Chapter 48: If Not, Shinobi World Will Have to Make Do – Izayoi's Anxiety

Chapter 48: If Not, Shinobi World Will Have to Make Do – Izayoi’s Anxiety

Izayoi had no idea his actions had inspired Momochi Zabuza to forge an entirely new path as a rogue ninja.

After securing the materials to create Human Puppets and Chakra Cores, Izayoi didn’t immediately return to Konoha. Instead, every three days, he dispatched a Shadow Clone with a massive chakra reserve to replace the one in the village before it automatically dispelled.

Except for Hinata and Hanabi Hyuga, no one realized the Izayoi wandering the village was just a clone.

Having informed the Hyuga sisters, Izayoi took his time returning. Instead, he assumed a new identity and rendezvoused with another Shadow Clone collecting treasures from Kado’s hidden stashes to tally their spoils.

But even counting Kado’s wealth proved impossible.

The most valuable items weren’t cash, gold bars, or jewelry – it was the land deeds. These weren’t worthless scraps; they represented properties and shops in prime commercial districts across multiple countries. Selling just a few deeds earned Izayoi more money than several Sarutobi Asumas combined.

After his sudden windfall, Izayoi used the deeds to locate a villa Kado owned in Fire Country. He then bought a clothing store in the same city, leaving a Shadow Clone there to apprentice with the tailors and designers.

The original Izayoi, however, didn’t return to Konoha. Instead, he carried two empty large Storage Scrolls, leaving Fire Country for River Country.

Boom!
Over a remote mountain village, clouds gathered and thunder rumbled. Soon, rain began to fall.

Yet outside a mine shaft, shirtless villagers continued hauling carts of ore while pickaxes rang from within. Nearby, a group in black raincoats gathered around a freshly dug grave.

“Why did you have to die?! It breaks my heart – it truly breaks my heart!” wailed their leader, theatrically clutching his face.

But no one shared his grief. Their eyes only showed fear toward this volatile clan head, known for raining funerals on a whim.

“Raiga, a powerful chakra signature approaches – and the person can fly!” whispered a childlike voice from beneath the leader’s raincoat, trembling with urgency.

The weeping Kurosuki Raiga lowered his hands, eyes narrowing skyward as a black figure descended through the rain.

“Lightning Release: Thunderball!” Raiga roared, crossing his twin blade-shaped weapons. A crackling blue-white sphere of lightning chakra erupted toward the sky.

The figure simply extended a sleeve-covered hand, palm outstretched. The thunderball exploded against an invisible barrier like fireworks, scattering harmless arcs of electricity.

“You’re the ones I want – Kurosuki Raiga, and… a Bloodline Limit user,” Izayoi said with a smirk. “Since I missed the original, you two knockoffs can become my Human Puppets.”

“I’m in a hurry – let’s end this quickly. Shinra Tensei!”

An invisible gravitational force seized Raiga like a giant hand. “No sealing techniques? I can’t see anything – what kind of jutsu is this?!”

Raiga crossed his lightning-charged blades again, channeling chakra into his signature technique. Arcs of electricity lashed toward Izayoi like crackling lasers – his famous Lightning Release, rivaling even Kakashi’s Chidori. The lightning would strike skyward if it missed, merging with clouds before crashing back down as thunderbolts.

“Nice technique, fine blades – but those are the only compliments you’ll get.”

Izayoi spread his hands, a greenish air-distorting shield forming around him. “Shinra Tensei!”

The pressure wave erupted like an overfilled water balloon, scattering rain and engulfing Raiga’s falling form along with the fleeing Kurogane family below.

Kaboom!
The explosion shook the entire village, rattling the mine shaft. When the rain and dust cleared, the graveyard had vanished, replaced by a massive crater.

The Kurogane family lay dead, their bodies shattered by Izayoi’s gravity repulsion. Raiga, slammed into the earth, bled heavily from broken bones and internal injuries. Still shielding his companion, Raiga had thrown away his blades to protect Ranmaru – the boy lay wounded but alive.

As Izayoi descended, Raiga spat blood and pleaded weakly, “Please… spare Ranmaru.”

“Didn’t your victims beg the same?” Izayoi scoffed. “You’re an elite jonin-level rogue ninja – why speak so childishly?”

He used his gravity technique to retrieve the fallen blades but didn’t strike. Instead, he grinned. “Help me test something – make your deaths worthwhile.”

Creating a Shadow Clone with a flick of sealing hands, Izayoi and his clone each gripped a lightning-charged blade, impaling Raiga and Ranmaru together.

But nothing happened. No floating text appeared.

“Shadow Clones and murder don’t boost drop rates,” Izayoi mused. “Chakra alone can’t determine strength – otherwise only jinchuriki or Naruto could give me drops. But even classmates with no special traits have dropped abilities. So what decides it? Techniques? Performance?”

Staring at the corpses, he muttered, “One more test. If this fails… I’ll have to take drastic measures and inconvenience Shinobi World itself.”

After all, with my stats, how can someone weaker overtake years of my progress in just years? Izayoi’s anxiety remained unshared.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end