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Chapter 93: Talent's Second Enhancement, Super Genius
"Yin Seal - Release!"
A sharp exclamation echoed through the freezing mountain cave.
Then a powerful chakra wave erupted throughout the cavern.
Anyone with sensory techniques would only perceive ace combatant level chakra.
If someone with high-dimensional perception were present, their expression would change dramatically.
Through high-dimensional sensing, only one life form existed in the cave.
Yet within this life form's body existed two different types of energy, just like a jinchuriki.
The scene shifted inside the cave where Yoru maintained his seal formation.
Looking carefully, one would notice a black tattoo had appeared on his forehead.
The tattoo's source was a blue-purple diamond seal mark on his forehead.
This mark was the Yin Seal he'd finally completed half a year ago.
Releasing chakra stored for several months, Yoru's all-around jonin level chakra quantity instantly reached ace combatant standard.
If someone lifted Yoru's shirt, they'd discover another black tattoo on his chest.
Slightly above his solar plexus sat another black diamond seal mark - the Space-Time Yin Seal completed even earlier.
Releasing the Space-Time chakra stored within, Yoru's veteran chunin level black chakra also instantly broke through capacity limitations, reaching special jonin standard.
"So powerful... I'm stronger than the Legendary Sannin now!"
Yoru felt his current state was absolutely wonderful.
Previously, after a year of warfare, Yoru's regular chakra capacity had only advanced from veteran chunin to special jonin standard.
Space-Time chakra, due to invisible bottlenecks, had remained genin level for six years.
Even releasing the Yin Seal only barely reached chunin level.
After all, genin-level Space-Time chakra capacity was simply too limited. Every so often, Yoru needed to release the Yin Seal. He couldn't store much at all.
But now, Yoru's base regular chakra had reached all-around jonin standard, perfectly matching his current status.
Releasing the Yin Seal elevated him to ace combatant level, no longer much inferior to Orochimaru, who possessed the least chakra among the Legendary Sannin.
This was merely the welcome gift from completing the second evolution.
Based on the comprehensive improvements from the previous evolution, Yoru's regular chakra would increase slightly more afterward.
Space-Time chakra in its base state was no longer genin level, where intangibility lasted only minutes and eleven Flying Thunder God uses nearly depleted reserves.
Current Space-Time chakra capacity matched his regular chakra when infiltrating Amegakure.
Meaning if Yoru could condense Space-Time chakra into Rasengan form, with current capacity he could perform Rasengan twice.
If he could also inject other nature transformations into Space-Time Rasengan, using one fusion technique would still leave power for Phantom Body Flicker.
He no longer needed to release the Space-Time Yin Seal to use Purple.
At full power with current capacity, Purple's energy sphere would be larger than last year's with greater might.
Releasing the Space-Time Yin Seal elevated black chakra capacity to special jonin standard.
Storing for several years would increase it even more.
After six years, Yoru had finally somewhat escaped his firepower insufficiency phobia.
Intangibility and Dimensional Slash could be used freely. Flying Thunder God could be performed dozens of times. Purple could be used normally. Plus the Space-Time Yin Seal served as insurance.
Most importantly, this level of Space-Time chakra let Yoru attempt developing new Space-Time techniques.
However, right now Yoru cared more about another improvement.
Closing the Yin Seal's gate, Yoru effortlessly condensed a Rasengan, staring at the blue-white energy sphere in his palm while murmuring: "I wonder how much this evolution enhanced my talent?"
In Yoru's eyes, evolution brought two benefits.
First, breaking Space-Time chakra capacity limitations. Second, talent enhancement.
This talent enhancement wasn't just ninjutsu aptitude, but comprehensive improvement.
Physical qualities might be included, along with neural reaction speed, mental agility, chakra control, jutsu development and comprehension, and more.
The first evolution's talent boost made Yoru a genius even without Space-Time chakra.
At nine, his chakra met Rasengan training requirements. At ten, he developed Fire Release: Rasengan, plus fundamental sealing techniques, sensory techniques, medical techniques, genjutsu, Earth Release basic extensions, and more.
Just as evolution arrived as scheduled, what came last time would certainly come this time too.
This was comprehensive evolution!
So Yoru was extremely curious - his already genius-level qualities had now reached what degree?
Since chakra received a welcome gift, this aspect should too, right?
Thinking this, Yoru attempted injecting new nature transformation into his Rasengan.
The next second, a miraculous scene appeared.
The outer-blue inner-white Rasengan's white air current visibly transformed to black at incredible speed.
This wasn't Space-Time black, but Earth Release black.
This Rasengan had become Earth Release: Rasengan.
Yoru's eyes widened slightly as he whispered: "So easy..."
Even without releasing the Earth Release: Rasengan, Yoru could sense what abilities it possessed.
One option transformed the nature into mud, forming an earth tornado similar to Fire Release: Rasengan.
The other enhanced Rasengan's mass, increasing power for killing enemies or defending against attacks with the weak overcoming the strong, the small blocking the large - offense and defense combined.
Boom!
Yoru slammed the Earth Release: Rasengan against the cave wall.
With a tremendous crash, the entire cave instantly collapsed. Intense tremors triggered an avalanche outside.
Yoru was greatly surprised, then vanished via teleportation.
Appearing atop another snowy mountain's cliff, Yoru raised his hand and condensed another Rasengan.
This Rasengan differed completely from before.
Normal Rasengans were outer-blue inner-white, sphere-sized.
But Yoru's current Rasengan was reversed - outer-white inner-blue, equally sphere-sized.
Locking onto a snow-covered rock in the distance, Yoru suddenly made a throwing motion, actually hurling his Rasengan.
The moment the Rasengan left his palm, it visibly vanished.
But the next second, that rock produced a bang as stone fragments and snow scattered.
The remaining stone showed spiral patterns.
This was Lightning Release: Rasengan infused with Lightning nature transformation, also called the Vanishing Rasengan.
This Rasengan could not only turn invisible but be thrown like Rasenshuriken - developed by Boruto Uzumaki in Boruto.
After mastering Lightning Release nature transformation from scratch, Yoru had attempted developing this Rasengan but never succeeded.
Not just Lightning Release: Rasengan failed - even Earth Release: Rasengan too, because Yoru only excelled at Earth Release basic extensions. He wasn't skilled at Earth or Lightning Release.
Even Fire Release - after developing Fire Release: Rasengan, Yoru rarely used it.
Like Orochimaru disliking Rasengan, this technique's cost-benefit ratio was too low for someone with "chakra deficiency."
Rather than depleting all chakra creating a massive fire tornado, better to use that chakra for Lightning cellular stimulation and Earth Release basic extensions.
But now, the Rasengan Yoru had nearly abandoned could easily accept Earth and Lightning nature transformations.
This wasn't improved nature transformation mastery, but Yoru's chakra control reaching a new realm.
"Too easy, too absurd..."
This realm was so powerful Yoru found it incredible.
Even controlling nature transformation chakra, fusing it into irregularly high-speed rotating Rasengan, proved this effortless.
Then simply performing jutsu - wouldn't all S-rank and below techniques be easily learned?
With this chakra control, Yoru's future five elemental nature training, developing nature and shape transformations from scratch, improving mastery, developing basic extensions, even sensory techniques, genjutsu, sealing techniques, medical ninjutsu - everything would be twice the result with half the effort.
And chakra control was merely one aspect of talent!
This evolution not only broke Space-Time chakra capacity limitations but transformed Yoru from genius to super genius.
"Perhaps that technique... I can try developing now."
Yoru suddenly raised his right index finger.
Blue-white air currents appeared at his fingertip, gradually condensing into a marble-sized energy sphere.
Like the Lightning Release: Rasengan, this sphere was outer-white inner-blue.
The main reason for this phenomenon was both white and blue energy wrapped in high-frequency lightning.
This energy would produce spatial leap effects, letting the sphere be thrown while creating visual "vanishing" phenomena.
But the next second, the sphere's internal blue was replaced by black.
Black spread at extreme speed, instantly filling the entire sphere's interior.
Continuously compressed black energy even fused with the white outer wall, turning the energy shell red.
The originally outer-white inner-blue sphere had become a black-red energy sphere.
"The talent gap truly is an invisible yet despair-inducing chasm!"
Yoru sighed, his lips curling upward uncontrollably.
Once upon a time, merely injecting a trace of Space-Time chakra into Rasengan destabilized the sphere.
Ten days ago, he still needed to release the Yin Seal, utilizing that technique's properties to compress nearly all Space-Time chakra before condensing a Space-Time energy sphere.
But now, Yoru didn't need the Yin Seal's properties. He could easily fuse regular chakra with Lightning nature transformation into a Lightning Release sphere, then inject Space-Time chakra, compressing all three into this energy sphere.
"The prototype is initially complete. Next comes improving shape transformation to develop multiple applications."
Yoru made a shooting gesture, aiming the sphere at a distant mountain wall.
A wind spiral suddenly erupted from Yoru's palm and forearm, making his black coat rustle.
This wasn't Wind Release, but chakra burst - something Yoru had never mastered before.
Under chakra burst propulsion, the black-red sphere at his fingertip shot forth.
Boom!
A thunderous crash like lightning struck as dazzling black-red light bloomed against the mountain wall.
When the light faded, a massive circular gap with spiral patterns inside and smooth edges appeared in the wall.
Unlike the Lightning Release: Rasengan that shattered rock and snow into fragments, this explosion's power resembled Purple's annihilation, transforming that section of mountain and snow into complete nothingness.
This prototype technique was currently a weakened Purple consuming one-tenth the power.
Though small and slow, its lethality remained deadly.
Moreover, unlike Purple using twisted space to injure, this sphere compressed from regular chakra, Lightning nature transformation, and Space-Time chakra possessed explosive force.
This explosion was a Space-Time bomb - like Dimensional Slash, contact meant instant death.
If not for slow speed as a weakness, this technique's lethality exceeded even Purple with extremely high cost-benefit ratio.
Gazing at the snow-white mountain range, Yoru suddenly spread his arms, laughing with immense pleasure: "The genius world is truly wonderful!"
After experiencing the second evolution's comprehensive improvements, Yoru didn't immediately return to the battlefield. Instead, he returned to Konan's residence.
Konan was still catching up on sleep.
Knowing the girl hadn't slept for a full day, Yoru felt gratified that his trust wasn't betrayed.
Cute girls were naturally lovable.
Precocious girls who knew how to care for others were even more endearing.
If not for already having plans for Konan, Yoru really wanted to bring her back to Konoha for training.
With her talent and personality, she'd definitely coexist peacefully with Kushina. Both girls would become his wings - no wait, verbal slip - his right and left arms.
Refining chakra and testing talent improvements had taken several hours.
Nearly dusk now.
So Yoru checked the refrigerator's ingredients. Finding sufficient supplies, he didn't go resupply but retrieved ingredients to prepare a lavish dinner for Konan.
Perhaps having slept enough, or perhaps disturbed by outside noises, Konan soon emerged, her small face serious: "Yoru-sama, you just recovered. Please rest outside. Let me handle dinner."
"Don't worry, I've completely recovered."
Yoru pinched Konan's small face, smiling: "You worked hard all day. Let me cook a meal to properly reward you. Go wash up. That's an order."
"Yes."
Konan observed Yoru's complexion, confirming he spoke truly, then obediently nodded.
When she emerged, Yoru was finishing the last dish. She had no chance to help.
During dinner, Yoru told Konan: "Konan, in a while, I might have a mission for you."
"What mission?" Konan immediately set down her chopsticks, awaiting Yoru's next words.
Yoru smiled: "Eat first. I'll tell you after."
"Yes."
Dinner ended.
After Konan finished washing dishes and came before Yoru, he formed a seal, releasing invisible Yin Release chakra toward Konan, pulling her into a genjutsu world for conversation.
Ten days ago, Yoru's genjutsu mastery couldn't achieve this level.
His genjutsu talent was quite ordinary. Despite receiving Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness Technique over a year ago, he still hadn't learned it.
Even some higher-level Gojo family genjutsu remained beyond his grasp.
But now, Yoru could easily pull Konan into a genjutsu world for mental communication.
The genjutsu world's scenery matched the living room exactly.
Yoru patted Konan's head, smiling: "Konan, are you afraid of danger?"
"Yes, but if it helps Yoru-sama, then I'm not afraid." Konan answered honestly, her determined gaze matching Haku and Kimimaro's.
Over a year together, under Yoru's meticulous care, Konan's heart had long taken his shape.
Even if her parents lived, her living conditions couldn't compare to now. Her family lacked funds for ninja academy enrollment.
If not for that paper flower coincidentally catching Yoru's attention, forging their connection, Konan who escaped Amegakure might have already starved to death.
Even surviving, she'd be a homeless wandering orphan.
How could she enjoy housing better than her original home, three nutritious daily meals, abundant books to read, abundant paper for origami, transforming from ordinary child to "ninja-sama"?
The more Konan learned about shinobi world common sense, the greater Yoru's kindness seemed.
Especially after beginning secret technique study with some results, when Yoru finally held nothing back, giving Konan all Gojo family five elemental techniques, genjutsu, medical ninjutsu, even some sealing techniques copied from Kushina.
War orphans' hearts were inherently sensitive and love-starved.
Under Yoru's campaign, Konan had long devoted herself completely.
If Yoru faced danger and heaven offered a choice where sacrificing herself could save him, Konan would choose self-sacrifice without hesitation.
Of course she feared danger. That was human nature.
But Konan feared more losing Yoru's "love" and her utility value.
She was Yoru's subordinate. Helping Yoru-sama was her existence's meaning - Konan believed this.
She dared not imagine the despair of being abandoned by Yoru.
As long as it helped Yoru, even mountains of blades or seas of fire held no terror.
Yoru naturally didn't know Konan had self-brainwashed to this degree. Otherwise, he'd definitely exclaim like a certain disciple: "I truly haven't disgraced my teacher."
"Excellent determination."
Watching the resolute girl, Yoru first smiled in praise, then gradually turned serious: "Don't worry. As long as you act well, there'll be no danger. However, this is a long-term mission. You might need to stay in the Land of Rain for a long time, rarely seeing me. Are you truly decided?"
"I want your honest answer. If truly afraid or unwilling, I can modify the plan and give you several more years to grow."
On the last sentence, Yoru looked at Konan seriously.
Hearing she'd be separated from Yoru for a long time without meetings, Konan felt reluctant.
Thinking again, if Yoru needed someone her age for a long-term mission, that mission must be extremely important to Yoru-sama.
So Konan nodded forcefully: "Yoru-sama, I'm decided. Please give your orders."
"Good."
Yoru said no more, revealing his plan to Konan.
He waved his hand. The living room scenery instantly transformed into the Land of Rain's mountainous terrain.
A boy with red hair, bangs covering his eyes, entered Konan's vision.
As though noticing Konan's gaze, the red-haired boy suddenly raised his head, revealing eyes beneath his bangs that startled Konan.
Not frightened by his gaze, but Konan remembered a story Yoru had told her this past year.
Konan pointed at the child, looking up at Yoru: "Yoru-sama, his eyes..."
Yoru nodded: "Correct. His eyes are the legendary Sage of Six Paths' eyes from mythology, first among the legendary three great dojutsu - the Rinnegan."
Konan's eyes filled with disbelief: "But... isn't that a mythological story?"
"No, the Sage of Six Paths truly existed. The three great dojutsu legends are also real." Yoru smiled. "The current Rinnegan wielder is in the Land of Rain."
Konan instantly realized her mission likely involved this Rinnegan wielder.
She quickly calmed her emotions, looking at Yoru questioningly: "Yoru-sama, what do you want me to do?"
"His Rinnegan hasn't awakened yet. He's not yet a ninja, just an ordinary child." Yoru stared into Konan's eyes, enunciating clearly: "I want you to return to the Land of Rain, find him, and train him as your subordinate."
Konan grew more confused: "Yoru-sama, if he's still ordinary, why not bring him away and personally train him?"
"Good question. This is the danger I mentioned."
Yoru waved again. The scenery changed once more.
A black-and-white creature resembling an anthropomorphic pitcher plant entered Konan's vision.
Strangely, this being only had an upper body. Its lower half seemed to use Earth Release, burrowing underground.
Yoru's next words resolved Konan's confusion: "Near that child, such creatures constantly monitor him. As for the mastermind, I temporarily can't tell you. This creature possesses a technique merging with earth and vegetation, making its chakra undetectable to anyone. It can ignore barriers while moving underground at high speed, and can absorb others' chakra, transforming into that person's appearance. Even the most familiar people can't distinguish truth from falsehood."
"If I approach that child, the mastermind will definitely strike. This is also why I disguise and conceal chakra whenever visiting you."
"Only children his age approaching him will make that mastermind and monitoring creatures lower their guard, not interfering with his social interactions and growth."
"I see." Konan understood.
Yoru looked down at Konan, his expression serious: "Konan, I'll ask one final time. Are you afraid? If afraid or unwilling, I can modify the plan, give you several years to grow, then use other methods to let you approach this Rinnegan wielder."
The precocious Konan suddenly interjected: "But then I couldn't train him as a subordinate, only operate as an undercover agent, right?"
"Correct."
Seeing Yoru nod, Konan's face bloomed with a sweet smile, her gaze still resolute: "Yoru-sama, please teach me what to do. I definitely won't disappoint you."
"You're certain?"
"Yes!"
"Good."
Yoru began teaching Konan how to approach, guide, and train Nagato, and how to fabricate her transformation story from war orphan to ninja, even developing secret techniques.
Konan and Nagato were peers. Her strength was too weak, only able to teach Nagato ninja fundamentals and some mainstream low-level five elemental techniques. Moreover, she was genuinely an Amegakure war orphan.
Madara Uchiha, who would definitely leave some insurance on Nagato, absolutely wouldn't scrutinize a peer appearing beside Nagato. He might even welcome someone guiding Nagato onto the ninja path.
Without Six Paths techniques and Yin-Yang Release, even activating Rinnegan power, Nagato could only unconsciously release certain Six Paths forces.
Unless talent was absurdly strong, unconsciously releasing it would lead to self-taught mastery of that Six Paths power.
Before Madara severed tubes connecting to the Demonic Statue, even in berserk state, Nagato couldn't summon the statue.
For Madara and Black Zetsu, Konan training Nagato was merely children playing house.
If they formed bonds, that actually suited their intentions. They could use Konan to guide Nagato's corruption, ultimately performing Rinne Rebirth to resurrect Madara.
This was Yoru's conclusion from transmigrator plot knowledge, understanding important characters' personalities.
As long as Konan showed no flaws, absolutely no problem.
As for why Yoru sent Konan to approach Nagato and recruit him as subordinate?
The reason was simple: human greed.
Greed's essence was insatiable desire.
Before awakening Space-Time abilities, Yoru's ultimate plan was becoming an enhanced Six Paths Obito.
For this, he'd willingly become inhuman, a stitched monster mixing various bloodline limits and secret techniques.
After awakening Space-Time abilities, pseudo-Six Paths level no longer satisfied Yoru.
His goal had become breaking Space-Time chakra capacity limitations, anticipating second evolution yearly. After multiple disappointments, he'd fabricated the Cell Replacement Cycle Theory as excuse.
Now with the theory confirmed - evolution every six years, each updating portions of cells into special cells extracting Space-Time power while bringing comprehensive physical improvements - this was the stairway to divinity.
Following the path meant becoming the shinobi world's strongest, even one of the universe's strongest existences.
Yet Yoru remained unsatisfied.
Because he didn't know if this evolution could extend his lifespan.
Could his lifespan last until achieving divinity?
Moreover, obtaining god-like power, who'd want only decades or a hundred-plus years?
So Yoru developed new desire.
Something humans at the pinnacle inevitably fantasized about: longevity.
Yoru was rational.
If he'd transmigrated to ancient times or merely a low-power world, he wouldn't desire such illusory things.
But he'd transmigrated to a two-dimensional world, specifically a Naruto world that birthed beings possibly transcending dimensions.
Pure-blooded Otsutsuki clan members, whether high-ranking superiors or follower-servant subordinates, all possessed thousand-year lifespans minimum.
Even Black Zetsu, Kaguya Otsutsuki's will incarnation, had lived millennia.
Yet Kaguya was merely Isshiki Otsutsuki's subordinate.
Chakra fruit and pills refined from it could extend life and power.
In this shinobi world, everyone with chakra was merely insects drinking juice from the fallen God Tree.
Whether natives or transmigrators, future unavoidably required dealing with God Trees and Otsutsuki.
To deal with them required mastering ultimate dojutsu as entry requirements: Rinnegan and Tenseigan.
Yoru's original game strategy involved becoming a stitched monster to gain capital for transplanting Rinnegan.
Now with Space-Time abilities, Yoru naturally wouldn't transplant Rinnegan, but couldn't ignore it either.
He'd already changed Konan's fate. If the "connection" on Yahiko and Nagato remained, the latter would still be influenced by the former.
If the connection severed, Nagato would become an uncontrolled wild horse. After obtaining Six Paths techniques and Yin-Yang Release, he'd become a non-disabled enhanced Nagato.
That was uncontrolled beyond-Kage combat power!
Yoru absolutely wouldn't permit this.
He evolved once every six years. Nagato could master six nature transformations in one year. Freshly created Pain's Six Paths instantly killed elderly Hanzo.
Preta Path perfectly countered Kushina.
If Yoru couldn't instantly kill Nagato, he'd target Kushina.
The more tailed beasts captured, the stronger he'd become. Healthy Nagato was no beyond-Kage gatekeeper.
Moreover, rather than killing Nagato, Yoru preferred utilizing him.
Because as a transmigrator understanding Nagato's personality, he was confident transforming this future beyond-Kage powerhouse into his blade, obtaining everything desired without affecting his reputation and life.
This plan made Konan absolutely core.
Actually, Yoru hadn't personally acted because of Katsuyu's warning.
Even Katsuyu could detect his internal Space-Time chakra. Yoru couldn't help suspecting Black Zetsu could too.
Regardless of appearance, unless maintaining constant intangibility merged with reality space, making chakra undetectable to any sensing...
Otherwise, exposing even one second, his internal black Space-Time chakra was his tag, his nameplate.
Until resolving this problem, Yoru wouldn't approach Nagato.
Konan was his proxy.
Madara couldn't guide Nagato's corruption. His time was limited.
He'd definitely seek suitable proxies among Uchiha like canon, then guide their corruption - that was Third Shinobi World War matters.
At eighteen, Yoru would evolve again.
By then, he'd possess capital transforming from chess piece to player.
***
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