Chapter 256: The Reaper Appears, Spirit Infusion!
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Mercenary Tao—impervious to blades, a master of taijutsu. Though his intelligence was incomplete, he had already realized that the man before him was likely a Titled Beast (Tailed Beast) in human skin.
Just by standing there, an ordinary ninja had no way to harm him. Attacks couldn't breach his defense, and they themselves would be burned by those clinging flames.
Hiruzen's battle armor was black. He specialized in Water Style and various substitution jutsus, which was the only reason he hadn't taken much damage during the series of probing attacks.
Seeing his five Shadow Clones ready, he prepared to use that jutsu near Konoha for the first time. If there had been any other way, he would never have wanted to unleash such a destructive attack on his own home.
"I will ask you one last time, Mercenary Tao. Why are you attacking Konoha?!"
Hiruzen's gaze was firm, his eyes radiating a sharp resolve.
The Third Hokage had many political failings, with both merits and faults, but he was the man Senju Tobirama himself had chosen as Hokage. The [Will of Fire] in his heart had truly not been extinguished.
The difference between him and Danzo was that, at a moment of life and death, he was truly willing to become embers for this village.
Kaito Shirogane's eyes narrowed. He liked this kind of gaze.
The gaze of a strong person, preparing to throw everything away for a battle to the death.
Hearing Hiruzen's question, he tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and muttered to himself, "Why... indeed..."
Seeing Mercenary Tao seem to think, Hiruzen's heart stirred. If there was a possibility of communication, that was a good sign.
"Were you hurt by Konoha ninja in the past?"
Kaito shook his head.
"Was your hometown destroyed by war? Your family and friends lost?"
Kaito still shook his head.
Hiruzen's heart sank. Those two reasons were the motives for most of Konoha's enemies, and he could explain them. In war, there was no grand justice. But if it wasn't even that...
"Is it because you disagree with some of Konoha's actions and wish to enact 'justice'?"
Hiruzen made the worst-case guess. That kind of enemy was the most troublesome. A person who would use any means for the sake of an ideal was the hardest to persuade.
But Kaito still shook his head.
Hiruzen was now truly at a loss.
Kaito Shirogane, however, just pfft-ed out a laugh. He stopped toying with him. His Satsui no Hado surged, now enveloping him like a torch. This energy, unlike the Underworld and Yin-Spirit power flowing in his veins, was not difficult to draw out. This surging killing intent was assaulting his nerves every second.
Kaito Shirogane was beginning to understand why even a great martial artist like Gouki would be dominated by this Hado.
Because... it felt too good!
This surging power, the constant adrenaline, the euphoria of slaughter stimulating his nerves... it was intoxicating.
Kaito Shirogane spread his arms, leaning forward at an angle that almost defied physics. His bare feet gripped the ground, and the Third Hokage's stone face began to show long cracks.
"Why am I attacking Konoha?"
"Naturally..."
"Because it's fun!"
Hiruzen's pupils dilated. He was stunned. He never expected to hear such an answer.
"In this world, only a place like Konoha gathers so many strong shinobi... Hmm... although it's declined a bit."
"I want to fight the strong. Konoha is the natural first choice."
Kaito's eyes were wild, his voice rising, filled with a pleasure that was impossible to fake. He truly craved this.
"And besides, after Konoha collapses, this world will quickly fall into war, won't it? Those so-called Five Great Nations will all mobilize."
"Chaos! Unprecedented chaos!"
"The greatest throne can only be forged from the greatest chaos. I..."
[Five Style: Great Combo Technique]!
Hiruzen couldn't listen to this madman's speech anymore. This was a complete and utter lunatic, crazier than a Tailed Beast. A guy like this... the world would only be safe once he was utterly erased.
The five Shadow Clones simultaneously spewed powerful Fire, Lightning, Wind, Water, and Earth Style jutsus. The five elemental powers mixed in mid-air.
This was a high-level ninjutsu that only Sarutobi Hiruzen, the [Shinobi Professor], could control, combining the essence of nature transformation and joint-jutsu.
A terrifying energy torrent, capable of instantly destroying a city block, roared toward Kaito Shirogane.
But Kaito just shook his head. This wasn't the jutsu he wanted.
Kaito tapped his foot.
Bang!
The Hokage Monument shattered. The Third Hokage's stone head cracked apart. Kaito Shirogane himself leaped high into the air. Hiruzen, straining under the immense Chakra cost, watched.
The five Shadow Clones simultaneously formed hand seals, pointing at the sky.
The elemental torrent reversed its trajectory in mid-air, rushing toward Kaito Shirogane.
Boom!
A terrifying explosion erupted in mid-air. A white-hot cloud of vapor expanded in a massive shockwave.
This commotion made even Uchiha Shisui, inside his Susano'o, glance over. Uchiha Obito, who had just dodged again, used the chance to taunt him.
"See? The Third is probably being pushed to his limit by that Mercenary Tao. Instead of wasting your energy on me, you should go help that old man."
"I know... you still can't let go of the village, can you?"
The Susano'o's unrivaled frontline power was too much for Obito's Wood Style. He hadn't mastered large-scale jutsus like the Wood Golem, so he was still relying on Kamui to dodge.
But he could already sense that Uchiha Shisui was at his limit. No matter how much of a genius he was at his age, his Chakra was finite. Against Obito, who possessed Hashirama's cells, he couldn't win a war of attrition!
The only thing to fear was the Mangekyo Sharingan ability he had yet to use.
I have Kamui. What does Shisui have?
Obito, seeing that Shisui still hadn't used it, guessed it must have a great cost. But a great cost also meant a powerful effect. This was why Obito was still dragging the fight out.
The fight between Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi was quieter, but just as dangerous. Father and son used cold steel and the Sharingan's perception, clashing in close-quarters combat, trading Sharingan genjutsu.
Fugaku was amazed at his son's talent, but at the same time, terrified that thisItachi had made such a choice.
He knew Itachi's personality. He was not a bloodthirsty person. For him to be doing this... it meant that in Itachi's judgment, even with him and Shisui, Konoha was still doomed to lose...
So he chose to separate himself from the Uchiha clan. He became the executioner, trading something from Mercenary Tao for a different future.
Fugaku glanced toward the Hokage Monument. The Third Hokage's stone face was gone, along with the forest behind it. Flames licked the air, and the sky roiled with violent currents from the elemental clash.
The Third is still... Did he win?
Pfft!
A cold light flashed. Fugaku's heart went cold. He barely dodged, but his arm was still cut.
Uchiha Itachi frowned, his expression as cold as ever.
"Father, step aside. If a certain number don't die today, those guys won't stop."
He was preparing to go kill Danzo. With that, Konoha's leadership would be almost wiped out. That should satisfy Mercenary Tao's appetite...
In Itachi's heart, he was thinking of more than Fugaku realized. He wasn't just thinking of Konoha. He was slowly coming to agree with Mercenary Tao's crazy theory.
War was unending because the Five Great Nations existed, with countless smaller nations caught between them. Conflicts of interest were constant. Of course war would never stop. The "hatred of shinobi" was just a petty grudge caught up in this grand scheme.
To end war... the shinobi villages themselves could never do it...
Therefore, he would use the Konoha Crush to throw the shinobi villages into chaos. And then, he would go with that madman... to see if the daimyo who controlled the world... could also feel pain!
Clang!
He forced his father back with his sword. His body dissolved into a flock of crows, and he vanished, heading for another target.
Sarutobi Hiruzen panted, his mind stretched taut. He had a premonition... it wasn't over.
Vmm!
A golden ki shot from the smoke, piercing his forehead.
Poof!
This Sarutobi also burst into smoke.
But the remaining figures charged into the smoke. He was running, his hands blurring through seals.
"Old friend, are you really..."
Enma, in his Adamantine Staff form, saw this and tried to speak, but Hiruzen swung him.
Bang!
The staff collided with a fist. The terrifying impact sent a shockwave, clearing the smoke. Hiruzen's charge was broken. The power difference was too great. Every blow from his opponent stopped his momentum.
Kaito Shirogane stood before Hiruzen. Fire and lightning still licked his body. The cuts from the Wind Style were healing rapidly. He grabbed the burned and electrocuted flesh, tore it off, and threw it away.
Beneath the flesh, countless cells formed into writhing buds. The muscle healed instantly, followed by the skin.
Hiruzen watched this, exhaling a shaky breath.
"Truly... an immortal monster..."
Kaito walked toward Hiruzen. The old man's hand seals were complete.
He spoke. "Mercenary Tao... come and leave this world with me!"
He spread his arms, stepping forward to grab Kaito Shirogane. His guard was wide open. He was using his own body as bait, at the cost of being impaled, just to grab him.
Kaito could have dodged. But he didn't. Instead, his smile grew even more manic. He stepped into the grab and was caught by Hiruzen.
Hiruzen was surprised, but he had no time to think. He roared.
"Shiki Fūjin!" (Reaper Death Seal!)
A cold, ominous aura appeared behind him. Though he couldn't see it, he knew the jutsu was complete.
Next...
He roared, and the great Reaper's hand passed through his body, through his soul... reaching into the chest of the immortal monster, Mercenary Tao.
Kaito Shirogane looked at the Reaper's grotesque face, felt the icy touch enter his body. His lips curled, and he couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Hahaha! It's here!"
The Reaper pulled. But Hiruzen was shocked. Mercenary Tao, who should have been paralyzed as his soul was torn out, was still smiling. And a black spirit was being unwillingly dragged halfway out.
Its silver-white hair and black clothes... were completely different from Mercenary Tao's.
Hiruzen was stunned. "What... what is happening...?"
Gojo Satoru looked at the thing grabbing his spirit and shook his head helplessly.
"Hey, hey. You're my host, aren't you? How can you just let someone grab the tenant so easily!"
Kaito Shirogane, his face ecstatic, looked at the Reaper. The Underworld in his blood began to surge.
"Spirit Infusion!"
(End of Chapter)
~~~
Guys We cross the 200 power stone goal and as promise here the bonus chapter
Next goal 300 power stone,come on guys you'll can do it, good luck.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 2 extra chapters
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter