CRASH.
A tree thick enough to require four people to encircle was smashed apart. The broken trunk and canopy flew upward, kicking up massive clouds of dust and debris.
Toji Fushiguro withdrew his fist, gloomy eyes growing even darker.
His clothes hung in tatters. Scrape marks covered his arms, shoulders, and back.
He turned to regard Minato Namikaze in the distance—impeccably dressed, handling everything with ease.
Toji gritted his teeth, fingers curling into a grasping motion. If only he had a weapon to extend his reach.
"Your strength is impressive." Minato's tone remained conversational. "That technique on your body not only erases your chakra signature completely but absorbs enemy chakra as well."
"Unfortunately, you shouldn't have appeared directly in front of me from the start."
His words were casual, but his mind raced with calculations. His perception stretched to its absolute limit.
Based on his movement arcs throughout this fight, the intersection point he keeps protecting should be his base or stronghold.
But whether observed with the naked eye or explored through summons, there's only forest there.
Only my perception detected something off.
Minato understood that anomaly clearly. Some kind of space-time technique—very likely a Barrier.
Truly difficult to handle. Is this what Kage-level feels like? Toji's expression suddenly twisted into a savage grin. But he doesn't give me the same oppressive feeling that brat did at the end.
This world was vast. He found himself curious whether, when that annoying brat also returned to life, he'd encounter enemies that would put him in equally miserable states.
Both men's thoughts lasted only instants. They moved simultaneously.
Toji charged toward Minato like a black streak of lightning.
"Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique!"
A massive shadow blotted out the sky. Minato vanished from his position.
BOOM.
A giant crimson toad crashed down, crushing a wide swath of forest. The earth itself trembled.
Toji dodged at the last possible second before impact. The shockwave howled past, mixed with smoke, dust, and debris.
His expression shifted. Without hesitation, he accelerated out of the chaos.
Minato had disappeared from his perceptual lock. Just like before—the opponent always held the initiative.
But this time was different.
Toji couldn't find him at all.
Clang!
Metal sang as Gamabunta's massive blade slashed downward.
Toji glanced at the towering toad, turned, and vanished—rocketing toward the distance at maximum speed.
On the other side.
Having briefly escaped, Minato had already reached the valley barrier's periphery.
To his eyes, only forest lay ahead.
He took several steps forward. The anomaly became unmistakable.
Looking down, he stomped twice, then glanced behind him.
Something's wrong. There's definitely something here.
Just as he prepared to investigate further, an inexplicable chill raised every hair on his body.
He vanished instantly. A marked kunai appeared beneath his feet.
A large hand grabbed empty air. Toji materialized briefly, then flickered away again.
Reappearing in a nearby tree, Minato's frown deepened.
This is problematic.
Though he'd shaken his pursuer and gained an opportunity to investigate, he'd also given his opponent a chance to conceal himself again.
No longer engaging directly, Toji Fushiguro's threat level had skyrocketed.
Minato looked up at the anomalous location one final time.
Then he vanished.
Sensing the enemy's presence disappear, Toji emerged from his hiding spot. His eyes remained as gloomy as ever.
"Why didn't you activate the Eight Inner Gates Formation?" Zenji's voice materialized beside him.
Toji showed no reaction. He merely gazed into the distance, voice flat.
"That man's reaction speed is exceptional. Even with the Gates open, he'd react in time—and simply leave. The loss would outweigh the gain, and it would expose intelligence."
He paused. "Besides, didn't you say not to use it unless absolutely necessary, Clan Head?"
Though the battle hadn't lasted long, what impressed him most about Minato Namikaze were the man's observation, perception, and reaction capabilities—all far exceeding ordinary shinobi.
Speed, by comparison, was almost secondary.
Zenji also watched Minato's departing figure. The thought that had been growing in his mind solidified further.
Now was the opportunity.
"Good. Continue calling me Clan Head from now on."
"Yes."
Turning back into the valley, Zenji surveyed the empty surroundings. A plan had already formed.
He extended his hand and wove seals, mobilizing chakra.
"Earth Release: Earth Shore Return!"
The chakra flowed and converted with exceptional smoothness. A rectangular outline appeared on the ground ahead.
A stone slab as thick as a man slowly rose.
Interesting... A guess formed in his mind.
He hurried to the nearby utility room and located a piece of chakra paper among the supplies.
Chakra surged into it instantly.
The paper crumbled apart.
"This body actually has a chakra nature?" Though he'd suspected as much, surprise still flickered through him.
"Worth studying carefully. It counts as an additional combat method."
Aside from Barrier Techniques, all of Zenji's current abilities were close-range. He possessed almost no options for long-distance engagement.
The rocky ground throughout the valley began rising and collapsing. Buildings formed from stone gradually took shape.
Training grounds. Neat pathways. Houses in various styles.
It actually resembled the dwelling place of a reclusive clan—but it looked far too artificial.
"Too new. Anyone would notice immediately." Zenji frowned.
His perception focused on the Book of Ages in his consciousness. Compared to before, the original page had grown considerably thicker.
Seven newly spawned pages had joined it.
Three came from harvesting the Three-Tails' chakra. The other four resulted from Zenji's intervention at the tail end of Rin Nohara's death.
To obtain more pages, I still need to dive deep into the original plot.
The thought passed quickly.
His attention shifted to a large mass of ink. After three years of growth, the Book of Ages had undergone subtle developmental changes.
Mental energy drained rapidly. A small blob—roughly fingertip-sized—separated from the main mass.
This amount seemed insignificant, but it could write nearly one hundred thousand words in the Book of Ages.
He opened his eyes. A thumb-sized cluster of dreamlike light appeared.
It spread outward in all directions.
The surrounding structures began changing. Floors grew mottled. Wall plaster peeled slightly. Patterns shifted and aged.
Some buildings turned decrepit. A few collapsed entirely.
When the light exhausted itself, the settlement no longer looked new.
"Done." A smile curved Zenji's lips. "Now I simply wait for the fish to take the bait."
He turned and headed for the laboratory.
Five embryos floated within barrier shields—including Zenji's new body.
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