Inside the mountain village.
"Grandma, I've chopped the firewood. Don't overwork yourself, I can do all these chores…"
"Good child, you don't need to be afraid, Grandma really likes you!"
The old woman hugged Karin. "Grandma won't abandon you!"
"Grandma! I'll protect you too!"
Karin was very touched.
At first, she did have ulterior motives towards this old woman, but after a few days, she found that the other party was very kind.
Moreover.
Through their conversations, she learned how the old woman's child died—
This place was not too far from the border. Her son and family all died in an attack by Sunagakure, and only she survived.
Their similar backgrounds gave Karin a sense of belonging.
Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly sensed a Chakra fluctuation and immediately stood up, saying, "I forgot to put the axe away!"
Karin immediately ran towards the woodshed.
Soon, a Panda appeared, opening its mouth to spit out a Ninja tool bag.
Inside were a letter, a pen, a Kunai, several shuriken, a few smoke bombs, and an exploding tag.
Although Karin was not a Ninja, she recognized these weapons.
These were the life-saving Ninja tools she would rely on for survival for a while!
The letter contained some thoughts on the Three Basic Jutsu, Summoning Jutsu, and Body Flicker Technique, as well as concern for her current situation.
The letter also had an extra blank page.
"Please wait a moment, I'll write a reply immediately. Please deliver it to my lord!"
Karin bowed sincerely.
The Panda nodded endearingly.
Karin quickly wrote her thanks and some details about her situation since arriving there.
After the reply was written, the Panda disappeared with a "pop".
"Train, become stronger, and become a qualified subordinate to my lord!"
Karin set a small goal for herself—
To master the Body Flicker Technique as soon as possible and gain the ability to protect herself!
...Evening, Konoha Hospital.
Masahiko was in the Library, collecting information related to Puppet Technique and human anatomy.
Beside him, footsteps approached from afar.
He looked up.
Yakushi Kabuto walked over and bowed slightly.
"Senior, you've been busy lately, and I haven't been able to catch you. Here's the information you asked me to collect."
"Good, thank you."
Masahiko took it.
At the time, the information was secondary... He looked at the other person, a smile appearing on his face: "Kabuto, did you try what I mentioned earlier?"
"I've been too busy lately, no time to go back. Maybe after this busy period, I'll consider it."
Kabuto replied.
This sentence was originally just a lie, an excuse, but for some reason—
After saying it, a sudden urge to go back and see if those people still remembered him welled up in his heart.
Kabuto lowered his gaze, silent for a moment.
Fortunately, he was an excellent spy and quickly broke free from the brief expectation, his expression returning to normal.
Masahiko smiled, not pressing the matter further, but instead flipped through the information Kabuto had given him.
He nodded gently: "Thank you."
The information was genuine.
It contained many notes on Medical Ninjutsu, many of which clearly originated from the forbidden Medical Ninjutsu, Yin Healing Wound Destruction.
This was also what Masahiko needed.
He took it, but Kabuto asked in a low voice: "I have a question about what you mentioned over there before."
"Oh, that…"
Masahiko smiled and said, "I have some conjectures, but I'm not sure what that cursed seal is about, so I was just giving a piece of advice."
"You think he might fall ill?"
Kabuto asked.
This was why he rushed here.
He hadn't seen any problems with Kimimaro, but Masahiko had spoken so earnestly, and Orochimaru seemed to believe it too.
This gave him a sense of crisis.
Masahiko smiled and said, "You should know that the more variables there are, the greater the probability of problems, right?"
Kabuto thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "That's possible."
"So, it depends on his status in your hearts, and secondly…"
Masahiko paused slightly, "Since the other party is willing, why rush?"
He packed his things and stood up.
"Just like these books, I have enough authority, any book I need can certainly be borrowed."
Masahiko finished speaking and patted Kabuto's shoulder.
"Keep it up."
"…"
Kabuto gnashed his teeth.
In front of this guy, he always felt as if he was being seen through.
For a moment, he almost thought Masahiko was using Genjutsu on him, but his own Genjutsu was also strong, and he was sure he wasn't under any spell.
After taking a deep breath, he borrowed a book and then left the Library... In a corner of Konoha's outskirts, beyond the reach of the barrier.
After using Summoning Jutsu, the Panda was summoned.
It spat out the letter, then looked at Masahiko.
"What do you want?"
Masahiko looked at himself.
It didn't speak, just looked at the Ninja tool bag.
Masahiko understood and took out a Kunai.
The other party immediately snatched it, held it in its mouth, and ran back, as if afraid he would take it back.
"Eating iron…"
"Could they be living in the Land of Iron?"
He guessed idly.
After glancing at the letter, Masahiko lit it on fire.
Upon returning home, he entered the Training Space.
Puppet Technique is Ninjutsu, but puppet manufacturing is not, so it's difficult to simulate puppet manufacturing.
However, after trying, Masahiko still found a loophole—
Puppet manufacturing is difficult to simulate, but the state of a hypothetical puppet in operation can be simulated.
Therefore.
Masahiko began various scheme simulations and training.
Finally, he still used this card.
[Consuming 'Intermediate Ninjutsu Random Card'...]
[Summoning...]
[Projection successfully generated!]
[Time: 1:0:0]
A moment later, a young red-haired Ninja appeared before him.
The other party coldly surveyed his surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on Masahiko: "Who are you?"
"A person pursuing eternal art."
Masahiko replied.
Saying that, he handed over the knowledge he needed.
The young Ninja's eyes paused slightly, then he sat down and said, "Eternal art? What is your art?"
"The art of eternity and indestructibility is eternal art. So, I've recently been researching methods to replace human organs and body parts with Puppet Technique and high-strength steel."
Masahiko replied.
Sasori sneered: "Your imagination is still too limited."
"Please advise me."
"Such modifications will still lead to death, merely delaying it; it's far from eternal, but you are indeed on the path to eternity."
Sasori replied indifferently, "With your knowledge base, you are indeed far too lacking."
After he finished speaking, he began to answer one by one.
Sasori's emotions were calm, completely unconcerned whether Masahiko could learn, and he poured out his thoughts and techniques all at once.
Masahiko tried his best to remember, and if he found something he hadn't remembered, he would ask again.
Sasori was not annoyed and answered repeatedly.
After learning, Masahiko glanced at the time—
There was still time.
So he started chatting with "Sasori":
"In my opinion, the flesh is weak, creations are eternal. By replacing current puppet materials with high-strength steel, the body can become a completely hardened construct…"
"This way, everyone can be eternal. I call this mechanical ascension, what do you think?"
Masahiko asked.
"Sasori" pondered for a long time and said, "If the problems of Magnet Release and weight can be solved, it might be a good idea."
He added:
"Through my research, some metals are not affected by Magnet Release and have high strength. You can try to find these materials…"
Masahiko listened intently.
Discussing "mechanical ascension" with the Projection was an idea he had on a whim.
As Shikotsumyaku awakeners, both he and Kimimaro could potentially develop "kekkei sickness".
So… if he really developed kekkei sickness from Shikotsumyaku, before he could achieve a body-snatching technique similar to Orochimaru's, he might be able to temporarily survive through "mechanical" means.
Anyway, the main task was done, and there was nothing to lose if it failed. If it succeeded, it would at least be another fallback.