Konoha: Reforge the glory of Uchiha!

"Kill them all!"

The water mist descended, obscuring vision—Kirigakure's standard combat ninjutsu.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki effortlessly twisted the head off an Iwagakure shinobi and pointed towards the Iwagakure troops rushing to stop him. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen behind him wore expressions of excitement.

To become renowned in the ninja world, they would kill them all today!

Kirigakure Village, isolated overseas, had always maintained a closed-door policy and imposed harsh internal measures. The methods for training ninjas were brutal. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were a group of bloodthirsty monsters, and today they emerged from their cage.

"Hahaha, Iwagakure won't escape this time!"

A maniacal grin spread across Ghost Lantern Hozuki's face. He didn't harbor much hatred for Konoha; attacking Konoha was more strategic. His true enmity lay with the Tsuchikage. This time, old and new scores would be settled.

"Kids, don't play cat and mouse—finish them quickly!"

Ghost Lantern Hozuki reminded the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, who were displaying their old habit of toying with enemies before killing them.

More Iwagakure shinobi were arriving. They needed to clear a path to Iwagakure's rear as soon as possible. Cutting off their supply line would allow Kirigakure and Konoha to flank Iwagakure's army, ultimately defeating them.

Sensing danger, the Iwagakure team captain quickly retrieved a flare and fired it into the sky. As it soared, a strange chakra wave spread out.

Not much time passed.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki paused as he sensed a chakra fluctuation that made his heart race. The chakra level was monstrous.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang"

Several large magma bombs fell from the sky, shattering the Kirigakure team.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki dodged the scattered magma and spotted a small red-haired ninja exuding immense chakra.

A Tailed Beast Jinchūriki?

Ghost Lantern Hozuki had only ever felt such chakra from tailed beasts. Iwagakure had successfully created a jinchūriki?

Previously, only Konoha had jinchūriki in the ninja world.

Sealing a tailed beast inside a human required two conditions: a vessel that could withstand the beast's backlash and a corresponding sealing technique.

The sealing technique was crucial. Without it, even the strongest individuals couldn't contain a tailed beast.

Only a few in the ninja world could master such complex ninjutsu, mainly concentrated in the Uzumaki clan.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki hadn't expected Iwagakure to possess such a sealing master. What an oversight.

Tailed beasts were akin to nuclear weapons for ninja villages. Releasing them came at a high cost, as they attacked indiscriminately. To tailed beasts, all humans were enemies.

Releasing and recapturing a tailed beast was troublesome. Subduing a rampaging beast meant many casualties. Tailed beasts were last-resort weapons.

Kirigakure had two tailed beasts from Konoha, the three-tailed and six-tailed, but Ghost Lantern Hozuki didn't bring them!

Such dangerous creatures risked breaking free during transport, jeopardizing missions.

"Stand back, that brat is a tailed beast jinchūriki!"

"Flaming Mountain!"

"Melting Release."

Lao Zi was Iwagakure's jinchūriki experiment subject. Whether due to Iwagakure's faulty sealing or the four-tailed Monkey King's loneliness, Lao Zi remained a peaceful vessel.

Lao Zi charged into Kirigakure's ranks, mowing down enemies. In four-tailed chakra mode, he was cloaked in magma. A brush with him meant injury; contact meant death.

Young Lao Zi, swift and lethal, darted among Kirigakure's forces, harvesting lives. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen retreated repeatedly from his magma-clad chakra mode. Lao Zi was like living lava, scorching anything he touched.

In this mode, Lao Zi could withstand Rasengan, boasting formidable defense.

"Damn it."

Ghost Lantern Hozuki gritted his teeth. Iwagakure had reversed the situation with a jinchūriki. Without Tsuchikage, controlling the situation was difficult.

"Get back!"

"I'll handle this brat!"

Ghost Lantern Hozuki ordered a retreat and prepared to confront Lao Zi personally.

"Water Release: Water Steel Cannon!"

Ghost Lantern Hozuki relied on water release to counter fire attributes!

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Ghost Lantern Hozuki unleashed Sea Escape, flooding the area. Under his powerful water attacks, Lao Zi's magma chakra coat emitted thick smoke, the temperature waning.

"It works!"

Ghost Lantern Hozuki rejoiced, ready to intensify his assault. The kid seemed unable to endure much longer.

Capture him alive!

If the sealing technique on him could be studied, Kirigakure's tailed beasts wouldn't gather dust at home.

Lao Zi struggled in the water, disoriented by Ghost Lantern Hozuki's attacks. His stamina waned.

"Earth Release: Super Light and Heavy Rock Technique!"

Lao Zi suddenly became buoyant, surfacing. A rock lifted him from Sea Escape's range.

"Cough, cough, cough."

"Thanks, Ohnoki."

Lao Zi expelled water, grateful for Ohnoki's rescue. The earth release was Tsuchikage Mu's signature move, showing his high regard for Lao Zi.

"You're welcome, leave it to me now!"

Ohnoki hovered in the air, gathering chakra. A cone of light formed.

Dust Release?

Young Lao Zi was surprised; Tsuchikage learned this?

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

The cone-shaped light expanded into a cylinder, shooting at Ghost Lantern Hozuki. Everything touched by the white light was reduced to atoms.

"Damn it."

Ghost Lantern Hozuki dodged, glaring at Ohnoki.

Dust release and super light heavy rock technique—this short ninja must be Tsuchikage Mu's successor.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki evaded, but his troops weren't so lucky. Despite his warnings, many were caught, losing limbs.

Kill them!

Ghost Lantern Hozuki had no intention of capturing them alive. The dwarf jinchūriki and dwarf Ohnoki were too dangerous.

"Hahahaha, Ghost Lantern Hozuki, you're getting better!"

As Ghost Lantern Hozuki prepared to act, a taunt reached his ears, veins bulging at the familiar voice—mummy-wrapped Tsuchikage Mu had arrived.

Hovering, Tsuchikage Mu nodded at Ohnoki approvingly. Ohnoki's strength made him a worthy successor. All his skills were passed on. Ohnoki grew rapidly in the war of attrition, now able to stand alone.

Seeing Ghost Lantern Hozuki's disheveled state, Tsuchikage Mu mocked him. His old enemy shamed by his apprentice was delightful.

"Hmph, neither of you can beat me!"

"Summoning!"

Ghost Lantern Hozuki bit his finger, summoning his beast, the Big Clam.

"Genjutsu: Steam Pavilion."

The clam appeared, releasing smoke, filling the battlefield with mist.

"Retreat, everyone!"

"Run as far as possible!"

Tsuchikage Mu ordered Iwagakure's retreat. This battle was beyond them.

The smoke created illusions, misleading his ninjas to attack each other.

Ohnoki hovered above, the ground obscured by mist. Figures flickered below.

"What should I do, Master?"

Tsuchikage Mu sneered. He'd faced Ghost Lantern Hozuki's tactics before.

Identifying real from illusion was futile; destroying them all sufficed!

Dust Release suited large-scale attacks.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

Tsuchikage Mu unleashed dust release, sweeping the mist with cylindrical white light, turning everything to nothing.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki dodged, cursing Tsuchikage's mass-destruction ninjutsu—dust release should vanish!

Steam danger and power!

Ghost Lantern Hozuki created a clone, mimicking his size, then panted heavily. The move drained him, used sparingly.

The clone leapt, firing water cannons at airborne Tsuchikage Mu.

"Disperse!"

Tsuchikage Mu sensed danger, pushing Ohnoki and Lao Zi away. The clone exploded, creating high-temperature steam, burning Tsuchikage Mu.

"Damn, that old Ghost Lantern Hozuki is still cunning."

Tsuchikage Mu endured the burns, activating sensory ninjutsu to locate Ghost Lantern Hozuki. He ordered Ohnoki and Lao Zi to lead Iwagakure aside, aiming to settle the score with Ghost Lantern Hozuki.

After the explosion, hail fell. The clone, once Ghost Lantern Hozuki's size, shrank for another blast. Its scythe-hand targeted Iwagakure's forces.

Tsuchikage couldn't fly. After shrinking, the clone was easily recognized. The previous trick worked once!

Luring Tsuchikage Mu down was crucial. Ghost Lantern Hozuki's clone rushed Iwagakure's troops. Shrinkage accelerated its speed, catching them quickly.

Mowing the grass again!

The clone rampaged, blood flowing. Its impact enlarged it, nearing another explosion.

If it couldn't kill Tsuchikage Mu, it would devastate Iwagakure!

Ghost Lantern Hozuki reveled in the slaughter, noticing Tsuchikage Mu descending.

"Got you!"

Tsuchikage Mu pinpointed Ghost Lantern Hozuki, charging at him. Overexerted, Ghost Lantern Hozuki was vulnerable.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki fled, summoning his clone.

"Running?"

"Surrender!"

Tsuchikage Mu accelerated, lowering altitude, closing on Ghost Lantern Hozuki. White light gathered in his hand, lethal at this range.

He'd win.

Tsuchikage Mu trembled, Ghost Lantern Hozuki responsible for his disfigurement. Finally, revenge.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki saw the approaching light. Exhausted, he faced death.

With no escape, Ghost Lantern Hozuki resolved to take someone with him. He turned, using his last strength to launch water bombs.

Tsuchikage Mu dodged, the light in his hand intensifying.

"Not running?"

"Accept your fate!"

Tsuchikage Mu taunted the exhausted Ghost Lantern Hozuki. His enemy's impending death thrilled him. What to say?

This lifelong foe deserved a speech.

Tsuchikage Mu paused, preparing to speak. Ghost Lantern Hozuki grinned sinisterly.

"Mummy, you think you've won?"

"Let's die together!"

Tsuchikage Mu realized the clone's proximity, abandoning dust release to retreat.

Ghost Lantern Hozuki used his last strength, leaping to Tsuchikage Mu.

"Boom!"

The clone exploded, engulfing them in steam.

Two enemies, bound for the underworld.

The explosion drew Kirigakure and Iwagakure's attention. Ninjas rushed to investigate.

The result? Renewed fighting, brutal until Konoha intervened, forcing retreat.

The First Ninja World War neared its end. The second generations of five major villages perished.

In Konoha, Uchiha Nan received the news, overjoyed, informing Nara Shikato.

Simultaneously, Konoha ninjas secured the futures hall to prevent destruction by those losing money.

This damn war was finally over!

Thinking of futures profits, Uchiha Nan felt relief.

Uzumaki Mito's coldness would be met with a financial slap!

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