"No good, it looks like Dodai's been killed! And that monster seems to have pulled his soul out!"
Ao exclaimed from the three villages' viewing platform, his face a mask of shock.
Hearing this, Darui's expression changed drastically, and he sprang to his feet.
Dodai was not only exceptionally strong but also possessed remarkable strategic acumen, making him an indispensable figure in Kumogakure. His loss could not be tolerated.
Izumi, guided by the Shinigami, located Dodai's body. Controlling Susanoo, she broke through the rubbery substance of the protective membrane barrier, unearthing Dodai from his hiding place.
However, Dodai was now pale, lifeless, and devoid of any vital signs.
A pall of grim seriousness settled over the Kumogakure ninjas in the viewing platform, and Darui, without hesitation, activated black lightning, teleporting himself to Dodai's side.
"Don't worry, he's only lost his soul," Izumi said with a reassuring smile directed at Darui.
"Only lost his soul?! Are you kidding me?!"
Darui angrily interrupted Izumi, shouting for medical ninjas, hoping they could still save Dodai.
"Raikage-sama, please allow me to finish. His soul is in my possession. Upon returning his soul to his body, he will be completely restored," Izumi continued.
Darui paused, momentarily taken aback. The notion that a soul could be extracted and subsequently reinserted into the body was entirely outside his previous understanding.
At Mei Terumī's behest, Ao also made his way to the center of the arena to assist Darui.
Ao relayed to Darui a detailed account of the Shinigami he had witnessed, including the ethereal entity clutched within the Shinigami's grasp, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Dodai himself.
Upon hearing this, Darui regained his composure, nodded in acknowledgement, and stepped aside to make way for Izumi.
With Darui having cleared a path, Izumi issued a command to the Shinigami.
"Return the soul to its rightful owner!"
Although the Shinigami displayed a palpable reluctance to relinquish its prize, it ultimately proved incapable of defying Izumi's command.
A look of regret etched upon its countenance, the Shinigami swiftly thrust the soul back into Dodai's body.
As Dodai's soul was reintegrated into his body, his pallid complexion gradually regained its natural color.
His eyes slowly fluttered open, but a look of profound terror lingered within their depths.
In that fleeting instant when his soul had been touched by the Shinigami, Dodai had witnessed the true source of the unsettling sensation that had gripped him with such intense fear.
The Shinigami's grotesque and horrifying visage had indelibly imprinted itself upon his mind, leaving behind an enduring scar of profound terror!
"Dodai-sama," Izumi addressed Dodai, who had now fully recovered consciousness, speaking in a measured tone, "it was only upon witnessing your masterful application of ninjutsu techniques that I recognized you as an adversary from a previous battle on the field of war.
You are a ninja of exceptional strategic prowess, and were it not for the fact that my elder brother had entrusted me with this particular summoning beast, I doubt that I would have been able to secure a victory over you in this arena."
Upon hearing Izumi's words, a collective wave of apprehension washed over the assembled onlookers. They had not anticipated that this horrifying summoning beast belonged to Yusuke.
"What other powers does he possess?" This question echoed in the minds of all present.
At this juncture, Minato, positioned within the Konoha viewing platform, directed a look of utter astonishment towards Yusuke.
"Yusuke," Minato inquired, his voice laced with disbelief, "by what means did you manage to summon the Shinigami?"
Although Minato was unable to perceive the Shinigami's presence directly, upon hearing the account of the events unfolding in the arena, he had correctly surmised the identity of the summoning beast deployed by Izumi.
The other members of the Konoha contingent, having overheard Minato's query, also turned their gaze towards Yusuke, their expressions reflecting a palpable curiosity.
Despite their inability to witness the Shinigami's presence, the mere utterance of its formidable name was sufficient to convey a sense of its immense power.
"It was a fortuitous encounter, a mere happenstance," Yusuke responded with a nonchalant smile.
Following the establishment of a summoning contract with the Shinigami, Yusuke had returned the Shinigami mask, which he had retrieved from the Uzumaki clan shrine, to its original location.
He recognized the impossibility of providing a credible explanation for his possession of knowledge concerning the secrets of the Uzumaki clan's Shinigami mask, and therefore opted to resort to evasive tactics.
Upon hearing Yusuke's explanation, Minato refrained from further questioning. Every ninja harbors their own closely guarded secrets, and this was a perfectly natural phenomenon.
However, a wry smile played upon Minato's lips as he reflected upon the stark contrast between his own circumstances and Yusuke's.
The Shinigami, a summoning beast that had previously demanded the ultimate sacrifice of his life to summon through the application of the Shiki Fūjin technique, was now under Yusuke's command. The disparity between individuals was truly remarkable.
The battle between Izumi and Dodai had undoubtedly generated considerable excitement, revealing to the assembled ninjas the existence of spiritual entities within the ninja world.
However, at this point in the contest, the score stood at five to zero in favor of Konoha, placing them on the verge of securing a decisive victory.
A look of profound dejection settled upon the faces of the ninjas representing the alliance of the three great ninja villages. They had not anticipated such a resounding defeat at the hands of their opponents.
Should they suffer yet another defeat in the subsequent match, they would be utterly vanquished, their reputations forever tarnished, and their villages relegated to the status of laughingstocks throughout the ninja world.
"The next match is scheduled to feature Suigetsu from your village," Ōnoki remarked with a heavy sigh, "and I fear that the outcome will be equally unfavorable."
With respect to the ninjas dispatched by Kirigakure, only Mei Terumī possessed the requisite strength to pose a credible threat. Both Ao and Suigetsu were essentially serving as filler contestants in the lineup.
Ao had successfully neutralized the formidable Yusuke, but now, at this critical juncture in the contest, Suigetsu's presence seemed utterly inadequate.
Mei Terumī countered Ōnoki's pessimistic assessment, declaring, "Suigetsu possesses considerable strength, and I have faith in his abilities."
Despite her words of encouragement, Mei's expression remained grave.
Even if she herself were to participate in the contest, she could not guarantee victory with absolute certainty, and the prospects for Suigetsu, a relatively inexperienced ninja, were even more bleak.
Suigetsu, upon hearing Mei Terumī's words of encouragement, felt a surge of renewed determination, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
Kurotsuchi, positioned behind Ōnoki, could not help but scoff, expressing her skepticism. Suigetsu had been defeated by her during the Joint Chunin Exams.
In the face of such formidable opponents from Konoha, she questioned his chances of success.
"The sixth match will be between Yakumo Kurama of Konohagakure and Suigetsu of Kirigakure,"
Upon hearing Mifune's announcement of the next combatants, Kurotsuchi let out a lament, "It's all over! Yakumo was the strongest in the Joint Chunin Exams.
Suigetsu stands absolutely no chance. We're going to be completely humiliated by Konoha!"
Lowering her gaze to meet her grandfather Ōnoki's eyes, Kurotsuchi ventured a tentative question, "Would it be permissible for me to forgo wearing our village's forehead protector when undertaking missions in the future?"
Ōnoki responded with a stern glare, causing Kurotsuchi to hastily raise her hands in a gesture of apology, laughing nervously, "It was merely a jest, grandfather. A jest, I assure you."
Upon learning that his opponent was Yakumo Kurama, Suigetsu's countenance fell. He was acutely aware of the formidable power of her genjutsu techniques, which had proven virtually unstoppable during the Joint Chunin Exams.
Although he had not engaged in direct combat with Yakumo, numerous ninjas of comparable skill had been effortlessly defeated by her without the slightest resistance.
Without the slightest deviation from expectations, Suigetsu, upon entering the arena, was instantly incapacitated by Yakumo Kurama's genjutsu, affording him no opportunity to showcase his abilities.
Thus concluded the contest between Konoha and the alliance of the three great ninja villages, with a final score of six to zero in favor of Konoha.
Prior to the commencement of this contest, no one, with the sole exception of Yusuke, could have possibly foreseen such an outcome.
With Konoha's decisive victory by a score of six to zero, there was no longer any need to continue the contest.
At this point, the high-ranking officials from the five great ninja villages assembled in the central viewing platform where Mifune was positioned.
"The victor has been determined," Minato stated, addressing Ōnoki, Mei Terumī, and Darui with a smile, "in accordance with the terms of our agreement, I trust that you will no longer interfere with the collaborative relationship between Konohagakure and Sunagakure."
While the three Kage harbored a lingering reluctance to concede defeat, the fact remained that the contest they had initiated had resulted in a catastrophic defeat, leaving them with little recourse but to accept the outcome.
After bidding farewell to the Kage of the three great ninja villages and Mifune, the commander of the Iron Country, Yusuke promptly transported all the members of the Konoha contingent into the Kamui space.
He then subtly activated Kamui, transforming it into a spatial vortex, and vanished from the sight of the representatives from the three great ninja villages and the Iron Country.
"Alas!" Ōnoki exclaimed with a profound sigh, "from this day forward, the established order of the five great ninja villages shall cease to exist!"
With these words, Ōnoki, accompanied by the members of Iwagakure, departed from the arena.
Mei Terumī and Darui exchanged a look of mutual understanding, both shaking their heads in resignation before leading their respective contingents away.
From a vantage point in a distant high-rise building, Madara Uchiha and Zetsu observed the entire contest.
While Madara Uchiha had anticipated Konoha's victory, he had not foreseen the utterly lopsided outcome of six to zero.
"The ninjas deployed by Konoha are all exceptionally skilled," Madara Uchiha remarked, his tone even and devoid of emotion.
"Yusuke Uchiha need not be mentioned, as his prowess is already well-known, but the remaining members of his team are also formidable ninjas.
The Yin Release chakra exhibited by that young girl is particularly remarkable, its quality second only to my own and that of Uchiha Yusuke."
Despite the impassivity of his expression, Madara Uchiha's heart was far from tranquil.
Although each of the ninjas who had participated in the contest, excluding Yusuke Uchiha, would be no match for him individually, Madara Uchiha harbored a profound sense of apprehension at the prospect of confronting them in a united front.
Even he could not be certain of his ability to prevail against them.
"However," Madara Uchiha continued with a cold sneer, "the other three villages are becoming increasingly incompetent.
With the exception of that young Ōnoki, who is passable, there is not a single ninja of note among them. That so-called Raikage is laughably weak!"
Madara Uchiha let out a sardonic laugh. "At present, of the five great nations, only Konoha possesses any real power.
I have no further interest in personally subjugating the others. You should approach those Kage and attempt to establish contact.
If they are willing to cooperate, then exploit their services. Ultimately, they will all become mere puppets under the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Reflecting upon the formidable strength of Yusuke Uchiha and Konoha, Madara Uchiha resolved to employ a method that he had not initially intended to utilize in order to become the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails.
This approach represented a last resort, a measure that would significantly diminish his potential to attain the level of a Six Paths-level ninja.
Observing the slight furrow in Madara Uchiha's brow, Zetsu inquired, "Master, is there some matter that troubles you?"
Madara Uchiha shook his head, responding, "In my forthcoming plans, the Edo Tensei technique is of paramount importance.
However, it is regrettable that this jutsu suffers from significant drawbacks. The more powerful the ninja, the greater the suppression of their abilities upon resurrection."
Upon hearing Madara Uchiha's words, Zetsu let out a chuckle. "It is fortunate, then, that you did not eliminate Orochimaru, for he is an expert in the Edo Tensei technique!"
Following the conclusion of the contest between Konoha and the alliance of the three great ninja villages, the results swiftly spread throughout the ninja world. The score of six to zero elicited widespread disbelief and astonishment.
While many expressed their admiration for Konoha's overwhelming strength, a significant number of ninjas also voiced their opinion that the other great ninja villages had fallen into a state of decline.
The ninja world had ceased to express any opposition to Konoha's control over Sunagakure. Instead, several ninja villages of considerable strength were now vying for the coveted position of the fifth great ninja village.
This contest had undeniably exposed the shortcomings and deficiencies in the military might of Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure.
Kirigakure, in particular, had demonstrated its weakness, as two of its ninjas were defeated without Mei Terumī even having the opportunity to participate, highlighting the relative mediocrity of their strength when compared to the elite ninjas of other villages.
Upon her return to Kirigakure, Mei Terumī immediately initiated measures to bolster the village's defensive capabilities, taking proactive steps to prevent any ambitious smaller villages from launching attacks against Kirigakure.
Two months later…
Sunagakure had come completely under Konoha's control, and Yusuke had ceased devoting his time and energy to stabilizing the situation within Sunagakure.
At this point in the narrative, Yusuke found himself immersed within his spiritual world, seeking guidance from Ryūjin Jakka regarding the cultivation of his spiritual energy.
"Ryūjin Jakka," Yusuke stated in a grave tone, having just completed his daily training regimen, "despite my persistent efforts in cultivation, I find that my spiritual energy appears to have reached a plateau, and I am unable to achieve any further increase."
Yusuke had long since observed that the rate of growth of his spiritual energy had been gradually diminishing as his training progressed.
In recent days, his spiritual energy had completely ceased to increase, seemingly having reached an insurmountable barrier.
Ryūjin Jakka, too, adopted a serious expression, recognizing that if Yusuke, its master, were to cease growing in power, then its own abilities would likewise stagnate.
"I suspect that the inherent rules governing this world are preventing you from continuing to grow in power," Ryūjin Jakka stated slowly, "for if your strength were to continue to increase without limit, this world might well be thrown into utter chaos and potentially destroyed by you."
Yusuke harbored similar suspicions regarding Ryūjin Jakka's assessment.
"Then is there any way to resolve this issue?" Yusuke inquired.
Yusuke possessed an unyielding desire to continually strive for improvement and surpass his limitations. If his power were to cease growing, it would mean that he could only seek horizontal growth, such as researching swordsmanship or ninjutsu techniques that Ryūjin Jakka could utilize.
However, such growth would only manifest in an enhancement of his combat capabilities, not in a fundamental augmentation of his essence.
What Yusuke truly sought was the ability to continue progressing vertically, undergoing a fundamental transformation that would elevate his overall strength to a qualitatively superior level.
Ryūjin Jakka shook its head, responding, "Within this world, I possess no means of achieving this. However, as a Zanpakutō originating from Soul Society, I would posit that the existence of a living being represents merely a fleeting stage in a much longer process. Only upon becoming a 'spirit' does one attain the prospect of an infinite future."
"Are you suggesting that I should relinquish my mortal existence?" Yusuke questioned, his tone laced with a hint of disbelief.
"I made no such suggestion," Ryūjin Jakka retorted, "those were your own words."
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