"Discard all distracting thoughts from your mind. Calm your breath and quiet your spirit. Do not look at the purple energy around you with your eyes. Perceive it with your heart. Once you perceive it, I will teach you the next stage of cultivation..."
On the platform above the Dragon Vein, the two sat facing each other. Ryun was like a patient father, diligently teaching his 'slow daughter' how to quiet her mind.
For someone like Kushina, who had a relatively fiery temper, reaching the basic requirements for sage training was truly not easy. However, Ryun had ample patience and time. As long as Kushina was willing to learn seriously, she would surely succeed one day.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Ryun created four shadow clones in one go. The clones immediately jumped onto the spirit liquid, and his main body also entered a state of cultivation moments later.
Some time later, as the natural energy within one shadow clone reached saturation, a large amount of Senjutsu Chakra flowed entirely into the main body upon the clone's dismissal.
Ryun immediately activated the 'Yang Seal' mark on his forehead. Under his careful control, the massive amount of Senjutsu Chakra was channeled into it.
"Do not look at me. Focus on your own cultivation," Ryun said plainly.
"The Senjutsu Chakra returning to you is too vast. I sensed it, so I opened my eyes," Kushina explained.
The amount of natural energy absorbed by just one of Ryun's shadow clones was enough to rival the total chakra of a Kage level shinobi. This massive energy transfer was something even Kushina, who had just begun learning the basics, could clearly sense, especially since they were so close.
"Mm, being able to sense it is good. Continue. I will go down below to absorb it, so I won't disturb you." After saying this, Ryun didn't wait for Kushina's response and jumped down from the platform.
Kushina pouted, feeling a bit unhappy. When she was bored, she could at least open her eyes and look at the pretty Uchiha. Now, that was gone...
Days passed one by one. The ninja world grew increasingly tense as a certain deadline approached.
The various nations were not only openly preparing their armies for war, but the major hidden villages were also sparing no effort in nurturing a new generation of geniuses, hoping that one day they could unite... to 'slay the god'!
In recent years, the Land of Lightning was the first to use the strange terrain of Turtle Island to cultivate a perfect Jinchuriki. Afterwards, Kumogakure did not keep this knowledge secret. First, they helped Kirigakure's Jinchuriki perfectly master the Six Tails. Then, they helped Sunagakure's Rasa acquire a portion of the One Tail Shukaku's power.
The four nations privately reached an agreement, believing that to deal with Uchiha Ryun, they ultimately needed the power of the Tailed Beasts.
It was precisely based on this point that Kumogakure was willing to help the other two villages enhance their top tier combat strength.
Each of the four great villages had top experts personally trained by their Kage. However, what was truly baffling was that one of the new generation geniuses Sunagakure had poured its resources into cultivating had defected...
The puppet prodigy, Sasori of the Red Sand, after learning all he could, not only failed to repay Sunagakure, but also found an opportunity to kill the Third Kazekage...
They hadn't managed to 'slay the god', but he ended up 'slaying' his own Kage...
The allied three nations were shocked upon receiving this news. The death of this supposedly strongest Kazekage also left the allied countries speechless.
Sasori of the Red Sand was originally supposed to defect a few years earlier. However, hearing that Sunagakure intended to fully support him and fund his creation of powerful puppets, he held back his murderous intent and temporarily refrained from killing the Third Kazekage.
Once Sasori realized that Sunagakure had nothing left to teach him, and he had basically acquired all the puppet materials he wanted, the only thing left that caught his eye was the Third Kazekage himself, the 'strongest flesh and blood puppet'!
Regarding the Land of Fire, Konoha had been watching the various actions of the four nation alliance over the years. Through years of recuperation, Konoha had accumulated considerable financial and material resources. The number and quality of its shinobi also far surpassed those of the other villages.
The five great nations all understood that a major war was inevitable. The Third Shinobi World War had been delayed solely due to the suppression by the 'Illusory Sun Dragon God'. The ten year truce had postponed this war, but it also planted the seeds for an even greater conflict. The scale of the Third Shinobi World War was destined to become even more terrifying because of this 'preparation period'.
In recent years, countries like the Land of Rain, Land of Rivers, and Land of Waterfalls had been frantically stockpiling food and supplies. They did this not to fight, but to try and survive the impending Third Shinobi World War.
The actions of the five great nations were so significant that the smaller countries saw them clearly. They only prayed that the war would not spread to them, and in their hearts, they prayed day and night for the 'Illusory Sun Dragon God' to once again intervene and resolve the conflicts and disputes between the major nations.
Even another 'Ten Year Peace Agreement' would be excellent. The ones who least wanted to see war were the small and medium sized nations of the ninja world, especially those buffer zone countries caught between the military powers of the great nations.
Nine years had passed since the 'Ten Year Truce and Peace Period' began. The amount of food circulating in the ninja world had become very scarce. The five great nations began gradually implementing food embargoes. The tools and weapons produced by the Land of Iron were almost sold out...
The storm of war continued to brew. Many in Konoha, due to Ryun's disappearance and the departure of the Nine Tails Jinchuriki, felt a strong sense of crisis.
"Hokage-sama, Ryun still does not wish to return. He also refuses to let Kushina return. He asks that you stop sending people to disturb them. If Kushina wants to return to Konoha, he will bring her back himself. If she does not want to return, even if you go personally, you cannot take her away..."
Minato relayed Ryun's exact words.
The Fourth Hokage, Sakumo Hatake, was not surprised by this. He turned his gaze to Sarutobi Hiruzen beside him and said helplessly,
"I said there was no need to look for them, but you insisted..."
Sakumo never intended to look for those two because he knew the outcome. But Hiruzen insisted that Minato go to the Ancient Land of Loulan to ask again, hoping to at least bring back Kushina if possible...
"Sigh... After all these years, he still cannot let go of his resentment..." Hiruzen closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh.
"To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself... He bought the Land of Fire ten years, which is already quite enough. The crisis posed by the four nations ultimately must be resolved by ourselves." Sakumo's tone was very firm, making Hiruzen feel somewhat reassured.
"The Hokage is right... The current situation is so severe. We can no longer place our hopes on one individual. We must prepare for the worst." Hiruzen nodded, agreeing with the Fourth Hokage's viewpoint.
This young Fourth Hokage had his own ideas and great resolve. After taking office, he did not deliberately curry favor with anyone. Facing the crisis of the four nations, he always advocated solving it themselves.
If the enemy wants to fight, then we will fight them. However long the four great villages want to fight, Konoha will see it through to the end!
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