https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-149-Preparing-to-Capture-White-Zetsu-/12832216/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-151-The-Mist-Village-s-Elite-Squad-The-Seven-Ninja-Swordsmen-/12832218/
Chapter 150: Thanks to the Hyuga Clan's Big Gift!
Chapter 150: Thanks to the Hyuga Clan's Big Gift!
After arriving at the Yamanaka Clan's territory,
Tohira encountered several smaller ninja clans, including the Shinokawa, Hanto, and Nagata. Each of these clans numbered no more than a hundred members.
They all expressed their willingness to serve him.
Of course, these were clans that the Yamanaka Clan had already vetted—declining clans with minimal ties to the village and a willingness to swear loyalty to him.
With such strict criteria, you couldn't expect much in terms of quality.
There were fewer than five official genin, and those with ninja potential but not yet genin numbered around a dozen.
In comparison, even the former Yamanaka Koji's talent, which was only average among the civilian students in his class, stood out among these declining clans.
This highlights why Konoha doesn't invest resources in cultivating these declining clans—it's simply not cost-effective.
However, compared to rogue ninjas, these clans were still considered to have exceptional talent, making them worth Tohira's efforts to recruit.
After meeting them, these people became his followers.
The loyalty of ninjas is stronger than any contract.
Especially ninjas!
While they may employ various methods during missions, in certain aspects, they are very similar to samurais.
Of course,
Tohira isn't about to throw resources at them the moment they pledge their loyalty. He's not a fool.
He assigned them tasks such as gathering materials, guarding merchant caravans, and gathering intelligence.
If they perform well, Tohira won't hesitate to reward them, and he can also assess their abilities and character while they carry out these tasks.
Tohira doesn't have a lot of jutsu, experience, potions, secret drugs, or ninja tools to offer,
But he can trade with other clans.
For instance, just by providing healing potions, he can easily trade for these resources from the Uchiha clan.
So, while mass cultivation of followers isn't feasible, a small number is no problem.
As for unique techniques like divine ascension surgery, foreign implants, and natural energy potions, he will only consider them after ensuring the loyalty and character of his followers.
Of course, Tohira has thought of a good way to ensure loyalty.
Cursed Seals!
There's no reason why Orochimaru could create this from inspiration from Jugo, and Tohira, knowing the general information and possessing the Fusang Tree and Sage Mode, shouldn't be able to do it, right?
When it comes to natural energy research, Orochimaru can't match him, who controls the Holy Land.
If he combines it with sealing techniques and integrates functions like the "Tongue Binding Curse," it would be incredibly powerful.
What a great idea!
Unfortunately, the development is extremely challenging, so it's still on the planning list.
Tohira didn't stay long in the Yamanaka territory when a Hyuga ninja suddenly appeared.
"Lord Tohira, this is the gift the Great Elder asked me to deliver to you!"
The ninja handed over a scroll.
A sealing scroll?
Tohira immediately recognized it but didn't say much, simply nodding.
"Understood!"
He didn't thank the ninja.
No way, he and the Hyuga clan are enemies; he couldn't possibly thank them.
After the ninja left,
"Release!"
Tohira used the release seal to extract the contents, and he was momentarily stunned.
There were over a dozen scrolls and a large number of notebooks, weighing nearly a hundred pounds in total.
[D-Rank Fire Release: Fireworks]
[C-Rank Fire Release: Fire Scorching Technique]
[A-Rank Fire Release: Earthfire Technique]
[S-Rank Fire Release...]
...
All fire techniques, along with corresponding research materials.
Note that these fire techniques don't belong to the village; if they did, the Hyuga clan wouldn't have the authority to give them to him.
This is a true "big gift."
With these fire techniques, combined with Tohira's current "Fire Spirit Root" level of fire technique talent, even if Madara were reborn, he would still be inferior in the realm of fire techniques.
No, that's not quite right!
Since developing the Zhu Rong True Body, the other party has already fallen behind in the fire technique domain.
After all, Madara only enjoyed using fire techniques; his true specialty was the Sharingan.
Without further ado, Tohira headed to the training ground.
He would soon face the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist" from the Hidden Mist Village.
Even if a low-ranking ninja could tear an opponent apart under normal circumstances, the presence of someone like himself could lead to unexpected outcomes.
Truly, facing seven opponents at once, he couldn't guarantee a sure win. In the world of ninjas, the difference between victory and defeat often hung by a thread, and a single mishap could turn the tide.
Even if he could "pilot a Gundam," if the others didn't engage him head-on, he'd be at a loss. Therefore, mastering these fire jutsu to diversify his combat skills was crucial.
Learning jutsu usually took a considerable amount of time. However, after consuming several bottles of Natural Power Elixir, his fire affinity had reached the level of a "Fire Spirit Root." Not to mention, he had the Clear Mind Elixir to aid his learning. Rapidly mastering these fire jutsu wasn't a problem at all.
What excited Tang Ping the most was the sole S-rank fire jutsu, which had hints of natural energy integration, much like how future ninja like Neji could use natural energy to perform the S-rank Lightning Jutsu "Kirin," which was incredibly powerful and not too draining.
As for Kakashi's S-rank Lightning Blade, it was more for show.
With multiple "cheats" at his disposal, Tang Ping quickly absorbed the generous gift from the Hyuga clan. The Hyugas had their calculations well laid out, using this gift to solidify their previous agreement. In other words, after accepting the gift, Tang Ping would have to teach the Sage Mode to the Hyuga clan, or his reputation would suffer.
But Tang Ping thought they were overthinking it. He would indeed teach the Sage Mode to the Hyuga clan, but only to Hyuga Shizuki. Whether the others could obtain it was their problem.
Meanwhile, he secretly sent out his message, and someone was quietly gathering the necessary materials for him. With the support of the Yamato clan and a few smaller ninja clans, he finally had some useful manpower. Although reliable, the orphans and Red Lotus would need a few more years before they could be of practical use.
Tang Ping was no village elder who would send untrained children to the battlefield while sitting back and watching. Pah! The saying should be reversed: "The elders are the future of the village, and the children burn themselves to illuminate the future."
In any case, he would ensure that the orphans under his command reached the normal graduation age of 12 before being sent into combat.
As dusk approached, Nara Shikaku sent someone to the training ground. It was clear that the preparations were complete. The process took a considerable amount of time, not because of inefficiency, but to gather accurate intelligence and make other necessary preparations.
When Tang Ping arrived at the village gate, he saw the deployment team. The number was surprisingly small—five hundred, to be exact. But their presence was formidable, and their equipment was impeccable.
"Besides these five hundred, I've already sent the remaining thousand in small teams to ensure no one slips through the net," Nara Shikaku explained, sensing Tang Ping's curiosity.
Tang Ping had to admit that the arrangement was well thought out. Knowing that the Mist ninja had ways to avoid surveillance, they had deployed a large number of ninjas to form an airtight net. Once the battle began, the dispersed ninjas could quickly reinforce each other.
The most important goal was not to defeat the enemy but to prevent them from reaching Konoha. Even a few Mist ninja reaching the village would severely demoralize the Konoha forces. No one in the Five Great Shinobi Villages had ever been attacked within their own village.
Tang Ping, along with Yamato Koji and Hyuga Shizuki, silently joined the team. Before they set out, he glanced southward. If the other party had received his message, they should be on their way as well. He had already prepared the reward: the Natural Power Elixir. He had over a dozen bottles of this side product, two of which he had given to his teammates, and the rest he could use freely. Even if he was short on money, he wouldn't sell this; he would only use it for trades.
With a series of swift jumps, the ninjas left Konoha, heading south to intercept the incoming Mist ninja ambush force.
(End of Chapter)
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