Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 178: An Unexpected Encounter

"But I'm not interested in you, Kage," Hozuki Gengetsu scoffed, crossing his arms. "Why don't you go bother the Second Hokage instead? I don't need your abilities messing with my head, making me overthink things."

"That man's thoughts are… unusual," the shadowy figure replied calmly. "He keeps thinking about strange things. I feel like he's polluting me. Why does he constantly associate Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara? And to accuse me of…"

Gengetsu's face twitched, cutting him off mid-sentence. "I don't want to hear your explanations. If Hyuga Fuji hadn't told me you're just a puppet—a construct with simulated thoughts rather than a living being—I'd have torn you apart by now."

The shadowy "Kage" before him bore some similarities to Otsutsuki Shibai's puppets. While it possessed autonomy, it was ultimately just a puppet, not a living entity.

Arguing with something like this felt absurd, let alone fighting it.

Its abilities were bizarre, and Gengetsu could only imagine how much technology Hyuga Fuji had poured into creating it.

With a sharp glare, Gengetsu muttered coldly, "And could you not use my face while spouting this nonsense? Seeing myself talk like that is seriously unsettling."

The shadow's features began to ripple and distort, shifting into another form. A familiar, calm voice followed.

"How's this?"

When the transformation was complete, Gengetsu was startled to see Hyuga Fuji's own face and demeanor. He frowned. "I thought you had to come into contact with someone's chakra or shadow to change forms… Wait. Is it really you?"

The "shadow," now fully resembling Hyuga Fuji, smiled faintly.

The puppet could mimic appearances and could even channel Hyuga Fuji's power and consciousness through the massive Tenseigan. It worked somewhat like the Shapeshifting Jutsu but had a much longer lifespan than the sacrificial bodies used in that technique.

After observing Hyuga Fuji's subtle smile, Gengetsu's expression turned strange. "Do you actually need a stand-in like this? Don't tell me this was its original purpose."

"Of course not," Hyuga Fuji replied. "Its primary function is to amplify emotions, influencing thoughts. You've already experienced it firsthand, haven't you?"

"Yeah, I have. Endless useless thoughts kept surfacing in my mind—it almost drove me insane." Gengetsu rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

For example: finding a disciple without eyebrows.

His face twitched briefly at the memory.

Wait… he actually did want a disciple without eyebrows.

"It amplifies, not directs," Hyuga Fuji said, clearly amused as he observed Gengetsu's expression. "Don't go denying your own desires."

"I'm not," Gengetsu replied flatly, then quickly changed the subject. "So, by your logic, Senju Tobirama locking himself in a room has nothing to do with this puppet?"

Recently, Senju Tobirama had secluded himself, burying himself in his research as if consumed by depression.

This very example was why Gengetsu had been so wary of interacting with the puppet, avoiding it whenever possible.

But if the puppet only amplified emotions, then the real issue lay with Tobirama himself. What could he have been thinking to make himself so withdrawn?

"Chakra is memory, soul, and emotion," Hyuga Fuji explained with a lighthearted tone. "People who come into contact with tailed beast chakra often become irritable. Jinchūriki with weak wills are overwhelmed by the negative emotions contained within. The puppet's chakra works in a similar way to the tailed beasts—it amplifies what's already there. Without existing thoughts, there's nothing to amplify. Besides, hasn't Tobirama already freed himself from its influence?"

Gengetsu's curiosity was piqued. "Do you know what Senju Tobirama was thinking that made him retreat into himself?"

Hyuga Fuji paused for a moment, then replied with a faintly amused tone. "Perhaps, after his emotions were amplified, he admitted to himself that those two—Hashirama and Madara—were actually quite compatible."

"…"

Gengetsu's eyes gleamed with a strange light.

Wait, was Tobirama caught up in some romantic drama? Was he an observer or a participant?

Suddenly consumed with a thirst for gossip, Gengetsu was about to press further, but Hyuga Fuji preempted him.

"You already said these thoughts were useless. Why dwell on them? The puppet has its tasks to complete. Since it bothers you so much, let's have it leave for now."

Hearing this, Gengetsu instinctively reached out, wanting to stop the "juicy" story about Tobirama from disappearing. But before he could speak, the puppet vanished instantly, leaving him feeling a pang of regret.

Fine. He'd ask the puppet when it returned.

Hyuga Fuji might not entertain idle gossip, but the puppet surely wouldn't mind sharing. For now, Gengetsu needed to focus on guiding his troublesome disciples.

Far away in the Land of Snow, Senju Tobirama suddenly shivered, cold sweat forming on his brow as memories of a certain nightmare resurfaced.

…

How best to describe this situation?

Both sides planning a surprise attack, only to stumble upon each other unexpectedly?

Under the pale moonlight, Yakumaru stared at the Sand shinobi force in front of him, his eye twitching.

We really are in sync, huh.

Yakumaru and Kitsuchi exchanged a brief glance, neither side making any effort to communicate before launching an all-out assault.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Yakumaru's hands moved swiftly in a series of seals, and a sea of flames erupted from his mouth, surging toward the Sand shinobi.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Rampart!"

An iron-like earthen wall rose from the ground, resembling a fortress, blocking the wide-reaching Fire Style attack.

The skillful use of Earth Style and the immense chakra Kitsuchi displayed made Yakumaru narrow his eyes.

A Sand shinobi this skilled in Earth Style?

He hadn't heard of anyone like this before…

But his suspicions were quickly confirmed when Kitsuchi crouched down, slammed his hands onto the ground, and unleashed a technique that left no doubt about his identity.

"Earth Style: Mountainous Earth Formation!"

The ground shook violently as two massive hemispherical boulders rose from the earth, closing in to crush Yakumaru and the Konoha ninja behind him.

"So it's Iwagakure…"

Glancing back at his subordinates, Yakumaru's expression turned serious. The tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, morphing into the Mangekyō pattern.

"Susano'o!"

In an instant, Susano'o's form enveloped Yakumaru, its blade slicing through one of the massive boulders, freeing the Konoha forces from certain doom.

"Iwagakure is supporting Sunagakure? Are they declaring war on the Land of Fire?"

Yakumaru's gaze sharpened as he stared at Kitsuchi.

Such a large-scale Earth Style technique could only have been performed by one of Iwagakure's top shinobi.

"Mangekyō Sharingan…"

Kitsuchi took a deep breath as he observed the intricate pattern in Yakumaru's eyes. "There's no need to ask questions. I have no intention of deceiving you. That's why I attacked with full force right from the start—no need for further confirmation."

As he spoke, Kitsuchi's eyes scanned Susano'o, his expression contemplative.

So this was the power that his father, Onoki, often worried about.

"Then let me see for myself if the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan is truly as powerful as they say!"

"Then try to stay here," Yakumaru replied coldly, charging toward Kitsuchi with Susano'o still active.

After experiencing the Mountainous Earth Formation firsthand, Yakumaru was certain of one thing: he couldn't let Kitsuchi engage in a large-scale battle with their forces.

If Kitsuchi unleashed a technique of that scale against their main army, the losses would be devastating.

He had to eliminate Kitsuchi here and now.

(End of Chapter)

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