The space of the Pure Land looked like another world. The ground beneath their feet was solid, but the sky above was pitch black.
Sss!
Hyuga Mirai extended his hand, and a small flame slowly ignited in his palm. The fire was dim but illuminated a radius of roughly nine meters around him.
"A magical space… everything changes according to one's will. If the will is strong enough, can one gradually control the entire area?"
Mirai hadn't used any Ninjutsu or other abilities—he had merely thought of creating fire, and it appeared in his hand the next moment. Moreover, the energy did not come from his own Chakra but from the Pure Land's ambient energy.
"This method of creation rivals Six Paths-level Yin-Yang Release. The Otsutsuki Clan evolved through Chakra Fruits, though—they were a bit behind the ancient sages in conceptual thinking."
"'A bit behind' is an understatement," he mused. Without Chakra Fruits, the Otsutsuki would have struggled to access space-time techniques. Witnessing the wonders of the Pure Land, Mirai decided to dedicate some clones to training while he researched.
Since planning to study life evolution, Mirai had neglected personal training for some time. Seeing the Pure Land's mysteries, he resolved to allocate part of his focus to maximize his own strength—achieving full effect with partial effort would signify true mastery.
"Kiyo and the others seem fine. There shouldn't be anything here threatening Tsunade. I'll go find Otsutsuki Hagoromo."
With that, Mirai's body radiated powerful Chakra. Using his Byakugan's long-range vision, he scanned the energy flows of the Pure Land, then proceeded in one direction.
"The Pure Land feels strange… why is there ground but no moon or stars?"
Kurenai Yuhi stomped the ground a few times, puzzled, and asked Kiyo Hyuga. When they first entered, the force of space-time had separated them, but Kiyo quickly found her—though Ayaka Uzumaki was missing.
Kiyo shot Kurenai a glance and, noticing her slight excess weight, said irritably, "That's not for you to worry about. Too advanced for your level."
All the nutrition had gone to her chest, so pondering such matters was unnecessary. Kiyo also couldn't help noticing the post-marriage changes: the others had increased in size while Kurenai hadn't. She suspected Mirai's earlier defection and a strike to her chest had stunted growth. This thought only annoyed her further—she intended to question Mirai later.
Kurenai, unaware of Kiyo's gaze, tilted her head. "I wonder how Ayaka and Mirai are doing."
"They're fine. Ayaka carries his Chakra, and she's much stronger than you. You haven't trained in over a year!"
Kiyo examined Kurenai's body. Though still curvy, it was no longer honed from training—essentially wasted, by her standards.
Suddenly, she diverted her attention elsewhere.
"Someone's approaching!"
Kiyo's temples pulsed as she activated her Byakugan. She spotted multiple spirits gathering deliberately in the distance.
"Seventeen in total. Seems like the dispersal after entering the Pure Land was intentional."
Alerted, Kurenai prepared immediately, entering Sage Mode. Her senjutsu Chakra was ready to unleash large-scale Genjutsu.
The Pure Land's darkness meant even their flames barely lit a thirty-meter radius.
They stood quietly, awaiting the spirits. When the apparitions entered the firelight, Kurenai's eyes widened.
"Asuma Sarutobi… and the Third Hokage?"
Surprised, Kurenai realized she had encountered familiar figures. Aside from Asuma and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the others were dressed as Konoha ninja in spirit form. They were all deceased.
"How did you die? Weren't you taken to the Federation mines after losing the war?"
Asuma's spirit scowled in anger. "Weren't we all executed by the Federation?"
"Yuhi, don't listen to them. They're all Sarutobi clan members. I know the truth—they tried to escape the Federation mines, killed two supervisors and seven guards, and were finally killed by explosives on their chains," Kiyo said coldly. She bore no fondness for the spirits, who even in death lied.
"Why ruin the fun so quickly, Kiyo? I wanted to tease them a bit," Kurenai grumbled, then addressed Asuma and Hiruzen apologetically: "Sorry, Asuma, Third Hokage. Our positions differ, so please rest peacefully."
Snapping her fingers, a blaze erupted across the ground within a hundred meters. This was the Kurama clan's Five-Sense Manipulation, optimized by Mirai into real Genjutsu: the stronger one's fear, the more real the illusion becomes.
However, Asuma and Hiruzen had clearly been enhanced to confront Kiyo and Kurenai.
Hiruzen quickly formed hand seals, erecting a massive Earth Wall, isolating the fire from their positions.
"Eight Trigrams – Mountain Splitting Strike!"
A massive shockwave struck the Sarutobi clan, but each spirit seemed hyper-aware, leaping away at the last moment. They formed seals midair, using Earth Release to extinguish the flames before landing.
This level was elite among Jonin. Kiyo had studied them and knew that while Asuma and Hiruzen could manage, the others were weaker.
"Enhanced perception… anything else?" Kiyo sneered, unimpressed.
"Impressive, Kiyo!" Kurenai clapped, seemingly relaxed. Kiyo scowled. "Stop joking. Deal with them quickly and go find Ayaka. She might encounter other enemies too."
Upon hearing Ayaka's name, Kurenai became serious, forming a large-scale Genjutsu domain. Trees erupted from the ground, twisting and attacking the Sarutobi spirits.
Wood Release remained the ultimate kekkei genkai in their minds; the illusion reflected their deepest fears. Greater fear amplified the illusion's effect.
Hiruzen barely maintained composure, recalling Tsunade's Wood Release. The others trembled before the legendary Wood Release.
The illusion spread from one hundred meters to a thousand, ensnaring them in colossal wooden trees.
Kiyo acted immediately, targeting Hiruzen, aiming to finish them swiftly before searching for Ayaka or others.
"You should have marked all of them with Flying Thunder God, Second Grandpa," Tsunade sighed. Her clan lacked large-scale sensory capabilities, and the Pure Land suppressed perception; she could sense only within ten kilometers.
"That kid is stronger than the three of us combined. Don't worry, Tsunade. Focus on regrouping with the others," Tobirama advised, releasing his hand seals.
"Second Grandpa, what are you saying?" Tsunade demanded, spotting multiple figures in the distance. These were not living humans but the deceased in the Pure Land. She could clearly distinguish Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, which these spirits lacked.
"Enemies, Grandpa, Second Grandpa," Tsunade warned, sensing one familiar among them.
Tobirama calmly listed: "Twenty-three in total. Some old acquaintances: Second Mizukage, Second Tsuchikage, Second Raikage, Kin and Gin, and one more."
Recognizing familiar Chakra, Tobirama recalled these individuals immediately. The remaining were also likely known. One in particular drew his attention.
"Brother, maybe the First Four Kages are among them."
Hashirama nodded. "Looks like we were noticed upon entering the Pure Land."
As they approached, both Tobirama and Tsunade stared in surprise and solemnity at the deceased.
"Izuna, I didn't expect you. Why isn't your brother, Uchiha Madara, here?"
Though calm, Tobirama's slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner tension. If Izuna hadn't died, Madara might never have defected violently from Konoha. In the Uchiha clan, Izuna's status mirrored his own in the Senju.
"Not sure. Perhaps he didn't wish to come. I only heard of your presence from the Six Paths Sage, which brought me here. Unexpectedly, you've been revived. You seem to have a fine successor," Uchiha Izuna said. Though previously gravely injured by Tobirama's hidden jutsu, he no longer felt anger after sixty years in the Pure Land.
"The Uchiha have fared well. Despite trials, you are now the leading ninja clan," Tobirama smirked. "The Security Force oversees the ninja world, and you also have a capable successor. Rest easy."
"Good news, yes, but hearing it from you is irritating," Izuna clicked his tongue, drawing his second sword. The Rinnegan slowly spun in his eyes. "As expected, a fight is necessary to be satisfied!"
"Do as you will. I'll deal with the others first!"
Tobirama threw Flying Thunder God kunai, then used Shadow Clone Jutsu to transport five individuals away.
Ignoring Izuna, he observed him and then proceeded.
Tsunade's gaze fell on a white-haired middle-aged man with two toads on his shoulders. "Jiraiya… long time no see."
Unexpectedly encountering him in the Pure Land intensified her resentment toward the Six Paths Sage. If not deliberate, it was suspicious.
(End of Chapter)
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