Upon returning to the Sunagakure's delegation residence, Ryuji took out the Book of Golden Fairies and began reading.
In the past, he would spare one or two hours daily for reading to improve himself. But after Sunagakure became entangled in war, various matters arose one after another, leaving him no spare time.
Now, to conserve energy, he could finally take out the book and absorb some knowledge.
Regarding the Golden Fairy race...
Its creation principle was simple: using necromancy to manipulate souls for reincarnation. Understanding and mastering necromancy allowed creation of Golden Fairies.
The difficulty lay in Ryuji lacking magical power; he needed to research techniques for using Chakra as a substitute to employ necromancy.
Yes, techniques.
Because necromancy wasn't a magic device but proper magic. Developing a method using Chakra as a substitute would turn it into Ninjutsu.
And that's where the problem lay.
To research a method using Chakra as a substitute for magical power in necromancy, one must understand necromancy itself.
But necromancy was an entire category of magic, not a single spell.
If the goal was merely to learn the specific spell for manipulating souls to reincarnate as Golden Fairies, although difficult, it wouldn't be overly so. Cram-style learning was possible.
But wanting to understand the entire necromancy system, self-taught by someone with no foundation... even Ryuji, considering himself clever and capable, wasn't arrogant enough to think he could do it.
Even with the Observation Device's assistance, the time required wouldn't be short.
Ten years? Twenty?
Ryuji didn't know.
But he had his own plan.
If understanding necromancy took too long and he lacked that time, he'd take shortcuts.
His goal was reincarnating Konan's soul, not learning necromancy.
Learning necromancy was merely a means to an end.
If other, more effective means existed to achieve the goal, there was no need to waste time.
Many of his Ninjutsu were built upon existing technologies he himself didn't fully understand.
Like soul creation technology.
He knew how to achieve the goal for many things but not the underlying principles.
Soul reincarnation was similar.
He only needed to understand the specific principles of Golden Fairy's soul reincarnation, then search other technologies for existing substitutes.
Then transplant and adapt for reincarnation.
But it's easier said than done; actual implementation depended on circumstances.
...
Time passed.
Soon, a day went by.
The next morning, an Anbu arrived at the Sunagakure's delegation residence.
He handed Ryuji an envelope, saying, "This is the meeting location designated by Danzo-sama. Please decide whether to attend after reading."
Ryuji took the envelope, opened it, extracted the letter, and unfolded it.
It was a map.
Marked on the map, a route from the Sunagakure's delegation residence to the destination was drawn in red.
But...
"This doesn't tell where the destination is at all!" Ryuji coldly spread the map, facing the Anbu.
Although following the mapped route would lead to the destination.
For him, an outsider, the final location was unclear.
He only knew it was in an uninhabited area northwest.
The Anbu seemed to have anticipated this. Faced with Ryuji's query, he replied unhurriedly, "Danzo-sama said this meeting is confidential; the fewer who know, the better."
"If fewer know, the better, then not meeting means no one knows, right?" Ryuji threw the map at the Anbu's face, snorting coldly. "Go tell Danzo: without basic trust, don't talk about further cooperation."
The Anbu wasn't angry, not even agitated, just calmly explained, "Danzo-sama doesn't distrust Ryuji-sama. He's merely concerned about leaks from people around you. If Ryuji-sama needs to know the location beforehand, I can inform you in advance."
"Reverse psychology!?"
Ryuji stared coldly at the Anbu before him, an intangible aura emanating.
Danzo's excessive precautions were too obvious.
He simply worried Ryuji, for safety, would inform other Sunagakure's delegation members about the meeting location. And fearing Ryuji wouldn't go if that happened, he resorted to this.
However,
Regardless of Danzo's intent to keep the meeting confidential or truly harm him, Ryuji couldn't be led by the nose.
The reason was simple.
Why should he?
Why should Danzo make him take such a risk to meet privately?
He was the Sunagakure's Puppet Corps' commander, the actual controller.
And Danzo?
The Root's leader was indeed a high-ranking position, but only capable of underhanded schemes.
If Ryuji truly wanted a cooperative partner, wouldn't approaching the Third Hokage directly be several times better than Danzo?
At least the Third Hokage could offer things hundreds of times better than Danzo and wasn't as shady.
Agreeing to a private meeting was already giving him the respect. Now playing this game?
Wishful thinking?
Feeling the overwhelming pressure from the other side, the Anbu felt like a mountain pressing down, making breathing difficult.
He quickly explained, "Ryuji-sama..."
"Get lost!" This time, Ryuji threw the envelope at his face too, stating bluntly, "Go tell Danzo: before scheming, weigh your own worth. Stop doing things that only invite ridicule."
"Ryuji..."
Whoosh!
The Anbu wanted to salvage the situation, but a kunai shot from the side, its speed so fast he couldn't react.
Fortunately, the attacker didn't intend to kill; the kunai only left a long scratch on his mask.
"If you don't understand human language, await slaughter like livestock!"
Hearing this emotionless voice, the Anbu still wanted to resist. But looking up at Ryuji's cold expression, he swallowed hard, retracting his intended words.
"...Farewell!"
...
That night.
A visitor quietly arrived at the Sunagakure's delegation residence.
He leaned on a cane, his right side and half his face bandaged, walking with a limp.
He had no invitation, didn't notify the guards, entering directly through the main gate.
The two night guards seemed not to see him, ignoring him completely.
Patrolling guards inside always happened to patrol elsewhere when he approached.
Thus, without notifying anyone, without any disguise, he boldly entered the inner courtyard.
The visitor stood at the inner courtyard entrance, looking at the empty yard and the lit main house opposite, his lips curling slightly. "So-called Sunagakure's elites are only this capable."
After speaking, he immediately sensed something wrong.
He quickly turned, looking left and right inside the gate.
There, leaning against the wall, a man and a woman observed him leisurely.