Deep within the underground research institute lay a top-secret biological laboratory.
There was no pungent smell of disinfectant here, only a heart-palpitating silence and the low hum of operating life-support systems.
A massive cylindrical culture tank stood in the center of the room.
Within its pale-green nutrient solution floated a gigantic, ghastly-white brain.
This was a "blank biological hard drive" specially cultivated by Orochimaru using the terrifying proliferative properties of White Zetsu cells.
Across its cerebral cortex, in addition to dense wrinkles, miniature jutsu seals were carved all over.
These jutsu seals were meant to stabilize this massive biological tissue, enabling it to bear a colossal stream of information without collapsing.
Naruto Uzumaki stood in front of the culture tank, his expression indifferent as he raised his right hand and pressed his palm through the air toward the brain.
A cold wave of chakra flowed from his palm into that ghastly-white brain.
Under Naruto's precise control, massive amounts of text, blueprints, and formulas were deeply branded into this mass of biological tissue.
He was forcibly transferring a portion of his own memories.
The massive amount of knowledge turned into visible chakra, crazily pouring into this biological hard drive.
This was the B-rank reward he had obtained after completing the task: [Mechanical Ascension].
[Biological Bridging Technology].
Naruto directly transmitted the neural connection technology—built upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood with the painstaking efforts of countless scientists in another high-tech plane—into this carrier in the ninja world.
That huge brain trembled violently in the nutrient solution.
But under the suppression of the curse mark, it was forced to accommodate this massive stream of information.
The neural synapses continuously broke under the overloaded information flow, only to instantly reassemble under the powerful regenerative abilities of the White Zetsu cells.
"White Zetsu truly is the perfect material..."
Looking at that trembling brain, Naruto's lips curved into a cold arc.
Under normal circumstances, this technology would often require countless bloody experiments to obtain.
But here, with universal biological building blocks like White Zetsu cells and a universal energy like chakra, all ethical constraints ceased to exist.
As long as the knowledge was imported, this brain would serve as a living technical encyclopedia.
A moment later, the transmission was complete.
That brain stopped trembling, floating quietly in the liquid.
"Come in, Kabuto."
As Naruto's voice fell, the heavy airtight door slid open.
Kabuto Yakushi, who had been waiting outside for a long time, walked in quickly.
When Kabuto saw that huge brain in the culture tank, his hand paused while pushing up his glasses.
A trace of doubt and shock flashed through his eyes.
"Lord Naruto, this is—"
"These are books and scrolls."
"Books?"
Kabuto looked at the brain, deep in thought.
Naruto extended two fingers and gently tapped them against Kabuto's forehead.
"Now, I will pass a special secret technique on to you—the Brain Layer Reading Technique."
A stream of information flowed into Kabuto's mind through the chakra at Naruto's fingertips.
This was a jutsu seal specially used to analyze and read the memories stored within this "biological hard drive."
"With this jutsu, you can directly read all the knowledge inside this brain."
Naruto withdrew his hand, his calm tone carrying an undeniable majesty.
"Kabuto, you must learn it and thoroughly understand it."
"Then, using the technology you have learned, implant this biological neural connection technology into every single Destroyer armor."
"The current armor is only an exoskeleton, and there is still a considerable delay in movement."
"I want my warriors not just to wear armor, but to truly connect their nerves with the steel."
"I want them to be able to move the armor like their own arms and fingers with just a thought, exactly like their own skin."
Hearing Naruto's description, Kabuto's breathing grew rapid.
As a medical ninja and a scientist, he instantly understood the value of this technology.
If a direct neural connection could truly be realized, then the Destroyer Legion would no longer be clumsy iron cans, but steel monsters possessing human reaction speeds!
And Lord Naruto was actually handing over such precious technology directly to him?
"Lord Naruto... You have given such an important task to me..."
"Because you have the talent for it, Kabuto."
Naruto looked at him, his voice low and full of temptation.
"In this base, Orochimaru is busy developing curse mark technology, while Tsunade is obsessed with souls and regeneration."
"You are one of the people I trust most."
"Only you possess the delicacy and execution ability to turn theory into reality."
As he spoke, an illusory chain slowly stretched out from behind Naruto.
It gently swayed in the air as it emitted a heart-palpitating yet seductive aura.
The Chain of Domination.
This was an honor possessed only by Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and even Haku.
To outsiders, this might be a symbol of enslavement.
But to someone like Kabuto Yakushi, who had no home since childhood, drifted aimlessly like duckweed, and desperately craved recognition and a meaning to his existence...
This was the highest glory, and also his greatest obsession now.
It was proof of being chosen by a god, of becoming the core of the core, and of having one's soul directly connected to their Lord!
"As long as you can perfectly complete this task..."
Naruto's voice was like a demon's whisper.
"I will bestow this position upon you."
Thump.
Kabuto did not hesitate in the slightest, dropping heavily to his knees.
His forehead pressed tightly against the cold floor, his voice turning hoarse from extreme excitement.
"Your subordinate... will definitely offer everything!"
"I will never disappoint your expectations!"
"Go; do not let me down."
Naruto withdrew the chain and spoke calmly.
After dealing with Kabuto's matter, Naruto did not leave.
He turned and walked deeper into the laboratory.
There was a metal door that even Orochimaru did not have permission to open, covered entirely in sealing formulas.
This was a restricted area within the Land of Snow base, and only Naruto Uzumaki could enter it.
He formed several complex hand seals at the door, unsealed the lock, and pushed the door open to enter.
Beyond it was a huge, empty underground cavern.
"System, extract the A-rank reward."
Naruto stood in the center of the cavern and took a deep breath.
Following his command, space began to distort.
Accompanied by a roaring sound, a behemoth slowly emerged from the void and landed in the center of this underground space.
Rumble!
The earth trembled under its weight.
This was a throne so huge it was suffocating to look at.
It was cast entirely from an unknown golden metal, covered with mechanical pipelines and mysterious runes so intricate they were indistinguishable.
It looked like both some kind of high-tech device and an ancient religious altar.
The final reward of the A-rank project, the [Astartes Project]—the Golden Throne!
Naruto looked up at this throne radiating a sacred and eerie aura, the golden brilliance reflecting in his eyes, which were obscured by his glasses.
"This thing..."