Chapter 489: Exploring Potential

Land of Grass.

Villages surrounding Grass Ninja Village.

“I’ve long heard of Iwagakure Jōnin Kitsuchi’s name, and today I finally get to meet him in person.” The Leader of Grass Ninja Village complimented Kitsuchi upon seeing him.

On the surface, in terms of status, he was the Chief of a Ninja Village, while Kitsuchi was merely the son of Iwagakure’s Chief, making his status appear higher.

But in reality, this was not the case. He was just the Chief of an ordinary Ninja Village, while Kitsuchi was the son of a Chief of one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and a renowned powerhouse in the Ninja World. Their statuses were, in fact, quite comparable.

Kitsuchi nodded slightly in response, not wasting time on pleasantries, and went straight to the point.

“Now that Konoha Ninja are wantonly waging war in Land of Grass, I presume you have accumulated much anger. We, Iwagakure, have prepared a perfect combat plan to defeat Konoha.”

“As long as the plan proceeds smoothly, Grass Ninja will not only avoid being discovered by Konoha for participating in the war, but we, Iwagakure, will also be able to heavily defeat Konoha and rescue Land of Grass from its dire situation.”

Land of Grass bordered the Land of Fire. To alleviate the Grass Ninja Village’s concerns, Iwagakure Ninja would help the Grass Ninja disguise themselves as Iwagakure, only requiring the Grass Ninja’s strength, not for Grass Ninja to openly stand with Iwagakure and fight Konoha.

The Leader of Grass Ninja Village showed a thoughtful expression.

It had to be said that Iwagakure’s plan sounded very appealing, both for Grass Ninja and Iwagakure.

From Grass Ninja’s perspective, if the plan succeeded, the war currently taking place on Land of Grass’s territory would cease, and Land of Grass would not offend the behemoth that was Konoha.

From Iwagakure’s perspective, successful execution of the plan and a major defeat of the Konoha Ninja Force could bring Iwagakure renown throughout the Ninja World, weaken the strength of the warring nation, and push the war into the Land of Fire’s homeland.

This was a seemingly win-win plan.

But would reality truly be that good?

The Leader of Grass Ninja Village carefully reviewed the conversation and realized that Kitsuchi had omitted a very important detail: how to guarantee victory against Konoha’s Ninja Force.

Winning the war was the prerequisite for a win-win situation. If they lost, Grass Ninja even faced a significant risk of exposure.

However, Konoha’s Ninja Force was not weak; in fact, it was very strong. The leader of the Konoha Ninja Force in Land of Grass was Jiraiya, one of the Three Sannin, famous throughout the Ninja World since the Second Shinobi World War, and the force also contained many experienced veteran Jonin and Chunin.

“The Konoha Ninja are truly despicable! Our Grass Ninja will definitely do our utmost to help your village defeat the Konoha Ninja!” The Leader of Grass Ninja Village agreed to the cooperation with a look of indignation.

Iwagakure had its schemes, and the plan had pitfalls, but he also had his own schemes.

If he were truly to ally with Iwagakure to attack Konoha just because Konoha was waging war in Land of Grass, he wouldn’t be fit to be Chief.

If anything, it was Iwagakure that declared war on Konoha, which led to Konoha and Iwagakure fighting in Land of Grass.

Kitsuchi revealed a satisfied smile.

Perhaps this war truly was Iwagakure’s chance to dominate the Ninja World and become the number one Ninja Village. All aspects of the plan were progressing smoothly.

Kitsuchi left behind two Iwagakure Jōnin to act as liaisons, then set off on his journey back to Iwagakure.

His mission was complete; now it was the work of other Iwagakure Ninja. His task was to return to Iwagakure and report the mission details to Ōnoki.

“Chief Yokogawa Tsutomu, I feel that Iwagakure’s plan is not as good as it seems on the surface. We need to be careful.” After returning to Grass Ninja Village, Wu Chang spoke when he saw that there were no Iwagakure Ninja nearby.

Yokogawa Tsutomu nodded, “Your feeling is correct. These great Shinobi Villages have never taken us small Shinobi Villages seriously. They say it’s cooperation, but it’s just finding a decent weapon on the spot.”

“But danger also represents opportunity. Land of Grass has been quiet for so long, it’s about time for us.”

Yokogawa Tsutomu led Wu Chang and a series of his confidants to a secluded dense forest in Grass Ninja Village.

As Yokogawa Tsutomu formed hand signs, a cave entrance suddenly appeared.

Yokogawa Tsutomu jumped down first without hesitation, and Wu Chang and the others quickly followed.

“Chief!”

The Grass Ninja guarding the underground research base quickly greeted Yokogawa Tsutomu.

Yokogawa Tsutomu nodded in response, then looked at a somewhat eerie giant box in the very center of the research base.

The giant box had a human face on each of its four sides, and the expression on each face was different; some faces were filled with anger, others with sorrow.

Yokogawa Tsutomu stepped forward and touched the giant box.

He didn’t know what material this box was made of. Yokogawa Tsutomu had once used Ninjutsu with all his might alongside his confidants, but they couldn’t even make a single crack appear on the box.

“It’s clearly just a box that can absorb Chakra, yet legend says it has the ability to grant any wish.”

Yokogawa Tsutomu patted the box, which was as hard as ever, and turned to his confidants with a smile.

“After all, this is the paradise box, created by the Six Paths Sage, who is said to have created the Ninja World,” Wu Chang said, not doubting the box’s ability to grant wishes.

Although Land of Grass was in decline now, it had once been glorious in history, albeit for a very short period.

According to the ruins they discovered, Land of Grass suddenly became strong in ancient times because it opened the paradise box, which could grant wishes, but for some unknown reason, it rapidly declined again.

“But even the Six Paths Sage himself couldn’t seem to fulfill all wishes.” Yokogawa Tsutomu didn’t believe that the paradise box could fulfill all wishes as the legend claimed.

If it could truly grant wishes so easily, then why did the Six Paths Sage disappear, and why did the Shinobi Sect split and perish?

Yokogawa Tsutomu would believe that the paradise box could enhance a Ninja’s power, but fulfilling all wishes was nonsense.

Yokogawa Tsutomu believed that the reason such rumors existed was likely because the paradise box strengthened their power, and the people who opened the box fulfilled their own wishes through that power, which led to the saying about granting wishes.

Wu Chang looked at Yokogawa Tsutomu in confusion. Many people inside the Grass Core believed the legend of the paradise box.

Yokogawa Tsutomu had initially promoted cooperation with Iwagakure by saying he wanted to intensify the war between Iwagakure and Konoha, causing more Ninja deaths, to obtain the nourishment needed to open the paradise box.

Wu Chang was a bit confused. Since Yokogawa Tsutomu didn’t believe the legend of the paradise box, why did he still participate in the war between Konoha and Iwagakure?

“Wishes like immortality are certainly difficult to achieve, but small wishes like becoming stronger, I believe it has no problem with those,” Yokogawa Tsutomu said, patting Wu Chang’s shoulder with a smile.

He originally didn’t have much interest in the paradise box, but the sudden emergence of Ninja Master Sōsuke changed Yokogawa Tsutomu’s mind.

Sōsuke, relying on the sage art inheritance, rebuilt the Shinobi Sect and overpowered the Demigod Hanzō, becoming a top-tier powerhouse renowned throughout the Ninja World.

The paradise box was, after all, a Nin-Tool created by the founder of the Shinobi Sect, the Six Paths Sage. It couldn’t be too much worse than that so-called sage art inheritance, could it?

Yokogawa Tsutomu was gambling. He didn’t hope that the paradise box could truly grant wishes and allow Grass Ninja to directly rule the world.

As long as the paradise box could give him strength beyond Sōsuke’s, then Grass Ninja would have the foundation for its rise.

…

Sunday.

Konoha Village, South Border Forest.

“Good morning, Kakashi-senpai.” Yamato saw Kakashi approaching and slightly extended his right hand to greet him.

Kakashi looked at Yamato with a stern face, “So quiet, and you still want to be a Ninja? Speak louder!”

Seeing Kakashi so serious, Yamato instinctively followed Kakashi’s command and shouted loudly, “Kakashi-senpai! Good morning!”

“Also, I prefer juniors who greet with their left hand.” Kakashi carefully scrutinized Yamato, then said with a straight face.

Yamato: …

Kakashi-senpai is so strict.

Even Danzo Shimura didn’t care if he greeted with his left or right hand.

“Good morning. Let’s work hard for a new day.” Kakashi stopped at an appropriate moment, encouraged Yamato, and began his training.

Yamato sighed in relief and also began to assume various breathing postures to practice Basic Breathing.

Approximately ten minutes later, all disciples had arrived.

Rin Nohara, worried that Feebas would be lonely at home, immediately summoned Feebas to the small river in the South Border Forest upon her arrival.

According to Muzuki’s guidance, Rin Nohara did not train Feebas like Rockruff or Riolu, but rather took meticulous care of it, helped it with body care, and praised Feebas to help it maintain confidence in itself.

“Shisui, how do you teach Zorua Ninjutsu?” Obito, having no success teaching Fire Release, sought out Shisui, who had hatched his Nin-Beast earlier.

Logically, Kakashi, who hatched his earliest, should have the most experience, but the thought of Kakashi’s expression made Obito uncomfortable, so he decisively sought out his clan brother.

“I didn’t teach it Ninjutsu.” Shisui shook his head in response.

Obito scratched his head.

“I think that when they’re just born, it’s better to first train the abilities they inherently possess, like Zorua’s Genjutsu,” Shisui advised.

Firstly, Shisui felt that newborn Nin-Beast had too much to learn. Secondly, Shisui believed that Nin-Beast’s inherent abilities had great potential and needed to be deeply explored.

Shisui carefully studied Zorua’s Genjutsu and found that Zorua’s innate Genjutsu ability was very interesting.

The essence of Genjutsu is to interfere with the opponent’s five senses using Chakra, causing them to fall into an illusion.

Based on the essence of Genjutsu, there are various ways to use it: visual-based Genjutsu, which causes illusions through what is seen, and auditory-based Genjutsu, which causes illusions when the opponent hears sounds.

Most of the Genjutsu Shisui mastered were visual-based Genjutsu. Visual-based Genjutsu used through the Sharingan could unleash even stronger effects.

Shisui considered Zorua’s Genjutsu to also be visual-based, but unlike ordinary visual-based Genjutsu, Zorua’s Genjutsu was powerful because it was activated on its own body. As long as one saw Zorua’s body after it cast the Genjutsu, they would instantly fall under Zorua’s Genjutsu.

Although Zorua’s Genjutsu was relatively easy to dispel, the conditions for falling under this Genjutsu were too easy to meet, and Shisui believed it would be very useful in a chaotic battle.

“I’ll try.” Obito could only train by himself for now, continuing to ponder Fire Dragon’s path to strength during his break time.

“It really has to be fire. Since Kakashi’s dog can control the rocks on its neck to attack, maybe Fire Dragon can control the flames on its tail to attack!”

Obito suddenly had a Flash of inspiration in his mind, then quickly had Fire Dragon try.

Fire Dragon tried to scratch its head but found its arms weren’t long enough, so it could only scratch its face, then stared straight at Obito.

No matter how much Obito emphasized it, it couldn’t use the flames on its tail to attack right now.

“Fire Dragon, Fire Dragon!”

Fire Dragon waved its arms, trying to explain its difficulty to Obito.

Obito scratched the back of his head, not understanding why Fire Dragon suddenly started flailing its arms.

“Are you saying you want to learn to dance?” Obito stroked his chin, trying to analyze.

Fire Dragon became anxious, pointed its short arms backward at its tail, then frantically waved its hands.

“Tail, you don’t want it anymore?” Obito interpreted Fire Dragon’s body language.

Thud.

Fire Dragon fell to the ground, passed out from being angered by its idiotic contractor.

“Shisui, lend me your Zorua.”

Seeing the difficulty in communicating between human and Nin-Beast, Obito had no choice but to call in a translator.

“Fire Dragon, Fire Dragon.” Fire Dragon continued to say that the flames on its tail could not be used for attacking.

“I see.” Zorua looked enlightened after listening.

“What did it say?” Obito asked Zorua curiously.

“It said it won’t use its tail flames to attack, and then it told you to buy delicious food for the great Lord Zorua.” Zorua translated with a pure expression.

“Shisui, here’s your red-furred fox.” Obito grabbed Zorua by the scruff of its neck and brought it back to Shisui’s side.

Buy food? Did it think he was stupid? This was definitely Zorua’s own personal request.

Next, Obito continued to explore Fire Dragon’s abilities. When he questioned Fire Dragon’s proficiency in Fire Release, Fire Dragon opened its mouth and spat out a small stream of flame.

Obito’s face lit up with surprise, as if he could already see the future where his Nin-Beast thrashed the red-furred fox and burned the white-haired dog.

Watching the various disciples playing with their Nin-Beast during break time, Yamato’s eyes sparkled with a hint of envy. If he also had such a Nin-Beast, living alone would be more interesting, wouldn’t it?

When he noticed Muzuki looking his way, Yamato quickly adjusted his expression.

Although he really wanted a Nin-Beast, Yamato didn’t want to trouble Muzuki. Muzuki had already taken great care of him.

“Do you want to go to dinner together?” After training ended, Kakashi noticed Yamato’s lonely figure and proactively asked.

“Oh, I don’t know, Kakashi-senpai, don’t you have to go home?” Yamato was a bit overwhelmed.

“I’m the only one at home, so it doesn’t matter when I go back,” Kakashi replied calmly.

Yamato was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected that Kakashi was also an orphan without parents, just like him.

Perhaps because of their similar circumstances, Yamato, by some strange impulse, agreed to Kakashi.

“However, since this is our first time eating together, as a junior, shouldn’t you express something, Yamato?” Kakashi hinted.

Yamato subconsciously touched his deflated wallet.

He had no parents and hadn’t done any missions yet, only a small living allowance from Root.

“I’ll treat you, senpai,” Yamato said, his heart aching.

If he hadn’t thought his previous words might have hurt Kakashi, Yamato would have chosen to refuse to eat together and leave.

Now Yamato only hoped that Kakashi wouldn’t go to too expensive a restaurant, otherwise he wouldn’t have money to eat.

But to Yamato’s despair, Kakashi didn’t go to an affordable ramen shop, but rather to a nicely decorated restaurant.

When it was time to pay, Yamato’s hand trembled as he pulled out his wallet, and he was already in tears internally.

“Just kidding. The first meal is definitely on the senior.” Kakashi took out a few banknotes and handed them to the cashier.

Yamato stared at the calm-faced Kakashi, frozen in place, and for a moment, he even felt that Kakashi’s mask had a certain charm.