"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 214: The Next Generation
Yūshin certainly hadn't known beforehand that Kinkaku and Ginkaku could become Kumogakure's jinchūriki. After all, this didn't align with his "memories," but undoubtedly, these two possessed the qualities necessary to become jinchūriki.
These two were absolute savages—even after being swallowed by the Nine-Tails, they could feast within its stomach and intestines, consuming everything from gastric contents to excrement to digestive tract flesh without hesitation. They could overcome starvation and reclaim themselves.
Even setting aside such wildly extreme exploits—worthy of inclusion in "Tailed Beast Horror Story Collections"—discussing just two other incidents would prove these men's strength.
In the original timeline, during the First Shinobi World War's conclusion, these two exploited Kumogakure and Konoha's peace negotiations to eliminate both the Second Raikage and Second Hokage... Senju Tobirama, capable of using Flying Thunder God, somehow became a stepping stone in such events.
In a sense, Kinkaku and Ginkaku were Sarutobi Hiruzen's benefactors—in the original timeline, he became the new Hokage precisely through this opportunity.
"Regarding various nations' jinchūriki, Tobirama once specifically compiled related intelligence. If I recall correctly, Kumogakure's so-called Kinkaku and Ginkaku supposedly carry the legendary Sage of Six Paths' bloodline..." Uzumaki Mito said after brief recollection.
"Sometimes, the more you lack something, the more you emphasize it. Such titles aren't important—what matters is these two possess considerable strength," Yūshin replied.
What Six Paths bloodline or not—forget current Yūshin, even previous Yūshin didn't care about such things...
From Senju to Uchiha, to Uzumaki, plus the clan-exterminated Hagoromo ninja clans, Kirigakure's Kaguya Clan, and so forth—wasn't this world full of Six Paths bloodlines? Such things weren't remotely rare.
As for the so-called Six Paths Ninja Tools Kinkaku and Ginkaku wielded, they were most likely created by certain individuals falsely invoking the Six Paths name—Yūshin seemingly had never personally witnessed the Sage of Six Paths using such trinkets.
Regardless, Kinkaku and Ginkaku possessed solid personal strength, plus their expertise with "Treasured Tools," and now as jinchūriki—combined, their capabilities remained quite formidable... On paper, they possessed the possibility of eliminating Senju Tobirama.
"Kinkaku and Ginkaku—how old are they?" Yūshin asked again.
In the original timeline, Kinkaku and Ginkaku had long since died, yet just as Tobirama had only recently perished, many circumstances had changed—now Kinkaku and Ginkaku were still alive and active.
"Their ages should be around fifty. If high-level ninja possess naturally longer lifespans, under normal circumstances, this age represents their peak period for chakra, combat experience, and comprehensive strength," Hideyuki said.
Setting aside Yūshin as an unexpected factor, Konoha Village having lost Senju Hashirama would indeed struggle against the enhanced Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers.
Theoretically, these brothers' normal death should have occurred after consecutively eliminating the Second Raikage and Second Hokage, then being overwhelmed and killed by Kumogakure's massive forces.
Now, if Konoha wanted to handle them, would they also need to deploy massive forces?
Honestly, even if Konoha resolved such enemies through large-scale warfare, it would demonstrate Konoha's decline to other shinobi villages.
Well, "decline" wasn't quite accurate—Konoha had already lost its former glory.
When elite enemies attacked, Konoha's standard approach should be "single cavalry taking them lightly." Without this composure, Konoha had become "ordinary among the masses."
"You mean..."
However, before Yūshin could finish speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen preemptively said:
"Lady Mito, Lord Yūshin, Lord Hideyuki—though the enemy is strong, Konoha isn't weak either... Could this matter be entrusted to my full authority?"
Hmm?
With Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, the other three understood his meaning... Though Third Hokage had already grasped the village's power, his governing style leaned soft due to lacking prestige.
Sarutobi Hiruzen urgently desired to establish merit and achievements—this was natural human sentiment. After all, when future generations assessed successive Hokages' accomplishments, they couldn't write "completed First and Second Hokage's Hokage Rock maintenance work" for Third Hokage.
Hideyuki felt this decision was somewhat hasty, yet seeing Yūshin remain silent, he refrained from further comment... Once the Hokage spoke, theoretically advisors had no grounds for rebuttal.
"Intercepting invading enemies is the Hokage's responsibility... Sarutobi, do well."
Yūshin didn't oppose; instead, he adopted an encouraging attitude toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Yes, Lord Yūshin."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had anticipated encountering setbacks, never expecting the advisors to respect the Hokage position so much. This relieved him, yet immediately brought tremendous pressure.
If he wanted to become a Hokage like the Second or even First, then the upcoming battle absolutely couldn't fail.
Since the Hokage willingly became primary responsible party, the aged advisors naturally had nothing more to say. The meeting concluded here, with nothing further to discuss. Next, the Hokage would prepare to summon personnel and arrange specific interception matters.
Yūshin and others departed the conference room—other matters would await the Hokage's arrangements.
After the advisors returned to their respective homes, Hideyuki followed behind Yūshin.
"Lord Yūshin, does Sarutobi truly possess the capability to handle such enemies? Regardless, he is Konoha's Hokage—should problems arise, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"Handle enemies? One might be manageable; two would be quite challenging."
Yūshin also wasn't optimistic about Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions. The enemies weren't just two, but a group—Kinkaku, Ginkaku, plus the twenty-plus elite ninja they led.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen was considered the same caliber as Kinkaku and Ginkaku, where would Konoha find a second ninja of such level?
Note that without Yūshin's butterfly effect, the Kinkaku brothers' address for Senju Tobirama was "defeated opponent." Though harsh-sounding, the effect was identical to Yūshin calling Uchiha Madara a deadbeat—leaving opponents unable to refute... Madara was one hundred percent a deadbeat, while Tobirama was one thousand percent their defeated opponent.
If the Second was a defeated opponent, what about the Third? Hard to say.
You couldn't have Uzumaki Mito, Hideyuki, or Yūshin enter battle. First, this would overturn natural order; second, elderly participation in combat violated the Hokage's independent merit-establishment ideals.
"Since Lord Yūshin thinks similarly, then why..."
"Hideyuki, when you're old, you must accept it—don't always try being young people's stumbling blocks."
Hideyuki sighed deeply, feeling mentally exhausted, because he could no longer experience that united, pioneering spirit... Did he even want to manage this mess? Retirement—he absolutely must find opportunities for early retirement.
"Lord Yūshin, what do you consider Kumogakure's purpose in doing this? Using two jinchūriki as stakes seems rather excessive."
Yūshin put himself in Kumogakure's position and reasoned through their logic, then said:
"Jinchūriki rebellion should be genuine—Kinkaku and Ginkaku aren't docile types. Powerful, ambitious ninja naturally cause trouble... Kumogakure driving away jinchūriki should be making the best of the situation."
"Driving rebellious jinchūriki toward Land of Fire doesn't constitute placing stakes on gambling tables, because the Tailed Beast allocation system was established by First Hokage as a Shinobi World institution. Based on legal principles, Konoha naturally must uphold First Hokage's system, having no reason to lead its destruction—otherwise, it would be historical regression."
"In other words, even if Konoha handled two Tailed Beasts, they'd still have to return them to Kumogakure. Kumogakure might pay some price, but compared to independently handling jinchūriki risks and uncertainties, such costs are negligible—consider it Konoha's wages... These people's calculations are crystal clear."
"On the other hand, Konoha cannot ignore Kumogakure's rogue jinchūriki rampaging through Land of Fire, therefore must resolve them... Kumogakure perhaps wants to opportunistically weaken Konoha's strength, thereby preparing for the next Shinobi World War."
These were Yūshin's speculations, but Kumogakure's thinking was likely quite accurate.
"Next Shinobi World War?"
Hideyuki looked surprised, feeling he'd heard a theoretically very distant term.
"Lord Yūshin, forget the last Shinobi World War's conclusion—it's only been ten years since the previous Shinobi World War's beginning."
"Shinobi World Wars erupting every twenty years is perfectly normal. Konoha was established, chaos ended, then Konoha Year 22 saw First Shinobi World War outbreak. By this calculation, the next Shinobi World War's eruption is less than ten years away—now represents the standard war-brewing period."
Holy shit, Hideyuki extended his hand to count, and counting made him feel increasingly uneasy... Lord Yūshin seemed serious.
"Chaos ended—I thought the one-village-one-nation system..."
"Installment savings, that's all. Constant warfare disappeared, but that doesn't mean war disappeared... Using roughly twenty years to accumulate contradictions, then war becomes inevitable."
"I thought too simply—indeed, there's no once-and-for-all method to resolve warfare."
"Once-and-for-all? Even someone like First Hokage, when facing questions like 'What are your life's achievements?', could only mention two or three things worth discussing."
"Indeed, but Lord Yūshin..."
"Hmm?"
"Isn't your perspective too elevated? It feels somewhat unreal."
"Getting old is like this—always enjoying philosophical contemplation."
...
Kumogakure never did decent things. As one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, they frequently engaged in despicable activities like human trafficking—the Shinobi World's moral wasteland... No helping it—Land of Lightning people all loved singing, dancing, rap, basketball, getting high, male theft and female prostitution while pretending righteousness, claiming to be world police while doing inhuman things.
But problems caused by Kumogakure had to be handled by Konoha.
Though Konoha's moral standards were merely average, with increasingly dirty upper-level affairs, compared to Kumogakure, Konoha still possessed high moral disadvantages.
Facing Kumogakure's moral blackmail, Konoha had to respond carefully.
Third Hokage prepared for battle, organizing a sixty-person elite ninja team to intercept Kumogakure rogue ninja.
Times were indeed different. During wartime when Yūshin conducted village-destruction campaigns, he couldn't mobilize so many ninja—at one point, Fireflies Village's mobile forces numbered only thirty. Yet now the Hokage could easily lead so many ninja into battle without disrupting Konoha's normal operations.
Very impressive, very... wasteful.
Though Yūshin verbally said elderly shouldn't obstruct young people, seemingly truly entrusting this matter to Third Hokage's full authority, he still had to prepare for cleaning up their mess.
No helping it—he didn't trust Third Hokage's strength.
Though young people had already declared "we can replace them" to the old folks, declarations were declarations, practical implementation was practical implementation—Yūshin still had to play the kind elder role.
The battle situation was urgent—Third Hokage departed with his team that very evening... From this preparation speed, Third Hokage seemed to have long awaited such opportunities.
He awaited such opportunities not to prove himself... Well, actually, he did want to prove himself.
Yūshin stood atop Hokage Rock, watching the long procession silently departing Konoha, unable to resist muttering quietly:
"I can't really let you all fend for yourselves, can I?"
Getting old makes you soft-hearted. Back when Yūshin was young, he wouldn't have cared about Third Hokage's fate—your own decisions, your own responsibility. Wasn't this perfectly normal? One adult shouldn't expect another adult to clean up after him.
"Sigh, no helping it—I'm practically becoming Buddha."
Yūshin was about to leave when he noticed someone approaching, making him pause again.
Shortly afterward, Hagūgen Aoi appeared before Yūshin.
"Lord Yūshin, you're indeed here... Land of Fire experienced foreign invasion, the Hokage led teams to intercept enemies—you definitely wouldn't ignore this."
Hagūgen Aoi arrived hurriedly, breathing heavily while speaking.
Such secret intelligence regarding Hokage actions was normally inaccessible to ordinary people, yet Hagūgen Aoi could know as much as she wanted about such insider information.
"Who told you I'd interfere? I've long since retired. Besides, the Hokage has already mobilized—where's room for my involvement?"
Kids are somewhat difficult—Yūshin immediately denied this.
But Hagūgen Aoi saying such things—did this indicate her mind was clearer than Sarutobi Hiruzen's... Konoha's major affairs lay with Lord Yūshin and the advisors, while you're merely the Hokage?
Hagūgen Aoi ignored everything, directly grasping Yūshin's sleeve.
"Lord Yūshin, take me along—I can definitely help!"
Well, just said her mind was clear, now it wasn't again.
Yūshin thought: even if I intervene, the battle wouldn't possess reference value. For current me, I no longer engage in "dogfights" with other ninja—generally, just "mage skills" can determine victory.
"Forget it, come with me. Gaining experience is good—prevents you from becoming narrow-minded like other post-war era ninja."
"Lord Yūshin, I knew you'd agree!"
If you asked Hagūgen Aoi who her biological father was, you might receive an answer capable of making Tobirama personally perform Impure World Reincarnation on himself.
Whoever treats her well becomes her father—certainly not some guy with seven-foot-tall grave grass.
Unfamiliar, truly unfamiliar.
Someone who couldn't even leave behind a single Kekkei Genkai—what kind of father is that? Just an unworthy father.
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