Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 337 Conquering the Spirit Transformation Technique

Watching Sasuke Umino's tall and slender figure disappear around the street corner, Nanatsu Kurama tugged at her sister's sleeve, her little face full of seriousness: "Sister, your sister-in-law is really nice, you have great taste!"

Kurama Kyoune, her face still flushed, gently tapped her younger sister's head and sighed softly, "Silly girl, don't talk nonsense. Someone like Sasuke is like the bright moon in the sky. I am just a firefly on the ground looking up at the moon. Being able to serve under him is already a great blessing. Tsunade is the star that matches him."

"Hmph! Sister, you have no confidence at all!"

Kurama Nanatsu pouted, but her eyes gleamed with a mischievous and determined light. "Sister is the most beautiful woman in the world! Gentle, kind, strong, and so beautiful! How could she not be worthy of brother-in-law? Don't worry, sister, I am the Kurama family's once-in-a-century genius genjutsu ninja. Once I recover, I will definitely help you win brother-in-law back! When we sisters are of one mind, our strength can break gold! I refuse to believe that we are no match for Lady Tsunade!"

She clenched her little fists, looking determined and spirited.

Kurama Konon took her sister's words as childish banter, shook her head helplessly, and affectionately ruffled her hair. However, a bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart because of her sister's "bold words."

She gazed in the direction where Umino Sasuke had left, her eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression.

Meanwhile, Umino Sasuke had already crossed the streets after the genjutsu dissipated and arrived at the gate of the Kurama clan's territory.

The Kurama clan's territory before us is quite vast, and one can still vaguely see the foundation of this former top-tier clan in Konoha. Although the pavilions and towers appear old, their layout is grand and spacious, even comparable in scale to the Hyuga clan's territory.

The Kurama clan was once a powerful genjutsu family, second only to the Senju and Uchiha clans. During the First Shinobi World War, their powerful genjutsu, which manipulated the five senses, struck fear into the hearts of their enemies.

However, the fierce conflict with the Kaguya clan not only resulted in mutual destruction, but also destroyed the secluded valley where the Strong Bone Grass grew.

Without the Strong Bone Grass, the Kaguya clan could still survive by relying on the Shikotsumyaku bloodline limit, but the Kurama clan rapidly declined due to the enormous physical strain of the Five Senses bloodline limit and the extinction of the Strong Bone Grass. They fell from a strong first-class clan to a weak second-class ninja clan, which is truly lamentable.

Chief Kurama was already waiting respectfully at the gate. He was an old man with a thin face and a slightly weak spirit. When he saw Umino Sasuke appear, he quickly took a few steps to greet him, his face full of smiles, showing no displeasure at the other party's "lateness".

"Squad Leader Umino's presence is an honor for the Kurama clan! Please come in!"

They adopted an extremely humble posture, knowing full well that given the current status of the Kurama clan, they would never dare to offend this rising star of Konoha.

Upon entering the Kurama tribe's territory, we took our seats in the elegant reception room.

Not long after, Kurama Kone entered with Kurama Nanatsuki, whose face was pale but whose spirits had clearly improved.

The Kurama clan chief first bowed deeply to Umino Sasuke: "Class Leader Umino, on behalf of the Kurama clan, I thank you for your guidance and cultivation of Kyouon! Without your trust and care, Kyouon would never have been able to become a Jonin and a new pillar of our Kurama clan! The Kurama clan will remember this kindness!"

Then, he looked at Kurama Nanatsu, his eyes filled with hope and pleading: "Squad Leader Umino, this is Nanatsu. She possesses the strongest five-sense bloodline of our clan, but her body is weak and has not been effectively treated. I humbly beg you, I have heard that you possess a divine medicine that can improve physical condition. I wonder if you could—could you lend a helping hand? The Kurama clan is willing to give everything to repay your kindness!"

By the end, his voice was choked with emotion.

Umino Sasuke put down his teacup, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable sincerity: "Clan leader, you flatter me. Qingyin is my capable subordinate, and her family is my family. This child, Qiyue, is exceptionally talented; she is the future of the Kurama clan and a treasure of Konoha. Even if you hadn't said anything, I would have done my best to help her recover. As for the reward, let's not mention it again."

Upon hearing this, Chief Kurama was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He repeatedly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you so much, Squad Leader Unno! The Kurama clan will never forget your great kindness. If there is ever any need for us in the future, the entire Kurama clan will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

He had already made up his mind that as long as July could recover his health and show his talent, the Kurama clan would definitely prepare a great gift that was worthy of this immense favor!

Umino Sasuke exchanged pleasantries with the Kurama clan chief for a few more moments, learning about the current situation and predicament of the Kurama clan, before taking his leave.

Over the next two days, he, along with Umino Tetsuya, Umino Tobirama, and Umino Kokoro, visited the remaining major ninja clans of Konoha without stopping, including the Sarutobi, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Aburame clans. He even personally visited the Mitomon clan, which had completely declined and was almost disintegrated.

The scene was quite poignant when I visited the Mitomon family.

This family, which was once prominent because of Mitokado Yanagi, is now on the verge of extinction because of Mitokado Yanagi's scandal.

The arrival of Umino Sasuke was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for this family in turmoil. After making a deal with Mito Kadota, he immediately deterred those forces that were secretly coveting the last bit of the Mitokado family's inheritance and temporarily stabilized the situation.

Busy with visits during the day, Umino Sasuke devoted all his energy to organizing the gains from the Ido space at night. More accurately, he used the experience of fighting Ido to fully tackle the final hurdle of the Spirit Transformation Technique—the separation and return of the soul!

Idu's existence as a pure spiritual being greatly inspired him.

The most dangerous aspect of the art of spiritualization is that once the soul leaves the body, it is extremely easy to get lost in the endless void and be unable to return to the physical body.

After much deliberation, Sasuke Umino combined the Ido Space with his own understanding of Yin Release and finally devised a seemingly feasible insurance plan.

First, using the broken-seal Kusanagi sword as the core, a powerful sealing barrier is set up in the meditation room to prevent the soul from instantly escaping and not being able to find its way back to the body.

Secondly, light the precious soul-guiding incense traded from the mountain tribe. This incense has an extremely strong attraction and stabilizing effect on the soul, like a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding the departed soul in the direction of its return.

Finally, the Flying Thunder God Technique seal is inscribed on the body. This is the last resort. If the first two fail, it may be possible to forcibly pull the soul back to the body using space-time ninjutsu by relying on the Flying Thunder God Technique.

On the eve of the clan's founding ceremony, all was quiet.

Sasuke Umino sat cross-legged in a specially designed meditation room.

In a pool filled with emerald green Life Yang No. 1 primordial liquid, only his head was visible. Rich life energy enveloped his entire body, providing powerful vitality to nourish his soulless body and preventing it from stiffening in a state of apparent death.

"Hoo..." Sasuke Umino took a deep breath, cleared his mind of distractions, and began to carefully peel away his soul consciousness according to the secret method of the Spirit Transformation Technique.

The process was extremely difficult, as if peeling away a part of one's essence. However, with the experience of Yidu, a pure spiritual being, as a reference, after nearly half an hour of torment, a strange sense of peeling finally came.

hum~
Umino Sasuke felt a sudden lightness in his consciousness, as if he had broken free from heavy shackles and instantly escaped the constraints of his physical body!
However, the moment the soul leaves the body, a tremendous sense of emptiness and bewilderment sweeps over, and consciousness immediately becomes muddled, like a newborn infant in a daze.

The soul is instinctively drawn by some unknown force, unconsciously rising rapidly into the sky.

call out!
The soul was moving at an extremely fast speed, and it was about to pierce through the roof and fly into the unknown void.

boom!
An invisible barrier emitting a faint golden light instantly appeared, firmly blocking his soul.

The unsealing power contained within the barrier burned the soul like a branding iron, bringing a sharp, intense pain.

"Hiss—" The intense pain instantly brought a sliver of clarity back to Umino Sasuke's muddled consciousness.

Consciousness instinctively distanced itself from the barrier, like a headless fly, drifting aimlessly within the narrow barrier space, showing no intention of actively returning to its physical body.

Just then, in the center of the quiet room, the specially made soul-guiding incense burned spontaneously without wind, wisps of blue smoke rising and emitting a strange and pleasant fragrance that brought peace and comfort to the soul.

The aroma seemed to possess a magical power, instantly attracting the full "attention" of Umino Sasuke's soul.

The dazed and confused state was quickly relieved by the fragrance, and the soul, like a thirsty traveler rushing to a sweet spring, greedily absorbed the special energy emitted by the soul-guiding incense.

As he inhaled the fragrance, Sasuke Umino's soul became more solid and clear at a visible speed, and his consciousness became increasingly clear and stable.

However, a strange sense of satisfaction and inertia also arises.

He was intoxicated by the comfort of his soul being nourished and stabilized, instinctively resisting the thought of "returning" to that heavy physical body, and simply absorbing and refining the incense around him.

Time passed second by second, the incense gradually burned out, and the last wisp of smoke dissipated.

Without the nourishment of the fragrance, Sasuke Umino's soul form, though more than twice as solid and powerful as when it was separated from his body, had lost that sense of comfort, and his instinct to return to his physical form seemed to have weakened. He remained suspended within the barrier, his consciousness hazy, yet seemingly without purpose, merely "watching" his body below, immersed in the green liquid, as if looking at a shell unrelated to himself.

The room was deathly silent.

at this time.

The Flying Thunder God Technique mark etched on the chest of the body suddenly flashed with a bright light, and space began to distort slightly.

hum~
A powerful spatial suction force suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and Sasuke Umino's soul was instantly swallowed up by this force before it could even react!

The next moment, the soul was forcibly stuffed back into the body in the pool.

Almost at the same moment his soul returned to its place, countless jet-black, tadpole-like runes suddenly appeared on Umino Sasuke's body.

These runes spread and intertwined wildly, instantly forming a black sphere similar to the one on Danzo Shimura's body, but clearly incomplete—it was the incomplete version of the Four Symbols Seal!

The black sealing sphere fluctuated violently, sealing both the physical body and the soul completely.

However, it only lasted for a few minutes before the black sealing sphere, like a bubble that had reached its limit, completely collapsed and dissipated with a "pop".

Pfft!
Sasuke Umino suddenly sat up in the pool, coughing violently and gasping for breath. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his back was completely soaked and icy cold.

The dazed, disoriented feeling he experienced after his soul left his body, and the terrifying sensation of being forcibly pulled back, left him with lingering fear.

He was so close, so very close, that he might have been lost forever in the spiritual void, or dragged into the Pure Land of the Six Paths by some inexplicable attraction!

If it weren't for the barrier of the broken-sealed Kusanagi sword blocking the initial pull, the soul-guiding incense stabilizing the soul, the forced recall of the Flying Thunder God mark, and the trump card of the Four Symbols Seal, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
"That was so close!"

Sasuke Umino breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling the comfort of being enveloped in flesh and blood once again.

He clearly remembered that in the most confused moment when his soul left his body, he seemed to hear a deep call from a distant pure land. That attraction, which originated from the world's rules, was almost irresistible to one's own will if one had not taken multiple precautions in advance.

"However, we've finally overcome the toughest hurdle!"

A glint of light flashed in Sasuke Umino's eyes.

Having survived this near-death experience, the path for the soul to leave and return to the body has been opened. In the future, when cultivating the art of spiritualization, one only needs to follow the steps and gradually adapt to and strengthen the power of the soul, and the danger will be greatly reduced.

He dared not be negligent and immediately immersed himself in cultivation again, circulating his chakra and carefully comprehending the changes after his soul returned to its place, consolidating this hard-won achievement, while guiding the Life Yang No. 1 primordial liquid to repair some minor damage caused by the forced sealing earlier.

When Umino Sasuke finished his intensive training, solidified the foundation of his Spirit Transformation Technique, and slowly opened his eyes, it was already bright outside the window.

The Umino clan's territory was already brightly decorated and bustling with activity.

The grand day of the clan's founding ceremony has finally arrived.

The ancestral home of the Umino clan has now taken on a grand and solemn appearance.

The elegant bluish-gray basalt walls of the courtyard were carefully wiped clean, gleaming with a warm luster in the morning light. Every few steps along the walls hung flags bearing the emblem of the sea fish clan, with blue backgrounds and white patterns, fluttering in the wind.

In front of the gate, two majestic sea beast sculptures, carved from a single piece of Taihai stone, stand tall. What they hold in their mouths are not torches, but chakra energy storage engine balls that emit a deep blue light, which are both mysterious and profound.

A main path paved with smooth black reef rocks extends from the gate to the magnificent main hall deep within the clan's territory. On both sides of the path, there are bonsai plants with strange glowing corals or fluorescent aquatic plants planted in huge giant clam shells, emitting a faint, dreamlike glow.

The air was filled with the crisp scent of the sea breeze and the aroma of specially made incense that had a calming effect on the mind. It was not strong or pungent, but rather subtle and refreshing.

In the center of the plaza in front of the main hall, a small fountain gurgles and splashes, nourishing the rare water-attribute herbs that are specially cultivated below. Around it are tables and seats made of deep-sea driftwood, covered with smooth, water-like sharkskin carpets, exuding understated luxury.

The clan's territory was already bustling with activity, yet orderly.

People from the Haiye tribe, dressed in uniform dark blue outfits with wave patterns embroidered on their cuffs, mingled among the guests, guiding them and serving them delicacies from the deep sea and fine wines.

Representatives from various small and medium-sized ninja clans and merchant guilds in Konoha entered the plaza with amazement and awe on their faces. They were warmly and respectfully received by Umino Taro and Umino Ichigo. They chatted in hushed tones, their eyes lingering on the valuable decorations and treasures.

Amidst this bustling yet orderly atmosphere, Sasuke Umino's figure silently appeared near the main gate of the clan's territory.

He wore a dark blue patriarch's robe, dignified yet not old-fashioned, with intricate waves and runes embroidered in silver thread on the collar and cuffs, which further accentuated his upright posture and composed demeanor.

Outside the gate, traffic was heavy.

The ninja clans representing the top forces of Konoha arrived at that moment, instantly making the atmosphere even more solemn.

With a polite smile, Umino Sasuke was about to step forward to personally greet these distinguished guests.

However, the moment his gaze swept across the crowd, an unprecedented and strange sensation spread through his mind.

The initial mastery of the Spirit Transformation Technique brought not only a transformation at the soul level, but also activated a certain ability within him derived from the Nine-Tails, which stemmed from his dual cultivation of the chakra core.

A clear perception of "malice" suddenly became incredibly acute and concrete.

Before this, this perception was like looking at light and shadow through frosted glass—blurred and unclear.

At this moment, the barrier between spirit and flesh was broken down by the Spirit Transformation Technique, and the soul's perception, which was fused with the characteristics of the Nine-Tails' chakra, was suddenly enhanced.

He doesn't need to deliberately investigate; he can "see" the emotional color emanating from everyone in front of him. It's not about specific thoughts, but rather the intensity and tendency of "goodwill," "neutrality," or "malice" that he can emotionally perceive.

"This kind of perception doesn't add much to combat, but in this situation, it's practically a divine skill that can see into people's hearts!"

Sasuke Umino instantly understood, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Approaching us are representatives of the Ino-Shika-Cho tribal groups. Nara represents a calm and composed emotional state, seemingly undisturbed on the surface, but inwardly possessing a profound and cool-headed scrutiny. There is no explicit malice, but rather a wise person's neutral observation and weighing of options.

The emotions represented by the mountains are clearly those of appreciation and exploration, with a strong sense of interest and goodwill.

Akimichi represents the most "simple" yet passionate emotions, conveying a pure and intense affection. I wonder if this foodie was influenced by the Umino clan's cuisine, or if it stems from genuine goodwill.

Sasuke Umino greeted the three with a smile, responding precisely to their different emotional inclinations. His words were both authoritative as the head of the clan and remarkably sincere and harmonious.

Following closely behind, representatives from almost every well-known ninja clan in Konoha arrived one after another, forming a powerful torrent of aura.

Hyuga Muneyoshi, the clan head, personally led his brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi, maintaining a calm and composed facade as a major clan. However, Umino Sasuke clearly sensed the intense apprehension hidden beneath the surface.

The Uchiha clan leader, Hikaru, was accompanied by Uchiha Fugaku. At his core was a deep-rooted sense of pride and superiority, but Uchiha Hikaru had no ill intentions and even showed strong admiration.

On the other hand, Fugaku Uchiha was filled with deep malice. He regarded Sasuke Unno as his father's killer. Of course, it was also possible that Sasuke Unno had cheated on him, otherwise the malice would not have been so intense.

(End of this chapter)