The candlelight inside the tent suddenly flickered violently. Uchiha Yui's crimson Sharingan froze sharply, her fingertip striking heavily on the position of Falling Katsu Cliff on the map.
"I've decided. Abandon Kikyo Mountain. The entire army will turn toward Falling Katsu Cliff! Notify the Hagoromo clan to head to Falling Katsu Cliff and join forces with us. Then we'll launch a surprise attack on the Senju from the northwest!"
This sudden order made the Uchiha elder beside her freeze instantly. His brows tightened as he fell into thought.
"Clan Leader, suddenly changing the attack route right before battle is too unstable… and the Hagoromo clan's combat strength is weak, their actions slow."
"Whether they can arrive at Falling Katsu Cliff on time is still uncertain. This adjustment carries too much risk!"
The Uchiha elder hesitated for a moment, but in the end couldn't help speaking up to advise her, his tone full of concern.
"We all know the Senju have already stationed their main force at Kikyo Mountain, waiting for us to walk straight into their trap. Since we know it's an ambush, why insist on clashing head-on?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Yui shook her head lightly, her cold eyes filled with certainty as she saw through the battlefield situation.
She glanced toward the night outside the tent, the corner of her lips curving into a sharp smile.
"Let the Senju main force stand there like fools at Kikyo Mountain. When we strike from Falling Katsu Cliff and hit their flank directly, by the time they try to return and defend, it'll already be too late!"
The Uchiha elder looked at her firm expression and knew that once this clan leader made a decision, there was no changing it.
"Also..."
Uchiha Yui added, "...Immediately send out ninja hawks to deliver the message. Inform the Hagoromo clan in advance that they must arrive at Falling Katsu Cliff within three days and stand by. There must be no mistakes."
"Yes!", The Uchiha elder nodded heavily, then turned and quickly walked out of the tent to arrange the message and redirect the army.
Only Uchiha Yui remained inside the tent. She stared at Falling Katsu Cliff on the map, her Sharingan narrowing slightly.
———
Deep in the night, Falling Katsu Cliff was shrouded in darkness, its cliff face steep as if cut by a blade.
Following Black Zetsu's guidance, Senju Syura stepped over loose gravel and wild grass, finally reaching the bottom of the cliff.
Pushing aside waist-high weeds, he entered a hidden cave completely covered by vines and overgrown grass, unable to help exclaim softly, "I didn't expect there to be something like this hidden here…"
Black Zetsu in his palm remained silent, his perception quietly spreading out. An invisible sensing net covered the entire cave, carefully checking every corner to clear any potential danger for Senju Syura.
"No problem. Keep going.", Black Zetsu said in a low voice.
"Alright.", Senju Syura nodded.
The two moved slowly along the damp cave walls. The passage gradually widened, and along the way, broken pottery bowls and decayed wooden racks began to appear... clear traces of long-term human habitation.
As they went deeper and reached the end of the cave, a smooth stone wall suddenly appeared before them.
The wall was covered with dense blade marks and patterns. A sharp blade intent surged from the carvings, still undiminished even after a hundred years of wear.
"Wow, it hasn't been erased at all. What an unexpected gain!"
Senju Syura stepped closer to the stone wall, his fingertips lightly brushing over the cold carvings, his eyes filled with excitement and shock.
Black Zetsu narrowed his ink-black eyes slightly, a trace of suspicion quietly rising in his heart.
By all logic, this kind of inherited blade technique carved in stone should have long been erased by the Hatake clan. Yet it remained intact.
It was likely that the Hatake clan leader of that time, mindful of passing on the legacy, had deliberately left it behind so future generations wouldn't lose the opportunity.
Black Zetsu's perception extended once more. Keenly, he sensed that in a hidden compartment beside the carvings, there was also a dust-covered scroll concealed... another secret item.
But Black Zetsu had no intention of telling Senju Syura.
First, the Great Immortal of Mount Myoboku had already tacitly allowed this matter back then. This scroll had its own destined owner.
Second, what was inside the scroll was of no use to the current Senju Syura.
"Master Black Zetsu, do you think this is real or fake?"
Senju Syura withdrew his gaze and turned his head, looking at Black Zetsu in his palm with curiosity and expectation.
"It's real. Don't worry."
Black Zetsu nodded calmly, giving a definite answer.
Hearing this, Senju Syura had no more doubts. He immediately sat cross-legged in front of the stone wall, focusing intently on the blade paths and patterns carved into it, fully immersing himself in studying the technique.
———
At the boundless sand dunes where the Dragon Vein lay, the yellow sand was stirred by the night wind, forming layer upon layer of ripples.
Hundreds of White Zetsu were scattered around the dunes, their figures hidden within the sand, fully alert to every movement around them. The atmosphere was extremely solemn.
Shima and Gamabunta stood atop the dunes, their postures upright, heads lowered in respect, as if awaiting the arrival of some supreme existence.
In just a few seconds, thick white mist suddenly spread across the sky above the dunes. The fog surged and expanded, enveloping the entire Dragon Vein area.
As the mist flowed, the figure of the Great Immortal Arisu of Mount Myoboku slowly stepped out from within it.
With the bearing of an immortal, a gentle smile on his face, faint traces of different kinds of sage techniques lingered around him.
"Welcome the Great Immortal's descent into the mortal world!"
"Welcome the Great Immortal's descent into the mortal world!"
The moment Arisu appeared, the White Zetsu on guard all bowed in unison, their voices resounding across the dunes like a tidal wave, shaking the night sky.
Shima and Gamabunta immediately stepped forward and bowed to greet him.
"No need for such formality, no need."
Arisu smiled warmly and waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the White Zetsu, his tone kind.
Then Arisu looked at Shima in front of him. She immediately lowered her head and spoke respectfully, "Great Immortal, according to your instructions, the barriers and defenses around the Dragon Vein have all been properly set up."
Arisu nodded slightly, his eyes full of approval.
"You've worked hard. After you return, you will be directly promoted to Immortal and stand alongside Fukasaku."
Shima froze for a moment, a flash of astonishment appearing in her eyes. Then she bowed deeply, her tone extremely respectful.
"Yes!"
She had spent hundreds of years laying out plans in the human world, dedicating herself fully to the intelligence division of Mount Myoboku.
Now she had finally achieved her wish, standing on equal footing with Fukasaku Sage.
"Great Immortal, Great Immortal, what about me?"
Gamabunta immediately raised his hand obediently. "I also helped Senior Shima set up many barriers, and I even cleaned the site thoroughly!"
Arisu looked at the lively Gamabunta, nodded, and said in a clear voice, "Good, you've done well. I appoint you as the Great General of the Southern Gate!"
"Huh? Great General of the Southern Gate?", Gamabunta looked confused.
"It's fine that you don't understand.", Arisu smiled faintly, a trace of deeper meaning flashing in his gentle eyes.
He didn't explain further and turned to walk slowly into the surging Dragon Vein ahead.
On the dunes, the yellow sand of the Dragon Vein was drawn by an invisible force, rolling into waves of golden currents. The chakra aura was so dense it was almost tangible, it was the power of the earth's origin.
Arisu stood at the core of the Dragon Vein, lowering his gaze to look at the surging sea of sand beneath his feet, a trace of certainty flashing in his eyes.
This time, Arisu had come to use the power of the Rinnegan, combined with his sage techniques and summoning arts, to relocate a portion of the Dragon Vein back to Mount Myoboku.
It must be known that the Dragon Vein was originally a source power rooted in the earth.
It seemed fixed and immovable, but if one could become the Dragon Vein's jinchuriki, they could use their own power to guide and mobilize its strength.
This was a secret technique unique to Mount Myoboku.
In the original Naruto story, it was recorded that the Dragon Vein had weak consciousness and no autonomy, making it extremely easy for powerful beings to control. This was also the fundamental reason why Arisu dared to act.
"Dragon Vein, from now on, I will be the one to control you!"
Arisu slowly raised his hand. His aged palm opened, and an overwhelming force erupted from his body.
Sage power and the Rinnegan's ocular power intertwined, forming a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.
Then, a dazzling white light mark slowly appeared on Arisu's forehead.
The patterns of the Tenseigan quietly formed, and a sacred yet imposing light instantly enveloped the entire Dragon Vein area.
The light was so brilliant it made it impossible to open one's eyes.
Gamabunta and Shima instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes, yet they could still feel the heart-shaking pressure.
Gamabunta's voice, filled with shock and awe, came through the gaps between his fingers, "So this is the Great Immortal!!!"
The White Zetsu all lowered their heads as well, not daring to look directly at the light of the Tenseigan.