Night fell.
The night on the Summoning Island was completely different from the day.
During the daytime, the jungle was filled with the roars of beasts and the cries of birds, yet once the curtain of night descended, everything instead sank into an unusually quiet stillness.
Only the distant sound of waves crashing against the reefs could be heard, along with the faint rustling of unknown insects hidden deep within the bushes.
Kiyohara and his group found an open area on slightly higher ground and set up camp.
A campfire was lit, its orange-yellow glow pushing back the darkness and carving out a warm, flickering space.
Kurenai and Shizune skillfully set up the tents, while Rin handled the wild vegetables they had gathered along the way. Many plants on the island were edible, which helped supplement the dry rations they had brought with them.
Although Kiyohara also had quite a lot of ingredients stored in his sealing scroll, Rin, out of frugality, did not have him take them out.
After all, not every environment would allow them to gather edible plants, so it was necessary to reserve some food just in case.
Yujojo curled up beside the campfire, hugging her knees.
Her body was still trembling slightly, but compared to the daytime, she had calmed down quite a bit.
Shizune gave her a blanket, which she wrapped tightly around herself, revealing only half of her pale face.
Kiyohara sat on a fallen log at the edge of the camp, carefully wiping down his shinobi blade.
There were still traces of the viscous fluid from the daytime battle clinging to the blade.
Chakra metal made it easier to channel chakra, but it still required proper maintenance, otherwise it would be damaged over time.
"Kiyohara."
Tsunade's voice came from behind him.
He turned his head and saw Tsunade walking toward him, holding something in her hand.
Her long hair was loosely tied behind her head, and the firelight danced across her delicate face, giving her a slightly languid appearance.
"Sensei."
Kiyohara sheathed his blade and stood up.
Tsunade walked up to him but did not speak immediately. Instead, she lowered her gaze to the object in her hand.
It was a necklace. The silver chain shimmered faintly under the firelight.
The pendant had a very distinctive design, resembling a long blue gemstone, with small silver bells hanging on both sides.
Kiyohara's gaze lingered on the pendant for a moment, and suddenly, it felt somewhat familiar.
That shape…
The First Hokage's necklace?
No.
He immediately rejected that thought.
Because he could clearly see that Tsunade was still wearing a necklace around her own neck.
"This is for you."
Tsunade raised her hand and held the necklace out in front of him.
Kiyohara took it.
The silver chain felt slightly cool to the touch, and the pendant sat heavily in his palm.
"This is also…"
He lifted his eyes.
"Passed down from the First Hokage as well? Sensei, have you not finished selling off your inheritance yet?"
Tsunade glared at him in annoyance and raised her hand as if to smack his head. "You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? My grandfather was the First Hokage. How could I possibly lack good things?"
"And besides, no matter how much I like gambling, I still know what should and should not be done. I have not pawned everything away!"
Kiyohara quickly leaned to the side to dodge, but the corners of his mouth could not help but curl upward.
He knew Tsunade would not actually hit him. This kind of playful interaction instead made a warm feeling rise in his chest.
The old lady really did give him some gold coins.
"My mistake, Sensei," Kiyohara said.
Then he lowered his head to look at the necklace in his hand.
"So this one is…"
"It was also left behind by my grandfather. Its effects are actually quite similar to the one I am wearing."
Tsunade pointed to the First Hokage's necklace around her own neck.
She explained that the gemstones used in both necklaces were very special and could store chakra for long periods of time.
Within these two necklaces were seals containing the chakra that Hashirama Senju had stored during his lifetime, giving them the properties of sealing techniques.
"I originally planned to give it to you on your birthday, but thinking about it now, it is better to give it to you earlier. Wear it. Maybe it will bring you some good luck."
Kiyohara immediately understood that this was Tsunade's birthday gift for him.
To be honest, it was indeed an extremely precious gift.
The necklace around Tsunade's neck alone could probably be sold for the price of an entire mountain, and the one Kiyohara now held was likely no less valuable.
One should never underestimate the wealth of the Senju clan.
Especially since Hashirama Senju was the man who had stabilized the Warring States era, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had never married in his lifetime.
In that case, all of that inheritance would ultimately fall into Tsunade's hands.
"Thank you, Sensei," Kiyohara said.
However, his expression was somewhat strange.
If he remembered correctly, the First Hokage's necklace was also known as the "Necklace of Death."
It had been given to Nawaki and later to Dan Kato, and both of them had ultimately met tragic early deaths.
Although the one he now had was not Tsunade's exact necklace, it was still something of a similar kind.
"Hmph, you had better show me proper respect from now on," Tsunade said smugly.
Then she reached out, took the necklace from Kiyohara's palm, and moved behind him.
"Lower your head."
Kiyohara complied.
Tsunade's fingers brushed against the back of his neck, slightly cool to the touch.
The silver chain looped around his neck, and the clasp clicked softly into place.
The pendant fell against his chest, resting against his clothing, carrying a faint sense of weight.
"Wear it."
Tsunade stepped back and looked him over.
She suddenly realized that this brat was actually becoming more and more handsome as he grew.
Thinking of the Uchiha bloodline within him, Tsunade found it only natural.
While not every member of the Uchiha clan was exceptionally good-looking, the probability of producing handsome men and beautiful women was far higher than in other shinobi clans.
"It suits you quite well."
Kiyohara raised his hand and touched the pendant on his chest.
"Anything from Sensei is good."
He then tucked the necklace beneath his clothing.
If it were to swing around during battle, it could easily be damaged by an enemy.
Tsunade waved her hand and turned back toward the campfire.
"Get some rest early. We still have more exploring to do tomorrow."
Kurenai and Shizune also noticed the gift Tsunade had given him.
"Good thing I already prepared a birthday gift as well," Shizune said as she took out a small box.
"What did you get him?" Kurenai asked quietly.
The two women lowered their voices, chatting softly by the campfire.
"A set of needles."
Shizune opened the box, revealing rows of senbon needles of varying sizes neatly arranged inside.
"That is a very practical gift."
Kurenai nodded.
It was indeed a useful shinobi tool.
"What about you?" Shizune asked curiously as she put the box away.
Upon hearing this question, Rin also came over with interest.
She had already decided to give Kiyohara a specially prepared medical kit.
"I am thinking of giving… a set of furniture."
Kurenai had originally planned to give something else, but after thinking about Kiyohara's nearly empty house, she decided to add a few pieces of furniture for him instead.
"That is actually quite useful."
Shizune and Rin exchanged a glance and covered their mouths as they laughed softly.
They had both been to Kiyohara's house.
Kiyohara referred to that nearly empty place as a minimalist style.
...
At the same time, deep within the island, inside an underground base,
The laboratory lights were cold and pale, illuminating rows of cultivation tanks filled with light green liquid.
Hiruko stood in front of a screen displaying various data.
He wore a white lab coat, his face appearing unusually pale under the harsh lighting.
"My lord."
A voice sounded from behind him.
Hiruko did not turn around and simply asked calmly, "Any news from Ni?"
The man codenamed Ichi stepped forward. He wore a black bodysuit, and a metal mask covered half of his face, revealing only a pair of cold gray eyes.
"Ni has been out of contact for over six hours," Ichi said indifferently.
"According to the last transmitted location, she lost signal near the eastern coast of the island. When I went to investigate, the only thing left at the scene was the corpse of a summoned beast."
Hiruko stroked his chin.
"The coastal area…"
he muttered to himself.
"It seems those outsiders have already landed on the island."
"Do you want me to investigate?" Ichi asked.
Hiruko did not answer immediately.
His gaze shifted to a corner of the screen, where a few blurry frames transmitted by Ni were being displayed.
They had been captured through the surveillance device on her summoned beast just before she launched her attack.
In the footage, several figures stood in front of her.
Due to the angle and distance, their faces were not clear, but among them, one figure's eyes stood out—
Hiruko enlarged the image.
They were a pair of scarlet eyes, with three tomoe slowly rotating within the pupils.
The Sharingan.
Hiruko's breathing paused for a moment.
"The Sharingan…"
he murmured, repeating the words, his voice carrying a barely restrained excitement.
"A member of the Uchiha clan appearing in a place like this…"
Ichi also saw those eyes in the footage.
His expression remained cold, but his body tensed slightly, an instinctive reaction when facing a powerful opponent.
That man was Kiyohara.
Ichi recognized him.
After all, Kiyohara's reputation had already grown quite considerable.
"My lord, shall we take action?" Ichi asked again.
Hiruko fell silent for a moment.
"No. Ichi, remain here and continue monitoring the condition of the test subjects. As for those guests…"
He turned and walked deeper into the laboratory, toward an isolated chamber.
The door slid open, revealing a complex array of instruments and storage units inside.
"I will personally go and meet him."
Ichi was slightly taken aback.
Wait.
Was he serious?
Lord Hiruko was going to fight Kiyohara himself?
Ichi had rarely seen Hiruko make a move.
However, he knew that Hiruko had once been a classmate of the Three Sannin, yet his achievements had fallen far short of theirs.
Of course, he did not dare to say such thoughts aloud in front of Hiruko.
"My lord, this may be risky. Since the other party was able to deal with Ni and the summoned beast, their strength should not be underestimated. Moreover, judging from the footage, Lady Tsunade is also present."
"I know."
Hiruko took a syringe filled with a dark red liquid from one of the storage units.
"That is precisely why I must go. The Sharingan is an indispensable part of my plan."
He pressed the syringe against the vein in his neck and slowly injected it.
The dark red liquid flowed into his bloodstream. Hiruko's body trembled slightly, and web-like crimson patterns surfaced across his skin.
A few seconds later, the patterns faded, and his complexion returned to normal, though a faint abnormal red glow flickered deep within his pupils.
"The preliminary fusion of several bloodline limit has been completed."
Hiruko tossed the empty syringe into a disposal slot and flexed his wrist.
"Perfect timing. I need a suitable subject to test my ultimate secret technique, the Chimera Technique."
Ichi no longer tried to dissuade him.
He understood Hiruko's personality well. Once he had made a decision, no one could change it.
If he said anything more, he might very well end up as an experimental subject himself.
"Is there anything you require me to prepare?" Ichi asked.
"No need."
Hiruko was filled with confidence.
Ichi bowed slightly. "Understood."
Hiruko walked toward the exit of the base.
That sickly smile never left his lips, and in his mind, he kept thinking of Kiyohara's scarlet eyes.
The Uchiha…
The Sharingan…
What a perfect power.
If he could obtain it, his Chimera Technique would become even more complete.
The fusion of five kekkei genkai might finally be achieved.
At this thought, Hiruko's mood became increasingly elated.
He even began to look forward to meeting Kiyohara.
After all, what could be more exhilarating than personally seizing the power he had long desired?
As for Tsunade being present?
Through bits of indirect information, Hiruko had already inferred that Tsunade could not stand the sight of blood.
If Tsunade could not take action, then as long as he was careful, dealing with Kiyohara should not be a problem.
After all, no matter how powerful a shinobi was, if their vital point was struck in a surprise attack, death would be the only outcome.
"Swift Release…"
Hiruko murmured softly.
In the next instant, his figure vanished without a trace.
The next morning, just as dawn broke and the sea mist had yet to fully disperse, Kiyohara's group had already packed up and set out.
The embers of last night's campfire had long since cooled, leaving only a ring of charred marks on the ground.
"Let's check over there."
Kiyohara pointed toward a mountain ahead, where faint traces of human activity could be seen.
The group continued forward.
Tsunade walked in the middle of the formation, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
The famous necklace of the First Hokage around her neck appeared and disappeared beneath her collar, while the similar necklace on Kiyohara's neck had been carefully tucked inside his clothing, with only an occasional glimpse of the silver chain visible as he moved.
Behind them, Kurenai watched with a strange expression.
A thought even surfaced in her mind.
A matching set for a couple?
No, that could not be.
Kurenai felt she was overthinking things.
Kiyohara and Tsunade shared a deep bond of teacher and student, with mutual respect and care.
Yujojo was placed in the middle of the group, right beside Shizune.
She remained quiet, but compared to her panic the previous day, there was now a faint trace of vitality in her eyes, though whenever a sound came from the forest, her body would still tense up instinctively.
The deeper they went, the denser and more bizarre the vegetation became.
Towering trees stretched high into the sky, their canopies blocking out the sunlight and casting vast shadows.
Thick vines, as wide as a child's arm, twisted and hung down, some bearing strangely shaped flowers in vivid, almost unnatural colors that emitted a fragrant scent.
The ground was covered with a thick layer of humus, soft underfoot, and from time to time, enormous footprints or fresh bite marks from large beasts could be seen.
"The natural energy here… is extremely chaotic."
Kiyohara spoke inwardly to Toad Kiyohara.
In his perception, the natural energy in the air was no longer a steady flowing stream, but had become countless turbulent currents moving in different directions with varying intensities, colliding and intertwining with each other, with the source seemingly not far ahead.
"Looks like that thing has quite a wide influence," Toad Kiyohara said, his voice carrying a note of seriousness.
"Be careful, my other self."
"I know."
Kiyohara gave a slight nod.
On the Summoning Island, the so called ultimate summoned beast did indeed possess some strength.
In the original story, it had taken Naruto and Uzumaki Honoka together to defeat it.
But against the current Kiyohara, it was still not enough.
As for sealing techniques, he could perform them alone.
And he also had genjutsu.
In the entire shinobi world, the only beings that could completely resist genjutsu were probably the dinosaurs mentioned in Sasuke's story.
Because those creatures were not naturally born, and they did not possess chakra within their bodies at all.
As a result, genjutsu had no effect on them.
Of course, this could also be artificially manipulated.
If they lacked chakra, then one could simply inject chakra into them.
Just like how Naruto had distributed tailed beast chakra to others.
Naturally, such effects would only be temporary.
While Kiyohara was deep in thought, six or seven creatures resembling enlarged hedgehogs rolled out.
Their spines gleamed with a metallic cold light.
They curled into balls and spun at high speed as they slammed toward the group.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
Kiyohara formed hand seals and slammed one hand onto the ground.
A thick earthen wall rose with a rumble, blocking the first wave of impact.
The spiny creatures crashed into the wall, producing heavy thudding sounds as their sharp spines carved deep grooves into the rock and soil.
However, after missing their first strike, they immediately bounced back and launched another assault from different angles.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Kiyohara unleashed another fire jutsu.
The flames scorched the summoned beasts, leaving their flesh charred and torn.
The remaining two creatures sensed the danger, let out shrill cries, and turned to flee into the depths of the forest.
"Do not chase them."
Tsunade stopped Kurenai, who was about to pursue.
"Our objective is not them. Conserve your chakra and stamina."
After a brief rest, the group continued forward.
During the journey that followed, similar attacks occurred two or three more times. The creatures they encountered were bizarre in every possible way, including toad-like beings that could spit corrosive acid, massive beetles with iron-like shells and six scythe-like legs, and vine-like living plants that lurked beneath fallen leaves and launched sudden ambushes.
"This place is like a mad biological testing ground," Shizune said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had already used up quite a number of her poison needles and smoke bombs.
"I am afraid… it is more than just similar."
Tsunade's expression was grave. She had examined several of the slain mutated creatures, and there were traces of water jutsus on them. There was no blood, which allowed her to observe clearly.
She discovered that these summoned beasts bore obvious signs of unnatural stitching and enhancement. Some of their tissues had abnormally high cellular activity, something that could not have formed through natural evolution.
Kiyohara nodded in agreement.
The Summoning Island had long since become a massive experimental ground.
Even without Hiruko and his group, other shinobis had come here to conduct research.
As a result, many of the popular summoned beasts in the shinobi world actually originated from this place.
They had been improved and bred from local species before being sold overseas.
After passing through another patch of mushroom forest, the group finally saw signs of human presence.
Ahead stood a structure, with several shinobis guarding it.
In front of the building was a small open area, where a few individuals dressed in white lab coats, who appeared to be researchers, were busy working around a portable device, recording data.
One of them had his back to Kiyohara's group. He had a head of bright red hair that looked like blazing flames, tied loosely behind him.
"Stop. This area is off limits."
One of the guard shinobis shouted sharply, stepping forward to block Kiyohara and the others.
"This is the place. These fools are simply courting death."
Toad Kiyohara floated out from Kiyohara's body.
In his view, these people were the perfect example of those who would not die unless they sought death themselves.
They had created an experimental subject they could not control, and in the end, all of them would perish.
"We are shinobis from Konoha, here to investigate the recent incidents of large sea monsters attacking fishing vessels in the surrounding waters," Kiyohara said calmly.
"And this place does not appear to have any clear ownership, does it?"
He continued.
These shinobis were not from the Land of the Sea. They were simply individuals driven by greed, conducting their own research here without restraint.
(End of Chapter)