Chapter 561 Taking the Initiative
In Shuuji's eyes, the world had been stripped bare.
From the perspective of the white-eyed, the world consists of living and dead things.
From the perspective of the Sharingan, the world is a balance of movement and stillness.
Within the Rinnegan, the information about this world is even more complex.
Chakra is not just power and energy, but more like the traces of a person's existence over time, imbued with the life trajectory of the possessor.
Some people interpret it as an observation of fate, but in Xiu Si's view, it is perhaps closer to a gourmet's mastery of ingredients.
He looked at the forest behind the old house, which was now unrecognizable. At that moment, Tobirama Senju arrived with Kakashi and Obito.
The fourth person was the Fourth Hokage, who arrived after the power supply was cut off.
Xiu Si could see even more people further away, but they weren't as fast as the others, so they chose to stay at the edge of the woods.
Tobirama's gaze fell on Shuji, and despite his completely different demeanor—the one they should have wanted to see—he remained as calm as ever.
"Shuji, do you remember who you are?"
Hashirama carefully examined this long-rumored junior.
He had never seen Shuji's original appearance, but he sensed something unusual in his brother's tone.
"Judging from your attitude, it's quite different from how you were before the Sixth Generation."
Shuji did not answer, but instead bent his legs and sat cross-legged in mid-air.
Seeing this, Kakashi relaxed from his tense posture: "It seems we can confirm the answer now."
Tobirama Senju was still waiting for a clear and unambiguous answer.
Shuji then uttered his first words since entering the Bloodstained Net: "How is Kai?"
When he asked that question, Tobirama confirmed that it was still the same Shuji from before.
"His vital signs have stabilized, and we did not need to resort to the final treatment."
"With the village's current technological reserves, Kai will be able to fully recover given enough time."
Hashirama listened silently, nodding slightly.
This is exactly the kind of legacy he envisions.
Power may change, appearance may change, but the one who asks about the safety of their companions first will always continue to burn with the same flame.
"What are your plans now?" Tobirama steered the conversation toward the most pressing reality.
Of all Konoha's contingency plans, the one with the lowest probability and the highest risk was the attack by Otsutsuki Isshiki.
The fact that the other side made two consecutive attempts to penetrate spacetime also means that the attack has not stopped.
Shuji said, "He didn't attack other parts of the village, but came directly to this forest, which means that his target was that tree from the beginning."
"Now that the tree is inside me, the first premise for his attack on the village no longer exists."
But this does not mean the battle is over.
Shuji was well aware that Isshiki was facing a special situation.
His most vulnerable period was when he only had Cixian's body and had not yet found a new replacement.
His strongest state is when he completes his reincarnation, and the new wedge is decompressed to 100%, ready to accept his reincarnation at any time.
Judging from the timeline, even if Neji was exceptional, he shouldn't have reached this level.
In Boruto, the protagonist, Boruto's thawing progress far surpasses that of Kawaki, who was considered the perfect vessel by Isshiki. Yet, it still took him six months to a year to thaw the Karma to about 80%.
No matter how advanced Neji's biotechnology is, it can't make up for the gap at the starting point.
But this also means that the current form is at its most aggressive and ruthless.
Because he has already been exposed.
Therefore, Isshiki has an unprecedented desire to use his existing power to clear out any individuals on the table who could threaten his successful reincarnation.
Waiting for him to come to you on his own is not a good option.
"Second Hokage, Fourth Hokage," Shuji asked, "Can you sense Neji's location?"
Minato shook his head: "No, I can't sense it anywhere. That Otsutsuki has probably hidden Neji in a concealed barrier."
"It's another dimension." Tobirama's voice was cold and resolute. "When he opened the passage to enter the village, I sensed the Flying Thunder God mark I had left behind."
"But since he's not in the ninja world, the Flying Thunder God Technique doesn't yet have the ability to travel between two different dimensions."
"The only way is to use the mark Nagato left on Neji to bring him back using the Rinnegan's summoning technique."
Xiu Si pondered.
Bringing people back at this time means bringing the battlefield back to the ninja world, back to Konoha.
Although in Boruto, space-time transfer seems to have become a standard feature of the Otsutsuki clan's high-purity Byakugan and even Rinnegan, even Sasuke with a single tomoe Rinnegan is able to venture into various alternate dimensions.
However, having only recently acquired the Rinnegan, he cannot do such a thing yet without obtaining a space-time eye technique.
Moreover, without Neji as a fallback, Isshiki will descend into utter madness, either immediately searching for backup units beyond their intelligence network, or wreaking havoc even more recklessly.
Therefore, taking Neji away directly is the last resort.
Obito, who had been silent, spoke up at this moment: "If it's that space, we can open it with Kamui."
"During the several times we disrupted that passage, Kakashi and I marked that location."
Kakashi frowned: "I don't feel that way."
Obito said, "I'm better at marking spatial coordinates than you are, Kakashi."
"However, opening up another person's alternate dimension requires a lot of chakra, so we can't send too many people in."
He is now in a state of impure existence and no longer cares about the cost.
Kakashi is different. Even with external chakra replenishment, opening another person's alternate dimension once would consume enough of his eye power to take away half his life.
"Put this eye back on you." Kakashi pointed to his left eye. "It was yours to begin with."
"No," Obito refused. "This fake body cannot bear real eyes."
Shuji said, "We don't need too many people."
Sheren clenched his fist, about to speak: "I—"
Shuuji stopped him: "You still have one more chance to get revenge on him."
"But not this time."
"Madara Uchiha hasn't appeared yet, so he must have some understanding of the situation here."
"After I leave, the only person capable of directly countering his technique is you."
The white eyes he'd earned from Hiashi quietly watched Shuuji, and finally, Toneri returned to his original spot.
Shuji turned to Kakashi and Obito: "Let's begin."
"Wait a moment."
Tobirama did not let him leave just like that.
"You've only just acquired this power; don't you need to adjust?"
"I'll say the unpleasant thing first."
"Judging from my perception, your current chakra strength has not yet surpassed that of Guy when he opened the Eighth Gate."
"The opponent is a true Otsutsuki. His understanding of the Rinnegan, and even his countermeasures against various other dojutsu, surpasses yours."
"Indulging in the illusion brought about by a sudden increase in power will only render all previous efforts futile."
Upon hearing this, Shuji chuckled and said, "If I stayed in the ninja world, that Ōtsutsuki's desire to fight to the death might surpass mine."
"They will also be more reckless."
"But once he entered that alternate dimension—and since the only container he cared about at that moment was there—"
Shuuji floated to Kakashi's side, placed a hand on his shoulder, and channeled his chakra into the silver-haired Jonin's body.
"So, the one who's holding himself back is him."
The smile on the white-haired Sixth Hokage's face made the First Hokage begin to doubt whether he had made a mistake in his judgment of this junior.
"—That Neji, he's a kid from the village, right—" Hashirama muttered to himself. How come it sounded like this kid from Konoha had become a hostage in their hands?
"Yes, First Generation." Shuji's smile remained unchanged. "Rest assured, that Otsutsuki will protect him very well."
The First Hokage's gaze drifted subtly towards Tobirama, who stared back at his older brother, who had just returned to the village, with a blank expression.
Yes, this is the modern-day Hokage.
Kakashi felt a sharp pain in his left eye, and Kamui's spiral tore a rift in the air.
He said, "That's just how this guy does things."
"Our Sixth Generation leader has a style even more despicable than that of villains, First Generation leader."
Even though his eyes were hurting so badly they felt like they were about to burst, the sense of relief that rose from the bottom of his heart after Shuji's return still made him want to complain.
Obito also maintained the entrance to the space, remaining silent.
After the spatial passage opened, both Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze sensed the marks they had left behind.
Shuji also simultaneously sensed Neji's presence, as well as the entity in that space where chakra was particularly strong.
Otsutsuki Ichishiki.
Shuji, Kakashi, and Obito entered the space.
Looking at the now empty woodland, Hashirama crossed his arms and suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha----
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"Although it's not quite what I imagined."
"But he's still more reliable than us, Tobirama."