Chapter 112: The Curtain Rises - The Plot Explodes!
Tsukasa's expression
twisted slightly as he stared at the scroll in his hand, identical to the one Mangetsu Hōzuki held. He immediately unrolled it and began reading its contents.
Unfolding it revealed a crude map of the shinobi world.
A path from the Land of Earth through the Land of Hot Water to the Land of Water was specially marked.
Along the route, at points passing through the minor nations of Iron, Fields, and Grass, detailed notes estimated troop numbers and information on commanding high-ranking shinobi.
Finally, a heavy red circle was drawn around
Midori Reef—
the final line of defense between the coastline of the Land of Hot Water and Kirigakure's main island in the Land of Water.
Interspersed throughout the scroll were shinobi profiles.
Maki, Kakkō, Taiseki, and Kitsuchi
—all powerful Jōnin from Iwagakure. Tsukasa had a vague recollection that the first three had participated in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, while the latter...
Kitsuchi, son of the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and father of the future Fourth Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi, had left a deep impression on Tsukasa from the original story.
Upon seeing this scroll, Tsukasa took a sharp breath.
Everything made sense!
No wonder the hunter-nin abandoned their pursuit after unleashing the Exploding Water Colliding Wave and went silent.
No wonder Yagura Karatachi and Mangetsu Hōzuki were so agitated upon seeing this information.
No wonder, no wonder.
But what chilled Tsukasa even more was that
he
had caused all of this to happen!
It was Tsukasa who had rewritten the course of this war!
His tiny butterfly wings had already unleashed a catastrophic tornado!
That night three days ago,
from the formation of Team Tsukasa—
no, from the moment he left Konoha Village—
the world had already veered into chaos!
Setsuna Uchiha, who should have died, survived, temporarily halting the Chinoike Clan's rebellion.
Shinnō, who was supposed to enter the cave and be ambushed by Orochimaru, escaped without confrontation.
Orochimaru, who was supposed to obtain the forbidden technique of Physical Regeneration, didn't, forcing him to face reality and temporarily abandon his obsession with immortality.
As a result,
Orochimaru, no longer consumed by his immortality research, temporarily regained his sense of responsibility as one of the Sannin.
After failing to acquire the forbidden technique, Orochimaru didn't dive headfirst into his laboratory, frantically conducting experiments with test subjects provided by Danzo.
Instead,
he actively participated in the Third Shinobi World War!
Considering the storyline from the original series where Jiraiya and Minato's team infiltrated Iwagakure territory, it seemed likely that
Orochimaru, as the frontline commander and Jiraiya's close comrade, would have—after consulting with Danzo—launched this bombshell to disrupt Iwagakure's operations and aid Jiraiya's mission.
This bombshell was the scroll he now held, detailing Iwagakure's troop movements.
This was likely the result of Jiraiya's earlier intelligence gathering.
After delivering this scroll to the turbulent Kirigakure,
neither the conservative nor reform factions within Kirigakure could sit idly by while Iwagakure forces stormed Midori Reef and attacked Kirigakure headquarters!
This supposedly vengeful assault by Iwagakure's elite troops—
this blitzkrieg attack—
would, under the manipulations of Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo, devolve into a stalemate.
And beneath this maneuver, there must be another major operation!
It would be a pivotal mission that could change the entire course of the Third Shinobi World War!
Tsukasa trembled slightly, his Sharingan unconsciously activating, a chill running through his heart.
What kind of operation could possibly warrant providing Kirigakure with such crucial intelligence?
What exactly was happening in the Land of Rain right now?
Aburame Ryoma,
watching Tsukasa's expression, was stunned.
With such news—
shouldn't this boy be relieved to be alive?
But what was that look on his face?
Why did he appear so shaken?
"Hey, hey, Tsukasa, Tsukasa, are you alright?"
"What's wrong with you?"
Aburame Ryoma waved his hand in front of Tsukasa's face, concern evident as he asked.
"I-I'm fine. Let me think, let me think. Don't interrupt!"
However, Tsukasa seemed oblivious to the hand waving before him.
His tone, initially calm, became rapid and nearly shattered!
He almost burst into cursing!
His lips trembled as he stared intently at the scroll in his hand,
his mind overloading as he tried to extrapolate the future from this foundation.
What would Konoha do? What would Orochimaru do? What would Danzo do? What would Hiruzen Sarutobi do?
At this very moment!
What exactly were they planning?
But it was incomprehensible!
Absolutely incomprehensible!
His actions had influenced the decisions of the original timeline's characters,
and their reactions, in turn, had interrupted his suicidal final technique!
It was poetic justice.
Therefore—
the future was no longer predictable!
With the information he possessed, Tsukasa could no longer foresee what would happen next.
The realization made him gasp for air.
His eyes widened, the two tomoe in his crimson pupils spinning wildly.
His breathing became rapid and labored, as if a bomb ready to explode at any moment was lodged in his throat.
It felt as if a giant hand controlling fate suddenly reached out and
grasped his immortal heart!
With a fierce squeeze, soul-shaking pain and powerlessness suddenly surged through him.
"How is this possible?!"
Tsukasa stumbled backward several steps, his hands trembling as he held the scroll. His pupils filled with
panic,
and sweat instantly covered his forehead.
The tomoe in his Sharingan spun wildly, struggling to evolve from two to three, or even into more advanced patterns.
However,
even with the right emotional catalyst, his eyes lacked the strength—his body was too weak, unable to accumulate sufficient energy.
It had only been five days since these eyes had grown from nothing to two tomoe,
and they could no longer withstand the next level of evolution.
In his tangled emotions, Tsukasa stumbled backward several more steps,
unable to even properly control the chakra in his feet.
Suddenly, one foot slipped beneath the water's surface, and he lost his balance,
on the verge of falling completely.
However,
amidst the fear of falling,
the helplessness and unpredictability that filled him with despair,
a clear, bell-like voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Hey, are you okay?"
A pair of soft, delicate hands slipped beneath Tsukasa's legs and back, lifting him up in a perfect princess carry.
Tsukasa's head, which felt like it was about to explode from overthinking, suddenly
came to rest
against something warm and soft.
The chaotic thoughts racing through his mind were instantly swept away by a far more primal distraction.
His thoughts suddenly cleared,
and then,
he looked up
to see a pair of innocent, blinking emerald eyes.
Like the most beautiful jade in the world—
clear, bright, and slightly defiant.
So beautiful they made him forget all his troubles for a moment.
Tsukasa's eyes widened slightly as he subconsciously adjusted his viewing angle.
The next second,
a flash of indignation crossed those clear emerald eyes.
"Pervert! What are you doing?!"
Splash!
A burst of water erupted!
For a moment, the battlefield was filled with an atmosphere of youthful chaos~
End of Chapter 112
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