Yoru watched as the soul energy dissipated rapidly—but he wasn't disappointed.
Creating something from nothing always requires countless trials and errors. Success was never expected on the first attempt.
Moreover, this time wasn't a complete loss!
"Using Reiryoku can indeed activate the 'Self-Power' contained within a soul, but this approach severely harms the soul and damages its very essence."
"What if we try stimulating it with other powers?"
Chakra and Natural Energy can limit souls. This is evident from techniques like the Spirit Transformation Technique and Edo Tensei, and even the unique Soul Summoning Jutsu created by Hiromi
However, if chakra and natural energy can't activate the 'Self-Power' within a soul, then what other energy can?
"Perhaps, we could try using mental energy..."
Mental energy and 'Self-Power' are, in essence, the same thing. Using energy of the same type might yield better results.
"Hiromi, summon another soul!"
"Yes, Lord Yoru."
Hiromi didn't hesitate. She took a mass of flesh from a nearby container and quickly formed hand signs. The number of seals for this jutsu was many and exceedingly complex. As the hand signs were completed, intricate cursed patterns immediately appeared on the surface of the flesh.
The next moment, the flesh emitted a wisp of soul light, and soon, a spherical soul materialized out of thin air, floating before Yoru.
This was Hiromi's 'Soul Summoning Jutsu,' a ninjutsu she developed herself based on ancient Uzumaki clan records and the Hidden Mist Village's data on souls and chakra. Its principle is similar to Edo Tensei, using a 'medium' to call forth the souls of the deceased.
However, the souls summoned by this jutsu can only remain briefly. Once the caster's chakra is exhausted, or the 'medium' is consumed, the soul is sent back to the Pure Land.
Furthermore, because the soul summoned by the 'Soul Summoning Jutsu' has already 'died' and is merely a 'soul energy' mass, the jutsu is quite limited in practical use. But for experiments, it's perfect.
Hiromi maintained her chakra's restriction on the soul sphere, while Yoru removed the mask over his right eye, revealing the scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
His dōjutsu activated, his consciousness sharpened, and his mental energy surged!
Everyone possesses mental energy, though its intensity varies. Yoru's mental energy was quite good, but this power is formless and intangible, normally unable to be actively unleashed. By using his Sharingan, Yoru could better control and release this power.
The three tomoe spun in Yoru's eye, and an invisible force settled upon the soul. Soon, the surface of the soul began to fluctuate violently!
"It works, just as I thought!"
The soul energy continuously trembled, quickly transforming into the form of a shinobi wearing a Hidden Mist Anbu uniform.
Dazed eyes slowly opened, but soon, the confusion in the Anbu's eyes turned into fury.
"You bastard! You sold us out—you traitorous piece of scum!
"Fuguki Suikazan, you, as the Anbu Squad Leader and head of the Intelligence Division, actually leaked information willingly! You deserve to die!"
"I'll report all of this to the Third Mizukage... I..."
The Hidden Mist Anbu's soul continued its inexplicable tirade of curses, but its humanoid form became increasingly solidified.
A moment later, Yoru withdrew his mental energy, and the soul remained in its humanoid form until Hiromi actively dispersed her chakra, at which point the soul disappeared again, returning to the Pure Land.
"Lord Yoru, just now..."
"I used mental energy to stimulate his soul, successfully drawing out its 'Self-Power,' and then applied a genjutsu, which is why he was spouting nonsense."
Yoru said grimly. Hiromi excitedly replied, "I see! So, using mental energy to activate 'Self-Power' is indeed feasible?"
"Yes, and not only that, but if we can continuously stimulate the soul body with strong obsessions and emotions, its 'Self-Power' can become even more solidified."
"Strong obsessions and emotions... I understand!"
"You can summon souls, then stimulate them with genjutsu, and then conduct the soul experiments to completely solidify and fix their 'Self-Power'... Oh, Minato Namikaze is here. Never mind, I'll send a Water Clone to deal with him. Let's continue."
"However, this process will likely be extremely painful for the souls, and we can't keep torturing the souls of our village's elite shinobi like this..."
As the soon-to-be Fourth Mizukage, Yoru, while performing soul experiments, showed a touch of concern for the village's deceased: "Let's use the prisoners in the jail and war captives first. That way, we can also compare the souls of those who died with unresolved obsessions versus those pulled directly from the Pure Land.
"Yes, Lord Yoru!"
Land Of Fire - Inside the Hokage's Office.
Minato Namikaze, having returned, spoke gravely, detailing the latest developments. "Lord Third, Yuki Yoru has accepted the ceasefire agreement. As for the specific amount of war reparations, he stated he doesn't want to waste too much time and demands that we directly have our Kage negotiate!"
"Yuki Yoru requests both sides hold a 'Kage Summit' in the Land of Iron. Also, to prevent any disruptions, only the Kage and one escort will be allowed. The summit is scheduled for three days from now
"Setting the location in the Land of Iron, huh."
Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, his expression complex. The Land of Iron is one of the few neutral nations in the shinobi world, so choosing that location isn't an issue.
However, that location, combined with only bringing one escort and the special designation of a 'Kage Summit,' couldn't help but stir some memories in Hiruzen.
Decades ago, after the initial establishment of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, to discuss the distribution of the Tailed Beasts, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, invited the first four Kage from each country to attend the unprecedented 'First Five Kage Summit' in shinobi history! The location of that meeting was also in the Land of Iron, all Kage could only bring one escort, and the meeting's name was also a 'Kage Summit'!
"This kid... is he trying to liken himself to the First Hokage?!"
Danzō also picked up on the hidden meaning in Yuki Yoru's demands, his expression deeply shadowed.
"Perhaps, but I must say, it is indeed a good suggestion. In the Land of Iron, it will certainly avoid many complications."
"As for my escort..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, not dwelling on the choice much. His gaze shifted, eventually settling on Minato.
"Minato, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with this escort mission."
Minato was startled for a moment, then nodded firmly, speaking with conviction. "I will protect Lord Third with my life!"
Although this was a humiliating meeting involving surrender and reparations, it was still a direct negotiation between Kage. For a shinobi of the Leaf, escorting the Hokage to a Kage Summit was something that must be done with their lives, no matter what!
"Minato is indeed a good choice."
The Leaf truly didn't have many options left. Moreover, Minato, wielding the Flying Thunder God Technique, could effectively ensure Hiruzen Sarutobi's safety. If Yuki Yoru tried anything, Minato could retreat with the Hokage instantly.
Danzō nodded, not thinking much more about it, but then seemed to notice something and spoke grimly, "Hiruzen, then for these next two days, while you're not in the village..."
"For these two days, I'll have to entrust the village to you, Danzō."
"Wha— what?!"
Danzō's body stiffened, and his single eye gleamed with an incredibly brilliant light.
His old friend truly hadn't abandoned him! Everything about taking away his Root's control was just a misunderstanding. Their relationship was truly the best in the world!
"Rest assured, I will absolutely not let anything happen to the village!"
Danzō could hardly contain his excitement, making a solemn vow.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, patting his old friend's shoulder. "With you here, I'm very much at ease."
The distance between the Hidden Leaf and the Land of Iron was considerable, and Minato hadn't left a Flying Thunder God Technique mark there. Furthermore, Yuki Yoru had set the deadline at only three days.
Therefore, the Third Hokage and Minato Namikaze departed from the village that very day.
After seeing his old friend and Minato Namikaze off, Danzō Shimura instantly body-flickered back to the Hokage's office. After dismissing everyone, he walked step by step towards the seemingly ordinary Hokage's desk.
And then...
He took the seat!
"Hahahaha, hahahahahaha..."
Feeling the feedback from the chair beneath him, gazing at the thick stacks of documents on either side of the desk, a deeply satisfying laugh burst from his lips. In that moment, tears even welled up in the corners of Danzō Shimura's eyes!
"So this… this is what it feels like to be Hokage…"
Danzō Shimura couldn't describe his inner turmoil at that moment; he felt his entire body trembling. It was a good thing he had dismissed the surrounding Anbu. Otherwise, if they saw him in such a state, his long-cultivated image as the "Darkness of the Shinobi" would surely crumble.
After a long while, Danzō Shimura finally calmed his agitated emotions. He opened a document before him and began to examine it.
With just one glance, Danzō's brows furrowed deeply.
One, then two.
Half an hour later, Danzō Shimura slowly rose from the Hokage's seat, his hands clasped behind his back, looking out the window.
"So this is what the village looks like from here… not bad."
However, such fleeting thoughts were immediately suppressed. Danzō's gaze was incredibly solemn, his brows tightly furrowed.
He hadn't realized the front-line battle situation and the pressure from the Daimyō were so severe. No wonder Hiruzen had even accepted surrender and reparations, just to appease the Hidden Mist as quickly as possible.
The Hidden Stone, fighting at full power, had unleashed unimaginable combat strength. Their mastery of Earth Release ninjutsu made their combat effectiveness on the battlefield no less than that of the Leaf shinobi.
They had multiple times more shinobi, two elite kekkei genkai—Explosion Release and Lava Release—plus the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
For the Leaf to have endured this long, merely suffering gradual retreats and shrinking battle lines instead of a complete rout, purely by relying on Orochimaru, was already a miracle among miracles!
"No, this absolutely cannot continue. Even if the Hidden Mist is appeased, we still might lose this war..."
Danzō murmured. His first thought was to use Minato Namikaze's combat strategy, paired with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, again. But the Hidden Stone also possessed a highly mobile human calamity:
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of the Both Scales.
Though that old man didn't possess Space-Time Ninjutsu, he could fly, and his mastery of Dust Release was a kekkei tōta, superior even to a kekkei genkai!
Undoubtedly, Ōnoki was a calamity no less fearsome than Yuki Yoru.
Once Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki combined, Ōnoki would surely intervene, and everything that happened on the Hidden Mist battlefield would likely repeat itself!
"Is this the pressure you've been carrying, Hiruzen...?"
Danzō took a deep breath. At this moment, he finally began to understand what his old friend had endured over the years.
"With great power comes great responsibility. Perhaps this is why Master chose you and not me."
"But now, I feel your pressure. I can't do nothing!"
After pondering for a moment, Danzō took a scroll from his robe and began writing. A moment later, Danzō sealed the entire scroll with special incantations.
"Someone, come in"
"Lord Danzō."
An Anbu appeared. Seeing it was an Anbu member and not from Root, Danzō paused.
"Send Shisui to me."
"Yes, Lord Danzō."
A moment later, Shisui entered the Hokage's office. Seeing Danzō Shimura seated in the Hokage's chair, Shisui was slightly startled but quickly bowed respectfully, "Lord Danzō!"
"Shisui, I'm afraid only you can undertake this mission."
Danzō picked up a scroll and pushed it towards Shisui. "Deliver this scroll to Hanzō in Amegakure."
"Amegakure... you mean Hanzō of the Salamander?!"
"Yes, that very man."
Danzō nodded, stating gravely, "We previously had contact and a cooperation agreement with him. We would help him deal with an emerging faction within his village, and he, in turn, would help us alleviate pressure on the Hidden Mist battlefield."
"But no one expected the Hidden Mist battlefield to escalate to this extent, causing the cooperation to be shelved... And now, the situation on the Hidden Stone battlefield is dire. We need Amegakure's assistance. If we can get Hanzō to deploy his forces to help us, we can significantly alleviate the pressure on the front lines!"
Danzō generally explained the situation. If it were a Root shinobi, he would simply issue orders, but it was different now. As the 'Acting Hokage,' he had to handle matters properly and reasonably.
"Because this involves acting against a target faction, you alone will certainly not be enough. But the village doesn't have many spare personnel available. So, Shisui, I hope you can mobilize a portion of your Uchiha clan members to assist you in this mission..."
"I see, I understand!"
Shisui nodded with a serious expression, taking the scroll. "I will complete the mission, please rest assured, Lord Danzō!"
"Good, I'm counting on you..."