Konoha: Starting with Sage Mode

That was a top-tier expert capable of intimidating enemies.

Now that important combat forces such as Ebizo, Bunpuku, the One-Tailed Beast, and the Third Kazekage are all gone, leaving only her as a half-crippled Kage-level powerhouse to hold on, the situation in Sunagakure is really dire. If she can't hold on and the people below her don't grow up, then Sunagakure will truly be doomed.

"I understand, Mother. I will try my best to do well."

Akasago immediately nodded in agreement.

Upon seeing this, Chiyo sighed inwardly, for no one knows a child better than their mother.

The more compliant Akasuna appeared at this moment, the more it meant that she didn't take what she had just said seriously.

My son has changed after all.

"It is necessary to support a true Fourth Kazekage. In Akasago's current state, he is not suitable to be the acting Kazekage."

Chiyo shook her head inwardly.

At the same time, Akashi thought to himself, "Since Mother came back, she has become more and more timid. She is always making things difficult for me. It would have been better if she hadn't come back at all. Wasn't she rescued by Madara-sama? Why is she so afraid of Konoha?"

Since his last solo meeting with Madara Uchiha, he has successfully made contact with Madara and gained his support, receiving a great deal of ninjutsu and resources from him.

That is why he had the confidence to launch the standardized puppet project.

Unfortunately, his dearest mother did not support his plans, which greatly distressed him.

How could she do this!

They're really going backwards as they get older.

For a moment, Akasa couldn't help but feel a desire to challenge her mother and make her understand who was truly in charge of Sunagakure.

In fact, what he gained most from meeting Madara Uchiha was not Madara's support, but rather returning to being a normal person.

His disability was cured by Madara Uchiha in a miraculous way. Although the process was somewhat brutal, he was no longer a disabled person and could stand up again.

Moreover, after his leg was healed, his strength began to improve by leaps and bounds, the most obvious change being in his chakra reserves.

With just one leg and one hand replaced, his chakra level increased several times over. He had truly witnessed Madara Uchiha's methods. He was indeed worthy of being someone who could rival the God of Shinobi, and was worth following.

With his disability cured and his strength greatly enhanced, Akasago's ambition naturally began to swell, and his desire for revenge grew stronger.

But the current Sand Village is too weak to help him achieve his revenge.

Therefore, he had to find a way to make Sunagakure stronger quickly, and the standardized puppet plan was the key to achieving this.

Both Akasago and Chiyo were very busy people, so they chatted for a while longer before parting ways, leaving Akasago alone in the Kazekage's office once again.

"Hehehe~, it seems your plan isn't going too smoothly, but Lord Madara's will is unchangeable. Have you thought about how to reply?"

A few seconds later, a mocking voice reached Akasago's ears.

Then, a strange figure, half white and half black, resembling a humanoid man-eating plant, appeared in front of Akasuna; it was Black Zetsu.

"Rest assured, the plan will still be implemented as scheduled. I am now in charge of Sunagakure. If she tries to stop me, I will take action personally. However, please make sure that you have prepared the necessary supplies."

Akagami met Black Zetsu and said with a cold face.

Hei Jue Zui Chi Sha was very satisfied with the reply and said with a sinister smile, "Don't worry, the supplies have been prepared for a long time, just waiting for you to start the plan."

Madara Uchiha, who had been living in anonymity for so many years, certainly couldn't have done nothing. He had been preparing for the Eye of the Moon Plan. To this end, while using White Zetsu to monitor the ninja world, he also used this opportunity to accumulate a lot of money by selling information and inducing wars between countries.

Now that Project Eye of the Moon is about to launch, it's time for him to tap into this enormous fortune.

Akasago's standardized puppet project was just one of the projects he funded.

"As long as the supplies arrive, everything will be fine. I will definitely satisfy Lord Ban."

Akasuna was excited to hear that Black Zetsu had prepared the supplies.

He certainly knew that Madara Uchiha was using him to deal with Konoha, but wasn't he also using Madara Uchiha to revitalize Sunagakure and ultimately achieve his goals? It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

They all have a common enemy now.

……

In the Land of Water, in the Hidden Mist Village, a bloody battle is slowly coming to an end.

On the roof of the Mizukage Building, the severely injured Third Mizukage looked at a boy-collared ninja wielding a long, black, hooked staff with a sorrowful expression and cursed, "Yagura Karatachi, you betrayed me and even stole the power of the Tailed Beasts! What did the Blood Mist Sect give you in return!"

Since the battle between Amegakure and Kumogakure ended and Yagura and others returned, the infighting in Kirigakure has become increasingly fierce.

Recently, several large-scale bloody conflicts have broken out.

In an effort to ease tensions, he took the initiative to lead his men to the Blood Mist Sect's territory for negotiations, but little did he know that it was a plot to assassinate him.

"Now that things have come to this, what's there to explain? Blame it on your lack of ability, that you're not worthy of being the Mizukage. Look at how much Kirigakure's strength has declined during your years in power. I'm worried for you."

Yagura said with a cold expression.

The next moment, the Watermelon Pufferfish Demon behind him, holding Samehada, shouted, "Why waste words with him? Just kill him. Only when he's dead will those people outside truly give up and shed less blood."

Before he finished speaking, he dragged Samehada forward, intending to be the first to take the Third Mizukage's head.

Upon seeing this, the Third Mizukage instantly spat out a giant water blade and slashed at the pufferfish demon.

The pufferfish demon hurriedly used Samehada to defend himself. Although he successfully attacked the groin with Samehada, he was knocked away, and his plan to steal the kill failed once again.

At that moment, Yagura Karatachi moved. He was instantly covered with a tailed beast cloak, and three chakra tails grew from his back. Then, a fist-sized black ball quickly formed in front of his mouth.

Tailed Beast Ball activated!

"Oh!"

The Tailed Beast Ball struck the spot where the Third Mizukage was, and a massive explosion occurred instantly.

"Cough cough cough~"

On the edge of the explosion, a figure stumbled out. It was the Third Mizukage, who had barely dodged the Tailed Beast Ball. His condition was now worse than before, and he was spitting out blood continuously, clearly suffering from severe internal injuries.

"Die!"

Suigetsu Hozuki tried to steal the kill again, appearing in front of the Third Mizukage with a Water Instantaneous Movement Technique, and then swung Samehada at the Third Mizukage.

With a single strike, the ground shattered, and at the same time, the Third Mizukage, splashing water everywhere, also broke apart.

Clearly, what Suigetsu Hozuki just hit was only one of the Third Mizukage's water clones.

Upon seeing this, Suigetsu Hozuki felt a chill run down his spine and a strong sense of crisis arose in his heart. He quickly swung Samehada and turned around to strike, but the Third Mizukage behind him bent down and dodged the attack.

Then, a kunai pierced through the chest of the Water Spinach Pufferfish Demon.

After the Third Mizukage killed Suigetsu Hozuki, he immediately snatched Samehada from his hands and then quickly recovered his depleted chakra and injuries by relying on Samehada's massive chakra and special abilities.

In just a few seconds, the Third Mizukage was restored to his peak condition.

"What a fool."

Yagura remained unmoved and calm, only muttering "Suikyuuzan Fugu-ki" under his breath.

Seeing that Yagura was so calm and showed no sign of being anxious about him regaining his peak condition with the help of Samehada, the Third Mizukage immediately felt uneasy.

The next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach and then vomited a mouthful of black blood.

"You actually poisoned me?"

The Third Mizukage glared at Yagura Karatachi with a look of venom.

Yagura Karatachi continued to coldly observe the Third Mizukage, then quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding a massive water blade that the Third Mizukage had unleashed in an instant.

He had prepared for this coup for a long time and had considered many variables.

For example, he even foresaw that the idiot Suigetsu Hozuki would have his sword taken away.

Therefore, he administered a peculiar poison to the Third Mizukage beforehand. Normally, it was non-toxic, but once it came into contact with another poison, it would immediately transform into a deadly toxin that would kill quickly.

The handle of Samehada is coated with this poison. If the Third Mizukage forcibly grasps Samehada and is pricked by the spikes on the handle, he will fall into the deadly poison trap he has set.

Game over!

Chapter 305: A Living History Book of the Ninja World

The Land of Winds, the Devil's Desert.

Kirito was using the One-Tailed Beast to train his Wind Release technique. Huge vacuum waves shot out from his mouth, shredding the sand dunes in the distance. Then, he unleashed massive tornadoes, causing terrifying sandstorms in the desert.

Meanwhile, the One-Tailed Beast inside him was quietly crouching in his mental space, its eyes somewhat vacant, only instinctively gathering chakra and transferring it to Kirito, who was constantly releasing various Wind Release ninjutsu to deepen his understanding of Wind Release.

About half an hour later, the One-Tailed Beast, which had been diligently supplying chakra to Kirito, finally came to its senses and roared angrily, "Damn human, how dare you humiliate me like this!"

As it spoke, a terrifying surge of chakra erupted from its body, causing a sandstorm to rise in the entire mental space filled with yellow sand.

However, its power lasted for less than a second before blue chakra chains appeared from the void and swiftly bound Shukaku, preventing it from activating even a fraction of its chakra.

The One-Tailed Rampage thus came to an end.

The next moment, Kirito's spirit appeared in the mental space. He looked down at the giant beast below, which was immobilized by his Adamantine Lock, and said coldly, "I gave you a chance, but you missed it. This is the consequence of your refusal to listen to reason."

Since his Spirit Transformation Technique was upgraded to LV4, he was finally able to do something he had always envisioned: to temporarily possess the soul of a Tailed Beast using the Spirit Transformation Technique, thereby gaining a deeper understanding and mastery of various escape techniques.

Before his Spirit Transformation Technique reached LV4, although he could possess the souls of Tailed Beasts, the time was too short. He would be forced out by the Tailed Beasts' resistance in just a few seconds.

These tailed beasts are indeed chakra creatures created by the Sage of Six Paths by dividing the chakra of the Ten-Tails and using Yin-Yang Release. Their souls are not only powerful but also extremely resilient, and deep within them lies a trace of powerful Yin-Yang Release power.

Kirito only discovered this deeply hidden Yin-Yang Release power deep within the One-Tailed Beast's soul after his Spirit Transformation Technique reached LV4.

It is this powerful Yin-Yang Release that makes the One-Tailed Beast's soul strong, resilient, and stable, and gives it a great advantage in resisting soul invasion.

After his Spirit Transformation Technique reached LV4, although his Yin Release level was still 4, he made great progress and gained a deeper understanding of Yin Release. In addition, his soul power became stronger, which enabled him to successfully suppress this trace of Yin-Yang Release power and then successfully occupy the soul of the One-Tailed Beast.

Just as he had envisioned, the tailed beasts, these chakra creatures, are born to be the darlings of certain escaping techniques. Humans need to have an epiphany to enter the mysterious realm of a certain escaping technique and reach level five. They are in this mysterious state of epiphany at all times.

Because they are inherently chakra of a certain attribute, understanding chakra of a certain attribute is as simple as breathing.

By temporarily possessing the soul of the One-Tailed Beast, Kirito's understanding of Wind Release improved rapidly, allowing him to quickly reach level 4 of Wind Release, which was only level 3 at the time, after becoming the One-Tailed Beast's jinchūriki.

If nothing unexpected happens, given some more time, he will naturally be able to raise his Wind Release to level 5, or even higher.

Yes, level 5 is not the ultimate level of a certain escape technique; there is still room for improvement.

This shows that even if a ninja is only proficient in a certain escaping technique, as long as that technique is powerful enough, he can still become one of the world's top fighters.

"Go to hell with your stubbornness! I have no intention of getting along with a treacherous and cunning person like you."

Ichiogi is stubborn and hot-tempered, and has a strong backbone. Even now, he still doesn't hold back his words and shows no intention of giving in to Kirito.

Kirito was used to One-Tail's stubborn and inflexible way of doing things, so he wasn't annoyed. He silently used the Adamantine Lock to add a few more chakra chains to One-Tail, and also wrapped its mouth shut, not giving it a chance to continue talking nonsense.