Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 145 The Preparations of the Mist Ninja Clan

Kaguya Soranosuke slowly raised her arm, and the bones in her arm also began to proliferate and deform.

But unlike that young clansman, the bone spear he generated was more slender and refined, with a metallic sheen on its surface.

"Watch closely!"

Kaguya Soranosuke made no unnecessary movements, simply thrusting forward casually.

laugh--

A slight sound.

The bone spear in his hand pierced into the black stone pillar without any resistance.

There were no flying pebbles.

Only on that stone pillar was there a small, smooth hole, as clear as a mirror.

The Kaguya clan members around them gasped in shock at the sight.

They all knew that this seemingly ordinary strike contained power far more terrifying than the earth-shattering blow they had just received.

"This is the true art of the Corpse Bone Pulse."

Kaguya Soranosuke slowly retracted the bone spear, a bloodthirsty smile appearing on his face.

He looked around at his utterly shocked people, his voice full of inflammatory rhetoric.

"We are about to set foot on new land! There, countless lives await our bone blades to reap!"

"I don't care if they're ninjas or civilians! I just want you to remember one thing!"

"Tear apart everything you see that moves! Use their bones to forge the glory of our Kaguya clan!"

"Ooo ...

A roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami erupted on the training ground.

In the eyes of every Kaguya clan member burns a flame called slaughter.

"good."

A satisfied smile appeared on Kūnosuke's face. "Remember, on the battlefield, there is no room for hesitation. Our Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse) is born to kill."

"Use your bones to bring back unparalleled glory for the Kaguya clan!"

"Yes, Chieftain!"

The young members of the tribe were stirred up by Sonosuke's highly inflammatory words, and they roared like wild beasts.

Kūnosuke looked at them, his heart filled with satisfaction.

This is the Kaguya clan he wanted!

He walked to a corner of the training ground, where a huge frame made of bone stood.

On the shelves, there were all sorts of strangely shaped skeletons.

These are all his spoils of war over the years.

He reached out and gently stroked one of them.

"Hey old buddy, did you see that?"

A crazed glint flashed in Kūnosuke's eyes. "Soon, some new collectibles will be added to this place."

"The bones of the Uzumaki clan... I wonder what they would look like?"

……

The Hozuki clan's stronghold was much quieter.

Unlike the frenzied chaos of the Kaguya clan, everything here is orderly and exudes an atmosphere of professionalism and efficiency.

A spacious training room.

In a quiet room deep within the clan's territory, Hozuki Kaigetsu was sitting cross-legged on the tatami mat.

In front of him were dozens of kunai and shuriken of various shapes, as well as a specially made ninja sword that he never parted with.

He was meticulously wiping each ninja tool repeatedly with a clean white silk handkerchief.

His movements were slow, steady, and imbued with a sense of ritual. It was as if he were wiping not a cold, killing tool, but a part of his own body.

For a top assassin, any oversight in the smallest detail can be fatal.

This is a habit he has developed over the years.

Before each S-rank mission, Hozuki Kaigetsu would use this method to completely calm his mind.

He wanted to merge his killing intent with the knife in his hand.

"Clang—"

The sliding door was gently pulled open, and Hozuki Shio poked her head in, holding a string of takoyaki (octopus balls) she had just bought from the street, covered in syrup.

"Bro, are you isolating yourself here again?"

The girl mumbled between bites of meatballs, "The Mizukage has already given the order to mobilize everyone, and he still has the leisure to slowly wipe things clean here?"

Hozuki Kaigetsu ignored her, focusing instead on wiping the ninja sword in his hand.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!"

Hozuki Shio was a little dissatisfied. She walked over to Kaigetsu, plopped down next to him, and handed him the skewer of takoyaki. "Try some? It's a specialty from the Land of Hot Springs. It tastes pretty good."

Hozuki Kaigetsu merely glanced at the greasy dumpling and then shook his head.

"Tch, how boring."

Hozuki Shio pouted and ate them one after another with great relish.

Looking at her brother's perpetually icy face, she suddenly thought of something and smiled slyly.

"Brother, do you think we'll encounter any interesting opponents on our trip to the Land of Whirlpools?"

"I've recently developed a new water escape technique, so I'll use it to test it out."

As Hozuki Shio spoke, she began to form hand seals.

"Water Release: Acid Swamp!"

A fist-sized, viscous liquid with a pungent, acidic smell formed in her palm.

"Look, this technique not only restricts the enemy's movements, but it also contains a specially made toxin that corrodes chakra. How about that, impressive, right?"

The girl proudly showed off her new work.

Hozuki Kaigetsu finally stopped wiping his ninja sword.

He looked up at the dangerous liquid in his sister's hand, his brow furrowing slightly.

"tide."

"Um?"

"Let's choose another one."

"Why? Don't you think it's impressive?"

"Too flashy."

Hozuki Kaigetsu's voice was quite direct: "True killing techniques don't need so many gimmicks. A single, fatal blow is the most efficient way."

As he spoke, he extended a finger, and a drop of water swirled rapidly at the tip.

"The art of water-powered cannons."

puff!

The droplet of water instantly transformed into a white line, striking a target used for practice in the corner of the quiet room at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.

In the center of the target, a smooth, bottomless hole appeared.

"Did you see that?"

Hozuki Kaigetsu withdrew his finger. "This is the fighting style of the Hozuki clan."

"Damn it, you bastard onii-san, what did you say?!"

Hozuki Shio's eyebrows immediately stood up.

Haiyue picked up a freshly wiped kunai, twirled it between her fingers, and said in a neutral tone, "Your technique is too flashy and wastes too much chakra."

"What do you know! This is called the art of combat!"

Hozuki Shio retorted defiantly, "Slicing away like that, one slash after another, is so boring!!"

The brother and sister, once again, began their daily argument due to their differing fighting philosophies.

But in each other's eyes, there was a strong sense of determination and anticipation for the mission.

……

Inside the ice chamber of the Snow Clan.

Yukinojo remained as elegant and composed as ever.

On the ice platform in front of him stood a new ice sculpture.

The ice sculpture is shaped like a huge, mysterious swirling pattern.

It is the emblem of the nation of Whirlpools.

Yukinojo extended his slender fingers, and at the tip of his fingertip condensed a crystal-clear ice needle as thin as a cow's hair.

He looked at the ice sculpture in front of him, a smile of fascination on his face, like that of an artist.

"What a beautiful pattern..."

"Full of vitality, and a... sense of ancient order."

"Unfortunately..."

A hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.

Even the most beautiful works of art will eventually break.

Yukinojo gently touched the center of the swirling ice sculpture with the ice needle in his hand.

click-

A soft, yet incredibly clear, cracking sound rang out.

A tiny crack appeared on the flawless ice sculpture.

Immediately afterwards, the crack spread rapidly like a spider web.

Finally, with a crisp sound, the entire ice sculpture shattered, turning into countless crystalline ice shards that reflected a ghostly blue light in the dim ice chamber.

Yukinojo looked at the ice shards flying everywhere and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"This is the beauty of decay that I seek."

He slowly turned around and walked out of the ice room.

Outside, the elites of the Snow Clan had already assembled and were quietly waiting for their clan leader.

A war waged for glory, art, and ambition is about to begin.