The So-called 'God'" (Long Chapter, Please Subscribe)
Kitagawa Minamoto had always considered himself a good person.
And as a good person, he always adhered to the principle of "sending them off on their final journey."
Take Itachi Uchiha, for example—the first Akatsuki member he encountered.
Didn't he fulfill Itachi's dream by letting Sasuke personally take him down?
Not only that, he even ensured that Itachi could reunite with his family in the afterlife, where they could joyfully bicker and reconcile.
Then there was Madara Uchiha—he had longed to witness Wood Release, and Minamoto had graciously obliged.
"I'm such a rare gem of a good person!"
Minamoto sighed, feeling a pang of concern for the current state of the ninja world.
"Minamoto, what are you thinking about?"
Just as he was lost in thought, Tobirama Senju curiously asked.
"Oh, nothing much—just some random thoughts."
Minamoto snapped out of it and shook his head.
At this moment, they had already returned to Konohagakure. The reconstruction of Iwagakure had been completed, and Minamoto couldn't help but marvel at the speed of ninja-led rebuilding efforts.
Especially since Iwagakure had plenty of skilled "construction brothers."
As they were leaving, Deidara had even tried to "send them off" with a bang. Back then, he had carried Minamoto, Jiraiya, and others all the way back to Konoha.
But this time, Ōnoki outright refused to let Deidara go, pinning him down without hesitation.
Of course, it was understandable—though Iwagakure had rebuilt quickly, the losses they suffered were truly devastating.
No one knew if the Akatsuki would strike again, so there was no way Ōnoki would let Deidara leave.
"By the way, Ōnoki mentioned that once Iwagakure stabilizes, he hopes to convene a Three-Kage Summit."
Minamoto recalled what Ōnoki had said before their departure, scratching his head as he shared this with those present.
"But I think it'd be better to invite Gaara from Sunagakure. After all, he's the Kazekage, even though their situation isn't great."
"Their situation isn't great, but it's still better than Kumogakure, isn't it?"
Jiraiya couldn't resist chiming in, and Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"They've paid so much money, lost so many people, and even had to relocate Kumogakure itself. Our policies have left them impoverished."
"At this point, they absolutely hate us."
Hashirama Senju sighed, speaking with a tone of helplessness.
"If they had the strength, they probably would've acted long ago. But this situation isn't ideal for the long term."
"Not ideal?"
Minamoto looked at the First Hokage with confusion.
"Isn't everything stable? If it's stable, then there's no problem. In fact, I think we've been too lenient!"
"You're absolutely right."
Tobirama Senju nodded in agreement, causing the Third Hokage to grimace. His teacher's personality was far too similar to Minamoto's.
"It's not lenient at all; they're already suffering greatly."
"Oh, come on, Third Hokage, that's not fair."
Minamoto shook his head, speaking earnestly.
"I haven't heard any complaints in the izakayas, no one's expressing dissatisfaction in the entertainment districts, and bread hasn't even reached five hundred thousand ryō. That shows we've been quite merciful."
"You call that merciful?"
Hashirama seemed speechless, and even Tsunade, who usually avoided such discussions, couldn't hold back.
"You have the nerve to say that? You've been strictly monitoring and even shutting down those places at will! Fine, the entertainment districts are one thing, but why do you treat izakayas and casinos the same way? There's no fun left—how is that not suffering enough?"
Even Tsunade's comments made it clear how harshly Minamoto had dealt with Kumogakure.
This left Minamoto momentarily silent, giving the Third Hokage and others a chance to breathe a sigh of relief. After all, dealing with enemies required a balance of mercy and severity—it couldn't always be "heavy-handed measures."
"Well then..."
However, Minamoto's silence lasted only a moment. After some thought, he spoke again.
"Should we just wipe them out completely?"
"Hiss—"
Hashirama, the Third Hokage, and others gasped audibly. Tobirama, however, nodded silently.
"Indeed. If they're suffering so much, it might be better to give them a clean ending."
"Exactly!"
Minamoto felt like his thoughts aligned perfectly with Tobirama's.
"After all, families should be reunited. Let them gather in the Pure Land, so they won't be lonely on the road to the afterlife."
"Stop!"
Kakashi couldn't hold back anymore. He swore he'd heard this line before—wasn't it something Minamoto had said about a client who had scammed them on a mission?
"Alright, alright, let's drop it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly intervened, feeling like he couldn't take it anymore.
"Let's discuss Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation instead—it's a matter of great importance to everyone."
"Agreed."
Hashirama immediately shifted the topic, not wanting to continue the previous conversation.
"Tobirama, Tsunade, how's the inspection going? What exactly is that thing?"
"Tch, boring."
Tobirama seemed reluctant to drop the topic, but eventually relented, responding to the question instead.
"We've completed the inspection. The technique is incredibly advanced, creating humanoid entities with life-like characteristics."
"That's right. What's most remarkable is that they possess powers similar to Grandfather's, though there are some differences."
Over the years, Tsunade had spent time in the medical department. Aside from slacking off and gambling with Hashirama, she had genuinely conducted research.
"With the ideas Minamoto provided, along with information from the stone tablet and tree bark, we've found references to the power of 'all creation.' These humanoid entities appear to embody that concept."
"It seems Madara really made extensive preparations."
Hashirama couldn't help but sigh, his expression becoming serious.
"With these entities at his disposal, his power will only grow stronger. He might even gain access to that force..."
"It's hard to say if he already has it, but Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation likely can't fully unleash his power."
Tobirama spoke cautiously, though his gaze betrayed a hint of excitement.
"If that's the case, then Big Brother might also have a chance to obtain similar power. Even if it's through Impure World Reincarnation, his strength could still increase significantly..."
In truth, Tobirama wasn't just thinking about his brother—he was considering his own potential as well!
He refused to be a liability. Years ago, he had been powerless against Madara Uchiha, but now, with the safety net of Impure World Reincarnation, death held no fear for him.
Unexpectedly, the technique seemed to offer certain advantages, making him both eager and hopeful.
"Also, Minamoto, could the 'evolution' mentioned by Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki be linked to Yin-Yang Release?"
Looking up, Tobirama directed his question at Minamoto. But the inquiry left Minamoto feeling a bit awkward.
"Uh... I don't know."
This was one question he truly didn't have an answer for—after all, he had merely blurted it out randomly.
He could easily claim ignorance and leave it at that.
As for verification? Let them ask Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki themselves!
"Fair enough."
Tobirama nodded, not pressing further.
"By the way, I heard you're planning to fully resurrect the Fourth Hokage. Are you certain it's feasible?"
"This matter requires thorough research. In truth, every technique carries risks—even Impure World Reincarnation is no exception."
Minamoto, though confident in his approach, planned to visit the Uzumaki clan's Mask Hall to investigate further.
After all, he was curious about the Shinigami summoned by the Reaper Death Seal—he still didn't fully understand what it was.
This world was bizarre, with entities like the Ōtsutsuki and the Sage of Six Paths, alongside concepts like the Pure Land and various so-called "gods."
Not to mention the Shinigami summoned by the Reaper Death Seal, or Hidan, who followed a "false god" and ultimately starved to death.
"Moreover, the Shinigami and even that 'false god' don't seem to be as high-ranking as imagined."
The Shinigami could be "fooled" if the method was right, allowing the release of souls trapped within its belly.
Even its ability to extract souls seemed ineffective against sufficiently powerful individuals. And as for the "false god," it couldn't even sustain Hidan's basic needs.
"So these gods don't appear to be true deities. Instead, they resemble techniques or rules given physical form."
Minamoto couldn't quite grasp the concept, but he intended to investigate further.
Whether or not he reached any conclusions didn't matter much—even attempting to understand the Shinigami could help him learn more about the Pure Land and potentially locate Rin Nohara.
"I remember Rin Nohara seems to be caught in the gap between the Pure Land and the living world. Not just her—Kakashi's father is in the same situation."
In such a position, it was uncertain if they could be summoned via Impure World Reincarnation. Naturally, Minamoto wanted to make thorough preparations.
"As long as you're confident."
Tobirama didn't know what Minamoto was thinking, but he nodded in approval of Minamoto's plans.
"So, can we test those two humanoid entities now? I've been waiting for this moment."
"Of course."
Minamoto smiled, nodding at Tobirama and Hashirama.
"I'm curious myself—just how effective these Yin-Yang Release-infused humanoid entities will be."
As Minamoto and the others resumed their work on Impure World Reincarnation, Obito Uchiha sat silently in Kamui's Dimension.
"Why is it like this..."
He sighed deeply, his heart filled with confusion.
This recent trip to Iwagakure had dealt him a heavy blow. Though Rin's guidance had brought him significant changes and improvements, he still felt as powerless against Minamoto as he had years ago.
Back then, in Konoha, Minamoto had invaded Kamui's Dimension during a surprise attack. Later, in Kirigakure, Minamoto had effortlessly used Minato Namikaze's Rasengan to defeat him.
The pain of those memories lingered in his heart, and this time, Minamoto had even shattered his Susano'o with a single kick!
"Why does he get to 'evolve'? Why has he become so terrifyingly strong? Why is he so powerful?!"
Obito clenched his fists, the anguish in his heart refusing to dissipate. He didn't know what to do next.
"If only I could 'evolve.' If only I could 'evolve,' I could create a peaceful world..."
Leaning against a stone tablet in Kamui's Dimension, Obito muttered to himself.
"Rin, what should I do..."
As he spoke, his consciousness began to blur, and he entered a state somewhere between waking and dreaming.
Time seemed to freeze, and everything within Kamui's Dimension came to a halt.
In this frozen moment, a pair of eerie eyes quietly appeared, gazing intently at him.
"Perfect timing—now!"
Having decided to guide Obito, Isshiki had made all the necessary preparations.
His Kāma was still far from fully decompressed, and the best way to accelerate its release was through subtle hints or direct encounters.
However, while Obito's mind wasn't particularly sharp, his willpower seemed unusually steadfast.
"Despite being beaten down so thoroughly, he remains unwavering in his pursuit of his desires. Such a fool is easy to guide, and can expedite my release."
Though Isshiki's current power was limited, he could still manipulate Obito's perception and consciousness during moments of vulnerability and despair.
"Just a little more, and my decompression will accelerate—then everything will become much simpler."
Watching Obito's gradually hazy consciousness, Isshiki finally spoke.
"Do you desire 'evolution'?"
His voice carried an air of authority and undeniable command, but Obito remained dazed.
"'Evolution'..."
Obito murmured faintly, his gaze devoid of focus.
"The 'evolution' Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki spoke of—Kitagawa Minamoto's 'evolution,' is it?"
Isshiki paused briefly, feeling a twinge of annoyance at hearing his crazed clanmate's name again.
Still, he didn't dwell on it—he had already planned to steer the conversation in this direction, as it was the most effective approach.
"Indeed, 'evolution.' Only through evolution can one truly escape suffering, transcend everything, and rise above the world!"
Transcendence...
Though still dazed, Obito's mind seemed to race furiously, recalling Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's ethereal presence under the moonlight, as well as Kitagawa Minamoto's gradual ascent to his current, overwhelming strength.
Obito felt a surge of longing. He didn't fully understand his current state, nor did he know who was speaking to him.
But none of that mattered—he focused solely on "evolution," on transcendence, on how to achieve it all...
And how to create a peaceful world for himself, Rin, and everyone else!
"What must I... do..."
Though his mind raced, his consciousness remained hazy, and even his speech was halting.
"What must I do to evolve..."
"It's simple."
Isshiki's calm voice grew more authoritative, radiating an almost divine presence.
"You must personally investigate Kitagawa Minamoto. Only by confronting him directly can you learn more—not through others' inquiries."
"Personally... investigate Kitagawa Minamoto."
Obito's vacant eyes seemed to regain a hint of color. He nodded slightly, as though committing the words to memory. Isshiki continued.
"Precisely. You must confront him, and if necessary, fight him. Only through battle can you uncover deeper truths."
"Battle..."
"Beyond that, this world is vast, filled with things you can't yet imagine. You must seek them out."
"Things I can't imagine... seek them out..."
"For instance, powerful individuals—others who may also possess the potential for 'evolution.'"
Isshiki paused briefly. The "evolution" he referred to wasn't the same as Kitagawa Minamoto's, but that didn't matter.
Having spent a millennium in this world, he had prepared extensively. He had left behind numerous Kāma marks, though none were satisfactory.
However, he had also created something else: the "White Kāma."
The "White Kāma" contained only a portion of his power, unable to host his soul or fully transform into an Ōtsutsuki. These "White Kāma" vessels required absorption of Divine Tree fruits to complete their final transformation.
In essence, the "White Kāma" was a failed product, but it now served as a functional backup plan.
"Momoshiki is too reckless—someone needs to divert his attention. And my 'White Kāma' is perfect for the job."
Though he had only just begun manipulating Obito, Isshiki had already noticed the man's uncanny bad luck.
Last time, when Isshiki had descended, he had been crushed by Momoshiki, only to encounter Obito afterward.
In a way, it was Obito who had stumbled upon Momoshiki. And now, once again, he had crossed paths with both Kitagawa Minamoto and Momoshiki.
Given the high likelihood of future encounters, Isshiki needed to act decisively to ensure his plans unfolded smoothly.
"Moreover, using a 'White Kāma' as bait to observe Momoshiki's reactions is an excellent strategy."
The "White Kāma" vessels would serve as lures to attract Momoshiki, while also providing insights into his intentions. This was Isshiki's plan!
"Others... who possess 'evolution'..."
Obito murmured again, as though engraving the words into his mind. Isshiki nodded approvingly.
"Exactly. One of them is currently in an alternate dimension. His information has already been imprinted in your mind. Remember my words—the more you learn and investigate..."
"The more I learn and investigate..."
"...the closer you will come to achieving 'evolution'!"
"Achieving... evolution..."
Obito continued to murmur, but suddenly felt a faint tremor in his heart.
In an instant, the frozen Kamui's Dimension began to return to normal, and the mysterious eyes slowly faded away.
The previously stagnant space regained its vitality, and Obito's vacant eyes gradually regained their luster.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but Obito suddenly stood up. He looked around in confusion, but found no trace of anyone.
"Strange—what just happened?"
Obito still felt dazed, barely able to recall the events. He vaguely remembered someone speaking to him, but couldn't remember who or what the voice sounded like.
"Hmm?!"
Suddenly, he froze. He discovered that his mind was now filled with various pieces of information—as though they had been engraved into his consciousness, impossible to forget.
"This is..."
Obito murmured, his face filled with disbelief. He hadn't expected the strange sensation from earlier to be real.
"I must personally investigate Kitagawa Minamoto, fight him to understand his situation, and find other 'evolved individuals'..."
"Find them, understand them—only then can I achieve 'evolution'?"
Obito seemed to regain his determination. Though the sudden influx of information had shocked him, he recalled his past breakthrough moment—when he had achieved the "power of all creation."
In that instant, he felt a sense of clarity.
"I know what I must do now."
Obito spoke softly, his gaze fixed ahead.
His exposed Sharingan seemed to regain its resolve, as though reigniting his fighting spirit.
"The message about 'evolution' can't rely on others. I must accomplish it myself."
With that, Obito took a deep breath, focusing on the information in his mind.
"An alternate dimension—similar to Kamui's Dimension, but located near the Land of Water? If that's the case..."
"Then I'll follow these instructions and pursue this path. I will create a peaceful world for Rin, for everyone. I will succeed!"
For the first time in a long while, Obito felt unwavering determination. His previously fractured spirit seemed to have pieced itself back together.
Isshiki, of course, sensed all of this. Though he found Obito utterly foolish, he preferred this newfound vitality over the man's earlier despair.
After all, if Obito began avoiding battle, how long would Isshiki have to wait? Worst-case scenario, he might not even finish decompressing his Kāma before Momoshiki caught him.
"Keep it up, Obito Uchiha. It's an honor for you to serve as my vessel. Hurry up and complete your tasks—hurry up and 'evolve'!"
Isshiki muttered softly, but Obito spoke with utmost sincerity.
"Thank you, Rin."
"?"
"Last time, it was you. This time, I don't remember anything, but it must have been you again."
"..."
"In the past, it was you. Now, it's you. It's always been you, guiding me forward, pointing me in the right direction."
"..."
"I will definitely create a peaceful world with you, with everyone!"
Isshiki fell silent, feeling a pang of regret at having chosen such an imbecile.
"How's the research coming along?"
Outside Konoha, in the Uzumaki clan's Mask Hall, Jiraiya watched Minamoto flipping through documents. He glanced at the masks on the walls, feeling an eerie chill.
"It's been days—still no results? Seriously, you're not using Shadow Clones to help, nor letting Tobirama assist. Your efficiency is way too low."
"Tobirama needs to focus on Konoha..."
Minamoto looked at Jiraiya, responding in a strange tone before chuckling.
"Actually, I've already got some ideas. This isn't particularly difficult; besides, Tobirama just switched bodies—let's not bother him."
The new Impure World Reincarnation had been completed, granting the First and Second Hokage a "fresh start."
Especially since Minamoto had infused Yin-Yang Release into the process, making the transformation even more significant.
However, adapting to the new power required time, and Minamoto took the opportunity to slack off.
After all, "finding key information" took time, and it also gave him a chance to consolidate the data in his mind.
"The location of that 'White Kāma' vessel seems to be near the Land of Water. Looks like I'll need to make a trip there."
Minamoto wouldn't miss the chance to harness the "White Kāma." Not only would absorbing it grant him a portion of Isshiki's power,
"Studying this thing will also let me play around with some new tricks."
The ninja world had already been thrown into chaos by his actions—the "Era of Eyes" hadn't fully unfolded, and the "Era of Tattoos" was already creeping in.
Now, old and new versions were colliding, and Minamoto, the instigator of it all, felt a twinge of guilt.
But...
He wanted to stir things up even more.
"Forget the 'Era of Eyes' or the 'Era of Tattoos'—this is the Ōtsutsuki Era!"
Minamoto muttered to himself. After all, he planned to become Hokage—he couldn't personally handle everything, could he?
Take, for instance, his memories of the Chūnin Exams—where everyone had watched as the Third Hokage fought Orochimaru alone. That was absurd enough.
"Look at the future Hokage in my memories—at least Sasuke helped out. Now I've got both of them working for me!"
Shaking his head, Minamoto turned his attention back to the documents in hand.
He had to admit, the information here was quite fascinating. Even if he was just pretending to work, he had genuinely learned quite a bit.
After all, he wanted to delve deeper into the Shinigami's lore, and perhaps uncover more details about the Pure Land.
"That Shinigami—based on the Scroll of Seals and Uzumaki clan records—really doesn't seem like a god."
Minamoto tilted his head. The entity felt more like a "technique" or perhaps a "spiritual being" manifesting as a "rule."
Its effects were evident, but its influence was limited to ordinary ninjas. Once certain boundaries were crossed, it couldn't hold up!
"So this Shinigami might not actually be a god. Does the same apply to that 'false god'?"
Minamoto murmured softly. The so-called "gods" seemed far less divine than he had imagined.
Perhaps, in this world, "god" simply referred to higher-level beings—like the Ōtsutsuki.
"Ugh, hanging around with you is so boring."
Jiraiya had no idea what Minamoto was thinking. Leaning against a wall, he yawned in boredom.
"I'd rather go investigate the Akatsuki."
"Hey, Pervy Sage, I didn't ask you to keep me company, did I?"
Minamoto snapped out of his thoughts, retorting with a smirk.
"Besides, are you investigating or rushing to your death? Have you even considered what Obito Uchiha has become? Madara Uchiha is alive now, and Nagato isn't the disciple you once knew."
"Tch, you underestimate me?"
Jiraiya snorted, but didn't argue further. He seemed to realize he might indeed be "outdated."
"Sigh, I was tricked into coming back all those years ago, and now I've been stuck here for so long. There's so much trouble, I barely have time to write books."
"Wait, hasn't Make-Out Paradise been updated consistently?"
"That's the only thing I have time to write! Kakashi pesters me for updates every day!"
"Is it possible that only this series sells well, and everything else flops?"
"Nonsense!"
Jiraiya seemed particularly irked, as though Minamoto had hit a nerve.
Glaring at him, Jiraiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully before speaking.
"This Sage still has plenty of talent. Want me to prove it by writing a new bestseller right now?"
"You?"
Minamoto looked at him curiously, his expression skeptical.
"A bestseller? Are you dreaming?"
"Heh heh."
Jiraiya chuckled mischievously, his face full of sly intent.
"How about I write your autobiography?"
"?"
"Your story would sell everywhere—except maybe in Sunagakure and Kumogakure."
"..."
"It's decided! Plenty of people want to know your story. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty!"
"..."
"As for the title, how about How the Fifth Hokage Was Made?"
"... Why not call it My Struggle?"
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📚 BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!📚
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
🔥 Full story available now
💎 Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
👉 Join my Patreon community today!
[✨ patreon.com/GoldenLong]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━