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Chapter 86: Fame Spreads Through the Shinobi World Again—Yoru's New Title
"Gojo-sama!"
"Yoru-sama!"
When Yoru arrived at the ninja squad's location, all four tokubetsu jonin had already been killed.
Their killers were three ANBU squads—twelve people total.
If not for knowing Yoru possessed the ability to hide his chakra presence, Hiruzen wouldn't have agreed to his plan at all.
Even choosing to support it, he'd still dispatched three ANBU squads ready to assist Yoru in aborting the plan and reclaiming those supplies at any moment.
Seeing Yoru appear, the twelve ANBU members greeted him one after another, their tones extremely respectful.
While the Legendary Sannin didn't know what Yoru's secret mission was, these ANBU members understood perfectly.
Though uncertain whether Yoru's side had succeeded, their side had successfully eliminated four tokubetsu jonin without any member injuries or supply damage—already a massive profit.
Normally, even with numerical advantage, without intelligence and tactical assistance, they couldn't guarantee keeping all four tokubetsu jonin from escaping.
Now with most of a day's preparation time plus knowing enemy positions, three ANBU squads working together had eliminated them without injuries.
Clearly understanding this luring strategy was Yoru's proposal, the ANBU members felt deep admiration for this man who'd become famous throughout the shinobi world months ago and possessed the achievement of injuring the salamander.
Not just outstanding talent and astonishing strength—even his wisdom was equally excellent.
Barring accidents, in a few more years this man would become one of the village's ace combatants.
"Hello, everyone."
Yoru raised his hand in response, then retrieved a photograph and handed it to the ANBU member carrying his Flying Thunder God kunai, instructing: "Deliver this photograph to Sakumo-sama. I'll return to report to the Hokage personally."
"...Yes!"
The ANBU member took the photograph and instinctively glanced at it. His body immediately trembled, his voice audibly shaking even through the mask.
This reaction drew other members' curiosity.
What photograph could make their captain show such intense emotional fluctuation?
"The supply transport is in your hands."
"Yes."
After completing the handoff with the ANBU members, Yoru teleported away and vanished.
"Captain, what photograph did Gojo-sama give you? How could it scare you like that?"
"Yeah, let us see too."
The moment Yoru left, other ANBU members crowded over, all gazes fixed on the photograph.
The ANBU member didn't stop them, instead changing angles so everyone could see.
Someone wanting a clearer view somehow procured a lamp, shining its light on the photograph.
"Hssss..."
The next second, sharp intakes of breath rang out almost simultaneously.
Then voices followed, equally trembling noticeably.
"This... what kind of hell is this?"
"So gruesome, such a horrifying scene... Look quick, beside those dismembered corpses, there are so many Flying Thunder God seals. They were all killed by Yoru-sama using Flying Thunder God Technique."
"They're wearing ANBU attire and masks just like us, yet all died in a cave without even combat or jutsu traces around them. Clearly they were killed before they could react. Is this... is this the Flying Thunder God Technique's power? Is this the Black Flash's strength?"
"Truly worthy of being the only existence in decades to injure the salamander. Absolutely incredible!"
Initially, all ANBU members were shocked and amazed by the Flying Thunder God Technique and Yoru's power.
Suddenly, one ANBU member spoke incredulously: "Hey hey... aren't you missing the point? Look quick at that dismembered corpse not wearing ANBU uniform in the photo. Look carefully at that face—see who it is?!"
At their companion's reminder, the ANBU members re-examined the photograph, including the captain who'd also failed to look carefully, only been frightened by the pile of ANBU corpses.
Then the scene fell silent. Everyone lost their voices.
The ANBU captain recovered first, hurriedly putting away the photograph and declaring heavily: "Quickly organize the supplies. We must deliver them to White Fang's frontline at maximum speed."
"Yes!"
The other eleven responded in unison seriously.
Though their voices no longer trembled, their hearts surged with tremendous waves as they moved with full force.
They could all predict what massive impact this photograph reaching the battlefield would cause.
At minimum, their side's morale would surge. At maximum, the war's situation might undergo tremendous change.
They could be certain—their Konoha would begin gaining advantage in this standoff with Wind Country.
Thinking of this photograph possibly breaking the 'balance period' that had lasted four months, the twelve ANBU members couldn't help developing a trace of awe toward Yoru.
Injuring the salamander, they'd only heard about.
It being called a magnificent achievement was because Hanzo of the Salamander had personally acknowledged it.
As for how severely the salamander was injured, no one knew.
Because during this probing period, Hanzo hadn't taken action, and no one dared go to Amegakure to fight him.
Including Rain ninja among the four nations' forces, they hadn't seen the shinobi world's deadliest poison in a long time.
But now, they'd personally participated and 'witnessed' Yoru again accomplishing a magnificent achievement potentially affecting the war's situation.
An instinct unrelated to age but hidden in human nature—admiring strength—made them feel both awe and intense worship toward Yoru.
At this moment, they all firmly believed:
With Yoru present, their Konoha would definitely achieve victory in this campaign!
---
"Cough cough..."
That morning, Hiruzen had just started work when he received a photograph with an even better angle.
He'd been leisurely smoking his pipe when he nearly choked to death.
This reaction's intensity was no less than hearing Nawaki's sacrifice news.
Hiruzen's face flushed completely red, his eyes looking at Yoru with disbelief: "You... you killed Ebizo?"
"Yes, I brought his severed head back too."
Yoru retrieved a storage scroll and placed it on the Hokage's desk, his tone extremely certain: "I already checked—it's definitely the real body."
Hiruzen picked up the desktop scroll, his gaze moving between photograph and scroll, his heart speechlessly shocked.
Ebizo's status was as high as Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, second only to Danzo Shimura as Hokage Advisor.
His death qualified as a major event even among the Five Great Shinobi Villages—equivalent to an elder, a top-tier member of the high-level circle, sacrificing.
Hiruzen had never imagined Yoru's plan could draw out such a big fish and successfully eliminate him.
His reason for supporting Yoru's plan was because the southwestern position was simply too perfect. Once enemies were lured out, escape was basically impossible.
Yet Hiruzen's best prediction had only been eliminating one or two ninja squads.
After all, such traps could deceive uncultured ninja suited only as tools, but couldn't fool enemy strategic councils.
His main purpose was using this trap to deter ninja squads infiltrating Fire Country, making them not dare easily seize supplies.
Otherwise, even stealing them, bringing them safely back to their own camps would be extremely difficult.
He just never expected Yoru would actually draw out a big fish plus dozens of ANBU-level elites.
Deploying such a lineup, they'd definitely scour dozens of kilometers in all directions, confirming absolutely no traps or ambushes before choosing to act.
Yet such a lineup, before even taking action, had been completely slain by Yoru inside that cave.
With Flying Thunder God seals covering the ground, how had he made enemies unable to discover them?
Hiruzen suddenly realized—he seemed to have underestimated Yoru's Phantom Body Flicker Technique.
That ability to perfectly hide even chakra presence, combined with Earth Body Flicker, was even more terrifying than Transparent Release.
However, the Hokage was ultimately the Hokage.
Though inwardly shocked beyond measure, Hiruzen's face showed a smile as he praised without reservation: "You did extremely well. This plan exceeded even my predictions. However, you should've notified me immediately upon returning."
"It was just too late, so I didn't disturb you, Hokage-sama." Yoru smiled. "Besides, ANBU are ANBU precisely because their information is unknown. No one knows whether those ANBU are truly ANBU. Just one elder controlling intelligence agencies dying—feels like it wouldn't greatly impact the war's situation."
"No, this impact is massive." Hiruzen stared at the scroll in his hands, barely concealing his excitement. "If this truly is the real body, his brain definitely stores massive intelligence. Once successfully decrypted, not just operatives lurking in our Fire Country, but even Sunagakure's operative rosters planted in various nations plus their numerous secrets will all fall into our hands."
"This war's victory scale has already tilted toward us."
Hiruzen addressed Yoru: "You killed Ebizo, not only affecting the battlefield but influencing the ninja village and even the entire nation. This is undoubtedly super S-rank mission merit."
Hearing this, Yoru immediately feigned delighted surprise: "Does that mean I can exchange for forbidden techniques?"
Seeing Yoru finally showing youthful appearance, Hiruzen's smile deepened: "Of course. Except for strictly prohibited forbidden techniques only Hokage may practice, whether from the Scroll of Seals or the forbidden technique vault, you may choose any one."
Yoru didn't immediately name his desired jutsu, instead asking: "Hokage-sama, is there a catalog?"
"Of course."
Hiruzen opened a locked drawer and quickly retrieved a sealed scroll from a pile of small scrolls.
Using unsealing technique to remove the seal, Hiruzen tossed the scroll to Yoru.
Yoru caught it and began reading.
The catalog listed extremely powerful or special techniques—due to excessive danger potentially causing irreversible harm to practitioners, even death risk—thus strictly controlled by the village, exchangeable only by those with powerful talent and distinguished war merit.
The very first entry was one of canon Naruto Uzumaki's signature moves—Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, impossible to practice without enormous chakra or it would threaten life, yet only A-rank.
Plus the technique Orochimaru had taught him months ago that, like Multiple Shadow Clone, was merely A-rank yet listed in the Scroll of Seals—Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness Technique.
Then came other A-rank forbidden techniques and various secret arts, plus select techniques so powerful they earned 'super S-rank jutsu' designation.
Like the Flying Thunder God Technique Yoru mastered, and the Spirit Transformation Technique Kato Dan mastered.
However, in this catalog Yoru didn't see the Impure World Reincarnation or Eight Branches Technique that Orochimaru would steal, nor the Chimera Technique that Hiruko—the Sannin's classmate yet far inferior in talent, currently still obscure—would secretly research in the future.
Clearly, these ethics-violating jutsu were strictly prohibited techniques only Hokage could practice.
Thinking of the Chimera Technique, Yoru's expression grew somewhat distracted.
His original game strategy had been planning to make himself a patchwork monster—fusing Uchiha bloodline, using Sharingan to balance Hashirama cells, becoming a higher-grade Wood Release test subject with massive chakra capable of transplanting Rinnegan, ultimately becoming an enhanced Six Paths Obito.
The Chimera Technique was one jutsu he absolutely had to obtain.
But now, Yoru no longer needed to walk this patchwork monster route.
Hiruzen didn't know Yoru's thoughts. Seeing him stare blankly at the scroll, he smiled: "Don't know which jutsu to choose?"
"No, I've already decided, Hokage-sama." Yoru recovered and gave his answer. "I want the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique that Second Hokage invented."
"Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags?"
Hiruzen showed some surprise and hurriedly reminded: "This technique resembles Hanzo of the Salamander's Exploding Flame Formation—actually just a formation array requiring massive explosive tag stockpiles to display maximum power."
"I won't hide it from you—this technique actually has a matching forbidden technique, except that one violates ethics and is prohibited from anyone practicing."
"Without that technique's coordination, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags is merely an A-rank forbidden technique."
"Super S-rank mission merit requires not just strength but certain luck. You might not encounter one for ten years. I suggest reconsidering carefully."
Yet Yoru stated without hesitation: "No need to reconsider, Hokage-sama. I choose this jutsu."
If Impure World Reincarnation or Chimera Technique were available, Yoru would unhesitatingly choose them—he'd already prepared excuses.
Without those two, the catalog's highest value jutsu were the super S-rank Flying Thunder God and Spirit Transformation, plus some S-rank secret sealing techniques.
These sealing techniques were also in Uzushiogakure's sealing scroll. Yoru already knew their training methods.
Might Guy hadn't yet become famous throughout the shinobi world. Eight Gates wasn't in the catalog.
Though Spirit Transformation was powerful, its weakness was too obvious. Even if cautious Yoru learned it, he'd never use it this lifetime.
What if his soul left his body and the next second a White Zetsu appeared and decapitated his body?
So Yoru chose Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.
As a transmigrator, he knew besides Impure World Reincarnation, another technique paired perfectly with it.
Konan's Paper Release.
Explosive tags, like storage scrolls, were manufactured by those with such talent.
Such technology wasn't difficult to obtain. Canon Konan definitely possessed such technology.
Otherwise, six hundred billion explosive tags—searching the entire shinobi world wouldn't yield that many.
Once obtaining explosive tag manufacturing technology enabling mass production, combined with Paper Release and Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Konan's artistic achievement would outshine even Deidara's—unless he used Patrick Star.
Seeing Yoru so resolute, Hiruzen stopped insisting and quickly copied an independent Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags scroll, handing it to Yoru.
"Normally, exchanging Scroll of Seals forbidden techniques means the scroll bears a special sealing formula." Hiruzen smiled. "Whoever uses unsealing technique to open it receives that seal automatically planted in their body, prohibiting them from teaching this technique to a second person. Those who break this seal without authorization get listed as missing-nin."
"However, you've accomplished super S-rank mission merit. For this A-rank forbidden technique, I'll take the liberty of not attaching that seal, allowing you to teach it to others."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Yoru respectfully accepted the scroll.
Hiruzen heavily patted Yoru's shoulder: "This mission was hard on you. Go home and rest properly for a few days."
"Yes."
Smiling as he watched Yoru leave the office, the moment the door closed, Hiruzen's expression changed.
He raised his hand in a gesture, then looked at the ANBU appearing from nowhere before him with serious expression: "In my name, invite the Yamanaka clan head here. Simultaneously notify the sealing team and interrogation department to prepare for decrypting seals and extracting intelligence."
"Yes!"
The ANBU bowed and vanished via Body Flicker.
Soon, the Hokage Building's intelligence organization began operating.
Before Konoha—allied with Uzushiogakure—other ninja villages' sealing techniques and restrictions were like children's toys, vulnerable at a touch.
The intelligence department effortlessly broke the sealing techniques and restrictions in Ebizo's brain, extracting his memories and intelligence. While confirming he was truly Ebizo himself, intelligence appeared before Hiruzen as scroll after scroll.
Through these scrolls, Hiruzen learned how Yoru had killed them.
"Speed fast as lightning, black electrical arcs crackling around his body, weapon also covered in black Lightning Release nature transformation..." Hiruzen's gaze filled with delight. "Could it be that Yoru also developed a secret technique similar to the Third Raikage's Black Lightning?"
"Just exchanging secret technique scrolls from Jiraiya, he developed Black Lightning in a few months? Such incredible ninjutsu talent. No wonder in such brief time he mastered Flying Thunder God Technique and Lady Mito's Yin Seal."
In Hiruzen's eyes, Yoru increasingly resembled Tobirama Senju.
If not for lacking massive chakra reserves, Hiruzen would truly suspect Yoru might also possess Senju clan bloodline.
"Hokage-sama, Sakumo-sama transmitted intelligence back."
An ANBU figure appeared from nowhere, presenting a sealed scroll.
Taking and opening it, Hiruzen's face soon showed a smile.
Immediately, he picked up Yoru's photograph and handed it to the ANBU, instructing: "Mass-produce copies of this photograph, then seal them in storage scrolls and have Jonin Gojo transfer them to Sakumo's location."
"Yes."
---
Midday.
A piece of news, intelligence report, and numerous photographs suddenly spread from White Fang's frontline at the Rain-River Country border, rapidly expanding throughout all four nations' battlefields.
Black Flash Gojo Yoru once again became famous throughout the shinobi world, becoming the most dazzling rising star!
Wind Country Sunagakure's elder and intelligence king, Kazekage Advisor and Chiyo's younger brother Ebizo, plus fifty-four ANBU members, inside a River Country cave, were killed by Konoha's Black Flash using Flying Thunder God Technique and Flying Thunder God Slash—instant kill!
After Konoha verification, Ebizo was the real person.
Simultaneously, Konoha freely published Ebizo's operative rosters planted in various nations.
News and intelligence could be fabricated—only photographs... in this era couldn't be faked.
The cave without combat or jutsu traces, plus those nauseatingly gruesome dismembered corpses covering the ground, all proved Konoha's public propaganda was genuine!
This left ninja from all four nations including Konoha profoundly shocked.
Instant kill—not one-versus-fifty-five slaughter!
At this moment, the Flying Thunder God Technique—whose deterrent power had declined significantly in the years since the Second Hokage's death—once again spread its super S-rank reputation throughout the shinobi world.
People remembered that man who'd signed a contract with the ocean, also praised as the shinobi world's fastest ninja.
Regardless of how Yoru accomplished it, his achievement of instantly killing fifty-five Sand ninja was an indisputable fact.
Moreover, the ninja he'd instantly killed weren't nobodies, but Sunagakure's elder and elite-level ANBU—the merit's value was simply too high.
The title 'Shinobi World's Fastest' began gradually spreading.
Less than one year into war, Yoru was about to possess his second title.
No battlefield achievements or stage could match the speed of fame through major battlefield merit.
Regardless of whether Konoha's freely published intelligence was real or fake, the other Five Great Nations and numerous small nations all began arresting and investigating those operatives.
Sunagakure would definitely suffer tremendous damage.
Their intelligence organization would need who knows how many years to recover.
---
Amegakure, Tower.
"Didn't they establish barriers in that cave? That's impossible."
Hanzo of the Salamander looked at the photograph in his hands, his eyes filled with wariness: "Which means even ANBU with various special skills, each first-rate in their respective domains, plus barriers—none could break through that ability of his to hide chakra presence?"
"Just what secret technique is that? Even Transparent Release wouldn't be this effective, would it?"
Looking at the Rain ninja who'd delivered the intelligence, Hanzo suddenly spoke: "Pass down orders—all Rain ninja encountering Konoha's Black Flash during missions may choose to abandon missions and flee. As long as they preserve their lives, I won't punish them."
"Yes!"
The Rain ninja's heart trembled before bowing his head.
---
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Office.
"Father, this photograph can't be fake, right?" Kitsuchi's eyes trembled with disbelief. "A dignified elder of one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages plus over fifty ANBU, without even ability to resist, were killed by him? This... this is too absurd, isn't it?"
Kitsuchi wanted to say even killing chickens wasn't this fast.
Describing those elite forces this way was extremely disrespectful and self-deprecating.
After all, he wasn't even elite-level yet—wouldn't that mean before that Black Flash, he wasn't even worth a chicken, just a small fry?
Was Flying Thunder God Technique this terrifying?!
Onoki ignored Kitsuchi, instead carefully examining the photograph in his hands, searching for details to analyze.
"Every corpse suffered dismemberment—not just cut in half, but severed into several pieces. This isn't something ordinary ninja tools or nature transformation can achieve. Supposedly that brat possesses the Second Hokage's Sword of the Thunder God, one of the sharpest ninja tools."
"This gruesome death was likely that blade's work."
Staring at the Flying Thunder God seals covering the ground in the photograph, Onoki's eyes finally showed a trace of wariness: "This cave is clearly a secret base. Someone definitely investigated beforehand, then established one or even multiple barriers. Him placing Flying Thunder God seals in advance here should've been impossible."
"Yet somehow, this brat accomplished it."
"Could it be his Flying Thunder God Technique no longer requires seals as coordinates for transmission and teleportation? Is that possible? If so, he could teleport freely. People with slow neural reaction speeds would be instantly killed upon seeing him, with no need to ambush them in caves."
"Konoha wouldn't need to probe and skirmish with us either. He alone could affect the entire situation, entering anywhere as though in no-man's land."
"If his Flying Thunder God Technique hasn't surpassed the Second Hokage's, it means other reasons."
Onoki thought of the Second Tsuchikage's title and reached a conclusion: "This brat possesses concealment ability similar to the Dustless Bewildering Cover. Even ANBU with various skills plus sensory barriers couldn't detect his chakra, which is why he could place so many Flying Thunder God seals and instant-kill them with Flying Thunder God Slash."
"Pass down orders—have combat and support forces stay alert. Try not gathering together normally. When assembly is unavoidable, choose open terrain and definitely have people investigate underground."
---
Wind Country Border Base.
"Brother, Elder Sister has wronged you..."
Chiyo looked at the photograph in her hands with blurred vision, her voice trembling, her heart aching like knives.
Tears already covered her face.
Then her expression suddenly turned ferocious, crumpling the photograph in her hands, eyes filled with hatred: "Don't worry, Elder Sister won't let you feel lonely. I'll have more Konoha ninja accompany you to the Pure Land."
Looking at her deputy, Chiyo spoke through gritted teeth: "Report to the Kazekage. Have Bunpuku come guard the border base. I'm transferring frontlines."
"...Yes!"
The deputy responded with trembling voice.
As a command team member, he could already predict the war's situation would change.
Unless the Kazekage personally came, no one could stop the enraged Chiyo-sama.
***
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