In a dark space, nine colorful lights suddenly flickered.
These lights quickly formed into nine indistinct thought projections. Even though they were just projections, their unique appearances made them easily recognizable.
"It's been a while since we've all gathered together. The last time was after Kakuzu and Hidan were killed, and the leader reminded us to beware of Konoha's Wood-Style user."
"Let's make this quick; I've got things to do."
"Scorpion, you're not still obsessing over your puppets, are you? I've told you a thousand times: true art is a fleeting moment... hmm!"
"Fool, true art is eternal beauty!"
"No, it's the beauty of a single moment!"
"They're arguing again... geez, didn't you guys notice? We've got new members."
As soon as the nine thought projections appeared, two of them immediately began bickering. It was only after one projection's reminder that everyone focused their attention on the thought projections with the labels [Empty] and [Three].
Scorpion, who had been arguing with Deidara, stared intently at the projection carrying a fan on its back, speaking in a low tone. "Kūchin, was that ring made by Pain, or did you get it from Orochimaru?"
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Itachi, who had been watching Uchiha Madara's projection, also glanced over at Hundred Faces.
"Take a guess,"
Hundred Faces replied with a teasing tone.
"Hmph."
Scorpion merely snorted and didn't ask further, intending to contact his spy near Orochimaru after the meeting to see if the snake had died.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Tobi. Nice to meet you all!"
Whether showing his true nature or playing the fool as part of his plan, Uchiha Obito, alias Tobi, acted foolishly, greeting the group with exaggerated gestures and a playful tone.
Upon hearing "everyone" and "seniors," Deidara, who was once the youngest in the group, suddenly straightened up, cleared his throat in a false display of maturity, and said, "Ahem… Tobi, huh? You've got potential. Stick with me... hmm!"
"Yes, Deidara-senpai!"
Obito immediately saluted enthusiastically.
Those who knew Obito's true identity watched in silence, while Scorpion, who didn't, shook his head and remarked, "This organization's standards are slipping if we're letting just anyone in. The future doesn't look bright."
"Hey, it's good to have some lightheartedness!"
Kisame grinned widely.
After the group finished their banter, Pain's Deva Path finally spoke. "I called this meeting to introduce you to our new members, so there won't be any misunderstandings if you encounter each other in the field."
"[Kūchin] is Hundred Faces, and [Santai] is Tobi. They'll be replacing Kakuzu and Hidan."
Pain then introduced the rest of Akatsuki's members to Hundred Faces and Uchiha Obito.
Once the introductions were over, Hundred Faces quipped, "An impressive group—members who wiped out their own clans or killed the Kage of their own villages. All high-profile figures."
"Mhm, mhm…"
Obito nodded along.
"Boring. Don't call me unless it's important."
With that, Scorpion's thought projection vanished. Uchiha Itachi followed suit soon after.
Seeing Scorpion and Itachi leave, Deidara and Kisame quickly logged off as well.
In a short while, the Akatsuki meeting was over.
Nagato didn't care much about their unity.
In his eyes, these S-rank rogue ninjas were merely tools to help him capture the nine tailed beasts. Once peace was achieved, these dangerous individuals would be dealt with, as they were threats to the new order.
Meanwhile, Hundred Faces returned his consciousness to reality and resumed the tasks Yagyu had assigned him. The meeting had just been a brief interruption. As Yagyu's most unique Wood-Style clone, Hundred Faces had the mission to infiltrate Akatsuki and handle tasks Yagyu couldn't directly involve himself in.
For example, conducting experiments!
Shortly after his consciousness returned, a Wood-Style clone, also disguised, appeared outside Hiruho's castle, carrying an unconscious person.
At the same time, another disguised Wood-Style clone emerged from the ground using the Mayfly Technique.
Hundred Faces placed his hand on the second clone's shoulder, absorbing its chakra.
If one looked closely, they would notice that Hundred Faces's chakra had significantly changed compared to when he was teaching Sasuke Uchiha.
His chakra reserves, once only comparable to a Jonin, had grown so vast that Hundred Faces's current reserves, even as a clone, now rivaled the jinchuriki and tailless-tailed beasts.
Without such large reserves, he wouldn't be able to deceive Obito and Black Zetsu.
Thus, Yagyu regularly sent clones with vast chakra reserves to recharge Hundred Faces.
Other clones had to restore their chakra by absorbing it from others, and if no suitable targets were found, they would simply dissipate. But Hundred Faces, unlike them, was constantly recharged by Yagyu.
After Hundred Faces finished recharging, the clone carrying the unconscious person approached and left the test subject behind before departing.
Hundred Faces then retrieved a scroll, took out a medium, and began the experiment.
"Edo Tensei!"
A short while later, a voice echoed through the castle.
As Hundred Faces had told Pain and Obito, he had already mastered the Edo Tensei technique.
This forbidden jutsu was nearly impossible for most to comprehend, but for Yagyu, it was the first forbidden technique he mastered.
Thanks to Tobirama Senju's detailed notes, left as a safeguard for future generations, and with Orochimaru focusing on perfecting the Edo Tensei and his Eight Branches Technique, Yagyu, who had spies monitoring Orochimaru, learned it easily.
"Aaaah…"
With a miserable scream, dust and dirt floated into the air, covering the test subject, and soon formed a bandaged figure, cracked and scarred all over.
This individual was well-known, even decades later, and still remembered in textbooks across the great ninja villages.
His talent was second only to Tobirama Senju of Konoha, who developed numerous forbidden techniques. This man, on the other hand, created techniques that surpassed Kekkei Genkai, known as Kekkei Tota.
Indeed, this man was the Second Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Mu, the "Non-Person," famous for his mastery of Dust Release and his "Dustless Bewildering Cover."
"Who are you…"
Swoosh—
Before Mu could finish asking his question, Hundred Faces seized control of his body and continued his experiment.
Just as Yagyu had once used the clone "White" for his experiments, Hundred Faces now summoned Wood-Style and Shadow Clones with chakra far below that of Edo Mu to fight him.
He wanted to see if defeating Mu could yield Kekkei Tota or techniques like Dust Release and the Dustless Bewildering Cover.
Days later, after conducting hundreds of experiments, Hundred Faces sent the results back to Yagyu.
The experiment had failed!
Whether Mu had lost control of his body or fought freely, defeating him yielded no special techniques or Kekkei Tota.
Yagyu wasn't surprised.
This result was within his expectations.
The failure could be due to Mu being dead, or it could be because Edo Tensei was his technique.
Since the clones weren't defeating a living person, but rather a technique he himself had cast, nothing dropped.
To confirm if this was the case, Yagyu planned to fight Edo Tensei summons controlled by Orochimaru or Kabuto. If nothing dropped in those battles either, it would prove that defeating just the soul wasn't enough—both the soul and body had to be defeated for it to count.
With this thought, Yagyu ordered his clones to increase their surveillance of Orochimaru.
Time flew by as the seasons changed.
On July 21st, Konoha Year 63, at Konoha's gates:
"Lord Yagyu, Lady Hinata, Lord Shino, welcome back! It must've been a tough mission."
At the village gates, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki greeted Yagyu, Hinata, and Shino respectfully.
"You two worked hard as well,"
Yagyu responded warmly after completing the registration process, leading Hinata and Shino into the village.
As the trio walked away, Kotetsu and Izumo exchanged awed glances, still in disbelief at how much these three had grown.
"I can't believe it's only been three years. Those Genin have grown so much,"
Kotetsu remarked.
"Of course. After all, they're the heirs to three great ninja clans and two of the most prestigious families,"
Izumo replied with a chuckle. "I remember when Lord Yagyu took me down with just a glance. Back then, I thought he'd become Konoha's Genjutsu master. Who knew he was hiding so much?"
"A fifteen-year-old Elite Jonin—it's impressive,"
Kotetsu said.
"Of course, he's a descendant of the First Hokage and the second person in history to awaken Wood-Style. I heard he recently helped Sunagakure turn a desert city into a lush oasis."
"Lady Hinata is incredible too. As the Fifth Hokage's disciple, she's incorporated Tsunade's strength techniques into the Hyuga's Gentle Fist. She's the only Hyuga to master both the Gentle and Steel Fist. And that mark on her forehead—it's just like Tsunade's!"
"Isn't she only fifteen? Her… proportions are a bit exaggerated, don't you think?"
"Whoa, Izumo! Don't drag me down with you if you're planning to die!"
"..."
Unaware of the gatekeepers' conversation, Team 8 headed toward the Hokage's office.
Along the way, villagers warmly greeted them, with many showing respect for their attire.
A closer look revealed that all three were wearing green vests—Jonin vests, to be exact.
This meant that all members of Team 8 had achieved the rank of Special Jonin or higher.
Three years had passed, and Team 8 was now recognized as the strongest new-generation squad, without a doubt.
Beyond their new status, Team 8's appearances had also changed dramatically.
Shino Aburame, now standing at 1.75 meters (5'9"), was among the tallest in his generation. However, his personality remained as introverted as ever, with his entire body still covered in clothing. His high collar covered everything from his chin to his nose, while his sunglasses, hood, and forehead protector concealed his face, leaving only his nose and part of his ears visible, adding to his air of mystery.
Shino walked on Yagyu's left, hands in his pockets, exuding a cool aura.
Hinata walked on Yagyu's right, also with her hands in her pockets.
Among the five "flowers" of the new generation—Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and Karin—Hinata had undergone the most drastic transformation.
After being cared for by Yagyu since she was six, Hinata had grown to 1.65 meters (5'5") by the age of fifteen.
While not particularly tall, she wasn't short either.
Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, and her delicate face had lost all traces of childishness, with refined features and fair skin.
On her smooth forehead was a purple, diamond-shaped mark.
Her eyes, once pure white, now had a faint lavender tint, possibly due to a change in her irises or the purity of her Byakugan.
Hinata's hands were in her pockets as she gazed ahead, exuding the air of a seasoned Taijutsu master rather than the shy girl she once was.
But the most significant change was her chest. At twelve, she had already developed considerably, but now, at fifteen, it was hard to imagine just how much larger she had grown.
Even with her Jonin vest and black tunic, her chest pouches were purely decorative, unable to hold anything.
One could only wonder how her figure would appear in regular clothing, and how noticeable her movements would be.
Shino and Hinata were considered quite tall among their peers, but standing beside Yagyu, they seemed small.
Yagyu, walking slightly ahead of them, now stood at an impressive 1.88 meters (6'2"), with a straight, commanding posture that radiated a sense of security.
His outfit resembled that of Kakashi and the other Elite Jonin, with a green vest, black tunic, and standard ninja pants.
His silver hair, once cut short, now flowed down to his waist.
His face had fully matured, with sharp, angular features that resembled a finely chiseled sculpture. His red eyes sparkled like precious gems, and the faint smile that played on his lips made the young women and housewives they passed blush and their hearts race.
Fifteen years had passed since Yagyu arrived in this world, and in a few months, he would turn sixteen. Finally, Yagyu had grown up!
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