Chapter 378: Chapter 378: Soul Devouring Refining Art
"Continue to keep a close watch on Uchiha Sasuke."
Sora instructed the White Snake Sage: "With Uchiha Fugaku in power, Sasuke’s status as the clan leader’s son will rise, but correspondingly, he might also become a thorn in the side of certain people."
"Uchiha Obito, especially. He won’t just stand by and watch the Uchiha clan grow stronger."
"Yes, Master."
The White Snake Sage acknowledged the order, then vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Sora stood still for a moment, lost in thought.
The storyline in Konoha had completely gone off the rails, but that was a good thing for him.
The more chaotic it was, the more room he had to develop.
Let Konoha bear the brunt of it up front; by the time he achieved the Kekkei Mora, the hidden evildoers lurking in the shadows would no longer be a threat.
"Next, it’s time to solve my own problem."
Sora turned and headed towards the underground laboratory on Ascension Island.
...
In the laboratory, Kabuto was standing before a complex instrument, recording data.
Seeing Sora enter, he pushed up his glasses:
"Sora, you’re back."
"How is the Vermilion Bird clone coming along?" Sora asked.
"Very smoothly. The cellular activity of Pakura is extremely high, especially the stability of the Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai trait. I estimate the basic clone body will be complete in five months."
As Kabuto spoke, he called up a data panel: "Also, I’ve made some headway in my research on the problem of soul weakness."
Sora’s spirits lifted:
"Tell me the details."
Kabuto organized his thoughts and explained:
"I consulted the ancient texts left behind in Ryūchi Cave and discussed it with the White Snake Sage. As a sacred land with a thousand-year legacy, Ryūchi Cave actually has quite in-depth research into the realm of the soul."
"After all, snake summoning creatures themselves have long lifespans, and many of the ancient, powerful serpent clans have faced the affliction of a weakening soul."
"The solution they found is, in principle, actually quite simple——"
Kabuto looked at Sora and slowly uttered four words:
"Replenish form with form."
Sora raised an eyebrow slightly: "Specifically?"
Kabuto explained:
"It means taking another person’s soul, refining it through a special forbidden technique, extracting the purest soul origin, and then merging it into one’s own soul for replenishment and strengthening."
"It’s like a blood transfusion, or more accurately, a ’soul transfusion’."
After hearing this, Sora understood.
No wonder Orochimaru became so proficient with the "Living Corpse Reincarnation" later on, and his soul weakness problem didn’t seem so severe anymore—it turned out he had obtained a method for soul replenishment from Ryūchi Cave.
However, Orochimaru’s method directly devoured the entire soul and seized the body, which had obvious side effects and was prone to contamination by the soul’s impurities.
Ryūchi Cave’s method was likely more refined, extracting it into origin energy before absorption.
Clearly, Ryūchi Cave had held back some secrets from Orochimaru.
"As expected of a thousand-year-old power, their foundational knowledge is truly profound."
Sora remarked with admiration, then asked: "Is there a concrete plan for the operation?"
Kabuto nodded, walked over to another piece of equipment, and called up a scroll projection:
"The forbidden technique is called the ’Soul Devouring Refining Art,’ a secret transmission of Ryūchi Cave. It requires coordination with a special formation and assistance from high-purity natural energy."
"The caster extracts the target’s soul, then introduces it into the formation for refinement, removing impurities like memories and emotions to extract the pure soul origin. Then, guided by the formation, it is slowly integrated into one’s own soul."
"The entire process must be done carefully; absorbing too much at once can easily cause soul contamination and rejection."
Sora carefully examined the contents on the scroll. Although there were parts he couldn’t fully understand, he grasped the general procedure.
"In other words, I need to bring back some ’materials.’"
He looked at Kabuto: "Are there any requirements? Like soul strength, attributes, or something like that?"
"Ninjas are best. The higher the soul strength, the purer the extracted origin, and the better the effect."
Hearing this, a slight smile curled at the corner of Sora’s mouth.
Isn’t this convenient?
The one thing the ninja world never lacks is ninjas who kill and set fires.
"Alright, I understand."
He patted Kabuto on the shoulder: "You keep working on the Vermilion Bird clone. Get the preparations ready for the soul forbidden technique as well. I’m going to ’stock up’."
Kabuto was taken aback: "Stock up?"
"Meaning, I’m going to capture some people."
Sora smiled, turned around, and walked out of the laboratory.
...
Meanwhile.
The Hokage’s Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the main seat, his expression calm, even carrying a composed serenity after having found resolution.
Across from him, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had grim expressions, their lips tightly pressed together, clearly suppressing their anger and bewilderment with great effort.
Further below, the clan leaders of Konoha’s various major families, along with elite Jōnin, were seated on both sides, every single person wearing a grave expression.
Not a single Uchiha clan member was to be seen.
"Hiruzen!"
Koharu Utatane finally couldn’t hold back and slammed the table as she stood up: "What on earth are you thinking?! Letting Uchiha Fugaku become Hokage? Do you have any idea what that means?!"
Homura Mitokado also spoke in a deep voice:
"The Uchiha clan has always been proud and unruly. Now that they hold great power, how will the other clans manage? The balance of Konoha will be completely shattered!"
Although the clan leaders below didn’t speak, the worry and doubt in their eyes said it all.
Facing the accusations, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his calm gaze sweeping across everyone present.
"I know what you’re all thinking."
"You think I’ve gone mad? Been controlled? Or that I’m just senile?"
Everyone was silent, but their eyes had already given the answer.
"I am perfectly lucid."
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed his pipe on the desk and leaned forward slightly: "Over the years, I’ve been constantly reflecting——why has Konoha come to this state today? Infighting never stops, talented individuals leave, even someone like Sora..."
A flicker of genuine pain passed through his eyes, which made those who had suspected he was under a genjutsu pause for a moment.
This emotion didn’t seem fake.
"The matter with Danzo was my failure in supervision, leading to internal conflict within the village, resulting in Uesugi Min’s sacrifice and Sora’s angry departure."
"The Uchiha affair was even more a dereliction of my duty as Hokage——long-term suspicion and ostracization of the founding clan, ultimately forcing them to rebel."
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s voice carried deep guilt:
"If things continue like this, even if Konoha wins the Third Great Ninja War, it will rot and collapse from within!"
He lifted his head, his gaze firm as he spoke:
"Uchiha Fugaku has the ability, the strength, and more importantly, the achievements of leading the Uchiha clan in battling on the front lines against Kirigakure for several years! Having him serve as the Fifth Hokage can both redress the grievances of the Uchiha and truly integrate the Uchiha’s power into Konoha, rather than keeping them as adversaries!"
"This is the path Konoha should take in the future!"
This speech was delivered with sincere emotion and clear logic.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado opened their mouths, but didn’t know how to refute.
Because these words did hold truth——that is, if one weren’t viewing it from the perspective of their own interests being harmed.
A strange glint flashed in Hiashi Hyuga’s eyes.
Not long ago, he had secretly activated his Byakugan to carefully observe Sarutobi Hiruzen’s chakra flow and cerebral pathways.
There was no abnormality whatsoever.
No residual traces of genjutsu, no signs of chakra interference; everything was normal.
Could it be... that the Third Hokage had truly seen the light?
No, impossible.
Hiashi shook his head inwardly.
He knew this Third Hokage all too well——seeming gentle on the surface, but in reality, possessing a heavy lust for power. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have swiftly reclaimed authority after Namikaze Minato’s sacrifice, overturning almost all the new policies from the Fourth Hokage’s era.
How could such a person suddenly have a great awakening and voluntarily cede his position to the Uchiha, a clan he had always been wary of?
"However..."
Nara Shikaku finally spoke, choosing his words cautiously: "Hokage-sama, if the Uchiha takes power, issues like the redistribution of interests among other clans and the adjustment of positions within the village... all of these need careful consideration, otherwise, new conflicts may arise."
This was phrased very tactfully, but it hit the core issue——the power pie needed to be divided anew.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded:
"Shikaku is right. That’s why I’ve already held preliminary discussions with Fugaku. Over the next month, we will gradually implement position adjustments, striving for fairness and taking into account the contributions and abilities of each clan."
"You are all the pillars of Konoha. I hope everyone can support the Fifth Hokage’s work and work together to make Konoha better."
With the matter presented like this, further opposition would be a public defiance of the Hokage——even if it were a Hokage about to step down.
The clan leaders exchanged glances with each other and ultimately could only nod in silence.
The meeting ended in a strangely tense atmosphere.
As he walked out of the Hokage Building, Hiashi Hyuga looked up at the night sky, his feelings complex.
The Uchiha... had actually become Hokage.
Konoha’s two great Dōjutsu clans, Hyuga and Uchiha, had been in open and covert conflict for decades. Now, the Uchiha had ascended to the pinnacle of power.
Where should the Hyuga clan go from here?
