Chapter 354: Crystal Release, A Kekkei Genkai; Is Konoha Going to Be Our Home From Now On? [HN]

The chaos and panic in the capital of the Land of Demons quickly disappeared after Mōryō and its ghost army were completely wiped out, like morning mist scattered by sunlight.

What replaced it was the confusion of having survived a disaster, along with the growing awe and gratitude toward the Hokage of Konoha, who seemed like a divine being descending upon the world.

Chiya did not stay in the sealing cavern for long.

He held Miroku, whose emotions had finally settled somewhat, although a charming blush still remained on her cheeks.

With a flash, he returned to the main hall of the Shrine Maiden Palace.

The ministers and shrine priests of the Land of Demons who had been waiting there no longer had any doubts or arrogance.

They had personally witnessed the purifying light that had pierced the heavens and felt the terrifying aura of the demon completely disappear.

When Chiya and Miroku appeared side by side, everyone immediately knelt on the ground and performed the highest form of respect.

“Thank you, Lord Chiya, for saving the Land of Demons from destruction!”

The elderly chief shrine priest spoke with a trembling voice, filled with sincere reverence.

Miroku gently stepped forward from Chiya’s side.

Although her face was still somewhat pale, her purple eyes were filled with unprecedented brilliance and determination.

She looked around at her subordinates, and her clear, steady voice spread throughout the hall.

“I hereby order that, from this day onward, the Land of Demons will voluntarily abandon its status as a neutral country and formally apply to join the ‘Shinobi Federation’ led by Konoha.”

She paused and turned her eyes toward Chiya beside her, showing undisguised trust and dependence.

“We will follow the Federation’s charter, share resources, shoulder our responsibilities together, and rebuild our homeland and improve the lives of our people with Konoha’s assistance. This decision concerns the future welfare of the Land of Demons, and it is also the choice that will break the fate we have carried for a thousand years. I hope everyone will work together.”

The hall fell silent for a moment before a chorus of orderly responses rang out.

“We will obey your command, Lady Miroku!”

No one raised an objection.

Absolute power brought absolute authority.

The strength Chiya had displayed, along with the future he had promised, was far more attractive than clinging to outdated traditions.

Chiya gave Miroku an approving look before speaking.

“The security of the Land of Demons will be handled by Konoha from now on. I will immediately send a Konoha construction and defense team here to help repair your damaged barriers and facilities and establish a permanent liaison point.”

He looked at Miroku.

“Miroku, your body has not fully recovered yet. You can leave the subsequent handover and construction work to reliable people. Your priority should be resting and recovering.”

Miroku’s heart warmed, and she nodded obediently.

“I understand. Thank you for your concern, Lord Chiya.”

“It’s my responsibility.”

His tone was calm, but there was a reassuring quality to his words.

Miroku waved her hand, and the core officials of the Land of Demons began to leave.

After everyone had departed, only Chiya and Miroku remained.

“Lord Chiya~!”

Miroku gazed at Chiya with a lingering look.

“Can you stay tonight?”

Chiya turned around and met those passionate yet shy eyes.

Before he could answer, Miroku rushed forward and threw herself into his arms.

…

The sun and moon continued their cycle.

The next day, Chiya walked out of Miroku’s room.

He did not stay in the Land of Demons for long.

After stabilizing the situation and settling the specific procedures for Miroku’s country to join the Federation, Chiya left the Land of Demons with the scroll containing Mōryō.

On his way back, the system’s notification quietly sounded.

[Congratulations, Host. You have completed the Miroku interception mission.]

[Mission Reward: Crystal Release.]

Crystal Release?

Chiya’s eyes flickered.

He remembered that in Naruto, it was mastered by a female ninja named Guren.

By combining Wind and Water Style chakra, it created a crystallization ability.

It could turn substances such as air and human blood into crystals for offense and defense, with its core weakness being sound wave attacks.

However, Guren was ultimately countered.

The crystals would disappear when exposed to sound waves, and in the end, Guren was forced to perish together with her enemy before being frozen and sinking into the sea.

But ultimately, the strength of Crystal Release depended on who used it.

It was just like Wood Release in Naruto.

When some people used it, they could sweep across the entire shinobi world, while when others used it, they could only use it to decorate a house.

Chiya took a deep breath and felt the information about Crystal Release being transmitted into his mind.

Not long afterward, he opened his eyes.

“System, bring up my character panel!”

A flash of light appeared.

[Name: Uchiha Chiya]

[Age: 28]

[Chakra: 242 Kaka]

[Special Abilities: Rinnegan, Uzumaki Clan Bloodline, Senju Clan Constitution, Sharingan, Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Storm Release, Ice Release, Lava Release, Magnet Release, Steel Release, Dark Release, Boil Release, Dust Release, Crystal Release]

[Skills: Divine Art: Fleeting Beauty, Rinnegan Exclusive, Kajutsu, All Killing Ash Bones]

[Rinnegan: Almighty Push, Super Almighty Push, Universal Pull, Planetary Devastation, Clone Technique, Chakra Absorption, and other basic abilities.]

[Mangekyō Sharingan Techniques: The Far Shore of the Yellow Springs, Cycle of Cause and Effect, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Kotoamatsukami, Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi, Kamui, both eyes]

[Forbidden Techniques: Izanagi, Izanami]

[Secret Techniques: Hydrification Technique, Mind Transfer Puppet Curse Seal Technique, Paper Style Technique]

[Mastery of Sealing Techniques, Swordsmanship, Susano’o, Medical Ninjutsu, Fire Release, Genjutsu, Ninja Tools, High Speed Body Flicker Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Three Basic Body Techniques, and others]

As always, there was still no Sage Jutsu.

Chiya had asked about it before, but the system seemed to have encountered a bug and had never given him an answer.

Chiya’s attention shifted to the Special Abilities section.

“System, when can I combine the Kekkei Genkai into the All Encompassing Bloodline?”

[Once the Host gathers a sufficient number of Kekkei Genkai, they can be combined to return to the origin.]

[Return to the Origin: Break through the restrictions of the Kekkei Genkai and reach the All Encompassing Bloodline.]

[The Host currently does not meet the requirements and cannot perform the combination.]

Chiya was speechless.

‘Why is this system still so unintelligent?’

‘It only knows how to repeat itself.’

Forget it.

There was no need to get angry with a system.

For now, returning to Konoha as soon as possible was the important thing.

…

Konoha Village, the newly planned Special Settlement Area beneath the Hokage Rock.

An originally empty area had now been filled with a unique cluster of buildings.

They were mainly white, with simple and smooth lines.

They had clear architectural characteristics of the Ōtsutsuki clan from the Moon, while also being cleverly integrated into Konoha’s overall layout.

This was the new home of the Moon Ōtsutsuki immigrants.

Thousands of Ōtsutsuki clan members were carrying out registration, settlement, and adaptation procedures in an orderly manner under the guidance and assistance of Konoha’s shinobi.

Most of them had pale skin and blue white hair, while their pure white eyes contained confusion, anxiety, and a trace of disbelief after surviving a disaster.

Once upon a time, they had considered themselves descendants of gods and had lived high above the Moon, coldly watching the conflicts of the shinobi world.

However, Uchiha Chiya had crushed their pride with absolute power.

The fall of the Main Family Clan Leader, Ōtsutsuki Hōgen, symbolized the complete collapse of the old order.

Now, they were no longer observers.

They were immigrants living under Konoha’s protection.

Namikaze Minato moved through the settlement area with his trademark gentle smile.

He efficiently coordinated the distribution of supplies and patiently answered the immigrants’ questions.

Uchiha Fugaku stood silently at a high position.

His invisible pressure maintained order and also caused some Ōtsutsuki clan members who had been harboring hope and trying to retain the superiority of the old era to restrain themselves.

“From today onward, you are members of Konoha’s Ōtsutsuki clan.”

Nara Shikaku stood on a temporary platform and used an amplification formula to make his voice clearly reach the entire settlement area.

“Konoha will guarantee your survival and safety and grant you corresponding rights. At the same time, you will be required to obey Konoha’s laws and fulfill your responsibilities as members of Konoha. Your past identities and conflicts have become history. The future requires you to create it together with Konoha.”

His words were clear and organized.

They showed Konoha’s sincerity in accepting them while also establishing clear boundaries.

The Ōtsutsuki clan members below listened silently, their expressions complicated.

There was uncertainty about the future, awe toward powerful Konoha, and fear toward the Hokage who had not personally appeared yet but seemed to loom over everyone’s hearts like a shadow, along with…

A trace of indescribable curiosity.

“Is this going to be the place where we live from now on?”