NOVEL WEB Chapter 148: Chapter 148
Tsunade had no reason to reject Uchiha Shin's proposal, nor did she have any intention to.
As she analyzed recent global developments, she reached a conclusion.
"Judging from the intelligence gathered by our spies, the other nations are already eager to unite against us.
I strongly suspect that the Sand Village is in the process of reaching out to the other ninja villages… Hey, Shin, listen to me carefully."
"I thought you were about to tell me to work harder."
Uchiha Shin shrugged, forcing himself to focus on the matter at hand.
His eyes lingered briefly on Tsunade's smooth, porcelain-like skin, glowing with a healthy flush, as if radiating raw vitality. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly—Tsunade had become increasingly skilled at maintaining her youthful appearance and controlling her emotions.
Tsunade, however, continued speaking, her words holding the weight of something crucial.
"The Hidden Mist Village resides in the Land of Water. As an island nation, they are the perfect target for other ninja villages to rally around. If they enter the war, our Land of Fire will shift from an advantageous strategic position to one of being completely surrounded."
Her golden eyes locked onto Shin's, sharp with intent.
"The Land of Water is positioned dangerously close to us—right behind our forces. Shin, I believe the first major country we should subjugate shouldn't be the Land of Wind. Instead, we must take down the Land of Water first, ensuring we have no threats lurking behind us."
Tsunade outlined the strategies devised by the higher-ups, merging them seamlessly with her own insights.
Most nations assumed that the Land of Fire aimed to strike first at the Land of Wind. But if they suddenly turned their forces toward the Land of Water, it would serve as a brilliant feint, a maneuver that could lead to a devastating surprise attack.
If the Land of Water fell, the Land of Fire's strategic position would solidify, reducing threats and stabilizing the warfront. Even if Uchiha Shin refrained from personally entering the battle, the current military strength of the Land of Fire was sufficient to handle the onslaught of three major ninja villages.
Shin, lazily resting his hand on Tsunade's thigh, traced his fingers along the intricate markings of her Immortal Seal, causing her skin to glow faintly.
"The Land of Water… Hmph, this strategic shift isn't bad. I approve."
His lips curled into a smirk. "Once the invasion begins, I'll personally make a move."
Tsunade arched an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
"Hoo~hoo…" She exhaled deeply, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "So… are you finally planning to get off your lazy ass? Or…" She grinned mischievously. "Are you just interested in the women of the Land of Water?"
"..."
"Ah~~~~~"
Shin's fingers dug into her waist, drawing a soft hum from her lips. He maintained an expression of righteous indignation.
"This is my country! If you're all fighting, how can I, the Emperor, just sit back and watch?"
Tsunade gave him a knowing, sultry glance, as if to say, 'Do you really think I believe that?'
Shin sighed in mock defeat and elaborated.
"It's not just about women. The Land of Water has something I need. Just like the meteorite we obtained from the Star Village… I gained a great deal from it, and my strength has improved. But my bloodline is still lacking in purity."
He narrowed his eyes. "Without completing my lineage, I can't truly ascend to the level of the Six Paths."
For once, Tsunade found herself believing his words. Over the years, Shin had shared many of his secrets with her—stories about the Otsutsuki Clan, the Sage of Six Paths…
At first, she had treated them as mere bedtime tales.
But when he introduced the concept of ranking ninjas beyond Kage-level—establishing classifications such as Super Kage and the mythical Six Paths level—she had been taken aback.
After all, the current ninja world hadn't even formally defined what "Kage-level" meant. And here Shin was, talking about realms that transcended it entirely.
Nestled in his arms, Tsunade peered up at him, her golden eyes filled with curiosity.
"So… you're saying you're on the verge of reaching the level of the legendary Sage of Six Paths?"
"You could say that."
Shin nodded, his gaze unwavering.
Had he possessed Otsutsuki blood, he would have already completed his genetic network. With even a fragment of Ten-Tails chakra, he could force his evolution to the Six Paths stage.
Even at the most basic level of Six Paths power, he would be able to effortlessly crush any ninja beneath the Super Kage tier.
Tsunade exhaled slowly, shaking her head.
"I still can't imagine it. Even with Sage Mode and Wood Release at my disposal, you only consider that the 'entry-level' of Super Kage. Beyond that…" She trailed off, her expression complicated. "It feels like a realm I'll never be able to reach in this lifetime."
Shin inhaled the subtle scent of her skin before murmuring into her ear.
"Maybe not. With my Immortal Seal, you could live for thousands of years. We have plenty of time."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"If we can unlock the secrets of Otsutsuki blood… everything will fall into place."
Unlike the modern world depicted in Boruto—where powerhouses were everywhere—the current ninja world lacked true monsters. Shin sought to change that.
His relentless research into genetic modifications, chakra imprinting, and lineage purification had led him closer to the truth. If he could extract a person's genetic traits through chakra interaction…
It would mean he could bestow those traits upon others, allowing them to obtain new bloodlines and abilities.
But this was entering the realm of full-fledged genetic restructuring—territory that not even Orochimaru had fully explored.
Still, Shin wasn't one to get lost in distant hypotheticals. He remained focused on the present.
For now, the Kaguya Clan of the Hidden Mist Village was his primary target.
The Sharingan, the Byakugan, and the legendary Sage Body were the cornerstones of ultimate power.
And the Kaguya Clan—capable of manipulating their own bones—surely held ties to Kaguya Otsutsuki herself.
Shin recalled that Kaguya Otsutsuki's most devastating technique involved bone-based attacks, and he theorized that the Kaguya Clan's bloodline, if refined to its apex, could serve as the missing link in his evolutionary path.
"The bones of the Hyuga Clan… and the last traces of Otsutsuki Hamura's blood on the moon."
Holding Tsunade's exhausted form close, Shin gazed out the window. His crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation.
These were the final pieces of his puzzle.
Once he gathered them, the road to the Six Paths level would be open to him.
His gaze swept across Konoha Castle, standing tall against the night sky.
"Well then… let's start by collecting the food that's already been delivered to our doorstep."
A slow, predatory grin spread across his lips. He had planned to go hunting for his prey.
But it seemed his prey had come to him instead.
Yahiko and Nagato, now in disguise, stood at the gates of Konoha City, staring in awe at its magnificence.
Compared to the desolation of the Sand Village, this place was an entirely different world.
Before Nagato could take in his surroundings further, he felt a sharp pain shoot through his Rinnegan. A deep sense of unease settled over him.
Someone was watching him.
And yet, despite activating his heightened sensory abilities, he couldn't detect the observer's presence.
Nagato clenched his fists.
He refused to believe that anyone could avoid the perception of the Rinnegan.
But the feeling of being watched did not fade.
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