Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 555 Dramatic Change

In a dark and extremely secluded secret base, Hizoku, dressed in a long black robe, sat cross-legged on the cold ground like a ghost. His once cold and ruthless eyes were now filled with fear and disbelief. He kept muttering to himself, "Damn it! How can he have such terrifying strength? Could he be some kind of peerless genius who surpasses the legendary 'Three Ninjas'?"

The scenes witnessed through the Second Tsuchikage's Impure World Reincarnation deeply shocked Hizoko. She had originally thought that after mastering such a heaven-defying forbidden technique as Impure World Reincarnation, she would be able to stand above all others and be invincible. However, seeing Hyuga Neji handle various crises with such ease, Hizoko's pride was instantly shattered, and she even began to doubt whether her confidence had been nothing but an illusion.

At this moment, his heart was like a stormy sea, the surging emotions almost overwhelming him. An unprecedented sense of wavering spread like a plague, eroding his once firm resolve.

The image of that arrogant, self-important genius resurfaced in the depths of his mind like a ghost. That haughty, disdainful attitude, filled with endless mockery and contempt, pierced his fragile nerves.

His body began to tremble uncontrollably, each slight tremor like a heavy blow to his confidence. He had always regarded his painstakingly developed Ghost Sprout Technique as a weapon to surpass even geniuses, firmly believing that this unique secret technique would allow him to break conventions and rise above everyone else. However, at this moment, even this proud belief began to crack, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Memories of the past flooded his mind like a tide. In those years, no matter how desperately he trained, no matter how much sweat and effort he poured in, he could never escape being left far behind by the three legendary Sannin. They were like three towering mountains, and no matter how hard he climbed, he could never reach their summit. Those painful years, when he could never catch up no matter how hard he tried, now played out again and again in his mind, like an endless nightmare.

Suddenly, his normally normal eyes turned bloodshot, as if they had been soaked in blood! A chillingly sinister look filled his eyes, as if he wanted to devour everything in the world.

At this moment, the mysterious trump card that the masked man had given him involuntarily surfaced in his mind. That was a powerful trump card that could completely reverse the situation and turn the tide in one fell swoop! Thinking of this, an uncontrollable confidence and determination surged within him.

He gritted his teeth and thought to himself, "I absolutely refuse to admit that I am inferior to those so-called geniuses! What's so great about them? How could my research results possibly lag behind theirs?" This resentment and anger burned fiercely in his heart, further strengthening his belief that he would use every means to prove his strength.

In the vast, boundless desert, a fierce wind howled, raising clouds of sand and dust. Yet, in this desolate land, a group of ninjas dressed in uniform stood silently. They were members of the Fifth Battalion of the Allied Ninja Army.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the young and handsome figure ahead, their eyes filled with awe. It was as if that figure exuded an invisible pressure, making everyone afraid to utter a sound, and even their breathing became cautious.

Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, standing at the very front of the group, stared intently at the figure with a solemn expression. His eyes also revealed disbelief as he thought to himself, "I thought I was strong enough, but I never imagined that Hyuga Neji, who is about my age, could possess such terrifying strength!"

Sunlight streamed through the clouds, illuminating Hyuga Neji and making his features even more defined. He stood tall and straight, arms crossed, expressionless, radiating a chilling aura.

The Second Tsuchikage, who was fiercely fighting Onoki, suddenly flashed away, swiftly creating distance between himself and his opponent like a ghost. After a few leaps, he landed steadily on a dilapidated stone platform in the distance, weathered by years of weathering.

After taking his stand, the Second Tsuchikage couldn't help but look towards Hyuga Neji, who was standing not far away. At that moment, Hyuga Neji was dressed in a snow-white robe and stood there quietly, like a white lotus blooming in the wind, noble and eye-catching.

At the same time, seeing that the Second Tsuchikage had stopped attacking and shifted his gaze, Onoki did not rush to continue the pursuit. Similarly, Onoki's sharp, hawk-like gaze slowly turned to the outstanding young man in white—Hyuga Neji. Looking at the young ninja before him, Onoki felt an indescribable surge of emotion, which ultimately turned into a heavy sigh.

Hyuga Neji's sharp, hawk-like gaze was fixed on the Second Tsuchikage, who stood proudly atop the towering stone platform. However, unlike the others, he did not rush forward to eliminate him in one fell swoop. At this moment, he was like a seasoned hunter, patiently lying in wait for the perfect opportunity.

The reason Neji didn't act immediately was because he knew that the person controlling the Second Tsuchikage must have more tricks up their sleeve. Judging from the fact that the Second Tsuchikage could still maintain such a calm and unwavering demeanor, it was clear that this person was hiding even greater strength and methods. What Neji was hoping for was precisely those trump cards that the Second Tsuchikage would have to reveal when cornered.

He firmly believed that given Akatsuki's secrecy and their willingness to launch a Fourth Shinobi World War, they must possess a trump card capable of shaking the entire battlefield. Perhaps it was some mysterious and unpredictable forbidden ninjutsu, or perhaps a peerless master who had remained hidden for so long. Only when these trump cards were revealed one by one would the battle truly reach its climax, and that would be the crucial moment for Neji to demonstrate his strength and decide the outcome!

Just as Hyuga Neji waited anxiously, the mysterious figure lurking in the shadows, manipulating the Impure World Reincarnation technique, seemed unwilling to keep him waiting any longer. Suddenly, the Second Tsuchikage's previously stiff, puppet-like body began to move rapidly, his hands forming complex and eerie hand seals at a dazzling speed.

As the Second Tsuchikage completed his final hand seal, he slammed his palm hard onto the ground. In an instant, a muffled "hum" was heard, and countless runes shimmering with strange light surged forth from beneath his palm like a tide, rapidly spreading outwards until they covered a large area of ​​the ground.

Immediately afterwards, these runes seemed to come alive, beginning to move and intertwine according to a specific pattern. Just then, a dull thud suddenly rang out—"Bang!"

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw a thick cloud of smoke rising from the very center of the runes. When the smoke cleared, an enormous coffin appeared. The coffin was entirely black, covered with dense, obscure incantations and patterns, giving it an eerie and terrifying appearance.

Before anyone could examine the mysterious coffin closely, a loud "bang" resounded, and the heavy coffin lid seemed to be shattered from the inside by an incredibly powerful force! In an instant, billowing dust, like a ferocious beast, spread outwards, completely obscuring the vision of the entire Ninja Alliance.

However, Neji Hyuga, standing at the very front of the procession, remained unfazed. He narrowed his eyes slightly, activating the extraordinary observational power unique to his Byakugan, straining to see through the swirling dust and smoke to discern the true state of the coffin's interior. Gradually, a figure came into focus – a ninja clad in dark red armor reminiscent of the Warring States period, with long, glossy black hair cascading to his waist, swaying gently in the wind. His face was resolute and cold, exuding an unparalleled aura of dominance, as if he were born to rule this land.

Although Neji Hyuga couldn't immediately determine who this ninja was, the sheer, captivating aura emanating from him was enough to convince him that this person was no ordinary individual.

As the billowing smoke gradually dissipated, the mysterious and ancient coffin finally revealed its true form. Inside, lay a figure. Suddenly, the person's tightly closed eyes snapped open, a cold light shooting out from them, seemingly capable of piercing through everything. Then, effortlessly, he stepped directly out of the coffin, like a ghost that had crossed the boundary between life and death.

He stood firmly on the high platform, his posture as upright as a pine tree, exuding a chilling aura. Yet, he seemed oblivious to the densely packed ninja army below, as if they didn't exist in his sight. He simply raised his palm slowly, examining it closely, as if it concealed some unknown secret.

Meanwhile, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, standing at the forefront of the battle, stared intently at the figure on the high platform. When he finally saw the face of the person emerging from the coffin, his once resolute eyes were instantly filled with fear. His body trembled uncontrollably, and even his voice began to stutter and tremble: "U...Uchiha...Madara!" The name seemed to possess some kind of terrifying magic, causing even the battle-hardened Onoki to lose his usual composure.