"If this sharp and ruthless blade technique falls into the hands of someone with a twisted mind, someone vicious and cruel, and they use it to burn, kill, and plunder across the ninja world, causing harm everywhere, wouldn't that lead to even more innocent people getting hurt and endless disasters piling up?"
"Yeah!"
Hearing this, Senju Syura's pupils shrank slightly, and he instantly understood. The hesitation in his heart vanished without a trace.
He nodded heavily, fully convinced. "What you said makes sense, Sage! I was only thinking about passing on the blade technique, but I overlooked such a deadly hidden danger!"
Without any more hesitation, Senju Syura grabbed the large blade beside him, stepped up to the stone wall, and started grinding it down with force.
Stone chips flew everywhere. The blade patterns carved into the wall were slowly worn away bit by bit. In just a short while, the entire wall was polished smooth and clean, not a single trace of the blade technique left behind.
———
"Next year, I want to try."
After walking out of the cave, Senju Syura suddenly spoke.
The Black Zetsu in his palm froze for a moment. Its dark brows slightly furrowed as it asked in confusion, "What do you mean? What do you want to try?"
"With this blade technique to rely on, and with you guiding me at my side, Sage, if I'm given another year to grow, maybe I'll have the qualifications to take over the position of clan head of the Senju clan."
Senju Syura turned his head slightly, a confident smile lifting the corner of his lips, his eyes shining with anticipation for the future.
"Heh…"
Black Zetsu couldn't help but chuckle softly. Its dark outline swayed slightly, its tone gentle but firm with the certainty of someone experienced. "You're still too young, too impatient."
"Take it slow. If you want to convince everyone and firmly sit in the position of clan head, you'll need at least a few years of experience."
"You've only just stepped onto the path of cultivation. Your foundation is still shallow. If you rashly try to compete for the position of clan head, the elders and clansmen won't accept you."
"What you said makes sense, Sage!"
Senju Syura nodded heavily again. The impatience in his heart instantly calmed down, completely trusting Black Zetsu's words.
"Alright, stop overthinking. Next, we should hurry and set off, return to the battlefield front.", Black Zetsu spoke again.
Just as the two were about to move...
The Black Zetsu attached to Senju Syura's palm suddenly changed expression.
"What the hell?!", Its dark brows tightened instantly. Its powerful sensing ability spread out like a tide, clearly capturing movements several miles away.
A large group of ninjas was rushing toward Rakko Cliff at high speed. That chakra signature was unmistakably from the Hagoromo clan.
And judging by their speed, they would arrive here very soon.
"This is bad! Syura!"
Black Zetsu suddenly spoke, its tone urgent and serious.
"I've sensed a squad from the Hagoromo clan heading this way!"
"Huh?!"
Senju Syura froze for a moment, then his face changed. "Sage! That's not right! Why would the Hagoromo clan come to a place like this?"
Panic rose in his heart. If it were just a few scattered Hagoromo ninjas, he could still deal with them using the blade technique he had just learned. But if it was a full squad, with his current strength, he simply couldn't fight them all.
That's how the ninja world of this era worked. No matter how strong a ninja was, they couldn't withstand sheer numbers.
Only those with bloodline limits or special secret techniques could barely contend with numerical advantage.
"I don't know the reason either."
Black Zetsu's voice grew heavier, full of confusion.
"According to the original battle plan, the Hagoromo clan should be coordinating with the Uchiha to attack the Senju main force from the north and south. No matter what, they shouldn't be coming to Rakko Cliff, a place with no strategic value."
"Th-then what do we do? I can't beat a whole group of them!"
Senju Syura gripped his blade tightly, frowning.
Black Zetsu, however, remained calm. It spoke lightly, full of confidence. "Why panic? With me here, would I let you fall into danger? We'll change direction!"
It immediately gave instructions, its voice steady. "The Hagoromo clan is coming from the front. We'll run in the opposite direction right now!"
"Okay!"
Seeing Black Zetsu so composed, most of Senju Syura's panic settled down instantly.
During the time he had followed Black Zetsu, this mysterious sage had given him a strong sense of security.
Without wasting a second, he immediately followed the direction indicated, sprinting toward the forest opposite the Hagoromo squad.
———
The Uchiha marching army advanced forward in great numbers.
At the front, an Uchiha elder turned to Uchiha Yui beside him. "Clan Leader, ahead is Rakko Cliff."
"As long as we keep going straight, we'll reach the designated location shortly. We've already contacted the Hagoromo clan... they will arrive here at the same time."
Uchiha Yui lifted her crimson Sharingan toward the direction of Rakko Cliff. Her gaze was cold as she gave a slight nod. "In that case, increase speed. Reach Rakko Cliff as soon as possible."
"When the time comes, we'll first coordinate with the Hagoromo clan, then finalize the plan to launch a surprise attack on the Senju."
"Understood!" The elder responded respectfully, immediately issuing orders for the troops to speed up.
———
In another part of the forest, Senju Syura clutched his blade, stumbling as he ran in the direction Black Zetsu guided him.
The traces of the Hagoromo clan behind him grew more distant. Just as he let out half a breath of relief...
The Black Zetsu in his palm suddenly stiffened again.
"What the hell?! What's going on now?!"
Black Zetsu couldn't help but curse under its breath.
Senju Syura stopped abruptly, quickly looking down at his palm in panic. "Sage, what's wrong? What happened?"
Black Zetsu's voice sank like a stone, heavy with disbelief. "The Uchiha clan's army is also heading toward Rakko Cliff!"
"What?!"
Senju Syura's face instantly turned pale, even worse than before. He staggered back a step, his back slamming hard into an old tree. His vision spun.
Behind him, the Hagoromo clan was chasing. In front, the Uchiha army was blocking the way. Attacked from both sides, he had already fallen into a dead end.
"Could it be… could it be this isn't Rakko Cliff at all, but Crane-Fall Cliff? Just waiting for me?", Looking at the hopeless situation, Senju Syura couldn't help but laugh bitterly, muttering to himself, his tone full of helplessness and self-mockery.
Hearing this, Black Zetsu's dark mouth twitched slightly. A hint of amusement flashed in its eyes, almost laughing at the absurd remark.
"At a time like this, and you're still saying nonsense!"
It quickly suppressed the smile and scolded in a deep voice, "The more desperate the situation, the calmer you need to be! Panicking won't solve anything!"
Inwardly, it thought, it had nothing to fear itself. It couldn't die, and White Zetsu could always back it up. Even if surrounded, it could escape anytime using the Mayfly Technique.
Even though no one could be seen around right now, as long as it gave the order, countless White Zetsu would surge up from the ground.
But it couldn't abandon Senju Syura. Not just because he was the target of the Asura reincarnation test, but also because it couldn't bear to watch this boy, who had just ignited his fighting spirit, die here.
But Senju Syura seemed to have completely given up struggling.
He loosened his grip on the blade and dropped onto the ground, sitting there with both hands spread out, looking like he was ready to accept his fate. His tone was calm, but full of helplessness.
"Sigh, Sage, let's just leave it like this. Being able to meet you is already a blessing of three lifetimes. At least during this time, I truly got to experience what it's like to be a ninja. That's enough.", Senju Syura said helplessly.
Seeing this completely laid-back attitude, Black Zetsu's face tightened again, silently rolling its eyes in frustration.
This was Senju Syura's old habit. Before coming here, he had spent his days slacking off. Now that he faced a dead end, he had gone right back to it.
The worse the situation, the more he gave up. And the more he gave up, the worse the situation became. A perfect vicious cycle.
"Stay calm! I'm here, keep thinking of a way to run!", Black Zetsu quickly said.
But Senju Syura gave a bitter smile, "Sage… can I stop running?"
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