https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-495-Conclusion-of-the-Anbu-Training-Part-2-/12558745/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-497-The-Unexpected-Whirlpool-Clan/12558747/
Chapter 496: Racing Through the Grass Ninja Village
Chapter 496: Racing Through the Grass Ninja Village
Aside from mealtimes and necessary rest, Mu Yue and her team hurried on their journey.
With their rapid march, they soon entered the Land of Grass and arrived near the Grass Ninja Village.
"There's no alert barrier; we can infiltrate directly." Aburame Shinki reported to Mu Yue after recalling his reconnaissance insects.
The Aburame clan's secret techniques had a versatile feel to them; as long as they bred enough insects, they were not only good in combat but also excellent in reconnaissance and other auxiliary abilities.
This was within Mu Yue's expectations; in the Fire Shadow, sealing techniques and barrier techniques went hand in hand.
Only the major ninja villages could afford to maintain large-scale barriers that enveloped the entire village. Smaller ninja villages might master some specialized sealing techniques at best.
It must be understood that the so-called villages in the ninja world were actually city-sized.
To construct such a large-scale barrier, not only were sealing technique experts necessary, but a dedicated sealing team was required, something that ordinary ninja villages couldn't assemble.
Since there was no barrier, Mu Yue directly led her disguised team into the Grass Ninja Village.
Mu Yue didn't immediately start the investigation but instead found an inn where she rented several rooms as the gathering point for this mission.
"From now on, act according to the original plan." Mu Yue commanded Aburame Shinki and the others.
Mu Yue had already laid out the specific action plan during their journey.
Aburame Shinki, Nara Suzaku, and Maruxingujie all nodded and left the inn one by one, disguised as regular people.
Their team, including Mu Yue, had a total of eight people. For an infiltration investigation, this number was too large to move together, as it would easily expose their tracks.
So, Mu Yue divided them into three groups: the most capable, himself, a group of his four disciples, and the last group consisting of Nara Suzaku, Maruxingujie, and others.
Mu Yue fully considered the safety of his team members, ensuring that each small group had the ability to retreat safely if exposed.
As for himself, there was no need to mention his true strength; with his current power, he could come and go as he pleased in an ordinary ninja village like the Grass Ninja Village.
The Kakashi group, consisting of Kakashi, Genma Shiranui, and Obito, could burst out with power comparable to the Ninja Swordsmen Seven when combined, though they lacked endurance.
Additionally, with Yamanaka Rin, a medical ninja, who had the combat capability of a regular jonin, even if they couldn't win, the Kakashi group could still retreat if they weren't surrounded by hundreds or thousands of ninjas.
The Maruxingujie group had two elite jonin, including Aburame Shinki, who was an all-around ninja. Although Nara Suzaku was relatively weaker, he was still stronger than a regular jonin and could serve as the team's brain. Overall, the small group had enough strength to execute S-rank missions.
"If you're exposed, try to create as much of a ruckus as possible. That way, I'll be able to come and resolve the issue immediately." Mu Yue took out a Flying Thunder God Kunai and handed it to Kakashi.
On the surface, this was an investigation mission, but the task force's configuration made it clear that the investigation was not the main priority.
Including Maruxingujie, a genin who could be considered a jonin in writing, their task force consisted of eight jonin, with Mu Yue being a well-known powerful figure in the ninja world. With such a lineup, they could not only investigate the Grass Ninja Village but also wipe out its entire leadership without breaking a sweat.
Thus, Mu Yue wasn't concerned about whether Kakashi's group could uncover any information; he would take action regardless.
"I will prioritize your safety." Kakashi took the Flying Thunder God Kunai and nodded in assurance.
In Kakashi's heart, the lives of his companions came before the mission. If there was danger, he would prioritize ensuring Obito's survival rather than completing the task.
"We're all jonin, so why is Kakashi the leader?" Obito asked, somewhat puzzled.
Kakashi had been the deputy captain on the battlefield, and now that they were splitting up, he was again assigned as the group leader. Obito, who also wanted a turn at being the boss and giving Kakashi orders, felt a bit disappointed.
"Genma, if you were to choose one person as the leader, who would it be?" Instead of answering Obito's question, Mu Yue turned to Genma and asked.
"Kakashi, I guess." Genma thought about it and replied.
Kakashi had proven his capability time and again in many missions; he indeed had the ability to lead a team.
As for Obito, Genma felt that a position that required too much thinking wasn't suitable for him at the moment.
"Rin, what about you?" Mu Yue continued, addressing Yamanaka Rin.
Feeling Obito's expectant gaze, Yamanaka Rin finally answered with a pained expression, "I think Kakashi, who has more experience, is more suitable."
Obito's face fell, and the blow he felt from Yamanaka Rin's words was even greater than not being chosen as the leader.
Hearing Yamanaka Rin say that he was less suitable than Kakashi made Obito's mind wander, wondering if she thought Kakashi was stronger than him.
"That's not it," Obito consoled himself. "Rin thinks that damn Kakashi is more experienced because he became a ninja long before us."
Mu Yue patted Obito's shoulder before leaving. "To become a leader, Obito, you need to learn more."
Mu Yue had deliberately asked Yamanaka Rin's opinion earlier because he understood Obito so well that he knew how devastating her rejection would be to him.
Becoming a Kage required more than just passion. Even in the original story, where Naruto saved the ninja world, he had to put in effort to study and eventually became the Seventh Hokage.
Currently, although Obito shouted about wanting to become the Hokage all day, he lacked in many abilities. He couldn't rely on Kakashi's support forever, and he needed to develop some competence himself.
"Leadership learning," Obito muttered to himself, Mu Yue's parting words echoing in his mind. Once again, he recalled Yamanaka Rin's response from earlier.
Although he wasn't a fan of reading, Obito decided at that moment to study hard after the mission.
He had just thought of something terrifying.
His dream was to become the Hokage, and since Mu Yue said he lacked leadership skills, there was a possibility that Kakashi could become the Hokage instead, leaving him behind.
The thought of Yamanaka Rin congratulating Kakashi on becoming the Hokage while he missed out made Obito's blood boil, and his Sharingan almost activated. This was truly a painful scenario for him.
To him, this pain even surpassed the hell of doing consecutive months of exams.
"Don't just stand there, you good-for-nothing. With your abilities, you'll always be my subordinate, so just listen to me." Kakashi said with a slight lift of his lips.
After speaking, Kakashi strode out first.
"You damn evil white-haired freak! Wait till I finish learning how to lead, and I'll definitely boss you around." Faced with Kakashi's arrogance, Obito, whose status was temporarily inferior, didn't dare to retort but secretly harbored his resentment.
...
After leaving the inn, Mu Yue left a shadow clone to secretly protect Kakashi's group, while his main body began to investigate the Grass Ninja Village.
The base itself was not suspicious, but what it contained certainly was.
Mu Yue perceived a peculiar chakra signature.
It was peculiar, but Mu Yue did not sense a significant threat from it.
Intrigued, Mu Yue approached the Grass Ninja's underground research base, intending to enter and investigate further.
【Name: Impermanence】
【Chakra: 31,200】
【Skills: Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient Level: 2,300/15,000), Fire Style: Heavenly Prison (Proficient Level), Fire Style: Great Fire Heavenly Prison (Proficient Level) ... 】
Before infiltrating, Mu Yue used Appraisal to examine the status panel of the only ninja within the base.
After confirming that none of Impermanence's skills posed a threat, Mu Yue used Earth Style to seamlessly infiltrate the underground base.
"Who's there?" Impermanence, who had been observing the Gedo Statue, sensed something amiss.
"Fire Style: Heavenly Prison Fire Sword!"
Impermanence gathered chakra in his hand and wielded the Grass Ninja secret technique, the fire-style jutsu, brandishing a fiery sword towards the source of the disturbance.
"For daring to invade with such low-level means, you shall..."
As Impermanence swung his fiery sword at the intruder, his eyes widened, and his forehead began to bead with cold sweat. The intruder before him had vanished without a trace.
Whoosh!
Thump!
Mu Yue appeared like a ghost behind Impermanence and knocked him unconscious with a single strike.
Deprived of chakra, Impermanence's fiery sword vanished, and he fell to the ground.
Having dealt with Impermanence, Mu Yue turned his curious gaze towards the massive box that emanated the peculiar aura.
With his current strength, easily defeating an upper-nin like Impermanence was well within expectations and hardly noteworthy.
"Gedo Statue?" Mu Yue stared at the enigmatic box, his memory gradually recalling fragments of information.
If his recollection was correct, this box was rumored to have the power to grant wishes.
Of course, they were just rumors. In reality, the box wasn't that formidable; at least, that was the impression given by the plot.
While wishes couldn't be granted, the box could transform those sealed inside into a monster known as "Enlightenment."
In the plot, Enlightenment's strength wasn't particularly remarkable, aside from its ability to see through the hearts of those who feared it. A spiraling shuriken from Naruto was enough to inflict severe damage.
Mu Yue estimated that if he used his full strength, he could easily slice Enlightenment in two with his Nothingness Blade.
Mu Yue approached the Gedo Statue and gathered chakra in his finger, poking it gently.
In the plot, this box was incredibly durable. While Naruto's spiraling shuriken could severely wound Enlightenment, it left no mark on the box.
Boom!
A loud crash reverberated as Mu Yue's finger, capable of effortlessly piercing rocks, struck the Gedo Statue, yet it failed to leave even a white mark.
Mu Yue's expression remained unchanged as he continued to gather chakra, enveloping his finger in black-armored chakra. Once again, he struck out with his finger.
The outcome remained unchanged, and he was unable to leave any mark on the Gedo Statue.
Mu Yue then drew out Yamanta, channeled a large amount of chakra into it, and enhanced the blade with black-armored chakra before slashing at the Gedo Statue.
The Gedo Statue trembled violently, and the peculiar chakra surged. Yamanta's strike left a white mark on the box.
Mu Yue's idea of using the Six Paths Staff was quickly extinguished. The Gedo Statue was not indestructible but exceptionally resilient.
If he were to attack the Gedo Statue with the full might of the Six Paths Staff, he might very well shatter it.
This was something that had never occurred in the original story. Mu Yue was unsure if shattering the box would result in Enlightenment's total freedom or annihilation, and he wouldn't dare act recklessly without understanding the consequences.
Mu Yue sheathed Yamanta and once again activated his White Eye to scrutinize the Gedo Statue up close.
Although his White Eye had an extraordinarily long range, the details he could perceive varied with distance. At close range, he could observe more deeply and clearly.
"This box seems to have been sealed with a sealing technique," Mu Yue remarked as he examined the Gedo Statue.
Rather than being the source of the peculiar aura, the Gedo Statue appeared to be a prison, containing something within.
Mu Yue created a shadow clone and instructed it to channel chakra into the Gedo Statue.
Mu Yue discovered something even more intriguing.
The sealing technique within the Gedo Statue was unusual. Typically, even the most powerful sealing techniques would weaken over time.
However, this sealing technique was different. Mu Yue found a mysterious connection between the technique and the peculiar aura. When he channeled chakra into the Gedo Statue, the peculiar aura absorbed the chakra and grew stronger, causing the seal to suddenly intensify as well.
Based on the information he had gathered, Mu Yue believed that the Gedo Statue was likely the handiwork of the Sage of Six Paths.
As the most legitimate heir to the Uzumaki sealing technique, Mu Yue had never encountered a sealing technique within the Uzumaki repertoire that could achieve similar effects.
With the existence of the Gedo Statue's sealing technique, no matter how much chakra the peculiar aura absorbed, its host would never escape. The stronger it became, the stronger the seal would be.
"Is its essence similar to that of a malevolent god?" Mu Yue mused aloud.
Aside from extraterrestrial beings like the Otsutsuki clan, the ninja world also had its fair share of strange entities, such as the malevolent god that granted Hidan his immortality.
Mu Yue speculated that Enlightenment, sealed within the Gedo Statue, had likely wreaked havoc in the ninja world before being captured and contained by the Sage of Six Paths.
After fiddling with the Gedo Statue, Mu Yue turned his attention to the unconscious Impermanence.
Mu Yue used the Transformation skill to assume the appearance of Inoichi Yamanaka and crouched down, placing his palm on Impermanence's head to activate the Yamanaka clan's secret technique.
Given Impermanence's strength, he likely held a high position in the Grass Ninja Village, and Mu Yue hoped to gain some valuable information from his memories.
Impermanence's recent experiences flashed through Mu Yue's mind.
"The Rock Ninja Village, cooperation to intensify the war, opening the Gedo Statue to restore the greatness of the Grass Country..."
The collaboration between the Grass Ninja and the Rock Ninja, the Grass Ninja leader's plan, the conflict between the Grass Fruit and the Grass Flower—all the secrets of the Grass Ninja Village were laid bare before Mu Yue through Impermanence's memories.
"As expected, Transformation is a handy skill," Mu Yue remarked to himself, impressed.
While Transformation was cumbersome to use in combat due to its chakra consumption and limited usage, it proved invaluable in other situations, making Mu Yue truly versatile.
(End of Chapter)
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