Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 136: The Hagoromo Clan's Escape Route

[Ding!]

[Side Mission: King of D-Rank Missions]

[Mission Description: Having officially become a genin and joined Team 7, the host begins his ninja career. As an excellent genin, even if you can only do D-rank missions right now, you must showcase your talents. Complete twenty D-rank missions in one day to achieve the title of King of D-Rank Missions.]

[Mission Rewards: Water Clone Technique; Lightning Clone Technique]

As Hagoromo Gengetsu reached his destination after a swift journey, new information from the system appeared in his mind.

He glanced at it and nonchalantly chose to abandon it.

Since it wasn't a main mission, and he had already mastered the Water Clone and Lightning Clone Techniques, he had no interest in completing twenty D-rank missions.

Ignoring the system, Hagoromo Gengetsu turned his attention to the vast rocky terrain before him.

"Ancient ruins, perhaps?"

Sasuke, following beside him, scanned the surroundings and noticed numerous remnants of structures, hinting at a once-glorious past.

With a clear objective, Hagoromo Gengetsu walked deeper into the area, casually asking Sasuke, "Do you know Shinno?"

Sasuke nodded, "Just like those from the Ninja Craftsman Village, he is your captive."

"And his identity?"

"The leader of the remaining Sky Ninja."

"You didn't use the term 'remnants,'" Hagoromo Gengetsu remarked with a slight smile as he glanced at Sasuke.

The Sky Ninja had once waged war against the Five Great Shinobi Villages, only to be crushed by Konoha.

From Konoha's perspective, calling them remnants would be fitting.

Sasuke's choice to use "remaining" instead of "remnants" reflected a nuanced perspective.

It seemed that his brief conversation with Kazuma at the foot of the Fire Temple had offered him a new way of thinking.

Hagoromo Gengetsu wasn't too concerned about this shift in Sasuke's attitude.

He continued, "The Sky Ninja were named such because their village once existed in the sky. Although most of their forces were destroyed, the Sky Ninja Village, known as Ancor Vantian, still exists."

Sasuke quickly caught on, "So, Ancor Vantian is hidden here."

Hagoromo Gengetsu nodded and looked at Sasuke seriously, "Conflict and suffering can arrive unexpectedly. The future of the ninja world will be even more turbulent, and Lockfront Village cannot remain unaffected. Thus, Lockfront Village needs an escape route."

The power of the Five Great Shinobi Villages couldn't be underestimated.

While they lacked peak combat power compared to him, their extensive networks, established over decades, could easily discover Lockfront Village's secrets in time.

Despite his immense strength, Hagoromo Gengetsu couldn't always be there to protect Lockfront Village and the Hagoromo Clan.

Moreover, even the strongest tree must endure storms to truly grow.

However, he could prepare a safe retreat for the Hagoromo Clan.

Ancor Vantian of the Sky Ninja was an excellent choice.

In a world where few could fly, Ancor Vantian remained quite safe, provided he didn't act recklessly.

Sasuke understood Hagoromo Gengetsu's intentions.

Recalling the fate of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha, and considering the current Uchiha residents in Lockfront Village, he became even more determined to prevent history from repeating itself.

"Since the remnants of the Sky Ninja have continued to this day, Ancor Vantian must be guarded. Should we eliminate them all, Lord Hagoromo?"

For the sake of the Uchiha, the Hagoromo Clan, and Lockfront Village's future, Sasuke was prepared for a massacre.

"No need," Hagoromo Gengetsu replied calmly, "Shinno is more obedient than expected."

Shinno's behavior had indeed surprised him.

The man who once questioned the meaning of fifty years had, over time, vividly demonstrated his understanding of the proverb "A wise man submits to circumstances."

Even when Hagoromo Gengetsu asked him to write an order commanding the Sky Ninja in Ancor Vantian to unconditionally obey him, Shinno complied without hesitation.

Whether Shinno's submission was genuine or a strategic deception, Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't care, as long as the tasks were completed.

With Shinno's detailed information, Hagoromo Gengetsu and Sasuke bypassed the surface disguises and reached their destination within moments.

Inside Ancor Vantian.

The scars of a brutal past battle remained visible.

Many corridors were still collapsed, and the intact ones had walls marred with long cracks, overgrown with vines and moss.

"Looks like we'll need a major cleanup before moving the villagers of Lockfront here," Hagoromo Gengetsu observed, scanning the surroundings.

Soon, they encountered patrolling Sky Ninja. After a "friendly" exchange, Hagoromo Gengetsu easily assumed control of the fortress, thanks to Shinno's unwavering authority.

Opening a secret passage, they reached the core power room.

Hagoromo Gengetsu stood at the end of the passage, looking down at the center of the cylindrical space where a giant, snake-like creature with a "Zero" mask was sealed by a yellow barrier. He remarked casually, "Zero-Tails, huh?"

The so-called Zero-Tails was not a true tailed beast.

When the Sky Ninja obtained it, they believed it had power akin to a tailed beast, thus adding the prefix "Zero" to the one through nine-tailed beasts.

In reality, Zero-Tails was more akin to a bizarre creature like Reibi, the Death God, or the Evil God.

Born from the darkness in human hearts, it would never truly perish as long as this darkness existed. This made it an inexhaustible power source, capable of sustaining the fortress's operation indefinitely.

The Sky Ninja had astutely used it this way.

Hagoromo Gengetsu planned to follow suit, using Zero-Tails as a perpetual energy source.

"Sure, Zero-Tails won't ever die, and the control techniques are already in place."

"Sasuke."

Hagoromo Gengetsu extended his right hand, allowing his chakra to seep into the cylindrical space, being absorbed by Zero-Tails below as the energy to reactivate the fortress. Without turning, he instructed, "Survey the ten kilometers around us. Don't let anyone approach."

The activation of Ancor Vantian would cause significant tremors, and Hagoromo Gengetsu wanted no outsiders to witness it.

"Yes, Lord Hagoromo."

Sasuke obeyed and left.

Half an hour later.

With all preparations complete, Hagoromo Gengetsu officially reactivated Ancor Vantian.

In an instant, amid intense tremors, the massive fortress, primarily made of stone and resembling a regular village with numerous buildings, ascended rapidly from underground, soaring into the sky until it was concealed above the clouds.

"Earth Release: Earth Core Shift!"

On the ground, a specially left Hagoromo Gengetsu shadow clone clapped its hands, using Earth Release to completely fill the large gap left by the ascending fortress until it blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

Once satisfied, the shadow clone nodded and dispelled itself with a "poof" of smoke.

Inside the fortress, having received the clone's memories, Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't linger. After some manipulations on the control panel, the immense Ancor Vantian flew swiftly toward Lockfront Village.