In the shinobi world, there exists a widely accepted understanding: when a ninja fuses two chakra natures, they can obtain the power of a Kekkei Genkai.
And in the Land of Earth's Iwagakure, the Second Tsuchikage once took it a step further—ingeniously fusing three chakra natures.
From that fusion was born the only known Kekkei Tōta in the shinobi world: Dust Release.
The power of Dust Release was undeniably formidable. After all, its ability to erase everything was enough to place it far above most Kekkei Genkai—excluding only exceptional ones like the Sharingan and the Byakugan.
For Uchiha Keizumi, the only way he could have obtained Dust Release in the past would have been if the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of the Two Scales, committed evil deeds—only then could Keizumi possibly acquire it through his "justice."
But now, with his initial grasp of the power of creation, simply attempting to fuse three chakra natures had already allowed him to successfully obtain Dust Release—this Kekkei Tōta.
"So the chakra consumption is even higher than Lava Release…?"
Keizumi looked at the faint glow at his fingertips, sensing the chakra being drained from his body as he spoke thoughtfully.
He recalled the battle between the Five Kage and Uchiha Madara. Despite Dust Release's overwhelming power, Ōnoki had used it only to clear away Wood Release from beginning to end.
Now, feeling the chakra cost of Dust Release firsthand, Keizumi finally understood Ōnoki a little better.
But understanding was one thing—Keizumi had never been soone who lacked chakra.
Especially with the existence of the Water Contract, he could practically function like a perpetual engine, unleashing Dust Release without end.
"And it's not just Dust Release. If I keep experinting, it seems I might be able to create other Kekkei Tōta as well?"
Keizumi's interest was piqued.
There were seven chakra natures in total, and depending on the ratio in which they were combined, different Kekkei Genkai could be produced. This was precisely why Hiruzen, despite possessing five chakra natures, did not have a Kekkei Genkai.
Each Kekkei Genkai had been refined over countless generations by specific clans, gradually discovering the correct chakra ratios.
Hiruzen possessed the attributes—but lacked the precise ratios.
Yet under the influence of the power of creation, Keizumi could instinctively sense the optimal proportions of chakra needed to maximize the chances of forming a Kekkei Genkai… and even assist him in creating Kekkei Tōta.
That night, strange sounds occasionally echoed from Keizumi's ho—evidence of his ongoing experints with that power.
anwhile, Konoha itself was far from peaceful that night.
When Hiruzen returned to the Hokage Tower and looked at his empty office, an indescribable sense of loneliness suddenly welled up in his heart.
Ever since his daughter-in-law colluded with Kumogakure, he had rarely returned to the Sarutobi clan compound.
When Keizumi had previously left Konoha, Utatane Koharu had still been active. But now—even she had been killed by the escaped Hyūga Hiashi.
"Uchiha Kagami, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu…"
"Without realizing it… only Homura and I are left, huh?"
Hiruzen's face was veiled in the smoke he exhaled. His gaze was deep—and tinged with desolation.
Only now did he realize that he could no longer clearly rember Uchiha Kagami's face. Even Danzō's features had begun to blur—though his arm remained vividly etched in mory.
As for Koharu, having seen her not long ago, she hadn't yet faded from mory.
"It seems… I truly was a failure as Hokage…"
Hiruzen shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.
After witnessing Keizumi's strength firsthand, he had co to a helpless realization: no matter how much he might wish to oppose him, he was no longer a match.
"Perhaps… it's ti to hand the Hokage position over to Tsunade."
"Let her deal with the Tenseigan. Let her deal with Uchiha Keizumi as well. As for … it's ti to step down."
Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
He had already considered stepping down before—but Koharu had been even more unwilling than he was. Now that she was dead, there seed to be no reason for him to continue as Hokage.
The moonlight was deep, blanketing Hiruzen's figure… and the figures of others across Konoha as well.
...
"Jiraiya, is there really no way to have that boy—Neji—hand over the Tenseigan to Mount Myōboku for safekeeping?"
"What you saw today wasn't the Tenseigan's full power. The Great Toad Sage once said that the Tenseigan contains an extraordinarily powerful force—if that power were unleashed, the entire shinobi world could be shattered!"
Fukasaku looked at Jiraiya beside him, still unwilling to give up as he asked once more.
From his perspective, Keizumi handing the Tenseigan to Hyūga Neji was simply an unbelievably foolish decision.
At the sa ti, he couldn't help but feel relieved—because if Keizumi himself had kept the Tenseigan, then Mount Myōboku wouldn't need to look for any Child of Prophecy at all… they'd be better off hiding.
"If I dared bring this up to the old man, I'd probably be labeled a traitor on the spot."
"Putting aside the world-destroying technique within the Tenseigan, even its current power is already terrifying. And it belongs to the Hyūga clan—it's one of Konoha's trump cards. Its importance probably isn't any less than the Nine-Tails."
"How could I possibly say sothing like that?"
Jiraiya let out a bitter laugh.
He trusted Mount Myōboku, yes—but he was not its pawn.
This talk about "safekeeping" the Tenseigan was, in the end, nothing more than fear. Its power had grown so overwhelming that even Mount Myōboku wanted to take it away and hide it.
At this mont, Jiraiya couldn't help but begin to wonder—
Was Mount Myōboku's search for the Child of Prophecy truly for the sake of peace in the shinobi world?
After all, in the end, Naruto hadn't brought about any fundantal change. At most, the major villages were simply too wary of Naruto and Sasuke's strength to start another great war.
As for opposing the extraterrestrial Ōtsutsuki clan…
Wasn't that Boruto's role?
Could it be that the "peace" foretold by Mount Myōboku was simply for Naruto to give birth to Boruto?
Fukasaku and Shima, the two toad sages, had yet to notice that Jiraiya had begun to harbor doubts about Mount Myōboku.
They only frowned, still thinking about how to bring the Tenseigan back to their mountain.
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