Chapter 48: Kage-Level Strength and Super Kage-Level Potential.

author's note: I feel as if the past couple of chapter's quality got worse greatly and translating them was a lot harder, so I apologize for the poor translation. Hopefully the quality improves over the next chapters.

Thinking of the future of Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, Sato couldn't help but feel excited. He wished to find Orochimaru now and acquire the Reanimation Jutsu.

Affected by this emotion, Sato no longer had much interest in the remaining corpses of powerful individuals. He didn't even bother to open them up, extract their tissue for the Impure World Reincarnation, or consume the rest.

After obtaining a body that has an extraordinary level of physical resilience, endurance, and charka second only to Otsutsuki Ashura, Sato proceeded to extract Chakra. This process was no longer as simple as turning on a tap, but more akin to opening a dam.

It wouldn't take long for Sato's Chakra to reach the level of a tailed beast.

Therefore, Sato put away the remaining scrolls containing the corpses and prepared to return to Konoha.

As for Minato Namikaze, Sato decided not to consume him at the moment. Since Minato's body lacked a soul, devouring him wouldn't grant Sato the complete Flying Thunder God Technique.

He would treat the corpses of the Uchiha clan in the same manner. First, he would acquire the Reanimation Jutsu, then use the Shinigami mask to extract Minato Namikaze's soul and use Impure World Reincarnation. After consuming his body, Sato would gain access to Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, the Uzumaki family's sealing techniques, and even Half of the Nine-Tails sealed within his soul.

Leaving his hideout, Sato swiftly returned to his house in Konoha.

After storing all the scrolls, Sato infused some Chakra into the Wood Clone that was already at home.

Then the Wood Clone employed the Wood Transformation Technique once again, transforming into a regular piece of furniture. It guarded the wardrobe where the scrolls were stored, thanks to the perfect replication abilities of the Wood Clone and Wood Transformation, even if a sensory ninja infiltrated Sato's house, they would be unable to detect the presence of the Wood Clone. Should someone intrude, the Wood Clone would seize the opportunity and swiftly eliminate them.

After disposing of Anbu-like attire, masks, wigs, and daggers, Sato donned the Konoha Genin vest again and set out to assist the villagers in building houses.

Since the beginning of the official competition until now, no one knew that a twelve-year-old boy had stolen over a hundred corpses from the cemetery, including many powerful and esteemed figures of Konoha from the past 60 years. This included the Fourth Hokage and two Hokage's wives.

Sato had also eliminated the elders of the Hyuga, Yamanaka, and Nara clans, as well as the top Anbu Yamato, and acquired the corpses of Uchiha clan members possessing the Sharingan.

In less than a day, Sato's strength and potential had skyrocketed from Elite Jonin level to Kage-level and even super Kage level!

Yes, he possessed Kage-level strength and super Kage-level potential.

This is Sato's current strength!

He possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Byakugan, Wood release, an Overpowered body, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kagura Mind Eye - Malicious Version, as well as the mysteries of the Yamanaka and Nara clans.

Sato was undoubtedly a Kage-level powerhouse.

Additionally, Sato's Chakra nature had changed from the five attributes of wind, fire, water, lightning, and yin to the seven, after obtaining the earth and yang attributes that came from the Yamato and the corpses of Uzumaki Kushina, Uzumaki Mito, and the Senju clan.

Initially, Wood release, which only had 20% of Senju Hashirama's power, seemed insignificant. But with the devouring of many Senjus members, his Wood Style could potentially reach 80% of Senju Hashirama's power in the future.

The only gap between Sato and Senju Hashirama was the power of Wood release.

Once Sato closed the final gap he would reach the level of Senju Hashirama.

This would place him below only the Six Paths level, at the apex of the world!

But now, it was time to focus on the task at hand.

After "doing good deeds every day," Sato began preparing for Plan B.

His plan involved resolving the issue of making Tsunade a Hokage.

In the following days, Sato closely monitored Jiraiya's movements using the byakugans and Kagura Mind Eye. He attended the Third Hokage's funeral and was confident that the Third Hokage's body was buried in the cemetery.

On this day, Sato woke up early and his perception, which covered all of Konoha, detected two unusually powerful Chakra fluctuations within the village.

Upon careful observation, he immediately recognized the identities of these two Chakra sources.

Itachi had returned home.

In the past few days, news of the Third Hokage's death had spread throughout the ninja world.

Upon hearing the news, Uchiha Itachi promptly returned to Konoha with Kisame.

To be precise, Itachi warned Shimura Danzo, not to harm his younger brother or confidential information would be leaked to every enemy nation.

On the same day, Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane, who had been overseeing Konoha , finally suggested the most suitable candidate for the Fifth Hokage.

Initially, they intended for Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage, but upon hearing Jiraiya's recommendation of Tsunade, they fell silent.

Indeed, in this period of low morale in the village, no one was more suitable to become the Fifth Hokage other than the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the princess of the Fire Country, one of the legendary Konoha Sannin, and a renowned medical master in the ninja world.

Thus, they agreed to Jiraiya's proposal and allowed him to take Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, in search of Tsunade.

After witnessing Jiraiya and Naruto's departure, Sato initiated his own plan.

Sato first approached Kurenai Yuhi and informed her that during his one-month training period, he had encountered a friend who was suspected to be from the Uzumaki clan. He wished to recommend her for joining Konoha.

Upon hearing this, Kurenai, who had been nearly killed by Itachi not long ago, widened her beautiful eyes in astonishment and asked for confirmation. Sato assured her that he was certain.

He explained that the friend possessed red hair and remarkable perception and chakra reserves. He had noticed these characteristics when they first met, feeling a sense of familiarity. Sato had then researched and found that her attributes perfectly matched those of the Uzumaki clan as described in the library.

Kurenai's complexion turned serious upon hearing this and reminded Sato to test the individual thoroughly before confirming her as a member. She suggested subjecting her to the interrogation and examination methods used for outsiders to ensure she wasn't a spy with implanted spells.

Sato understood and thanked Kurenai for her guidance. In truth, he had only visited her to establish a seamless reason for his actions.

If his plan succeeded, Karin would return with Tsunade. With Tsunade's support, no department in Konoha, including the Intelligence and Torture Divisions, would be able to harm Karin, not even Shimura Danzo.

Of course, Kurenai was unaware of her student's true intentions.

Having achieved his goal, Sato thanked Kurenai and disappeared instantly to continue with his plan.