The Gelel Mineral Vein was a deposit that appeared in the film Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel. According to those who spoke of it, the power sealed within could destroy half a continent.
Gen Takuya didn't believe it had that kind of destructive force. More likely, it was the product of limited perspective—plus a deliberate exaggeration meant to impress upon listeners how serious the situation was.
Still, there was one thing he couldn't deny.
The Gelel Mineral Vein contained an absurd amount of energy.
From what he knew of the original story, the power of the Gelel Mineral Vein wasn't chakra. It was closer to natural energy saturated with Yang Release.
It was saturated with Yang Release because even the energy that leaked out could restore the gravely wounded to perfect health—and could even make greenery sprout from bare rock.
And then there was Temujin—the main character of that film—who, after having the Stone of Gelel implanted, possessed a constitution that could nearly match Uzumaki Naruto's with the Nine-Tails.
The two suffered almost the same injuries after falling from a cliff, yet their recovery speeds were practically identical.
A regeneration effect that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Nine-Tails was simply ridiculous.
It gave Gen Takuya an eerie sense of déjà vu—like looking at Senju Hashirama's Sage Body… only a bargain-bin imitation.
As for why he believed it was natural energy, that was even easier to explain.
In the film, the villains used the Stone of Gelel to transform into monstrous animal hybrids—apes, bats, and more.
It was the same "mutation" flavor that natural energy carried. Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku could turn you amphibian. Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode could push you toward a dragon.
Even Orochimaru's Curse Seal—an artificial method of drawing in natural energy—would warp the body into grotesque forms once activated. And Mizuki, using Orochimaru's incomplete research, had transformed into a tiger-like beast.
Everything pointed to the same conclusion: the power of the Gelel Mineral Vein bore a striking resemblance to natural energy.
Gen Takuya didn't know what it truly was.
It probably wasn't chakra.
But that didn't matter.
What he needed was the one thing that truly tempted him—recovery ability on the level of a Nine-Tails host.
As for strengthening the body overall, that was something built up over years. Temujin's decade-plus of enhancement only put him around Naruto's level at the time.
That wasn't enough to impress Gen Takuya.
If he could fuse that power into himself… then he could probably temper his body without restraint.
Train until you drop. If you don't die, train harder.
That kind of "practice to the brink of death" would finally become possible.
The next day, he successfully took a mission from Namikaze Minato and left the village.
Gen Takuya still remembered Minato's surprised expression when he learned Gen Takuya was finally going out on assignment.
Then Minato had grinned and teased him. "Senpai, you're actually taking a mission? If you keep living in your lab, I'm going to consider cutting off the sealing team's research budget first—just to force you to rest."
"Don't." Gen Takuya yawned, answering lazily. "Isn't this me going out to relax?"
"Alright." Minato nodded. "After you finish, you can take a look around outside too. Don't rush back."
"I'll think about it," Gen Takuya said, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Then he left Konoha and arrived in the Land of Rivers.
Because the Gelel Mineral Vein was here.
In the original story, they had attacked Sunagakure—then later ran into Konoha shinobi. That placed it somewhere between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.
And here, in the Land of Rivers, fit perfectly.
Gen Takuya had already sent subordinates ahead to investigate. So much time had passed that he'd almost forgotten about it—until a crow notified him and he froze for a moment, slow to react.
"My lord… this is everything I've compiled." The leader's forehead gleamed with cold sweat as he presented a scroll with both hands.
He was terrified Gen Takuya would be dissatisfied and punish him with the "life-and-death talisman." Even after years, that pain was still carved into his bones.
And honestly, he wasn't fully confident in the information.
Gen Takuya had ordered them to search years ago, but the Temujin he found had been only about a year old. The leader had worried it was just a namesake.
But he couldn't find anyone else with that name, and too much time had passed.
In the end, he could only grit his teeth and submit what he had.
Gen Takuya opened the dossier.
Three sets.
One was about Temujin's village. One was about the caravan of wandering people. The last was about a wealthy merchant named Haido.
He checked Temujin's age and considered it.
It seemed right. Even if Temujin was older than Naruto, it wouldn't be by much.
As for the caravan, the dossier didn't just list their members—it recorded their routes year by year. And though those routes changed annually, there was one place they always passed through.
The investigators believed that location was where the thing Gen Takuya sought was hidden.
Finally, Haido's file was extremely detailed. A major merchant left a trail—it wasn't hard to dig up information on him.
"…Mm. Good work," Gen Takuya said after reading. Even he was mildly surprised by how thorough it was.
The leader exhaled shakily. "As long as my lord is satisfied…"
But fear rose again, crawling up his spine.
If this information was correct, then Gen Takuya had ordered him to search—years in advance—for a child who hadn't even been born yet.
This…
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. Gen Takuya's reach had already gone beyond his ability to understand.
"Don't think about what you shouldn't." Gen Takuya glanced at him, as if seeing through the man's mind. "Do your work. I'll guarantee you wealth and honor."
"Yes… my lord." The leader forced himself to bury the thought.
And strangely, he felt calmer.
If Gen Takuya's power truly exceeded their comprehension… then perhaps he had no interest in their lives at all.
All they had to do was complete the tasks.
Then—
"This is your reward." Gen Takuya wasn't stingy. A large chest appeared at his side, packed with gold, silver, and jewels. He had no reason to skim from them in matters like this.
"Thank you, my lord!" The leader's eyes went wide, practically glowing. He nearly drooled. His men looked worse—if they weren't afraid of dying, they might have pounced on it.
"This is what you've earned. Return and stand by. Wait for my next mission," Gen Takuya said.
"Yes!"
Gen Takuya left, abandoning a crowd of men staring at the chest with hungry, dazed expressions.
The leader took a slow, deep breath.
He'd assumed the life-and-death talisman made them unpaid labor, doomed to serve without reward.
But now…
This almost felt like luck.
People die for money. Birds die for food.
If the price was high enough, what was a life worth?
Besides—
They were still alive, weren't they?
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