Chapter 217: I Fight to the Death on the Frontline, and My Home is Gone?

Soma arrived at the marked spot.

A tree, lush and green.

It was dense but not tall.

Soma extended his hand and pressed it against the tree trunk.

He let his Chakra flow out, slowly spreading along the trunk.

"The power of lightning…"

Soma raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Could it be… that this tree absorbed the power of the dangerous creature's horn scraps?"

Soma quickly looked down.

"Earth Release, Earth Spear Jutsu!"

In an instant, he hardened his arm.

Then he thrust it into the ground.

A wooden box was retrieved by Soma.

He opened the box.

"As expected, the power of these scraps inside has decreased significantly; they were indeed absorbed by the tree."

"Then, what kind of changes will this tree undergo after absorbing these powers?"

"Will the trunk turn into materials that can be used for forging ninja tools?"

"Or will the fruit produced have special effects?"

Soma buried the box back.

He wasn't sure how much this change would benefit him.

But he was willing to look forward to it if it meant getting something in return for the scraps.

"By the way, I also have Sage's Plant Cultivation technique."

"If applied to this tree, it might have a good effect."

Soma immediately set to work.

He searched his mind for information on Sage's Plant Cultivation technique, and began organizing it in relation to the current state of the tree.

Meanwhile, as Soma was busy in the Garden Box,

The news of the Hozuki Clan's extermination spread throughout the ninja world.

The Hidden Mist Village didn't make an effort to conceal it.

Because it couldn't be hidden.

Which village doesn't have a few spies from other ninja villages?

The disappearance of the Hozuki Clan was such a significant event that it couldn't be kept secret, even if the spies only had the identity of ordinary villagers.

When the news first broke, almost everyone in the village was stunned.

For a moment, they couldn't react.

"Hozuki Clan, exterminated?"

"Because they tried to rebel?"

"How could it come to this!"

Some people who had a good impression of the Hozuki Clan sighed loudly.

A middle-aged man who knew more of the "inside story" said, "The Hozuki Clan has long harbored rebellious intentions."

"Previously, they forcibly monopolized the Seven Ninja Swords, turning the original Hidden Mist Seven Ninja Swords into their own Hozuki Seven Ninja Swords."

"At that time, Third Mizukage-sama refrained from taking action against the Hozuki Clan out of respect for Lord Second."

"I heard that the Hozuki Clan monopolized the Seven Ninja Swords, but their clan members were not up to par. They were continually outdone by Shinigami Squad members wielding Zanpakuto, so they attacked the Forging Division."

The young man opposite had a cold expression.

"That's too much."

"Absolutely inhumane."

"If you can't do it yourself and then blame others, trying to drag others down, isn't that hindering the progress of our entire village? It's utterly malicious."

"Such actions are indeed no different from rebellion."

"No wonder Mizukage-sama ordered the extermination of the Hozuki Clan."

Some people recalled the previous Kaguya Clan.

"Speaking of internal conflicts in the village, the Kaguya Clan almost triggered a civil war."

"But no one expected that a Kaguya Neko would appear. To test his own capabilities and enhance his strength, he nearly exterminated the entire Kaguya Clan in one night, relying solely on himself."

"He directly interrupted the possibility of a civil war."

"We previously thought it was a tragedy for the Kaguya Clan."

"But now it seems that Kaguya Neko actually saved the Kaguya Clan."

"At least now, the Kaguya Clan still exists, while the Hozuki Clan is gone."

This left everyone feeling deeply moved.

"If the Hozuki Clan had really attacked the Forging Division, then their extermination would indeed be their own fault."

"The Forging Division is incredibly important to our Hidden Mist Village."

"The Zanpakuto has allowed many powerful ninjas to experience a new lease on life."

"It directly elevated their strength to a new level."

"Anyone can have issues, but the Forging Division absolutely cannot have problems."

"This is the future of our Hidden Mist Village!"

There were few discussions about right or wrong.

Because the event had already happened.

Moreover, the order to exterminate the Hozuki Clan was given directly by the Fourth Mizukage Yagura.

In contrast, the people of Hidden Mist Village were more concerned about the impact of this event on the village.

"With the Hozuki Clan gone, our village's overall strength should have decreased significantly."

"I wonder if it will affect the battlefield."

"We've lost quite a few ninjas, but Izumo, during that night, entered the ranks of top ninjas."

"Izumo? The Hozuki Clan still has people alive?"

The person opposite was silent for a moment.

"In fact, there are quite a few Hozuki Clan members still alive."

"There are still dozens of Hozuki Clan ninjas on the front lines."

"For example, Hozuki Mangetsu."

"And Izumo, as a member of the Hozuki Clan, did not participate in the Hozuki Clan's rebellion. When the clan made a wrong move, Izumo firmly stood with the village."

"Even during the extermination of the Hozuki Clan, Izumo contributed significantly."

"To reward Izumo for his loyalty to the village and acknowledge his capabilities, Mizukage-sama specifically arranged for Izumo to form a contract with the new Zanpakuto crafted by Uehara-sama."

"It's called Thunder God's Rage."

"It can unleash extremely strong lightning power."

"It's much stronger than Thunder Swords."

"With Thunder God's Rage, Izumo has become a top-tier Lightning Release ninja, a standout among elite Jonin."

"It is said that that night, Izumo single-handedly faced dozens of Hozuki Clan ninjas and defeated all the rebellious ones with just one strike."

Nearby people's eyes widened.

"So powerful?"

"Doesn't that make him comparable to Raiga-sama?"

"It's very possible."

"Speaking of which, it's still Uehara-sama's Zanpakuto that's impressive."

"Raiga-sama, after a previous failure, was in decline for a long time. It was only with the Lightning Blade crafted by Uehara-sama that he managed to stand up again, defeat Konoha's Shimura Danzo, and return to the ranks of top ninjas."

"Izumo's transformation is also due to receiving the Zanpakuto crafted by Uehara-sama."

"Our village is fortunate to have Uehara-sama."

"I wonder how the Hozuki Clan members on the front line will react when they learn this news…"

After the extermination of the Kaguya Clan,

Since Kaguya Neko bore all the sins alone,

The Kaguya Clan members on the front line rushed back, wanting to kill Kaguya Neko.

Kaguya Neko judged and killed the radical members,

While sparing the lives of the non-radical members.

But this time, the situation is different.

This time, the village has defined the Hozuki Clan as a rebellious ninja clan that needs to be exterminated.

...

"Family rebellion?"

"What's going on?"

"Already exterminated?"

"What should we do?"

The Hozuki Clan members on the front line were panic-stricken upon hearing the news.

Suddenly, such a major upheaval—where should they go now?

The clan is gone.

The village has exterminated their family.

In an instant, it seemed like they had no place in the entire ninja world.

A young man spoke calmly, "I don't believe the family would rebel. Our Hozuki Clan has no reason to rebel, so I think we must have been framed."

This statement immediately received agreement from the others.

"That's right, our Hozuki Clan must have been framed. But the problem is, who is framing us? How can we find this person and prove our Hozuki Clan's innocence?"

The young man sneered.

"Who else could it be?"

"If an ordinary person were framing our Hozuki Clan, the village would at least give some time for investigation. Before the investigation is complete, they would at most just imprison our Hozuki Clan."

"Only Yagura could directly order the extermination of our Hozuki Clan."

The female ninja opposite frowned.

"Mizukage-sama? Why? Mizukage-sama wouldn't have a reason to frame our Hozuki Clan!"

The young man shook his head.

"I don't know the reason. We've been on the front lines for a long time, and a lot may have happened in the village. But I know that, aside from Yagura, no one else could have done this."

"Right now, our only option is to escape."

"That's the only way we can survive."

"And then seek revenge for our family."

The young man glanced around.

"Time is of the essence. Let's act now and scatter to increase the chances of more people surviving."

The group was persuaded by the young man. They exchanged looks and then went in different directions.

After a while, the young man looked back.

"It seems the clan really did take action against the Forging Division. But even so, for the village to take such extreme measures against the Hozuki Clan is excessive."

A trace of resentment appeared in the young man's eyes.

"Is the entire Hozuki Clan to be exterminated just for one Soma?"

"Just because Soma is currently contributing greatly to the village?"

"What about the contributions our Hozuki Clan made to the village before?"

"The village is too pragmatic."

"Too cold-blooded."

"Not a shred of old affection."

"By the time the news reaches here, the village will have surely sent people over. The Hozuki Clan within the village has already been exterminated. They certainly won't spare us either."

"Scattering and escaping is the only slim chance of survival."

The young man's gaze flickered.

"Hidden Mist Village, Soma…"

"You'll see."

"As long as I can escape, whether it's to Konoha, the Hidden Cloud Village, the Hidden Rock Village, or the Hidden Sand Village, I will inform them of all I know about you."

"With their power, they will avenge my Hozuki Clan!"

Suddenly, the young man felt a dangerous presence and quickly stopped.

A figure stepped out from the front.

"Shin, long time no see."

Izumo looked at the young man with a somewhat complex expression.

The two had known each other for a long time.

The Hozuki Clan was a large ninja family.

With many members.

Even if there were familial ties, it was normal for one Hozuki not to know another Hozuki.

But Izumo and Hozuki Shin were very familiar.

They were neighbors.

Childhood playmates.

Even after becoming ninjas, their relationship remained good.

The only turning point was when the Hozuki Clan decided to monopolize the Seven Ninja Swords.

Izumo and Hozuki Shin took different paths.

One was "abandoned" by the family and chose to align with Soma.

The other, on the "radical" path of the family, went further and deeper.

"Izumo!"

At the first sight of Izumo, Hozuki Shin's expression darkened.

"Is this your choice, to kill members of your own family for the sake of outsiders?"

"Truly disgusting."

After hearing this, Izumo withdrew his somewhat complex emotions and looked at Shin calmly.

"I only made the right decision."

"If the Hozuki Clan committed crimes, even though I am a member of the Hozuki Clan, I would not cover it up…"

But before he could finish, he was interrupted by Hozuki Shin.

"Committed crimes?"

"What crimes could justify the extermination of an entire ninja clan?"

"Are there no innocent people at all?"

"Just because you think that after killing enough people, the remaining ones will inevitably become enemies of the village, so you preemptively kill them all? What a grandiose excuse!"

Hozuki Shin roared in anger.

His eyes were bloodshot and red, filled with rage.

"So, when the Hozuki Clan members killed those innocent villagers, where were you?"

Hozuki Shin hesitated.

"Hozuki Shin, if I were to take you back to the village now, would you be able to acknowledge the Hozuki Clan's crimes and remain steadfastly loyal to the village? If you can, I will speak on your behalf to Mizukage-sama."

Izumo said.

Shin's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Can you guarantee that I won't die?"

"I can."

Shin was silent for a moment.

"Fine, I'll go back to the village with you. But if I return to the village and am still killed, then it proves that your choice was wrong. I hope you can avenge me."

Shin moved to stand beside Izumo.

"Alright."

Just as Izumo finished speaking, Shin suddenly attacked.

"Water Release, Great Water Arm Jutsu!"

Shin's arm instantly filled with water, expanding to an enormous size. Clenched into a fist, it was smashed violently towards Izumo.

The force was immense.

If hit, even Izumo would not fare well.

However, Shin suddenly realized something was wrong.

Because as his fist was about to strike Izumo, he saw that Izumo did not show any panic when looking back at him, only disappointment.

"Lightning Release, Thunder Armor!"

A surge of lightning erupted, enveloping Izumo and forming an armor-like protection.

Hozuki Shin's fist came down.

The punch, enhanced by the Great Water Arm Jutsu, struck Izumo but failed to even break through his defense.

Unbreakable defense.

Shin's eyes widened.

"This defense?"

"Is this the ability of the new Zanpakuto?"

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