Chapter 139: The Path to Revival
The Third Hokage's footsteps faded away at the end of the corridor.
Only Haruko and the "unconscious" woman on the bed remained in the hospital room.
"Your meridians are still a mess, but for now, your life is saved," Haruko said to Kagero while continuing the treatment.
There was no movement from the bed.
"If you don't want to speak, I won't force you. But that old man, the Third, is quite shrewd. That line about 'handing you over to the Intelligence Division if all else fails' was actually meant for your ears."
After another period of silence, Kagero finally opened her eyes slowly, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, hollow and unfocused.
"...How did you know?"
"The Natural Energy inside your body was channeled in by me; I'm more aware of the changes in your heartbeat than you are."
Haruko withdrew his hand from Kagero's chest and began treating other areas.
"So, why did you look for me? It's not just to catch up again, is it?"
"...I just wanted to see you."
Kagero turned her head slightly, her eyes refocusing on Haruko's face.
"Mm, you've seen me," Haruko replied. "And then? How did you end up in this state?"
Kagero's throat moved; she opened her mouth but stopped, as if not knowing where to begin.
"...They left with that man."
"Who?"
"My Clan Members."
"'That man'? Is it Shiranami?" Haruko rubbed his temples. "Please tell me from the beginning. The cause, the process, the outcome, the time, the place, and the people."
Kagero closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time before speaking again.
...
One day ago, by a flower field in the Land of Fire.
The surroundings were beautiful with a clear view. In the distance, a flat-topped, pillar-like peak could be seen—Katsurayama Mountain.
Kagero was taking a temporary break here with several Clan Members after completing their mission.
After several days of observation in Konoha, she had made her decision—once she returned, she would call upon the remaining Clan Members to join Konoha together.
That was her plan.
But her companions didn't think the same way.
"Lady Kagero, are we truly going to join Konoha?" one of the Clan Members questioned. "How can we achieve revival in such a lukewarm atmosphere?"
"At least we can survive," Kagero said calmly. "The revival of the Fuma Clan cannot happen overnight. We must first secure a foothold to ensure the family's survival, and then plan step by step."
"But—"
The person wanted to say more but suddenly stopped.
Everyone's gaze turned toward the same direction.
An old man and a youth were walking through the flower field.
"You all are Ninjas of the Fuma Clan, aren't you?"
The man wore a gentle smile, while the old man beside him moved stiffly, like a puppet.
"Who are you?"
The man stopped ten meters away, appearing completely non-threatening. However, Kagero's hand was already on her Ninja tool pouch.
"My name is Shiranami. I heard the Fuma Clan is looking for a way forward," Shiranami continued, his tone sincere. "Coincidentally, I am doing the same."
"We have nothing to discuss." Kagero stood up, ready for battle. "Please leave."
"Don't be in such a hurry. I heard you want to join Konoha... but have you considered? Can Konoha really bring about the revival of the Fuma Clan?"
Kagero didn't speak.
She behind her several Clan Members wavered.
"Then what plan do you have?" one of them asked.
"I plan to establish my own power. We won't depend on any major nation; we'll rely on our own strength."
"You're dreaming."
Kagero felt the person in front of her was either a fool or a madman and didn't want to listen to his nonsense any longer.
"I'm not talking big." Shiranami patted the old man beside him. "I have this."
The old man turned around, revealing an emblem like a tree on the back of his cloak, and the character for 'Control' on the side of his neck.
"The mark of a Heavenly Fury Eruption user... This is the En no Gyoja?!"
"I'm impressed you recognized it." Shiranami touched the emblem. "That's right. With 'this', I have the capital to negotiate with major nations."
"You're insane." Kagero refused flatly. "Abusing such a Forbidden Jutsu will only lead to self-destruction."
"Only the weak fear power." Shiranami shook his head. "The strong, however, master it."
The Clan Members exchanged glances, and one of them stepped forward.
"Lady Kagero, I think... we could listen to his plan."
"No." Kagero turned, preparing to leave. "Let's go."
"I originally wanted to persuade you normally..." Shiranami, having been rejected, shook his head. "Let's have you witness the power of the Heavenly Fury Eruption with your own eyes."
At the same time, the En no Gyoja beside him began to weave hand signs.
His whole body trembled, veins bulging as he seemed to want to resist, but his body wouldn't obey.
The surrounding airflow converged toward him—driven by the rapidly flowing Natural Energy.
"Quick... run... run..."
The old man exerted all his strength to squeeze out a few words through his teeth, his body already starting to glow.
"Earth Release: Hell Ants Jutsu."
As Kagero wove hand signs, the ground beneath Shiranami and the En no Gyoja became like a quicksand vortex, dragging the two of them in.
"Heh, a meaningless struggle."
Upon Shiranami's command, the briefly charged Heavenly Fury Eruption was released, and a white light filled everyone's vision.
Rumble—
The shockwave crushed everything in its path, and everyone was sent flying back as if hit by a wall.
"Cough, cough..." Kagero coughed up a mouthful of blood and crawled up from the ground, dragging her bruised and battered body.
Looking around, although the Clan Members were still breathing, they were momentarily unable to get up.
Looking back at Shiranami, the earth that the Hell Ants Jutsu had used to bury him up to his waist had long been pushed away by the Heavenly Fury Eruption, leaving a crater-like mark on the ground.
"A decent technique. Unfortunately, it fell a bit short."
He walked up to Kagero and looked down at her.
"See? This is the power you called'self-destructive'. Can Konoha give you this kind of power?"
Shiranami leaned down, his tone still gentle. "Come with me. Not only can the Fuma Clan be revived, but you can also become the new masters of this land."
Kagero gritted her teeth, staring at Shiranami's arrogant face. Her voice was hoarse but resolute: "I know the price of that power, and I know even better that there is no future in following an ambitious person like you."
The smile on Shiranami's face froze. He stepped back slowly and sighed, "Since your will is so firm, then die within that will."
He flicked his fingers as if manipulating a puppet.
Beside him, the dull-eyed En no Gyoja stiffly raised his hands again. The surrounding air began to vibrate violently, and Natural Energy converged toward the center like a frantic tide.
At that moment, Kagero felt the shadow of death.
It didn't just loom over her, but also over the Clan Members behind her who couldn't even crawl.
"It's not... over yet..."
As Kagero's hunched body creaked and cracked, her skin became dry and swollen—just like a pupa.
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