Soon, Natsu Hyuga took her leave from Ginka Hyuga. Looking at the Uchiha ninjas and her fellow clansmen outside, Natsu suddenly felt a wave of loneliness. She felt like nothing more than a tool. But what choice did she have?
Inside a certain mountain cave.
The crude tables were cluttered with bottles and jars. Upon them lay the corpses of various strange creatures. These organisms were so bloated and deformed that it was hard to tell what they originally were, giving off a spine-chilling aura. Kiyoshi shook a container with one hand while recording data with the other.
"Hiss..."
At that moment, a white snake as thick as a man's waist slowly crawled in from the entrance, carrying a deer in its mouth. The deer appeared paralyzed by the toxins in the snake's fangs, unable to move.
"Good girl."
Kiyoshi set down the scroll and the container and stroked the white snake's head. The growth rate of ninja beasts is entirely different from humans; they expand at a rapid speed. This white snake was still a juvenile; once fully grown, she would likely rival Manda in size, perhaps even larger. After all, she came from the Island of Summoning. The unique environment there makes ninja beasts exceptionally large, which is why the people on that island had the ambition to breed the ultimate summoning beast. Of course, they failed in the end and were wiped out when things went out of control. Most of the animal carcasses here were brought back by the white snake under Kiyoshi's orders.
'I wonder if that Uzumaki girl on the island is still alive,' Kiyoshi thought as he watched the white snake drop the deer and nuzzle his palm affectionately, her smooth scales feeling somewhat slippery. Based on the anime, Honoka Uzumaki on that island had already learned the [Adamantine Sealing Chains]. Such talent was worth recruiting.
Kiyoshi intended to build his own inner circle. In the future, he couldn't possibly do everything personally; he needed to be the hands-off boss who simply issued orders.
"Uchiha brat, if you have the guts, kill me!"
From the depths of the cave came a weak, furious roar. Raiga Kurosuki's legs were bound by black chains, and his waist was also constricted. In the center of his chest, a deformed, withered arm had sprouted, curled up tightly. His body was covered in many strange fleshy lumps.
"Don't worry, that day will come."
Kiyoshi turned and picked up the container, approaching a wooden door. Behind it was Raiga Kurosuki. Raiga took pleasure in "holding funerals" for others, but now the roles of predator and prey were reversed. It was Kiyoshi's turn to play with Raiga.
Dozens of minutes later.
Raiga had been injected with the liquid containing Moryo's power. His throat was hoarse from screaming for so long. After finishing his records, Kiyoshi closed the wooden door in the depths of the cave and walked back toward the laboratory area.
"Still haven't finished the research?"
Ringo Ameyuri's voice drifted in from outside. Short in stature, she stood with her arms crossed, the [Thunderswords: Kiba] strapped to her back. Her face was full of sharp, heroic spirit, yet that aura still couldn't mask her pale skin.
"It's reached the final stage," Kiyoshi said calmly.
With [Dark Medical Ninjutsu] at his disposal, it was essentially like copying from an answer key. Combined with the Sharingan, he could quickly understand the essence of Moryo's power even in a crude environment.
Ultimately, the essence of power in the ninja world is "Chakra." Chakra is a form of energy, not just a simple mixture of "Mental Energy" and "Physical Energy." Both can exist as independent forms of chakra. "Natural Energy" can become "Senjutsu Chakra," and "Ocular Power" is also a specialized form of chakra.
After long-term research, Kiyoshi discovered that Moryo's power actually draws from the unconscious mental energy fluctuations emitted by living beings, especially negative emotions.
Interestingly, the Sharingan is an expert in this field. Now, Kiyoshi could use his Sharingan to suppress Moryo's power, allowing him to increase his body's tolerance within a safe range. He was only missing the final clinical trial before using a larger amount of Moryo's power on himself.
"Then hurry up."
Ringo Ameyuri coughed several times and was forced to keep waiting. Kiyoshi glanced at her. Her illness was a chronic one, and having become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen early, the long-term strain on her body was immense, worsening her condition.
She wasn't just fighting Leaf ninjas; she was also clashing with the Sand. The situation in the Land of Wind was stabilizing as a man named Rasa quickly integrated the clans within the Hidden Sand. The Sand was no longer in the chaotic state it was at the start. This increased the pressure on the Land of Water, causing this front to fall into a stalemate.
"If you're that impatient, there is a way to speed things up," Kiyoshi said as he walked toward her.
Ringo looked at him suspiciously. Kiyoshi leaned down and touched her loose, brownish-red hair. Her previous hairstyle had been too strange; Kiyoshi had made her change it under the pretext that it worsened her condition. Though it sounded like nonsense, Ringo, desperate for a cure, complied.
"The only requirement is to pay a small price."
Ringo Ameyuri had good proportions; despite being short, she gave off the vibe of an older sister.
*...As expected of the evil Uchiha,* a thought rose in Ringo's mind. Ever since their first meeting, she had a premonition that Kiyoshi's tastes were not simple. Now, he wasn't even trying to hide it.
"Don't push your luck, kid."
Ringo frowned and tried to push him away. To her surprise, Kiyoshi leaned in closer, pinning her against the wall.
"You... don't you dare do anything reckless..."
Kiyoshi's hot breath brushed against her, causing her body to stiffen instantly. Due to her unusual appearance and sharp teeth, few people liked to get close to her, let alone express such direct interest. Most would rather stab her in the back.
"If—and I'm just saying if—your illness isn't cured and you die without ever tasting the things life has to offer, wouldn't that be a pity?" Kiyoshi's voice was full of seduction.
From the original story, Ringo Ameyuri was a relatively straightforward woman. Her personality in the databooks was described as "liking excitement."
"Raiga Kurosuki is imprisoned right back there," Kiyoshi added, seemingly changing the subject.
"And?" Ringo raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you think it's exciting? A member of the previous generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen is suffering back there, while you are tasting something you've never felt before?"
Kiyoshi moved even closer, until they were almost touching. One reason Ringo looked at Omoi with respect before her sealing was his boldness. In other words, she liked strong, assertive men.
"!"
Suddenly, Ringo's pupils shrank. While he was talking, arcs of electricity actually flickered in the air. Kiyoshi's fingertips were wreathed in lightning.
"You..."
Ringo tried to break free, but against his daily-increasing strength, she was completely outmatched.
*Step...*
The bottles and jars in the lab were knocked over, their contents splashing across the floor.