Without a doubt, the sudden emergence of the Sulfuras Sword swept away the final obstacle to killing the extraterrestrial invaders of this world.
Although it would take at least another half month to polish the blade and find suitable materials for the hilt and scabbard, none of this was a problem for Allen, who possessed an endless supply of exotic resources. He simply tossed the master swordsmith a few hides of Core Leather and Dragonhide, materials capable of perfectly insulating against extreme flames, and then washed his hands of the matter.
Leaving professional tasks to professionals was always the best approach.
Moreover, as his own power continued to grow, the benefits provided by Engineering were becoming increasingly marginal. Allen was even starting to consider unlearning Engineering in favor of more lucrative professions like Blacksmithing, Enchanting, or Alchemy.
Just as he was agonizing over how to optimize his new professional build, Karin, who had been gone for quite some time, finally returned, carrying the Two-Tails Jinchuriki over her shoulder.
The moment they met, the red-haired girl gleefully claimed credit. "Allen-sama! I've captured the person you wanted."
"Well done! By the way, why did you come back alone? Where's Neji?" Allen encouraged her briefly before asking with genuine interest.
In his memory, Neji had always been a mature, reliable, and trustworthy assistant. Under normal circumstances, the two should have returned together.
At those words, the smile on Karin's face froze. She stammered an explanation in an embarrassed tone. "Neji... Neji stayed behind by himself to intercept the Cloud Shinobi pursuit force."
"By himself?" Allen frowned instinctively.
Such risky, adventurous behavior didn't sound like something the calculated Neji would do.
But a second later, he recalled how Hizashi Hyūga had been forced to commit suicide to settle the fallout of the Hidden Cloud Village's dirty schemes. He sighed with a bitter smile. "Ah, alright, I think I understand what's going on. Neji usually appears calm and rational, but he has always been deeply repressed. As the saying goes, the longer you suppress it, the more terrifying the explosion. It looks like the Hidden Cloud Village is in for some serious bad luck."
"Hehe, you guessed right. He literally snapped the spine of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Neji's hatred for the Cloud Shinobi isn't just ordinary deep." Karin casually dropped Yugito Nii onto the ground.
Allen nodded slowly. "Understandable. If it were me, I'd slaughter the entire Hidden Cloud Village – men, women, young and old – in the most brutal fashion imaginable. And before killing the last person, I wouldn't touch the Raikage; I'd make him watch as his family, subordinates, and disciples died one by one in despair. Revenge is never a rational act; it's the venting of extreme emotion. I only hope that after Neji achieves his vengeance, he can let go of his past obsessions, face himself again, and look toward the road ahead."
"Is that why Neji's eyes haven't evolved yet?" Karin asked tentatively.
"I don't know. All I know is that the Tenseigan is the ultimate evolution of the Byakugan. Like the Rinnegan, it is a peak ocular technique. Normally, the higher the ocular power of the Byakugan, the greater the possibility of evolution. As the most outstanding genius of the Hyūga clan in decades, Neji should have that talent. Especially since I've already granted him enough Six Paths power," Allen explained ambiguously, stroking his chin.
In his view, if Hinata had the potential, then her cousin Neji couldn't possibly lack it. Their bloodlines were only a generation apart, and the Caged Bird seal that previously restricted his bloodline power had been completely removed. Theoretically, once combined with Six Paths power, the evolution should have happened quickly.
Yet for some reason, while Neji's body and Chakra had undergone a qualitative leap, even resulting in a self-created technique that fired Chakra threads from his pressure points to shred anything they touched, the eyes remained unchanged.
To an extent, like Karin, he had reached or even surpassed the level of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage. He was just missing that final step.
"What about me? When can I get the Rinnegan?" Karin blinked curiously.
Ever since learning her true identity and surname, she had been studying sealing techniques from two reanimated Uzumaki powerhouses. She was now arguably the most skilled practitioner of sealing arts among the living in the shinobi world.
"I don't know. The Yang Release Chakra in your body has fully awakened, granting you the so-called Sage Body. As for the next step, you must find a way to master Yin Release. When Yin and Yang combine to control the power of all creation, you will naturally awaken the Rinnegan like I did. Didn't I already inject the Uchiha's Sharingan genes into your body a while ago? Your task now is to sense its presence and guide it out bit by bit. Also, there's no rush. We have plenty of time before the Three-Tails is resurrected."
As he spoke, Allen reached out and gently patted the girl's head.
Karin clearly loved this intimate gesture. She closed her eyes like a small cat, wearing an expression of pure bliss, her face flushing with a faint blush. To her, having suffered since childhood, this young man was her last remaining family and her only pillar of support.
But the slightly ambiguous atmosphere didn't last long before Kabuto walked in from outside. With a fake smile plastered on his face, he bowed respectfully. "Congratulations, Allen-sama. I heard the weapon you were forging is complete?"
"Yes. From now on, the troubled shinobi and the Resistance should be able to get a good night's sleep," Allen responded with a half-smile.
"That's wonderful news!" Kabuto offered a casual compliment before turning his gaze toward the motionless Jinchuriki on the floor. "This is... Yugito Nii of the Cloud?"
"Yeah. I had Neji and Karin take a trip since I had some free time. After all, the Hidden Cloud Village was so arrogant last time; it was about time to show them some color. Those meatheads with simple minds need to understand who the true master of the shinobi world is."
As the last word left his mouth, Allen hoisted Yugito off the ground by her collar, staring into her eyes which were filled with fear and hatred. "You must be feeling very indignant right now, aren't you?"
"Pah! The Raikage will never let you get away with this!" Yugito spat fiercely.
Unfortunately, her spit didn't reach Allen; it was blocked halfway by the Ten surrounding his body.
One had to admit, the Cloud Shinobi were quite hot-tempered. They weren't like the Sand Shinobi, who were spineless cowards that folded at the slightest threat, weaker than women.
Not to mention, at the end of the First Great Ninja War, Kinkaku and Ginkaku had staged a coup because they were dissatisfied with the village's surrender, killing both the Raikage and the Hokage. They became legends, hailed as the most vicious criminals in the history of the shinobi world.
Though those two had long since died, their spirit lived on in the depths of those mist-shrouded high mountains.
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