"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 155: Separation of Body and Spirit
For a thousand years, Tailed Beasts have existed in the Shinobi World, but ninja understanding of them has constantly evolved.
Initially, everyone treated Tailed Beasts as walking natural disasters. But as time passed, when people gazed upon their immense power and terrifying destructive capabilities, their eyes gradually shifted from pure fear to include greed.
Countless individuals have attempted to harness the power of Tailed Beasts, to "weaponize" these unimaginable chakra lifeforms—but unfortunately, they all failed.
In the Shinobi World, "Tailed Beast weaponization" is a cutting-edge tech concept stock, equivalent to controlled nuclear fusion or room-temperature superconductors—periodically hyped up by various parties.
Originally, with numerous ninja clans locked in bloody warfare, ninja had no spare energy to focus on Tailed Beasts.
With "man-made disasters" rampant and ninja living day to day without knowing if they'd see tomorrow, how could they spare effort to worry about "natural disasters"?
But the problem was that someone gave them a wake-up call... In the Hagoromo Clan extermination incident, the Nine-Tails' role couldn't escape the notice of those paying attention.
Thus, beneath the surface currents, the topic of Tailed Beast weaponization became hot again and was once more hyped up.
In the past, ninja attempts to utilize Tailed Beasts were all "brute force" approaches, but now it was different. When they fully confronted this matter, methods for dealing with Tailed Beasts gradually took shape... and a certain ninja clan's presence was thus highlighted.
The Uzumaki Clan, skilled in sealing and barrier ninjutsu, whose chakra naturally had some restraining effect on Tailed Beasts, became the focus of many people's attention.
Other ninja clans might lack methods to control and utilize Tailed Beasts, but the historically ancient, thousand-year-old Uzumaki Clan surely had them.
To control Tailed Beasts, they first needed to control the Uzumaki Clan... Without knowing when it started, this viewpoint began circulating among the upper echelons of many ninja clans.
Without thinking, one could know that whenever undercurrents surge in the Shinobi World, there are always invisible black hands fanning the flames.
Otherwise, how could such information spread so swiftly across ninja clans?
So when the Uzumaki Clan showed signs of migrating inland, many people couldn't sit still... The Uzumaki Clan was already quite troublesome to deal with. If they went to join their more powerful Senju relatives, wouldn't certain conspirators' schemes regarding Tailed Beasts fall through?
As they say, "those who start trouble will have no descendants"—the Shinobi World's first multi-clan joint action targeted the Hagoromo Clan. Who could have thought the second joint action would target the Uzumaki Clan?
Driving ninja to action indeed requires some justification, and for the black hands hidden in the shadows, such justifications weren't difficult to arrange.
Although these forces targeting the Uzumaki all fought independently, lacking unified command, this "wild punches defeating the master" fighting style was sufficient to deal with the already limited Uzumaki Clan.
After all, just looking at numbers, the Uzumaki Clan was far smaller than the Senju—merely a medium-sized ninja clan.
On an island east of the mainland, across the sea—
"Clan Leader, more and more people are watching us from outside. Our movements seem to have been exposed."
Every Uzumaki Clan ninja had exceptionally strong sensory abilities; the disturbances around this island couldn't be hidden from them at all.
But so what if they couldn't hide it? Looking at the enemy's brazen attitude, they clearly had no intention of concealing themselves.
"Clan Leader, it seems we can't evacuate safely tonight as originally planned. We're surrounded... What should we do? Should we break out?" another ninja asked.
The Uzumaki Clan ninja were somewhat panicked, especially those who had participated in the Hagoromo Clan's destruction—at this moment, a certain ominous premonition in their hearts could no longer be suppressed.
Fortunately, the old clan leader Uzumaki Ashina remained steady as a rock. He knew that attempting a breakout now would be suicide.
It would be equivalent to sheep charging out of their pen, trying to break through a wolf pack. Breakout? Breaking into the enemies' stomachs?
"No, we hold our position and wait for reinforcements."
The old clan leader made his tactical arrangement: turtle up with all their might.
Uzumaki Ashina felt neither panic nor wavering; he was just somewhat puzzled. The Uzumaki Clan's evacuation was clearly a very secretive matter—how could it have been exposed?
And not just exposed to one faction—the surrounding enemies, even counting each group separately, were enough to fill several mahjong tables.
Even if there were traitors in the clan, surely not everyone could be a traitor? Or was the Uzumaki really that hated?
"But Clan Leader, that would mean completely giving up the initiative. It'll be very difficult for us to hold out until reinforcements arrive."
"Don't worry, we just need to hold out until the agreed evacuation time."
"Clan Leader... do you have arrangements?"
"Yes. Some time ago, Senju Tobirama came to our side and discussed evacuation details with us."
"Yes, but what does this have to do with the current situation?"
"It's related, so we hold our position and wait for reinforcements."
"..."
At a time like this, why was the Clan Leader still speaking in riddles? Had the Clan Leader become senile?
"Hold our position" sounded easy to say, but with the most capable fighter of the younger generation, Uzumaki Mito, not present in the clan, how were they supposed to defend?
"Clan Leader! The enemy has begun attacking!"
"I know. I may be near death, but my sensory abilities aren't dead yet... Have our people counterattack using the barriers."
"Clan Leader, the first barrier will soon be broken by brute force."
"Obviously. Fall back to the second barrier, trade space for time—do I need to teach you this too? When the second is gone there's still the third and fourth. What's there to panic about!"
To be fair, the Uzumaki might lack everything else, but they would never lack barriers. When facing ninja, the Uzumaki Clan's direct combat ability wasn't particularly outstanding, but you really shouldn't fight positional warfare against this ninja clan.
However...
"Clan Leader, the barriers are falling at an abnormal rate—too fast!"
Open attacks are easy to dodge; hidden arrows are hard to defend against.
"Hold on, just hold out a little longer."
After the agreed evacuation time arrived, the changes the old clan leader expected didn't seem to occur. Instead, the enemy's attacks became even more intense.
It wasn't until a quarter-hour later that in a secret room within a certain Uzumaki Clan building, a figure appeared without warning.
It was Senju Tobirama—the Senju Tobirama who was slandered as being slower than Yūshin.
He had originally just wanted to confirm the Uzumaki Clan's evacuation situation, but discovered they were under siege... No choice but to call for backup.
Tobirama's figure quickly disappeared. After more than ten consecutive Flying Thunder God jumps, he returned to the Senju Clan.
Then he grabbed his brother like shouldering a large sack and rushed back without a word.
After bringing his big brother over, Tobirama immediately collapsed. For him now, three round trips was a bit too much.
He had only played the role of a taxi driver, but that was already enough... Considering Hashirama's combat power, one could say Tobirama had played the role of a spaceship.
Flying Thunder God as support was quite effective. Its offensive attributes hadn't been demonstrated yet, but its support capabilities were already impressive.
Boom, boom—thick tree seas and vines almost instantly covered this small village.
Uzumaki Ashina finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Uzumaki Clan had suffered certain losses, the Senju's support had been very timely.
"The plan remains unchanged. We cross the sea tonight."
The old clan leader addressed the surrounding ninja.
The attacking enemies surely hadn't expected a Senju Hashirama to be hidden among the Uzumaki Clan—what was there left to fight?
...
Several days later, the support troops Senju Hashirama had promised finally arrived at Fireflies Village... Yūshin only needed forty people, with each ninja clan contributing just ten—this wasn't difficult at all.
At the same time, these ninja brought news of the previous Uzumaki Clan attack... Fortunately, the Uzumaki's losses weren't too severe.
Yūshin was somewhat puzzled. If the Uzumaki Clan didn't join Konoha, they would be exterminated decades later. Now that the Uzumaki Clan chose to join Konoha, the result was nearly being exterminated on the spot... If Senju Tobirama hadn't mastered the Flying Thunder God with its extremely exaggerated battlefield support capabilities in advance, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
With two terrible situations before him, it was hard not to suspect black hands were manipulating things... Is that you, Black Zetsu? Is it necessary to be so afraid of the Uzumaki?
But regardless, the conspiracy against the Uzumaki Clan didn't succeed. Henceforth, with the Uzumaki and Senju sticking together, targeting them would be even more difficult.
Yūshin temporarily set aside the Uzumaki matter and turned his attention back to the upcoming combat mission.
After assembling the combat team, all squad leader-level ninja with certain command responsibilities gathered in a meeting room to hear the upcoming battle plan.
Yūshin intentionally wanted to increase Nara Hideyuki's "exposure," so this meeting was handed over to him to lead.
"For this combat mission, our objective is to survey the northwestern border of the Land of Fire, so our combat targets include the following ninja clans..."
The Fireflies side ignored the Senju's dragging progress. At this time, they internally were already openly calling the soon-to-be-formed great nation the "Land of Fire"... Theoretically, naming wasn't Yūshin's responsibility.
Nara Hideyuki wrote the names of five ninja clans on a whiteboard, then continued:
"These are all medium-sized ninja clans, each with certain strength, but in direct combat they won't pose a major threat to us, since these ninja clans are still fighting independently and can't unite."
"According to our established battle plan, the first enemy we'll face is this one."
Speaking thus, he circled one ninja clan's name on the whiteboard.
"The Katō Clan."
"The Katō Clan's average strength is quite ordinary, but according to intelligence we've gathered, several among them master a certain hiden technique that is extremely threatening."
"All along, their survival method in the Shinobi World has been avoiding direct combat with other ninja clans, relying on decapitation strikes to intimidate and defeat enemies."
This combat method was somewhat similar to Yūshin's style. When a ninja clan's average strength is ordinary but has several outstanding individuals, this approach is indeed suitable.
The Katō Clan—Yūshin had an impression. This ninja clan's so-called hiden technique should be the Spirit Transformation Technique, a hiden that attacks enemies through "astral projection."
This hiden technique was rather unconventional and non-mainstream, and indeed highly threatening, but it clearly wasn't the type of hiden that could be widely popularized.
If everyone could spiritualize, then the Shinobi World would have long ago seen a "ghost army." In that case, why would the Katō Clan be classified among "small and medium ninja clans"?
Yūshin interrupted Nara Hideyuki, saying:
"I have some understanding of that hiden technique. Yamanaka Clan Leader, please stay behind afterward. We'll synchronize intelligence and discuss specific methods to counter that hiden technique... I have concrete ideas. Our side can execute a 'base trade' tactic."
After speaking, he nodded to Nara Hideyuki, indicating for him to continue.
"Overall, we can defeat those ninja clans one by one, but considering our ultimate combat objective is to determine territory and stabilize internal and external situations, for those ninja clans, compared to direct killing, we should focus mainly on absorption, subjugation, or targeted displacement..."
Yūshin had to interrupt Nara Hideyuki again.
"No, no. Everyone should fight however they normally fight. Leave those hypocritical relationship management tasks to me."
In ninja combat, having one's own side hold back would only harm others and oneself. Awkward orders were worse than no orders. Yūshin couldn't possibly sacrifice his own members' lives for so-called "mercy."
So his own forces should fight however they normally fought—Yūshin would handle the extra matters himself.
Hearing Yūshin say this, everyone finally relaxed. Displacement? Holding back? That had operational difficulty—not as satisfying as grabbing weapons and cutting people down.
Being interrupted by Yūshin like this, Hideyuki knew he had misspoken. He took a deep breath and continued discussing the upcoming combat squad divisions.
Yūshin naturally wouldn't use all hundred people in a cluster—that would be equivalent to a "long snake formation," easily causing unpleasant associations.
He would divide them into three combat battalions: two combat teams and one reserve unit... At least when launching combat operations, they could support each other while also launching pincer attacks.
After assigning combat missions, Yūshin had another exchange with Yamanaka Takeya, confirming methods to deal with the Katō Clan.
Afterward, Fireflies Village prepared supplies, and two days later, Yūshin led the main force out.
Well, it should be called "marching north with banners flying"...
Er, "marching north with a company."
Company Commander Yu led his team into the Katō Clan's reconnaissance range, brazenly displaying their intentions.
If the other side was willing to surrender, that would be best, but they seemed to have no such intention.
Indeed, if it were a ninja clan with surrender intentions, even if they didn't merge with the Fireflies organization at this time, they should have at least expressed goodwill toward the Fireflies.
The Katō Clan hadn't done so, indicating there were diehards within the clan.
Or rather, they had great confidence in their Spirit Transformation Technique. Having such a hiden technique yet surrendering directly—wouldn't that be quite embarrassing?
At the very least, they had to try resisting.
On the second morning after setting up camp here, a Hyūga ninja immediately warned Yūshin:
"Lord Yūshin, the enemy has deployed small units and seems prepared to take hostile action."
"Good, somewhat as expected... Hyūga, keep close watch on their movements. Where are the Yamanaka people? Are you ready?"
"Ready, Lord Yūshin."
"Then let's give the Katō Clan a lesson."
Attempting decapitation assassinations? Yūshin was of the grandfather generation in this.
"Everything proceeds according to plan. I need to hide—if I get controlled by the enemy, that would be capsizing in the gutter."
Yūshin's words made everyone burst into laughter. Joking aside, with your battle plan being so devious, would you capsize?
Soon, three translucent "spirit forms" charged straight toward the Fireflies' front camp, but they had difficulty finding the most valuable control targets... To play "spirit possession," you can't just possess random soldiers.
But while they hesitated, several ninja came running frantically from their direction of attack.
These spirit forms quickly noticed this, and then they were dumbfounded...
Because the attacking enemies were their "own selves."
More precisely, their bodies.
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