Chapter 230: Shinigami Sacrifice, Namikaze Minato【monthly Votes Wanted】
【PS: Please vote with your monthly tickets, it’s the last day of the month, I’m still short about twenty votes QAQ】
Konohagakure, Hokage Building office.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the large window, casting warm light spots on the floor, yet it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere in the office.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the large desk, holding a confidential file just compiled by the intelligence team, his brows tightly furrowed, deeply inhaling from his pipe, letting the pungent smoke circulate in his lungs, as if only this could slightly calm the turmoil in his heart.
The content on the file was the intelligence about the Land of Stars and its leader “Shura” that had been frantically spreading recently through the Underground Bounty Exchange and various secret channels.
Among them, phrases like “mysterious Uchiha ninja” and “dark red armored giant” were heavily circled in red pen by the intelligence personnel, standing out glaringly.
“Dark red armored giant… Susanoo…” Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured to himself, his graying eyebrows tightly knitted together.
Seeing this description, he couldn’t help but recall several years ago, when Shisui Uchiha was ordered to lead a small team to investigate the drastic changes in the Land of Bears, and they encountered a mysterious Uchiha ninja.
Shisui was severely injured and even had his left eye gouged out; the report had also mentioned that this Uchiha ninja was extremely powerful and could use Susanoo.
At that time, he and the advisors had discussed it, thinking it might be a follower of Uchiha Madara from when he defected from Konoha, or bloodline left behind outside.
After all, the Uchiha Clan’s history was too long; it wasn’t entirely impossible for one or two branch lines to have scattered outside.
However, in the fifty-plus years since the village was founded, the Uchiha Clan inside Konoha Village had a subtle relationship with the village, but overall they had been law-abiding, with no substantial rebellion actions, which had slightly reassured the high-level officials.
But now, this mysterious Uchiha ninja possessing Mangekyo Sharingan and able to activate Susanoo had appeared again.
This couldn’t help but make Hiruzen Sarutobi vigilant once more.
Could it be… the previous guess was true?
Did Uchiha Madara really leave behind such a terrifying contingency outside?
The aged Hiruzen Sarutobi’s heart was filled with worry and uncertainty.
A “Shura” who could easily defeat the Cloud Village AB combo and enter and exit Konoha as if it were uninhabited; a mysterious Uchiha ninja with Mangekyo power; that was already enough to cause headaches, and now another mysterious Uchiha ninja had appeared…
The threat level of the Land of Stars had skyrocketed in his mind.
At that moment, the office door was pushed open, interrupting Hiruzen Sarutobi’s thoughts.
Danzō Shimura entered slowly, leaning on his cane.
He was still in his usual Danzō attire, with his right eye and right arm wrapped in bandages, his only remaining left eye sharp and sinister.
He nodded slightly as a greeting, his voice low and deep as he asked: “Hiruzen, what urgent matter do you have calling me here?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t answer immediately, but took another deep puff from his pipe, then gently pushed the intelligence file on the desk forward, signaling Danzō to look for himself.
“Take a look at this first.”
Danzō stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the content on the file, his face showing no surprise whatsoever.
His Root intelligence network was far more pervasive than the overt Hokage’s Personal Anbu; he had naturally known about this information long ago, and possibly even more detailed than what Hiruzen Sarutobi had seen.
He skimmed through it roughly, then raised his head, speaking in his slightly hoarse voice: “It seems this Shura of the Land of Stars has grown too strong to control. Now, it’s confirmed that there are ninja from the Uchiha Clan colluding with him.”
He deliberately emphasized the word “colluding.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and slowly exhaled a smoke ring: “Uchiha scattered outside may not necessarily be colluding.”
Danzō snorted coldly, a glint of coldness flashing in his left eye: “May not? Hiruzen, have you forgotten what Itachi Uchiha secretly reported before? That Shura, and that woman called Uchiha Hikari, once secretly infiltrated the village and visited Uchiha Fugaku!”
This matter was something Itachi Uchiha had reported to the Third Hokage after witnessing Shura and Uchiha Hikari appearing at his home to meet with his father, following intense internal struggle.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken it very seriously upon learning of it, summoning advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado for a secret discussion; as the leader of Root, Danzō naturally had channels to learn of it too.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face darkened: “That meeting was not reported by Fugaku afterward, which is indeed suspicious. But based on just one unverified secret meeting, we can’t conclude that the entire Uchiha Clan is colluding with Shura. At least, all Uchiha ninja currently in the village are under surveillance, and no abnormal movements or secret contacts with the outside have been detected.”
“All?” Danzō’s voice suddenly rose, carrying obvious doubt and oppression: “What about Shisui Uchiha?! How do you explain his disappearance?!”
Shisui’s name was like a sharp thorn, instantly piercing the most sensitive nerve between the two old men in the office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze sharpened instantly as he stared straight at Danzō: “Shisui is the village’s hero; he made huge efforts and sacrifices for peace between the village and the Uchiha. I trust his character; he would never collude with a dangerous figure like Shura!”
“Trust?” Danzō sneered: “Trust is the cheapest thing in the ninja world! Hiruzen, your weakness and excessive trust will sooner or later doom Konoha!”
“Then,” Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stood up, hands braced on the desk, body leaning slightly forward, his gaze burning as he stared at Danzō, his tone more serious than ever.
“Where were you that night when Shisui disappeared? Danzō.”
The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.
Danzō’s exposed left eye pupil contracted imperceptibly, but his facial expression showed no change, still that gloomy demeanor.
He met the Third’s gaze without flinching, his voice even carrying a hint of aggrieved indignation: “I was naturally at the Root Base handling official business! Hiruzen, what do you mean by that? Are you suspecting me of doing something to Shisui?!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him intently without speaking, his profound gaze seeming to pierce through Danzō’s disguise and see the truth hidden beneath the bandages.
In fact, ever since Shisui’s disappearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s first suspect had been Danzō Shimura!
Danzō’s extreme attitude toward the Uchiha Clan, his greed for the Sharingan, and his habitual dark methods all gave Hiruzen Sarutobi ample reason to suspect him.
Moreover, that night, some Root personnel had indeed shown abnormal activity traces.
But there was no direct evidence.
Danzō was extremely cautious in his actions, almost never leaving any handles.
More importantly, with the current complex situation inside and outside Konoha—Cloud Village eyeing them covetously, the Land of Stars rising, and the Uchiha issue internally—he still needed to rely on Danzō and the Root he led to handle those unsavory dirty jobs.
After a standoff for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly sat back in his chair, his expression becoming inscrutable once more.
He picked up his pipe, relit it, and took a deep puff, as if exhaling all his doubts and helplessness with the smoke.
“…Never mind.” He waved his hand, his tone returning to its usual steadiness but with a hint of fatigue: “Let bygones be bygones. Danzō, what matters now is the future.”
“The threat of the Land of Stars is right before us. I need your Root to use all its power to intensify the investigation into the Land of Stars, especially that Shura and the mysterious Uchiha! Dig up every clue, every possible piece of intelligence! Report any major discoveries to me immediately! Understood?”
Danzō looked at the Third Hokage who seemed to have chosen “compromise,” and the corner of his mouth beneath the bandages curved into a barely perceptible arc.
He bowed slightly, his tone returning to its usual deference, but his eyes flickered with coldness.
“Understood. For Konoha, Root will naturally go all out.” He responded in a deep voice, then turned with his cane and left the Hokage’s Office.
Root Base, deep inside.
Dark, damp, oppressive.
This was a corner of Konoha that sunlight could never reach.
Danzō Shimura sat in his seat, his only remaining left eye flickering with eerie light under the dim illumination.
Yuruma Aburame appeared silently before him, bowing respectfully.
“Lord Danzō.”
“Yuruma,” Danzō’s voice was low and cold: “Any new messages from Kabuto Yakushi?”
Yuruma Aburame adjusted his sunglasses and answered calmly: “There is indeed some intelligence about the recent battle in the Land of Stars, more detailed than what’s circulating outside or sold at the Underground Bounty Exchange. It’s confirmed that multiple Uchiha participated in the battle, one female Uchiha used something akin to Susanoo, with terrifying strength. But regarding the detailed identity of the other Uchiha… the intelligence doesn’t specify.”
“The other Uchiha…” Danzō’s fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest, cold light flickering in his solitary eye: “Is it Shisui?”
He strongly suspected it was Shisui Uchiha!
That Shura could infiltrate Konoha undetected, even possibly stealing the Byakugan from the Hyuga Main Family; his familiarity with Konoha’s barriers was chilling.
And after Shisui’s disappearance, the Land of Stars gained a powerful Uchiha expert—this was too much of a coincidence!
But thinking it over, that suddenly appearing Uchiha Hikari also had immeasurable strength; if there really was a Uchiha branch scattered outside, there were probably more than one or two powerful ones.
This water was murkier than he had imagined.
At that moment, he recalled another matter that stuck in his throat.
Nonō Yakushi’s “accidental” death.
This important pawn he had placed in the Stone Village had inexplicably “died in battle” during a routine border patrol, without even a body to be found!
This was too suspicious!
He absolutely did not believe it was any accident!
The extremely paranoid Danzō instantly connected these events.
The Land of Stars’ mysteries, the Uchiha anomalies, Nonō’s bizarre death…
Behind all this seemed to lurk an invisible great web.
He needed to confirm!
Confirm whether Kabuto Yakushi was still loyal, confirm the true situation in the Land of Stars!
Danzō suddenly raised his head, a glint of resolve and ruthlessness flashing in his solitary eye: “Yuruma, immediately send Kabuto Yakushi the highest emergency level secret order!”
“Content?” Yuruma Aburame asked without fluctuation.
“Order him: By all means, at any cost, he must return to Konoha within seven days to report for duty!” Danzō’s voice was firm and decisive, with an unquestionable tone.
“Tell him, this is Root’s highest directive; failure to comply by the deadline… will be treated as defection!”
He would use Nonō Yakushi’s “death” news as a test, judge from Kabuto Yakushi’s immediate reaction and whether he returned on time if he had betrayed, or…
At least force some more core secrets about the Land of Stars from his mouth!
Yuruma Aburame showed no hesitation, bowed and accepted the order: “Yes! Lord Danzō!”
His figure slowly retreated into the shadows to carry out this command that might decide Kabuto Yakushi’s fate.
In the dim depths of the Root Base, only Danzō Shimura remained, his solitary eye flickering uncertainly in the shadows like a lurking venomous snake, awaiting the prey’s response.
Land of Stars, Star Capital.
This increasingly prosperous capital city brimmed with vitality under the spring sun, thriving with bustling streets full of traffic and pedestrians mostly wearing expectant smiles for the future.
Land of Stars Medical Department, a quiet training room.
Kabuto Yakushi was focusing intently on his palm.
A soft, pale green glowing chakra rotated slowly under his precise control, sometimes condensing into fine needles, sometimes diffusing into mist.
He was delving into higher-level medical ninjutsu while trying to understand and master the nature transformation of Yin Release Chakra.
Ever since being recognized by Lord Shura and formally taken under his wing, he had not been assigned to the combat sequence; instead, due to his outstanding medical talent and calm mind, he was individually transferred to the Medical Department for deep cultivation.
In addition to advancing medical ninjutsu, he also received some spy technique courses.
At that moment, an encrypted information stream surged directly into his mind—it was a contact secret order from Konoha Root via Yamanaka Clan ninja!
Kabuto’s movements didn’t pause at all; the chakra in his palm quietly dissipated.
He calmly packed up the scrolls and equipment on the desk, bid farewell to his guiding teacher, and slowly left the Medical Department.
Only when he reached a secluded spot did he quickly decode the content of the secret order.
“Within seven days… at any cost return to Konoha to report for duty… failure to comply treated as defection…”
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes behind the lenses.
No anxiety, no panic, only calm analysis running at high speed.
Danzō had grown suspicious.
That was his first judgment.
The news of Director Nonō’s “death” had come back, yet he had delayed providing more concrete intelligence on the Land of Stars’ core levels, especially on “Shura” and those powerful Uchiha; plus the recent border battle with unknown ninja in the Land of Stars might have leaked some information— the paranoid Danzō would inevitably not sit still.
This order was less a summons and more a blatant test!
Testing his loyalty, and possibly trying to force the truth about the director’s “death” from him.
He had to go back.
Not only to dispel Danzō’s suspicions and protect the secret of the director’s fake death escape, but also because…
Menma was still in Konoha.
He couldn’t let that child face Konoha’s darkness alone.
With his mind made up, Kabuto didn’t hesitate and turned toward the direction of the Star Capital’s Administration Building.
He needed to report to Lord Shura and receive instructions.
Top Floor of the Administrative Building, Shura’s office.
Menma sat behind the large seat, quietly listening to Kabuto Yakushi’s report and analysis, his fingers lightly tapping the desk, his gaze under the White Three-Eyed Fox Mask profound and inscrutable.
“That old fox Danzō has quite the nose.” A low and calm voice came from under the mask, showing no emotional fluctuation: “If he wants to test, let him test.”
He pondered slightly, then continued: “Prepare to go back. As for intelligence… you can ‘appropriately’ reveal some things to him. For example, confirm that the Land of Stars indeed has multiple Uchiha ninja, one of whom is female with terrifying strength. And the other…”
Menma paused, deliberately emphasizing: “Is a male, possessing a pair of… three-tomoe Sharingan.”
Kabuto’s mind raced, immediately understanding Lord Shura’s intent.
Revealing partial true intelligence—a male Uchiha, three-tomoe—would increase credibility, confuse the view, and even guide Danzō to mistakenly focus on “three-tomoe,” thereby underestimating the Land of Stars’ true threat.
“Yes, Lord Shura. I understand.” Kabuto bowed respectfully and accepted the order.
“Remember, your safety comes first.” Menma added, his tone flat yet protective: “If necessary, the Land of Stars is your eternal backing.”
“Thank you, Lord.” Kabuto felt a slight warmth in his heart, saluted again, and exited the office.
After leaving the Administration Building, Kabuto Yakushi did not set off immediately for Konoha, but instead turned toward the Star Ninja Academy.
The dismissal bell had just rung, and children poured out of the classrooms like joyful little birds, laughing as they ran to family waiting outside the school gate or went together to the training ground for extra ninjutsu practice.
The campus was filled with vibrant energy and vitality.
This was completely different from the subtly competitive and oppressive atmosphere in other ninja villages’ ninja academies.
Kabuto stood in the shadows of the corridor, quietly watching the scene, the lenses of his glasses reflecting the children’s carefree smiles.
Once upon a time, he and the director had also yearned for such a peaceful life full of hope in Konoha’s orphanage.
He arrived at the principal’s office door and gently knocked.
“Come in.”
Kabuto pushed the door open and entered.
The office was simply yet elegantly furnished; Nonō Yakushi sat at the desk reviewing documents.
She now served as vice principal of the Star Ninja Academy, mainly responsible for students’ ideological education and daily management; her face was rosy, her eyes filled with peace and contentment, utterly different from the past “wandering miko” who teetered on the edge of life and death.
“Kabuto?” Nonō saw her foster son arrive, a gentle smile blooming on her face, but she soon noticed the faint gravity between his brows.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Director…” Kabuto walked to the desk, lowered his voice, and concisely explained the Root secret order and Danzō’s probing intent.
The smile on Nonō’s face vanished instantly, replaced by worry: “Danzō… Kabuto, this is too dangerous! Calling you back at this time, he definitely has no good intentions!”
She unconsciously gripped her pen tightly, her knuckles whitening.
She knew Danzō’s methods all too well.
“I know, Director.” Kabuto’s tone remained calm; he adjusted his glasses and reassured her: “But that’s exactly why I must go back. Not going, or delaying, would only make him more suspicious, and might even make him realize there’s something fishy about your ‘death.’ Moreover…”
His gaze firmed: “Menma is still in Konoha. I can’t leave him there alone. No matter what, I must return to Konoha. Please rest assured; I’ll handle it carefully.”
Nonō looked at her foster son, now mature and steady, knowing his mind was set and that he was right.
She sighed softly, stood up, walked to Kabuto, straightened his already neat collar, her eyes full of maternal love and reluctance: “Be careful… put your safety first above all. I… I’ll be waiting for you and Menma to return safely.”
“I will, Director.” Kabuto nodded solemnly.
……
Meanwhile, after handling the necessary government affairs for the day, Menma returned to his mansion.
Just as he walked into the living room, he heard a burst of sobbing sounds.
Kushina Uzumaki was sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet, tightly holding the fluffy dark red little Nine-Tails vixen in her arms, while a bloody romance TV drama was playing on the large-screen television in front of her.
Kushina watched with tears streaming down her face, completely immersed in the plot, even unconsciously grabbing the little Nine-Tails’ fluffy big tail and unceremoniously using it to wipe her tears and snot.
“Wahhh… So touching… Why does there have to be a misunderstanding… Just explain it clearly… Wahhh…” She sobbed while mumbling.
The little Nine-Tails had a face full of “I don’t want to live anymore,” disgustedly trying to pull her tail back, but not daring to use too much force, so she could only aggrievedly pout, casting a resentful little glance at Menma who had just entered the door, as if complaining: ‘Control your mom! This fox’s tail isn’t a towel!’
Menma’s mouth twitched slightly, he walked over, and helplessly said: “Mom, Little Nine’s fur is almost all plucked bald by you.”
“Ah! Menma, you’re back!” Kushina only then noticed her son, hurriedly letting go of the little Nine-Tails’ tail, somewhat embarrassedly wiping the corner of her eye: “This TV drama is just too tear-jerking…”
The little Nine-Tails took the chance to “whoosh” onto Menma’s shoulder, rubbing her head against his cheek, letting out a aggrieved soft hum.
Menma gently rubbed the little Nine-Tails’ head, then looked at Kushina, calmly dropping a bombshell: “I’m about to start. Liberate Father’s soul from the Shinigami’s belly, then use Reanimation Jutsu.”
The expression on Kushina’s face instantly froze.
The emotions in her eyes had switched from the drama’s sadness to real shock and expectation.
She keenly sensed something, her voice slightly tense: “Menma… You suddenly decided to do this… Are you preparing… to make a move on Konoha?”
She knew well her son’s strength and that unfathomably deep ambition; in the plan to unify the Ninja World, Konoha was inevitably an unavoidable link.
Menma shook his head, walked to the window, gazing at the scenery of the distant Star Capital: “No, it’s not yet time for full action. It’s just… the ‘clan extermination script’ that Konoha wrote for the Uchiha Clan seems not far from being performed.”
He turned around, his mask already removed, revealing that young face with a profound expression mismatched to his age: “I think, by then, we’ll need some ‘audience’ to appreciate this rare ‘theater’ together.”
“And as the Fourth Hokage, Father… perhaps should also see with his own eyes, to what extent the Konoha he once gave his life to protect has rotted internally. Of course…”
He paused, his tone carrying a pure interest in inquiry: “I’m also genuinely interested in researching soul-related jutsu. Shinigami, Reaper Death Seal, Reanimation Jutsu… These taboo realms involving life and death are very intriguing, aren’t they?”
Kushina fell silent.
She understood that while Menma’s words made sense, they were more of an explanation and reassurance.
Reviving Minato, even via Reanimation Jutsu, must have deeper strategic purposes.
But she didn’t ask more, just gently nodded: “I understand. Do you need me to do anything?”
“Just come with me.” Menma said.
Menma brought Kushina to a deep underground level in the military zone.
The guards here were strict, the atmosphere cold and solemn.
Kisame Hoshigaki, who had returned from the frontline battlefield, was already waiting here with three Star Ninja Anbu.
Behind them, two men with Snow Ninja headbands on their foreheads were firmly bound by special Chakra Chains, their expressions listless—they were the Land of Snow Daimyo Fukazake Nutou and his subordinate general Rōga Yukinami, who had become captives.
“Lord Shura!” Kisame Hoshigaki saw Menma and respectfully saluted.
The three Anbu also bowed at the same time.
“Mm, good work. You all withdraw first, guard the perimeter; without my command, no one is allowed to approach.” Menma calmly instructed.
“Yes!” Kisame Hoshigaki didn’t hesitate at all, immediately leading his three subordinates quietly into the shadows, vanishing.
In the empty and cold underground space, only Menma, Kushina, and the two captives remained.
Kushina holding the little Nine-Tails, somewhat nervously watched the scene before her, her heart filled with expectation and unease.
Menma raised his right hand, the dark red engraving on the back of his hand beginning to emit faint and mysterious light.
At the same time, identical faint engraving marks appeared on the backs of the bound hands of Fukazake Nutou and Rōga Yukinami!
Their eyes instantly became hollow and dazed, as if losing all self-consciousness, standing stiffly in place like lambs to the slaughter.
This was the secondary permission Uchiha Hikari granted to Menma, so that when she wasn’t around, Menma could also manipulate these fully controlled “assets” through the engraving.
Kushina watched as Menma summoned an item from a storage scroll via summoning—it was a grotesquely shaped white mask, with a ferocious face, double horns on its head, emanating an extremely ominous and cold aura.
“This is… the Shinigami Mask!” Kushina exclaimed softly, recognizing the item.
This was the dangerous forbidden object enshrined in the Uzumaki Clan’s Namen-do, used to communicate with the Shinigami!
Her heart suddenly tightened, both expecting to see Minato and instinctively uneasy about the impending taboo ritual.
Menma examined Fukazake Nutou and Rōga Yukinami, seemingly assessing something.
Finally, he chose Fukazake Nutou, who had more abundant chakra and life energy.
He handed the ferocious Shinigami Mask to the fully controlled Fukazake Nutou.
Then, Menma issued the command through the engraving.
Fukazake Nutou put on the Shinigami Mask, his body stiffly moving, beginning a dance filled with eerie aura—the Shinigami Dance!
As the dance proceeded, a powerful blue chakra airflow visible to the naked eye burst fiercely from Fukazake Nutou’s body, swirling madly around him!
The underground space howled with cold winds, the temperature plummeting!
The next second, a massive phantom that made souls tremble slowly emerged behind Fukazake Nutou!
The phantom was over ten meters tall, with disheveled pale long hair floating like seaweed, wearing a large white robe, revealing eerie purple skin beneath. Its face was extremely ferocious, biting a gleaming short sword in its mouth, with a pair of blood-red sharp horns curving toward the sky on its head.
It was the true manifestation of the Shinigami!
As a Reanimation Jutsu body, Kushina was a deceased being and could clearly see this terrifying Shinigami.
And Menma, relying on his powerful Mangekyo Sharingan, the power of the Book of Crimson Moon, and his profound understanding of Yin-Yang Release jutsu, also stared directly at this deity symbolizing death.
The ritual reached its most critical step.
The Shinigami’s phantom slowly raised its gaunt arm, removing the short sword from its mouth, and then…
Fiercely stabbed toward its own abdomen, slashing to one side!
At the same time, as the sacrifice and ritual executor, a massive, blood-drenched wound appeared out of thin air on Fukazake Nutou’s abdomen!
His body trembled violently, life aura rapidly fading, yet he couldn’t make any sound—the scene eerie and terrifying!
As the Shinigami slashed open its belly, a wisp of blue soul fire fiercely drifted out from the crack in its slashed-open abdomen!
That was Minato Namikaze’s soul!
The Shinigami seemed to have fulfilled the contract; it greedily extracted the dissipating soul of the ritual-offered Fukazake Nutou, swallowed it into its mouth, and only then did the massive phantom slowly dissipate into the air contentedly.
Fukazake Nutou, deprived of his soul, collapsed to the ground like a puppet with cut strings, “thud,” completely losing all chance of survival.
“Minato!” Kushina excitedly watched that wisp of blue soul fire, her voice choking.
Menma didn’t pause at all, his hands rapidly forming hand seals, the prepared Reanimation Jutsu instantly lighting up on the ground!
“Reanimation Jutsu!”
The blue soul fire entered Rōga Yukinami’s body; countless gray-white, paper-like dust surged from the jutsu, pouncing toward the dumbfounded Rōga Yukinami like living things, swiftly wrapping and devouring him…
“Urghhh!!!” Rōga Yukinami let out a shrill scream, his body twisting and deforming in the dust…
His flesh, his soul were being forcibly remade as sacrifice and vessel.
The dust gradually coalesced and shaped…
Amidst the sky filled with paper scraps, a figure appeared with brilliant golden hair, a handsome face covered in cracks, and wearing the robes of the Fourth Hokage.
