Chapter 57 (Patreon)

“Thunder flames—devour it!”

Terrifying lightning roared, swallowed by blazing flames.

For an instant, the color of the world itself seemed to change.

A pillar of thunder and fire, at least a kilometer wide, tore through the battlefield and rushed straight toward the Three-Tails.

At the same time, dozens of lightning bolts crashed down from the sky, each one carrying a force like the descent of a thunder god, bombarding the Three-Tails without mercy.

“Tailed Beast Ball!”

The Three-Tails also released its Tailed Beast Ball at once.

On one side, there was a dazzling beam of lightning wrapped in high-temperature flames.

And hidden within that radiance—

There was a streak of black light.

Its speed surpassed even the thunder flames.

It struck the Tailed Beast Ball head-on.

Then, in an almost impossible scene, the Tailed Beast Ball was split cleanly in two.

The cut was terrifyingly smooth.

A Tailed Beast Ball.

The strongest attack of a tailed beast.

Had actually been cut apart by Yujiro.

The Three-Tails stared at the divided Tailed Beast Ball in disbelief.

Then, in the next instant, it felt the world-destroying force surging toward it.

The Three-Tails raised its head and let out a furious howl.

“I am the tailed beast here! What are you supposed to be?!”

Boom!

BOOOOM—!!

A massive shock wave swept out in every direction.

The entire mountain peak was instantly vaporized by the explosion.

The valley had already disappeared without a trace.

Even after the blast, the remaining force continued to spread outward.

Yujiro’s full-powered strike was not inferior to a Tailed Beast Ball.

Ten minutes later.

The explosion finally began to fade.

The Three-Tails had already vanished.

Whether it was alive or dead was unknown.

But one thing was clear.

This battle between Yujiro and the Three-Tails—

Yujiro had won.

Yujiro glanced behind him.

Fortunately, at the most critical moment, Kakashi had joined forces with the others to use Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall.

They had managed to block the remaining force of the attack.

There were no casualties on Konoha’s side.

Yujiro let out a slow breath.

The chakra inside his body had been nearly exhausted.

Even so, he could feel his body refining chakra at an incredible speed.

Fast.

Far too fast.

At this rate, he would probably return to normal within half a day.

After that, everyone evacuated the area and returned to the border garrison.

Almost every shinobi stationed at the border had witnessed that shocking battle.

Their attitude toward Yujiro changed completely.

Respect.

Awe.

Even fear.

Among those shinobi were many ANBU who had come as reinforcements.

In the shinobi world, strength was the one thing no one could ignore.

Two days had passed since the battle with the Three-Tails.

News of the battle was also sent back to Konoha by Jiraiya.

When Minato read the report, he almost thought it was one of Jiraiya-sensei’s novels.

No.

Even in a novel, no one would dare write something like this.

A six-year-old Yujiro had challenged the Three-Tails alone and won.

The Three-Tails had vanished, its whereabouts unknown.

Was there some kind of god living inside Yujiro’s body?

However, overwhelming strength also brought Yujiro a small amount of trouble.

Konoha Village.

Deep underground.

Inside the dark, damp base of Root.

Shimura Danzō stared at the report from the border, his single visible eye dark and unreadable.

“Yujiro. Six years old.”

His voice was low and cold.

“He led his squad into Kirigakure’s territory and broke through their frontline defenses within seven days.”

“After that, he wiped out several Kirigakure camps stationed near the border. Initial estimates suggest that at least a thousand Kiri shinobi died at the hands of Yujiro’s squad.”

“Later, Kirigakure dispatched two groups of elite shinobi for assassination missions. Both groups were eliminated by Yujiro’s squad.”

“Then the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, appeared in person. For unknown reasons, the Three-Tails broke loose. Yujiro fought the Three-Tails directly, and after the battle, the Three-Tails disappeared. Its current whereabouts remain unknown.”

The report in his hand recorded Yujiro’s achievements over the past two months.

Such a record was unprecedented.

Even Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had not possessed this level of strength at the age of six.

Challenging the Three-Tails.

That was a tailed beast.

Did tailed beasts have no dignity left?

Danzō suddenly remembered that Orochimaru had asked him for information about Yujiro long ago.

Thinking of that, he let out a cold smile.

“As expected of Orochimaru. His instincts are still sharp.”

With the report in hand, Danzō headed for Orochimaru’s research base.

Inside the laboratory, Orochimaru was in the middle of an experiment. When he noticed Danzō entering, his golden eyes narrowed slightly.

“Danzō.”

“Did you know Yujiro went to the front line two months ago?”

Danzō’s gaze lowered faintly.

“I knew,” Orochimaru replied casually. “With Yujiro-kun’s strength, he would not die so easily.”

After saying that, Orochimaru seemed to sense something.

He slowly turned around, his gaze landing on the document in Danzō’s hand.

“What is it? Did Yujiro-kun do something troublesome again?”

“You do not seem worried that he might have died,” Danzō said coldly.

“There is no need to worry.”

Orochimaru smiled faintly.

“If he were dead, you would not have come here with that expression.”

“Besides, I believe Yujiro-kun will not die so soon.”

His smile deepened.

“After all, he is the vessel I have my eyes on.”

Danzō frowned, then handed the report to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru took it and read through it slowly.

Two minutes later—

Danzō saw Orochimaru’s body tremble slightly.

The excitement on his face was almost impossible to suppress.

“As expected…”

Orochimaru’s voice was low, but filled with heat.

“He truly is the one I chose.”

“Yujiro-kun never fails to surprise me.”

“I am afraid even I may not be his opponent now.”

Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed with fascination.

His instincts back then had not been wrong.

There was something hidden inside Yujiro’s body.

Something even he could not see through.

And what Orochimaru loved most—

Was uncovering secrets.

Especially when that secret was enough to make Yujiro this powerful.

“I paid no attention to this child before,” Danzō said coldly. “But when he returns to the village, I will speak with Sarutobi. Yujiro must be placed under Root’s supervision.”

Orochimaru glanced at Danzō.

He did not argue.

Control Yujiro-kun?

Heh.

A child capable of forcing back the Three-Tails was not someone Danzō could control just because he wanted to.

“By the way, Orochimaru.”

Danzō suddenly changed the subject.

“The Hashirama cell and Sharingan transplant plan. Is it ready?”

Orochimaru seemed to have expected the question.

“It is ready.”

“Ready?”

Danzō took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

“Can the transplant be performed now?”

Orochimaru’s lips curved into a thin smile.

“Yes.”