Chapter 24 : Future Card

The Fourth Raikage found himself in a dilemma because both treasures held immense value, making his decision extremely challenging.

One treasure had the potential to immediately enhance his strength, while the other was closely tied to his future.

[Thunder Fruit: One of the Logia Devil Fruits, it allows the user to transform their body into electricity, rendering normal physical attacks ineffective. It grants the ability to release high-voltage currents at will for attacks, lightning-fast movement, terrifying destructive power, and even electrotherapy capabilities. However, it comes with a significant weakness: a fear of seawater!]

[Future Card: With this card, you can predict future crises three times and broadcast them as images to avert these impending disasters.]

[The Third Tsuchikage: Oh my, the Thunder Fruit's power is astonishing! It can transform into electricity, making it impervious to physical attacks, such as kunai and other weapons. Furthermore, it possesses remarkable offensive capabilities and lightning-fast speed. This ability is incredibly potent!]

[Terumi Mei: Its flaw, however, is substantial—its fear of seawater. Kirigakure excels in water ninjutsu, and summoning seawater is a simple task for us. If the Fourth Raikage selects the Thunder Fruit, he would be at a disadvantage against us!]

[Senju Tobirama: Thunder Fruit is the bane of Taijutsu practitioners. Even with Might Guy using the Eight Inner Gates, he might not be able to defeat the Fourth Raikage with a single blow and could even end up seriously injured.]

[Kakashi: It's not an insurmountable issue. Guy can also learn ninjutsu, and he can acquire water manipulation skills or team up with a Water Style Ninjutsu user to counter the Fourth Raikage effectively. However, in a direct confrontation, Guy might not be his equal.]

[Uchiha Madara: Yasao is also a formidable hand-to-hand combatant, and Thunder Fruit would be a natural restraint against him. As for water ninjutsu, while it can counter lightning, water also conducts electricity, and an onslaught of countless electric currents can easily overpower a water ninja.]

Uchiha Madara clearly hoped that the Fourth Raikage would choose the Thunder Fruit, providing him with an additional means to restrain Yasao.

However, his true fear lay with Yasao, not the Thunder Fruit.

[Kakashi: Although the Thunder Fruit is impressive, the Future Card is equally intriguing. It grants the ability to foresee future crises. Not choosing it could leave you vulnerable to unforeseen threats.]

[Might Guy: I recommend that the Fourth Raikage selects the Future Card.]

[Killer Bee: @Might Guy, you're just looking out for yourself, hoping my big brother chooses the Future Card so you won't feel threatened. You're quite cunning!]

[Fourth Raikage: Father, what should I choose?]

[Third Raikage: Regardless of your choice, I support you!]

After much contemplation, the Fourth Raikage made his decision: he chose the Future Card.

While the Thunder Fruit held immense allure, its substantial drawback, the fear of seawater, could be exploited by many water style ninjas in the world. 

As the leader of the Cloud Shinobi Village, he couldn't afford to have such a critical vulnerability. Additionally, he anticipated encountering numerous opportunities for acquiring powerful rewards in the future. 

If he were to embrace the Thunder Fruit's incredible strength but remain burdened with its weakness, his future potential would always be marred by this flaw.

Therefore, he opted for the Future Card, a treasure with the potential to safeguard his life by predicting three future crises.

[Fourth Raikage: Everyone, there's no need for further persuasion; I choose the Future Card!]

[Might Guy: Hahaha, Fourth Raikage, your choice is an excellent one!]

[Kakashi: Congratulations to the Fourth Raikage for selecting the Future Card!]

[Terumi Mei: It's a shame; if the Fourth Raikage had chosen the Thunder Fruit, Konoha would have reason to fear the Cloud Shinobi Village now. However, Kirigakure has no such fears!]

[Senju Hashirama: Fourth Raikage, please proceed and try out the Future Card. Synchronize the screen to the live room; I'm eager to witness the future!]

At Mount Myōboku,

"To predict the future in this manner, with the ability to do so thrice and without apparent limitations—this method surpasses even my own," the Great Toad Sage muttered. 

His own prophecies were somewhat unreliable, limited to once a year and providing only fragmented glimpses of the future based on key information.

The Future Card, on the other hand, appeared capable of directly intercepting future events and broadcasting them live. These abilities were indeed god-like and exceeded his previous conceptions of power.

Countless ninja were now curious about the future crises the Fourth Raikage would face.

Taking the Future Card in hand, the Fourth Raikage promptly activated it with chakra.

Hum!

A future scene instantly synchronized with the live room.

In this scene, the Fourth Raikage confronted a young man wielding a Kusanagi sword.

Their battle ensued, with the Fourth Raikage initially dominating his opponent, whose strength couldn't match his own. However, the enemy soon activated the Mangekyō Sharingan and summoned Susanoo.

[Fourth Raikage: Who is this person? Clearly not Uchiha Itachi, but he possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan and wields the Kusanagi sword. The Kusanagi sword belongs to Orochimaru. Could this be Orochimaru after undergoing Living Corpse Reincarnation?]

[Tsunade: It's definitely not Orochimaru. I can recognize Orochimaru no matter how he disguises himself.]

[Jiraiya: Indeed, Orochimaru always ends up looking like a woman, regardless of his transformations.]

[Naruto: That's Sasuke when he's grown up!]

[Sasuke: It's me; I actually possess the Mangekyō Sharingan!]

In a forest not far from Konoha,

Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi watched the live broadcast with keen interest.

Hoshigaki Kisame remarked, "Itachi, that's your younger brother Sasuke. He will eventually awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. It's said that in your clan, one must witness the death of a loved one to unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan after the Three Tomoe Sharingan. Since you're Sasuke's only remaining relative, could this be your future…"

"The future is uncertain, and anything can change," Uchiha Itachi replied indifferently, his Mangekyō Sharingan gleaming.

Hoshigaki Kisame was still deeply concerned about Uchiha Itachi and suggested, "Itachi, if you ever find yourself unable to act, I could eliminate Sasuke for you. How about that?"

"You are forbidden from interfering in my affairs," Uchiha Itachi said coldly, the Mangekyō Sharingan's power evident.

"Understood, I won't meddle," Hoshigaki Kisame hastily replied.

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