Chapter 62: Fugaku: “I’m Offering a Forbidden Jutsu, Why Are You So Anxious?” [Izanami]
Chapter 62: Fugaku: "I'm Offering a Forbidden Jutsu, Why Are You So Anxious?" [Izanami]
"Clan leader Fugaku, what are you saying?!"
Hyuga Hiashi looked at Fugaku in shock, convinced he must have misheard him. The other clan leaders shared his reaction.
"I said, the Uchiha clan is willing to offer a secret technique to Ishihara in exchange for a deal!" Fugaku, seeing Ishihara's calm expression, felt relieved and even smiled as he looked at the enraged Third Hokage.
"You bastard! How dare the Uchiha clan do this?!" The Third Hokage glared at Fugaku with fury in his eyes, wishing he could tear him apart. He had believed that even if his plan failed, he still had a chance to bring Ishihara into Konoha. But Fugaku's words completely shattered that plan.
"Clan leader Fugaku, calm down!"
"Please don't be impulsive!"
"That's your clan's secret technique! How can you just give it away so easily?!"
Everyone finally confirmed they hadn't misheard and were now in utter disbelief. Regardless of their relationship with the Uchiha, they all tried to dissuade him. Although they didn't understand why Fugaku was doing this, they feared it might set a bad precedent that could cause other clans to follow suit, leading to chaos...
Fugaku ignored the other clan leaders and instead walked up to the Third Hokage, provocatively saying, "This is our Uchiha clan's secret technique. Do we need the Hokage's permission to decide what to do with it?"
The Third Hokage, fuming, cursed, "You idiot! Have you lost your mind? The Uchiha clan will never agree to this! You're bringing shame upon the Uchiha!"
Fugaku simply smiled at the furious Third Hokage. If the Uchiha clan were to be annihilated, these secret techniques would just fall into Konoha's hands, benefiting the higher-ups. Instead of letting that happen, why not gamble by handing them over to Ishihara? With this in mind, Fugaku returned home and immediately retrieved the secret technique to bring it to Ishihara. However, what he hadn't expected was that the Third Hokage, who hadn't left Konoha in a long time, had also shown up here. His presence had drawn the attention of all the major clans, and when they saw Fugaku heading in the same direction, they followed suit.
"The Uchiha clan has been driven to this point by all of you!!!" Fugaku growled through gritted teeth, causing the Third Hokage's expression to change dramatically. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Don't think I don't know what you're planning! I won't let you succeed!" Fugaku resolutely stated before turning to Ishihara, handing over a scroll. "Here are the secret and forbidden techniques I promised you!"
Ishihara took the scroll, opened it, and squinted in surprise. "Izanami?"
Fugaku nodded proudly. "That's right, this is the Uchiha clan's sincerity!"
While the others were still processing this, Hyuga Hiashi, who came from a similarly ancient lineage, was stunned and exclaimed, "Clan leader Fugaku, have you gone mad? You're even handing over a forbidden technique like Izanami?!"
Having read the records of his own clan, Hiashi knew that Izanami was one of the Uchiha clan's most closely guarded forbidden techniques—a taboo among taboos. Yet, Fugaku had just given it away. This was madness!
Fugaku shook his head and sighed. "Why don't you think about what could be worth the price of Uchiha's forbidden techniques? Why did our Hokage come here in secret? Do you think both of us have gone mad?"
Hiashi and the others were momentarily stunned before turning their questioning gazes toward the Third Hokage. However, the Third Hokage's brows were furrowed, and he seemed unwilling to speak.
Seeing this, Fugaku glanced at Ishihara, and seeing that he had no objections, he sneered. "It seems our Hokage still plans to keep it hidden. In that case, let me introduce everyone to the person standing before you." Fugaku then relayed the information about Ishihara that Itachi had provided.
Naturally, Hiashi and the others didn't believe it. The information was simply too outrageous! Instead, they thought Fugaku had been fooled by Ishihara. But Fugaku didn't mind at all; instead, he looked at Ishihara with a hint of anticipation.
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. I've personally verified it, which is why I'm offering this forbidden technique. All I ask is for Mr. Ishihara to help improve Izanami!"
The Third Hokage was furious. After Fugaku's words, there was no way to keep Ishihara's existence a secret. More importantly, Fugaku intended to hand over the terrifying forbidden technique Izanami to Ishihara, which was absolutely unacceptable.
"Fugaku, think carefully! Giving such a forbidden technique to someone of unknown origin is absurd, especially when that person is Orochi—"
The Third Hokage was getting desperate. He couldn't allow the Uchiha to join forces with Ishihara; the potential threat was too great. Fugaku, however, waved his hand, cutting him off.
"Hokage-sama, Mr. Ishihara has mastered space-time ninjutsu!" As he spoke, Fugaku cast a meaningful glance at the Third Hokage. As expected, the Third Hokage's words abruptly stopped.
Mastering space-time ninjutsu meant that Ishihara could leave Konoha at any time and could also appear in Konoha whenever he wished. Even if he exposed Ishihara as Orochimaru's disciple, it wouldn't threaten Ishihara; it might even provoke him.
Ishihara, watching the two of them with an amused expression, made Fugaku feel a chill in his heart. He was genuinely worried that the Third Hokage might anger Ishihara, ruining the Uchiha clan's plans, which was why he interrupted.
What intrigued Ishihara, however, was that the forbidden technique turned out to be Izanami instead of Izanagi. Whether this was intentional or not, he couldn't say. He gave Fugaku a deep look, thinking, "It seems this guy does know my intentions."
Fugaku had brought all these clans here, likely intending to drag them into the situation, making it easier for him to acquire their secret techniques. In that case, why not grant him his wish?
Ishihara picked up the scroll and carefully studied it, then closed his eyes. Izanami wasn't very complex; in fact, it was quite simple, utilizing basic genjutsu principles. However, its strength lay in the binding power that came at the cost of Mangekyō Sharingan blindness, far surpassing ordinary genjutsu.
Ishihara's mastery of genjutsu had long surpassed the level of Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu, arguably making him the strongest illusionist in the ninja world. Developing a technique with a similar looping effect to Izanami wasn't difficult, and he quickly came up with a prototype.
[You have read Izanami. Based on your genjutsu foundation and experience, you have adjusted Izanami's power and reduced its cost.]
[You have created the secret technique: Weakened Izanami.]
[Weakened Izanami: After use, it traps the enemy in a powerful looping illusion, making it extremely difficult to escape. Side effect: It can only be used once within a short period.]
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