Second Kazekage 1

Li Yi had been wondering why he was suddenly summoned back, only to realize that the battlefield against the Hidden Sand Village required his presence.

Reflecting on the current state of Konoha, it seemed true that the only top-tier experts were Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen. Was the Hokage expected to personally take the field?

If not for him, Sarutobi Hiruzen would likely have had to join the fray himself. However, because Li Yi had emerged as a sudden, powerful force, he had been recalled to deal with the Second Kazekage, Shamon.

Thinking of Shamon, he seemed quite famous in the history of the Hidden Sand Village. While everyone else was focused on warfare, this man had been researching Tailed Beasts. In the end, he had truly achieved significant results, such as the Hidden Sand Village's formidable Puppet Technique and Sand Release Ninjutsu.

Of course, what Li Yi did not know was that every village had been silently researching Tailed Beasts and had eventually seen results. Only Konoha, while preaching that Tailed Beasts were dangerous, had completely neglected such research.

This was because Konoha possessed the most powerful sealing techniques; even the Nine-Tails was kept tightly suppressed within its seal, unable to cause any trouble.

As for the other villages? Lacking Konoha's powerful seals, they were forced to study the Tailed Beasts to manage them, eventually gaining results. Kumogakure, in particular, had the weakest seals, and their Tailed Beasts frequently broke free, which was why they had studied them more intently and ultimately produced perfect Jinchuriki.

Otherwise, did one think the perfect Jinchuriki of Kumogakure appeared out of thin air?

Those were explored by the Cloud ninjas at the cost of their own lives.

"Very well, I shall depart shortly!" Li Yi said directly, without pretense.

Danzo nodded. At that moment, a ninja felt a stir in his heart and began to use a summoning technique. A small beast appeared, holding a scroll, and after handing it to the ninja, it vanished into smoke.

The ninja respectfully handed the scroll to Danzo and then withdrew on his own.

Danzo picked it up, glanced at it to confirm it was correct, and handed it to Li Yi.

Li Yi took it and looked inside; it contained the training method for the Flying Thunder God Slash, along with many of the Second Hokage's personal insights.

After tucking the scroll away, Li Yi said, "Then, Lord Danzo, I shall return to prepare. I will head to the Land of Rivers on my own!"

Danzo nodded and said, "Then I leave it to you!"

After taking his leave, Li Yi returned to his tent with the scroll. Kato Taka was lying on the bed, looking very bored.

Once Li Yi returned, he gave the forehead protector to Kato Taka and said, "From now on, you are a genin of Konoha, under my jurisdiction!"

Kato Taka hurriedly took the protector and tied it around his forehead. Was he, too, a Konoha ninja from now on?

"Alright, get some good rest. Tomorrow morning, we head to the Land of Rivers!" Li Yi said, then took out the scroll to study it carefully.

Kato Taka immediately fell asleep; there was no helping it, as following Li Yi meant sleeping on the ground, and he rarely had a bed to sleep in.

Li Yi paid him no mind, focusing instead on studying the Flying Thunder God Slash.

After looking at it for an entire night, well, Li Yi admitted he didn't quite understand it. But that was fine; he could study it slowly later. After all, this technique involved sealing arts, summoning techniques, and more—things Li Yi wasn't very clear on. He would just have to wait until the war ended to study it properly.

After sleeping in the tent, Li Yi rose and took Kato Taka straight to the Land of Rivers.

Mitokado Homura and the others had received word of Li Yi's return to the Konoha camp and were overjoyed to learn he was coming to support them. There was no helping it; Li Yi's strength had progressed too rapidly. The fact that he could kill a Two-Tails Jinchuriki and escape from the Third Raikage unscathed spoke volumes about his power.

The only thing they lacked was someone to pin down the Second Kazekage. If someone could hold him back, they would have a chance to win this war.

Two days later, Li Yi arrived at the Konoha camp. Mitokado Homura greeted him with great excitement. The Li Yi of today was no longer the boy he once was; he had grown into an existence even stronger than them.

"Li Yi, let's keep this brief!" Mitokado Homura said inside the command tent.

Li Yi nodded. "Elder Mitokado, please speak."

Mitokado Homura then began to describe the situation on the battlefield. They had been at war with the Hidden Sand Village for quite some time, but because of the Second Kazekage, they had been unable to launch an effective offensive. They needed a high-level combatant to pin him down.

This task naturally fell to Li Yi. Before his arrival, the three of them had been working together to contain the Second Kazekage, but the results had been poor.

"Very well, I will be responsible for pinning down the Second Kazekage!" Li Yi nodded. He thought about facing the Second Kazekage and realized it didn't seem to be a problem; after all, the techniques the Second Kazekage excelled in were nothing to him.

With the plan set, Li Yi left the tent to wait for Mitokado Homura's arrangements.

"Brother Kosuke, I didn't expect to see you on this battlefield!" Li Yi said with pleasant surprise. After all, he had lived at Kosuke's house for all the years he had been in Konoha, and he hadn't seen him since leaving the village.

He hadn't expected Kosuke to seek him out here.

Patting Li Yi on the shoulder, Kosuke said with great gratification, "I've heard about your exploits. Well done, you're much better than a useless older brother like me!"

"Don't say that, you're not a failure in my eyes!" Li Yi laughed.

The two began to chat about what had happened over the years, though mostly Li Yi listened while Kosuke spoke.

When they had finished talking, Kosuke asked, "Is this your disciple?"

Li Yi shook his head. "We hit it off, so I've kept him by my side. He's a Konoha genin now! Kato Taka, this is my older brother, Maruboshi Kosuke."

"Nice to meet you, Senior Kosuke!" Kato Taka greeted him immediately.

Maruboshi Kosuke smiled. "Good. By the way, are we going to war soon? Should this kid stay with me?"

Li Yi laughed. "Then I'll trouble you, Brother. Kato Taka, stay with Brother Kosuke for now!"

Kato Taka nodded. Li Yi had told him not to reveal his immortality for the time being, so he was just an ordinary genin.

Just then, a voice rang out: "All squads prepare! The Sand ninjas are attacking!"

In an instant, everyone entered combat mode. Li Yi also took flight, charging toward the front, for he had already spotted the man standing on the sand: the Second Kazekage, Shamon!

Li Yi's target was none other than him.