radicalducati Chapter 523 Preparations for the Great War
Chapter 523 Preparations for the Great War
In that turbulent moment, unlike the peaceful tranquility of the training grounds, the news of the masked man from the powerful and mysterious Akatsuki organization declaring war on the Five Great Shinobi Villages spread like wildfire throughout the entire shinobi world. From that moment on, the once peaceful world was shattered, plunging into a state of anxious preparation for war.
Villages began busily preparing all the resources needed for the war. Countless craftsmen worked day and night to forge all kinds of incredibly sharp ninja tools; medical ninjas busily collected and refined precious herbs and medicines for any eventuality; and logistics personnel traveled far and wide to collect large quantities of food, clothing, and other necessities.
Meanwhile, the sky became unusually lively. Well-trained communication beasts took to the skies, carrying important intelligence or delivering urgent orders, streaking across the heavens like shooting stars. These beasts became crucial links between the various ninja villages, ensuring that information could be transmitted promptly and accurately.
From all corners of the five great ninja villages, ninjas flocked to the area. Some came from remote border towns, others had just completed arduous training missions, but at this moment, everyone shared a common goal—to protect their homes and resist the threat of the Akatsuki organization. These ninjas, imbued with unwavering faith and fearless courage, threw themselves into rigorous training, honing their skills in hopes of securing an invincible position in the upcoming great battle.
The entire ninja world seemed like a giant machine, rapidly operating under the impetus of various forces. Everyone was acutely aware of the gravity of this war, and no one dared to be careless. But what astonishing conspiracy did the Akatsuki organization, lurking in the shadows, harbor? Could the five great ninja villages unite to defeat this unprecedentedly powerful enemy? A breathtaking battle was slowly unfolding…
Even the enigmatic masked man from Akatsuki showed no sign of slackening. After all, once he resolutely and openly declared war on the five great ninja villages, he had already begun preparing a series of countermeasures.
In a secluded base, the masked man sat upright, facing a shockingly uninvited guest—Hiruko, a rogue ninja from Konoha! Once a prominent Jonin of Konoha, Hiruko was a contemporary of the renowned Legendary Sannin. However, the vast difference in their strength between them was unbearable for the proud and arrogant Hiruko. Thus, he secretly began studying forbidden ninjutsu, hoping to turn the tide. But secrets can't stay hidden forever, and his actions were eventually exposed. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was enraged upon learning of this and immediately issued a kill order.
However, Hiruko was not without skill, managing to escape the pursuit of his former friends, the legendary Sannin of Konoha. From then on, he transformed himself into a rogue ninja, devoting himself entirely to perfecting forbidden techniques. Today, his meticulously crafted "Oni-Garaku Technique" has reached a minor level of mastery, allowing him to simultaneously possess four incredibly powerful bloodline limits. But for the ambitious Hiruko, this was clearly far from enough. Now, he desperately desired to acquire the final bloodline limit, thus pushing the "Oni-Garaku Technique" to its flawless peak. After much deliberation, he set his sights firmly on the unparalleled Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, a force renowned throughout the ninja world.
However, at this very moment within the ninja world, only three people remained of the legendary Sharingan users: the masked man before them, Uchiha Sasuke, and Hatake Kakashi. Let's start with Uchiha Sasuke. Having just undergone a grueling eye transplant surgery, his body and mind suffered immense trauma. Therefore, he had been recuperating, his whereabouts elusive, seemingly vanished into thin air, making him impossible to find. As for Hatake Kakashi, he remained steadfastly in Konoha, wholeheartedly preparing for the impending brutal war. He never acted alone, and even the arrogant and overconfident Hiruko wouldn't dare provoke Hatake Kakashi at this crucial juncture. As a former Konoha traitor, Hiruko was acutely aware of the immense power within the village. He knew perfectly well that if he were to confront Kakashi Hatake head-on, or even become an enemy of the entire village, he would have absolutely no chance of victory. Therefore, only one path remained before Hiruko—to successfully obtain the coveted Sharingan at this critical juncture of tension, the only feasible method was to target the enigmatic masked man, arguably the most mysterious member of Akatsuki.
However, Hiruko, the villain who had betrayed the ninja village, completely underestimated the true strength of the mysterious masked man. He firmly believed that among the three, the masked man would be the easiest for him to obtain the Sharingan. But to his utter surprise, he was so easily subdued by his opponent.
At this moment, the masked man silently stared at the helpless and wretched Hiruko before him. Although a strong killing intent surged within him, a desire to immediately kill this madman who dared to covet the Uchiha clan's precious bloodline limit, reason still restrained his impulse. After all, the Akatsuki organization was currently facing a severe shortage of personnel, especially top-tier fighters. Hiruko's strength was not to be underestimated; if he could be recruited into the organization, he would undoubtedly become a powerful asset.
After careful consideration, the masked man ultimately decided to spare Hiruko for the time being, refraining from killing him. He knew that in the current situation, any force could have a significant impact on the future development of the Akatsuki. Perhaps, keeping Hiruko alive and then taming and utilizing him was the wisest choice.
Furthermore, Hiruko's research abilities were invaluable to the masked man at this moment. He was facing a powerful combined force from the five great ninja villages. While he might possess some formidable trump cards, in such a dire situation, any additional assistance, even if it only slightly increased his side's chances of victory, would be extremely beneficial. Therefore, upon discovering Hiruko's unique and practical abilities, the masked man immediately conceived a plan to recruit her and fully utilize this advantage to enhance his own strength, thus better preparing him for this unprecedented challenge.
Ever since witnessing Orochimaru's astonishing Impure World Reincarnation ninjutsu, the masked man had been consumed by a burning desire. He knew that this ninjutsu contained boundless potential, and if he could master and wield it freely, it would undoubtedly become a trump card in battle, greatly increasing his chances of victory.
Although the masked man successfully stole valuable information about the Impure World Reincarnation from Konoha through his White Zetsu subordinates, he couldn't figure out the correct way to perform the technique, no matter how hard he racked his brains or studied it repeatedly. This made the masked man, who always had a high opinion of himself, quite frustrated and angry.
However, just when he was about to give up, this man named Hiruko appeared in his field of vision. This Hiruko was no ordinary person; with only a bold conjecture, he had independently developed an extremely rare and powerful forbidden technique like the Demon Sprout Technique! The masked man couldn't help but think: if he were to entrust the information on the Impure World Reincarnation technique to this person, with his exceptional talent and creativity, he would surely be able to thoroughly understand its mysteries and perfectly present this ninjutsu to the world. Once Hiruko truly mastered the Impure World Reincarnation ninjutsu, it would undoubtedly add an immeasurable amount of powerful combat strength to the masked man and his forces. Thinking of this, the corners of the masked man's mouth slightly turned up, revealing a barely perceptible sly smile.
The opponent has long coveted the mysterious and powerful Uchiha clan bloodline limit—the Sharingan. If this precious item could be used as bait, it would surely whet the opponent's appetite like catching a big fish. In this way, that greedy person would very likely willingly become a tool of war in one's own hands, controlled and driven by one's own will.
Adding to the masked man's hidden trump cards, the chances of victory in this impending brutal war have undoubtedly increased significantly. However, one crucial factor remains uncertain: whether the rogue ninja named Hiruko possesses the ability to quickly overcome the forbidden technique of Impure World Reincarnation, a technique feared by all, and master its execution.
Regardless of the final outcome, the masked man knew perfectly well that the current situation was irreversible. Even if this attempt failed, the existing situation wouldn't change much, but success would greatly increase his chances of winning. After all, once the wheels of war are turned on, they are hard to stop easily; the open and covert struggles and life-or-death battles between various forces will continue. As long as he could achieve final victory and complete his plan, he wouldn't mind giving away the mere bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan, since the entire ninja world would eventually be under his control.