Chapter 170

The two of them remained locked in a stalemate.

In the end, the Third Hokage stepped back one pace and agreed to Ishihara's terms.

The Third Hokage said grimly: "I want to trade with you the first forbidden technique: the Eight Gates Release!"

Ishihara blinked, then sneered: "No, Might Guy has already traded that secret art with me—it has no use for me anymore."

"What?!"

The Third Hokage froze, his face stiffening completely.

Ishihara said coolly: "My purpose in acquiring these secret arts is for research; things useless to me have no trade value!"

"Otherwise, what's the point of me using sealing techniques?"

The Third Hokage immediately panicked, his face flushing with agitation.

"But the Eight Gates is also a village forbidden technique—not just Might Guy's!"

He couldn't help but panic—this meant the village would lose the transmission of a forbidden technique, and one of the most powerful ones at that!

Ishihara shook his head calmly: "I don't care. Go find Might Guy."

The Third Hokage's heart burned with fury, and his gaze hardened as he looked at Might Guy, whose body was still weak.

Might Guy now had opened the Seventh Gate and would soon open the Eighth.

He could even be called Konoha's strongest combatant—the pillar of the village!

Even as Hokage, he dared not provoke such a man.

Moreover, no one else in Konoha, even if they received the transmission, could possibly reach the Eighth Gate!

He certainly couldn't ask Might Guy to give up that transmission opportunity.

"The Third Hokage can choose another secret art or forbidden technique to trade—preferably quickly, or someone else might beat you to it."

Ishihara said with deep implication.

Although Konoha had many secret arts and forbidden techniques, only a few were truly useful to him.

Those that could interest him were even fewer.

But the right to read those forbidden techniques wasn't limited to the Third Hokage—it also belonged to Danzō, and the two elders, Tonoki Koharu and Mizumon En.

Just because the Third doesn't trade doesn't mean others won't.

The Third Hokage naturally understood his meaning, his expression shifting slightly as he said urgently:

"Fine, I'll trade another technique: the Second Hokage's Water Release Secret Art—Water Cutting Wave."

Ishihara shook his head: "This jutsu has no meaning to me—no trade value."

The Third Hokage's expression stalled, and he muttered reluctantly: "Then another—one from the First Hokage: the Strength of a Hundred Fists!"

"I've already mastered it!"

"Water Release…"

"No value!"

"Fire Release…"

"No value!"

"Five Element Great Combination Technique!"

"Meaningless!"

Ishihara looked down his nose at the Five Element Great Combination Technique, the Third Hokage's prized technique.

The Third Hokage flew into a rage: "These are Konoha's most elite jutsu—and none of them are good enough?! Then what is?!"

Ishihara said calmly: "The Flying Thunder God Technique, the Jinchūriki Sealing Technique, and the Wood Release."

The Third Hokage's face twisted in shock and fury as he stared at him.

These were Konoha's true foundations!

This was too critical—he could never hand them over lightly!

But if he didn't offer them, he truly had nothing left to trade.

The Third Hokage fell into hesitation: "I need time to consider."

Nearby, Hyūga Hiashi and others had overheard the conversation, and even though they'd expected it, they were secretly stunned.

Ishihara's demands for secret arts and forbidden techniques were so high that they couldn't help but be alarmed.

The Third Hokage was still hesitating, so he sent someone to summon the other three elders.

But at that moment, Fugaku stepped forward: "If the Hokage won't trade, then please step aside—I will!"

"You!"

The Third Hokage glared furiously at him, but Fugaku didn't care.

Their relationship was already shattered; this was a race against time—he wouldn't yield.

(Dedé Zhào)

This morning he had just finished applying a secret hypnotic technique to clan members willing to awaken the Mangekyō, so he brought them here immediately.

Ishihara glanced at Fugaku and the two Uchiha beside him, and his spirits lifted.

It seemed new physical specimens were arriving.

"Everyone else, leave. Only the Uchiha may stay."

Though reluctant, the Third Hokage was pulled out by the clan heads of the other great families.

The Nara clan had already completed their trade with Ishihara—their strength would surely rise in the coming period.

But since they hadn't finished their own trade, they couldn't let the Third Hokage clash with Ishihara.

Soon, only Ishihara, Uchiha Fugaku, and the two beside him remained in the courtyard.

One was a young man: Uchiha Inabi.

A middle-aged man, the Second Elder of the Uchiha!

"You've come again hoping to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Fugaku nodded. "That's right, both of them are!"