Splat!
The black-robed man's palm effortlessly pierced through Senju Nawaki's abdomen, extinguishing the life of Konoha's promising young talent.
The scion of the Senju clan, a beacon of hope for the village, had fallen. His tragic fate served as a stark reminder that even the most gifted individuals were not invincible.
"Hahaha, all my meticulous planning has paid off!" The black-robed man cackled, standing over Nawaki's lifeless body. "The power of the Senju clan is finally mine! Soon, I will break the shackles of talent and become a true Kage-level powerhouse!"
His frenzied laughter echoed through the valley, a testament to his twisted triumph. But his exhilaration was short-lived. He quickly remembered his objective.
After rummaging through Nawaki's belongings and retrieving several ninjutsu scrolls, the black-robed man ruthlessly opened Nawaki's abdomen, harvesting his vital organs. He then vanished into the night, leaving behind a gruesome scene.
A short while later, the man arrived at a secluded clearing within a dense forest.
"To think that killing the Senju prodigy would yield such an unexpected boon!" he exclaimed, unfurling a scroll taken from Nawaki.
It was a secret scroll detailing the secrets of the Senju clan's unique physiology.
"While this technique has limitations, once I unlock the mysteries of the Senju body, my own will be transformed. With Kage-level chakra, I will secure my place among the strongest in the ninja world!"
The black-robed man's eyes gleamed with a fervent light. He had been born with limited talent in a small nation, destined to become nothing more than an average jonin. Although that was still a respectable achievement for most ninja, it wasn't enough for him.
He was consumed by ambition and a thirst for power. He refused to be just another jonin. To fulfill his desires, he needed more.
From a young age, he had immersed himself in medical ninjutsu, delving into the forbidden arts of biological modification. His goal was to shatter his own limitations and become a true powerhouse of the shinobi world.
But breaking the shackles of biology was no easy feat. After years of relentless experimentation and dozens of self-inflicted modifications, he had barely managed to surpass the limits of a jonin, reaching the level of an elite jonin. Yet, it was still not enough.
He clawed his way to the top, becoming the leader of his village's shinobi forces. During the Second Shinobi World War, he seized an opportunity and secretly formed an alliance with Sunagakure.
He then orchestrated attacks on Konoha's forces, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing them to retreat in disarray. In fact, he had intentionally leaked information about his alliance with Suna to Orochimaru. Even if he had succeeded in wiping out the Konoha army, he wouldn't have been able to capture his target. The powerful shinobi of Konoha would undoubtedly protect their own and escape.
Only by exhausting the Konoha forces could he lure out and distract the village's strongest protectors. The chaos of the retreat provided the perfect opportunity.
While Sunagakure might not have achieved all of its strategic objectives, he had accomplished his own personal goals. From the very beginning of this war, he had been embedded within the Suna forces.
As a special envoy from the Land of Sky, he had been covertly monitoring Senju Nawaki for quite some time. Using his position, he manipulated the pursuing Suna shinobi to lure Nawaki into the valley, a trap he had meticulously prepared to extract the secrets of the Senju clan's power.
In his pursuit of this goal, he had not only deceived Konoha and Sunagakure but also jeopardized his own village and nation. Senju Nawaki was not just anyone; he was the grandson of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, a direct descendant of the esteemed clan, and one of Konoha's most cherished figures. His brutal death was a grave insult to Konoha.
Every shinobi in the village, from the highest-ranking officials to the lowliest foot soldiers, would find this act intolerable. It was this very incident that would ultimately lead to the destruction of the Land of Sky.
However, for this man, such sacrifices were insignificant compared to achieving his ambitions. He was willing to sacrifice his own country, his trusted subordinates, and even countless innocent civilians in pursuit of his twisted ideals.
In his mind, the ends justified the means, no matter the cost.
This was the common trait of ambitious individuals like them – cunning, ruthless, and willing to do anything to achieve their goals. The black-robed man embodied these qualities perfectly.
Thud!
Just as the black-robed man reveled in his triumph, a sharp pain pierced his chest. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the blood-stained blade protruding from his torso.
"Leader of the Land of Sky's shinobi, Shinno! Acquiring the Senju bloodline was quite the endeavor, wasn't it? Pity that all your efforts ultimately benefit me."
A mocking voice reached Shinno's ears. He turned his head stiffly to see a young man with brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, and a distinctive hairstyle. The young man's face held a faint smile, a mixture of amusement and derision.
In his hand, he held a katana with a pale green hilt. It was evident that this young man was responsible for the fatal blow.
Shing!
Aizen withdrew his Kyōka Suigetsu, the sound of metal leaving flesh echoing through the clearing. Shinno's body slumped to the ground, his face etched with despair and resentment as he glared at the enigmatic young man before him.
Even with his enhanced regenerative abilities, the wound to his heart was fatal.
"Who are you? How did you know my identity? And... how did you know my plan?" Shinno rasped, his voice barely a whisper.
He couldn't comprehend how his meticulously crafted scheme had been exposed.
"Dead men ask too many questions," Aizen retorted, his patience wearing thin.
With a swift slash, he silenced Shinno, ending the life of the would-be mastermind. The once ambitious villain, who had orchestrated such chaos, met his end in confusion, never knowing who had outwitted him.
With Shinno's demise, Aizen eagerly turned his attention to the spoils of his victory