"Shikaku, are we really going to cooperate with the Uchiha clan and hollow out the Third Hokage's authority?"
"Exactly! How much has the Third Hokage contributed to the village over the years—everyone can see it! What right does a mere brat have?"
"If we recall the jōnin currently on external missions, I don't believe the Uchiha would amount to anything!"
"That's right—maybe we can even seek help from the Land of Wind!"
At the same time.
On the ruins of the Hokage Tower, more and more people began to gather.
Led by the Ino–Shika–Chō clans, the Third Hokage's direct supporters arrived one after another.
Of course, after the initial panic subsided, the emotions of these clan heads gradually calmed.
And other thoughts began to surface.
Hearing this, Nara Shikaku let out a sigh and gave a bitter smile.
"It's useless. You didn't see that person's strength…"
"So I hope everyone will cooperate properly."
"Cooperate? Cooperate with what?" Aburame Shibi's expression flickered. "The Uchiha have already started checking accounts and subsidies. Do you really not understand what that means?"
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone fell silent.
Those who had appeared here were, more or less, deeply entangled with the Third Hokage—
and many of them had close ties to Danzō as well.
Konoha's finances had naturally tilted heavily in their direction.
In other words, a considerable portion of the village's fiscal deficit had ended up in their clans' pockets!
And now, suddenly, it was going to be investigated?
Investigated how?!
Were they supposed to hand over the assets they'd swallowed over all these years?
"Impossible! Absolutely not allowed!"
At this point, Yamanaka Inoichi's expression turned subtly strange.
"Anyway, the Uchiha already made a big scene once. As long as we all stall and put it off, it should blow over eventually."
"I don't believe the Uchiha clan would really fall out with all of Konoha's clans over these financial issues."
The moment he said this, the expressions of more than half the clan heads eased.
Stall.
No open confrontation—and no need to cough up any money.
Once the three fires of the new administration burned out, the Uchiha would naturally let this matter slide!
Seeing this, Nara Shikaku wanted to persuade them further.
But the other clan heads were already smiling at one another as they turned and left.
Satisfied, they could finally sleep soundly tonight.
In the blink of an eye, only the Nara, Akimichi, and a few other clans remained.
"Sigh… they…" Shikaku shook his head. "I hope I'm just overthinking it…"
...
The Uchiha compound.
When Jin confirmed that stepping on his left foot with his right truly allowed him to hover, joy inevitably rose in his heart.
Just moments ago, while pondering the Three Feet Before Me domain, an idea had struck him.
If the domain could condense into solid steps beneath his feet, could he hover in midair?
Reality proved he was right.
He was indeed floating now.
It felt like standing on rippling water, faint fluorescence gently swaying beneath him.
Jin even had the feeling that if he released a repulsive force beneath his feet, he could launch himself straight into flight!
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
At that moment, the sound of writhing poison insects suddenly came from behind.
The toxic mist collided with an invisible barrier, instantly sizzling!
Very soon, a corpse-like stench under sunlight spread through the air.
"Did we fail?"
Aburame Torune's expression flickered slightly.
Watching his treasured Rinkaichū being burned away in large numbers, his heart was strangely calm this time—
like stagnant water, without a ripple.
Or rather, his entire attention was focused on his companion beside him.
"Mind Body Switch Technique!"
Yamanaka Fūta narrowed his eyes slightly, his entire body tensing into a straight line.
At this distance, it had to succeed this time!
As long as he could control Jin for even an instant, his friend's poison insects would be able to corrode the boy's skin!
At that point, victory or defeat would be entirely in their hands!
But…
Even though he was close enough, the mental impact of his Mind Body Switch struck Jin's brain like a clay ox sinking into the sea—
not even a ripple appeared!
"More! Just a bit more!"
Yamanaka Fūta clenched his teeth, squeezing out every last shred of mental energy!
As long as he could force his way in, there was hope!
But the instant he pushed further, his own brain felt as if it had been struck by a hammer.
His head spun, vision darkening.
"Pff—"
In the end, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his skull splitting with pain.
It felt as though someone were stabbing needles into his brain over and over again!
"Failed again?"
Torune gritted his teeth and could only push himself harder.
Bzzzz—
In that instant, even finer and denser purple dust poured from his sleeves, desperately trying to infiltrate!
Watching their dogged persistence, Jin couldn't help shaking his head.
"In the middle of the night…"
"Disturbing someone's sweet dreams."
He slowly extended his hand toward them, spreading his fingers slightly, and said softly,
"Shinra Tensei."
Bang! Bang!
The powerful repulsive force of Three Feet Before Me exploded outward!
The two felt as if they'd been slapped by a giant serpent. Their bodies flew like torn sacks, smashing heavily into a nearby tree!
Boom!
Thud.
They collapsed like two puddles of mud, their life or death unknown.
With a thought, Jin released a slight repulsive force from the "steps" beneath his feet and drifted toward the tree.
Swaying slightly, he looked down at the two from above.
"Danzō's old mutts?"
He grinned, slowly lowering his feet onto their arms.
"Drop some loot."
[Defeated Aburame Torune. Attempting to copy traits.]
[Available traits: Jar Poison Technique (Purple), Nano-Scale Poison Insect Manipulation (Blue), Poison Dust Technique (Blue), Poison Insect Affinity (Green), Poison Resistance (Green).]
[Defeated Yamanaka Fūta. Attempting to copy traits.]
[Available traits: Mind Body Switch Technique (Purple), Mind Body Puppet Technique (Blue), Tachi Mastery (Blue), Perception (Green).]
[Copy successful. Congratulations, Host has obtained Excellent trait: Nano-Scale Poison Insect Manipulation (Blue): Able to control highly toxic nano-scale insects.]
[Copy successful. Congratulations, Host has obtained Fine trait: Perception (Green): Able to sense disturbances within a hundred meters.]
As expected—loot dropped!
Jin smiled, then equipped the Nano-Scale Poison Insect Manipulation trait.
Lowering his head, he crooked a finger.
Bzzzz—
From Torune's body, a massive swarm of nano-scale poison insects surged out!
Dense and connected into a single mass—
like wind, like rain, like mist!
"This is—!"
Torune and Yamanaka Fūta exchanged glances, smiles unconsciously appearing at the corners of their mouths.
This young man actually dared to provoke his poison insects!
He wouldn't even know how he died!
Everyone knew that as Torune's unique secret art, these poison insects would kill any ordinary person on contact!
Even Torune himself had to wear a protective suit!
And yet now…
He dared to touch them proactively?
But—
as Torune watched, the smile on his face stiffened.
Then it turned into sheer disbelief.
"How is this possible?!"
Above them, the poison insects—which had always obeyed Torune alone—
were now docilely circling in front of Jin's hand.
Obedient—
like a tame pet.
Perfectly still.
Even the toxic gas they normally exhaled with every breath had been completely retracted!
"No… no… this can't be right! It can't be!!!"
Torune was stunned—utterly stunned.
If earlier it had been shock, now it was total overturning—
his worldview, his understanding, completely shattered!
His secret art!
His poison insects were being toyed with in the palm of a boy's hand!!
This—
hurt even more than seeing his girlfriend toyed with by someone else!
His eyes gradually filled with blood, turning crimson and terrifying like an Uchiha's.
"No—no—no! That won't do! That won't do!!! I'll kill—"
Pshk!
In the midst of his roar, a poison insect crawled up and bit into his ankle…
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