Chapter 125: Father, Hurry, Go Kill Li Yao Now
"Narutaki, something happened... Tenchu!!!"
In the backyard of the Third Hokage's estate, others dared not enter, but his wife, Sarutobi Biwako, had no such hesitation.
Upon entering, Biwako was ready for battle. Seeing her husband crouched helplessly on the ground, she thought something was wrong and wanted to ask, but when she looked closer and saw her son as a human stick and her daughter-in-law naked, wrapped in sticky fluid, she screamed in shock.
"Tenchu!!!"
Biwako instantly teleported over and, heartbroken and furious, hugged her son like a big baby. Her crimson eyes overflowed with tears.
"What happened? Narutaki!!"
She turned and angrily questioned her husband.
The Third remained silent, unsure how to answer. He had sent his son to track Li Yao but never imagined his son would end up like this.
Seeing her husband filled with regret and anger yet silent, Biwako wanted to slap him but was more eager to understand what had happened.
Who was the heartless monster that had done this to her son?
"Ayase..."
Biwako's gaze shifted to her daughter-in-law. She noticed Ayase's vacant eyes and severe mental trauma; Ayase was still naked. She quickly removed her own coat and covered Ayase's chakra-radiating body.
Then Biwako and the Third questioned Ayase together.
But Ayase, deeply mentally scarred, was lost in her own world, unable to hear them.
"Let them rest first."
Finally, Enma spoke up, bringing the grieving Third and Biwako back to reality. Each carried the son and daughter-in-law to their rooms to rest.
On the way, the Third told his wife that their son's condition was caused by Li Yao. He was certain Li Yao was responsible.
Back inside the Black Iron Giant Eagle's belly, Li Yao watched the empty space and silently sensed the positions of the Black Iron Chains and Vajra Chains sealed within Tenchu and Ayase's chakras.
After a while, having allowed their chakra to dissipate, Li Yao smiled.
From the faint chakra signatures left inside the couple, he sensed the Third's presence.
Without a doubt, Tenchu and Ayase had returned to Konoha.
"Reverse Summoning Technique, huh!"
Li Yao had heard of this ninjutsu, said to be the inspiration for the Flying Thunder God Technique. He was not unfamiliar with it.
The couple's sudden disappearance and reappearance beside the Third could only be explained by this technique.
There was no way both could use Flying Thunder God Technique.
"That's fine—it saves me a lot of time."
"Surely the Third must be very happy with the 'human stick' gift I gave him."
Li Yao chuckled, controlling the Black Iron Giant Eagle as it flew north at high speed.
He imagined the pain and fury on the Third's face when he saw his precious son transformed into a human stick.
Good!
That's exactly the effect I want!
Though he couldn't see the Third's expression firsthand, Li Yao felt joy in body and soul, proof his revenge plan was working.
Death was momentary.
Living was eternal pain.
One week later.
Li Yao passed through the Arctic region and arrived at a large island.
It was snow-covered year-round, uninhabited, but home to many animals of various sizes.
This place was perfect—it was cold and had no wood for fire or warmth, making it nearly impossible for most to survive long here.
But for Li Yao, with Wood and Fire Release, there was no worry about lack of firewood or shelter.
It was an ideal place for hiding—a worthy destination after his long journey north.
"Wood Release: Three Rooms and One Hall Technique."
In a small valley surrounded by three mountains and facing the sea, near the mountainside, Li Yao concentrated.
On the snowy ground, a sturdy wooden house facing the sea sprung up.
"When I leave this valley, I shall be invincible."
Inside, Li Yao lit a fire to warm himself, eating roasted meat pulled from the black water space inside his storage technique.
He was filled with hope for the future.
While Li Yao secluded himself in the Arctic Circle—
The ninja world plunged into total chaos—the true Great Ninja War had begun.
After the Third Raikage's surprise attack on the Land of Fire's northern border forces—without declaration of war—
The Third Tsuchikage personally led a similar undeclared attack on the Land of Lightning.
Unable to find Li Yao, the Tsuchikage chose to strike the Land of Lightning in revenge for his injured daughter—who had suffered at the Raikage's hands.
Meanwhile, the Land of Water also joined the fray, launching surprise attacks on the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.
Thus, the Five Great Nations plunged into chaos.
Each nation fought at least two others simultaneously.
Surrounded, the Land of Fire struggled alone—battling four great nations plus the Rain Village.
The stretched front line pushed Konoha to its limits.
The Third had no choice but to deploy the Uchiha clan.
However, the Third played a trick—only the clan's neutral faction leaders and those loyal to Konoha went to the front.
The hawkish Uchiha who opposed Sarutobi Hiruzen were kept home.
Though angry, they were powerless.
With the neutral and loyal factions cooperating, the minority yielded to the majority.
The hawks guarded the homefront while the others fought—decision made and final.
With the Uchiha involved, plus other ninja clan support, the Third was confident they could survive this toughest time.
Because of the Tsuchikage's attack, the Third Raikage returned home.
The northern border didn't need the Third Hokage's attention—he stayed in Konoha coordinating the overall situation.
That day.
Noon.
During lunch break, the Third enjoyed a milk service by his secretary, Emiko Chiba. Suddenly, urgent knocking sounded.
"Come in."
The Third straightened, quickly ending his milk service.
Emiko tidied her somewhat disheveled clothes, holding a black notebook, wearing large black-framed glasses, and stood just behind and to the right of the Third.
"Lord Hokage."
The visitor was a Sarutobi clan ninja and a member of the Third's ANBU guard, responsible for protecting his son and reporting on his situation.
He said, "Lord Tenchu has woken and wants to see you immediately."
Whoosh!
Before he finished, the anxious Third vanished using shunshin no jutsu to hurry to the estate's secret chamber.
Inside, Tenchu lay on a bed. His wife, Ayase, gently wiped sweat from his body with a twisted, damp cloth.
Seeing her expressionless, zombie-like state—though now a human stick and filled with hopeless despair—Tenchu still felt deep sorrow for her.
He knew she had become shaped by Li Yao—body and mind filled with Li Yao's presence—and that hatred was her only hope for survival.
The only way to release her from endless torment was to kill Li Yao quickly.
"Tenchu!"
The Third soon returned to the chamber. Seeing his son awake finally eased a great burden. As long as he lived, there was hope.
The ninja world was filled with strange jutsu—possession and immortality existed, as well as secret jutsu to restore limbs.
At least Wood Release cells could restore his son's body.
Now that the Wood Release revival program had been restarted—
And with Li Yao's success as proof—he could perfectly transplant Hashirama's cells to help his son regain his body.
"Father, hurry, go kill Li Yao!"
On the bed, the crippled Tenchu—without hands or three legs, unable to move—glared fiercely at his father and shouted.
Seeing his son struggling but unable to move except to glare, tears filled the Third's eyes before his anger burned them dry.
"Li Yao!!"
Suppressing his almost exploding fury, the Third hurried to his son's side so he no longer had to look sideways.
(END CHAPTER)
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