Six Forms

Susanoo was said to be the power of the gods!

But in truth, it was materialized Chakra, belonging to Yin Release, the most mysterious of the seven nature transformations. It used powerful Mental Energy to create material forms from nothingness.

To Guo Wang, it was a divine ability akin to the Creation Gate and its inherited grand techniques in the Three Sage Regions of the Dao Realm.

After his battle with the Raikage, the six forms of Susanoo seemed to have been imprinted in his mind from birth.

In its initial form, it could only manifest arms and ribs, yet it already possessed a variety of uses—attack, defense, protection, and control. This form alone had allowed a ten-year-old child like Shisui to enter Kage-level battles.

The first form was a skeletal upper body like a war god, enveloping the user completely. Aside from a few weak points beneath the feet, it could withstand any Ninjutsu below S-rank head-on without suffering the slightest damage. In terms of offense, it could also manifest the rudimentary forms of mythical weapons, laying the groundwork for the divine artifacts of the next stage.

After that came the growth of flesh and blood, armor protecting the body, gradually manifesting the complete form of a War God.

Its ultimate form was comparable to the Earthly Manifestations and External Avatars of those great sages of the Dao Realm, capable of splitting mountains, cleaving seas, and severing the heavens.

"I still find it hard to believe that the Chakra energy system alone could give rise to such power."

If the memories inherited through his bloodline had not been beyond doubt, Guo Wang never would have believed that Chakra cultivation, at its peak, could resemble the most supreme powers of the Dao Realm.

As he stepped out of the tent, Danzo saw that the Konoha shinobi at the front had already begun slaughtering one another with Iwagakure. The sight of flesh flying and lives vanishing made his eyes stir restlessly.

"Yin Release is a special type of Chakra that primarily uses Mental Energy. It suits my current condition perfectly."

Nourished by the Five-Colored Stone, Guo Wang's spiritual power surpassed all others in the Shinobi World, but the physical energy within his aged body had been steadily declining.

Refining Yin Release Chakra required over ninety percent Mental Energy and only a tiny amount of Physical Energy. Once converted through the Mangekyō Sharingan, it became the Shinobi World's most mysterious and unfathomable "Dojutsu Power."

After testing it in battle once, Guo Wang spent the next few days in his sickbed refining an immense amount of Dojutsu Power—the very limit his eyes could withstand.

"If I go all out, Susanoo should be able to enter its third form directly. But the opponents before me aren't worthy of this move."

This portion of Iwagakure's army was merely abandoned bait meant to hold Konoha back. Leading them was the Explosion Corps, a force renowned throughout the Shinobi World and Iwagakure's most terrifying unit after the Shadow Guard.

Rumble!

Enormous pillars of flame surged into the sky as the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai shinobi hidden among the ordinary troops revealed their power.

Caught off guard, Konoha suffered grievous losses in the first wave.

"Lightning Release shinobi, move in! Prioritize killing the Explosion Corps."

Without waiting for Danzo to speak, Shikaku Nara began issuing battle orders. After years of warfare, the trump cards of every shinobi village had largely been exposed. Though the Explosion Corps possessed few Ninjutsu, Konoha had devised methods to counter them after several devastating losses.

"Lightning Release: Earth Flash!"

Twenty-three Konoha shinobi attacked at once. Though it did not qualify as a combined Ninjutsu, its sheer scale still spread blue lightning across more than half the battlefield. It traveled through the ground, neutralizing the Explosive Clay laid by the Explosion Release shinobi.

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

Among all the Lightning Release shinobi, one short child with silver hair stood out the most. Solidified lightning Chakra gathered in his hand and emitted the piercing cry of Chidori. Moving at extreme speed, he pierced through the chests of three Explosion Release shinobi.

"That child is Hatake Kakashi?"

"Yes, he is my disciple."

Namikaze Minato watched Kakashi, immersed in slaughter, and a trace of worry flashed across his face.

"Not bad. He has accumulated enough darkness in his heart. He is well suited for this old man's Root."

Hearing Danzo's words, Jiraiya immediately spoke up in defense of his grand-disciple.

"Kakashi is still only a child. Ever since his close friend died, his heart has never been at peace. He probably doesn't fit the Root's doctrine of suppressing emotions, Senior. Besides, Teacher also thinks highly of him and intends for him to become part of the next generation Hokage's Shadow Guard."

As a true member of the Hokage lineage, he would not be so easily poached by Danzo.

"His father was once this old man's most perfect tool. Unfortunately, once he developed emotions, the blade became dull. If this child is entrusted to me, I can forge him into a sharp blade surpassing the White Fang."

As the disciple of the Second Hokage, Danzo had inherited Senju Tobirama's swordsmanship and Sealing Technique. Together with the Vacuum Series Wind Release Ninjutsu he had created himself, they earned him the title of "Darkness of the Shinobi." He devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivating every shinobi in Root, hoping that among his disciples would emerge talents no inferior to the Sannin.

The White Fang's rise had come not only from his own talent, but also because Danzo had taught him his killing techniques and swordsmanship without reservation.

But unfortunately, that most perfect killing tool had ultimately developed a fatal weakness.

"Article Five of the Shinobi Code: As a shinobi, no matter the circumstances, one must never reveal emotions. The mission takes precedence over all else. Under no circumstances may one possess a heart that sheds tears..."

Root was a force that followed and thoroughly upheld this creed.

No names, no emotions, no past, no future—only missions in their hearts.

"War will end someday. A drawn blade must eventually return to its sheath. Kakashi is only twelve years old."

Jiraiya's wistful words made Danzo sneer. In his day, children of six or seven had already been sent to the battlefield. At twelve, one was already a mature shinobi.

"War will end, but as long as differing stances and conflicts of interest remain, the era of shinobi will continue its endless cycle of entanglement, inheritance, and slaughter."

As they spoke, the Konoha shinobi had already overwhelmed Iwagakure's army. Especially after Namikaze Minato joined the battlefield, it became nothing less than a massacre.

"Senior, there is a question whose answer I have pursued all my life. Yet neither the Third Hokage, nor the two Sages, nor anyone else has been able to give me one."

After fighting alongside him twice on the battlefield, Jiraiya suddenly found himself viewing this uncle-in-law whom he had always been prejudiced against in a different light.

At the very least, he was a true shinobi!

"How can we bring this war-torn world to a ceasefire?"

This brat's feelings are unexpectedly rich.

Guo Wang gave the utterly serious Jiraiya a strange look, pondered briefly, and gave an answer that suited Danzo's position.