Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 545 Previous Generation Shadow VS Contemporary Shadow (Part 2)

In the depths of that vast, desolate desert, a gentle breeze swept across the expansive land, like an invisible hand softly caressing this sea of ​​sand, instantly raising wisps of fine dust. These dust particles seemed to come alive, dancing gracefully in the air before slowly drifting back to the ground.

Amidst the swirling sandstorm, four figures steadfastly marched forward. Their steps were firm and powerful, each one sinking deep into the soft sand, leaving a trail of clearly visible footprints. However, these footprints did not last long, as the sandstorm that followed quickly covered them up without a trace, as if no one had ever passed by.

What's eerie is that an eyeball is floating in mid-air in the darkness! It's a deep, dark red, covered with countless blood vessels and wrinkles, looking extremely ferocious and terrifying. This eyeball is like a monitor hanging high in the sky, staring intently at the four figures slowly moving forward below, not missing the slightest movement.

Not far away, a chilling eyeball hovered in the air. The ninjutsu wielded by this eyeball belonged to Gaara, the leader of the Fifth Division! At this moment, Gaara was intently watching the four resurrected former Kage who were steadily approaching their ranks. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, not missing a single movement.

Gaara knew all too well that these former Kage were powerful and treacherous, so he dared not be careless in the slightest. He gripped the sand in his hand tightly, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any moment. At the same time, he anxiously awaited the arrival of reinforcements from the Tsuchikage Onoki and Hyuga Neji.

Onoki and Hyuga Neji rushed forward without stopping for a moment. They knew the situation was urgent and they had to reach Gaara as quickly as possible to meet him. Utilizing their exceptional taijutsu and ninjutsu skills, they moved like lightning, traversing numerous obstacles and advancing towards their target at an astonishing speed.

Finally, to Gaara's eager anticipation, Onoki and Hyuga Neji arrived in time for the group. Their arrival brought a powerful surge of strength and confidence to the entire team, greatly boosting their morale.

The four figures who were slowly moving forward suddenly stopped. The Second Tsuchikage, Mu, quickly raised his palm and aimed it at the eyeball that Gaara was monitoring, which was floating in mid-air. A powerful burst of chakra shot out and completely shattered Gaara before he had time or space to react.

Not far away, Gaara, who had been silently and intently monitoring his surroundings, suddenly let out a low groan. He quickly turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on the Tsuchikage Onoki and Hyuga Neji, who had silently appeared beside him. Gaara's expression was grave, and he spoke in a low voice, "They've detected my surveillance measures. It seems a fierce battle is about to break out. Everyone must be fully prepared!"

Upon hearing this, Onoki and Hyuga Neji exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, indicating that they understood the seriousness of the current situation. However, they did not say anything more, because years of combat experience had long cultivated in them the good habit of remaining calm and composed in the face of danger.

At this very moment, the Fifth Division of the Allied Shinobi Forces, composed of numerous elite ninjas, also solemnly prepared to confront the four figures advancing with firm and orderly steps. As the distance gradually closed, the four powerful Kage-level figures resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation technique became clearly visible. For such a large team with a clear objective, completely concealing their movements was virtually impossible, so being discovered by the enemy beforehand was perfectly normal.

When the two sides finally met, the four figures strolled leisurely, maintaining their calm and unhurried demeanor. In stark contrast, the Fifth Division of the Allied Shinobi Forces stared intently at the four mysterious figures with grave expressions and tense, serious eyes. Some, overwhelmed with nervousness, even involuntarily swallowed, attempting to conceal their inner unease.

It's important to understand that those standing before them were no ordinary individuals, but modern-day "Kage" from various ninja villages! Each of these individuals had endured countless life-or-death trials, earning the supreme title of "Kage" through extraordinary strength and exceptional leadership. They represented the pinnacle of the ninja world's power, their reputations renowned and inspiring awe.

However, within this somewhat chaotic group, two individuals stood out as relatively calm. One was Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, and the other was Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage. While equally shocked by the scene before them, they strove to maintain their composure, their gazes fixed firmly on the four figures ahead. Occasionally, a faint trace of nostalgia would flicker in their eyes, as if recalling the years they had shared with these predecessors. But this emotion was fleeting, quickly buried deep within their hearts.

In contrast, Hyuga Neji's performance was completely different. His eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit as he locked onto the enemies before him, whose strength was beyond imagination. For Neji, being able to clash with such formidable opponents was precisely the reason he resolutely threw himself into this brutal war.

The four former Kage stood there silently, their piercing gazes carefully observing the vast and numerous Allied Shinobi Forces before them. The immense army stretched as far as the eye could see, like a surging, unending tide.

Their keen eyes quickly swept across the crowd, clearly revealing that this group comprised elite ninjas from various ninja villages. Each ninja displayed a unique temperament and skill; some were agile and nimble; some had cold faces and sharp eyes; and others carried enormous weapons, exuding a chilling aura.

However, what is most striking is the headband worn by these ninjas. Unlike before, their headbands no longer bear the iconic symbols of their respective ninja villages, but have been uniformly replaced with a prominent "ninja" character. This simple yet profound symbol seems to proclaim to the world a united determination to fight against external enemies.

Faced with such an extraordinary ninja alliance, the four modern-day Kage couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity. They pondered: What could have caused these ninjas, originally from various villages, to set aside their past grievances and come together? And who possessed such powerful influence to unite these exceptionally skilled ninjas into an unbreakable force? What untold secrets lay hidden within? These questions swirled in their minds, making them increasingly attentive to this mysterious ninja alliance.

Especially when the Fourth Kazekage's gaze swept across the crowd and finally settled on the straight-standing figure at the very front, his eyes instantly became somewhat strange. He stared intently at that figure, as if trying to see through his appearance to the depths of his heart.

After a moment, the Fourth Kazekage finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and doubt, and fixed his gaze on the other person, slowly asking, "You... are you Gaara? It's unbelievable how much you've grown up without me even noticing!"

Gaara, whose name had been called, stood quietly in place, expressionless, staring back at the man before him—a man who was once so familiar yet now seemed somewhat strange—his biological father, the Fourth Kazekage. A complex expression flashed rapidly across his deep eyes.

Gaara's feelings towards his father were truly difficult to describe in simple words. Back then, as a young child, he couldn't understand why his father would secretly send those ninjas to test him time and time again, and sometimes these people's actions clearly seemed to be aimed at putting him to death.

However, as time passed and his own experience grew, especially after he successfully assumed the important position of Kazekage, Gaara gradually began to understand the true reasons behind his father's actions back then.

It turns out that, as an extremely unstable Jinchūriki in the Sand Village, he was like a ticking time bomb, capable of unleashing astonishing destructive power at any moment due to emotional outbursts or other factors, bringing immeasurable disaster and loss to the entire village. Therefore, his father's actions were simply out of concern for the village's safety; he wanted to test and determine whether he could stably control the powerful Tailed Beast within him, in order to avoid posing any potential threat to the village.

“That’s right, Father. To be honest, I really didn’t expect to see you again under such circumstances.” Gaara said slowly, his usually indifferent face now showing an extremely complex expression, as if a thousand emotions were intertwined in his heart.

Standing not far away, the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, turned his gaze to the somewhat aged Onoki opposite him. After a moment's hesitation, he finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked first, "Onoki, I wonder how Iwagakure is doing these days? What's the current situation? And what's the situation with your team? I see ninjas from various villages in your group!"