Initial Sage Body

Qingcheng asked around and finally found the black market in the Land of Hot Water, located at the city's entrance. It was a place teeming with rogue ninja, numerous gang members, and even a bounty office.

Qingcheng pulled on his mask and stealth suit, then walked straight into the black market's entrance.

Many people in the black market were dressed similarly, and pretty much everyone was a stranger to everyone else. A few stronger ninja walked openly, completely unafraid of drawing attention.

Qingcheng still had over two billion in cash, enough to buy many things. Whether it was Ninjutsu, Explosive Tags, or divine weapons, Qingcheng would take it all to strengthen the Uchiha Clan.

As soon as Qingcheng entered the black market, a few rogue ninja guarding the entrance walked over. With fierce looks, they immediately said, "This place is under our protection. Kid, if you want in, pay the protection fee first."

Qingcheng looked at the rogue ninja demanding protection money and instantly sneered, saying coldly, "You dare ask me for protection money? Then let's see if your strength is worthy of taking it."

Some passersby in the black market, seeing the rogue ninja collecting protection fees, commented, "This kid actually dares to talk back? That's an Elite Jonin from the Hidden Mist Village, known as Fukudan Sanzang, the Elite Rogue Ninja of the Mist!"

Other passersby watched with amusement, saying, "I think this kid is about to die. He actually dares to challenge Lord Sanzang head-on."

Fukudan Sanzang, hearing Qingcheng's words, his face filled with mockery. He immediately said, "I kill many guys like you, who hide their faces, every year."

Then, Sanzang immediately drew his Ninja Blade and attacked Qingcheng first, ready to teach him a lesson.

Qingcheng watched the Ninja Blade coming for his forehead and said directly, "It seems this is all you're capable of. And you still have the nerve to say this place is under your protection."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qingcheng directly extended his right hand and grabbed the incoming Ninja Blade. He said seriously, "Still not showing yourselves? It's a Chakra-conducting Ninja Blade. It seems you've all been raking in the money these past few years!"

Fukudan Sanzang watched his rapidly swung blade get effortlessly caught by Qingcheng. He tried to pull the blade back, but no matter how hard he tried, the Ninja Blade was clamped as if by a vice, completely stuck.

Just then, a ding sounded in Qingcheng's mind. The Family Ascendance System chimed, "Detecting the birth of another Uchiha Clan member."

"Talent level S+, form reward, weakened initial version of 'Sage Body', sealing jutsu: Strength of a Hundred Seal, Senju Clan's Chakra Enhanced Strength, Senju Clan's Chakra."

Qingcheng was overjoyed at this, thinking, As expected of Tsunade. Her ultimate move inherited Hashirama Senju's passive ability? With just this passive, she could become the Fifth Hokage.

The Sannin of the Ninja World are truly valuable; they all possess Kage-level strength. Tsunade, with just her Chakra Enhanced Strength, managed to dominate half the Ninja World.

Tsunade arm-wrestled the Fourth Raikage and had greater strength. She also punched and shattered Uchiha Madara's Susanoo. That's something to brag about for a lifetime.

After Qingcheng accepted these rewards, his aura instantly surged. His Chakra, which was at a quasi-Kage level, directly rose to an initial Kage level.

The weakened version of the Sage Body is basically a high-level bloodline of the Senju Clan. Tsunade's grandmother was Uzumaki Mito. The Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan are relatives, and both clans have some high-level members who possess a weakened version of the Sage Body.

When Qingcheng merged with the weakened initial Sage Body, all his cells began to rapidly activate, and his body felt like it had endless strength.

Qingcheng thought to himself, The Sage Body truly lives up to its name. Even my lost ocular power is slowly being repaired.

Qingcheng estimated that in at most half a year, his Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular power would be restored to its original state, just like when he first awakened it.

Fukudan Sanzang's subordinates watched their boss get "chopped" by a single blade strike, and their scalps instantly tingled. With terrified expressions, they said, "Boss Sanzang, let go quickly! This guy's strength suddenly increased!"

Fukudan Sanzang also realized that his single blade strike had encountered something formidable. He saw a terrifying aura emanating from around Qingcheng's body, and the immense Chakra was almost like a Chakra cloak.

He immediately pleaded in panic, "Sir, please forgive our ignorance and just let us go! You are too magnanimous to bother with us petty people. Please, let us go!"

Qingcheng saw these bullies who preyed on the weak and despised them. He said directly, "It's not impossible to spare you. But first, let me give you a slap to remember this by."

With that, Qingcheng acted directly, raising his arm high and fiercely slapping the leading rogue ninja.

Qingcheng used Chakra Enhanced Strength in that slap. Like a high-speed train, with a loud boom, the rogue ninja was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into the ground.

Instantly, a huge crater was formed in the ground, which shattered and billowed with smoke.

The other rogue ninja were all dumbfounded. Seeing such a terrifying Qingcheng, they immediately pleaded, "Sir, we were blind and didn't recognize your greatness! It was Boss Sanzang's idea to extort you. This has nothing to do with us."

Passersby in the black market were all wide-eyed. Sanzang, who had just been flaunting his power, was now flattened by a single slap, and a fifteen-meter crater appeared on the ground. They all knew Fukudan Sanzang had simply bitten off more than he could chew.

Some passersby remarked with great emotion, "To pick out a master to rob from so many people, Sanzang really has an eye for it."

Qingcheng listened to the rogue ninja's words and thought to himself, It seems Uchiha Obito's Bloody Mist Village Plan has turned the Hidden Mist Village into a scattered mess. Most ninja have directly fled.

Qingcheng looked at these Hidden Mist Rogue Ninja and said seriously, "Since you are rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, do you know where Terumi Mei is? She's a good friend of mine, and I have something important to discuss with her."

These Hidden Mist Rogue Ninja were surprised to hear Qingcheng's words. They all said, "You're actually a friend of Jonin Terumi Mei? However, Jonin Terumi Mei's situation is also very bad. She is a Kekkei Genkai ninja of the Hidden Mist Village and also a target of the Fourth Mizukage."

An older rogue ninja spoke directly, "Lady Terumi Mei is trapped in the village, monitored by Anbu ninja every day. She can't get out at all."

Qingcheng listened to these rogue ninja's words and thought, Obito really messed up the Hidden Mist Village. First, he killed Kekkei Genkai ninja and even wiped out all the Hidden Mist's Kekkei Genkai clans.

Then he created the Bloody Mist Village, successfully setting the Hidden Mist Village back decades. Even by the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Hidden Mist Village had little strength, no Kekkei Genkai ninja, and even Chojuro could become the Sixth Mizukage.

Qingcheng clapped his hands and said seriously, "Now, all of you, get lost. Learn to be more observant in the future, or you'll get killed, and your coffin lid won't even stay shut."

The rogue ninja immediately shouted, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! We'll never be bandits again."

Then, these Hidden Mist Rogue Ninja bowed repeatedly and scurried away.