Time-Space Hole

As he walked toward his final destination, Minamoto Takuya toyed with the Gelel Stone in his hand, feeling the power contained within it.

It did feel quite comfortable in his hand. It seemed as though a kind of life energy was flowing through it into his body, improving and strengthening him—but the process was so slow it might as well have done nothing.

He looked at the distant layers of verdant mountains, neither happy nor sad.

His attitude toward Timothy's family was clearly different from his attitude toward Heide because, deep down, he still retained some of the moral values from his previous life.

When faced with those generally considered good, he would try his best to obtain what he wanted without resorting to killing.

But if communication truly proved impossible, he did not mind taking action. From the very beginning, he had known that he was absolutely not a good person.

There were also certain unavoidable circumstances. For example, if someone was a target of his Chimera Technique, then no matter how good a person they were thought to be, he would still make a move.

Compared with that small measure of morality, he cared more about whether he could become stronger.

Compared to Timothy's family, Heide was practically a textbook villain. Even if he had not yet become the villain he would be in the future, it made no difference to Takuya.

Making a deal with him was far less convenient than simply killing him and taking what he had.

"This should be the place marked on the map."

Minamoto Takuya surveyed the surroundings and confirmed that he had arrived. This was the place that group of Wandering People passed through every year.

Even if they had no intention of using the power of the Gelel Ore Vein, as people who knew of its existence, they could not help coming by from time to time. Only after seeing that it had not been discovered would they feel at ease.

It was an unavoidable habit for Guardians. Some Guardians even settled down beside the ore vein to watch over its safety.

Minamoto Takuya formed hand seals with both hands.

"Mysterious Peacock Method: Wing!"

Substantial chakra surged from his back, eventually forming a pair of wings behind him and carrying him directly into the sky.

Although he still could not move while using most forms of the Mysterious Peacock Method, the ability to fly was indeed much more convenient.

Afterward, Minamoto Takuya created several Shadow Clones and sent them off in different directions to search for fluctuations from the Gelel Ore Vein.

"Mysterious Peacock Method: Eye!"

Purple appeared in his eyes. Its ability allowed him to see traces left behind by chakra, but perhaps it could also detect the power of the Gelel Ore Vein.

Minamoto Takuya planned to search on his own for a while. If he truly could not find it, he would seek out that Wandering People caravan instead. By then, he might have to get a little rough.

Perhaps he would have to kidnap hostages again.

He clearly did not like doing that, but the tactic was simply too effective...

A few days later.

Minamoto Takuya was still searching for the Gelel Ore Vein when one of his new Shadow Clones dispelled itself.

It had not found the Gelel Ore Vein's power fluctuations with the Mysterious Peacock Method. Instead, it had directly spotted the gate sealing the Gelel Ore Vein.

"Hm? That was pretty fast." Minamoto Takuya was somewhat surprised that they had found it in only a few days.

This way, that group of Wandering People had escaped disaster.

Then, when he saw the sealed gate of the Gelel Ore Vein with his own eyes, he understood why. If one could fly, this thing really was not hard to find.

Its location was surrounded by mountains. Under normal circumstances, people who could not fly would never go around those mountains, much less voluntarily climb such a steep mountain that towered into the clouds.

When he arrived before the sealed gate, he found no Sealing Jutsu on it and pushed it open.

What met his eyes was a vast, complicated network of paths that crisscrossed at different heights, looking somewhat like a maze.

If this were a game for GBA players, they would probably turn the entire maze upside down to make sure there were no hidden treasures before moving on to the next level.

But Minamoto Takuya had no interest in that. He bit his finger and pressed it to the ground.

"Summoning Technique!"

After Minamoto Takuya summoned a large flock of Crows, they scattered throughout this "maze" in search of the correct path.

Very soon, one Crow found the platform at the deepest point, while another found a platform covered in patterns.

Minamoto Takuya paused, then went to the patterned platform first and examined the design upon it.

It was said to be an ancient Summoning ritual array capable of summoning the Time-Space Hole. The Time-Space Hole was an ability that could suck everything inside it. It had no limit and could contain all things.

However, according to the Original Work, no one ever released it, so it should disappear on its own after lasting for a period of time.

It was hard to say what use this thing had. In the Original Work, it was merely a black vortex.

Moreover, it had not displayed much suction. Even Timothy, who had been at its very center, could be pulled out by Naruto Uzumaki.

So long as a ninja still had the ability to resist, they could basically escape the Time-Space Hole's range with ease.

Using this thing to swallow people was probably impossible. At most, it could serve as a space for dumping unlimited trash, and the kind that could not be retrieved afterward.

No matter what, Minamoto Takuya still copied down the array. It might prove useful someday.

He also remembered that it seemed to require the blood of the Gelel Royal Family to activate. If he wanted to use it, he would have to thoroughly study the entire Summoning ritual array, separate this portion of the formula, and alter its activation method.

Why did this feel more and more useless?

Minamoto Takuya sighed. He felt that the Time-Space Hole itself was less useful than the ritual array. He could study ancient rituals through it, and perhaps apply something to Sealing Jutsu.

With that in mind, after copying down the ritual array for summoning the Time-Space Hole, Minamoto Takuya made his way to the platform at the deepest point.

This was where the Gelel Ore Vein was sealed. Logically, he only needed to place the Gelel Stone on the ritual platform over there to draw upon the Gelel Ore Vein's power.

But what use was power that could only be used near the Gelel Ore Vein?

Minamoto Takuya watched the Gelel Stone in his hand glow. It seemed to have been filled with energy by the nearby Gelel Ore Vein as well.

After thinking for a while, he raised his head. He remembered that the Gelel Ore Vein was directly above this place in the Original Work, so he would let the people of ancient times witness the capabilities of people today.

The power they had used to seal the Gelel Ore Vein was completely useless against modern ninjutsu.

"Earth Release!"

Minamoto Takuya's body merged into the rock and continuously climbed upward. Eventually, after bypassing the ore vein and reaching the very top, he stood upon the wall.

He saw the Gelel Ore Vein, like an entire enormous lake. Even he was somewhat shocked by its sheer volume.

Its destructive power might not have been particularly strong, but based on this scale alone, it should already be at the level of a Tailed Beast.

It also emitted a luminous green glow, making it quite beautiful.

Using Earth Release, Minamoto Takuya created a platform above the ore vein. Standing upon it, he gazed at the tranquil, beautiful surface below, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

How exactly was he supposed to make use of the Gelel Ore Vein?