Naruto Bloodline Theory? It's Just Trash

"What I envision... do you know what I'm thinking?"

"I'd like to hear it."

There was neither joy nor sorrow on Hanzo's face, and his tone remained gentle.

Yet that bearing and conduct, so respectful toward talent, made Mingren fall silent.

As a transmigrator, Mingren had expected some butterfly-effect changes in this world.

This Hanzo... seemed somewhat different from the one in the manga.

Was it because his granddaughter hadn't died?

So Hanzo had not yet fallen completely into despair?

"How do you plan to deal with the Akatsuki Organization?" Mingren suddenly asked after a brief silence.

"Those young people..."

Hanzo sank into thought.

He seemed to have long had an answer—rather, several answers—and had yet to decide which one to choose.

"If it were my real body, it would probably... have already decided to negotiate peace with the Akatsuki Organization."

As he spoke, Hanzo lifted his head and looked at Mingren again.

"Though you said... seeking peace through compromise means peace will perish. But I believe the Akatsuki Organization is made up of people from the Land of Rain. This is an internal conflict. They are all compatriots of the same country, so there is no harm in sitting down and having a proper talk."

Courtesy before force.

That was Hanzo's answer.

At that moment, Mingren realized that many of his actions had likely already changed this world.

After a moment's thought, Mingren's expression turned serious. "Then, one last question. You... what are you?"

Hanzo's Resolve

"I've seen you fight many times. Your taijutsu is formidable, and your strength surpasses that of most ninja in the Ninja World. But in terms of using ninjutsu, you seem to possess only a medical technique for regenerating your body."

Rather than directly answer Mingren's question, Hanzo brought up what he had observed.

"You'll have no problem against ordinary ninja, but once you encounter a true expert, these will all become fatal weaknesses. Pure taijutsu is too easily countered... Even if you reached the level of an Eight Inner Gates user, there would still be many ways to evade you..."

"Heh."

Mingren gave a soft laugh. Of course, he knew all that.

But the reason he did not display ninjutsu—

Was not because he could not use it, but because the time was not right.

Once something like Dark Chakra was revealed, it would inevitably cause an enormous uproar.

First, he had not yet fully explored everything about Dark Chakra.

Second, the Ninja World, where Bloodline Theory reigned supreme, would never allow everyone to master this power.

Right now, he was like a farmer traveling through the apocalypse with a handful of seeds clenched in his hand.

Before finding suitable soil and securing enough safety—

He had no intention of revealing this secret.

Become stronger. Stronger than anyone else.

One day—

He would scatter the seeds of Dark Chakra across the entire Ninja World.

By then—

Everyone would possess Dark Chakra, and everyone could transcend bloodlines!

At last, he would completely overturn this world where Bloodline Theory reigned supreme!

But before reaching that goal—

One had to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time.

If Hanzo thought he could not use ninjutsu, then so be it.

Mingren could not be bothered to explain.

Seeing Mingren's indifferent expression, Hanzo did not become angry. Instead, a look of understanding flashed through his eyes.

Youthful arrogance was a stage every young person had to go through.

"You have indeed defeated many ninja, but there are countless Kekkei Genkai in this Ninja World, and ninja possess all manner of techniques. To say nothing else, multiple Explosive Tags detonating at once or high-level techniques—these are not things the body alone can withstand."

Hanzo's tone grew gentler still.

"So, would you like to learn various techniques and how to control Chakra? Only when taijutsu is combined with ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and other methods can a ninja unleash their greatest strength. Amegakure may only be a small ninja village, inferior to the Five Great Nations, but among all small ninja villages, it is also the strongest..."

As he spoke, Hanzo suddenly laughed at himself.

He slightly Shook His Head, filled with emotion.

"Who would have thought that one day, I would be begging someone to join Amegakure..."

What countless ninja from small villages and Rogue Ninja dreamed of was something this young man dismissed completely.

Having said what he wanted to say, Hanzo's expression turned solemn as he began answering Mingren's question. "As you can see, the one standing here is not my real body... Speaking of which, Many People know that my abilities involve poison, combined with kusarigama weapons and Summoned Beasts, and that I am also proficient in the Body Flicker Technique. Because of that, Many People overlook the fact that my Water Release ninjutsu is also extremely powerful..."

Mingren knew Hanzo was not lying.

The official databook, the Book of the Person, described Hanzo this way:

"Wearing a specially made mask, he moves freely through water. No one can surpass his mastery over Water Release."

"So, the one standing here is a Water Clone."

"!"

Mingren's pupils contracted slightly.

He knew it was not a Shadow Clone.

Though a Shadow Clone was merely a mass of Chakra, it possessed every characteristic of the original body.

Heartbeat, breathing... all were flawlessly replicated.

Even the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could not distinguish a Shadow Clone from the original.

But Mingren had never imagined that the one standing here was actually a Water Clone.

"Water Release: Water Clone is a C-rank technique. Most ninja who can use Water Release are capable of it. A Water Clone does not consume much Chakra and possesses one-tenth of the original body's strength..."

Hanzo spoke at length.

Yet he failed to notice Mingren's darkening expression.

After Hanzo finished, Mingren Shook His Head. "I don't believe it. A Water Clone's casting range is within ten meters. Once it leaves that range, it disperses... And a Water Clone only resembles the original. Because of fluctuations in the Water Flow, anyone can spot the flaw at a glance..."

"That is indeed true."

Hanzo smiled slightly, satisfied with Mingren's knowledge.

Though he looked like he was all muscle and no brain—

One only needed to see his control over that bodily-regeneration medical technique to know that this young man possessed an exceptionally sharp mind.

"Originally, I had intended to come meet you in person, but there was a small problem over in Sunagakure... Forgive me for my selfishness... This old man has already lost his son and daughter-in-law. I cannot lose my granddaughter as well..."

At the same time.

Several hundred meters away.

Pakura, who was facing off against Asuka, watched the Demigod who had appeared before her with a wary expression.

This man standing at the pinnacle was far more dangerous than Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru.

Even she, hailed as the Hero of the Sand, could be killed in an instant if she let down her guard.

Earlier, there was a high chance that Konoha and Amegakure had been negotiating with the Yellow Flash, and they might even have already formed an alliance.

That was what concerned Pakura.

So, after collecting the bodies of her three companions, she had not rushed to trouble the Akatsuki Organization.

Instead, she had gone directly to find Asuka and the other three.

She intended to learn from Asuka how far negotiations between Amegakure and Konoha had progressed.

If that failed, she could use force—or simply abduct Hanzo's Granddaughter.

That was what Pakura had been thinking, yet Hanzo of the Salamander suddenly appeared here.

"Grandfather..."

Asuka glanced at Hanzo, worried that this might cost them the chance to recruit Amakawa Mingren.

But Hanzo gave her a reassuring look before turning to Pakura. "The Third Shinobi World War has lasted too long, and as you can see, there are many problems within our Land of Rain..."

"So Amegakure intends to ally with Konoha?"

Standing in the rain, Pakura stared intently at Hanzo.

"That is a possibility..." Hanzo nodded slightly.

It confirmed Pakura's suspicion.

"Hmph! Whatever Konoha can offer, Sunagakure can offer as well!"

Pakura stepped forward with a snort.

When facing the Demigod, it was not as simple as saying, If we disagree, I'll beat you down and kill you.

If she could not defeat him in a one-on-one fight, then she could only communicate with words.

"No problem."

Hanzo nodded without refusing.

"If Kusagakure can form alliances with the Five Great Nations, then Amegakure can as well."

Pakura: "!"

Hanzo's reply stunned Pakura.

Well, damn. Amegakure intended to take all the benefits for itself.

The mighty Demigod...

Faced with such an unexpected answer, Pakura was deeply puzzled.

In all three Ninja World Wars, Amegakure had absolutely refused to compromise.

So why had Hanzo of the Salamander, the Demigod, suddenly changed his ways???

What had he experienced during this time?!

Was it because he feared losing his granddaughter?

Or was he eager to preserve his sovereignty so that, once peace came, he could immediately deal with the Akatsuki Organization?

Countless thoughts flashed through Pakura's mind, but she still prepared to persuade him once more. "There will be no good outcome from allying with Konoha... They are nothing but a pack of bone-devouring monsters... Sunagakure allied with them twice, only to suffer endless slow cuts of the knife. That is proof enough! If you ally with Konoha, you will only be pushing Amegakure into a pit of fire!"

"Scorching Release: Kakura, what you say makes sense."

Hanzo's eyes held approval, but his words remained firm.

"Compromise... cannot buy peace, but it can buy time. Just as Sunagakure has done..."

Amegakure's younger generation had suffered a break in succession.

Whether it was the Akatsuki Organization, or Minato Namikaze, Pakura, and the others, all proved that new generations were flourishing in every organization and ninja village.