Chapter 120: Chapter 120 – Emerging from Seclusion!
As the war between Konoha, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure reached a fever pitch, the Fourth Great Ninja War finally erupted in full.
However, right from the start of the war, Ōnoki issued strict orders forbidding his subordinates from participating.
Instead, he established two major awards: the Land of Earth Construction Award and the Iwagakure Development Award, both dedicated to honoring those who made significant contributions to the Land of Earth and Iwagakure in terms of infrastructure or ninjutsu advancement.
With Sunagakure already thoroughly crushed and the other three major villages locked in bitter combat, the Land of Earth stood apart—growing stronger and more stable amidst the chaos.
It was a rare and precious opportunity for development.
That didn't mean Iwagakure ignored combat readiness.
Ōnoki gave high praise to the shinobi who had previously repelled Sunagakure and Konoha in earlier conflicts, and he improved the benefits for those on patrol and border duty.
But for those who had shown cowardice—especially during the defense against the Konoha alliance—Ōnoki handed out strict punishments.
Even Roshi, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, was among those severely disciplined.
Such ironclad laws and decisive leadership elevated Ōnoki's prestige even further, pushing Iwagakure's internal unity to new heights.
Wary that Konoha might lash out in desperation and target Iwagakure next, Ōnoki secretly contacted the leader of the Akatsuki and planned to discuss the division of interests at a later time—his goal: to build an impenetrable wall between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.
Using a projection of Deva Path Pain, a temporary peace agreement between Akatsuki and Ōnoki was established.
...
But just as everything was heating up...
Roshi, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, suddenly escaped from captivity and vanished without a trace.
Behind the scenes, Black Zetsu had secretly obtained Kakashi's Sharingan from Sasori of the Red Sand.
He transplanted it into a White Zetsu clone, possessed it himself, and infiltrated Kamui's space—where he found the skeletal remains of Obito.
Though Obito had been dead for nearly a decade and his Sharingan had long withered, Black Zetsu used his millennia of dark knowledge to restore Obito's Kamui eye.
Then, by fusing the corpse with White Zetsu and anchoring himself to it, Black Zetsu created a new "Uchiha Madara"—one fully under his control.
The long-missing "Uchiha Madara" suddenly reappeared within the Akatsuki.
Given how short-handed Akatsuki had become, the idealist Nagato was quickly brainwashed by the ancient schemer Black Zetsu through "Madara's" body.
Roshi, who had fled the village in pursuit of his dream of peace, was personally captured by Deva Path Pain.
As a result, Iwagakure's defensive layout was exposed...
...
〖Year Nine〗
You have completely mastered your Tailed Beast powers.
Using the power of the Six-Tomoe Sharingan, you erased Shukaku's will entirely and turned the beast into an extension of yourself.
Since the power of the Yang Nine-Tails had been excessively depleted during your fusion of Uchiha and Uzumaki bloodlines, it could no longer be used on its own.
You implanted it into Shukaku's body and fused the two completely with overwhelming Ocular Power.
Although you didn't awaken your own Susanoo, you did inherit the version previously awakened by Uchiha Itachi from your bloodline.
Due to Itachi's limited development of the bloodline and the degradation from bloodline absorption, the Susanoo could only reach the half-bodied Stage Two form.
The Three Sacred Treasures disappeared following Itachi's death, greatly weakening the Susanoo's power.
But you forged a new path—merging Susanoo with the Tailed Beast, then layering Magnet Release defensive barriers and Adamantine Sealing techniques, creating a makeshift but powerful variant: the Armored Beast Susanoo!
Perhaps it's due to your Uzumaki bloodline, or maybe your Six-Tomoe Sharingan has gained a fragment of the Eternal Mangekyō's strength— despite Susanoo being notoriously draining on Ocular Power, your eyes recover astonishingly fast after deactivation.
Now, with complete mastery over both Tailed Beast powers and Susanoo...
You emerge from seclusion!
With this thought, you decide to summon Boss Black-Cat to share the thrilling news with your long-time companion.
But what you see nearly breaks you.
Boss Black-Cat is barely breathing—covered in wounds, blinded, and missing its tail.
Furious, you demand to know what happened, and pour your own blood infused with Yang Nine-Tails' chakra into its mouth.
But Black-Cat only shakes its head and urges you to return to the village immediately.
Not bothering to verify anything, you tear through the rear mountain barrier—
Only for a massive toad to drop from the sky, declaring itself a messenger from Mount Myōboku and demanding you hand over Black-Cat.
It accuses Black-Cat of violating the laws of the Holy Land and says it must be taken back for punishment.
Only then do you learn what's been happening in your absence:
After you killed the Great Toad Sage, Mount Myōboku began pressuring the Ninja Cat Clan. While Boss Black-Cat was out scouting, he was captured by the toads.
The toad before you carries itself with arrogant disdain.
You glare at it and say coldly:
"Beasts will always be beasts. This is the Land of Earth. This is Iwagakure."
"This is not a place where toads get to throw their weight around!"
Enraged by your words, the toad lashes its long tongue at you in punishment.
You raise a single finger— Instantly, the steel from a nearby construction warehouse pierces into the toad's body.
Then, with a slight lift of your hand, the once-arrogant toad is launched into the air—looking like a steel-pierced hedgehog.
Lava Release!
The steel embedded in its flesh turns white-hot.
"Mount Myōboku, huh? You think you're worthy of talking to me? Wait your turn. I'll have your elder frog come meet you himself."
You clench your hand—
The molten steel twists into a sphere, silencing the toad's screams.
You fly into the sky, extend both hands, and under the power of Lava Release and Magnet Release, the molten sphere fully fuses with the toad's body.
You compress the iron even further, and merge in a large chunk of chakra metal.
Then, using Water Release to cool it, you forge a massive greatsword—imbued with the very soul of the Mount Myōboku toad.
You walk past the stunned crowd and the silent Ōnoki straight to the smithy, handing the blade over and requesting a proper hilt.
But the sword is so heavy that even a dozen chakra-trained blacksmiths can't lift it.
They have no choice but to begin the modification work on the spot.
Cradling the broken body of Boss Black-Cat, you walk up to the pale-faced Ōnoki.
From him, you learn that the toad arrived in Iwagakure a month ago.
With Roshi missing again, Deidara captured by a mysterious assailant during a mission, and Uchiha Setsuna nearing the end of his lifespan, Iwagakure's previously bright prospects had taken a sharp downturn.
Left with no better option, Ōnoki had let the toad enter.
Swallowing your grief and rage, you return home and bid farewell to Uchiha Setsuna.
Before his passing, Uchiha Setsuna fully awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan ability "Butōgyokumei"—a time-and-sealing-based ocular technique.
It was the culmination of a life lived in loyal service to the Uchiha, right up until the final moment.
You accept the Mangekyō Sharingan and entrust it to Boss Black-Cat, with a vow: you will not see each other again until Mount Myōboku is destroyed.
After saying goodbye, you visit the two Uchiha infants who you and Setsuna once protected during their escape from the village.
Now, they are both around twelve or thirteen years old and show remarkable talent.
They've already become Iwagakure Special Jōnin and are preparing for their full Jōnin exams.
You guide them in mastering their ninjutsu and Sharingan, and gift them each a strand of chakra from the Yang Nine-Tails.
Then, at last, you bid farewell to your old self.
"Have you made up your mind?" Ōnoki asks.
"Better to end it all cleanly than watch our families be destroyed by cowards and schemers."
Ōnoki nods solemnly, handing you a scroll containing the secrets of the Clone Technique and Dust Release.
This will be the decisive gamble... for the very survival of Iwagakure.
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