Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 41: The Acquisition of the Spirit Transformation Technique

"My sword!"

While evading the tremors of the Earth Core, Gamahiro momentarily lost focus. The two ninja swords in his hands seemed to gain a mind of their own, suddenly flying out of his grasp, aiming directly at Jiraiya.

"Watch out, Jiraiya!" Gamahiro quickly warned.

Jiraiya looked up, his pupils reflecting the two ninja swords much larger than himself.

"Magnet Release."

Thud! Thud!

As if cutting through tofu, the tips of the two giant swords plunged several meters into the ground.

Jiraiya narrowly dodged, but as he tried to move past them, the swords quickly rose again, like dragons, slashing towards him once more.

By the time Gamahiro came over and tightly held his weapons down, Jiraiya continued searching for Hagoromo Gengetsu, only to find that he had already disappeared into the labyrinthine Earth Core.

Hagoromo Gengetsu's goal was never to defeat Jiraiya but to acquire the Spirit Transformation Technique.

From the beginning, his actual confrontations with Jiraiya were minimal, preserving his strength to block everyone else.

Just like now.

Preventing Jiraiya from getting entangled, Hagoromo Gengetsu deliberately blocked them. Even if Gamabunta and the others managed to break through his obstruction, it would take significant time.

But time was precisely what they lacked the most.

"Time is running out. If we don't make a decision soon, Tsunade will be in danger. Well, she already is in grave danger."

Hagoromo Gengetsu's voice echoed clearly in everyone's ears.

"Let me show you the live situation."

"Water Release: Mirror of Reflection!"

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As his voice fell, a huge water mirror condensed in mid-air.

Jiraiya and the others looked up, clearly seeing the situation of Tsunade displayed on the mirror's surface.

Before making his move, Hagoromo Gengetsu had sent a shadow clone to hide near the location where Tsunade and Orochimaru were trading, relaying real-time information.

In the mirror, Tsunade appeared trembling and powerless, completely unlike her usual valiant self.

This was because Kabuto Yakushi had deliberately splattered blood on her.

"Who would have thought that the most famous medical ninja in the shinobi world would fear blood?"

With a mocking smile, Kabuto Yakushi attacked Tsunade wantonly, who couldn't fight back and was in a pitiful state.

If Orochimaru didn't need Tsunade to heal his hands, one of the legendary Sannin would have met her end here.

"Fight back, Granny Tsunade!"

Naruto couldn't believe that the female ninja who had easily knocked him out before was now so fragile. Clenching his fists, he shouted loudly to cheer for her, regardless of whether she could hear him.

"Tsunade..." Jiraiya fell silent.

"Lady Tsunade!!!" Shizune was extremely anxious.

Knowing well that this was a manifestation of Tsunade's hemophobia, she looked at Kabuto Yakushi with murderous intent, wishing she could immediately rush to Tsunade's side.

"Hand over the Spirit Transformation Technique, and I'll let you all go."

Seeing that the situation was almost ripe, Hagoromo Gengetsu appeared in front of Shizune, issuing his final ultimatum.

"You should clearly understand which is more important, the Spirit Transformation Technique or Lady Tsunade's life."

"You bastard!!!" Naruto glared at Hagoromo Gengetsu with wide eyes.

Despite his anger, he didn't recklessly charge forward as usual.

Even Naruto, with his straightforward thinking, understood how dire the current situation was.

With Naruto behaving this way, Jiraiya sighed and did not voice any further refusal.

Watching her master in distress, Shizune wasted no time.

"Take it!"

With a puff of white smoke, Shizune summoned an ancient scroll and threw it to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu caught it with one hand. A glance at the scroll's aged appearance reassured him.

In such a short time, it was unlikely that Shizune could forge a ninja technique scroll this convincingly.

Sure enough, upon quickly skimming through it, Hagoromo Gengetsu, with his extensive knowledge of ninja techniques, confirmed it was indeed the Spirit Transformation Technique.

"Can we leave now?" Shizune asked urgently.

Hagoromo Gengetsu nodded, stopping his technique, and keeping his word, stepped aside with an inviting gesture:

"Please."

Jiraiya took a deep look at Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Without any further trouble, he quickly gave orders to the three Toad Brothers.

Soon, the Toad Brothers, carrying Jiraiya, Shizune, and Naruto, leaped swiftly towards Tsunade.

Left behind, watching the giant figures swiftly retreat, Hagoromo Gengetsu smiled:

"Thanks, Orochimaru."

He truly had to thank Orochimaru. Without his threat to Tsunade's life, Shizune wouldn't have obediently handed over the Spirit Transformation Technique scroll.

As for coercion or bribery, Tsunade had refused even the conditions to revive her lover and brother, so other terms were out of the question.

Additionally, the fierce Tsunade might choose to perish together rather than allow Shizune to be threatened.

This success was partly due to Orochimaru's role as the villain, drawing hatred, and partly due to Tsunade and Shizune being separated.

After sincerely thanking the self-sacrificing, altruistic "great person" Orochimaru again, Hagoromo Gengetsu had no interest in watching the reunion of the Sannin or whether Tsunade would overcome her hemophobia, or if Naruto would find another way to complete the Rasengan.

Having acquired what he needed, it was time to return and finish everything.

"I've had enough of this filthy Reanimation body."

A breeze passed by.

Hagoromo Gengetsu's figure disappeared.

The once bustling battlefield fell silent.

Valley of the Fallen God

Located in the northeast of the Land of Fire, near the border with the Land of Hot Water.

Leaving Tanzaku Town and moving away from the increasingly intense Sannin battlefield, Hagoromo Gengetsu rushed towards the Valley of the End at top speed.

The powerful concealment ability granted by the Forbidden Technique: Eternal Breath only worked in the burial site.

Bringing it out would nullify the hiding effect.

To be safe, Hagoromo Gengetsu did not take his body with him upon leaving, instead, as he had done for decades, confidently leaving it buried in the underground of the Valley of the End.

Without any delays, traveling day and night, Hagoromo Gengetsu soon returned to the Valley of the Fallen God.

The two grand statues, weathered by decades of wind and rain, still stood facing each other in confrontation.

Everything was almost the same as when he left.

Except for a few “rats” spying in the dark.

"Konoha’s people? They managed to find this place."

Noticing the few "rats" watching him had discovered his presence and were retreating to relay the information, Hagoromo Gengetsu's eyes turned cold, ready to eliminate them completely.

Suddenly!

An unexpected change occurred before his eyes.

Raising an eyebrow, he stopped in his tracks, curiously watching the events unfold.

Until the unexpected situation concluded.

Focusing his gaze on the openly approaching figure, Hagoromo Gengetsu smiled:

"Interesting."