"Souma, you—"
"Lady Tsunade, this decision wasn't impulsive. I've thought it through carefully, and I already discussed it with Kakashi-sensei and Captain Yamato. They both support my choice."
Yagyū Souma repeated his intentions calmly after meeting Tsunade.
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and sighed.
"With your abilities, if you stay in Konoha, everyone really will end up relying on you too much."
This time, Hema's invasion had ended almost farcically—
But the new combat methods Souma demonstrated had opened everyone's eyes.
Mental intrusion.
Memory extraction.
Memory deletion and deception.
And then the overwhelming destructive power of the Akimichi clan.
Tsunade could clearly see how terrifying Souma's research direction was.
But—
Relying on him alone wasn't viable.
Konoha needed to move as a system, with departments truly coordinating—
Not functioning like before, where everything depended on Souma's personal scheduling and adjustments.
That relied on individual strength, not teamwork.
After sorting through it all, Tsunade nodded decisively.
"If you've already decided, then go do it. The old man has some free time now anyway—I'll send him to sit in the Research Division so he doesn't keep hovering around scolding me all day."
"Hahaha."
Souma couldn't help laughing.
Tsunade's resentment toward the Third Hokage really hadn't faded at all.
But—
That really was the Third Hokage's style.
Afterward, Souma relayed his conversation with Sora.
Tsunade approved without objection.
Soon after, Souma went to ANBU detention to meet the foolish man who had once tried to destroy Konoha with crude ninjutsu.
Hema was imprisoned under heavy sealing techniques.
Apart from basic necessities, everything was strictly controlled.
His treatment was almost on par with Kimimaro's.
"Remove the seals."
"Yes!"
The Sealing Team acted quickly.
Moments later, they withdrew, leaving only Souma and Hema in the cell.
As Hema regained consciousness, he stared at the figure before him—confused.
A child?
Who was this—
Wait.
Around fourteen years old.
Jōnin flak jacket.
Appearing inside ANBU detention…
"…You're Yagyū Souma?"
"Looks like being locked up for a day didn't dull your thinking. But judging by your confusion—your shadow clone hasn't returned yet, has it?"
"?!!"
Hema's pupils shrank violently.
He understood now.
His intelligence hadn't leaked because someone betrayed him.
It was because this person had extracted information directly from his shadow clone.
Not only that—
He'd used some method to keep the clone unaware, deceiving Hema's main body entirely.
No wonder he'd felt as if someone were manipulating things from behind the scenes.
"So… it was you!"
"Yes, it was me. Breaking your shadow clone's mental defenses was easy. Deleting the memories took a bit more effort."
Souma grinned.
"Surprised?"
"…!"
Hema gritted his teeth.
"A genius like you—why help Konoha of all places?"
"Why wouldn't I help Konoha?"
"The Daimyō should control that power!"
"So that's why you wanted to destroy Konoha?"
Souma stood, mockery flashing across his face.
"If Konoha fell, would the Land of Fire even survive? Even the Daimyō understands that—but you don't."
"Let's be honest. You don't care about the country's future at all. You just wanted to realize your own ideals."
Hema's face flushed red.
He wanted to lunge forward, but he couldn't—
Even if his chakra weren't sealed, the bizarre methods Souma had shown meant he still wouldn't stand a chance.
Too terrifying.
Was this person really only fourteen?
Even Uchiha Itachi hadn't been this horrifying.
Everything that led to his downfall—
All of it traced back to this boy.
Fear crept into Hema's heart.
"Alright. Small talk's over."
Souma said calmly.
"There are details your shadow clone didn't know, so I'll have to ask you directly."
"I won't tell you anything."
"I know."
Souma smiled.
"That's why I never planned to ask."
He took out a special ninja tool—
A prosthetic limb containing a Mangekyō Sharingan.
He wasn't using Kotoamatsukami.
A prisoner like this wasn't worth that technique.
Instead, Souma planned to use the Mangekyō's hypnotic power, combined with his own mental energy, to guide and split Hema's consciousness—
And extract all of his ninjutsu memories.
"You monster—get away—Aaaah!"
A scream echoed.
Hema collapsed, clutching his head as pain, hallucinations, and mental suppression flooded his mind.
Souma released him.
Moments later, Yamanaka Inoichi rushed in.
He saw Souma remove the special tool, sealing it back into a scroll, then turn around calmly.
Inoichi instinctively took half a step back.
Souma—
Was terrifying.
For an instant, it felt as if a needle had pierced his mind just from meeting Souma's gaze.
That level of mental power—
It was almost solidified.
Inoichi inhaled sharply.
"Your mental strength… it's incredible."
"Training results, plus a little talent. Nothing special."
"…!"
Inoichi's mouth twitched.
A little talent?
That was an understatement bordering on absurd.
He changed the subject.
"What happened to him?"
"I used a stronger version of Mind Chaos. His mind split into two competing consciousnesses, but I'm suppressing them—"
Souma paused, then smiled faintly.
"He's awake."
Hema let out a hoarse groan.
Then—
His pupils shrank in terror.
"Don't come near me! Stay away!"
He was genuinely afraid of Souma now.
"Do you remember your son?"
"Sora?! What did you do to Sora—he's my perfect creation! You can't destroy him!"
Hema screamed in fury.
Souma frowned slightly.
Inoichi sighed.
"His emotions are unstable. Looks like the technique caused an abnormal deviation."
"Mm."
Souma wasn't surprised.
The mind was the most unpredictable domain.
No matter how precise his control, anomalies could still occur.
Hema had developed a personality fracture.
"Let Sora meet him."
Souma stood.
"He won't be guarding secrets anymore."
He left the cell.
During the consciousness-splitting process, Souma had already obtained what he wanted—
All of Hema's ninjutsu.
The most valuable weren't the Earth Reincarnation technique or corpse soil—
But the barrier technique he'd developed together with his disciple, Fūen.
Barrier Gate Sealing Technique – Eight Gates Closed Field
A barrier that isolated inside from outside.
Though it couldn't be interrupted once activated—
If the user were an Edo Tensei corpse, that weakness vanished.
Definitely worth keeping.
With further refinement—or by integrating Konoha techniques like the Four Violet Flames Formation—
It could evolve into something entirely new.
Its research value was immense.
Souma returned to the Forest of Death and met Sora again.
He conveyed Konoha's permission clearly.
Sora would be allowed to meet Hema—but release was impossible.
Even now, even in madness—
Hema couldn't escape execution.
The Daimyō would never forgive him.
Souma explained everything honestly.
Sora understood.
Konoha not killing Hema immediately—and allowing a meeting—was already an act of mercy.
More importantly—
They were willing to extract the Nine-Tails chakra from him.
He nodded without hesitation.
Extracting the chakra wasn't difficult.
The Nine-Tails chakra inside him had no guiding consciousness—
It expanded chaotically, destroying his body.
That beast-like arm was proof.
Souma extracted the chakra, then went to see Shukaku.
"I'll be leaving the village for a while."
"Where are you going? You promised to take me to see Kurama! Huh—what's that smell?"
Shukaku spread its senses.
Then froze.
That aura—
Nine-Tails chakra?!
"Souma! You brought Nine-Tails chakra?! Give it to me!"
Souma laughed.
"Even if I did, you probably couldn't digest it properly."
"Let me try!"
"I need this portion."
Souma smiled.
"I'm going to make a small Nine-Tails. I'll bring you a living one next time to bully."
Shukaku's eyes lit up.
"You're going to catch Kurama?!"
"Not catch. Just traveling."
"Take me with you!"
"Too dangerous outside right now."
Souma soothed it.
"When I come back, I'll let you out for some fresh air. Until then, protect the forest."
"Hmph. Fine. But break your promise and I won't be nice."
Souma nodded with a smile.
By dusk, everything was arranged.
Souma stood on high ground, glanced back—
Then turned to leave.
Jiraiya hadn't gone far.
By tomorrow, he'd catch up with him and Naruto, separate another small Nine-Tails—
Third time already.
Plenty of experience.
Then—
"Souma!"
He turned.
TenTen was climbing up the hill, panting.
She wiped sweat away and smiled brightly.
"Good thing you didn't hide your presence, or I wouldn't have made it."
"TenTen, why—"
"Here!"
She handed him a blade.
A short sword.
Plain. Unadorned.
Yet when held, it felt steady and grounded.
Her forging skills had improved again.
"What's its name?"
"Wang… Wangjun."
"Thank you, TenTen. I really love it."
Souma smiled.
"I don't have a physical gift in return—but I'll keep my promise. And I'll come back for the next Chūnin Exams."
"Really?!"
"Yes. That's my promise."
"Then I'll take you at your word!"
TenTen grinned.
"When you see me again, you'll be shocked by how much I've improved!"
"I believe you."
Souma nodded.
"Oh—here."
He handed her a key.
"My lab key. I was going to send it later with Flying Thunder God, but since you're here…"
TenTen's face flushed crimson.
Souma laughed.
"You can enter freely. All the materials are categorized and labeled."
"I—I'll study hard."
He ruffled her hair gently.
Her hair wasn't in buns today—freshly washed, flowing freely.
Different.
Beautiful.
"You're very beautiful today."
"Y-You—what are you—"
She looked up—
Souma was gone.
He'd already left.
TenTen clenched her fist tightly.
"Work harder. I have to become stronger…"
"…Otherwise, even Wangjun won't be enough."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/pikachu614