What we had to do was send them to meet the Sage of Six Paths!
Because we had no right to forgive them on behalf of the dead!!!
The only thing we could do was avenge the dead.
Make the people of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure repay their blood debts in blood!!!
An eye for an eye... a tooth for a tooth!!
A moment later.
In Mingren's embrace, Tetsuya Senju had been burned alive.
Flames still wrapped around both of them.
Within the flames.
Mingren stood up.
His body was burning.
His flesh had curled back, and many places had been charred black, exposing bone.
Yet even so.
Those eyes burning with pitch-black flames remained so steadfast and bright.
Yes, though it sounded strange, they really were very bright...
Asuka stared into those eyes. It was also the first time she had looked into a man's gaze for so long.
"Master, let's go."
The exposed gums did nothing to diminish his bearing.
Instead, they added a distinctive, heroic air to him.
[Strength... 8!]
After that experiment, Tetsuya Senju had died in utmost agony and despair. The Negative Emotions Mingren absorbed had become nourishment for himself.
They had raised Mingren's strength to the realm of "8."
This Strength Value.
Was already enough for him to contend with Part One Asuma or Momochi Zabuza.
It also meant he could knock down several ordinary Chunin with one punch, or easily lift the 2.1-meter-long steel Kubikiribōchō with one hand.
Strength was everything.
Muscles were philosophy.
Mingren, who believed iron fists trumped all.
Felt the surging power within his body...
And knew he now had the possibility of changing this Ninja World!
As long as he kept growing.
Continually killing enemies and strengthening his own Mental Energy.
One day, he would smash Naruto and Sasuke and defeat the whole Ōtsutsuki family!
"I will prove that even ordinary people without bloodlines can surpass all kinds of bloodlines through wisdom!"
"What I oppose isn't cheats, nor bloodlines themselves... but Bloodline Theory through and through!! And blatant deception!!"
"Of course, the most important thing right now is to increase my strength in this war called the Third Shinobi World War, and then... fight! Drive the invaders out of the Land of Rain!!"
Eight. Change This World!
"Um..."
Just as Mingren was about to leave.
Asuka called out to him.
"What is it?" Mingren turned around and looked at her expressionlessly.
The flames gradually died down.
His charred muscles peeled away, while new muscles and epidermal tissue grew in.
The newly grown flesh was even stronger.
As his strength increased, so did his defense power.
"She's Hanzo's Granddaughter. She's thirteen this year, and her name is Asuka..." Shennong said with a smile from the shadows.
He was satisfied—truly, immensely satisfied.
Especially after seeing his disciple's cold and merciless appearance as he slaughtered the enemies swiftly and cleanly.
Shennong was even more satisfied.
Such ruthlessness... worthy of being my disciple. The ultimate form of Dark Chakra may one day manifest in him... But... I cannot fall behind either... To prevent the situation from spiraling out of control, I should make preparations early...
"Hanzo? The Demigod... Hanzo of the Salamander?"
Asuka could not discern any particular emotion in Mingren's voice.
She only felt... as though the air had suddenly dropped several degrees.
"According to the intelligence, she's just a little girl without a Kekkei Genkai... just like us. Her only special trait is that an Ibuse venom sac was implanted into her body when she was young..."
Ibuse.
Was a unique and highly venomous creature of the Land of Rain.
Implanting its venom sac gave a person the ability to use poison.
But because of its toxicity, they could not speak carelessly and had to wear a specially filtered Breathing Apparatus.
Only then could they avoid harming others.
It could be said that it was both power and a prison of payment.
Besides.
In the original Naruto Ninja manga... in Shippuden.
Jiraiya infiltrated the Land of Rain and captured two minor characters for interrogation.
One of them told Jiraiya that Pain had slaughtered Hanzo's family and did not even spare children...
In other words.
Hanzo had a wife and children.
If one looked carefully at the eerie pupils of the girl before them...
Only Hanzo of the Salamander possessed such eyes in the entire Land of Rain.
So she really was his granddaughter.
Mingren: "Asuka... In an environment like the Land of Rain, the meaning of that name is probably to hope for soaring flight or freedom. It truly suits the mood."
Asuka, who did not know that Mingren had PTSD over Kekkei Genkai... in other words, Bloodline Theory, was still somewhat confused about the situation.
"If possible, I hope you can join Amegakure..."
A capable person like him.
Would be wasted if he remained out in the wild.
And more importantly...
"I will not join Amegakure for the time being."
Mingren stared at Asuka, his eyes holding only simple admiration.
After all, no matter how much his heart might stir, he could not possibly feel anything for a thirteen-year-old girl.
--At the very least, she should be fourteen.
Mingren: "Also, you don't need to worry. I won't be joining Akatsuki either."
Asuka: "!"
Akatsuki.
Was an armed organization whose members wore Amegakure Headbands while acting under the name Akatsuki.
Mingren knew them from his time practicing medicine.
There was also a reason he had not joined Akatsuki.
If Yahiko's group believed Hanzo of the Salamander was wrong and wanted to overthrow him and start a revolution.
Then they should establish their own country.
And fight openly and honorably.
Rather than secretly calling themselves Akatsuki.
While wearing Amegakure Headbands, acting under the banner of Amegakure shinobi, refusing to obey the orders of Hanzo of the Salamander, Amegakure's true leader, and even poaching people everywhere...
Such behavior was undoubtedly contemptible.
Still, Asuka's concerns were entirely reasonable.
After all, many young people in the Land of Rain had answered Yahiko's call, and Akatsuki had thus become a force among the new generation that could not be ignored...
Mingren glanced at Asuka, then turned and left.
"May I ask... your name, sir?" Asuka hurriedly asked.
"His name is Amakawa Mingren. He's thirteen, the same age as you... an ordinary person, no bloodline, clean family background. His parents both died in the war... He likes making ramen, dreams of becoming a chef, switched to medicine after the war broke out, and then discovered that medicine could not save the people of the Land of Rain. So he had no choice but to learn some shinobi skills..."
Shennong took out a Scroll and handed it to Asuka.
Inside were the preserved bodies of her three companions who had died earlier.
In an excellent mood, Shennong said a few more things before leaving with a smile.
"Amakawa... Mingren..."
Asuka murmured his name. Clutching the Scroll, she quickly followed after him and left the scene...
After reaching the outside and parting ways with Hanzo's Granddaughter.
Mingren furrowed his brow slightly. "I don't remember ever gaining a surname..."
"Don't you think it sounds kind of cool? I think that surname suits your name... And it's convenient for attracting young girls too... It's all about presentation..."
Shennong stroked his chin, wearing a dejected smile.
"Besides, perhaps one day you or I might need Hanzo of the Salamander, or even Amegakure. Building a connection isn't a bad thing..."
This was Shennong's habit: disguising himself as a harmless physician who traveled the world healing people, while also making connections with all kinds of individuals.
Empty Village had already been destroyed.
Although some remnants had survived.
They needed at least nearly twenty years to recuperate...
Before then.
He traveled everywhere, researching Dark Chakra while making connections with all kinds of people and gaining assistance.
In the theatrical film, Shennong had even made a deal with Orochimaru.
"..."
Mingren did not reply to Shennong any further.
Instead, he raised his arm and looked at his palm.
When he clenched his hand, abundant power flowed through it.
Before you continue