CHAPTER 209: THE WEIGHT OF CHOICES
Shikkotsu Forest. Mount Myoboku. Ryuchi Cave.
These three sacred places stretched back into ancient history, each connected to the inheritance of sage arts. The most widely known manifestation was Sage Mode—but perhaps in the world of summoning beasts, "Sage Mode" wasn't even a unified term.
Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Technique covered her entire body in strange black markings when released.
Those patterns bore striking resemblance to Orochimaru's Curse Mark transformations. Too many similarities to ignore.
And when Orochimaru first witnessed the Byakugō Technique—when he saw the Yin Seal released—his face had registered genuine shock. Disbelief.
He recognized that technique. He knew it was ancient. Knew ordinary ninja couldn't learn it.
The Byakugō Technique was Tsunade's original creation, yes. But even original techniques required foundation. Nothing emerged from nothing.
Perhaps this was Shikkotsu Forest's secret. Perhaps the connection between the Strength of a Hundred and true Sage Mode was closer than anyone realized.
Ragnar's mind spun with possibilities—all conjecture, all speculation. Someday, when the war ended, when he had sufficient strength, he would explore these mysteries properly.
He looked at the little slug resting against his chest.
"Little one," he asked thoughtfully. "Do you know about Sage Mode?"
"Sage Mode?" The little slug's response was immediate and unthinking. "I think I've heard of it... but I can't remember clearly."
Ragnar's Observation Haki sensed no deception. The slug answered instinctively, without guile.
Of course. This little slug was merely one of countless split individuals from the Slug Sage. Perhaps not even a direct split—perhaps a clone of a clone. If he truly wanted answers, he would need to visit Shikkotsu Forest himself. Establish communication with the original.
"Wah~ I'm so tired, Lord Ragnar." The little slug's voice grew drowsy. "I'm going to continue sleeping. One last reminder—don't use your abilities without restriction anymore. It's bad for your health."
Its eyes half-closed, and it fell directly asleep.
A smile crossed Ragnar's face. It felt good to be cared about, even if the caregiver was a... somewhat slimy fat slug.
Silence settled over the tent. His body remained exhausted, unable to move. He lay quietly, waiting for natural healing.
I forgot to ask how long I've been unconscious.
With nothing else to do, Ragnar turned his attention inward. Time to count the battle's rewards.
The intense fighting had left no opportunity to check experience gains or treasure chests. Now, in the system space, two chests awaited: one silver, one gold.
The gold chest held promise. The silver would likely contain ordinary items—perhaps useful skill cards if luck favored him.
But with his current physical condition, opening chests seemed pointless. He couldn't use anything anyway.
He pulled up his status display instead.
[Host: Ragnar]
[Abilities: Conqueror's Haki Lv4, Observation Haki Lv4, Armament Haki Lv4, Shave Lv3, Moon Walk Lv3 — 10,000 EXP required for next level]
[Skills: Tornado Secret Art, Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix, Seventy-Two Pound Phoenix, One-Sword Style: Lion's Song]
[Devil Fruits: Mera Mera no Mi (Elemental Awakening) Lv5, Hito Hito no Mi Model: Daibutsu Lv5, Zushi Zushi no Mi Lv4 — 100,000 EXP required for next level]
[Weapon: Yama (Demonic Blade)]
[Experience: 82,000 / 100,000]
Skills unchanged. But the experience—that was unexpected.
After upgrading the Buddha Fruit and his Haki previously, his EXP had dropped to around ten thousand. Now, after the Second War, it had skyrocketed to eighty-two thousand. Rocketing growth.
But it made sense. Killing the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. Defeating the Third Kazekage. Defeating the Third Tsuchikage. The countless lesser ninja caught in the crossfire. Those three major opponents alone would account for tremendous experience.
If he had actually killed the Kazekage and Tsuchikage... Ragnar suspected his current EXP would have doubled.
He had wanted to kill them. Had genuinely tried. But Hatake Sakumo had stopped him.
Now, in the quiet of recovery, he understood why.
Look at it from the wrong perspective: if Ragnar could kill Tsuchikage and Kazekage today, then someday—if he ceased being a Konoha ninja—what would stop him from killing a Hokage?
Kage represented the highest combat power of the Five Great Nations. Beings that everyone respected.
Killing a Kage meant having no awe for Kage.
And Ragnar lacked Konoha blood. He was an outsider, however one framed it. Susceptible to conspiracy theories. Vulnerable to political machination.
Ragnar himself couldn't care less about such things.
But Hatake Sakumo cared.
In the White Fang's eyes, Ragnar represented Konoha's future pillar. He should not become a victim of conspirators. That was why Sakumo had made that choice.
Sakumo...
Thinking of that man, Ragnar sighed internally.
This Konoha White Fang had no idea he would become a tragic figure in the future. Spurned. Distrusted. Treated with contempt by the very village he had sworn to protect.
White Fang had abandoned a mission for his companions.
In the ninja world, that was wrong. Undesirable. Not even worthy of sympathy.
A ninja's first principle: complete the mission above all else. For the mission, one might actively sacrifice their own life. Use any means necessary.
Such values were twisted. Pathological.
And because of this value system, Konoha's hero—the White Fang—had ended tragically, buried under countless scornful words.
Yet Hatake Sakumo harbored no regrets.
Abandoning the mission for companions—some called it shameful.
But if a ninja didn't respect life, if they ignored their companions' very existence... then they weren't worthy of being called human at all.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Gentle footsteps approached the tent. The steps were light—like falling leaves, like feathers drifting down. Soft. Deliberate. As if afraid to disturb the peace within.
Ragnar didn't need to see the visitor. The quality of the footsteps told him enough.
A woman.
Uchiha Mikoto entered the tent.
Her eyes found him immediately—awake, alert on the bed. A soft smile bloomed across her features.
"You're awake."
Ragnar's head turned slightly. Long black hair. Dark pupils. Gentle features. The fitted black uniform of ANBU.
Uchiha Mikoto. He hadn't seen her since returning to camp last time.
Meeting again under these circumstances... Ragnar felt vaguely annoyed. He couldn't even move properly.
(End of Chapter)
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