With the Senju fully independent and establishing their ace army under Snowfield Palace, a new system feature had unlocked: Team Dungeon Experience.
After a little research, Yukika understood:
Build a legion. Clear dungeons.
Based on dungeon performance, the entire legion's attributes would improve: chakra, spiritual pressure, strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, combat skills. A full-spectrum enhancement.
Exactly what Yukika needed!
Each transcription of a dungeon varied in length — a few hours to several days — but the rules were simple:
Kill and fight.
Push people to their limits on the brink of life and death. Dying inside the dungeon merely ejected them back to the real world.
The dungeons were drawn from other dimensions.
One, for instance, was the "Paramount War" from One Piece — medium difficulty.
Higher difficulty worlds like "Thousand-Year Blood War" from Bleach could also appear.
Each dungeon reset after completion — one day for simple ones, seven days for difficult ones. Manageable.
Within these dungeons, Yukika could train his clan effectively, while himself slaughtering enemies to speed up skill inheritance.
Whether the dungeon worlds were real dimensions didn't matter to Yukika.
When he finally crushed Konoha, he would open the doors to other worlds.
This was what he intended to announce tonight:
Select elite troops. Form a legion. Experience elemental dungeons under his personal command.
Let the clan witness the terrifying combat skills of those beyond the ninja world.
It was essential.
This system feature truly suited him.
After all, it matched the main system ability: Dark Kun — the king must have strong soldiers.
Battle experience was a necessary step.
Though death in the dungeon wasn't real, the experience was, and only by testing the limits of life and death could true growth occur.
After training, the Senju would return to the ninja world transformed.
The Third Great Ninja War would soon break out.
After the Senju formally left Konoha, their enemies would exploit the period of recovery to strike hard at the Fire Country.
That was Yukika's reason for acting now.
Those fools didn't know it yet, but the Fire Country's Daimyo, though silent, had already surrendered in spirit.
Yukika had no interest in hiding in the shadows playing politics. Once he reached critical mass, he would sweep everything before him openly.
His team's experiences had given Yukika many insights. His combat path had changed.
"My Clan Leader," came a respectful voice.
Senju Tiezhu appeared, bowing. "Someone from Konoha wishes to meet you."
"Who?" Yukika asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Jiraiya. He says it's urgent."
Jiraiya? Wasn't he on the front lines?
Yukika stroked his chin and gestured for Tiezhu to bring him in.
Inside Snowfield Palace, Jiraiya stood stunned.
He had never seen such grand architecture.
Even Mount Myoboku's temples paled in comparison. Inside, the magnificent decor left him speechless.
When he saw Yukika sitting atop a towering throne, Jiraiya almost felt the urge to kneel.
It wasn't about loyalty — it was the overwhelming presence of true kingship.
Awkwardly flushing, Jiraiya didn't know how to address Yukika.
"Just call me Yukika," the man said with a chuckle, saving him from embarrassment.
Still the same Yukika.
Jiraiya relaxed slightly.
"I have something important to tell you," he said seriously. "It's about the Great Toad Sage's prophecy."
Oh?
Yukika's lips curled.
"The Great Toad Sage summoned me a few days ago," Jiraiya said. "He said… you would personally bury the Child of Prophecy on the path of light."
He continued, voice lowering.
"He said your actions hinder and attempt to destroy the world."
"He even used the example of you making Kirigakure betray… calling it a symbol of evil."
Jiraiya felt increasingly uneasy under the glare of Senju Tiezhu.
"And?" Yukika asked, amused.
"He said you are a demon, the child of evil, destined to destroy this world."
"He wanted me to spread this message."
Senju Tiezhu scowled, glaring fiercely at Jiraiya.
But at Yukika's glance, he held back.
"A demon, a child of evil, destined to destroy the world…"
Yukika felt no anger. Instead, he almost laughed.
"And you? What did you say?"
Jiraiya inhaled deeply, steadying his gaze.
"I told the Great Toad Sage — you are not that kind of person."
After Yukika's earlier chastisement, Jiraiya had pondered long and hard.
The ninja world wasn't saved through mutual understanding alone.
Yukika had given him the answer.
Everything Yukika did was to protect his clan from being manipulated and destroyed.
That others would see his protection as evil left Jiraiya deeply conflicted.
Thus, he had come personally to hear Yukika's own words.
"Child of evil…"
Yukika smiled faintly.
The Sage of Six Paths sounded a lot like Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't he?
Using village gossip to crush White Fang, trying to use words to kill him too?
But…
Was he still that timid, powerless child?
"Go back," Yukika said, smiling chillingly. "Tell him — I am the child of evil."
"One day, I'll pay a visit to that so-called sage, and burn Mount Myoboku to ashes."
"That's all."