Young Master, Please Become Hokage

Chapter 28: Steel Style - Kekkei Genkai

As everyone knows, the world of the Naruto ninja is one of bloodline supremacy.

From the Sharingan and Byakugan.

To Senju Hashirama's Wood Release, Madara Uchiha's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Indra, and Asura Reincarnation.

And finally, to the Otsutsuki aliens.

Everything is filled with the manifestation of bloodlines.

The work "Naruto," was even jokingly called the story of the Otsutsuki family by people of the past, which says a lot.

There's nothing inherently wrong with that.

However, the existence of bloodline supremacy widens the gap in people's talent and strength.

At first glance, ordinary people are left with only deep despair and powerlessness.

This isn't a matter of whether you have a gun.

It's the difference in combat power between an ordinary person with a gun and an opponent piloting a star-destroying spaceship.

But this situation isn't unchangeable.

The Shinobi World's 1000-year history, especially after the Warring States Period, has seen a hundred flowers bloom.

The Second Kazekage - Shamon was just an ordinary person, but based on Shukaku's Magnet Release, he eventually developed Magnet Release that humans could use. This led to the fame of the Third Kazekage, known as the strongest Kazekage, and its subsequent inheritance by Rasa.

The Second Tsuchikage - Mu was also just an ordinary person, but by merging three elemental affinities, he created a Kekkei Tōta that surpassed Kekkei Genkai! Later, he passed it on to his disciple, the current Third Tsuchikage - Onoki.

Even Senju Tobirama, despite his lineage from the Senju Clan, strictly speaking, created many Forbidden Jutsu that ordinary ninja could use, which ultimately were inherited by Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and others.

If we exclude the advantages of family background, clan, and intelligence, then... there are also inspiring figures like Might Duy, Might Guy, and Rock Lee, who are both ordinary and extraordinary.

Akira Sarutobi inherited Hiruzen Sarutobi's talent as a ninjutsu doctor and the Sarutobi Clan's Innate Divine Strength.

But strictly speaking, compared to the many overpowered individuals with bloodline supremacy, he does seem a bit dim.

To become Hokage and change this world, strength becomes indispensable.

"Ice Release..."

At this moment, Akira Sarutobi murmured softly.

His mind couldn't help but recall the prompt that appeared when he encountered Ringo Ameyuri during the last mission in the Land of Whirlpools.

Ice Release... possibility.

This means that Ice Release... might also be manually operated, fused by ordinary ninja who are not from the Snow Clan.

"Heh, if I tell you, will you let me go?"

Seeing Akira Sarutobi's interest, the other party began to bargain.

Akira Sarutobi, however, waved his hand, directly signaling for Ino Yamanaka to come over.

Ino Yamanaka, who had been waiting impatiently, excitedly walked up to her.

The smiling girl extended her fair right hand and placed it on the other woman's head.

"Ah—!!!"

The scream before execution was like a shrill cry.

Her struggling body resisted the invasion of the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique.

Having one's brain invaded and stirred at will is a terrifying thing.

As Ino Yamanaka performed the technique, the scream abruptly stopped.

"Hk... hk..."

Looking at the female ninja whose body convulsed and eyes rolled back within a second.

Akira Sarutobi... had an extremely cold expression.

"A traitor, dies."

Because what she betrayed was the tens of millions of civilians in the Land of Fire.

Every time the Land of Fire was betrayed, it was the common people who suffered.

No matter what, all the costs are ultimately transferred to the common people at the bottom.

The taxes of the people were used to support such a person, how could Akira Sarutobi let her go?

Ino Yamanaka's eyes flickered, and she quickly obtained the torrent of information from the other woman's mind.

The Yamanaka Clan's secret technique is most effective when the target's willpower is weak, or when they are severely injured and unguarded.

If the target were unharmed, Ino Yamanaka wouldn't have had such an easy time.

However, at this moment, her brain was immediately thrown into chaos.

After all... Ino Yamanaka had no humanitarian concerns.

Just like a chef making dark cuisine, every meal she prepares is a terrifying disaster.

"Alright..."

In no time, Ino Yamanaka finished extracting the remaining information.

And as expected, the other party had turned into an idiot.

Such crude methods always led to this.

"Young Master, the combined properties of Steel Style are a fusion of 'Earth Style' and 'Yang Release'."

It wasn't strange for a Jonin to possess two elemental affinities, as it was one of the criteria for Jonin qualification.

The Twelve Guardian Shinobi weren't under Konoha's jurisdiction, but the basic assessment standards were still in place.

This strict requirement of "Jonin must possess two chakra natures" was only relaxed after Might Duy became famous in later generations, allowing those with only one or even no chakra natures to become Jonin.

"Earth Style and Yang Release, huh..."

Ninjustu that altered the body were, 90% of the time, related to Yang Release.

Yang Release was the essence of Medical Ninjutsu.

The Akimichi Clan's secret techniques were also included within Yang Release.

According to the official databook, The Book of Training, the Senju Clan even inherited the Sage of Six Paths' Yang Release.

Therefore, the use of Yang Release was seen everywhere in the Shinobi World.

As Ino Yamanaka spoke, Akira Sarutobi gradually learned the specific methods for cultivating Steel Style.

This woman, who served as one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, had accumulated a considerable amount of money and, in order to survive, began experimenting with fusing Kekkei Genkai.

Unexpectedly, she succeeded by sheer luck.

Should I say it was her fear of death? The preciousness of her own life? These desires... ultimately led her to successfully fuse a life-saving Kekkei Genkai.

If a different Jonin had dealt with her today.

For example, Shirakumo Hayama, or Ino Yamanaka, it might not have been certain they could capture her.

But she just happened to run into him.

Even with the initial protection of Steel Style, she still ended up captured.

Of course, this also had to do with the fact that the opponent's Steel Style cultivation time was not long.

"I remember in the movie, Kimimaro also used Steel Style..."

Kimimaro's Steel Style transformed his body into a black metallic form. It required active activation and wasn't very effective normally.

The Steel Style of the woman before him, however, was a hardening of the skin. It was a sustained change to the skin using chakra, essentially a permanent "passive" ability. As long as she continued to train, she would become stronger.

The cultivation steps for this Steel Style were as follows:

First step, fuse Earth and Yang attributes in a specific ratio to cultivate "Steel Style chakra."

Second step, channel the Steel Style chakra to the surface of the skin. Through vibration, continuously vibrate the skin, causing its properties to change, ultimately... forming a resilient force. Finally, any attack hitting the skin would be deflected and weakened, thereby enhancing defense.

The ultimate outcome in the future was uncertain.

But at present, this woman had already cultivated it to a point where ordinary Taijutsu attacks were harmless.

It was only with his own extraordinary strength, combined with the violent Taijutsu given by Orochimaru, that he was able to defeat her so easily.

Other Jonin, or ordinary ninja from clans other than the Akimichi, would absolutely not be able to achieve this. They would have to rely on Ninjutsu or powerful sharp weapons to break through.

"Immunity to ordinary Taijutsu can provide an advantage in direct combat, especially in group battles..."

Steel Style had three other major values.

One: It is a Kekkei Genkai and does not belong to any single elemental attribute among the five. Therefore, there is no such thing as being countered by a specific element.

Two: It does not require hand seals! The advantage of not needing hand seals is self-evident; combat is always a matter of seconds.

Three: It can also slightly reduce the damage from sharp weapons, a value that surpasses many things.

Because even Six Paths Level experts could be killed by a small Kunai.

This is because Six Paths Level itself is divided into several types: ordinary Earthling Six Paths Level, Lunar Six Paths Level, Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Six Paths, and Otsutsuki Alien Six Paths.

Not all Six Paths Level beings possess resistance to sharp weapons.

Akira Sarutobi's heart burned with desire, wishing he could sit down immediately and begin cultivating Steel Style, thereby acquiring this Kekkei Genkai.

Once he fused a Kekkei Genkai through his own cultivation, it would be like opening a new world, or rather... the true prelude to changing this world!

Power...

And authority.

Defeating this woman meant capturing the mastermind and extracting information; the Anbu assessment was considered successfully completed.

As for how to handle the aftermath, that was for Danzō and the other higher-ups to worry about.

However, before cultivation, there was one piece of intelligence that made Akira Sarutobi decide to make preparations.

That was...

The Mist Ninja who met with this woman was none other than the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen's" Ringo Ameyuri!

The next delivery date was set for "one week from now" at a location... a small island nation near the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools... the Land of Waves!

After a moment of thought, Akira Sarutobi quickly made his decision.

"A-Hui, write a report for Yakushi Nonō, and also have her send a message to Danzō... tell him I won't be returning for now, I'll be staying here for a week..."

Akira Sarutobi raised his hand, performing the chakra refinement exercise.

"I'll spend a week training, trying to fuse Steel Style as much as possible. While I'm at it, I'll control the dockside gangs to keep things running normally and provide cover for the goods. Finally... I'll go meet Ringo Ameyuri!"

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Danzō: Hiruzen, Your Son Has the Makings of a Hokage

While Akira Sarutobi was immersed in his Steel Style training, the intelligence regarding the dockside town was relayed by Yakushi Nonō, returning to Konoha like the wind...

Deep beneath Konoha, in Root's headquarters.

A Root ninja unrolled a scroll and infused chakra into a specific hand seal.

With a poof, smoke rose, and a logbook-like booklet appeared in the center of the summoning circle.

Picking up the booklet, the Root ninja headed for the surface without looking back, eventually presenting the booklet to Danzō in the Anbu office.

Root ninjas have special communication methods.

Periodically, they exchange information through these Summoning Scrolls.

Danzō opened Nonō's intelligence log, which detailed the events that had transpired.

When Danzō saw Akira Sarutobi unhesitatingly eliminate several gang leaders and easily subdue the mastermind behind the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, his expression shifted slightly.

Among Konoha's high command, there was an unwritten consensus. Many favored Minato Namikaze, believing that with his aptitude for the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique inherited from Senju Tobirama, he was the most suitable candidate for the next Hokage.

But Minato Namikaze was Hiruzen Sarutobi's grand-disciple and Jiraiya's disciple... Although they all belonged to the Senju lineage, strictly speaking, they weren't in his faction.