Author Note:
Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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Konoha, Year 63 – January
Winter had wrapped the world in white.
Heavy snowflakes drifted from the sky like feathers, blanketing the vast mountain ranges beneath in endless white. At the base of one such mountain, Guts stood silently, wearing a thick black fur coat that accentuated his wild aura.
Behind him followed Tsunade, Kurenai, and Anko—Anko now carrying Sahada on her back, her posture just as nonchalant and dangerous as ever.
The three won hadn't changed much over the past two years, at least in terms of appearance.
But Kurenai, who had just turned thirty, now exuded the warm, grounded air of a devoted wife rather than just a seductive kunoichi. Her mature charm had deepened.
Then there were the girls still in their pri of developnt...Hinata and Hanabi.
Even bundled up in her thick down jacket, Hinata couldn't hide her generous figure, her curves having blossod to a shocking 91E.
Even Kurenai, despite being her ntor, couldn't help but feel a strange mix of pride and envy.
When she was little, that idiot Guts kept giving her papaya milk every day. So it really worked? Kurenai thought, shaking her head.
As for Hanabi, now nearly eleven, she contrasted her sister with a more mischievous and playful energy.
A single lock of bangs dangled across the bridge of her nose, adding a charming flair to her otherwise serious eyes.
Besides the five Konoha won accompanying Guts, there were also so new faces.
Standing nearby was a striking young woman with short black hair, a sharp, pretty face, and a body that could turn heads even under winter layers.
The most distinctive part of her appearance was the hat on her head emblazoned with the kanji for "Earth" (土).
The Fifth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi.
Granddaughter of the legendary Onoki and daughter of the Fourth Tsuchikage, Kitsuchi.
About a month earlier, during their travels, Guts and his group had arrived at the Land of Earth just as Kurotsuchi took over as Tsuchikage from her father.
Unlike in the original tiline, Iwagakure was facing heavier political pressure, so Kurotsuchi had been trained with brutal rigor since childhood. At just 18, she had officially stepped into the role of Kage.
Her father, Kitsuchi whose strength barely reached quasi-Kage level stepped down without hesitation, knowing full well that leading without the power to back it up was just asking for sha.
Now, standing beside Kurotsuchi was Kitsuchi himself, pushing an old man in a wheelchair—none other than Onoki, now paralyzed thanks to the beating Guts gave him in the last war.
When he heard Guts was entering their land again, Onoki nearly exploded in rage.
But Kitsuchi, recognizing Konoha's overwhelming power and unwilling to invite war, reluctantly allowed them entry.
Kurotsuchi, on the other hand, held no grudge. After all, she was just a baby when Guts "snapped her grandfather's spine like a twig."
At the base of the mountain, Guts faced the snow-capped peak ahead.
Without warning, he stepped forward with his left foot and threw a clean right punch into the air.
BOOM!!!
The earth trembled violently. A gale like a typhoon erupted, blasting wind and snow in every direction.
The won behind him had to shield their faces with their arms to keep from getting knocked off balance.
Ten seconds passed before the wind settled.
As Tsunade, Hinata, Kurotsuchi, and the others lowered their arms, they opened their eyes—
And stood frozen in shock.
The mountain was gone.
Where it had once stood, now there was a gaping hole in the clouds...a scar across the sky, as if a tornado had carved through nature itself.
[Daily Training Complete – Template Character: Issei Hyoudou | Progress: 18.25%]
When Guts's Issei Hyoudou Template progress reached 10%, he unlocked a new skill:
[Contract] – With this skill, he could form contracts with anyone who agreed to it, allowing him to extend their lifespan. Now, he no longer had to worry about Tsunade, Kurenai, or Anko growing old while he remained young.
He knew this skill would have many more uses in the future, as several of its functions were still locked.
Additionally, his base strength had increased alongside the Template progress.
At 18% progress of the Issei Hyoudou Template, a being with planetary-level feats, Guts was now confident that he could go toe-to-toe with Six Paths Madara.
In fact, he believed that in a one-on-one fight, he had already surpassed the standard Six Paths level — including Fourth Great Ninja War versions of Sasuke and Naruto.
---
He still rembered the shock and disbelief on the faces of Tsunade, Kurenai, and Anko when he told them about the skill.
At first, they didn't believe him.
"What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?" Tsunade scoffed, crossing her arms, her golden eyes narrowing. "You can extend soone's lifespan now? Are you ssing with ?"
Although she trusted Guts a lot, suddenly a man who only once knew how to punch and thrust was now saying, "Hey, I can extend your lifespan now."
Kurenai, more composed but still visibly stunned, leaned forward. "That's... not possible through any known jutsu," she said softly, her ruby eyes searching his face. "Do you have so hidden Kekkei Genkai? Sothing unknown to the ninja world?"
Anko let out a short laugh, but it was uneasy. "Don't tell you've been experinting with Orochimaru's research or sothing," she said, half-joking, though a flicker of seriousness passed through her gaze.
She really didn't want Guts to take the road of that perverted Psychopath.
They asked question after question—Was it safe? Could it backfire? Was it permanent? Could it be reversed? What would the cost be?
Their minds raced, not just as individuals, but as veteran kunoichi who had faced the darkness of the shinobi world.
Guts just gave his usual vague answer.
"Maybe it is so unknown Kekkei Genkai that awakened in . Who knows?" he said with a light shrug, a wide smile on his face.
Tsunade thought hard while stroking her chin, clearly intrigued. "If a monster like Orochimaru can create insane jutsu like Living Corpse Reincarnation... and my Strength of a Hundred Seal jutsu," she then continued and added.
"Then I suppose sothing like an unheard-of Kekkei Genkai isn't entirely impossible. That would explain your absurd strength too—it just keeps growing like there's no upper limit."
Kurenai remained silent for a mont, thoughtful. Then she finally nodded. "If this is real, then it's a miracle. If I can stay longer with you Guts, then there really isn't anything better I can ask for."
Anko threw her hands up dramatically. "Arghhh, I'm not made for this 'think it through' crap!" she groaned. "If you say it works, then just give the damn thing already. My brain refuses to deal with this much chakra theory on an empty stomach!"
In the end, despite their doubts, they all signed the contract.
The truth was, none of them could bear the thought of Guts staying young while they withered with age… or worse, leaving him behind altogether.
The idea of him standing alone at the end...unaged, unchanged...was sothing their hearts simply couldn't accept.
---
Guts flexed his knuckles and smiled.
"Not bad. Alright, second punch..."
"STOP!!"
Onoki practically leapt out of his wheelchair, shouting in fury, "This is our land! You can't just go around destroying it for fun!"
He wasn't wrong. A mountain like that was a natural resource...rich in minerals, shelter for wildlife, potential farmland. It was a valuable asset.
"Geez, old man. You're so stingy," Guts said, shrugging casually.
"Sensei is amazing…" Hinata whispered, blushing slightly.
"Hmph. Well, barely strong enough to be my teacher," Hanabi said with a tsundere pout.
Even Kurenai and Anko, who had known Guts for decades, couldn't help but marvel at the raw force he displayed.
Tsunade, anwhile, stared in silent thought, comparing Guts to her legendary grandfather, The God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama.
I wonder... who's really stronger between them?
Guuuu~
Guts's stomach growled.
"Tsuchikage-sama, I'm starving. Got anything good to eat?" he asked with a grin.
"You brat! And keep your filthy hands away from my granddaughter!" Onoki bellowed, his face red with fury.
Dragging five won around the continent like so rogue romantic? No way he'd let Kurotsuchi beco number six!
But Kurotsuchi simply smiled.
"No problem. I'll prepare the best al Iwagakure has to offer."
Later, in the Tsuchikage building's guest hall, everyone sat down for a grand al.
Except for Guts, they all ate at a relaxed pace, enjoying the warmth and quiet.
anwhile, Guts was devouring food like a black hole. The plates stacked into little towers beside him by the ti he finally slowed down.
Kurotsuchi sipped her drink and smiled.
"I've just taken office as Tsuchikage. I want to make a real impact so the people in this village won't underestimate just because I'm young or a woman."
She paused briefly, then looked straight at Guts.
"On behalf of Iwagakure, I'd like to propose an official alliance with Konoha. What do you say, Guts?"
The others were surprised.
But only for a mont.
After witnessing the sheer power Guts wielded with a casual punch, no one could bla her.
Of course she'd want soone like that on her side.
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