Next Bonus, 100PS!!
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Candlelight flickered in the command tent. Uchiha Sa's red Sharingan eyes narrowed as she tapped her finger on Foxfall Cliff's spot on the map.
"I've decided. Abandon Kikyō Mountain. The entire army redirects to Foxfall Cliff. Notify the Hagoromo Clan. They are to meet us at Foxfall Cliff, combine forces with us, and launch a surprise attack on the Senju from the northwest!"
"..." The sudden order stunned the Uchiha elder standing next to her. He frowned, lost in thought.
"Clan Head, changing the attack route right before battle is too unstable... and the Hagoromo Clan is weak and slow to move. Whether they can reach Foxfall Cliff on time is still unknown. This adjustment carries too much risk."
After hesitating, the Uchiha elder couldn't hold back his advice. "We both know the Senju have stationed their main force at Kikyō Mountain, waiting for us to charge into a death trap. If we know it's an ambush, why should we walk into it??"
Uchiha Sa shook her head. Her cold gaze made it seem like she already knew what would happen.
She glanced out into the night and gave a small smile. "Let the Senju main force wait at Kikyō Mountain. When we attack from Foxfall Cliff and strike their side, it will be too late for them to respond."
The Uchiha elder saw Sa's determined expression and realized that once she made up her mind, no one could change it.
"An excellent strategy, Clan Head."
All he could do was bow...
"One more thing," Uchiha Sa added. "Send a ninja hawk at once. Inform the Hagoromo Clan in advance. They must reach Foxfall Cliff within three days and wait for orders. No mistakes."
"As you command!" The Uchiha elder nodded, then turned and hurried out of the tent to deliver the message and redirect the army.
Uchiha Sa was left alone in the tent.
She kept her eyes on Foxfall Cliff's spot on the map.
..............
Late at night, Foxfall Cliff was covered in deep darkness. Its steep walls looked as if they had been cut by a blade.
Guided by Black Zetsu, Senju Tsuru made his way over loose stones and wild grass until he reached the bottom of the cliff.
He pushed through tall weeds and found a secret cave beneath dense vines and plants. He gasped. "I never would've guessed there was a place like this here..."
Black Zetsu stayed silent in Tsuru's palm. His senses spread out quietly, forming an invisible web that checked every corner of the cave for danger.
"No problem. Keep going," Black Zetsu said.
"Okay." Tsuru nodded.
They walked along the damp cave wall. As they went deeper, the passage widened. Broken clay bowls, rotting shelves, and other traces of old habitation appeared around them.
At the end of the cave, they found a smooth stone wall. Deep blade marks and patterns covered its surface, and even after a hundred years, the carvings still felt dangerous.
"WOW. IT'S ACTUALLY STILL HERE. WHAT A SURPRISE!!"
Tsuru walked closer to the stone wall and ran his fingers over the cold carvings. His eyes grew wide with shock and delight.
"..." Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
Normally, the Hatake Clan would have erased sword art carvings like these long ago. Since they remained, the clan head must have wanted to pass them on and keep the tradition alive for future generations.
Black Zetsu reached out with his senses and soon noticed a hidden compartment next to the carvings, where a dust-covered scroll was sealed away.
But Black Zetsu had no intention of telling Tsuru.
First, the Grand Sage had already let things happen as they did back then. The scroll was meant for a certain person.
Second, what was inside the scroll wouldn't help Senju Tsuru right now.
"Sage Black Zetsu, is this real?" Tsuru withdrew his gaze and looked down at Black Zetsu in his hand, interest and expectation filling his voice.
"It's real. You can trust it."
Black Zetsu nodded, giving a clear answer.
With his doubts gone, Tsuru sat cross-legged in front of the wall and focused all his attention on the carved blade paths, studying the Sword art closely—
..............
At the boundless dunes of the Dragon Vein, the night wind swept over the yellow sand, forming ripples across the desert.
Hundreds of White Zetsu hid beneath the sand around the dunes, watching every movement nearby. The atmosphere was tense.
Shima and Tobi stood upon the top of the dunes, straight-backed and heads bowed in respect, as if waiting for someone important.
A few seconds later, white mist appeared above the quiet desert. The fog spread out, covering the whole Dragon Vein area.
WHOOSH!!
Through the rising mist, Mount Myōboku's Grand Sage, Manji, stepped into view.
He looked calm, wearing a gentle smile. Faint Sage auras of many kinds circled around him.
"We welcome the Grand Sage's descent to the human world!"
"We welcome the Grand Sage's descent to the human world!"
As soon as Manji appeared, the White Zetsu on guard bowed in unison. Their voices resounded over the dunes, filling the night air.
Shima and Tobi hurried forward and bowed in greeting.
"No need for all that."
Manji smiled warmly and waved, looking kindly at the White Zetsu.
Then he looked at Shima. She lowered her head and spoke with respect. "Grand Sage, as ordered, the barriers and defenses around the Dragon Vein have all been set."
Manji nodded. "You've worked hard. When you return, you'll be promoted to Sage, standing with Fukasaku."
Shima froze in surprise, then bowed deeply. "As you command!"
She had spent centuries working in the human world and had given everything to Mount Myōboku's Intelligence Bureau. Now, she had finally earned what she wanted—standing equal with Sage Fukasaku.
"Grand Sage, Grand Sage, what about me?"
Tobi quickly raised his hand, eager. "I helped Senior Shima set up many barriers, too, and I cleaned the site until it was spotless!"
Manji looked at the lively Tobi and nodded. "Good. You did well. I hereby appoint you Grand General of the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
"Huh? Grand General of the Southern Heavenly Gate?"
Tobi stared in confusion.
"If you don't understand it, that means I said it right."
Manji gave a small smile. Something unreadable passed over his face, but he didn't explain. He turned and walked toward the swirling Dragon Vein.
Across the dunes, the yellow sand above the Dragon Vein moved as if pulled by an invisible force, forming golden waves. Chakra rushed toward him, almost taking shape. This was the Earth's source of power.
Manji stood at the heart of the Dragon Vein and looked down at the swirling sand below him.
He had come to use the Rinnegan's power, along with his Sage Arts and summoning technique, to move part of the Dragon Vein back to Mount Myōboku.
The Dragon Vein was a source of power deep in the earth. It seemed impossible to move. But if someone became its jinchūriki, they could draw out and control its power. This was Mount Myōboku's special secret art.
In the original Naruto canon, the Dragon Vein had only a weak consciousness and no true autonomy. It could be controlled by powerful beings with ease. That was the fundamental reason Manji dared make his move.
"Dragon Vein. From here on, I will control you!"
Manji raised his hand and opened his palm. A huge power burst out around him.
Sage power and the Rinnegan's force joined together, turning into a pillar of light that shot up into the clouds.
A bright white eye-mark appeared on Manji's forehead.
The Tenseigan's pattern formed quietly, and its bright, powerful light covered the whole Dragon Vein area.
The light was so bright that no one could look at it directly.
Tobi and Shima covered their eyes without thinking, but they could still feel the pressure that made their hearts pound.
"This is the Grand Sage!!!"
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