Just as Ryoma was pursuing leads on the Akatsuki connected to the mysterious horse-related incident, far away—within a grand, resplendent palace whose location he did not know—a white-haired, gray-eyed man in white robes stood before an ancient mural.
The mural's primitive appearance radiated an archaic aura and recorded the details of a forgotten ritual.
To be precise, it depicted the ritual used for the Oniya Art.
The man—Hiruko—slowly deciphered each etched symbol with growing excitement.
"With my Ghost Bud Luo Technique, I can't fully devour a kekkei genkai. I require a far more specialized ritual."
"The technique to absorb four kekkei genkai is already complete. But to devour a fifth wielder of a bloodline limit, the conditions of Heaven, Earth, and Man must be fulfilled."
"First, Heaven—the Golden Ring Eclipse.
Second, Earth—Mount Meru.
And lastly… Man."
Hiruko's eyes gleamed with unrestrained desire.
"As long as I absorb that person's kekkei genkai, the cycle of the Five Elements will be forged within my body. I will obtain a truly immortal form."
A year ago, during an unexpected encounter, Hiruko had already marked his chosen target. Since then, he had intentionally pursued every trace.
Today, that target finally left Konohagakure, heading toward the Land of Craftsmen for a mission.
Under these circumstances, Hiruko could finally obtain the fifth kekkei genkai.
The Sharingan. His final piece.
"Hah… It's finally your turn."
With a faint smile, Hiruko stepped out of the palace.
At the foot of Mount Meru, Uchiha Genmasa and two other ANBU operatives sat around a campfire.
For Uchiha Gen, ANBU work was already becoming familiar, yet he had only just joined this unit—everything still felt new and strange.
The two senior operatives were quiet types, rarely speaking.
Gen found himself wishing Obito were here; at least that senior joked sometimes.
The two seniors exchanged glances.
"To be honest… did Lord Obito open the back door for you?"
They eyed the ten-year-old Uchiha Genmasa suspiciously. The more they looked, the more convinced they were. After all, without being Ryoma's disciple, who else could slip a child into the elite ranks of ANBU?
"Don't talk nonsense, seniors! I passed the assessment fair and square. With my talent, I'll probably become a jōnin in just a few years—ah!"
The last part ended in a yelp as he burned his tongue on the roasting meat. Genmasa frantically gulped water, flustered beyond measure.
The two senior shinobi could only sigh and smile helplessly at his antics.
At that moment—a thunderous explosion erupted behind them.
Five figures emerged from the swirling smoke.
The sky instantly changed color; the wind howled, clouds roiled, and darkness pressed down like a collapsing city.
A massive humanoid phantom loomed overhead.
Inside the Hokage's office in Konohagakure, Ryoma watched the live feed in silence.
The jonin beside him briefed the situation:
"He was once a low-ranking shinobi of Konoha… now a missing-nin. He has already used the Ghost Bud Luo Technique to steal the kekkei genkai of four great shinobi villages. And now… he has captured the fifth wielder—Uchiha Genmasa."
"According to his theory, once he absorbs Uchiha Gen's power, he'll become a perfect shinobi—invincible and possessing an immortal body."
Ryoma narrowed his eyes.
"Oh? A perfect, immortal shinobi? I'd like to test that claim myself."
It seemed Hiruko had been eyeing Uchiha Gen for a long time—he must have planted some form of tracking or intelligence technique to wait for the right moment.
"I haven't had a real fight in a while."
Ryoma rolled his neck, chakra flowing steadily through his body.
"You'd better be careful. That man is no ordinary threat."
A familiar female voice came from behind him. Ryoma didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"You came back at the right time."
A young woman stepped up beside him—long blond hair tied casually, striking features, a powerful figure, and the bold kanji for "bet" emblazoned across the back of her kimono.
It was none other than Tsunade, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin.
"You really haven't changed at all," she said quietly.
Looking at the young man before her—still the same as ever—Tsunade felt a mixture of emotions rise within her chest.
When she had first argued with Ryoma, she left the village to wander the world, disagreeing with his methods and the future he envisioned.
Yet over the past year of traveling, even though she rarely saw him, she could feel his influence everywhere. It was impossible to ignore.
Just moments ago, she had been in Kusagakure, and with the space gate Ryoma created, she returned to Konoha in the blink of an eye.
He had chosen a path almost entirely opposite to Hashirama's…
Yet the result was something unheard of in history.
No war.
No famine.
No hidden conflicts simmering beneath the surface.
What used to be taken for granted had become miraculous in just a single year.
After a year of watching his policies, traveling the world, and witnessing the changes firsthand, Tsunade finally acknowledged Ryoma's vision—and chose to return to Konoha.
"From the way you talk… you seem to know that man—Hiruko," Ryoma said casually.
Tsunade nodded.
"His name is Hiruko. Many years ago, he was a Konoha shinobi… and a friend of mine, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru."
Her expression softened with distant memories before turning complicated.
"But he was always sensitive—and proud. He knew his talent couldn't compare with ours, and he couldn't accept it. To compensate, he secretly researched the Oniyadō technique, trying to overcome his natural limits. In the end… the Third Hokage discovered everything."
Ryoma raised an eyebrow.
"So the old man wouldn't let him walk away. Let me guess—he sent you three Sannin to deal with him?"
Tsunade fell silent, which was answer enough.
The Oniya Art was a fusion technique—one that forcibly absorbed the physical and spiritual power of other shinobi or even summoned beasts to strengthen oneself. Its methods were brutal, bloody, and absolutely forbidden. All the major villages had banned it long ago.
A shinobi with mediocre talent, no background, and no restraint choosing to study forbidden jutsu?
Being hunted by the Third Hokage was inevitable.
"You're right," Tsunade admitted softly.
She suddenly grabbed Ryoma's robe, worry flaring in her eyes.
"If he completed that technique… the first people he'd come for are us. We need to locate him immediately!"
"There's no need," Ryoma replied calmly.
Under Tsunade's confused stare, he raised one hand and made a single seal.
"On everyone close to me, I leave a hidden Hiraishin mark. So yes, I already know where Kakashi and the others are."
He paused—and smirked.
"And of course, I left one on you. I know exactly where you've been wandering this whole time."
Tsunade's eye twitched—but before she could speak, Ryoma gently patted her shoulder.
"You really should bet less. A habitual gambler can't hold a household together."
The last word barely left his mouth before he vanished with Flying Thunder God, leaving only Tsunade's enraged, lion-roar shout of—
"RYOMA!"
—echoing across the Hokage rooftop.
(End of Chapter)
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