God-Wind Body, Divine Artifacts, and the Third Hokage's Funeral

Naruto sat cross-legged on the bed, flipping through the System Mall, then checked his Personal Status Panel. After a moment of thought, he finally made his choice:

"System, exchange all the Wind Release Ninjutsu in the System Mall that I haven't mastered yet, combine them with the Wind Release Ninjutsu I already know, and upgrade them all to the Masterclass level!"

"Ding-dong! Exchange complete! The host has fully mastered the form and nature transformations of Wind Release. Would you like to exchange for a Bloodline Synthesis Scroll and upgrade to the God-Wind Body?"

"Haha, my guess was right!"

Looking at the system prompt, Naruto thought excitedly.

Based on the existing Skill Upgrade Scrolls, Bloodline Upgrade Scrolls, and Divine Power Synthesis Scrolls in the system, he had started to wonder: given the vast and boundless powers of the system, could it not create a bloodline out of thin air?

Sure enough, his guess was correct!

"System, exchange for and use the Bloodline Synthesis Scroll!"

"Ding-dong! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the God-Wind Body bloodline!"

The God-Wind Body allows the user to manipulate the power of the wind, freely execute wind release form and nature transformations without hand seals, and scales in destructive power and consumption based on the amount of Chakra used.

Looking at the abilities brought by the overpowered God-Wind Body with a racing heart, Naruto checked his remaining System Points and continued to command in his mind:

"System, exchange for three Bloodline Upgrade Scrolls and use them on the God-Wind Body!"

"Ding-dong! The God-Wind Body has been upgraded to Level 4 God-Tier Bloodline!"

Itching with anticipation and eager to test the abilities of the God-Wind Body, Naruto vanished from the spot with a single thought and arrived above the ocean of the Land of Waves.

He left only a Shadow Clone behind at home to fool the Anbu Ninja still keeping watch over him.

Out on the misty sea, Naruto extended the ten fingers of both hands forward, and ten intensely spinning, finger-thick whirlwinds shot toward the distance like bullets.

He brought his right hand together into a blade-like shape and swiped forward, instantly conjuring a massive, hundred-meter-long wind blade that transformed into a cyan-white giant saber, cleaved the fog before him, and ripped a deep trench across the surface of the ocean!

He swept his right hand forward as though brushing away a fly, and a massive hurricane instantly appeared, churning up the seawater to form a towering, ever-growing water tornado.

He sprang with both legs, and a great wind wrapped around his body, sending him shooting straight up into the sky to ride the wind!

"The great wind rises, and the clouds fly high!"

Amidst his surging emotions, Naruto could not help shouting out those words.

He spun his body once more, and the whirlwind around him rapidly expanded outward, driving away and clearing out the thick fog.

Before long, there was not a shred of fog left within a radius of nearly a thousand meters, as a world-destroying storm gradually formed and the very heavens began to change color.

On the distant islands of the Land of Waves, the drunkard old man Tazuna and his grandson Inari scrambled back toward their home in a panic, shouting as they ran:

"Damn it, why has this year's storm season arrived early?! Run, run! With a storm this huge, it's going to blow down the bridge we just finished building!"

After dispersing the gale, Naruto drifted suspended upon the whirlwinds, lying atop a white cloud with a look of utter smugness on his face.

The abilities of this God-Wind Body were far too powerful, making him feel truly like a god of wind. Not only was his combat might immense, but he had also gained the ability to fly.

Throughout the entire Shinobi World, apart from the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, Pain, Konan, Deidara, Sai, and the future Gaara, the ninjas capable of soaring through the skies probably numbered only him.

Given the chance, I definitely have to take Hinata to ride the wind and roam the world!

Thinking this with great satisfaction, Naruto took out a Storage Scroll and opened it, revealing Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword before his eyes.

With a casual wipe of his hand, he erased the sealing jutsu and Chakra that Orochimaru had left upon the blade, then set up a special sealing formula containing a large pool of his own Chakra and a Flying Thunder God Mark.

Then, he casually tossed the Kusanagi Sword down from the high altitude. As the Kusanagi Sword plummeted into the sea, he beckoned with his right hand, and a Flying Thunder God Mark flashed across his palm.

At the same time, the special sealing formula on the Kusanagi Sword activated, injecting Chakra into the Flying Thunder God Mark.

Swish!

In less than a second, the Kusanagi Sword automatically returned to Naruto's right hand!

"Haha!"

Laughing out loud, Naruto pointed with his right hand, and the Kusanagi Sword obediently floated before him, stabbing forward through the air.

The properties of this Kusanagi Sword were similar to the flying swords found in the immortal-hero novels of his past life, though it lacked the supreme flexibility and might of those imagined flying swords.

"Then..."

"System, exchange for three Ninja Tool Upgrade Scrolls and use them on the Kusanagi Sword!"

The Ninja Tool Upgrade Scrolls were something he had accidentally stumbled upon while browsing the System Mall. Much like the Skill Upgrade Scrolls and Bloodline Upgrade Scrolls, they could be used to upgrade ninja tools.

The maximum was likewise Level 4.

Yet the system indicated that this Kusanagi Sword was currently only Level 1.

"Ding-dong! The ninja tool Kusanagi Sword has been upgraded to Level 4 Divine Artifact Kusanagi Sword!"

"Hah!"

With a sharp cry from Naruto, the index and middle fingers of his right hand came together as he pointed forward. The Divine Artifact Kusanagi Sword shot forward like a bullet with blistering speed, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Beckoning with his right hand, the Kusanagi Sword returned to his palm once more.

He tossed the Kusanagi Sword high into the air again and waved his two fingers, causing the sword to dance along with the motion.

Sword light flashed and cold wind bit fiercely; at this moment, the Kusanagi Sword looked utterly majestic, and there was no doubt it could take an enemy's head from a hundred meters away!

Naturally, a hundred meters was the limit; any further than that wouldn't work.

After all, this was the Naruto World, not some immortal-hero realm.

Having become a Divine Artifact, the Kusanagi Sword not only experienced a massive multiplication of its sword-piloting capabilities, but its hardness and sharpness were also enhanced severalfold.

It was already capable of causing pain to Enma, who possessed a diamond-hard body, and now it could probably chop Enma's body straight in half!

With this, the vast reserves of System Points he had acquired were entirely exhausted.

Early the next morning, Naruto was unwillingly jolted awake by his alarm clock, getting up and putting on his clothes with heavy dark circles under his eyes.

He had played far too wildly and late yesterday, ultimately choosing to pilot the Kusanagi Sword while riding the wind all the way back from the Land of Waves to Konoha rather than using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Today was the funeral of the Third Hokage, but yesterday's excitement had yet to completely fade from his heart.

After a long while, he walked out the door, looked up at the sky, and found it overcast, heavy with dark clouds as a fine drizzle began to fall.

"Could it be that even the heavens are weeping for the death of Lord Third Hokage?"

In the distance, Sakura walked slowly over, speaking with a depressed mood.

"No way! The heavens are probably too happy for words!" Naruto sneered, shaking his head.

With that, his real body flashed outside the village, while his Shadow Clone continued following Sakura to attend the funeral.

Arriving outside the village, Naruto soared directly into the high altitude above the dark clouds, pushed hard with both hands, and channeled the greater part of the Chakra within his body.

Instantly, a tornado materialized above Konoha, rapidly shoving the surrounding dark clouds outward.

Before long, the clouds scattered, the skies cleared, and the sun shone brilliantly.

After a brief thought, the corners of Naruto's mouth curled upward as he continued to channel the wind's power, piecing together a few scattered white clouds into a shape.

Countless ninjas and villagers within Konoha stood at the Third Hokage's funeral, looking up in astonishment at the rapidly "changing face" of the heavens while feeling the blinding glare of the sunlight.

The next second, they actually saw a smiling face composed of white clouds gradually taking shape...

Everyone could not help dropping their jaws in shock.

"See? I told you so."

At the funeral, Naruto's Shadow Clone spoke with smug self-satisfaction to Sakura beside him.