Peacock Method

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had already arrived in the Land of Bears, had no idea that Miki Xiaoai had moved into his room as his wife.

He was now considering how to enter Star Ninja Village.

The outer perimeter of the canyon where Star Ninja Village was located was shrouded in miasma.

The Golden Light Spell was not omnipotent and had no effect against miasma.

However, there were still plenty of methods. For example, if he was fast enough, he would not need to worry about the miasma entering his body and causing too much harm.

Moreover, there had to be a passage nearby connecting Star Ninja Village to the outside world.

Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi found a man-made tunnel beneath the miasma-shrouded canyon.

The tunnel was long, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was fast. When he reached the end, however, he discovered that the other side had been blocked by rubble.

Monster strength in the Shinobi World was not some secret technique. It was simply the gathering of chakra in a certain body part to unleash devastating power.

This level of chakra control was not particularly difficult. The difficult part was possessing the physical strength to match it.

Tsunade had Senju bloodline, allowing her to easily use the Monster Strength Fist and Painful Sky Kick.

The First and Second Hokage could shatter the surrounding walls in an instant through an eruption of chakra.

But as a body cultivator, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not need to worry about such things.

He circulated spiritual power into his fists and blasted every stone blocking the entrance into pieces.

With a thunderous crash, light streamed in.

The canyon housing Star Ninja Village had a pleasant environment, carrying the air of an isolated paradise.

The leader of Star Ninja Village called himself the Star Shadow. The title had now been passed down to the third generation, and the Third Star Shadow was already quite old, said to be nearly a hundred.

This ninja village was more like a true village.

The five great ninja villages were all far larger than ordinary cities of this era. Even the capitals where daimyo lived could not compare to them.

After all, ninjas had considerable spending power, and living in a ninja village was safer as well. Over time, more and more people chose to settle in ninja villages.

However, Star Ninja Village was not even as large as an ordinary village. There were barely any people here at all.

There were only a dozen or so ninjas, nothing worth worrying about.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already entered the territory of Star Ninja Village without being discovered, indicating that there were no barriers or sensory ninjutsu here.

The major ninja villages basically all had barriers and sensory ninjutsu. At the very least, they had patrols to prevent ninjas from other villages from secretly infiltrating.

Just as the future Akatsuki would use the Rain Tiger at Will Technique to monitor the entire Hidden Rain Village.

Of course, the Star Ninja truly had little need for surveillance. Outsiders did not even know there was a ninja village here.

Hiruzen Sarutobi headed toward the center of the canyon. Star Ninja Village was not far ahead.

"Stop!"

A woman with slightly reddish hair appeared before him, blocking his path.

She was Natsuhi, a genius of Star Ninja Village who possessed a deep understanding of the village's secret technique, the Peacock Method.

Looking at the man before her, Natsuhi pondered inwardly. Was he a lost ninja? Or a Konoha ninja?

"The area ahead belongs to Star Ninja Village. If you have no business here, please turn back."

Star Ninja Village had little of value. Even the Land of Bears was a remote minor country, and Star Ninja Village only took on missions within the Land of Bears. Most of the time, it remained self-sufficient.

To ninjas from a small ninja village, Konoha ninjas represented strength and trouble that could not be provoked.

If they killed a Konoha ninja, it might draw an ANBU investigation, and pursuit ninjas would also thoroughly investigate the matter.

If something happened to a Konoha ninja in Star Ninja Village, it could very well bring disaster upon them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi found the female ninja before him somewhat familiar, but she was probably not an important character, and he no longer remembered her clearly.

"I came for the Star."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose.

There was no need to hide it. He was no longer a ninja and did not need to be cautious at every turn.

Natsuhi frowned. So he really came for the Star?

The only thing in Star Ninja Village worth coveting was the "Star."

The Star's effects were powerful. It could activate a person's chakra and accelerate the speed of chakra cultivation.

Once chakra was activated, it could take on different forms, even becoming wings or the shape of peacock tail feathers.

It could be said that the existence of the Star caused a fundamental change in chakra.

This secret technique was indeed somewhat powerful, known as a lesser Susanoo!

Unfortunately, both its defense and offense were far inferior to Susanoo. It merely looked intimidating.

Furthermore, cultivating with the Star for prolonged periods had a major effect on the body and could even lead to death.

At present, however, no one aside from the Third Star Shadow knew of this.

"Enough. Stop trying to block me."

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked toward the village, and Natsuhi still chose to make the first move.

"Peacock Method: Wings!"

Blue-purple chakra formed feathered wings on Natsuhi's back, allowing her to fly into the sky.

Natsuhi did not attack Hiruzen Sarutobi. Instead, she flew directly back to the village to raise the alarm.

By the time Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived before Star Ninja Village, they were already fully prepared.

More than ten ninjas had formed up, and there were even masked ANBU waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrival.

"Are you a Konoha ninja, sir?"

An old man stepped forward. He wore a ceremonial robe, and the conical hat on his head bore the character for "Star."

They certainly looked the part. The village was small, but it had plenty of rules.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded without speaking.

"The Star is our village's treasure! We will never hand it over to you!"

A purple-haired, blue-eyed man stepped forward with a somewhat crazed expression. He did not look entirely normal.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could tell that the man's body had undergone mutation and had likely been affected by the Star.

"Then we can discuss it after a fight."

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately used the Summoning Technique and called forth Monkey Demon.

Before reaching Foundation Establishment, it was better to proceed cautiously.

Monkey Demon was extremely excited after being summoned. It had been a long time since he had fought side by side with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"!" The Star Shadow froze upon seeing Monkey Demon.

"Are you a ninja of the Sarutobi Clan? Could you be the son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

The Star Shadow was fairly knowledgeable and recognized Monkey Demon at once. After all, he was the Third Hokage's iconic summoned beast.

"I am Hiruzen Sarutobi."

"..."

The Star Shadow frowned, unable to believe it.

However, Monkey Demon could not be faked. He had once been a ninja from the Land of Whirlpools and knew of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But ever since coming to Star Ninja Village, he had had little contact with the outside world and did not know that Konoha was already under its Fifth Hokage.

"Third Hokage, did you truly come for the Star?"

"That's right. I wish to see this so-called Star."

Without seeing the Star, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not determine whether it would be useful to him.

"Then let us discuss it in the village."

The Star Shadow turned around and invited Hiruzen Sarutobi into the village for a detailed discussion.