Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 525 War Deployment

Deep underground, in a gloomy and damp atmosphere, lies a mysterious base. This base seems completely isolated from the outside world, filled with a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere.

Following the winding passage, we finally arrived at an extremely dark room. A faint candlelight flickered, emitting a dim yellow glow that barely dispelled the endless darkness around us, bringing a rare glimmer of light to this otherwise pitch-black space.

In this dimly lit room, Hiruko was intently engrossed in the mountain of documents and experimental equipment piled before him. These documents, given to him by the mysterious masked man, contained countless unknown secrets and dangerous technologies.

After a long period of diligent study and repeated experiments, Hiruko finally succeeded in completing the research on the materials entrusted to him by the masked man. At this moment, he was exhausted, but his eyes shone with excitement and pride.

In truth, Hiruko never expected that the thick stack of research data handed to him by the masked man would actually be the fearsome Impure World Reincarnation technique developed by the renowned Second Hokage of Konoha! Hiruko had only heard of this forbidden technique from others—it was said that Orochimaru used this terrifying ninjutsu to demonstrate its power during the Konoha Crush, defeating the powerful Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with just one use!

Now, with this complete and intact document right before his eyes, Hiruko's thirst for knowledge and spirit of exploration were instantly ignited. For a research prodigy as gifted as him, there were virtually no insurmountable obstacles or difficulties in deciphering and mastering the essence of this document.

Moreover, in the process of in-depth research, Hiruko fully utilized his extraordinary wisdom and creativity, undertaking a series of bold and ingenious improvements to this forbidden technique. After countless days and nights of repeated experiments, adjustments, and optimizations, the Impure World Reincarnation technique presented to him was completely transformed, its power vastly different from the initial version!

This brilliant maneuver undoubtedly became the key to Hiruko's ability to maintain the upper hand in his struggle against the masked man. After all, whoever possesses such powerful and unique strength will remain invincible in this turbulent power game!

In this way, Sasuke Uchiha, controlled by the mysterious masked man, could potentially become his for the taking! Recalling how he initially agreed to the man's demands, it was entirely out of concern for his own life; he had no choice but to bow down and show weakness in exchange for a sliver of hope. However, things are completely different now, because he has successfully mastered this powerful forbidden technique! With this skill, he holds the leverage to negotiate and the strength to challenge the man, allowing him to stand tall and contend with him. He anticipates that the situation will drastically change then, and he, once the weaker party, will be able to turn the tide and seize control!

The masked man stood quietly to the side, his gaze fixed intently on Hiruko's every move. Hiruko rapidly formed hand seals, chanting incantations, and a mysterious chakra fluctuation emanated from his body.

As Hiruko cast his spell, the ground began to tremble slightly, and strange runes shone with an eerie light, gradually outlining a massive array. Then, a cloud of smoke rose from the center of the array, and several figures slowly emerged.

These figures were all deceased, yet they appeared as if resurrected, lifelike. Their faces were expressionless, their eyes vacant, as if controlled by some force.

The masked man stared wide-eyed as he witnessed everything unfold, a wave of shock washing over him. He had heard of the Impure World Reincarnation before, but only now, experiencing its execution firsthand, did he truly grasp the terrifying nature of this ninjutsu.

This forbidden technique can actually summon the dead back and make them fight under the caster's command—it's simply a heaven-defying existence! The masked man knew all too well what devastating consequences this ninjutsu could bring to the battlefield if used properly.

At the same time, through this demonstration, the masked man gained a profound understanding for the first time of the power of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and the ninjas of that era. Keep in mind, this was during a time when Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, two powerful figures, dominated the entire ninja world! Yet, even so, a ninja like Tobirama Senju was able to create such terrifying ninjutsu through his own strength and wisdom, shining with his own dazzling brilliance.

The masked man pondered to himself, "To stand out in such an environment and leave behind such an amazing legacy, the talents of these senior ninjas are truly beyond imagination..." As he thought of this, a burning desire flashed in his eyes, as if he had secretly made a decision in his heart.

Once the mysterious and powerful forbidden technique of Impure World Reincarnation is mastered, its impact is undoubtedly profound and awe-inspiring. On the turbulent and smoke-filled battlefield, a force that was originally somewhat weak due to a lack of experts is now undergoing a world-shaking transformation.

Through the Impure World Reincarnation technique, the spirits of deceased powerful warriors can be summoned, allowing them to once again step onto this bloody battlefield. These once-renowned masters, though dead, are able to return to the mortal realm through the power of forbidden arts, once again displaying unparalleled strength and combat skills. In this way, the faction, which previously had a significant deficiency in high-end combat power, is instantly greatly supplemented and strengthened.

Furthermore, since the heroic spirits summoned through the Impure World Reincarnation technique are not bound by life or death, and are unaffected by pain or fatigue, they can unleash a variety of incredibly powerful techniques and secret arts without restraint. This near-invincible existence allows the side wielding this technique to gradually gain an absolute advantage on the battlefield, plunging their opponents into deep fear and despair.

The masked man, lurking in the shadows and controlling everything, had calmly analyzed the situation and made a clear decision. He seemed to see the dawn of victory shining ahead, and this meticulously planned war was about to begin. He would use the overwhelming power of the Impure World Reincarnation to force the hypocritical and utterly deceitful Kage of the Fifth Hidden Villages to submit and hand over the remaining Tailed Beast resources, thus realizing his grand and ambitious plan.

Just when everyone thought that Kakashi Hatake was about to inherit the title of Sixth Hokage, things took an unexpected turn—Tsunade miraculously woke up! This news was like a spring breeze across a frozen lake, instantly breaking the silence and tension.

Although Kakashi Hatake has always been considered a top candidate for the Sixth Hokage, he doesn't actually harbor much desire or obsession for this supreme position. For him, the Hokage title represents more of a responsibility and a duty. Especially before this breathtaking war, Konoha was plunged into unprecedented chaos and confusion, the lack of a leader casting a shadow over the entire village.

In such a difficult time, Kakashi Hatake knew he bore the heavy responsibility of saving Konoha and leading everyone out of their predicament. Although he personally had no desire for power, out of his deep affection for the village and his strong desire to protect its people, he resolutely accepted this weighty mission and prepared to take over as the Sixth Hokage at any time.

However, with Tsunade's awakening, everything seems to have taken a new turn. As the once highly respected Fifth Hokage, Tsunade not only possesses outstanding leadership skills and formidable strength, but more importantly, she enjoys immense prestige and trust among the villagers. It can be said that as long as Tsunade is in charge of Konoha, the village will surely regain its former vitality and become even more stable and prosperous.

After the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, awoke from her coma, Konoha Village was given a much-needed boost, and the situation quickly stabilized. Tsunade's return not only brought strong leadership to Konoha but also greatly calmed the villagers' restless hearts, which were agitated by the impending Fourth Shinobi World War.

Meanwhile, the other four major ninja villages dared not slacken their efforts, and each quickly formulated detailed and meticulous strategic plans for this unprecedented war. Among these, the most pressing issue was the placement of the Jinchuriki (human ninjas) of the Tailed Beasts. After investigation and statistics, only Konoha and Kumogakure remained as ninja villages that still possessed Tailed Beasts. This placed an even heavier burden on the shoulders of these two villages, as they knew they absolutely could not allow their Jinchuriki to fall into the hands of the mysterious, masked leader of the Akatsuki organization. After all, the consequences of the Jinchuriki being controlled by the enemy would be unimaginable.

Although both Jinchuriki were top-tier fighters in their respective villages, given the gravity of the situation and the fate of the entire ninja world at stake, the two villages had no choice but to reluctantly decide to completely conceal them to ensure absolute safety. While this would mean temporarily losing two powerful warriors, it would at least maximize their safety.

It's worth mentioning that this arrangement had an unexpected benefit—it allowed Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki of Kumogakure to exchange and learn from each other. Naruto, in particular, could learn from the more experienced Jinchuriki how to better control the Tailed Beast's power. This rare opportunity undoubtedly provided ample preparation for various unforeseen events that might occur later in the war, and also filled people with a glimmer of hope for the future.