Chapter 157 (Patreon)

At the same time, Yujiro’s inner demon finally appeared.

Even Yujiro couldn’t help feeling curious. Wasn’t a person supposed to confront their inner demon within the depths of their own mind?

Then what was this pitch-black figure standing before him?

His inner demon had actually taken physical form.

Yujiro’s eyes narrowed slightly. Even he hadn’t expected something like this.

“Yujiro, you’re far too powerful.”

After manifesting, the inner demon became strangely calm. Its entire body was shrouded in black energy, with streams of it occasionally crawling across its surface like living smoke.

“What exactly are you?” Yujiro asked with a grin.

“I was able to manifest because of your strength.”

“More than that, I have already surpassed every ordinary inner demon.”

“Your power has allowed me to exist as a body of pure energy.”

A sinister smile spread across the demon’s face.

“So, Yujiro... do you wish to become even stronger?”

“Release all the darkness buried within your heart, and you and I will become one.”

“You’ll gain power beyond anything you possess now—enough to stand above this entire world. What do you say?”

“And if I refuse?” Yujiro asked with a faint smile.

“Then I’ll defeat you, take control by force, and release that darkness myself!” the inner demon declared before bursting into laughter.

“Go on, then. Try it.”

Yujiro rolled his neck.

There was no one left in the shinobi world who could truly be considered his equal.

And now, hadn’t his inner demon appeared to give him exactly the kind of opponent he wanted?

Yujiro showed no trace of fear. On the contrary, excitement surged through him.

Only one question remained—was this inner demon strong enough to make the battle worthwhile?

“Storm Release: Devouring Thunderflame!”

The inner demon seemed to realize that words would never sway Yujiro. It raised its right hand and unleashed a powerful jutsu without warning.

“So you can use my ninjutsu as well?” Yujiro asked, his grin widening.

He lifted one hand and swept it forward.

“Scorch Release: Flame Emperor!”

Scorch Release merged with the power of the Flame Emperor, forming a colossal sphere of molten fire above Yujiro.

The two techniques collided.

The resulting explosion violently shook the entirety of Giant Turtle Island.

By now, the inner demon understood that it couldn’t corrupt Yujiro with words, so it stopped wasting its breath. As long as it defeated him, it could seize control of his body regardless.

“Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!”

The inner demon attacked again.

“Dust Release: Asura’s Single Slash!”

Yujiro cleaved through the incoming attack with a single swing of his blade. In the next instant, he vanished and reappeared directly behind the inner demon.

His blade descended toward its body.

The inner demon dissolved into black mist before the edge could reach it, then reformed a short distance away.

“So you don’t have a physical body.” Yujiro clicked his tongue.

The inner demon laughed wildly.

“Hahaha! I am the embodiment of the darkness within your consciousness!”

“You can never defeat me, because I am you!”

Yujiro stared at it for a moment before shaking his head. Honestly, he found the creature repulsive.

Was this thing truly supposed to be his inner demon?

“Wait.”

Yujiro’s expression suddenly changed.

“What is it? Have you finally decided to release the darkness within your heart?” the inner demon asked, momentarily taken aback.

“You just said that you’re a manifestation of consciousness—a body made entirely of energy, right?” Yujiro asked, narrowing his eyes.

“What of it?”

The inner demon stared at his expression as a feeling of unease crept over it.

Now that it had left Yujiro’s body, it could no longer read his thoughts.

“Simulation Acquisition.”

Yujiro grinned and immediately activated the ability he had obtained through simulation.

One second later, the system’s voice rang out.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have acquired the inner demon’s power. The initial stage of the Level Four Limiter has reached its critical threshold.”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have acquired [Inner Demon Control]. This ability allows you to control not only your own inner demon, but also the inner demons of others within a limited range.”

Yujiro froze for a moment.

Did this count as cheating?

Ordinarily, reaching this stage of the Limiter required a person to overcome their inner demon. His Limiter, however, had clearly stopped following ordinary rules.

Combined with the system, this was practically blatant cheating.

“Inner Demon Control.”

Yujiro activated the ability without the slightest hesitation.

In the distance, the inner demon suddenly felt the energy within its body beginning to disappear. Streams of that energy peeled away and drifted toward Yujiro.

“What’s happening?!” the inner demon roared.

“Aaargh!”

“Yujiro, don’t destroy me! I am you!”

“Come! Embrace the darkness with me!”

No matter how desperately the inner demon pleaded, Yujiro ignored it.

Realizing that there was no escape, the inner demon went berserk and released every last bit of its remaining energy.

Giant Turtle Island shook violently once again.

Ever since the inner demon had materialized, the entire area surrounding Giant Turtle Island had been engulfed in black mist.

Naturally, Tsunade and the others stationed nearby had no way to determine what was happening inside the Four Red Yang Formation.

Time passed slowly.

Before anyone realized it, an entire week had gone by.

The disturbances on Giant Turtle Island gradually began to subside, but the crimson barrier showed no sign of disappearing.

Within Giant Turtle Island, the area surrounding the Falls of Truth had been reduced to ruins.

Even the waterfall itself was gone.

A lone figure floated silently in the sky above the devastation.

Strands of black mist occasionally seeped from his body, lending his already striking appearance an uncanny, almost bewitching quality.

Yujiro slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, crimson light erupted from them.

“Why... won’t you embrace the darkness with me...?”

The inner demon released one final, unwilling cry.

“Because I don’t need to.” Yujiro grinned. “I am the darkness.”

The inner demon seemed to tremble. A moment later, it vanished without leaving a trace.

Yujiro had never believed he needed to embrace the darkness. Darkness had always been a part of him.

Light could never reach every corner of this world.

Darkness was different. It could contain light within itself and envelop everything beneath it.

That was true power.

Having completely subdued his inner demon, Yujiro slowly descended to the ground.

He could feel his body undergoing an astonishing transformation.

The changes weren’t happening quickly. By his estimate, the process would take another half month to complete.

Once that time had passed, Yujiro would finally reach the intermediate stage of the Level Four Limiter.

The transformation it would bring would be extraordinary.

Just thinking about the abilities granted by the intermediate stage of the Level Four Limiter filled Yujiro with anticipation. Every one of them was something he wanted.

Time continued to pass.

The black mist covering Giant Turtle Island gradually began to disperse.

When Tsunade and Konan saw the island growing peaceful again, they both felt some of the tension leave their bodies.

However, until they saw Yujiro safe and unharmed with their own eyes, neither of them could truly relax.

Another half month passed.

On that day, the last of the black mist surrounding Giant Turtle Island finally disappeared.

The Four Red Yang Formation slowly dissolved as well.

Tsunade and Konan rushed onto the island without the slightest hesitation.

The Raikage and his companions watched them go, reverence filling their eyes.

Yujiro had shown them a degree of generosity they had never expected.

By now, he had won them over completely.