Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 203: The Pitiful Stench

Katsuragi Mountain.

The traces of the battle from more than a year ago have now completely vanished from this land.

Collapsed houses have been rebuilt, damaged barriers have been restored, and even the large crater left by the multiple uses of the Fury of Heaven Forbidden Technique has been filled in.

The only difference now is the master of this place. The previous feared warrior from the Shinobi World War, the En no Gyoja, has passed away.

Currently, the one overseeing the Tsuchigumo clan of Katsuragi Mountain is the En no Gyoja's granddaughter, the very young Hotaru.

"Miss, it was too risky for you to rescue that person."

At this moment, within the clan's territory, the slightly older Tonbee looked at the strange man lying on the bed with a furrowed brow. He then turned to Hotaru with a worried expression.

Hotaru, whose face had matured somewhat, replied earnestly, "When I found him, he was already gravely injured and unconscious. I couldn't just let him die, Tonbee."

Tonbee shook his head and continued to persuade her, "But we don't know whether this person is good or evil. If we bring trouble to our door, and besides, I just checked, his injuries were caused by ninja. If the ninja hunting him are drawn here, Katsuragi Mountain will be in danger."

Currently, with only Miss Hotaru left as the last of her line, Tonbee really didn't want to see a repeat of the events from a year ago.

"Don't worry, Tonbee," Hotaru assured, patting her chest. "I'm very strong now; I can definitely protect everyone."

Although her grandfather's death had made Hotaru despondent for a while, she had since been striving hard, continuously studying the Water Release training scroll left by Hagoromo Gengetsu, and had even activated the Fury of Heaven Forbidden Technique.

In terms of combat power, she wasn't inferior to those famous Jonin from the outside world.

It was precisely because of this that Hotaru was much more confident than before, compared to her previously gentle nature.

Looking at Hotaru now, Tonbee suddenly felt a bit dazed.

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He had almost forgotten that Miss Hotaru was no longer the helpless girl she used to be.

Having inherited the power of the forbidden technique and being exceptionally talented in ninjutsu, even he was no longer a match for her. Miss Hotaru was now qualified to take on the responsibility of reviving the Tsuchigumo clan and becoming the next En no Gyoja.

Thinking of this, Tonbee sighed and was about to comply with her wishes.

Suddenly, the person on the bed moved.

Hotaru and Tonbee immediately looked over.

Soon, the man opened his eyes.

"Where... am I?" Utakata immediately surveyed his surroundings, looking at the unfamiliar place and people, then struggled to sit up and asked coldly.

Hotaru stepped forward to support him, "You're still injured; don't make any sudden movements."

Utakata, uncomfortable with someone being so close to him, slightly moved away and asked again, "Where am I?"

Seeing this, Hotaru, who had undergone Hagoromo Gengetsu's repeated releases of the forbidden technique and understood that some people, though eccentric, had good hearts, looked at Utakata's cold demeanor and patiently explained, "This is Katsuragi Mountain. Don't worry, you are safe here; there won't be any danger."

Hagoromo clearly didn't listen to Hotaru's words.

He glanced at Hotaru, who had saved his life, ignored his injuries, and directly got up, walking briskly towards the door.

"Wait! You're still injured," Hotaru hurriedly called out.

Without looking back, Hagoromo said, "Don't stop me. You shouldn't have saved me."

After saying this, he pushed open the door and walked outside.

However, after only a few steps, he fell to the ground with a thud, his eyes closing as he fainted again.

Hotaru and Tonbee exchanged glances.

The latter sighed again, walked over to Utakata, picked him up, and brought him back to the bed.

From his recent behavior, although not very polite, it was clear he didn't want to bring trouble to this place.

Overall, he seemed to be of decent character.

Miss Hotaru, being kind-hearted, had no choice but to accept the situation.

Outside Katsuragi Mountain.

Hagoromo Gengetsu raised his head, and in the distance, he once again saw the mountain standing tall like a chopstick.

"I didn't expect to come back here again."

The En no Gyoja was definitely gone. Back then, Hagoromo Gengetsu had seen at a glance that the man's body functions had deteriorated to the extreme. After being frightened by him, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few days.

Now, the head of the clan should be that young girl named Hotaru.

Interestingly, despite him being an invader, Hotaru was not only unafraid but also wanted to become his apprentice when they parted.

Hagoromo Gengetsu hadn't agreed at the time, but he had left her a Water Release training scroll before departing.

He wondered how much she had learned.

Retracting his gaze, Hagoromo Gengetsu, just like last time, headed towards Katsuragi Mountain.

If the butterfly effect hadn't spread too far, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, who was fleeing, would likely stop near Katsuragi Mountain.

If he hadn't arrived yet, spending some time and waiting patiently wouldn't hurt.

Hagoromo Gengetsu proceeded towards Katsuragi Mountain.

On the way, he heard whispers from the nearby dense forest but didn't bother to pay attention and continued forward.

However, the conversations still reached his ears one after another.

"Are you sure that old man is dead?"

"Confirmed, Lord Bailang. Tonbee, that old guy, deliberately hid it for so long, but after repeated questioning by the village elders in the hidden village within the mountain, he finally revealed the truth. After all, it was unreasonable for the En no Gyoja not to have appeared for so long."

"Very well! It seems that the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden technique is now in the hands of that little girl, Hotaru. The Tsuchigumo clan truly has no successors!"

"Lord Bailang, shall we act now and seize the forbidden technique?"

"No rush. After the attack on Katsuragi Mountain a year ago, many barriers and traps have been changed. We must investigate thoroughly first. Otherwise, if Konoha's reinforcements arrive, it will be troublesome."

"Lord Bailang, you're truly foresighted. However, just now, our conversation was overheard by a passerby. What should we do?"

"I noticed him earlier. Just a pest, squash him."

"Yes!"

*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*

As the words fell, four figures swiftly emerged from the dense forest, surrounding Hagoromo Gengetsu.

One of them, a man named Naño, sneered coldly at Hagoromo Gengetsu and said, "Eavesdropping on others' secrets is a bad habit. Unlucky fellow, have you decided how you want to die? I'm feeling generous and can grant your wish."

Hagoromo Gengetsu ignored him, continuing his steps at his own pace.

Seeing that the man, who was about to die, still ignored them, Nanxiang and the others found it both amusing and insulting.

As they moved to attack, they laughed and said, "Pitiful stench..."

Before the words were finished, Hagoromo Gengetsu, no longer holding back, finally glanced at them.

*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*

In an instant, kunai flew out from the ninja pouches of the four, swiftly penetrating their heads.

Even as they fell, closing their eyes, they didn't know what had happened.

Not far away, Bailang, with his hands behind his back, adopting a boss-like posture and waiting for his subordinates to return, saw this scene and opened his mouth in shock.

Drip.

A drop of cold sweat fell straight from his forehead.