On the third day after Orochimaru left Konoha, Jiraiya returned to the village. That very day, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, officially issued an S-rank bounty on Orochimaru.
This news spread swiftly across the ninja world, causing quite a stir.
After all, Orochimaru was one of the legendary Sannin, whose fame had long shaken the ninja world. And now, he had become a rogue ninja.
---
Kumogakure - Raikage's Office
The Fourth Raikage didn't show much interest in the news about Orochimaru's defection.
"Although he's one of the Sannin, Orochimaru leaving Konoha won't have much impact on the village," he remarked.
"Still, investigate why he defected. There might be something we can exploit," he added.
Dodai nodded. "Indeed, but we mustn't provoke Konoha. That would be disadvantageous to us, especially since we're currently allies and working together against the Akatsuki."
At the mention of the Akatsuki, the Fourth Raikage's expression darkened.
"Have we found the one who killed our people in Ame yet?"
Dodai shook his head. "So far, the only information from Konoha is that the culprit is an S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure. We've already issued orders to locate their whereabouts. Once found, our shinobi are to avoid engagement and wait for reinforcements."
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fist.
"Then find them quickly! When the time comes, I'll personally snap that bastard's neck!"
Dodai straightened and nodded solemnly. "Understood!"
Just then, a Kumo ninja knocked on the door and entered. "Raikage-sama, a messenger from Konoha has arrived in the village."
The Fourth Raikage frowned. "Is it about the Akatsuki?"
"Bring them in," he ordered.
The messenger bowed and left promptly. Dodai, however, speculated, "Raikage-sama, I doubt this is related to the Akatsuki. Our communication with Konoha regarding them has been consistent. There's no reason to send someone in person."
The Fourth Raikage nodded thoughtfully. "Let's see what they're here for, then."
---
Soon, a figure was escorted into the Raikage's office.
Dodai's eyes narrowed as he recognized the person. "That hair... Konoha's White Fang's son, Kakashi Hatake?"
Kakashi bowed politely. "Fourth Raikage-sama, I am Hatake Kakashi, here as a representative of the Fourth Hokage."
The Fourth Raikage scrutinized him. "So it's you. I remember—the son of Konoha's White Fang."
Years ago, Kakashi had barely escaped death at the hands of Killer B.
"What brings you here on behalf of the Fourth Hokage?" the Raikage asked.
Kakashi explained, "Raikage-sama, I am here to invite Kumogakure to participate in the first Chunin Tournament hosted by Konoha."
Both the Fourth Raikage and Dodai were visibly puzzled. The latter immediately asked, "Kakashi, what is this Chunin Tournament?"
Kakashi quickly elaborated, "It's a tournament where chunin compete in teams to complete mission-based challenges, ranking their performance."
"The goal is to enhance collaboration and coordination between allied shinobi, and to foster camaraderie."
Dodai caught on quickly. "Is this a preparation for dealing with the Akatsuki?"
Kakashi glanced at Dodai and inwardly marveled at his keen insight. "Indeed, that's part of the consideration," he admitted.
The Fourth Raikage contemplated briefly before nodding. "Since we're allies, we'll participate."
Kakashi promptly presented a scroll. "Raikage-sama, these are the rules for the Chunin Tournament."
The Raikage gestured for Dodai to take the scroll and asked, "Apart from us, who else has been invited?"
Without hesitation, Kakashi replied, "Sunagakure, Iwagakure, the Village of Hot Springs, and Amegakure."
The Fourth Raikage's brow furrowed. "Amegakure?"
Although Amegakure currently appeared to have no ties to the Akatsuki, the Raikage remained suspicious and distrustful of the village. As a result, Kumo had always kept a close watch on Amegakure's activities.
Kakashi, privy to much intelligence, guessed the Raikage's concerns. "This is also an opportunity to test Amegakure," he explained.
Dodai immediately agreed. "That's a valid approach."
The Fourth Raikage nodded. "Then so be it."
---
Meanwhile, in Amegakure - Leader's Office
Shuichi sat casually on the edge of the desk, watching Konan work diligently at her paperwork.
Women who work seriously are truly beautiful... and so cool! Shuichi thought as he admired her.
While enjoying the view, he nonchalantly discussed the Chunin Tournament.
Konan nodded after listening. "Understood. I'll send some people to participate when the time comes."
Back in July, Amegakure had already sent representatives for the joint Chunin Exams, so participating again didn't seem like a big deal.
Shuichi explained, "The Chunin Tournament is different. The key element lies in real combat."
"Teams or individuals draw mission assignments, hunting down rogue ninjas, bandits, or wandering shinobi."
Hearing this, Konan looked up. "Are teams allowed to hunt each other during the Tournament?"
Shuichi shook his head. "No, I'll be monitoring everything closely."
"I'm not trying to train mindless killing machines."
"Otherwise, there would be no point in uniting the ninja world."
"To truly change the ninja world, we must first change the nature of the ninja as a group."
Konan frowned slightly, puzzled. "Change the nature of ninja? What do you mean?"
Shuichi posed a question: "What is the primary role of a ninja today?"
Konan responded, "Gathering intelligence, espionage, coups, assassinations, war."
"In other words... fighting."
Shuichi nodded. "Exactly!"
"Even in Konoha, only fresh academy graduates—genin—handle tasks like finding lost pets, cleaning rivers, or hunting beasts that destroy crops for the villagers."
"Konan, the Land of Rain is known as the Crying Country. Have you, or even Nagato, ever thought of using the power of ninja to change such an environment?"
Konan blinked, struggling to grasp his meaning. "What... do you mean? The environment?"
Shuichi explained, "The rainy environment."
"Too much rain isn't good."
"Take the Land of Wind, with its vast deserts, for example."
"The Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers have an abundance of water resources, but the Land of Wind is covered in deserts. Yet no ninja ever considers changing the environment to improve living conditions. Instead, they fight, kill, and compete over resources."
"The ninja world is only so big. If no one makes the 'cake' bigger, the cycle of fighting over limited resources will just keep repeating."
Konan was stunned.
This was a perspective she, Yahiko, and even Nagato had never considered.
She thought for a moment, then looked at Shuichi with confusion. "How... how would you even begin to change it? If it's about rain..."
She trailed off, genuinely lost.
If they had studied in Konoha's formal ninja academy, they might have learned more diverse knowledge.
But the three of them had Jiraiya as their teacher. In three years, beyond ninjutsu, he could only teach them basic life lessons.
Systematic knowledge like this was far beyond their reach.
Ninja could deal with rain—but stopping it? That was a mystery to Konan.
---
Shuichi took her hand, and in the next instant, they disappeared from the office and reappeared on a mountain north of Amegakure.
"Look over there."
Shuichi pointed to the northern mountain range.
Konan nodded. "Those mountains... do they have something to do with the rainfall in the Land of Rain?"
Shuichi nodded. "To some extent, yes."
"The Land of Rivers and the eastern Land of Fire have mostly flat terrain. Particularly in the Land of Rivers, the elevation gradually rises as you go north into the Land of Rain."
"But in the northern part of the Land of Rain, at the border with the Land of Earth and the Land of Birds, towering mountains appear. Especially at the border with the Land of Earth, the terrain and mountains are exceptionally high."
"Moist air currents move from the south to the north. As they rise in altitude, the temperature drops, causing the moisture to condense into rain."
"When the air currents reach the Land of Rain, they're at their limit, unable to cross the high mountains into the Land of Earth."
"The Land of Grass fares better because its surrounding mountains aren't as high. Moist air can enter from the south or east but in moderation, making the Land of Grass lush and perfectly balanced."
Konan listened, her jaw dropping in astonishment.
Shuichi sighed. Ah, the tragedy of not reading enough... ignorance is truly terrifying.
"So," Konan asked after regaining her composure, "are you suggesting that destroying the high mountains bordering the Land of Earth could solve the problem of excessive rainfall in the Land of Rain?"
Shuichi nodded. "It would definitely reduce it."
"Lowering the elevation would allow some moist air to flow into the Land of Earth, reducing rainfall in the Land of Rain while increasing it in the Land of Earth."
"Of course, climate is a global system, and even local changes could have far-reaching effects."
He turned to gaze toward the Land of Wind with a smile. "Konan, if Nagato unites the ninja world one day, how would you change the Land of Wind?"
"Would you relocate its people elsewhere?"
"But that would encroach on others' living spaces, creating conflict, opposition, and inevitable bloodshed."
"Keep things as they are? The people of the Land of Wind won't be content eating sand forever."
Konan also turned toward the Land of Wind, falling into deep thought.
What should they do?
She felt lost.
Could they apply Shuichi's method for the Land of Rain to the Land of Wind?
But why did the Land of Wind have so many deserts?
Konan's thoughts stalled completely.
Shuichi glanced at Konan, who was standing there in a daze, her slightly confused expression carrying a hint of innocent cuteness. Smiling softly, he didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he took her hand, and in the blink of an eye, they teleported back to his office.
He placed the scroll for the Chunin Tournament on the table and said with a smile, "When you see Nagato, why not ask him about this too?"
"I'll be leaving now."
Before Konan could react, Shuichi had already disappeared. She snapped out of her thoughts, just as she was about to speak, only to find herself alone. A trace of disappointment lingered in her heart.
"How exactly should the Land of Wind be changed?"
Konan couldn't figure it out.
---
Back in Konoha, Shuichi was pondering something else.
Developing an S-rank Water Release technique somehow resulted in a new Tag being added to his system.
Tag: [Tracking Master]
Tag Effect: Tracking talent +100%, sensitivity to traces +100%, visual acuity +100%. Every trace left behind, every whisper carried by the wind—nothing escapes the insight of your eyes.
It wasn't a new Tag waiting to be unlocked; it had directly become active and ready to use.
The reason lay in the Water Release technique his clone had just completed: the development of Superheavy Water, a nature transformation that enhanced Water Release with exceptional properties.
This superheavy water carried strong radioactive traits. While the radiation was minimal and wouldn't kill in a short time, it had an unexpected side effect during its creation—it could be used for marking targets.
In other words, once vaporized superheavy water entered an enemy's body through inhalation, it could remain in their system for seven to eight days without being metabolized or detected. During this period, Shuichi could track them using the water's radiative signature.
This effectively turned superheavy water into a temporary tracking device embedded in the enemy's body, lasting a week.
By sheer coincidence, this innovation had led to the creation of an S-rank tracking ninjutsu—and as a bonus, it unlocked the [Tracking Master] Tag.
"Is this just sheer luck?"
Shuichi felt a bit bewildered, but he quickly activated the new Tag.
The next moment, he felt a cool sensation in his eyes, and his vision sharpened noticeably, bringing him a pleasant surprise.
Scanning the study with his enhanced sight, Shuichi marveled at the changes. "The heightened insight is impressive. It's different from the Sharingan's dynamic vision—it's more like enhanced visual acuity, almost like having a microscope, though not quite that extreme."
A [Master] Tag wasn't bad at all.
But the most exciting development came from the Tag unlocked after obtaining the [Water Release Master] Tag.
Tag: [God of Ninjutsu]
Conditions to Obtain:
Combine [Fire Release Master], [Wind Release Master], [Lightning Release Master], [Water Release Master], [Earth Release Master], [Genjutsu Master], [Taijutsu Master], [Sealing Master], [Medical Master], [Lord of Space-Time], [Body Flicker Master], [Clone Master], [Transformation Master], [Substitution Master], and [Sensory Master].
Tag Effect: +100% physique, +100% mental energy, +100% recovery rate.
50% immunity to all non-Sage ninjutsu damage. Within the realm of ninjutsu, you are a god—any ninjutsu within your understanding can be mastered instantly. One glance to comprehend, one attempt to perfect.
It was a synthesis Tag, much like the earlier [Prodigy] Tag.
But seeing the sheer number of Master Tags required for this one made Shuichi's scalp tingle.
"Fortunately, I've already completed most of them…" Shuichi thought to himself.
"Now, I'm only missing [Taijutsu Master], [Lord of Space-Time], and [Body Flicker Master]."
Still, the Tag effects were overwhelming.
A 50% immunity to all non-Sage ninjutsu damage—wasn't this comparable to the Truth-Seeking Orbs?
Truth-Seeking Orbs could nullify all non-Sage ninjutsu by disassembling their composition entirely.
"But why is [Taijutsu Master] included in this?" Shuichi wondered. "Taijutsu isn't part of ninjutsu, so does this mean it also grants immunity to physical attacks from taijutsu?"
Suddenly, a thought struck himNintaijutsu!
"So, it must mean immunity to ninjutsu-enhanced taijutsu, but not to pure physical attacks from standard taijutsu," Shuichi concluded, deciding not to dwell on it further.
The most shocking aspect was the final effect, the essence of the [God of Ninjutsu] Tag.
To be a god in the realm of ninjutsu, mastering any technique within the scope of one's understanding at first sight, and perfecting it with ease.
"This means techniques like the Shadow Imitation Jutsu or Expansion Jutsu could be learned instantly if they fall within the bounds of my nature transformations?"
"What about Yin-Yang Release?"
"It should be possible too, considering I already grasp Yin and Yang Release individually..."
Excitement bubbled up in Shuichi's chest. "If that's the case, then I might just barely live up to the title of 'God.'"
"And the Sharingan… If I were to awaken it, does this mean I could instantly learn others' Mangekyo abilities as well?"
(End of Chapter)
❇❇❇
Support me on Patreon - Read Up to 70+ Advanced Chapters There!
patreon.com/RedX43
❇❇❇