Mist Hidden Village!
Shigure looked at the condensed light in his hand. The dazzling golden radiance amplified the power of the Six Paths.
By combining the dual power of Metamorphosis with the Great Sage, Shigure's overwhelming strength increased once again.
Although the Six Paths Power could not be directly enhanced through the passive skill slot, the Great Sage reached a new conclusion through analysis.
If Shigure himself became stronger, then the Six Paths Power would also increase accordingly.
However, this enhancement was relatively weak.
Since that was the case, Shigure already had a clear path forward.
In the end, it all came down to strengthening his own foundation.
Body, spirit, chakra, and dōjutsu power—these four aspects were the key.
The passive skill slot had always helped Shigure improve his mastery over the Five Nature Transformations. Now, his command of elemental ninjutsu had reached an almost unparalleled level.
It was likely that across the entire shinobi world, there was no one whose mastery of elemental techniques surpassed Shigure's.
Because of this, the Five Nature Transformations and Yin–Yang Release were no longer the focus of enhancement.
Instead, the passive skills were arranged as follows:
Passive Skill 1 — Advanced Taijutsu
Passive Skill 2 — Advanced Genjutsu
Passive Skill 3 — Chakra Refinement
Passive Skill 4 — Crimson Reincarnation Eye
The passive skill slot was still incredibly valuable. A tool that constantly strengthened Shigure had no reason to remain unused.
Passive Skill 5 — ROOM: Slaughterhouse
This ability was placed in the slot to continuously expand the range of Shigure's ROOM.
His ultimate goal was simple.
One day, when the ROOM was deployed, it would expand effortlessly to the size of an entire country.
That was Shigure's ideal state.
Of course, the chakra consumption would be enormous—but that was not a problem.
Passive Skill 6 — Banshō Ten'in: Ultimate
This dōjutsu technique had far exceeded Shigure's expectations in combat.
In the future, once his power grew further, he believed that with a single glance he might create a terrifying gravitational domain capable of reshaping the battlefield.
Passive Skill 7 — Domineering Control
Domineering was comparable to Six Paths Power and could not be directly strengthened through the skill slot.
However, the slot could continuously refine Shigure's control over it, allowing the power to become more precise and more terrifying over time.
After completing these adjustments, enough time had passed.
Jūji and the others finally returned to the Hidden Mist Village.
They brought back exactly what Shigure needed.
The Shinigami Mask, and the Tantō.
By wearing the mask, one could summon the Shinigami.
Shigure intended to use it to release the souls of the previous Hokage sealed within the Reaper.
Soon after, the Shinigami was successfully summoned.
With the ritual complete, Shigure released the soul of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Although a massive wound opened across Shigure's abdomen during the ritual, such an injury was insignificant to him.
The chakra of the Ten-Tails within his body quickly regenerated the damage.
Moments later, the soul of the Fourth Hokage appeared.
Shigure immediately began performing Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei).
The living sacrifice had already been prepared.
Before long, the Fourth Hokage stood before Shigure.
Minato Namikaze looked around with a confused expression.
The underground chamber was empty.
Only Shigure stood before him.
Minato's gaze sharpened.
"You are… a ninja from the Hidden Mist Village?"
He frowned slightly.
"Why would a ninja from the Hidden Mist be able to use Impure World Reincarnation? That is a forbidden technique of Konoha."
Minato's expression gradually became serious.
Given the situation, many possibilities came to mind.
Had something happened to Konoha?
Shigure spoke calmly.
"Don't worry. Konoha still exists."
"As for how I obtained this forbidden technique… you don't need to know."
As he spoke, Shigure casually raised his hand.
The ground trembled slightly.
Earth Release formed a chair from the soil beneath him, and Shigure slowly sat down.
Shigure raised his hand slightly, signaling Minato Namikaze to sit.
Minato glanced at Shigure with some surprise. Only now did he carefully observe the young man before him.
Shigure's clothing clearly belonged to the Hidden Mist Village, yet he was not wearing a Mist forehead protector.
There was only one explanation.
Minato's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You… are the Mizukage!"
Shigure nodded calmly.
"That's right. I am the Sixth Mizukage."
"The Sixth…?"
Minato froze for a moment.
By the time of his death, the Hidden Mist was still under the rule of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. If the position had already reached the sixth generation, then many years must have passed.
"Konoha…"
"You don't need to ask," Shigure interrupted calmly. "I'll explain."
He briefly described the current situation of the shinobi world and the state of Konohagakure.
Then he mentioned Naruto.
"Naruto is my friend," Shigure said. "That's why I used Impure World Reincarnation to bring you back. I have no intention of controlling you to fight."
Minato became even more confused.
The Mizukage… friends with Naruto?
How was that possible?
How had the two of them even met?
Shigure did not mention that he had once been connected to Konoha. Some things were better left for Minato to figure out himself.
Minato frowned slightly.
"Then why did you reincarnate me? What do you want from me?"
Shigure smiled faintly.
"I need your power."
"For you, it's somewhat… redundant."
Minato's expression grew serious.
"My power? What exactly do you want me to do?"
Instead of answering, Shigure slowly stood up.
His eyes changed.
The Crimson Reincarnation Eye opened.
A terrifying gravitational force suddenly surged forward.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Minato felt his body pulled forward by an overwhelming force.
At the same time, a strange black substance spread across his body.
In the next instant, the Nine-Tails' chakra within him was violently extracted.
Minato's eyes widened.
So that was it.
Shigure had revived him… just to take the Nine-Tails' chakra sealed within him.
The chakra was stripped away almost instantly.
Shigure absorbed it calmly.
The moment the Nine-Tails' chakra entered his body, he paused slightly.
Interesting.
This portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra contained a stronger trace of Six Paths power.
Shigure could clearly feel it.
His own Six Paths power had increased slightly—roughly one-tenth stronger than before.
"Excellent."
He nodded with satisfaction.
Looking at Minato, who was still stunned, Shigure smiled.
"Thank you."
"As compensation, I'll resurrect you completely so you can return and see Naruto."
Minato blinked.
"…What?"
Resurrect him?
Was this man joking?
Before Minato could respond, Shigure had already completed the technique.
A moment later—
Minato suddenly felt something he had not experienced in years.
Breath.
Heartbeat.
Warm blood flowing through his body.
He slowly looked down at his hands.
They were no longer the cracked, gray body of the Edo Tensei.
He was alive.
Completely revived.
Minato stared at Shigure in disbelief.
What kind of person was this young man?
Reviving the dead so casually…
Just what had the shinobi world become?
Shigure pointed toward the exit of the underground chamber.
"Go."
"Return to Konoha and see your son."
He paused before adding,
"After all, as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto hasn't exactly had an easy life."
Minato's expression tightened.
Without another word, he rushed toward the exit.
Now that he had truly been revived, the first thing he wanted to do was obvious.
See Naruto.
As for the matter of the Nine-Tails and Shigure… that could wait.
Besides, judging from the power Shigure had just displayed, even if they fought now, Minato was not confident he could defeat him.
First, he needed to understand the situation.
After Minato left, Shigure quietly released the Nine-Tails sealed within his body.
The massive chakra surged through the underground chamber before settling again.
Shigure murmured softly.
"The final step is aligned…"
His gaze slowly turned toward the distance.
"Next… the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
(End of Chapter)
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