Sakiya's so-called "teaching" mostly involved throwing out ideas and letting others figure things out.
For Ino, she eagerly explained various theories on summoning techniques, psychic-style abilities, and unique chakra applications.
Ino listened carefully, deep in thought, before getting lost in her own analysis.
As for Chihiro…
Sakiya decided to have her train using the same technique she taught Sakuragi.
Even though Chihiro's chakra control wasn't perfect, she had something unique—a wire attached to her sword.
By swinging the blade quickly, she could extend the wire like an invisible razor, an undetectable cutting edge.
This brilliant idea actually came from Chihiro herself.
Sakiya hadn't even considered it before.
It made sense—by adding a few steel wires and infusing them with wind chakra, they became deadly, almost limitless cutting blades.
An enemy who wasn't careful… wouldn't even realize they'd been sliced apart.
Chihiro gave Sakiya a big thumbs-up and went off to refine her technique.
---
Meanwhile…
Tsunade and her squad of shinobi rushed toward the explosion site.
They had already been investigating from a distance, but once they confirmed the blast had no further aftershocks, they approached.
What they found was shocking.
The entire forest had been wiped away.
In its place was a massive crater, still radiating heat and dust.
At the edge of this destruction stood Sakiya and the others, completely unharmed.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and advanced.
Ino and Chihiro were the first to notice her arrival.
Their stomachs dropped.
Oh no.
Of course, an explosion this big was going to cause panic in the village.
They were so screwed.
Tsunade didn't waste any time.
"Chihiro! What the hell happened here?! Do you know what caused this explosion?"
Chihiro froze.
Cold sweat dripped down her face.
She glanced at Sakiya, her expression practically screaming for help.
Tsunade followed her gaze—and locked onto Sakiya.
Sakiya's face drained of color.
A single drop of sweat rolled down her forehead.
She opened her mouth—then shut it.
Her body stiffened.
"...Uhh… w-well… you see… um…"
Her voice wavered.
Then, all at once, she blurted out:
"IT WAS ME! IT WAS ME, OKAY?! I WAS JUST TESTING SOMETHING!"
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched.
Testing…?
Her gaze swept over the scene.
A giant crater.
A completely vanished forest.
Nothing left but scorched earth.
Testing?!
Tsuchiya cut in, trying to help.
"Uh, I mean, technically… this is a training ground. Testing jutsu here is reasonable, right?"
Tsunade said nothing.
Instead, she slowly raised her hand… and flicked Sakiya's forehead.
Thwack!
Sakiya yelped, clutching her head.
"Wahhh~! That hurt!"
Tsunade's expression darkened.
"You call that a simple ninjutsu test?!"
"Uhh…"
Sakiya looked away, rubbing her forehead.
Tsunade raised her finger again—
Smack!
"Ow! Ow! I only did a few tests!"
Tsunade twitched.
"A few tests?! What do you think Konoha will look like if you keep 'testing' like this?! A pile of rubble?!"
Sakiya flinched.
Tsunade moved to deliver another flick—
But then—
Ino suddenly stepped forward, standing between them.
Tsunade stopped, momentarily caught off guard.
Ino took a deep breath.
Then, with absolute confidence, she declared:
"No, Tsunade-sama. That wasn't an explosion…
It was a volcanic eruption."
Silence.
The entire area fell completely still.
The ANBU standing beside Tsunade couldn't help but glance at the massive crater, the scorched earth, and the clear evidence of a shockwave that had devastated the entire area.
They were at a loss for words.
Did Ino really just call this a volcanic eruption?
Tsunade thought the same thing at first—until she paused.
Wait a minute…
A small-scale volcanic eruption was a reasonable explanation, wasn't it?
Huh.
If they officially reported it that way, it would save them the trouble of calming the villagers down.
Tsunade turned back to Ino, a rare look of approval on her face.
"An underground volcanic eruption... not bad."
Silence.
Everyone, including Ino, froze in shock.
SHE ACTUALLY BOUGHT IT.
Tsunade, having found the perfect excuse, mentally checked off that problem.
Then she remembered…
The culprit.
Her eyes snapped back to Sakiya.
She strode over, grabbed Sakiya's face, and lifted it up.
"What did you just say?! That was your technique?!"
Sakiya's cheeks squished awkwardly in Tsunade's grip.
"Y-Yes…! Let go!"
She grabbed at Tsunade's hands, trying to pry them off.
But Tsunade was in full-on shock mode.
"Hold on… You're telling me you have a technique this powerful?! It's stronger than a Tailed Beast Bomb…"
The ANBU standing nearby exchanged glances.
Did Hokage-sama really just notice this NOW?!
Her reaction time was unreal.
Tsunade suddenly released Sakiya, her expression shifting from shock to serious contemplation.
"...Sakiya. I'm letting this slide this time. But don't forget—the Five Kage Summit is in seven days. You know what that means, right?"
And just like that, she turned and walked away, taking the ANBU with her.
Sakiya stood there, completely dumbfounded.
"...Huh?"
And so, the Great Explosion Incident… was officially over.
A dark chamber.
Nagato's body lay on a stone slab, strange tendrils burrowing into his skin, transferring something into him.
But unlike before—when he had been frail and sickly, on the brink of death—Nagato's body now appeared… normal.
His skin had regained color. His breathing was steady.
His vitality was visible to the naked eye.
Then, his eyes snapped open.
Sensing his awakening, the masked figure standing beside him spoke.
"Hmm… it seems your body is adapting well to Hashirama's cells. Not surprising, considering you're from the Uzumaki clan."
Nagato slowly lifted his upper body, his gaze locking onto the speaker—Obito.
His voice was calm, but firm.
"Obito, once this is done, we're even."
Obito chuckled, his tone light but laced with expectation.
"Nagato, with the power you have now… no one in the ninja world can stand against you. The Rinnegan has reached its full potential."
Then, he paused—his voice turning sly.
"Tell me… don't you want to test it out? Why not launch an attack on the Five Great Nations and declare war?"
Nagato remained silent for a moment, assessing the unparalleled strength surging through him.
His fingers curled into fists.
Then, he smiled.
"The Five Great Nations… The Five Kage… This time, no one can stop me. I will show them the power of a god."
His Rinnegan glowed ominously.
"The reason a god is a god… is because he wields absolute power."
Obito smirked.
"The Five Kage Summit is the perfect opportunity. I'll handle the declaration of war."
Nagato nodded, his expression unwavering.
"Go ahead. Akatsuki will fulfill Yahiko's dream. There's no more suspense."
---
Konoha Research Facility.
The lifeless bodies of the Six Paths of Pain lay across cold examination tables.
A team of researchers meticulously dissected them, drawing conclusions that sent shivers down their spines.
The results were clear—they were all corpses.
Each had been dead for a long time, their bodies controlled through an external force.
The strange black rods embedded in their flesh were the key.
A puppet system.
Once that connection was cut, the bodies became nothing more than lifeless shells.
Just to be safe, all black rods were removed immediately—to prevent any sudden "resurrections."
When Tsunade received the report, she was stunned.
But something bothered her even more.
The face of the Deva Path… looked oddly familiar.
So, she brought the corpse to Jiraiya.
The moment he saw it, his eyes widened in horror.
"...Yahiko."
But something wasn't right.
Jiraiya knew Yahiko. He knew his eyes were never like this.
Yet here he was—his body twisted into a puppet, his eyes now holding the Rinnegan.
A deep unease settled in Jiraiya's chest.
Something was very, very wrong.
And there was only one place he could go to find answers.
"I have to go to Amegakure."
With that, he made his decision—he would uncover the truth himself.
_______________
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