novelhk Chapter 125 Post-War Rewards
Chapter 125 Post-War Rewards
Chapter 125 Post-War Rewards
Before he finished speaking, the tip of the kunai pressed against Zabuza's back, near his heart, unleashed a surge of cold and strange energy. Streams of sealing techniques, shimmering with dark light and composed of complex and mysterious incantations, instantly snaked out of the kunai like living vines. Ignoring Zabuza's bandages, they were deeply imprinted on his skin and frantically seeped into his body!
"Ugh!" Zabuza groaned.
His immense chakra instinctively erupted, attempting to resist this invading force! Within his body, two violent forces clashed and tore at each other fiercely!
however.
"Ugh!"
The kunai thrust forward violently at Zabuza's heart! The deadly chill caused Zabuza's gathered chakra to instantly dissipate!
To resist would likely mean having his heart pierced in the next second! A sense of powerless despair overwhelmed him.
In just a few breaths, those dark incantations, like branding marks, completely covered and imprisoned Zabuza's body.
With a flick of his wrist, Gen Takuno pulled the kunai that had brought the threat of death from Zabuza's back.
"Huff—huff—" Zabuza felt as if he had been granted a pardon. His body stiffened, and he gasped for breath, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
For now—I've survived—
But the next moment, Yuan Tuoye's voice, like a judgment, plunged him back into the abyss of hell: "Dare to wield your sword against your master, this is the first punishment."
Immediately afterwards, a crisp snap of fingers rang in Zabuza's ears.
"Ughhhhhh!!!"
An indescribable, unimaginable pain, like a volcanic eruption, exploded from the depths of every cell and nerve in Zabuza's body!
It wasn't just physical pain; it felt more like thousands of cold steel needles covered in barbs were piercing deep into the bone marrow, stirring wildly!
It's like a swarm of millions of carnivorous venomous insects and ants, frantically gnawing and crawling into blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs!
The pain that erupted in that instant was so powerful that his proud willpower crumbled like paper!
"Ugh—!!!"
Zabuza Momochi, the dignified "Kigakure Demon," let out a mournful howl that even he himself found unfamiliar and humiliating!
He could no longer maintain his standing posture, and his strong body crashed heavily to the ground, like a dying fish, rolling, convulsing and twisting wildly on the cold earth!
The bandages were soaked with sweat, dirt, and the possibility of fresh blood seeping out again! His fingers dug deep into the ground, leaving horrific scratch marks! Pain had destroyed his dignity and reason, leaving only the most primal howls.
The horrific screams echoed and drifted through the thick fog for an unknown period of time before finally transforming from violent shouts into weak, intermittent sobs.
Zabuza collapsed to the ground like a lump of utterly crushed mud, his eyes vacant as he stared at the hazy, foggy sky. His face was ashen, and only the violent rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still alive.
The pain he just experienced made him truly understand what it means to be worse than dead.
In the dead silence, Yuan Tuoye's footsteps rang out clearly again, stopping beside him.
Those blood-red Sharingan eyes looked down at the "demon" on the ground, and the voice behind the mask carried an undeniable cruelty.
"This is the first time. Remember, the third time will be when the life-and-death pact within you is activated. At that time, it won't want pain, but your life."
Zabuza's body convulsed violently again upon hearing those words.
"Live and enjoy it all," Yuan Tuoye's voice was devoid of warmth, like a cold wind sweeping by, "or face the next punishment, or—seek release now."
He presented a stark choice, as if dealing with an object: "Life, death, or a fate worse than death—the choice is yours."
A deathly silence hung between the two.
Zabuza lay on the cold earth, his face stained with blood, dirt, and sweat, his expression shifting wildly—
Ultimately, all emotions were overwhelmed by a deeper sense of powerlessness and the fear of that extreme pain.
A heavy sigh, as if it had exhausted all his life force, welled up from the depths of his throat.
He struggled, using his last bit of strength to barely support his body, which was still throbbing with pain, and then, facing the figure wearing the fox mask, he knelt heavily on one knee.
That once proud and arrogant head, which looked down on Wuyin, drooped deeply and crashed onto the muddy ground.
This was his silent surrender.
"A smart choice."
Yuan Tuoye's voice finally carried a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction.
With a casual toss, a heavy purse full of banknotes landed precisely next to Zabuza's knees as he knelt.
"This is your reward for this mission."
"Reward?!" Zabuza looked up abruptly, a flicker of surprise crossing his bloodshot eyes. Surrender—and get paid?
"You won't lose out if you follow me." Yuan Tuoye glanced at him, his gaze seemingly able to see through the bandages and into the confusion in his heart.
He then gave a few concise instructions and then disappeared without a trace, his figure vanishing into the thick fog.
In the thick fog, only Momochi Zabuza remained.
He remained kneeling on one knee for a long time before, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he slowly opened his tightly clenched palm and looked at the money bag in his palm, which was covered in mud but was quite heavy.
The night wind blew with a bone-chilling cold, stirring up the remaining thin mist.
Zabuza stood frozen in place, his heart still pounding wildly from the intense pain and lingering fear.
The opponent's strength was unfathomable; his terrifying and incomprehensible perception, and his sealing techniques capable of crushing the soul and will, sent chills down his spine with every thought.
Finally, he took a deep breath of the cold, damp, and earthy air, and slowly clenched his fists, gripping the heavy bag of money tightly.
A soft snort, ambiguous in meaning, a mixture of endless bitterness, humiliation, and a hint of resigned self-mockery, was blown away by the wind into the mist of the wilderness.
The "demon" gritted his teeth inwardly, at least—this reward was much more generous than he had imagined.
What difference does it make where you work? Making money isn't shameful.
Konoha Village was immersed in a complex atmosphere.
Although news of defeating the Hidden Cloud Village and ending yet another brutal war had spread to every corner, the joy brought by this victory appeared extremely restrained and heavy due to the heavy casualties.
The air in the Hokage's office was thick with a sense of oppression.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, frowned as his fingertips traced the long casualty report spread out on the table.
Behind every name on the page is a broken family, a departed companion.
Unlike the devastation of previous wars, the casualties this time, though relatively manageable, were concentrated in the key, decisive clashes at the end of the war, casting a shadow over victory that was difficult to dispel.
Minato Namikaze felt as if a deep wound had been torn open in his heart, from which blood gushed out.
The victory was certainly gratifying, but the heavy price paid weighed on his heart like a giant boulder.
At this moment, he learned that the key turning point on the Cloud Hidden Battlefield actually stemmed from a transaction conducted by a mysterious person called "The Collector".
This news shocked him greatly; how could he have taken the initiative to help Konoha?
Even after learning the details of the transaction, he still felt an inexplicable sense of confusion.
Does this powerful being possess some unexpected special connection to Konoha?
Upon learning that the other party was most likely an orphan of the Uzumaki clan, Minato Namikaze frowned and pondered, wondering if this was the reason he felt closer to Konoha.
An accurate assessment is not possible.
What concerned him even more was another piece of information from the Hidden Cloud Village.
The Hidden Cloud Village issued a top-level arrest warrant for this "collector," the crime of which goes without saying, but the information contained therein made Minato Namikaze even more alarmed.
The opponent not only seems to have mastered the secret of Kumogakure, the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but more importantly, he can skillfully use his signature ninjutsu, Rasengan!
This overlap in abilities makes the collector's identity even more enigmatic.
Jiraiya, one of the "Three Legendary Sannin" who was standing nearby, had also seen this information.
His face was filled with worry, and he asked with a furrowed brow, "His goal is to collect the tailed beast chakra—so, will the next target be—?"
The words were left unsaid, but the message was extremely clear.
After a brief moment of thought, Minato Namikaze gave Jiraiya an answer that surprised him.
"If he was only collecting the tailed beast's chakra, then—he should have already obtained the Nine-Tails' chakra from our village."
"What?" Jiraiya was taken aback.
"That night of the Nine-Tails' rampage," Minato Namikaze explained in a deep voice, "when the Nine-Tails' complete chakra erupted, that terrifying..."
A tangible torrent of chakra enveloped the entire Hidden Leaf Village. The Collector was present at that time, perhaps even on the edge of the scene.
He recalled that chaotic and desperate night, and some previously unnoticed clues seemed to have a new direction. Were the other four beings also after the tailed beasts' chakra?
"I see—" Jiraiya's tense nerves visibly relaxed a little.
He is confident in his abilities, believing that activating his Sage Mode would allow him to fight the Collector, and even victory would not be difficult.
But to say you'll kill him? That idea is practically delusional.
If such an unfathomable and mysteriously powerful figure were to truly turn against Konoha, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Teacher, please rest assured," Minato Namikaze reassured him. "This collector's transaction did indeed bring substantial help to the village. It can be said that the successful conclusion of this war was inseparable from his crucial transaction. The remaining portion of the transaction reward we promised will be delivered in full as agreed."
He also knew the disadvantages of making an enemy of such a mysterious and powerful figure, who was in the shadows while they were in the open.
If they offend the other side here, it will be too easy for them to cause losses to Konoha.
"Hahaha! That's good! That's good!" Jiraiya laughed with relief.
He then changed to a lighter topic: "Shouldn't the preparations for the victory celebration begin?"
Minato Namikaze nodded.
As for whether the Ino-Shika-Cho family members will attend, or even Jiraiya's own position at the festival, these are all established matters that do not need to be specifically mentioned.
For the master and disciple, there was a more sensitive and urgent problem to be solved: the family that was feared because of the Sharingan.
"Minato," Jiraiya's voice turned serious again, "what are your thoughts on the Uchiha clan?"
He himself did not have any particular animosity towards the Uchiha clan, but as one of the Legendary Sannin, he was aware of some related research reports and was very clear about the special nature of the Sharingan and its potential impact on the personality of its user.
The power of these cursed eyes stems from intense emotions, especially hatred, which often leads to those who awaken them having extreme personalities and a tendency to fall into paranoia.
Therefore, even though the Uchiha clan made contributions in the war, that deep-rooted vigilance remained.
Minato Namikaze smiled expectantly: "I plan to invite Shisui Uchiha to represent the Uchiha clan. He is the most suitable candidate."
"Shisui, huh?!" Jiraiya immediately pictured the young Uchiha genius who fought on the battlefield, risking his life to stop the Fourth Raikage.
His unwavering gaze and determination to protect his companions left a very deep impression on people.
"—Indeed, if it were him."
Jiraiya smiled in agreement, deeply agreeing with Minato Namikaze's suggestion.
Uchiha Shisui's performance on the battlefield was undoubtedly an important basis for Namikaze Minato to advance his own ideas.
After becoming Hokage, Minato Namikaze thoroughly studied the research report on the Uchiha clan by the Konoha leadership, which was based on the theories of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
Tobirama Senju once described the Uchiha clan as "born evil," believing that they had strong emotional factors flowing in their blood, making them prone to extremes. The power of the Sharingan would amplify the darkness in their hearts, ultimately distorting their personalities.
Minato Namikaze found this situation extremely difficult, as it was almost an unsolvable dilemma.
However, he firmly believed that merits must be recognized, and that long-term exclusion of the Uchiha clan would only sow the seeds of greater disaster.
He hopes to see change, to see Konoha accept the Uchiha clan and revitalize them.
The existence of Uchiha Shisui is a beacon of hope, proving that a strong individual with a bright heart can emerge from within the Uchiha clan.
He intended to use Uchiha Shisui as a starting point to build a bridge connecting the village and the Uchiha clan, as a turning point to improve relations between the two sides.
If Takuno Minamoto knew what Minato Namikaze was thinking, he would probably think that the young Hokage was a bit too idealistic.
He had previously thought that Tobirama Senju's assessment of the Uchiha clan was somewhat extreme.
However, the subsequent performances of the more famous Uchiha members who awakened their Sharingan actually proved that his research might have some merit.
While it may not be entirely accurate to say that the Sharingan is inherently evil, it is undeniable that it can cause its users to become more extreme.
Even Uchiha Shisui's love for the village was an extreme, while other clan members might have gone to the other extreme.
As long as the Uchiha clan continues its pursuit of the Sharingan's power, the "curse" in their bloodline will be difficult to eradicate.
In this world where power reigns supreme, the Uchiha clan can never give up the power of the Sharingan.
Similarly, no leader can completely and thoroughly trust someone whose personality might drastically change at any moment after gaining new insights.
It could even be a powerful clan that turns its sword against the village.
Ultimately, it all comes down to "balance of power".
Even after his close friend Madara Uchiha left the clan, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, maintained an almost absolute tolerance for the remaining clan members—a result of his unparalleled and overwhelming strength.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was less powerful than Hashirama. He both utilized and controlled the Uchiha clan, relying on their strength while also setting up numerous defenses.
By the time of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the power level had declined again. Coupled with the presence of figures like Danzo Shimura, who harbored deep fear of the Uchiha clan and employed extremely aggressive methods, the Uchiha clan ultimately descended into a path of almost singular suppression and exclusion.
Even without the later emergence of those incredibly powerful Mangekyou Sharingan, it was only a matter of time before the Uchiha clan, having accumulated enough centrifugal force against the village, launched a coup to seek change or revenge.
At this stage, Minato Namikaze's personal strength is comparable to, and may even surpass, that of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
It is precisely because of this strength that he dares to try a more enlightened, but also more challenging, way of balancing things.
They had to eliminate Konoha's rejection of the Uchiha clan while also guiding and controlling this powerful yet unpredictable force.
Will this road truly lead to the destination he desires? Only time will tell.