Kai's Kagura Mind's Eye was already activated, and his mental energy pierced directly into the minds of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
In the next instant, the wary and alert expressions on their faces vanished. Their eyes turned dull and lifeless, their movements slowed, and their arms fell limply to their sides.
"Kai! What did you do to them?" The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, demanded as he looked at the two advisors.
"Nothing much," Kai replied nonchalantly. "I merely erased their souls and consciousness."
Kai's casual tone struck Hiruzen like a hammer to the heart. No hand seals, no visible jutsu—just a single thought, and two elite jonin-level advisors had their souls obliterated.
Had Kai truly grown to such an extent?
The Third Hokage's expression was beyond shock as he gazed at Kai. Over the past two years, while Kai had been training in Sage Mode, he had also been developing his Kagura Mind's Eye. With Tsunade's assistance, his progress could only be described as remarkable.
Kagura: Erasure of Consciousness.
This was one of the most brutal and direct applications of the Kagura Mind's Eye. By channeling his immense mental energy, Kai forcibly destroyed the target's soul and consciousness. Even if their bodies were resurrected through Edo Tensei, their souls would remain irreparably damaged. However, with Kai's current level of mental strength, this technique could only be used against elite jonin-level opponents at most.
Hiruzen looked at the lifeless forms of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu with a conflicted expression. Perhaps, for them, this was the best outcome.
"Kai, regarding Naruto, I won't interfere with your decisions. But I don't want to see Minato's child ostracized by the villagers," Kai said calmly, his gaze steady as he addressed the Third Hokage.
"I understand," Hiruzen replied with a nod. "I will entrust Naruto to the care of the Umino family."
"The Umino family? You mean Iruka's father?" Kai thought to himself. It seemed that, due to his presence, Iruka's father had survived the Nine-Tails' attack on the village.
Kai nodded in approval. He trusted the Umino family and saw no need to argue further.
As for why Kai didn't take Naruto under his own care, the reasons were clear. Kai had no intention of staying in the village long-term. Leaving Naruto in the care of Anko, who could barely manage herself, or Shishio Mitarashi, the head of the ANBU, was simply impractical. Finding a reliable family was a far better choice.
"By the way, Lord Third, I plan to leave the village for a while," Kai said, shifting the conversation.
"For how long?" Hiruzen asked quickly. He couldn't hide his concern. The deaths of Minato and Kushina had left Konoha without a Kage-level shinobi and a Jinchuriki with Kage-level strength. Now, Konoha's only remaining Kage-level fighters were Hiruzen himself, Kai, and Shishio Mitarashi.
Moreover, the Nine-Tails' attack had claimed the lives of countless mid- and low-level ninja. In terms of both high-end combat power and general forces, Konoha was barely stronger than Sunagakure at this point.
Kai's name alone was enough to deter the entire ninja world. His feats were legendary: subduing the Eight-Tails, slaying the Third Raikage, battling the Three-Tails and Six-Tails simultaneously, and wreaking havoc in Sunagakure. His reputation was built on one battle after another, and no village dared to underestimate him. In fact, there was an unspoken rule across the ninja world: if a mission encountered Shishio Kai, it could be abandoned without it being considered a failure.
"Not sure. We'll see," Kai replied casually, waving his hand as he walked toward the door. Hiruzen opened his mouth to speak but ultimately let out a sigh instead.
At the Hyuga Clan's Main Hall
"Shishio Kai, what brings you to the Hyuga Clan?" Hiashi Hyuga asked, his tone puzzled as he addressed Kai.
"Clan Head Hiashi, I wish to borrow the Hyuga Clan's genealogy records and the main family's secret scrolls," Kai said with a faint smile.
"The genealogy records and secret scrolls?" Hiashi frowned. While he personally bore no ill will toward Kai, the Hyuga Clan harbored deep-seated animosity toward him. Even if he agreed, the clan elders would never allow such sacred documents to be handed over.
"I'm sorry, but the Hyuga Clan's genealogy records and secret scrolls are absolutely not available for borrowing," Hiashi said firmly.
"I figured you'd say that," Kai said with a helpless expression. "Looks like I'll have to find another way."
Hearing this, Hiashi's face immediately turned wary. His Byakugan activated, and the veins around his temples bulged.
"Kai, what are you planning?" Hiashi demanded.
"Since you won't give them to me, I'll just have to take them myself," Kai replied nonchalantly.
"This is the Hyuga Clan's—"
Before Hiashi could finish his sentence, his wary expression faded, his Byakugan deactivated, and he stood motionless. Kai's left eye, now in its Tenseigan form, glowed faintly.
Under the influence of the Tenseigan's genjutsu, Hiashi fell into a deep illusion. With Kai's current strength, Hiashi stood no chance of breaking free unless Kai chose to release him.
Kai stood up and walked toward the Hyuga Clan's ancestral shrine.
Inside the Hyuga Clan's Ancestral Shrine
"Shishio Kai, this is the Hyuga Clan's ancestral shrine. No one outside the Hyuga Clan is allowed to enter. Do you intend to defy the entire Hyuga Clan?" one of the elders shouted, his voice trembling with both anger and fear. Despite their outrage, none of the elders dared to act rashly against Kai.
"Enough noise," Kai said, frowning. Unlike with Hiashi, Kai had no patience for the elders. Activating his Kagura Mind's Eye, he unleashed his mental energy into their consciousness.
Kagura: Erasure of Consciousness!
These elders, who hadn't even reached elite jonin level, were far weaker than Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. They had no chance of resisting. In an instant, their minds were wiped clean, leaving them standing lifelessly in place.
Kai stepped forward, his gaze set on the Hyuga Clan's secret scrolls.
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