However, the Three-Tails currently present was still different from the Nine-Tails that had attacked Konoha back then.
In Konoha's case, Obito had separated and summoned the Nine-Tails, but this time what went on a rampage was Yagura himself, who had fully tailed-beastified.
Perhaps this was the key to resolving the deadlock?
[Seeing the Three-Tails wreaking havoc, you don't rush to act. You are very aware that your identity is unknown, and if you act now, you might instead be seen as the culprit who caused the chaos. At the same time, you are also looking for Obito's figure, but you don't find him.]
[You think Obito might just be hiding and hasn't left. Because if the Three-Tails were to die under these circumstances, it would take a few years to revive. The work of collecting the Tailed Beasts would also have to wait until the Three-Tails revives, which is probably not what Obito wants.]
[While you are observing the battlefield, Ao also notices your presence. He leads a team trying to surround and attack you, but you easily dodge them, and the chūnin he brought are subdued by you with genjutsu. Realizing your extraordinary strength, Ao doesn't want to waste more personnel; dealing with the rampaging Tailed Beast is the current priority.]
[Facing Ao's retreat, you don't give chase, but instead signal Zabuza. Under Terumi Mei's leadership and with Zabuza's support, the Three-Tails gradually falls into a disadvantage. However, on whether to kill the Three-Tails, Terumi Mei and Zabuza fall into disagreement.]
[At this moment, Zabuza introduces you to everyone, and you have no choice but to step forward and face the questioning gazes of Terumi Mei and Ao. Zabuza asks for your opinion on how to handle the situation. Looking at the exhausted Three-Tails, you sense that Yagura, enveloped within it, is nearing his end.]
[You try to communicate with the Three-Tails using your spiritual energy. At first, the Three-Tails strongly resists your spiritual energy. But when you call out the name Isobu, Isobu quiets down.]
Ryun nodded inwardly. Calling out a Tailed Beast's name was indeed an irresistible way to communicate.
But by doing this, wasn't the simulation version of himself afraid of the Sage of Six Paths showing up at his door in the middle of the night to cause trouble?
If that happened, and he boldly admitted to being the Sage's second father, he wondered if that would make his death a bit easier?
[You tell Isobu that Yagura's body can't hold on any longer. It would be better to end the struggle and let Yagura speak with the people of the village. You can maintain Yagura's life for a final ten minutes. Isobu asks Yagura's opinion, and Yagura finally regains consciousness, retracting the rampaging Isobu.]
[Keeping your promise, you step forward to treat Yagura. As your life force pours into him, Yagura slowly opens his eyes. The genjutsu he was under is broken thanks to Isobu's efforts, but unfortunately, having struggled against genjutsu for so long has left him physically and mentally exhausted; there is no possibility for him to live on.]
[He thanks you for being there, then begins to leave his final words and assign tasks. Finally, he invites you to stay in Kirigakure and become an advisor to the village, to safeguard the next Mizukage. At this moment, you notice Ao's expression turns very ugly, because he thinks you might be trying to take his position.]
Ryun showed a strange expression. Was this guy Ao really that intolerant?
He certainly held a high and powerful position, but this guy... his strength just wasn't there!
In Ryun's memory, Ao's few notable performances relied entirely on the Byakugan he had seized during the Third Shinobi World War.
Aside from that, Ao's track record was utterly disastrous.
During the Third War, he was defeated by a young Shisui, causing him to flee in panic with his team; during the Five Kage Summit, he was caught in Yamanaka Fū's puppet mind transfer technique and nearly died; and even in Boruto's era, after being mechanically modified, he ultimately perished under the Art of Tearful Sky.
His status was equivalent to Danzō's, but his strength wasn't even as good as Danzō's.
Being regarded with hostility by someone like that gave Ryun an immediate sense of déjà vu.
But Ryun now was not the Ryun of the past; Danzō had just been killed by him, so who was Ao in comparison?
Sure enough, his simulation self didn't show Ao any kindness.
[You directly state in front of everyone that you won't become an advisor to Kirigakure; if anything, you'd be the Mizukage. Ao immediately overreacts, wanting to lead men to arrest you. But Zabuza leads his team to surround Ao, and a new round of internal conflict is about to erupt.]
[In the end, Yagura leaves his final words, telling everyone that letting you become Mizukage isn't impossible. But you must train for three years under the Elder's supervision and gain the recognition of over half of the village's jōnin before you can become the new Mizukage.]
The so-called Elder was a special individual in Kirigakure.
He was an elder of the Village Hidden in the Mist in the Land of Water, possessing power and status equal to the Mizukage, overseeing all village affairs, and the most important matters all required consulting this elder.
As for why his power was so great, the reason was simple: he was ninety years old.
A true relic who had lived from the Warring States period to the present. Even the First Mizukage had to heed his advice, let alone those who came later.
Understanding this, Ryun had even less interest in the position of Mizukage.
Becoming a village's Kage was already troublesome enough; having to share power with this ninety-year-old elder on top of that was no wonder Terumi Mei started looking older after just a few years as Mizukage—she was probably infuriated by these old men.
[After Yagura says this, he passes away, and the Three-Tails dies at the same time. It will be three years before the Three-Tails revives. Kirigakure begins to rebuild its home, but the village, already not wealthy, faces an even worse economic situation due to the Three-Tails' rampage.]
[At the same time, Kirigakure is still engaged in heated discussions about your and Zabuza's positions. Ao intends to support Terumi Mei's rise to power and is very排斥 of you. Upon learning of Zabuza's return, people in Kirigakure intend to recommend him for a high position.]
[Zabuza, however, supports you becoming a high-level official in Kirigakure. Even if Kirigakure currently has no Mizukage and everything is led by the Elder, they should still keep you by offering a high position and a generous salary. If Kirigakure can't even do that, he doesn't mind leaving the village with you again.]
Zabuza is truly loyal!
But Ryun knew this was also an act on Zabuza's part.
What he wanted was for Ryun, suspected of being the successor of the Fourth Hokage, to become Kirigakure's guardian deity. Compared to that, who was Ao but small fry?
It's just a pity they couldn't anticipate one thing: Ryun was about to make his move on Terumi Mei.
[While the high-level conflict rages, you gradually build a reputation in Kirigakure with your medical ninjutsu. Terumi Mei, who had been secretly watching you, starts appearing to talk with you. As someone who highly values good looks and desperately desires the Mizukage position, she can no longer ignore your existence.]
[And the first words you say to her leave Terumi Mei stunned on the spot. You ask Terumi Mei if she would be willing to go on a date with you. Terumi Mei almost subconsciously agrees without hesitation. Then, much to the astonishment of the entire Kirigakure, you and Terumi Mei quickly go from strangers to friends, progressing towards becoming a couple.]
The corner of Ryun's mouth curled up. Was it really that simple?
Well, actually, yes, it really was that simple.
What was Ryun's current configuration?
Powerful strength, righteous good looks, plus a temperament honed through so many simulation experiences.
For Terumi Mei, who was just in her twenties at this time, it was a complete blow. It must be remembered that aside from becoming Mizukage and revitalizing Kirigakure, her biggest life goal was to find a handsome, good man to marry.
[The disputes about you in Kirigakure gradually fade, and Terumi Mei immerses herself in the joy of love. You also have time to return to Konoha to continue your own affairs. During this period, you've been appearing in Konoha using a shadow clone, so hardly anyone knows you ever left Konoha.]
[Currently, the research topic you want to pursue is spiritual energy, so you ask Ino about the details of her clan's secret techniques. Ino hesitates about whether to tell you, not because she's unwilling, but because this is the very foundation of the Yamanaka clan's existence.]
[Seeing this, you tell Ino that in the future, you will have a son together, and his name will be Yamanaka Tetsu. You also say you will find a way to solve the problem of Yamanaka clan members losing consciousness after performing their secret techniques. Ino chooses to believe you and teaches you all of the Yamanaka clan's secret arts.]
Seeing this, Ryun's spirits lifted.
The Yamanaka clan excelled in controlling Yin Release spiritual energy; this probably wasn't just a matter of talent and ninjutsu. Ryun was curious if there were any deeper secrets behind it.
The result was exactly as Ryun had suspected.
[It turns out that Yamanaka clan ninjas, from a young age, train the strength and resilience of their spiritual energy using incense. Only by doing so can they launch their spiritual energy like a cannonball all at once, and only then can they seize control of the enemy's body by fighting within it.]
[If a Yamanaka clan member's spiritual energy lacks strength and resilience, even if they thrust their spirit into an enemy's body, the enemy can use various methods to expel it, rendering the Yamanaka clan's secret arts meaningless. Therefore, the Yamanaka clan's secret arts are a kind of spiritual self-sacrifice technique.]
Reading this, Ryun could confirm that his previous deduction was correct.
There were indeed problems with the Yamanaka clan's secret arts, both in terms of their foundational approach and their underlying concept.
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