[Ding! The darkening progress of Assassin Seven has reached 10%. Reward: Divine Death God Staff.]
Just as Wu Liuqi made his decision to return to Xuanwu under the identity of Seven, a prompt sounded in Hattori's mind.
The next moment, a black iron rod appeared in his hand.
'Divine Death God Staff, huh.'
Hattori murmured softly.
This weapon appeared in the Scissor Seven spin-off, Black and White Twin Dragons.
It could transform into different weapons by devouring blood, possessing immense power.
The side effect was that the user could easily lose themselves and become a slave to it.
"If I didn't have 'that', I definitely wouldn't dare use it."
"But since that technique has such a miraculous effect, something with strong side effects like this is actually perfect for me."
Hattori looked at the items in the exchange mall, and a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
The power level in Scissor Seven wasn't low.
Just the advanced weapons of the Stan Country could reach the level of destroying a small island.
As the counterpart, the strongest individuals in Xuanwu also possessed the power to easily destroy a small island.
In the original work, a top sect from Xuanwu appeared:
The Sky Lotus Sect.
Its core technique, the Sky Lotus Divine Art, could even seal the forbidden Blood Demon and purify everything.
According to the system's introduction, the Sky Lotus Divine Art had nine levels, and even Director Jiang had only cultivated to the seventh level.
If one could reach the ninth level, the Great Perfection of the Sky Lotus Pure Heart…
In theory, it could negate all negative effects.
Such as the loss of reason from the Divine Death God Staff, the stat decrease from the Sharingan, the fear of seawater from Devil Fruits…
All would become ineffective.
The Sky Lotus Divine Art could counter all negative effects. Price: 2000 Activity Points.
Hattori waved his hand grandly and exchanged for it immediately.
The higher the power level of the world, the more terrifying the negative effects.
Like the Death Note's Shinigami Eyes requiring half the user's lifespan, or the Eight Gates causing physical collapse upon full release.
Exchanging for just the Sky Lotus Divine Art could erase these side effects.
It's an absolute bargain!
[Ding! You have consumed 2000 Activity Points and successfully exchanged for the Sky Lotus Divine Art."
As the system prompt arrived, a vast amount of information instantly filled Hattori's mind.
Sitting cross-legged, Hattori formed hand seals with both hands.
Following the technique's description, he began cultivating with practiced ease.
…
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
"Damn it, where did Mizuki and Naruto go?"
Iruka darted between the trees, his expression full of anxiety.
Stealing the Scroll of Seals was a serious crime.
Even if the Sandaime Hokage was particularly lenient towards Naruto, he would definitely impose severe punishment for this matter.
Because of that, Iruka had to find Naruto as soon as possible.
If he could persuade Naruto to turn himself in, maybe this matter could be settled privately.
However, as he moved through the forest and reached a certain spot, a touch of crimson blood immediately caught his eye.
"Could something have happened to Naruto?"
Iruka felt a pang of fear and quickly ran to the source of the bloody glow.
When he saw the full picture, his pupils instantly contracted sharply.
"This..."
Iruka looked shocked, unable to believe the scene before him.
"Mizuki, how could..."
Mizuki, who he remembered as kind-faced, now lay on the ground with a ferocious expression.
A large, bloody hole had been blasted in his abdomen.
His flesh and intestines were utterly shredded, minced meat scattered all over the ground.
Even Iruka, who had seen death before, felt his stomach churn, a wave of nausea rising in his throat.
He felt that whoever did this was so cruel.
Not only they killed Mizuki, but they also mutilated the corpse like this.
"Judging from the wound, he likely died from a rotating Ninjutsu like the Rasengan."
Suppressing the nausea from his churning stomach, Iruka examined Mizuki's body.
Given the shredded state of the abdomen, the most likely cause was the Rasengan.
"There are only a handful of Shinobi in Konoha who know the Rasengan. They all have solid alibis, so it's impossible for them to have killed Mizuki!"
Iruka's face was full of indignation as he punched the ground.
"Who on earth killed Mizuki?!"
Under the silver moon, Naruto fled swiftly, pursued closely by four or five Shinobi.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto formed hand seals and instantly created dozens of identical copies of himself, fleeing in all directions.
The pursuing Shinobi were stunned at the sight.
They knew about shadow clones, and for an ordinary person, creating three was already considered excellent.
As for instantly splitting into dozens of shadow clones?
An ordinary person would have long died from Chakra exhaustion.
"Sandaime-sama, the identity of the fugitive has been confirmed. It is Naruto."
A Shinobi touched his right ear and reported in a low voice.
Someone who could perform the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and remain unharmed…
In all of Konoha, only Naruto, with the Kyubi sealed inside him, fit the bill.
"Ah, if it's confirmed to be him, then return."
The Sandaime Hokage sighed.
He understood Naruto's nature.
He was just playful and mischievous, but still loyal to the village.
Once he had his fun, he would naturally come to admit his mistake.
Then, a private scolding would suffice.
"Yes."
The Shinobi acknowledged the order and quickly retreated.
However…
What Sandaime never imagined was that the Naruto he remembered as merely mischievous had already partially darkened.
While he wasn't at the point of attacking Konoha and slaughtering everyone yet, wanting Naruto to return?
Impossible.