Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 37: Mount Myōboku

It was true that the Uzumaki clan's physical constitution was a type of Kekkei Genkai. The Uzumaki and Senju clans were cousins, both having inherited the Sage of Six Paths' "Sage Body."

After thinking for a moment, Tobirama said, "You can try researching in this direction. See if you can find an accurate training method. If you really can, then the number of Kekkei Genkai in Konoha will surely multiply many times over."

Madara Uchiha was also very interested. "In the future, if you need any materials, you can come to me for them."

Yamamoto Ryusei said happily, "Thank you, Teacher Madara."

Seeing his younger brother and his best friend both in support, Hashirama said, "Then Konoha's materials on this subject will also be open to you. But don't get obsessed."

Ryusei nodded. "Don't worry, Teacher Hashirama. I know that learning ninjutsu is more important for me right now."

Hashirama nodded and looked at the sky. "It's getting late. We should head back."

After seeing the four leaders and Senju Miyuki out, Ryusei returned to the pavilion to continue pondering the matter of Kekkei Genkai.

The ninja world was a world that placed great emphasis on bloodlines. The closer a ninja's bloodline was to the Otsutsuki clan, the greater their achievements would be. This ninja world was almost entirely dominated by the Uchiha and Senju clans. In contrast, the strongest ninjas without Otsutsuki blood could at most reach the Kage level; breaking through to the super-Kage level was nearly impossible.

And even with Otsutsuki blood, one's achievements could not surpass Kaguya Otsutsuki's.

To approach or surpass Kaguya, besides the Eight Gates, there was one other possibility: fusing the seven chakra natures to create the Truth-Seeking Orbs and undergoing a personal transformation into a being with the Kekkei Mōra.

Therefore, it was essential to research the fusion of Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta. So, when his strength was great enough in the future, he absolutely had to steal the research materials from the other ninja villages.

But the time it would take to fuse the Kekkei Mōra would certainly be very long, and a ninja's peak period was only a few decades. Did he have to resort to a method like Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation?

No. Setting aside the significant dangers of that technique, a body that wasn't one's own could not fuse the Kekkei Mōra.

There was only one other way now: the sage arts of the three great sage regions.

But there was definitely something wrong with the three great sage regions. The Sage of Six Paths, who had mastered sage arts, was dead, but that Great Toad Sage was still alive. It was important to know that toads, snakes, and slugs were not long-lived species. It was possible that the sage arts they themselves practiced were not the same as the one they taught the Sage of Six Paths.

When Kaguya Otsutsuki descended to Earth and planted the God Tree, she came into opposition with the three sage regions. The sages there directly utilized natural energy; they had no chakra in their bodies at all. But Kaguya used the God Tree to convert natural energy into chakra, which cut off the root of the three sage regions' power.

However, the three sage regions were no match for Kaguya, so they could only instigate her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, to seal away their own mother.

But the Sage of Six Paths, after sealing Kaguya, probably realized that those toads were not simple. He split the Ten-Tails into nine Tailed Beasts and had them convert natural energy into chakra across the ninja world, thereby suppressing the three great sage regions.

Therefore, once Ryusei became strong, he absolutely had to go to the three sage regions and steal the training method for the longevity sage art. But that Great Toad Sage had the ability to see the future, so he would have to go in a different form to steal it.

Mount Myōboku

The Great Toad Sage suddenly awoke, breaking out in a cold sweat, his breathing ragged. Beside him, Fukasaku, who was only ten centimeters tall, hopped over and asked, "Great Toad Sage, what's wrong?"

The Great Toad Sage said, his heart still pounding with fear, "Fukasaku, I just dreamed that Mount Myōboku was destroyed, and all the children were dead."

Fukasaku said in shock, "How is that possible? Who destroyed it?"

"It was a youth with blonde hair and blue eyes. He asked me for Mount Myōboku's longevity sage art. I didn't give it to him, and he destroyed Mount Myōboku in an instant."

"Blonde hair and blue eyes... Could it be the one who will laughingly call the names of the nine wild beasts?"

The Great Toad Sage shook his head. "No, his aura is completely wrong. Fukasaku, we need to find a proxy. See if we can find him in advance."

Fukasaku nodded. "Then I will go and prepare."

"Fukasaku," the Great Toad Sage called out as he was about to leave. "Go and make a copy of the longevity sage art and keep it as a backup."

Fukasaku turned back, shocked. "Are we really going to give him the sage art?"

The Great Toad Sage closed his eyes. "If we don't give it to him, should we let him pick it from our corpses? Just prepare it as a backup for now. If you can find a very strong proxy, then it will be a different matter."

Fukasaku replied, "Yes... I understand..." He resolved to find a powerful person to be their proxy.

At Yamamoto Ryusei's New House

Komiya Yuki, seeing Ryusei spacing out, asked, "Ryusei, what are you thinking about?"

Ryusei came back to his senses and looked at Yuki. "Nothing. Yuki, what do you think of this house?"

Yuki's face suddenly turned red. 'Ryusei is asking me what I think of the house... does he see me as the lady of this house? But to become the lady of the house, we'd have to get married... just thinking about it is so embarrassing!'

"Yuki? Yuki!" Ryusei saw Yuki's face turning so red it was practically steaming and quickly asked, "Are you alright?"

"Ah..." Yuki snapped out of it. "I-I'm fine! This house is very nice. I like it a lot."

Ryusei nodded. "I'm glad you like it. If we get married in the future, we'll probably be living here."

"M-married?" Not only was Yuki's head steaming now, but it looked like she was about to faint.

Ryusei quickly caught her, wrapping his arms around her to keep her from falling.

"Damn that brat!" Komiya Yuta, who was peeking from the second floor, saw the two of them hugging and wanted to run downstairs to beat Ryusei up.

Komiya Ayako quickly held him back. "How embarrassing would it be if you went down now? Besides, what's wrong with them hugging? They're boyfriend and girlfriend. They've already kissed; are you afraid of a hug?"

Yuta said angrily, "But he's hugging her right in front of me! He has no respect for me at all!"

"In front of you?" Ayako looked at her husband with disdain. "How is hiding here and peeking 'in front of you'?"

Yuta was choked up and couldn't say a word.

On the other side, Yamamoto Shuichi and Yamamoto Nami were much more excited.

"Good job, Ryu-chan! A boy should be proactive like this!" Nami said excitedly, peeking from behind a first-floor window.

Shuichi said with some hesitation, "Isn't this a bit much for Ryu-chan? After all, Yuki's parents are still here."

"What's wrong with it?" Nami said without even turning her head, her eyes fixed on Ryusei. "They're a couple. It's just a hug, not anything else. A boy should be proactive."

Shuichi, seeing his wife's excitement, didn't say anything to spoil her mood.

Yuki remained in Ryusei's arms for a good while before she recovered. Ryusei held one of her hands and asked, "Yuki, why did you agree to let Big Sister Miyuki move in?"

Yuki said in a small voice, "It's because Big Sister Miyuki said she was very pitiful. Both her parents died, and she's all alone at home every day. The house is always cold and empty. Sometimes when she trains ninjutsu too late and doesn't cook, she just has to go hungry. I felt so sorry for her, so I agreed to let her stay."

Ryusei's face darkened a little. It was true that Miyuki's parents had died, but she wasn't so pitiful as to be in that state. Not only was Mito Uzumaki very good to her, but Miyuki also had handmaidens at her house. How could she possibly go hungry?

Looking at the kind-hearted Yuki, Ryusei didn't have the heart to expose the lie. "Since you agreed, then it's fine. But Yuki, this place will be my secret base from now on. Kagami and the others will sometimes stay here too. Do you want to set up a room here to rest during your lunch breaks?"

Living together! Yuki completely ignored the part about Kagami and the others, thinking only about living together with Ryusei. She blushed and fainted directly.

"Yuki! Yuki!" Ryusei cried out, catching the fainting girl in his arms.

Ryusei looked on awkwardly as a dark-faced Komiya Yuta carried Yuki away. Komiya Ayako, however, had a very good impression of Ryusei. "Ryusei, come and visit whenever you have time!"

Ryusei nodded. "Okay, Auntie Ayako."

Ryusei locked the door and went home with his parents. On the way, Nami asked, "Ryu-chan, what did you just say to Yuki? How come she fainted?"

Ryusea answered honestly, "I just asked Yuki if she wanted to set up a room there to stay sometimes."

Nami smacked him on the head. "You brat! You're not even married, and you already want to live together?"

Ryusei defended himself, "Of course not! That place is like a secret base. It's for resting when we're tired from discussing ninjutsu. A few of my classmates will be staying there too."

Nami gave Ryusei a deep look and then dropped the subject.