Seeing that Tsunade was actually about to turn around and go find Nawaki, Mito Uzumaki’s expression darkened.
“Get back here!
How old do you think Nawaki is?
I was talking about you getting married!”
Tsunade laughed awkwardly.
“I’m not that old either.”
“You’re already twenty-four.
How is that not old enough?”
“But I don’t have anyone in mind!”
Tsunade was telling the truth.
There were plenty of people around her age.
But among the men she actually knew well, there were only Sakumo Hatake, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.
Sakumo was already married and even had a child.
As for Orochimaru and Jiraiya…
Forget it.
One spent every day buried in a laboratory.
The other was simply a shameless pervert.
“What do you mean you don’t have anyone?”
Mito looked toward Shikatoki.
“There’s one right here, isn’t there?”
Shikatoki, who had been happily enjoying the show, was suddenly dragged into the conversation.
He and Tsunade looked at each other.
Did Shikatoki like Tsunade?
Of course he did.
She was beautiful, had an incredible figure, was extremely strong— and she practically never aged.
The tips of Tsunade’s ears turned red.
She definitely had some feelings for Shikatoki too.
She simply didn’t want to admit it.
“I’m twelve years older than Shikatoki.”
“By the time he grows up, I’ll already be in my thirties.”
“I’ll be old and washed up by then.”
“Grandma Mito, stop trying to play matchmaker.”
Mito remained perfectly calm.
“You have the Yin Seal.
Why are you worried about getting old?”
“Besides, this isn’t something you should decide by yourself.”
She turned toward Shikatoki.
“We should ask Little Shikatoki what he thinks.”
Both women looked at him.
Shikatoki answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Mm.”
“I like her.”
“See?”
Mito nodded with satisfaction.
Tsunade suddenly felt her heart beating far too quickly.
“Uh…
I just remembered there’s something I need to deal with at the hospital!”
“I’m leaving!”
With that, she practically fled.
Mito chuckled.
“Little Shikatoki, you’ll have to work hard.”
“Don’t worry, Grandma Mito.”
After Tsunade left, Mito and Shikatoki talked for a long time.
Mostly about ordinary family matters.
Then Shikatoki suddenly remembered the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Storage Temple.
“Grandma Mito, do you know what the masks enshrined in the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Storage Temple actually represent?”
Mito looked puzzled.
“They’ve been passed down from our ancestors.”
“They’re said to represent gods, but no one has ever actually seen those gods.”
“Why?”
Shikatoki raised his right hand.
Soul power surged within his palm.
Mito’s perception was extraordinarily sharp.
She immediately sensed an extremely strange energy gathering in Shikatoki’s hand.
It wasn’t chakra.
It felt dangerous— yet strangely peaceful at the same time.
“What is that?”
“I went back to Uzushiogakure.”
Shikatoki explained.
“In the ruins of the Mask Storage Temple, I found the Shinigami Mask.”
“Then I encountered the Shinigami itself.”
“This technique was inspired by what I learned from it.”
“It’s a ninjutsu that targets the soul.”
Shikatoki slightly altered the truth, leaving out the existence of the Skill Editor.
“The Shinigami?”
“The one from the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.”
That immediately made Mito understand.
“You mean…
without actually using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, you saw the Shinigami through its mask?”
“And then developed a soul-targeting ninjutsu from the encounter?”
“That’s basically it.”
Mito looked at Shikatoki as though she were staring at a monster.
After thinking for a moment, she spoke.
“I married Hashirama when I was still quite young.”
“I’ll have someone bring the First Elder here.”
“He may know more than I do.”
A short while later, the First Elder arrived.
After hearing Mito’s explanation, he stared at Shikatoki in disbelief.
“You’re not joking?”
“Of course not.”
Shikatoki looked curious.
“Do you know anything about those masks, First Elder?”
“Not much.”
The First Elder’s eyes filled with distant memories.
“Most of what I know comes from legends passed down orally.”
“My grandfather told me about them when I was young.”
“All of the masks inside the Mask Storage Temple supposedly contain a fragment of a god.”
“That is why the Uzumaki Clan has worshipped and maintained them for generations.”
Shikatoki’s expression became serious.
“It is said that before the Sage of Six Paths ever appeared, these gods were sealed away by some unknown power.”
“However, they left behind certain objects that allowed them to briefly communicate with the shinobi world.”
The more Shikatoki listened, the more reasonable it sounded.
Jashin had already proven that at least one such entity truly had been sealed away— and specifically in the Land of Demons.
Both Jashin and the Shinigami also had mediums through which they could interact with the shinobi world.
The Shinigami had its mask.
Jashin had the altar.
Did that mean there were other sealed gods hidden throughout the shinobi world?
“Thank you, First Elder.”
“This was extremely useful.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
After chatting a little longer, Shikatoki said goodbye and left.
Over the following days, his life became remarkably relaxed.
In the afternoons, he would meet up with Minato and Kushina.
That peaceful routine continued— until Minato challenged him to a spar.
“Shikatoki.”
“Let’s fight!”
Shikatoki blinked.
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
Minato smiled confidently.
“I’ve made a major breakthrough over the past two years.”
“But I haven’t been able to find a suitable opponent.”
“And now you’ve finally come back.”
Hearing that, Shikatoki stood and dusted off his clothes.
“What a coincidence.”
“So have I.”
Inside Konoha’s Forest of Death—
Shikatoki and Minato stood facing each other.
And the people watching this battle?
Every one of them was famous.
Sakumo Hatake.
Tsunade.
Orochimaru.
All of them had personally come to watch.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn’t physically present, but he was watching the entire match through the crystal ball in his office.
Danzō stood beside him.
Members of major clans such as the Hyūga and Uchiha had also arrived.
After all— this was a battle to determine the strongest member of Konoha’s new generation.
Both participants were already renowned across the shinobi world.
The Yellow Flash versus the Shadow Sovereign.
“Who do you think will win?”
Orochimaru asked with a smile.
“Minato, obviously!”
Kushina immediately supported him without hesitation.
Tsunade knew how powerful Minato was.
But she still trusted Shikatoki more.
“Shikatoki.”
Among the Uchiha—
Masatake Uchiha’s expression was solemn.
“Fugaku.”
“Watch carefully.”
“These two are the strongest shinobi of your generation.”
“They are the targets you must surpass.”
Fugaku Uchiha nodded seriously.
“Understood.”
“Let’s begin.”
Shikatoki spoke calmly.
Minato nodded.
“You’re not summoning your shadows?”
“That technique has become a little too dangerous.”
Shikatoki smiled.
“It isn’t suitable for a friendly spar anymore.”
“But don’t worry about me.”
“I’m pretty strong.”
The moment he finished speaking—
Shikatoki activated Sage Mode.
Not the passive state he normally maintained.
This time, he mobilised it at full power.
That was the respect he showed Minato as an opponent.
A tremendous aura erupted from Shikatoki’s body.
Minato’s pupils contracted.
“Sage Mode?!”
“You recognised it.”
“Then I won’t hold back either.”
Minato closed his eyes.
Shikatoki didn’t attack.
He simply waited.
When Minato opened his eyes again— orange pigmentation had appeared around them.
Mount Myōboku’s Sage Mode.
Shikatoki stared at him.
He suddenly remembered the scene from the original story where Minato had claimed he wasn’t particularly good at Sage Mode— only to enter it almost instantly.
“Come on!”
Shikatoki grinned.
“And don’t worry.”
“I won’t use my Sealing Technique.”
Both disappeared simultaneously.
Boom!
They collided head-on.
Pure taijutsu.
Neither used any ninjutsu.
The force of the impact generated a shockwave that shattered the surrounding trees.
Within only a few seconds— they had exchanged dozens of blows.
“Are you serious?!”
Fugaku subconsciously swallowed.
“Father…
are you sure these are the people I’m supposed to surpass?”
Even Masatake looked slightly uncertain now.
“Probably.”
The two fighters crossed paths several more times.
Shikatoki felt exhilarated.
“Minato!”
“Stop holding back.”
“Use everything you’ve got.”
“I won’t be polite either.”
“As you wish!”
Minato vanished instantly.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
He appeared beside Shikatoki.
“Rasengan!”
“Monstrous Strength!”
Boom!
Shikatoki’s fist smashed directly into the Rasengan and forcibly dispersed it.
The flesh across his right hand was instantly torn apart.
Minato’s expression changed.
He was about to stop— when he saw Shikatoki’s mangled hand regenerate completely in a single instant.
That was the terrifying power of immortality.
“That little bit of force?”
Shikatoki deliberately provoked him.
“It’s not even enough to scratch an itch!”
Minato took a deep breath. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Shikatoki.”
“You were actually the one who first told me about the idea behind this technique.”
“I only managed to complete it recently.”
His expression became serious.
“So don’t die.”
“Oh?”
Shikatoki’s interest immediately rose.
“Let me see it.”
Minato raised his right hand above his head.
A Rasengan formed.
Then—
Wind Release chakra began pouring into it.
The Rasengan gradually changed shape.
Its edges extended outward— until it resembled a giant shuriken.
It was the technique that would one day become Naruto Uzumaki’s signature move.
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
And with Minato currently in Sage Mode— the Rasenshuriken was even more dangerous.
The expressions of everyone watching immediately changed.
“What kind of ninjutsu is that?”
Orochimaru stared intently at the Rasenshuriken.
His eyes were filled with curiosity.
“What an incredible sense of danger.”
“Minato truly deserves to be called a genius on Shikatoki’s level.”
Tsunade looked toward Shikatoki.
“Can that brat actually handle this?”
“I’m coming, Shikatoki!”
Minato threw the Rasenshuriken.
Shikatoki didn’t dodge.
He simply stood in place.
“Perfect.”
“I’ll use this to test my immortal body!”
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the Forest of Death.
The Rasenshuriken struck Shikatoki head-on.
A massive crater appeared in the ground.
And it still wasn’t over.
Countless microscopic blades of Wind Release chakra continuously shredded everything within the area.
Minato’s pupils contracted.
“Shikatoki!”
“Why didn’t you defend yourself at all?!”
Tsunade and Orochimaru immediately rushed forward as well.
But before they could intervene—
Shikatoki’s relaxed voice came from inside the dust.
“Defend?”
“No need.”
Shikatoki waved a hand.
The dust surrounding him dispersed.
He stood in the middle of the crater.
His entire body was covered in deep lacerations.
He looked utterly miserable.
Then— crimson light surged across his body.
Within a single breath— every wound disappeared.
Shikatoki was completely restored.
“Not bad.”
He calmly evaluated the attack.
“It didn’t just tear through my natural energy.”
“It also continued inflicting damage afterward.”
Everyone in the Forest of Death fell silent.
Minato’s technique was unquestionably devastating.
But Shikatoki had taken the attack head-on— and regenerated as though nothing had happened.
That was even more shocking.
Tsunade immediately rushed over.
She began touching Shikatoki all over, checking him from head to toe.
“Big Sis Tsunade.”
Shikatoki smirked.
“If you like touching me that much, you can do whatever you want in private.”
Tsunade’s face instantly turned red.
“Peh!”
“What nonsense are you talking about, brat?!”
Then her expression turned serious.
“How exactly did you do that?”
The moment Tsunade asked— everyone present immediately perked up their ears.
“A kind of blood-based ninjutsu combined with Sage Mode.”
Shikatoki answered casually.
“It allows me to rapidly repair injuries.”
He wasn’t actually lying.
He really was using natural energy to drive his blood and rapidly restore his body.
Of course— if someone tried to imitate the technique without understanding the crucial method of controlling their blood…
they would probably explode on the spot.
Inside the Hokage Building—
Danzō’s eyes were filled with fanaticism.
“Hiruzen!”
“You saw that!”
“We absolutely must obtain that technique!”
“Hand Shikatoki over to Root!”
Danzō’s voice finally pulled Hiruzen out of his shock.
Hiruzen looked at him.
His voice was calm— but carried a clear warning.
“Danzō.”
“That is Shikatoki’s ninjutsu.”
“Whether he chooses to share it is his decision.”
“You had better not make any moves behind my back.”
“Otherwise—”
“Root can be dissolved.”
“Hiruzen, you—!”
Danzō wanted to retaliate.
But Hiruzen was still young.
He was still the God of Shinobi.
If Danzō pushed too far—
Hiruzen truly would dissolve Root.
“Hmph!”
“Hiruzen, you’ll regret this.”
Hiruzen’s expression hardened.
“I am the Hokage.”
Danzō slammed the door behind him and left.