In the end, Hyuga Arin selected four D-rank genjutsu, three C-rank genjutsu, and one B-rank genjutsu.
D-rank:
Demonic Illusion: Invisibility TechniqueDemonic Illusion: Blinding Light TechniqueDemonic Illusion: Mist Servant TechniqueDemonic Illusion: Pain Amplification Technique
The Invisibility Technique erased him from the target's line of sight.
Blinding Light forced the target's vision into overwhelming brightness, robbing them of sight.
Mist Servant created illusory black figures that attacked the enemy and continuously split into more shadows.
Pain Amplification magnified the target's perception of pain.
All four were D-rank. Easy to break out of—but highly practical against weaker opponents. Stronger ninja could see through them with little effort.
C-rank:
Demonic Illusion: Fox's Heart TechniqueDemonic Illusion: Five Senses DeprivationDemonic Illusion: Unconscious Redirection
Fox's Heart caused targets to lose their sense of direction, endlessly circling in place—a group illusion.
Five Senses Deprivation disrupted control over sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
Unconscious Redirection mimicked certain Sharingan effects, causing enemies to redirect their own techniques toward themselves.
B-rank:
Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change
A genjutsu that dispelled illusions cast on himself and reflected them back at the enemy.
Eight total.
Combined with the two genjutsu already in his inventory—
Ten.
Perfect.
He deliberately chose practical techniques with low experience requirements. Instead of chasing flashy traits, he wanted to synthesize Yin Release as soon as possible.
Once all Seven Transformations were synthesized—
Add Ten-Tails chakra.
Activate Six Paths Mode.
No special trait would matter anymore.
"Finished?" Hiruzen asked as he approached.
"Yeah." Arin waved the scrolls. "Eight is enough."
Hiruzen nodded. "If you wish to enter again, you must apply through me."
"So troublesome. Why can't I just come on my own?" Arin muttered, tying the eight scrolls together with wire and slinging them over his back.
They were allowed to be taken out temporarily. Once learned, they had to be returned.
Though duplicates existed—so even if they weren't returned, it wasn't catastrophic.
Hiruzen sighed. "As long as you give up on Impure World Reincarnation, you could."
Arin's eyes lit up.
"So it is here?!"
Hiruzen's lips twitched.
Knew it.
"Out!"
Arin reluctantly headed back up the ladder.
He paused.
"Where's Orochimaru-sensei lately? Haven't seen him in a while."
Hiruzen replied, "As one of the Three Ninja, he's busy on the front lines."
The war hadn't fully ended.
It had simply shifted into high-level duels between elites.
The five villages were probing one another, measuring remaining strength before formal negotiations.
"Busy life," Arin muttered as he exited the Hokage residence.
"You're a jōnin now," Hiruzen added. "Your assignment will come soon."
All jōnin were being deployed. Chūnin and genin were handling commissioned missions.
"Looking forward to it."
Hiruzen walked off muttering.
Watching Arin's excited expression—
He briefly wondered if sending him to the front would reignite the war.
The boy looked like he wanted it.
…
As Hiruzen disappeared—
Several masked Root operatives appeared around Arin.
"Danzō-sama requests your presence."
Arin rubbed his chin.
"I feel like this is the part where I kill you."
He distinctly remembered countless fanfics—
Root appears.
Threatening tone.
Fight breaks out.
Root dies.
Why was his storyline so different?
"Don't joke, player. Danzō-sama is waiting," the leader said flatly.
"Zero sense of humor," Arin complained.
The Root members chuckled stiffly.
This was the man who slaughtered on the Cloud front—
And stormed the Hyuga compound unharmed.
If he wanted them dead—
It wouldn't be hard.
Emotion suppression training aside—
They didn't want to die.
…
Root's base was hidden in Konoha's darkest corner.
The sewers.
Arin pinched his nose.
"You people actually live here? No complaints about the smell?"
He knew they were Konoha's sewer—handling dirty work.
But literally living in one?
At that moment, Arin refused to acknowledge being a Root ninja.
The operative ahead twitched slightly.
"This is merely the entrance."
"A ninja's fundamental trait is endurance."
Arin patted the one beside him.
"Thank you for your hard work."
…Not necessary.
The operative subtly shifted away.
You're one of us now too.
He wisely kept that to himself.
With this unstable lunatic, even Danzō felt less intimidating.
After a long tunnel—
They entered one of Konoha's classic hidden landmarks.
Root Headquarters.
Built within the hollow of a mountain.
Danzō stood waiting.
"Danzō-sama." Arin waved cheerfully.
The other Root members knelt.
"Danzō-sama."
"Come. I'll show you the base," Danzō said, turning immediately.
Behind him stood a hooded figure.
The hood revealed a refined, expressionless face.
Arin grinned.
"Yo, isn't that Hiruko-sensei?"
As expected—
Danzō had recruited him.
Hiruko stared blankly.
A vein pulsed faintly on his forehead.
It was this brat—
Who got him captured by Root.
After days of interrogation—
Root agents simply told him to confess.
Confess what?!
You didn't even ask anything!!!
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