Flash! A streak of black light sliced through the air. Kilometers away, a blinding white light erupted, followed by a massive mushroom cloud towering into the sky.
"Sure enough, condensing Yin and Yang chakra in the stomach into a sphere and spitting it out feels just like throwing up."
Recalling the sensation, Jie Uchiha couldn't help but frown.
"Besides, while the power is decent, it feels a bit lacking compared to the Nine-Tails' blast."
Although the Tailed Beast Bomb's destructive force satisfied him, for some reason, Jie couldn't stop comparing it to the sheer devastation he had witnessed on the Night of the Nine-Tails. Next to that cataclysmic attack, his own Tailed Beast Bomb felt rather underwhelming.
"But I suppose that's normal. That was the complete Nine-Tails, after all," he muttered to himself. "Even when the Two, Three, Five, Six, and Seven-Tails combined their chakra to form a massive Tailed Beast Bomb, it only matched half the power of the Nine-Tails' blast. Right now, I only used the Eight-Tails' chakra, and I wasn't even going all out. This level of power is already impressive."
Jie consoled himself, yet deep down, his desire for Sealing Jutsu grew even stronger.
The Nine-Tails was simply too powerful. When Naruto, possessing only Jonin-level strength, had initially mastered half of the Yang Nine-Tails' chakra and entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, his power instantly eclipsed the Kage level, entering an entirely new tier. His speed alone rivaled that of the Fourth Raikage, the fastest man in the ninja world.
With Jie's current base strength paired with such an outrageous multiplier—and if he managed to learn Senjutsu on top of it—reaching the Six Paths level would be a walk in the park.
'When I get back, I'll kill that old man Hiruzen Sarutobi, seize the Book of Seals, and master Sealing Jutsu,' Jie thought viciously.
Having successfully tested the Tailed Beast Bomb, Jie quickly retracted his partial Tailed Beast transformation. Feeling the three distinct masses of chakra swirling within his body, a bold idea suddenly struck him.
'Wait... isn't the Ten-Tails' chakra just an amalgamation of the nine tailed beasts? If I gather the chakra of all nine beasts within my own body, can I fuse them into the Ten-Tails' power myself? If so, wouldn't that make me the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, instantly boosting me to the Six Paths level?'
For a moment, Jie felt as if he had discovered a broad, golden path leading straight to the absolute pinnacle of power. Excitement swelled within his chest.
A Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki at the Six Paths level—as long as they weren't killed or sealed, they were essentially immortal and indestructible. Kaguya Otsutsuki had been sealed on the moon for countless years, yet time had left no trace on her; her youth remained completely untouched upon her release.
And the Sage of Six Paths had only inherited half of his mother's power. Even though his physical body had long since rotted away, his soul continued to exist within the crevices of time, quietly watching the ninja world develop. He even made an appearance during the final decisive battle just to make his presence known. Even the chakra of the Sage's two sons, tethered by their lingering obsessions, had managed to reincarnate from generation to generation.
If Jie could reach that step...
'No, I can't think about this right now. It's best not to bite off more than I can chew.' Jie forcefully calmed himself down, pushing the grandiose thoughts aside.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Tasks had to be done step by step, and goals achieved little by little. His immediate priority was to leave this area and return to the Konoha camp. The commotion caused by the Tailed Beast Bomb had been too massive, and Konoha ninjas were undoubtedly already on their way to investigate.
Jie had no intention of letting anyone know that the earth-shattering explosion was his masterpiece. After all, he didn't subscribe to a certain bomber's belief that art was merely a fleeting explosion.
By the time Jie returned to the Konoha camp, Fugaku Uchiha was already pacing outside his tent, his face etched with anxiety.
"Jie, thank goodness you're here." Seeing his eldest son appear, Fugaku let out a massive sigh of relief. "There was an explosion a few kilometers outside the camp just now. I suspect Kumogakure ninjas were trying to sneak into our perimeter to cause sabotage. I know you are incredibly strong, but you must be extremely careful. The battlefield is no game."
Fugaku warned him with a solemn, fatherly expression.
Although Jie briefly considered telling Fugaku that he was the cause of the explosion and there was no need to worry, he thought better of it. Being cautious on the battlefield was never a bad thing. Even if Kumogakure ninjas hadn't come to launch a sneak attack this time, taking precautions was always a wise move.
After Fugaku left, Jie entered his tent. He silently began refining his chakra while practicing the Lightning Release Body Forging Secret Technique.
The night passed quickly.
Early the next morning, Fugaku convened the leaders of the various ninja clans stationed within the army.
"Yesterday, Kumogakure's Fourth Raikage and their two Jinchuriki were heavily injured by Jie Uchiha," Fugaku addressed the gathered leaders. "Therefore, I believe we cannot afford to give Kumogakure any time to recuperate. We must kick them while they are down. Now is our perfect window to strike."
He leaned forward, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I propose that the ninjas of all clans assemble immediately. We will launch a full-scale offensive in half an hour. Does anyone have any objections to my decision?"
The heads of the major ninja clans exchanged glances. Finally, Shikampei Nara spoke up, representing the vast majority of the room. "Clan Head Fugaku, you are the commanding officer of this allied force. We will follow your orders."
Fugaku nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, everyone quickly—"
"Wait, Clan Head Fugaku. I have a question."
Before Fugaku could finish his sentence, a dissenting voice piped up from the audience. Fugaku glanced toward the speaker. It was Shinnosuke Sarutobi, the leader of the Sarutobi clan's forces.
Fugaku raised a subtle eyebrow, immediately understanding the angle. Keeping his expression completely blank, he asked, "What is the Sarutobi clan's concern?"
Shinnosuke stood up, looking thoroughly indignant. "Clan Head Fugaku, where are our war supplies? Without combat vests and ninja tools, are you just sending us out there to die?"
Silence fell over the tent.
The clan leader sitting next to Shinnosuke twitched. He gently tugged at Shinnosuke's sleeve, frantically signaling him to shut his mouth. But Shinnosuke remained completely unmoved, keeping his eyes fixed defiantly on Fugaku.
Seeing this, the neighboring clan leader decisively shifted his chair away, making it abundantly clear he wanted no part of Shinnosuke's sudden death wish.
"When ninjas march off to war, they are required to provide their own combat vests and ninja tools," Fugaku stated, his voice chillingly flat. "First, for the sake of mobilization speed. Second, because personal gear is more familiar and reliable to the user. Only after the battle has begun, when your personal gear is damaged or depleted, do you go to the logistics division to claim new supplies."
Fugaku stared down at Shinnosuke, his Sharingan practically glinting in the dim light. "This is basic knowledge taught by Chunin instructors back in the Ninja Academy. Are you telling me the mighty Sarutobi clan doesn't even know this?"
Upon hearing Fugaku's icy rebuke, Shinnosuke's face instantly turned an incredibly ugly shade of pale.
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