Jiraiya could see the situation turning for the worst. If this truly went down as per the normal rules, Senju Tsunade would be executed. He whispered to Sarutobi Hiruzen with an ugly look, “Sensei…”
Hiruzen didn’t answer but looked straight at Danzo and solemnly asked, “How do you think we should deal with this matter?”
Danzo realized that Hiruzen was throwing this burden over to him. This time, he was in trouble. He didn’t know how to deal with Tsunade. If he said that Tsunade should be executed but she was not, then he would have to bear her irrecoverable hatred. But if he didn’t say so, then the prestige he just established might disappear.
At this moment, Tonan’s sad roar resounded throughout Konoha. “A life for a life!” This was equivalent to setting a dynamite barrel on fire. The parents of the dead children chimed at the same time…
“A life for a life!”
“A life for a life!”
Jiraiya couldn’t hold it back any longer and wanted to plead for Tsunade. “Tsunade has contributed so much to Konoha and she has saved the lives of so many ninjas. Today, she acted on a momentary impulse. I believe this was not her intention.”
Tonan’s voice resounded from behind everyone. “Momentary impulse… hahaha… is this momentary impulse?”
Hiruzen noticed that everyone was looking at him with a disappointed gaze. Some even looked at him with hostility. Even the Anbu members behind him seemed to be enveloped in the subtle atmosphere. His heart skipped a beat. “It’s over… people’s hearts are lost…”
Jiraiya also noticed the situation had already developed beyond his control. He made a difficult decision and whispered to Hiruzen, “Sensei, just issue a wanted circular later.”
Hiruzen remained silent for a long time, then nodded. Although Jiraiya and Tsunade would become Leaf rogue ninjas like this, as long as the war begins, Konoha could hire them back. Under external pressure, this could be resolved easily.
Hiruzen coughed loudly, “Everyone, rest assured, as Konoha’s Hokage, I’ll not tolerate anyone killing the people of our village. In this incident, it doesn’t matter whether Tonan killed Tsunade’s pet or not. Tsunade shouldn’t have involved innocent people and killed dozens of children. Since everyone had witnessed it, the evidence is solid. I’ve decided to execute Tsunade to give justice to the children.”
Immediately after he spoke, Jiraiya kicked Hiruzen in the back, sending him flying to the crowd. “What are you doing, Jiraiya?” Hiruzen pretended to be angry. Jiraiya’s hair grew wildly and pulled the unconscious Tsunade and Shizune over to his side.
At the same time, he made hand signs, and slammed his hands on the ground, “Summoning Technique – Toad Mouth Trap Technique!” A huge stomach sac appeared on the ground. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune were all wrapped in it.
Bang… Along with a rise of smoke, the stomach sac disappeared before everyone’s eyes. Jiraiya had dispelled Summoning Technique, transporting them to Mount Myoboku together with the stomach sac of a giant toad.
Looking enraged, Hiruzen shouted, “Immediately issue a wanted circular, classifying Jiraiya and Tsunade as Konoha’s S-class rogue-nin. The entire Ninja World is to hunt them.”
Most of the ninjas and civilians believed their Hokage-sama was telling the truth and they too became angry. As for the others, even though they had seen through the trick, they could only pretend they didn’t know. After all… it wasn’t their children who had died.
Also, it wouldn’t be beneficial for them if they were too obstinate. All they wanted was a sense of security to prevent facing the same treatment in the future. It was not that they cared about justice.
Just at that moment, a surprised voice came from amid the crowd. “Look, what is Tonan doing?” Everyone looked over. Tonan was on his knees. With his hands clasped together, he chanted something looking sympathetic. The golden Buddha around him had also clasped its hands together.
“He seems to be chanting scriptures.”
“It must be the Buddhist monk’s ritual to release the souls of the deceased from suffering.”
“Where did Tonan learn this?”
Tonan’s left Mangekyo spun slowly, activating the Shuten-doji Technique. He also used Wind Communication to transmit his sound in all directions. The soothing sound of chanting sutras reverberated throughout Konoha like the evening drum and the morning bell.
“Bow down to every place and respect the three realms, change the surroundings to Buddha-realm. I now make the great vow and chant Vajracchedika-sutra. Publish quadruple kindness and aid three sufferings. If you’re a witness, learn to show the bodi heart. Do this and report, be reborn in the land of bliss.”
Tonan thought for a long time before saying these words. It was a piece of scripture, and even he didn’t know what it meant. He just included the word bliss in the end. None of the surrounding ninjas and civilians disturbed him. They just curiously watched.
Hiruzen stared at Tonan’s slowly spinning left eye and his eyes condensed. “Is this Tonan’s Transcendence Ocular Technique…”
“What is this chant?”
“I don’t know but it sounds very powerful.”
“It must be some kind of spell.”
Suddenly, someone in the crowd exclaimed, “That is… soul…” Everyone looked and took a deep breath. On the ruins, the spirit bodies of the dead children slowly drifted towards Tonan with a blank look. As a soul ocular technique, Shuten-doji Ocular Technique could easily manifest the soul.
Naturally, it was just for others to see. It didn’t give these souls the ability to communicate with living beings.
“My child…”
“Am I in genjutsu?”
“It’s not genjutsu, this is not genjutsu…”
“It’s truly a soul…”
After the children’s souls floated over to Tonan, he stood up and opened his hands, saying with a look of pity, “Children, the Land of Bliss welcomes you all.”
Immediately afterward, Tonan no longer suppressed the Shuten-doji Ocular Technique. Instantly, the spiritual bodies of the children were sucked into Tonan’s left eye space.
‘Ding! Gained Mikami Yuko’s acknowledgment.’
‘Ding! Gained Sarutobi Sumiko’s acknowledgment.’
‘Ding! Gained Matsui Kei’s acknowledgment.’
‘Ding! Gained Nara Yoko’s acknowledgment.’
‘Ding! Gained Hisami Eda’s acknowledgment.’
‘Ding! Gained Uchiha Kiyomi’s acknowledgment.’
‘Ding! Gained Yamanaka Uno’s acknowledgment.’
Great harvest… But since this was within Tonan’s calculation, he was not too surprised. The only unexpected thing was that Jiraiya was forced to become a Leaf rogue-nin. As for Tsunade who he planned to kill anyway…
Uchiha Fugaku looked at Tonan’s Mangekyo with excitement and he finally couldn’t help asking out loud, “Tonan, what kind of ninjutsu did you just use?”
Tonan released the Buddha form and sighed as if to suppress the sadness in his heart. After a long time, he looked straight at Fukagu and said, “This is my Mangekyo’s special dojutsu called Transcendence. It can lead the soul of the deceased to the land of bliss.”
