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[Konoha] Chapter 244: Golden Susanoo? The True Star God!
🕑 Added 2024-12-01 04:30:01 +0000 UTCKumogakure.
The Fourth Raikage listened to Dodai’s report, his brows furrowed. “So, you’re saying Kusagakure will soon cease to exist?”
“That old stone—Ōnoki—just let this happen?”
Dodai’s expression was solemn. “Shūichi has mastered Senju Hashirama’s Wood Release secret techniques. Intelligence confirms that a vast forest has appeared outside Iwagakure.”
“To protect the village, it seems the Third Tsuchikage doesn’t dare intervene anymore.”
“After all, it would be far too easy for Shūichi to enter Iwagakure.”
The Fourth Raikage growled lowly, “Damn it!”
“That bastard Shūichi even left Flying Thunder God marks on the tailed beasts.”
Now, Shūichi Hoshita’s overwhelming power loomed over Kumogakure like a sword, making the Raikage cautious in every move.
In the past, he would have immediately stepped into the affairs of the Land of Grass. Even if it meant cooperating temporarily with Iwagakure, despite their enmity, they would suppress Konoha together.
Seeing the Raikage’s fury, Dodai shifted the topic. “Raikage-sama, there is also concrete information from Amegakure.”
“Hanzo still rules the village, but one of the former Akatsuki leaders now works under him. Hanzo seems to value this individual highly, perhaps grooming them as his successor.”
“Meanwhile, Nagato, the wielder of the Rinnegan, has disappeared from Amegakure.”
“However, the Akatsuki were involved in the Kusagakure incident—apparently hired by Iwagakure.”
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist onto his desk, shattering it. “Ōnoki actually colluded with the Akatsuki?”
Dodai looked at the wrecked desk with resignation. “Raikage-sama, it’s likely the Third Tsuchikage is unaware of the Eye of the Moon Plan or Akatsuki’s intent to capture the tailed beasts. If he knew, he would likely prioritize hunting down Akatsuki, just as we do.”
“Why?” the Raikage asked, narrowing his eyes.
Dodai mused, “It’s probably tied to the tailed beasts.”
“Bee is a perfect jinchūriki. Iwagakure lacks such trust with its own jinchūriki.”
The Raikage snorted coldly. “Regardless of the reason, send a warning to Iwagakure. If they continue working with the Akatsuki, they shouldn’t blame us for taking them out as well.”
Dodai nodded immediately. “Understood.”
---
Shūichi paid little attention to the annexation of Kusagakure. It was already a foregone conclusion, and he didn’t need to involve himself in the trivialities.
First, Kusagakure would be consumed, and with the Land of Fire infiltrating and controlling the Land of Grass, it would be a mere formality to annex the latter entirely.
But such things couldn’t be rushed.
One bite at a time.
Time passed, and as the year-end approached, news arrived from Amegakure.
Hanzo had abdicated, and a new leader had risen in his place—Konan, the former Akatsuki leader, now the head of Amegakure.
The announcement was intentionally sent to Konoha and all major ninja villages.
In the ROOT base, upon hearing the news, Shūichi immediately understood—Nagato had gone fully underground.
“I must go and offer my congratulations.”
Leaving a clone behind to guard the base, Shūichi vanished.
---
Outside Amegakure.
In a mountain cave, Shūichi’s figure appeared.
Using the Listening Jutsu, he carefully scanned for a moment to confirm that neither White Zetsu nor Black Zetsu was in Amegakure. Only then did he vanish again, reappearing inside the village.
“Why does this feel like I’m sneaking in for an affair?”
After casually wandering around Amegakure, Shūichi appeared directly in Konan’s office.
Konan, accustomed to Shūichi’s sudden appearances, merely glanced up briefly before resuming her work. “If you’re here to congratulate me, it’s unnecessary.”
Shūichi chuckled. “Don’t be so cold.”
“At your blooming age, you should know how to enjoy life.”
Konan wasn’t much older than Shūichi—perhaps four or five years at most.
Unmoved by his glib remarks, she ignored him.
Shūichi didn’t mind. After inspecting her new office, he casually perched on the desk beside her, looking down at her from above.
Konan felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Glancing at the empty assistant’s office outside, she asked, “What do you want this time?”
Shūichi replied seriously, “I’m here to assess how much my future ally’s strength has improved.”
“As the leader of Amegakure, your strength may not need to rival that of the Demi-God Hanzo, but it can’t be too far behind.”
Konan wanted to retort, “That’s none of your business,” but remembered Shūichi’s previous guidance and their covert alliance. Holding back, she replied coolly, “Don’t worry. My strength is steadily improving, and I’ve mastered the Paper Style.”
“But it’s too early to talk about becoming your ally. Your strength is growing, but Nagato is improving even faster.”
Shūichi shook his head. “Unless Nagato truly masters the Rinnegan’s power, he won’t be my match.”
Konan challenged, “What about becoming the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki?”
Shūichi nodded confidently. “Controlling the Ten-Tails is one thing, but becoming its jinchūriki? I wouldn’t recommend it for Nagato.”
“Why not?” Konan asked.
Shūichi met her gaze. “Instinct.”
Konan avoided his eyes and asked, “If Nagato isn’t your match, why not ambush him now and take the Rinnegan?”
“Why don’t you seize it?”
Shūichi laughed. “Because I don’t need to.”
“The Rinnegan is powerful, but it’s not truly mine—it’s Uchiha Madara’s. It carries significant risks.”
“If I were to pursue the Rinnegan, I’d acquire it on my own terms.”
Konan raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have the Sharingan. How could you possibly awaken the Rinnegan?”
Shūichi tapped the desk. “If I could master Wood Release, why not the Sharingan as well?”
“They’re both Kekkei Genkai. Theoretically, they should be attainable through training.”
Konan looked at Shūichi in shock. “Master Wood Release? Didn’t you obtain it by implanting Hashirama’s cells?”
Shūichi shook his head. “Of course not. Otherwise, why would I have suggested you try to train in Wood Release?”
“It seems you misunderstood, thinking it required Hashirama’s cells. Your body likely couldn’t handle it—unless you also transplanted the Sharingan.”
“Would you like to learn?”
Konan fixed her gaze on Shūichi. “I won’t abandon Yahiko’s dream. While we’re allies now, I’ll still be your enemy in the future.”
“So, do you plan to use me to threaten Nagato?”
“As for liking or admiring me? I don’t believe those reasons.”
Konan had received too much genuine kindness and feared she might fall for it.
Shuichi gazed intently into Konan’s eyes. “World peace… does it really matter who achieves it?”
“And to be honest, even if you manage to master Wood Release, we could end up as enemies someday, but you’d never pose a threat to me.”
“The immunity of your Paper Ninjutsu to physical attacks is trivial for me to counter.”
“As for threatening Nagato with you…” Shuichi stroked his chin thoughtfully before nodding. “Hmm, it’s worth considering.”
“Besides, I’m not like Nagato. Achieving ideals is important, but I won’t overlook the beauty encountered along the way.”
“Otherwise, life would be unbearably dull.”
Konan lowered her gaze, her voice tinged with sorrow. “That beauty has already been utterly destroyed by the great nations.”
Shuichi didn’t argue. Instead, he replied, “Beauty isn’t something that exists inherently; it’s something you must create with your own hands.”
“My parents also perished in the wars, but even so, I’ve managed to carve out something beautiful in my life.”
“Pain should be remembered—not to torture oneself, but to ensure such pain isn’t repeated, and to create something better in its place!”
Konan was momentarily stunned by his words.
Shuichi, however, didn’t dwell on sentimentality. Changing the tone, he continued, “Now that you’re in charge of Amegakure, why not consider forming an alliance with Konoha? You could even seek partnerships with Suna and Iwa.”
“Konoha plans to host a joint Chūnin Exam next year for its allies. Amegakure should consider participating.”
Konan, brought back to the present, mulled it over and eventually nodded. “I’ll give it serious thought.”
Shuichi smiled. That was as good as a yes.
“Your assistant’s coming back. I’ll leave for now, but I’ll drop by tonight for some training.”
Before Konan could refuse, Shuichi’s figure vanished.
She opened her mouth to object, but the opportunity was gone, leaving her slightly annoyed.
So presumptuous. So self-centered.
Still… Wood Release…
Konan pondered, If I could wield Wood Release like Nagato, I could directly create explosive tags.
Her Paper Ninjutsu required pre-prepared tags for explosive techniques.
However, mastering the elemental transformations of Wood Release would let her directly produce paper, embedding explosive seals onto it instantly.
---
Outside Amegakure, Shuichi stood at the cave's entrance, gazing toward the village. “Konan’s a tough one to win over.”
“It’s like her heart’s encased in cement.”
“Maybe I should try Tsunade instead. Taking a beating would at least be straightforward.”
Yet he hesitated.
“Still… I can’t give up so easily.”
Flirty? Shameless?
“I’m just trying to build them a happy home,” Shuichi muttered to himself with conviction.
He acknowledged his flirtatious nature, but his feelings were sincere for every one of them. He wasn’t some shallow player.
Shuichi glanced at his Tag System.
The PUA tag still had one use left. Asuka and Pakura had already been won over.
Though the tag’s effects were remarkable, Shuichi found it insulting to his emotions.
“I’m saving lost girls, and they dare call it PUA.”
“Being the good guy is hard. Without power, I’d just be another simp.”
With a sigh that echoed through the empty cave, Shuichi left.
---
Back in Konoha, Shuichi headed to a training ground near the Forest of Death.
Activating the Added-Weight Rock Technique on himself, he stood under immense gravity, wielding his massive blade and practicing his swordsmanship.
This far exceeded traditional weights or underwater training. Gravity applied consistent force to every inch of his body and every cell.
An hour later, drenched in sweat, Shuichi released the technique.
He transformed into a miniature Nine-Tails, using its form to absorb natural energy and quickly replenish his stamina.
Once recovered, Shuichi reverted to his normal form and stood tall, hands clasped together. Intense, golden chakra surged around him.
His chakra, which had originally been blue, had turned golden after assimilating the power of the Nine-Tails’ flesh and blood.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Gigantic skeletal structures began forming. Veins and muscles followed, wrapping the bones, and finally, a skin-like layer resembling scales covered it all.
After over five minutes, a colossal golden figure stood tall. The ten-meter-tall, three-headed, six-armed giant was an exact replica of Shuichi’s own body.
Hovering in mid-air, Shuichi appeared at the brow of the golden giant.
This construct wasn’t just a vague silhouette; its long flowing hair was revealed to be made of Fire Nether Chains.
Taking a deep breath, Shuichi willed the giant to don armor.
Unlike the Susanoo’s ethereal armor, this plating resembled polished marble, constructed from tightly packed hexagonal cells in a honeycomb pattern.
This was a technique perfected through his(shadow clone's) Earth Release training: Earth Style: Hive Shield.
The intricate combination of nature transformation and shape manipulation elevated the jutsu to S-rank difficulty.
Moreover, the Hive Shield wasn’t exclusive to Earth Release—it could be enhanced using Lava Release.
With Lava Release, the shield’s durability surpassed even Roshi’s Lava Armor.
At this moment, molten lava began to flow from the honeycomb pores.
Shuichi tested its versatility further by releasing corrosive acid from the cells via Boil Release, jets of scorching steam with Scorch Release, and streams of flames with Blaze Release.
In this state, Shuichi could seamlessly integrate any Kekkei Genkai without restrictions.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
Closing his eyes briefly, Shuichi focused again, and a sturdy layer of wood sprouted over the Hive Shield.
This layer of wood wasn’t simply a superficial covering. Instead, it was akin to installing wooden planks as an overlay atop the honeycomb structure.
The honeycomb framework remained intact!
In an instant, the giant transformed into a three-headed, six-armed wooden construct.
Next, a wooden dragon sprouted from the wooden figure, coiling around its body.
“Let’s test out the full range of Kekkei Genkai…”
Releasing his clasped hands, Shuichi directed the giant to raise all six arms simultaneously.
In the next moment, two of its hands formed massive, blade-like constructs of Scorch Release Vacuum Blades, materializing as gigantic swords.
Meanwhile, the other arms curled their fingers, quickly shaping several spheres.
These became Flame Release Rasengan, Lava Release Rasengan, Magnet Release Rasengan, and Scorch Release Rasengan.
Simultaneously, the mouths of the two dragon heads opened wide—one unleashed a Wind Release Rasengan, while the other spewed forth a Boil Release Rasengan.
“Excellent. Absolutely excellent!”
Shuichi laughed heartily. This was the true God of the Star.
This was power that could finally be called divine!
In this state, he could utilize all his jutsu and Kekkei Genkai, with significantly enhanced output.
“If the defense isn’t enough…”
Clap!
Shuichi brought his hands together again. Layered Armor!
With the sound of a thousand chirping birds, streaks of electricity shot out from the honeycomb pores, quickly enveloping the entire giant. This energy then condensed further, forming a new layer atop the wooden armor: the Takemikazuchi Armor.
Boom! Boom!
Dismissing the Rasengan spheres, Shuichi retained the Scorch Release Vacuum Blades as he maneuvered the Star God. Each step left a scorched footprint on the ground.
Punching, swinging the sword, crouching, kicking—Shuichi gradually mastered the movements of the giant, making them as precise as extensions of his own body.
---
Nearby, Namikaze Minato appeared atop a tree, staring in awe at the moving construct.
“Is that Susanoo? Did Shuichi awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?”
“No… that’s the God of the Star, but it feels different this time.”
“This level of power is comparable to Shisui’s Susanoo.”
Minato had previously witnessed Shuichi’s various iterations of the Star God jutsu, such as the Lava Giant, the Scorch Giant, and their combined form.
While impressive, those versions had still lagged behind Shisui’s Susanoo in terms of power.
But the current giant gave Minato an entirely different impression.
“Perhaps it’s because he absorbed the Nine-Tails’ power? His chakra has undergone a qualitative transformation,” Minato speculated, a smile forming on his face.
The stronger his student became, the better it was for Konoha.
“It’s hard to believe he’s created a power rivaling Susanoo entirely on his own. The title of ‘God of Shinobi’ is well-deserved.”
Minato smiled warmly as he mused.
---
Meanwhile, Shuichi sensed Minato’s presence. Turning, he called out, “Sensei! Would you mind testing my defense with your Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?”
Minato chuckled. “Not a problem.”
With that, his eyes closed briefly, and when they reopened, the telltale pigmentation of Sage Mode had appeared.
Minato’s Wind Release: Rasenshuriken couldn’t yet be thrown in his normal state, so he needed Sage Mode’s enhanced chakra control.
Though he could activate Sage Mode instantly, its duration was limited—just enough for two Rasenshuriken.
That was more than enough now.
Raising his hand, Minato swiftly formed the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, its sharp buzzing filling the air. With a flick of his arm, he hurled it forward.
The rapidly spinning Rasenshuriken cut through the air and struck the chest of Shuichi’s giant construct in an instant.
Shuichi didn’t evade, allowing the Rasenshuriken to hit the Takemikazuchi Armor head-on.
The Sage-level Rasenshuriken’s high-speed rotation and cutting power quickly tore through the armor, sending fragments of lightning-infused plating scattering outward in a brilliant burst.
However, it was stopped by the second layer of defenseWood Release.
Splinters flew as the Rasenshuriken tried to cut through, but it gradually slowed and reached its limit before fully breaking through. With a thunderous crash, it disintegrated.
Shuichi waved casually, dispersing the residual energy. The dissipating chakra sphere exploded into a storm that swept to the sides.
Minato, watching this, was stunned. “What incredible defense! Even incorporating Wood Release…”
“There must be more layers beneath that.”
And indeed, he noticed that the first layer of Lightning Release armor was already regenerating.
Minato couldn’t help but marvel. “This is absurd. Who could possibly break through this?”
“Maybe a fully realized Susanoo could, but even then…”
Minato found himself eagerly anticipating such a showdown.
---
Shuichi, meanwhile, deactivated the Star God and descended from the sky.
Minato approached him with a smile and asked, “Shuichi, in that mode, can you use all your jutsu and Kekkei Genkai?”
Shuichi grinned. “Yes, Sensei.”
“However, while I’ve completed the technique, it’s still slow to activate. I need to practice further to improve.”
Minato nodded, unconcerned. “There’s no rush. You have plenty of time to hone it.”
Shuichi agreed, “Yes, it will take time and improvement. Right now, I still can’t make it fly.”
The foundation of the Star God was modeled after Susanoo, but Shuichi’s goal was to surpass it.
(End of Chapter)
