In Konoha: I will spread the will of conquest throughout the ninja world.

"White Teeth!"

With a roar, lava rained down from the sky.

The immense and dangerous heat distorted the air, seemingly scalding Minato Namikaze's skin from a considerable distance.

Well, he was kicked out because he wanted to stay based on his abilities.

Although he knew that everyone was protecting and caring for him, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when he saw Yu Ge, who was a year younger than him, standing there fighting alongside Bai Ya and the others.

"I thought that after training with Jiraiya-sensei, I could widen the gap a bit," Minato Namikaze said with a wry smile.

It wasn't that he was jealous of his brother driving a Land Rover, but the fact that Isogen had made such great progress while staying in Konoha, even leaving him far behind, made him doubt his own talent.

"Am I really the genius that Jiraiya-sensei was talking about?"

Is Old Deng trying to fool me? By the way, where is Jiraiya-sensei lately? Even the Hokage himself is vague about it.

Boom!!

The massive ninjutsu strikes the ground, creating a deafening rumble that travels for miles, causing the ground to tremble and waves of heat to roll in.

After the dust stirred up by the lava subsided, the fifty strings of Yuge clearly revealed Lao Zi's appearance.

His appearance was almost identical to what he remembered, the only difference being his age.

In the original story, when Roshi died after his tailed beast was extracted, he had already served as a Jinchuriki for forty years. Now, he is still young, but he is already a Kage-level powerhouse. He also briefly played a role in the Second Shinobi World War.

But this was the first time he had faced off against Sakumo Hatake, the famous White Fang of Konoha.

Once they met, there was no waste of words; they unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu, swordsmanship, illusion techniques, and taijutsu upon each other.

"Illusion!" Uchiha Itsukushima's eyes widened.

Old Purple was prepared, and his tailed beast chakra surged as he forcefully broke through.

Almost all genjutsu can be countered by disrupting chakra, and Jinchuriki are uniquely gifted in this regard.

However, this is on the premise that the Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beast have a good relationship. Otherwise, if the sealed Tailed Beast has a rare chance to be released, it's one thing if it doesn't cause trouble. Although the Tailed Beast will die when the Jinchuriki dies, for a Tailed Beast that can be resurrected, it can simply return in ten or twenty years and be a good beast again.

Despite the fierce battle, Lao Zi's brows were furrowed.

It missed.

Although his attacks had a wide range and looked intimidating, they were always dodged.

It's understandable if it happens once or twice; the ninjas who can get to this battlefield are all capable. But if it happens every time, it's impossible for all of them to have mastered reconnaissance ninjutsu.

Although reaching the Jonin level means there are no real weaknesses, people are not machines and will inevitably have biases.

While Konoha's White Fang's swordsmanship was superb and renowned throughout the ninja world, his Five Elements Release techniques were equally impressive. Just now, he used Water Release ninjutsu to forcefully counter his Lava Release. It's not surprising that he has made some progress in reconnaissance ninjutsu on this basis, but not everyone is that powerful, right?

"It's that brat."

He noticed Yu Ge, who was always on the periphery of the battlefield, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

Konoha's genius, since we've run into him, let's take him down!

While seemingly lost in thought, Isogen had actually been keeping full map view open, allowing him to see everything Old Purple was doing.

Roshi is a ninjutsu-based turret-type ninja, and his taijutsu is equally strong. Even if he can't win a fight against a group of people, he can easily retreat.

"Be careful!"

Suddenly, a warning rang out. Looking over, they saw Old Purple, clad in Lava Release armor, charging fiercely towards Isogen despite several ninjutsu attacks!

Just as Sakumo Hatake was about to stop him, he saw Igorōgen already rushing forward on his own.

Wow, he's so brave.

Ishigaki was impressed by Old Purple's actions.

To be honest, he truly lives up to his reputation as the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails. His fiery temper is formidable. Even with the infamous Sakumo Hatake and the White Fang of Konoha right next to him, he still dared to risk being pierced by a sword and charge over.

Wuxian selectively forgets that even judging from his appearance, he is around ten years old.

Old Purple is currently in his prime. Although he has a strained relationship with Onoki, his love for the village is genuine. It's not surprising that he would do something after seeing the village's ninjas die tragically and failing to defeat Hatake Sakumo and the others in a short time, and then seeing this genius.

But the trip was quite nice.

Isogen slowly raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and gathered chakra.

Old Purple, clad in Lava Release armor, had already rushed up to them.

At the critical moment, Isogen threw this seemingly ordinary punch.

Old Zi's face contorted with rage, eager to see the little devil's soul scattered after his attack.

Two fists, one big and one small, collided, and the next second...

Boom!!

The violent explosion reverberated through the forest, engulfing an area of ​​300 meters around the two individuals! Dust and smoke filled the air, and debris flew everywhere.

A figure flew out horizontally.

It's Lao Zi!

"How is that possible!"

The ferocity on Lao Zi's face was replaced by astonishment.

His Lava Release armor, which covered his entire body, was missing a piece of his right shoulder, which was slowly being repaired by chakra.

After his initial surprise, he sneered, "How can this brat be so strong! But daring to take my attack head-on would mean he'd be dead... How is that possible!"

His eyes were wide open, like copper bells.

At this moment, Wu Xian's right hand was a bloody mess, and half of his arm was covered with charred scars. If you got close, you could even smell the aroma of roasted meat.

A faint, emerald-green glow appeared, the charred remains were removed, and the bright red flesh pulsed and returned to normal.

"Looks intimidating... You're not some silver-spear candlestick, are you?"

"Even a three-year-old wouldn't feel this much pain."

Old Zi's face twitched.

Is this kid even human?!

And the attack just now, even the Lava Release Chakra Mode Burst wouldn't have the same explosive effect as before, nor would a head-on fist-to-fist collision produce that kind of effect.

Moreover, that feeling just now was like a ball of chakra that had been accumulating for a long time and had reached a critical point until his attack pierced it...

Suddenly, he realized what was happening and his eyes widened.

"You actually used your body as an explosive tag!"

The principle behind striking the 50th string is actually quite simple.

He transforms Fire Release chakra into explosive chakra, then gathers it in a large quantity in a certain part of his body, and throws a punch with an explosive effect—it's incredibly cool.

Old Purple was a veteran of countless battles and the Jinchūriki who mastered Lava Release and the Four-Tails. He could make a judgment with just a little thought, however.

"madman!"

He was almost gritting his teeth.

He couldn't believe that such a madman existed in the world.

Using your body as an explosive tag? Why don't you just set yourself off like a firecracker!

Isogen tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with disdain: "Otherwise, what do you think I learned sealing techniques for?"

It would be a waste not to use such a useful weapon as the human body. Taijutsu is so powerful that even Madara Uchiha, the Dance King, used to have a taijutsu match before dancing. Jinchuriki also used to test each other with taijutsu first.

It would be such a waste to let go of such a great opportunity you've given me.

Old Purple's gaze darkened as he dodged Uchiha Aoen's sword strike and the flames behind him.

He was now surrounded. He thought the 50th string was the breakthrough, but it turned out to be a disguised great white shark.

Four tails...

Thinking of the Four-Tails' power, which he hadn't fully mastered yet, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Four-tailed!"

"Autumn bean sack." Suddenly, Ishigaki raised his hand and asked like a curious child under Old Purple's wary gaze.

"I've heard that you Jinchūriki often face discrimination in your own villages, and now that you've come out here, why are you still working so hard for your village?"

"Do you enjoy being tortured? Then I can recommend a VIP seat in Konoha's interrogation room."

"Or are you just lacking love? I have a connection with the Hokage; I can help you find a healer, or even a healer."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.