In Training Ground 98, two figures clashed rapidly.
Kunai collided.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shuriken and Kunai blocked Hiruzen Sarutobi's path.
Satoru quickly formed hand seals.
Mind Reading Technique: Depression.
Hiruzen Sarutobi only took one look and immediately felt that his entire life was meaningless.
He no longer had any thought of blocking the Kunai or Shuriken.
I'm already so old, what's the point of living on? I might as well just die now.
This thought flashed through his mind in an instant.
"Oh my god, am I going to kill the Third Hokage?"
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had no intention of fighting back, and was just dazed after being hit, Satoru felt a strong sense of unease.
If he killed the Third Hokage, he would be finished too.
Currently, he couldn't roam the Ninja World freely, and he just wanted to muddle through each day, working to survive.
Bang!
The Kunai and Shuriken struck Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Shadow Clone?"
Looking at the disappearing Third Hokage, Satoru breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, he was secretly pleased. It seemed his theory was correct; this kind of Genjutsu was indeed very effective against Ninja.
Perhaps the fish couldn't comprehend that depressive emotion; it was just momentarily dazed by the Ninjutsu.
His idea was correct.
But where did the Third Hokage go?
He shook his head from side to side, trying to find the Third Hokage's figure.
His perception was also maximised.
...
"Sigh, why be the Third Hokage? Isn't it better to properly raise my son, then let my son have a grandson, choose a Fourth Hokage, and enjoy my golden years?
I don't want to move, not at all.
I'm already so old, I might as well just lie down like this. Anyway, no one would dare to say anything to me.
Or maybe I should just retire..."
Behind a large tree, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat leaning against it, gazing at the white clouds stretching across the clear blue sky.
He kept muttering to himself.
Suddenly.
He formed hand seals: "Release."
The gloomy expression in his eyes suddenly regained its brightness.
"A terrifying Ninjutsu. Through Genjutsu, it transmits negative information to the enemy.
After accepting this information, even if you are a Shadow Clone, even if you have already dispelled the Genjutsu,
The effects!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi still felt a lingering fear at this moment.
That depressive emotion just now, even for a seasoned veteran like him, felt a bit unbearable.
...
"Good, good, your Ninjutsu is very good.
However, this Ninjutsu is a bit too powerful. You can't use it on your comrades, understand?"
After calming his emotions, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out and said to Satoru.
"Ah~ Is it really that powerful?"
Satoru asked.
In his opinion, it seemed just okay.
Both Ninjutsu in the Mind Reading Technique series were visual and tactile Genjutsu.
They could primarily affect enemies through sight and touch.
In his mind, a momentary influence during combat was a tactical Ninjutsu that could break the balance.
Its power was decent, but not as exaggerated as the Third Hokage said.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to say something else when a figure wearing an animal mask appeared.
"Hokage-sama, Orochimaru from the front lines has important intelligence."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded to him, then looked at Satoru: "I'll get to work now. Keep up the good work."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Watching the two figures leave, Satoru felt very good.
It seemed his Ninjutsu still had many unexplored areas; it needed human experimentation.
However, judging from the Third Hokage's tone, the technique did seem quite potent.
"It should be related to the symptoms of depression, right?"
His mind was very flexible, and his main job allowed him to access a lot of Ninja experience.
So he guessed some things.
Depression was indeed terrifying. When he further developed this technique to evolve mental depression into physiological depression, that would be amazing.
According to the memory of a certain medical Ninja, depression was divided into mental depression and physiological depression.
Mental depression could be overcome by willpower, but physiological depression occurs when the body affects the mind. If the bodily issue wasn't resolved, mental resistance was useless.
"Then let's continue. For the remaining time, I'll practice Taijutsu.
For prolonged combat, you still have to rely on Taijutsu.
I've also read the original work; before the Fourth Shinobi World War, Taijutsu was the most important method for Ninja."
His participation in the war also allowed him to experience the benefits of Taijutsu.
These two validations made him understand the importance of Taijutsu.
The development of Genjutsu allowed him to fight high-level combatants, while the development of Taijutsu was to effectively eliminate opponents within limited Chakra.
...
"Speak, what intelligence is so urgent?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the Hokage Office, where Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were already waiting for him.
Homura Mitokado: "According to the intelligence from Orochimaru, the Third Raikage, A, died of exhaustion while covering the retreat of the Hidden Cloud Village troops in a battle against Iwagakure."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned, then said: "It seems the end of the war is not far off."
"Issue my order: have the Minato team support Orochimaru's side. We must suppress the battle with Kumogakure in a short time."
"Yes."
The Anbu said, then disappeared from the office.
The Raikage's death had far-reaching implications, and various strategies would also be adjusted accordingly.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished talking with the two elders, he spoke to the shadows.
"Bring me Satoru's file."
He remembered every Ninja who graduated from the Ninja School, so he naturally knew Satoru.
Moreover, he had just promoted him to Chunin not long ago.
Soon, an Anbu Ninja returned with the file.
"A sensory-type Ninja, a member of the Analysis Team.
He has a very high talent in Mind Reading Technique.
In combat, his Taijutsu and Genjutsu are also quite excellent.
His father was once also part of the Analysis Team...
His dream is world peace and to inherit Konoha's Will of Fire."
What a promising talent, and a child who inherits the Will of Fire. Looking at the information, he was very satisfied.
First Hokage, Second Hokage, the Will of Fire, I will pass it on for you.
...
Walking along the bustling Konoha Main Street, Satoru carefully observed everything.
He was holding an ice pop in his hand, 'slurping' it little by little.
At the same time, he thought about his encounter with the Third Hokage just now. Being personally guided by the Third Hokage must have a purpose.
But he didn't care; he just wanted to work quietly, find a gentle, virtuous, beautiful, generous, and wealthy wife.
He has two sons and two daughters, and watches them grow up—that was his dream.
However, life-saving skills still needed to be levelled up. For example, if it hadn't been the Third Hokage this time, but an aggressive Ninja, he might have died before he could react.
It also showed the strength of a Hokage-level individual like the Third Hokage from another perspective; he couldn't even detect him walking beside him, and he was a sensory Ninja.
It seemed that sensory Ninjutsu still needed improvement.
"Oh, Ichiraku Ramen?"
Suddenly, he saw a very familiar storefront.
He pulled out his wallet and counted; he had too much money, so he went in to eat something.
He also wanted to experience something that the protagonist group all loved.
He was a working man, always a working man. Working was just to earn some money and eat good food.
His goal couldn't change.
It definitely couldn't be saving the Ninja World.
"Welcome!"
As soon as he entered the door, a deep voice came over.
Following the sound, he saw an uncle about his father's age appear before him.
Teuchi at this time was not very old yet, but his eyes still seemed to be out of sight.
He was currently making ramen for other customers.
Beside him was a beautiful young girl about the same age as Satoru.
This must be Ayame, she's quite pretty. Satoru's eyes lit up.
"Hello, what would you like to eat? I recommend the seafood ramen.
It's our new item!" Ayame saw him and asked with a smile.