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

Chapter 343 Space Jump
No wonder the daimyo of the three kingdoms of fire, thunder, and water reached a rare consensus.

They are joining forces to remove the Land of Whirlpools, a thorn in their side, and maintain their "unbroken imperial line" rule.

How should I choose?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was struggling intensely with his emotions.

The Land of Whirlpools is an important ally of Konoha, with deep blood ties and historical connections. Abandoning an ally and watching it perish would not only be a betrayal of faith, but would also severely damage Konoha's reputation and its standing among the ninja clans.

However, if they refuse, as Gabino said, Konoha may be besieged by the four great ninja villages!
More importantly, the enormous temptation to end the war was right in front of them.

Is it worth dragging the entire Hidden Leaf Village into an abyss of no return for the sake of the Land of Whirlpools? Is it worth sacrificing countless Hidden Leaf ninjas in vain?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers dug deeply into his palms, his expression shifting rapidly. He took a deep breath and said in a dry voice, "This matter is of great importance, and I need time to consider it."

Gabino watched Hiruzen Sarutobi struggle and suffer, a barely perceptible smug smile playing on his lips. He knew that the bait he had thrown out had struck the opponent's weak spot.

Inside the interrogation room of the Hokage Building, the air seemed to freeze.

Looking at Gabino's confident and smiling face, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a surge of conflicting emotions.

The temptation to sacrifice the Land of Whirlpools in exchange for an anti-Iwato alliance agreement, or even a ceasefire and victory, is simply too great!

If he nods, the ninja war that has lasted for years and caused Konoha to bleed will end in his hands, and he will become the hero Hokage who turns the tide and brings peace!

The Sarutobi clan's position will be further secured, and the support from the Fire Country's daimyo will be even stronger...

As for the Land of Whirlpools, an island nation far overseas ruled by ninja clans, was its destruction really worth Konoha sacrificing so much for?

Lady Mito Uzumaki has passed away, and the Senju clan has merged into Konoha. That ancient alliance isn't that reliable anymore, is it?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, tempted by immense gains and yearning for an end to the war, had quietly tipped to the other side of the scales.

But he needs a way out, a reason that he has to make this painful decision "out of necessity" and "for the sake of Konoha's overall situation"!
He needs someone to offer him this "wise" advice, and perhaps even someone who can share the blame for him in the future.

He subconsciously looked at Xiaochun, who was sitting next to him. This old partner had always been his most steadfast supporter and a capable assistant who had handled many "inconvenient things" for him.

"Koharu, what do you think about this matter..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of weariness and inquiry.

However, Koharu's reaction to the dorm was beyond his expectations.

Her eyes no longer held the submissiveness and tacit understanding of the past, but instead carried a clear understanding of the world and a faint detachment. Mitokado Homura's fate was like a bucket of cold water waking her up.

"Hiruzen!" Koharu Utatane's voice was calm and clear. "The Land of Whirlpools is an ally personally forged by the First Hokage. It is the maternal clan of Mito-senpai. They have provided Konoha with powerful sealing techniques for generations. It is also the hometown of Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. This alliance is of great importance. How can we betray it because of a few threatening words from the enemy?"

She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping over Gabino, her tone turning firm: "As for Gabino's claim of being besieged by the four great ninja villages? Hmph, Sunagakure has already been severely damaged by Konoha, its vitality greatly diminished, and now it's merely clinging to life!"

The Hidden Stone Village fought a fierce and evenly matched battle with the Hidden Cloud Village on the battlefield of the Land of Frost, suffering heavy casualties. They were nothing more than grasshoppers in autumn!

As for Kirigakure, Sasuke Umino nearly crippled their Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the battle in the Land of Rivers, and even destroyed a significant portion of the village with his Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags trap. It's said that even the Hozuki clan, Kirigakure's most powerful family, was almost wiped out. This resulted in an imbalance of power within Kirigakure, constant internal conflicts, and the village being too preoccupied with its own survival to have any resources left to start another war.

Her analysis was clear and concise, hitting the nail on the head and instantly shattering the terrifying prospect Gabino had painted.

"Although Konoha fought on two fronts in this ninja war, we have achieved great results, especially with Sasuke Umino's outstanding achievements. Konoha has gained a decisive advantage! As long as we hold on, victory will surely belong to Konoha! And it will be a fair and square victory. Isn't that more worth pursuing than peace obtained by sacrificing allies?"

Koharu's last words were resounding, as if carrying a certain question.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression stiffened slightly.

He hadn't expected that Koharu Utatane would not only not go along with the tide, but would also so clearly oppose it, even bringing up the First Hokage and Mito Uzumaki, and emphasizing Sasuke Umino's achievements. This made his eagerness to end the war and solidify his position as Hokage feel like a bucket of cold water had been poured on him.

At the same time, an unnamed fire ignited within him, fueled by both fear of Umino Sasuke's dazzling achievements and displeasure at being refuted.

A fleeting hint of disappointment and frustration crossed his eyes, but his expression remained grave: “What you said makes sense; this matter does indeed require careful consideration.”

Koharu Utatane, seeing that her goal had been achieved, immediately bowed and said, "Hiruzen, the medical department still has a lot of things to deal with tomorrow. I'm getting old and my energy is waning, so I'll take my leave to rest first."

She gave Hiruzen Sarutobi no further chance to talk and decisively withdrew.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Koharu Utatane's departing figure with a furrowed brow. It seemed that the blame and the suggestion would have to be shifted to someone else.

Unfortunately, Danzo wasn't in Konoha, which allowed him to escape being blamed again.

……

No sleep for one night.

The next morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage Building with faint dark circles under his eyes. He had barely sat down when there was a knock on his office door.

"Lord Hokage!"

A vibrant voice came through.

Minato Namikaze, Koko Umino, and Tobirama Umino stood at the door, looking quite energetic.

The three of them had bright, expectant eyes; clearly, they had come to receive their rewards and choose ninjutsu from the Book of Sealing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi instantly adopted the face of a kind elder, his gloom vanished, and his smile was as warm as the rising sun.

"Oh? It's Minato, Kaoru, and Tobirama! Come in, come in! You're here so early, you're such diligent kids. Did you sleep well last night? How are your injuries healing?"

He greeted us warmly and got up himself, as if the ordeal of the previous night had never happened.

"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama! We are recovering very well!" the three replied in unison, feeling flattered by the Hokage's concern.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded, then took out two ancient-looking scrolls, which were rubbings of the Book of Seals.

"Here you are, this is your well-deserved reward! Tobirama, Kaoru, you can choose one ninjutsu from the A-rank scroll. Minato, choose one from the S-rank scroll!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was full of encouragement and praise, "Choose carefully, these are the treasures of the village, I hope you can carry them forward!"

Tobirama Umino and Koko Umino exchanged a glance, and without the slightest hesitation, they quickly found their target on the A-rank scroll following their second brother's instructions.

"Lord Hokage, I choose 'Ninja Art: Needle Jizo'!" Tobirama Unno declared loudly.

"I choose 'Lion's Mane Technique'!" Umino Koko followed closely behind.

A knowing glint flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes; it seemed that Sasuke Umino had already given him some pointers.

He smiled and nodded: "A good choice! Jiraiya has improved it a lot, making it a perfect combination of offense and defense, and its power is quite impressive!"

When it was Minato Namikaze's turn, his gaze swept over the names that exuded a dangerous aura, and finally, his gaze firmly settled on one of them.

"Hokage-sama!" Minato Namikaze's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement and longing, "I choose the 'Flying Thunder God Technique'!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised by this choice. The Flying Thunder God Technique, an S-rank forbidden space-time technique created by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, was renowned throughout the ninja world, but its difficulty in mastering it was insane. It demanded an extremely high level of spatial perception, chakra control, and nerve reaction speed from the user. Since the Second Hokage, only Sasuke Umino had truly mastered its essence, and even he himself could only sigh in admiration.

"Oh? The Flying Thunder God Technique?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Minato Namikaze meaningfully. "This is a forbidden technique that the Second Hokage was very proud of. It is extremely difficult to master and has a very high risk factor. Are you sure you want to choose it?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Minato Namikaze's eyes were incredibly firm, his golden hair seemingly glowing in the morning light. "I believe this technique will allow me to better protect my comrades!"

"Good! That's ambitious!" Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily and readily handed over the rubbing of the Flying Thunder God Technique training scroll to Minato Namikaze.

At the same time, he took out three brand-new appointment letters: "In recognition of your bravery last night and your future potential, I hereby promote the three of you to Chunin! From this day forward, you are officially the backbone of Konoha!"

"A Chunin?!" Tobirama Umino exclaimed in surprise.

Umino Koko also showed a happy smile.

Minato Namikaze bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Hokage-sama!"

As the three young geniuses left the Hokage's office with scrolls and appointment letters, filled with gratitude and excitement, Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile gradually faded, replaced by a deep expression.

As he watched their youthful figures receding into the distance, especially Minato Namikaze's dazzling blond hair, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

"A young genius? A Chunin? On the battlefield?" Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, a thought immediately flashing in his eyes.

He waved his hand towards the void, summoned a trusted undercover agent, whispered a few instructions, and a plan quietly took shape.

……

Haiye clan land, martial arts field.

Minato Namikaze almost couldn't wait to come here with the Umino siblings. He knew that in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, the only person who had mastered and was proficient in the Flying Thunder God Technique was the unfathomable Lord Umino before him!

"Lord Unno!" Minato Namikaze bowed respectfully, presenting the scroll of the Flying Thunder God Technique with both hands, his eyes filled with pure thirst for knowledge and a hint of barely perceptible admiration. "I have chosen the Flying Thunder God Technique, and I humbly request your guidance!"

Looking at the blond boy with shining eyes before him, Umino Sasuke felt a jolt in his heart. The yellow flash of the future had finally embarked on the path destined for him.

He took the scroll, flipped through it casually, and nodded: "Good eye. However, this technique is profound and obscure, requiring extremely high spatial talent. Since you have chosen it, I will give you some pointers."

As soon as he finished speaking, two shadow clones appeared in the arena.

"Tobirama, Kaoru, come here too." Sasuke Umino's true form said to his younger siblings, "The Needle Jizo and the Lion's Mane Technique, although only A-rank, are incredibly powerful when used effectively. Combined with our Umino clan's Black Rope Secret Technique, their power should not be underestimated."

A shadow clone of Umino Sasuke approached the Umino siblings. Instead of explaining the ninjutsu directly, he extended his hand and said, "Let me see the scroll."

Tobirama Umino and Koko Umino immediately handed it over. Sasuke Umino's shadow clone quickly glanced at it, a knowing smile appearing on his lips.

"Jiraiya's signature move is the Needle Jizo and the Lion's Mane Technique."

The shadow clone pondered for a moment and commented, "Essentially, it is the ultimate shaping and manipulation of hair and body tissues by Yang Release chakra. In terms of Yang Release mastery, I have quite a bit of experience in this area."

The shadow clone casually formed a few hand seals, without even deliberately mobilizing a large amount of chakra, and the few strands of hair on his head instantly grew wildly and hardened as if they had a life of their own!
In the blink of an eye, those strands of hair intertwined to form a shield covered with sharp barbs, gleaming with a metallic luster; the Ninja Art: Needle Jizo had taken shape.

Immediately afterwards, the shield disintegrated and transformed into dozens of slender, tough, and flexible "hair whips," which danced nimbly in the air and could even simulate the binding and entanglement effect of the black rope manipulation. It was clearly an attempt to combine the Chaotic Lion's Hair technique with the black rope.

The Haiye siblings were dumbfounded. They had just obtained the scroll and hadn't even fully grasped its principles yet, but their second brother had casually demonstrated the essence of it, making it even more exquisite and fluid than described on the scroll!

“The essence of Yang Release lies in giving matter ‘life’,” Sasuke Umino’s shadow clone explained calmly. “Your Black Rope Secret Technique is based on the binding and toughness of chakra threads, while Needle Jizo and Lion’s Mane Technique are Yang Release techniques that give your organization powerful physical defense, attack, and shaping abilities. The two may seem different, but they have something in common in terms of the precision required for chakra control and shaping.”

He pointed at Umino Koko: "Koko, your Black Rope Technique and monstrous strength both require strong physical energy to support them. Your Yang Release foundation is actually quite good. The key to practicing the Lion's Mane Technique is to evenly and steadily inject Yang Release chakra into your hair, making it as easy as using your own arm, allowing you to attack and defend at will. Imagine your hair is an extension of the Black Rope, but it is stronger and more flexible than the Black Rope!"

Then, he looked at Tobirama Umino: "Tobirama, your Water Candy Secret Technique focuses on transformation and defense, while Needle Jizo is for instantaneous defense and counterattack. When practicing, you need to feel the sensation of instantly compressing and shaping Yang Release chakra into a sharp needle, just like instantly condensing water candy into a needle. This requires extremely strong instantaneous bursts of power and control..."

The Umino siblings nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with understanding and excitement. With their second brother's clear and concise explanation and demonstration, they felt that the door to these two A-rank ninjutsu had been opened to them!
Meanwhile, another shadow clone of Umino Sasuke was facing Minato Namikaze.

The shadow clone slowly unfurled the scroll, his voice tinged with reminiscence and solemnity, "The core of this technique lies not in the establishment, perception, or instantaneous teleportation of 'spatial coordinates,' but in the ninja's own spatial talent. However, I have already detected that you are a genius with one in ten thousand spatial talents!"

"Huh? Really?" Minato Namikaze pointed shyly at himself.

The shadow clone nodded affirmatively and then proceeded with the instruction.

He stretched out his right hand, palm facing up, and a wisp of pure chakra condensed, instantly forming an extremely small Flying Thunder God Talisman mark that emitted stable spatial fluctuations!

“First, the talisman mark.” Sasuke Umino showed the talisman to Minato Namikaze. “It must be stable and concealed enough to exist on objects or even spatial nodes for a long time. The output of chakra must be extremely precise and constant. If it is too much, it will be conspicuous and easily destroyed; if it is too little, it will not be able to maintain the stability of the coordinates. Try it. Concentrate your chakra and imitate this form.”

Minato Namikaze held his breath, staring intently at the talisman mark. Data seemed to be flashing rapidly in his azure eyes. He stretched out his palm and carefully mobilized his chakra.

Fortunately, he learned a lot of sealing techniques from Kushina Uzumaki, which gave him a foundation in sealing techniques.

The first attempt failed; the talisman flashed a few times before dissipating. The second attempt was distorted and erratic. But the third attempt... the rudimentary talisman he condensed in his palm had already shown some stability and charm.

A genuine look of surprise flashed in Sasuke Umino's eyes. This learning speed was simply inhuman!

He relied on the inheritance of the second generation and his own little bit of spatial talent to slowly figure it out.

"Excellent! Your spatial perception talent is truly astonishing!"

Sasuke Umino praised without reservation, "Next, it's about perception and locking. Close your eyes and use your chakra seal to cover the coordinates of the technique I left on this kunai."

He planted the kunai, engraved with the Flying Thunder God Technique, on a wooden stake a dozen meters away.

Minato Namikaze closed his eyes as instructed. His perception was already exceptional, and at this moment he concentrated his mind to the extreme.

A few seconds later, he suddenly opened his eyes and pointed to the wooden stake: "There it is! It's a bit blurry!"

"The third step, which is also the most important and the most dangerous step, is spatial teleportation."

Sasuke Umino's expression turned serious. "This requires you to precisely calculate the spatial structure around the coordinates, instantly resonate your chakra with the coordinates, tear apart the spatial barrier, and complete the instantaneous displacement. This process is a huge test of chakra control, physical strength, and mental power. The slightest mistake could result in getting lost in the spatial crevices, or even having your body torn apart by the power of space!"

Umino Sasuke picked up another kunai and threw it at the wooden stake: "Watch closely."

With extremely subtle spatial ripples, he instantly appeared unharmed beside the wooden stake.

"This is the short-range teleportation application of the Flying Thunder God Technique. Now, feel the spatial fluctuations left behind when I moved, and try to understand the feeling of 'resonance' and 'leap'." Minato Namikaze closed his eyes again. His superhuman perception and neural reflexes allowed him to keenly capture the faint but unique spatial ripples remaining in the void.

His brain was working at lightning speed, like a supercomputer, analyzing the patterns and rhythms within.

After a long while, he opened his eyes, which gleamed with eager anticipation. He picked up a specially made kunai with the markings already erased and tried to inscribe the Flying Thunder God coordinates on it. Although it was not as perfect as Umino Sasuke's, it had already taken shape.

The atmosphere inside the Umino tribe's training ground was tense.

The Flying Thunder God coordinate mark formed by chakra in Minato Namikaze's palm, though still somewhat immature with rounded edges and a slightly rough outline of the core runes, already possessed a nascent charm in its form and structure.

More importantly, the mark emitted a faint yet clear spatial fluctuation.

"How is this possible?!" Tobirama Umino's eyes widened, and his jaw almost dropped.

He was just feeling smug about successfully condensing a few chakra needles when he turned around and saw that Minato Namikaze had already reached the threshold of an S-rank forbidden technique. The sense of defeat came so quickly.

Umino Koko stopped using the black ropes of the Lion's Mane Technique. Her rosy lips parted slightly, and her icy blue eyes were filled with disbelief and shock: "Minato, you've already completed the initial formation of the mark? My third brother and I haven't even gotten started yet!"

She was well aware of the terrifying difficulty of the Flying Thunder God Technique; her second brother had emphasized countless times its demanding requirements for spatial talent.

Minato Namikaze himself seemed somewhat surprised. He looked at the faintly glowing mark in his palm, sensing the subtle connection between it and the Flying Thunder God Technique seal left on the distant wooden stake, and an excited look of an explorer appeared on his face.

"Lord Umino, I can feel it! It's still blurry, but it's definitely there! Can I try to move over there?"

The youth's impulses and thirst for power were almost bursting forth.

"Absolutely not!" Sasuke Umino's voice was firm and resolute, carrying an unprecedented severity that instantly extinguished Minato Namikaze's impulse.

He stepped forward, and the invisible pressure made the air freeze.

"Minato, remember my words!"

Sasuke Umino stared directly into Minato Namikaze's azure eyes, his tone as heavy as a rock, "The Flying Thunder God Technique, its 'spatial leap' step, is a true matter of life and death! The power of space is violent and unpredictable, no child's play. The first attempt at spatial leap will inevitably fail! The only difference lies in the consequences of failure—whether you are lost in the endless void, or torn to shreds instantly by the violent spatial turbulence!"

He looked at Minato's face, which had turned pale instantly, and softened his tone, but his words remained firm: "Your current perception of coordinates is merely 'knowing' that it's there; it's far from 'clearly locking onto' it. You need to continue practicing until, when you close your eyes, that coordinate is as clear and stable in your perception as a lighthouse in the dark, and you can lock onto it instantly no matter how far away it is or how strong the external interference is! This requires a massive amount of practice and the ultimate refinement of your spatial perception."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, everyone's spatial affinity is different. What I'm giving you is the basic mark template created by the Second Hokage. You need to understand it, and then find the 'unique mark' that best suits your own chakra characteristics and spatial perception frequency. This is not something that can be accomplished overnight."

Sasuke Umino pointed to the nascent mark on Minato's palm: "What you've condensed now is only similar in form, lacking in spirit, and it's not unique to you. Forcing it to perform a spatial jump is tantamount to suicide."

Seeing the unwillingness and urgency flashing in Minato's eyes, Umino Sasuke changed the subject: "However, there is a gradual approach: the first step is to improve your perception of coordinates to the extreme."

The second step is to try to improve and solidify your own Flying Thunder God mark.

The third step, and currently the only safe way for you to experience the sensation of 'space jump', is reverse psychic manipulation!

"Reverse Summoning Technique?" Minato Namikaze and the Umino siblings, who were listening intently, were both stunned.

“That’s right.” Sasuke Umino nodded and smiled. “The Reverse Summoning Technique is essentially a kind of summoning that transcends space. Although it relies on a powerful group of summoning beasts to provide stable spatial coordinates and traction, and the risk is far lower than the Flying Thunder God Technique which tears space on its own, the process still allows you to experience the instantaneous displacement, weightlessness, and even slight tearing sensation brought about by spatial transfer in advance.”

This experience is crucial for your future adaptation to the Flying Thunder God's space jump.

You made a pact with the toad clan of Mount Myoboku, didn't you?
Try summoning a toad, then ask it to perform reverse psychic abilities on you. After each session, calmly experience all the subtle sensations brought about by the spatial transfer, adapt to it, and understand it!
Once you are no longer unfamiliar with spatial teleportation, and have successfully created a unique and sufficiently stable Flying Thunder God Mark...

Then, Sasuke Umino's tone became serious again: "You absolutely cannot use your real body for the first space jump attempt; you must use a shadow clone! Although a shadow clone will also suffer the immense pain and even mental shock of failure, at least it can save your life and give you a chance to analyze the reasons for the failure."

Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, the impulsiveness in his eyes completely subsided, replaced by utmost solemnity: "I understand, Lord Unno! Thank you for your guidance! I will keep it in mind and never act rashly!"

He knew that this was a safe path that Umino Sasuke had paved for him with his experience.

Sasuke Umino nodded in satisfaction, leaving two shadow clones to continue guiding the three children in their training, while his main body silently formed a hand seal.

hum!
Subtle ripples spread through the space, and Umino Sasuke's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

It appeared in Laboratory Zero, underground in the Land of Waves.

He first quickly surveyed the core area of ​​the underground laboratory. Inside the huge culture tank, nearly a hundred "embryos" immersed in a light green nutrient solution were developing at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.

On the giant biological computer screen next to it, a waterfall of data cascaded down, with various physiological indicators, cell division rate, and gene sequence stability being monitored in real time.

After confirming that the laboratory was operating normally, he no longer hesitated, walked into the cultivation chamber, and took out the chakra core that emitted a warm light but also faintly revealed violent energy.

"Samebas!"

At the summons, Samehada reappeared, excitedly circling around Umino Sasuke, the barbs on its blade opening and closing slightly, emitting a yearning hiss.

“Let’s begin. Feed it last night’s ‘feast’!” Umino Sasuke placed the chakra core in his palm.

"Gurgle!" Samehada let out a joyful low groan, and its massive body immediately coiled around it, as if embracing a priceless treasure.

Its body surface opens up countless tiny mouthparts, and pure, violent, scarlet chakra containing a vast will of hatred flows out like a burst dam, continuously being poured into the chakra core.

Om-!
The chakra core instantly burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light, no longer as smooth and warm as jade, but becoming like a red-hot iron, radiating astonishing heat and energy fluctuations!
The temperature in the entire cultivation chamber suddenly rose, and the air became distorted due to the high concentration of energy.

Without the slightest hesitation, Umino Sasuke immediately sat down cross-legged and formed a mysterious hand seal.

"Dual Cultivation Secret Technique: Yin and Yang in Harmony!"

However, this time the dual cultivation was completely different from the past!

In the past, food was used as fuel to slowly drive the evolution of the chakra core, while nourishing the user's ice release. Although the efficiency was stable, it was like a trickle.

At this moment, the purest Nine-Tails chakra is being injected!

The Nine-Tails' chakra is a product of the high fusion of Yin and Yang Release, and its energy levels and balance are far beyond those of ordinary food!
When this powerful, pure torrent of Nine-Tails chakra, imbued with the yin-yang balance, surged into the chakra core, and converged with Umino Sasuke's own Ice Release power and the life energy in Hashirama's cells...

hum~
An indescribable surge of energy instantly connected Umino Sasuke, Samehada, and the chakra core, forming a perfect and violent energy cycle!

Sasuke Umino's body seemed to have become a huge energy furnace, producing purer and more powerful new energy with each cycle, which was greedily absorbed by the chakra core!

Inside the chakra core, the energy that was already close to saturation was violently stimulated by the Nine-Tails chakra, a "powerful catalyst," and began an unprecedented geometric progression and qualitative change!

At its core, a more complex runic structure is faintly condensing and reorganizing in the energy tide, emanating a chilling pressure.

Sasuke Umino could clearly feel that his life force was becoming more powerful and pure at an alarming rate, and the limits of his Ice Release bloodline limit were also loosening. His understanding of the nature of Ice Release was as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun!

The shape of Samehada is also undergoing subtle changes. The blade is thicker and heavier, and the tips of the barbs faintly gleam with a dark golden luster. Its aura has become more ferocious and ancient.

However, extreme improvement also brings extreme danger!
The chakra core's light grew brighter and its temperature rose higher and higher. The sealing runes that appeared on its surface were now like red-hot wire mesh, emitting a hissing sound under the impact of the violent energy. The light flickered and flashed violently!

Inside the outer core, the wildly proliferating energy began to become extremely unstable, like a star core compressed to its limit, violently surging left and right, trying to break free from the binding of the sealing runes!

The entire sealed room was trembling slightly, the alarm lights were flashing wildly, and the ear-piercing buzzing sound echoed throughout the underground space!
"Oh no! I've reached my limit!" Sasuke Umino's alarm bells rang in his mind. He suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of helplessness and disappointment flashing in them.

He immediately and forcefully interrupted the energy circulation, his hands rapidly changing hand seals, and he uttered a low shout: "Seal!"

hum~
The sealing array surrounding the chakra core shone brightly, forcefully suppressing the surging energy that was about to go berserk.

Samehada reluctantly loosened its grip, and the dark red luster on the blade slowly receded.

As the light and heat gradually faded, the chakra core returned to its warm and smooth appearance. However, the terrifying energy contained within, as well as the burn marks and fine cracks remaining on the sealing runes on its surface, silently told us that it was on the verge of collapse.

Looking at the outer core that had returned to calm, Umino Sasuke frowned: "The energy level and proliferation rate have exceeded the limits of the existing sealing technique. Forcing an upgrade will only cause it to completely lose control, or have its core structure shattered by the violent energy, resulting in failure."

He picked up the still-hot chakra core, feeling the dormant power within it like a sleeping volcano, and his eyes became incredibly sharp: "It seems that I must obtain the most core sealing inheritance of the Uzumaki clan as soon as possible. Only the Uzumaki secret sealing technique can completely stabilize and control this 'external core treasure'!"

Just as Umino Sasuke was plotting how to obtain a more powerful sealing technique from the Uzumaki clan.

Far away in Konoha, a meticulously planned storm of "public opinion" is sweeping through the Hokage Building.

The atmosphere in front of the Hokage Building was unusually heavy.

Nearly a hundred students, carefully selected from the ninja academy, gathered here in a dark mass, led by several sorrowful old teachers. They were of varying ages, the youngest being only six or seven years old, and the oldest not even ten. Their tender faces were filled with a heaviness and fear that did not match their age.

At the front of the procession, several elderly people with gray hair, dressed in old-fashioned teacher's uniforms, held up a huge scroll portrait—the person in the painting was none other than the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, with a gentle smile on his face and his arms outstretched, as if embracing peace.

Below the portrait, in striking red letters, are the First Hokage's famous quote: "Konoha was founded so that children could laugh in the sunshine, not cry on the battlefield!"

At this moment, the Ninja Academy's Vice Principal Sarutobi was in tears, his voice hoarse and filled with grief and indignation. His voice, amplified by his ninja tool, echoed throughout the entire square, even attracting more and more villagers to watch: "Hokage-sama! Look at these children!"

His trembling fingers pointed to the young, yet fearful, faces behind him.

"They should be learning in the classroom and running and playing on the playground! But what about now? The Ninja War has been going on for far too long! How many batches of students from our Ninja Academy have graduated early? Many of those children are only seven or eight years old! They haven't even mastered the Three Body Techniques before being sent to the bloody battlefield!"

The old teacher's voice was filled with tearful accusation: "And the result? The result was enormous casualties! Immense sacrifices! So many families shattered, so many parents burying their children. Just yesterday, among the tenth batch of early graduates I personally sent off, seven more children's names were engraved on the memorial stone! They were not even ten years old! Hokage, was the First Hokage's original intention in establishing the village to send our children to the battlefield like expendable fodder?!"

His words resonated strongly with many students at the ninja academy. Many of them thought of their sacrificed older brothers and the older brothers and sisters next door, which immediately overshadowed their desire to become ninjas, and they couldn't help but sob softly.

The villagers watching were also discussing it animatedly, their faces filled with grief and disgust for the war.

"Yes, the war has been going on for too long!"

“My neighbor’s son was in the last batch of students who graduated early. I heard he went to the Land of Waterfalls and never came back.”

"How heartbroken the First Lord would be if he knew that his children were going to war like this!"

"We want peace! Let the children go home!"

The crowd was filled with anger and grief, and calls to end the war and keep children away from the battlefield grew louder.

Just then, the doors of the Hokage Building opened.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in the Hokage robes, emerged, escorted by a group of Anbu guards.

His face was etched with deep weariness and solemnity, as if he hadn't slept all night.

Seeing the dense crowd in the square, especially the crying children and the indignant teachers, his eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions: heartache, self-blame, and a heavy heart.

He didn't speak immediately, but silently walked up to the vice principal of the Ninja Academy, Sarutobi, and accepted the huge portrait of the First Hokage with both hands.

He stared at the face of Hashirama Senju in the portrait, his fingers trembling slightly, as if he were bearing immense guilt.

The square gradually quieted down, and everyone's eyes were focused on the Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, raised his head, and swept his gaze across the crowd. His voice was low and powerful, carrying the weight of a difficult decision driven by public opinion:
"Teachers! Children! Villagers of Konoha!"

His voice, amplified by his ninja device, reached everyone's ears clearly: "Your voices, your tears, your pain... I heard them! I felt them! I share this heart-wrenching pain!"

He raised the portrait of the First Hokage high in his hand, his voice suddenly rising with an undeniable determination: "The First Hokage's original intention in establishing Konoha was to protect peace and our next generation! To keep children away from the flames of war and allow them to grow up in peace!"
This is the foundation of Konoha, the legacy of the Will of Fire!

This war has lasted too long and has cost too many innocent lives, especially our young flowers!

This goes against the First Hokage's will! It also goes against the beliefs of all Konoha ninja!

Then, he abruptly put the portrait down, straightened his back, and his voice, like a booming bell, resounded throughout the square:

"I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the name of the Third Hokage, hereby solemnly promise! We will spare no effort to end this war as quickly as possible! And, as victors, we will seek justice for our fallen comrades and win true and lasting peace for Konoha!"

Let the smiles return to the children's faces! This is my vow, and the will of Konoha!

Konoha will prevail! May peace reign forever!

He finally raised his arms and shouted.

After a brief silence, deafening cheers erupted in the square!
The students of the ninja academy burst into laughter through their tears, the elderly teachers wiped away their tears with emotion, and the villagers applauded and cheered.

"Long live Hokage-sama!"

"End the war! Let the children come home!"

"Konoha will win!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in the center of the cheering crowd, his face showing a compassionate yet resolute expression, accepting the people's support.

His peripheral vision swept across the crowd, a fleeting hint of satisfaction and calculation flashing in the depths of his eyes.

This peace declaration, "driven by public opinion," perfectly transformed pressure into support and laid a solid moral foundation for subsequent decisions.

(End of this chapter)