Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 127: Hotaru: Is it done, sir?

Hotaru's body trembled with embarrassment as Hagoromo Gengetsu extended his hand towards her back.

The "Fury of Heaven" technique had not yet been activated, leaving the black bead dormant and devoid of energy.

Hagoromo Gengetsu pressed his fingers against the bead, releasing chakra to sense its interior while activating his Mangekyō Sharingan to scrutinize the bead's structure in detail.

"It looks like an ordinary bead, but the internal structure is quite complex. Is it designed to absorb energy more efficiently?"

"Hmm? What kind of sealing technique is this? It's very different from the Uzumaki clan's style. It's worth studying..."

"This combination seems to enhance storage capacity. I hadn't considered this before..."

...

Hagoromo Gengetsu pondered to himself.

The black bead, essential for deploying the Fury of Heaven, held significant value.

For Hagoromo Gengetsu, even without witnessing the actual technique, just studying the bead justified his trip.

Meanwhile, Hotaru, with her half-exposed clothes, felt a mix of embarrassment and relief as she listened to Hagoromo Gengetsu muttering while examining the bead on her back.

Despite her flushed cheeks, Hotaru felt slightly reassured.

The man didn't seem eager to seize the forbidden technique as he had promised.

His methodical approach might make him a scientist, as her grandfather had mentioned.

Suddenly, nine shadows were darting through the forest.

Under Team 8's pursuit, Kakashi and his group were rapidly closing the distance with Sasuke and his companion.

Suddenly, a hawk's cry echoed from above.

Neji activated his Byakugan, looked up, and quickly said, "It's a messenger hawk from Konoha."

"Another messenger hawk?"

Kakashi frowned.

Messages carried by messenger hawks were typically urgent.

Having just dealt with the Fire Temple attack, another hawk was now flying towards Konoha. Could it be that Sasuke had caused more trouble?

Kakashi quickly formed hand seals, releasing a chakra signal unique to Konoha.

Soon, the hawk noticed the signal and altered its course towards Kakashi.

"It's a distress hawk!"

Yūhi Kurenai noted with a serious expression.

Typically, a messenger hawk wouldn't stop for ninjas on its route but would head straight for Konoha.

Only in a crisis would the hawk stop to deliver a distress message to nearby Konoha ninjas.

Kurenai was familiar with this from her experiences during the Third Great Ninja War.

Kakashi, with his extensive battlefield experience, had guessed this possibility and signaled the hawk.

The result matched his expectations.

With a swift gust, the hawk landed expertly on Kakashi's arm.

"This is... the emblem of the Tsuchigumo clan."

Kakashi noted the emblem on the scroll attached to the hawk.

"What is the Tsuchigumo clan?" Guy scratched his head, asking on behalf of the puzzled genin.

"A renowned clan from the ninja world wars, they have a protection agreement with Konoha."

Kakashi briefly explained while unrolling the scroll.

"Indeed, the Tsuchigumo clan is under attack."

Kakashi quickly rolled up the scroll and reattached it to the hawk's leg, sending it on its way to Konoha.

Neji then said, "I observed the direction from which the hawk came, and it aligns with our current pursuit of Sasuke and his companion. It's highly likely that Sasuke attacked the Tsuchigumo clan."

Kiba, confused, asked, "Why would Sasuke target the Fire Temple and now the Tsuchigumo clan?"

Arf! Arf!

Akamaru barked in agreement, expressing his confusion.

Shino intended to share his analysis but chose to stay silent as he saw Kakashi about to speak.

"Rather than Sasuke's will, it seems more like the will of his companion."

Kakashi analyzed before giving orders, "Continue pursuing Sasuke and his companion. If we find our path diverging from the Tsuchigumo clan's Katsuragi Mountain, we'll split into two teams. We must honor Konoha's protection contract with the Tsuchigumo clan."

"Understood!"

Everyone nodded and accelerated.

"Don't be afraid. Just remain still, and leave the rest to me."

On Katsuragi Mountain, having sufficiently examined the black bead, Hagoromo Gengetsu prepared to study the Fury of Heaven technique further.

Reassuring the trembling Hotaru, he said:

"Alright, sir."

Seeing this, Hagoromo Gengetsu wasted no time, recalling the information he had gathered from En no Gyoja's mind. His hands swiftly formed seals:

"Tsuchigumo Style: Forbidden Life Technique Release: Creation of Heaven and Earth!"

Black sealing symbols emerged from under Hotaru, transforming into numerous black tadpoles that flowed into the bead on her back.

As the bead absorbed the symbols, a radiant light burst from within.

In that instant, Hagoromo Gengetsu could clearly sense natural chakra and energy from the surroundings rushing into the bead on Hotaru's back.

"So this is Fury of Heaven? Truly formidable."

Under the Mangekyō Sharingan, he observed the chakra and natural energy streaming into the bead. Within half a minute, all energy within a hundred meters was absorbed, astonishing Hagoromo Gengetsu at the Tsuchigumo clan's ancestors for creating such a technique.

There was no record of the Tsuchigumo clan during the Warring States period.

Shaking his head, Hagoromo Gengetsu focused on the bead that had now absorbed substantial chakra and natural energy.

If the bead were likened to a human body, the absorbed chakra represented individual training, while the influx of natural energy mirrored Sage Mode training.

Unlike chakra, natural energy was notoriously difficult to control.

The Fury of Heaven technique not only absorbed it but also blended it with chakra, avoiding the irreversible damage typical of failed Sage Mode training.

The underlying principles warranted further study.

However, not long after, Hotaru, struggling, asked:

"Sir, is it done? I can't hold on much longer."

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't push the young girl:

"If you can't hold on, release it entirely."

"Really?"

"Of course."