Clash of Auras

Clash of Auras

Inside the Land of Rain, under the auspices of the so-called demigod Hanzo, the peace talks between Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha officially began.

"Tut, tut. Add two more people and this could be a Kage Summit."

Yunqing placed the so-called Kage Cloak before him and clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Hehe, Lord Kazekage is truly young," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a gentle smile.

"What a hypocrite."

Mu said disdainfully.

"That's still better than hiding your face, old man."

"Haha, just a youngster."

"The giant wave of a new era has already arrived. Old people should leave."

"Hmph, is that so? Tobirama died pretty quickly himself."

A battle of words? Watching the two old foxes put on such a wild performance, Yunqing felt that he had truly broadened his horizons.

After glancing at the two of them, Yunqing began surveying the others present.

Hanzo sat in the host's seat, his face livid. Even his mask could not conceal the murderous aura around him.

Standing behind Mu were Ōnoki and the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Rōshi. Yunqing knew both of them; they had crossed paths on the battlefield, and they were glaring at him now.

The ones Yunqing paid the most attention to were the three who would later be known as the Sannin.

Jiraiya, who kept shaking his head; the blonde, busty beauty Tsunade; and Orochimaru, affectionately known to the world as Snake Sage.

As if sensing Yunqing's gaze, the three of them glared back at him together. Their unified aura was quite intimidating.

"Interesting. As expected of the Sannin, the protagonists of this era."

Feeling the oppressive aura bearing down on him, Yunqing secretly gestured for Suke to stop, then smiled back at them.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Mu and Hiruzen Sarutobi also stopped their "discussion."

"Interesting. Those three disciples of Sarutobi's are perfect for testing the Kazekage's true worth."

After a brief flash of surprise, Hanzo quickly regained his composure.

"This works too. I heard those three foolish children are quite capable. They can test each other out, and no matter which side suffers, we can profit from it."

Mu sneered inwardly.

He showed none of the attitude one should have toward a Konoha ally. Once Sunagakure withdrew, they would be enemies.

"Oh dear, they got impatient. But that's fine. The three of them together can test the Kazekage."

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly in displeasure, he still persuaded himself.

They were, after all, his personal disciples. They still needed to be looked after.

After all, they were his strongest supporters.

As for the others, Suke did not care after seeing Yunqing's gesture. Ōnoki and Rōshi, meanwhile, were eager to watch a show and waited to see Orochimaru's group make fools of themselves.

The two of them had been the main force confronting Yunqing head-on. Rōshi in particular—neither of them had forgotten that stifling humiliation.

They had been completely suppressed, bombarded by endless bizarre attacks, while Yunqing possessed Chakra reserves comparable to a Tailed Beast's. That was simply not something an ordinary person could endure.

If Rōshi had not also been a perfect Jinchuriki, they would have been finished long ago.

The contest of auras gradually began. However, anyone with a discerning eye could immediately tell that Orochimaru's trio had lost.

Three against one, yet sweat was gradually forming on their foreheads.

Fortunately, everyone in the room was a major figure. Even the weakest among them—Orochimaru's trio—were Quasi-Kage level. Ordinary Jonin might not even have been able to remain standing here.

"Interesting. No wonder that in the original work, the three of them, who weren't Kage-level, could go toe-to-toe with Hanzo. Setting aside their hidden methods, this strength of character alone was enough."

Yunqing was slightly surprised by their fortitude. He had inherited Irene's abilities and memories, and after perfectly integrating them, he had also received meticulous guidance from Sāmon, Chiyo, and others. It could be said that both his mentality and strength had undergone a complete transformation.

He far surpassed ordinary people.

Perhaps because he admired the original work, or perhaps because he admired the three of them, Yunqing gradually increased the force of his own aura.

"Damn it. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and Kagami Uchiha are already difficult enough to deal with, and now the next generation is growing up as well. What path is left for Iwagakure?"

Mu clenched his fists, turmoil churning within him like raging waves.

"Sigh, where should Amegakure go from here?"

Hanzo thought despondently, his gaze dim.

As one of the foremost Kage-level experts, he had earned the title of demigod through his own battles.

"Sigh, let them continue. Experiencing the pressure of Kage-level power will benefit them as well."

Shaking his head and suppressing the urge to intervene, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided after weighing things over that even if it meant gaining a little less advantage later, he could not stop this.

He could not bear to act against his own disciples, so he would let someone else do it. He could tell that Yunqing had no intention of killing them.

"How is this possible? Is this the true strength of a Kage-level fighter? Even the three of us together can't make him so much as flinch."

Jiraiya roared furiously in his heart.

After graduating from the Ninja Academy, he had become the disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi, a Hokage candidate. With a Kage-level mentor and frequent association with Konoha's generation of Kage-level experts, he had every reason to be proud.

Especially after receiving Mount Myōboku's inheritance, his usual carefree grin could not conceal the pride in his heart.

"So I've been underestimating the world. Is this the bearing of a village's Kage?"

Orochimaru sighed inwardly. He had always thought the gap between himself and his teacher was no longer that great. Only now did he realize that he had been like a frog at the bottom of a well.

"Kage-level?" Tsunade gritted her teeth and held on. "I'll reach it sooner or later."

The pride of the Senju Clan made Tsunade unwilling to admit defeat.

Her grandfather was Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi. Her second grandfather was Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage. Her teacher was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Her teacher's comrades were Shimura Danzō, the Darkness of the Shinobi World, and Kagami Uchiha.

She had grown up with a golden spoon in her mouth. Why should he, a Kage from Sunagakure, be able to suppress her?

Tsunade's pride gradually made her the leader of the trio's momentum.

Sensing Tsunade's change, the other two, who had already been on the verge of backing down, began gritting their teeth and holding on once more.

"Interesting. No wonder Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage. That persistence alone is enough."

Yunqing had always been curious about why Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had consistently supported Tsunade in the original story. Why could a woman who had left the village for over a decade inherit the position of Hokage?

More than ten years—nearly twenty years. That was enough time for a village to replace an entire generation. Yet an old woman could still directly inherit the position.

The reason behind it was worth considering.

"Since you insist on coming, then let's make it more intense."

As Yunqing made up his mind, the momentum he had been suppressing erupted like floodwaters released from a dam, impossible to contain.

The momentum of Tsunade and the other two was like drifting leaves in the wind and a small boat in a rainstorm, scattering with the breeze.

"Enough. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Kazekage."

Just as Tsunade and the others could no longer endure, a soft sigh rang out. At the same time, two genuine Kage-level auras confronted Yunqing's.

One was upright and peaceful, nothing like that of a shinobi. The other was like a sharp sword, advancing without hesitation.

The upright and peaceful one belonged to Hiruzen Sarutobi. The sword-like one belonged to the white-haired young man who had suddenly appeared beside him.

Everyone else watched the suddenly appearing white-haired young man with wary expressions.

Everyone present was Kage-level, and Mu was even a sensory type, yet none of them had detected the white-haired young man before this.

Yunqing looked at the white-haired young man with great interest.

Now this was interesting. No wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi had not brought his close friends Shimura Danzō or Kagami Uchiha, instead bringing his three disciples. It turned out he had a stealthy assassination-type shinobi hidden in the shadows.

No matter how great the three's potential was, until they became Kage-level, they were still inferior.

"Hatake Sakumo greets you all, my lords."

The white-haired young man, Hatake Sakumo, gave a respectful bow.