Unlocking the Near-Death Recovery Mechanism

Just then, the system's voice rang out once more:

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the temporary mission: imitate Vegeta's words, actions, and posture to win the battle.]

[Mission requirements: in this battle, fully embody Vegeta's role, display his aloof, arrogant, competitive fighting style, and use at least three taunts or provocations in Vegeta's tone.]

[Reward received: progress bar +10%. Progress bar increased to 55%.]

[Congratulations, host, for unlocking: Flying Technique (intermediate).]

[Flying Technique (intermediate): allows ultra-high-speed flight in the air. Chakra consumption during flight is moderate. Flight speed depends on the degree of chakra burst. With the host's current chakra reserves and explosive power, you can fly at full speed for 5 minutes. Full speed is 3 times that of the beginner level.]

[Congratulations, host, for unlocking: Near-Death Recovery Mechanism.]

[Near-Death Recovery Mechanism: a core trait of Saiyans. Each time the body is severely injured and brought near death, it will evolve, causing an explosive increase in the host's physical strength and spiritual power.]

[Trigger condition: the host must fall into a near-death state in battle and recover through external treatment before it can be triggered. Self-harm cannot grant an increase.]

[Increase range: determined by the degree of damage to the host's body.]

[Limit exists: this mechanism is an external manifestation produced when Saiyans evolve toward Super Saiyan. Once evolved into the Super Saiyan form, this mechanism will become ineffective.]

Hearing the system's voice, Arashi's taut nerves finally relaxed.

This counted as the only thing worth being happy about today, and it deserved a full-on celebration.

The Flying Technique was one thing, but the Near-Death Recovery Mechanism was the real superweapon. With it, combined with Senzu Beans and the Eight Gates Released Formation, Arashi would truly break free from his cocoon and become a butterfly!

No matter how dangerous the enemy was, Arashi could say with full confidence, "Bring the damn ship over!"

As his body and mind relaxed, he could no longer hold on. With a thud, he dropped to one knee and could not help coughing up a large mouthful of blood.

"Tch... lucky you ran fast," he panted, cursing under his breath.

If Munashi Jinpachi had held on a little longer, he might really have had to use a Senzu Bean.

The battlefield fell silent once again.

Only corpses and blood covered the ground, along with the gravely wounded Arashi.

He looked at the bodies of Tanaka Kenichi, Watanabe Yu, Sato Yu, and Akiyama Rei, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

These teammates had not been strong, but the extraordinary courage and spirit of sacrifice they had shown were worthy of respect.

He staggered to his feet, endured the intense pain tearing through his body, and walked over to his teammates' corpses.

He said nothing, only looked at them in silence.

Only after a long while did he say in a low voice, "You... rest in peace."

With that, he took two sealing scrolls from his robes and sealed the enemies' corpses, including Kushimaru Kuriarare's, and his own teammates' corpses separately into the two scrolls.

A ninja's corpse was also an important trophy. From it, one could investigate the ninja's ninjutsu, the secrets of their Kekkei Genkai, and even classified memories.

After finishing all this, Arashi leaned against a large tree and coughed up another mouthful of blood.

The side effects of the Gate of Pain were still ongoing. He had to find a safe place to recover as soon as possible.

He glanced around. The thick fog still lingered.

Relying on the fivefold recovery ability brought by his powerful Saiyan physique, he soon recovered a little chakra. After a few leaps, he vanished from where he stood.

Arashi practically dragged half a life back to Konoha.

With every step, the bones throughout his body felt as if they were grinding against each other, letting out overwhelmed creaks.

The side effects of the Gate of Pain clung to him like maggots in the bone, making every breath carry a tearing pain.

The edges of his vision had already begun to darken. He was holding on purely through a vicious refusal to admit defeat and the Saiyan recovery ability that was so powerful it was practically perverse.

He did not even bother paying attention to the astonished gazes of the Anbu at the village gate and headed straight for the Hokage Office Building.

The sealing scrolls in his robes were heavy. Inside them were not only Kushimaru Kuriarare's corpse, but also the remains of his fallen teammates.

When he pushed open the heavy wooden door to the Hokage's office, the dense stench of blood on Arashi and the aura of his chaotic chakra made both the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was puffing away on his pipe, and Shimura Danzō, who stood in the shadows to the side, frown at the same time.

"It's you, Uchiha Arashi." The Third Hokage lowered his pipe, and a barely perceptible trace of surprise flashed through his murky eyes.

"Why are you back so soon? Where are your teammates?"

Arashi wasted no words and slapped the two sealing scrolls onto the desk with a smack.

"There were indeed ninja from Kirigakure gathering at the border. Our side encountered two jōnin, six chūnin, and the 'Ruthless Duo' from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

"Except for Munashi Jinpachi, all the others have been killed." His voice was terribly hoarse, every word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat. "On our side... Jōnin Tanaka Kenichi, Chūnin Sato Yu, Chūnin Akiyama Rei, and Chūnin Watanabe Yu all died in battle."

Danzō's single visible eye, all but the white exposed, stared fixedly at the scrolls, then swept over Arashi's nearly falling-apart state. The corner of his mouth curved into a meaningful arc.

"Oh? Such results are truly... unexpected."

It was impossible to tell from his tone whether it was praise or suspicion.

"Hmph, nothing unexpected about it. Things are what people make of them." Arashi fired back without showing the slightest weakness.

The Third Hokage ignored Danzō's probing. Instead, he picked up one of the scrolls and injected chakra into it.

Kushimaru Kuriarare's mangled corpse and his iconic long blade, Nuibari, appeared on the floor.

"It is indeed Kushimaru Kuriarare."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and carefully examined it, especially the fatal wound piercing through the chest and the traces of explosion on the back. His gaze grew heavier and heavier.

"What... ninjutsu did you use?" the Third Hokage asked. An attack with this kind of power did not seem like something a six-year-old child could master.

"No comment." Arashi turned his head away. He was not stupid enough to expose his abilities in front of Danzō.

Danzō suddenly spoke, his voice cold and gloomy.

"Boy, the village has strict controls over ninjutsu. This concerns Konoha's safety. Even if you don't say it now, we will find a way to investigate it."

Arashi remained silent and had no desire to respond to him.

Danzō continued, "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are not so easy to deal with. If you killed your own teammates to cover up a failed mission, then brought back a fake corpse to fool the village, you're dead."

The moment these words came out, Arashi's eyes instantly turned icy. The Double Tomoe Sharingan surfaced beyond his control, locking onto Danzō.

"Old bastard, I ran into unexpected powerful enemies on two operations in a row. As the intelligence chief, you bear even greater responsibility, and you still have the nerve to come after me!"

Arashi's rage almost broke through his reason. If not for the fact that his body truly would not allow it, he would have twisted off the head of this black-hearted thing right then and there.

The Third Hokage immediately spoke up to smooth things over. "Everyone's corpses are here. Hand them over to the experts in the Interrogation Department to examine their memories, and we'll know what happened. Don't casually suspect ninja from your own village."

He turned to Arashi, his tone softening a little.

"Arashi, you've worked hard."

"The village will remember your achievements."

"Now, you need to go to the hospital for treatment immediately."

Arashi nodded. Without looking at Danzō again, he turned and staggered out of the Hokage's office.

As soon as he left the office, two Anbu were waiting at the door.