, the bone spikes at the tips of the bone wings suddenly shattered, turning into dozens of golden chains that pierced the core of the runes in the center of the altar with a whooshing sound.

A violent tremor followed, and stone chips rained down from above. Bai Ye gritted his teeth and groaned, clearly feeling the chains tearing at his bones, every inch of his flesh protesting this overexertion.

But the moment the chains touched the core of the rune, the flowing golden patterns suddenly surged towards him wildly, like a river that had been in a long drought finding its outlet.

You are accelerating destruction! The voice of the messenger of destiny finally cracked. Once the rune array collapses, what lies within the crack will devour the entire Land of Fire!

It's better than being treated like a puppet. Veins bulged on Bai Ye's forehead as he pushed the power of resonance to its limit.

The golden chains began to melt, intertwining with the golden patterns of the runes to create an even more dazzling light. He saw the phantom of the First Raikage nodding at him in the light, the broken sword of the Third Raikage reforming in the light, and even the Anbu from Amegakure, smiling as he stuffed a fragment of his headband into his palm.

So that's how it is... Bai Ye suddenly smiled. These beliefs were never sealed away, but were waiting for someone who could lead them out of the world.