The others didn't expect this monstrous-looking creature to be suppressed so easily, and from its appearance, it was just simply large in size.
Yamanaka Takuma and Hyuga Kei, who were skilled in perception, looked somewhat surprised, because in their perception, this monster had an enormous amount of chakra, and logically, it shouldn't have been like this.
Fumori Masaki watched as the monster's body slowly withered, revealing the original corpse.
Perhaps due to the change in its outer appearance, the corpse looked as if all its moisture had been drawn out, becoming extremely dry and even more terrifying.
Like the others, Fumori Masaki was also somewhat surprised by how easily this monster was defeated.
It seemed that the Evil God's ritual indeed required a specific price, and not just any sacrifice would do.
However, Fumori Masaki felt that things weren't that simple.
Could something that the leader of the Evil God cult was willing to sacrifice himself for, really be eliminated so easily?
In the sensory vision brought by his Sage Mode, Fumori Masaki could vaguely discern some unusual ripples.
However, the changes in these ripples were incomprehensible to him, and they didn't seem to have any visible impact.
"Captain Kazama, what are you thinking about?" Yamanaka Takuma and Hyuga Kei, who also had questions, saw Fumori Masaki silently staring at the corpse, and Hyuga Kei couldn't help but ask.
"...Nothing." After a moment, Fumori Masaki finally spoke.
"Does Captain Kazama feel that something is amiss?" Yamanaka Takuma asked with a serious expression, "I always feel that this matter won't end so easily."
"Regardless, the Evil God cultists have been completely wiped out.
We cannot confirm the remaining effects of the ritual right now," Fumori Masaki said, "In any case, let's take that child back first and inform the High Priestess about what happened here."
"I understand." Hyuga Kei nodded slightly.
Although he still had questions, since Fumori Masaki said so, he gave up on further investigation.
"Speaking of which, where is that child?" Fumori Masaki looked around and saw the official's son, who had fainted on the other side.
"Did he faint from fright?"
"Hmm, probably.
This guy is just a bit timid," Tsunade immediately said, with an expression that clearly conveyed, "that's just how he is."
Hattori Heizo, standing nearby, gave her a faint, peculiar look.
Tsunade really had a "protesting too much" vibe; her reaction was too quick.
Moreover, because Tsunade was annoyed at the time, she had used a bit too much force, so the official's son still had marks on his body.
Fumori Masaki quickly spotted the bruises on the official's son's body, and connecting it with Tsunade's attitude, he immediately understood the reason, shaking his head with a chuckle.
Seeing this, Tsunade sheepishly shrank back.
"Take these bodies and leave here." Fumori Masaki gave the order.
The others used scrolls to seal the bodies of these people, then took the official's son and left.
"Kazama, what happened to Kakuzu?
Did he escape, or..." Tsunade asked on the way back.
"I took him down.
His body has been preserved by me.
His corpse holds significant value, and researching it back at the village should reveal something," Fumori Masaki said.
"The fact that he had five hearts and five chakra pathways indicates a unique secret technique.
I wonder if it can be reverse-engineered."
"Grandpa Tobirama would probably be very interested in this," Tsunade said.
"However, five hearts and all that, it sounds a bit disgusting.
The secret technique to achieve that probably isn't anything good either," Hatake Sakumo said.
"Yes, it's likely a very cruel secret technique.
Captain Kazama, why do you want to try and restore this secret technique?" Senju Risa nodded in agreement, then asked.
"Since it's you all, I'll just say it directly," Fumori Masaki smiled and said, "Kakuzu was able to have five lives thanks to this secret technique.
Although it involved plundering others' hearts, one particular characteristic made me pay close attention: the ability to maintain one's body's vitality by absorbing other powers.
I just have an idea: if this secret technique could be Improvements so that it doesn't rely on living human organs, but instead obtains vitality from other sources, then it could become a secret technique to sustain the lives of the injured or sick in critical moments."
"That's amazing, Captain Kazama, your idea is truly brilliant!" Senju Risa's eyes widened.
As a medic, she naturally understood what Fumori Masaki's hypothesis represented.
If this secret technique succeeded, it would save countless people who couldn't be treated in the past.
As Fumori Masaki's close subordinate, Senju Risa had been influenced by his ideas since before.
Some of the current theoretical concepts in the Medical Department came from Fumori Masaki.
In the future, if anyone were to ask who brought medical ninjutsu into a new stage, Senju Risa would unhesitatingly answer Fumori Masaki, even though Fumori Masaki himself couldn't perform any medical ninjutsu.
But in her opinion, his theoretical ideas were more important than any medical ninjutsu.
"Captain Kazama, please allow me to participate in this project." Senju Risa believed that Fumori Masaki could get authorization from the Second Hokage.
Not to mention the Second Hokage's trust in Fumori Masaki, the Second Hokage himself was someone who pursued forbidden or secret techniques.
Therefore, this project was bound to be approved; the only thing to consider was the members involved.
"Okay, I'll talk to sensei about it." Fumori Masaki nodded.
He wasn't entirely acting out of personal feelings—of course, personal feelings also played a significant role—Senju Risa herself was a very formidable medical ninja.
After Fumori Masaki intentionally or unintentionally revealed some theories of modern medicine, Senju Risa became an important figure in the Medical Department.
The topics she researched had already surpassed traditional medicine and began to lean towards modern medicine.
Although the others didn't understand medical ninjutsu very well, having experienced the Shinobi World Wars, they had personally witnessed comrades who could have been saved but unfortunately died before rescue personnel arrived.
If Kakuzu's secret technique, after being improved, could break through the limitations of living human organs and temporarily sustain a person's life, it would undoubtedly buy the injured more time before death.
Thus, they all expressed to Senju Risa—"Keep up the good work!"
"I will work hard." Senju Risa nodded emphatically.
She knew how troublesome it was to create and even improve ninjutsu; she had deeply experienced this while in the Medical Department.
However, the prospect Fumori Masaki spoke of was an irresistible temptation for a medical ninja, just as Fumori Masaki had said in the past—for a medic, the most important thing is to have a benevolent heart to save the dying and help the injured.
Although in some situations, one might have to choose based on their stance, if one doesn't even have this much, then there's no point in discussing anything else.
"Kazama, can I also participate in the research for this project?" Tsunade quickly asked.
"Miss Tsunade, your level is not yet sufficient.
It's probably not possible for you to conduct research," Senju Risa, although very fond of Tsunade and admiring her talent, had to admit that the current Tsunade did not yet have the ability to conduct such research.
That kind of research required the most outstanding individuals in the Medical Department.
"Stingy." Tsunade's cheeks puffed out slightly.
Although she knew her abilities were indeed inferior to those adult ninjas in the Medical Department, she still felt unhappy.
"While you can't conduct specific research, Tsunade, you can learn from the side and observe how your seniors carry out medical research work." Fumori Masaki intended for Tsunade to become the leader of the Medical Department, and she absolutely had the talent for it.
The future Slug Princess and the legend of medical ninjas proved this point.
"Yes, if it's observing, Miss Tsunade won't have any problems," Senju Risa said, "Who knows, Miss Tsunade might even learn something from it."
"That's right." Tsunade's mood immediately brightened, and she smiled somewhat smugly.
Seeing Tsunade's mood change so quickly, Fumori Masaki and the other elders couldn't help but smile, quickening their pace to return to the shrine.
The official whose child had been taken away had specifically come to the shrine, waiting anxiously.
No matter how much the High Priestess tried to comfort him, he couldn't put his mind at ease.
After an unknown amount of time, as soon as he heard the news of the Leaf ninjas' return, he ran out the door without even putting on his shoes, and upon seeing his child being held by Senju Risa, he was ecstatic.
The official held his child, and seeing him safe and sound, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, expressing his gratitude to the Leaf ninjas.
The High Priestess watched this scene, her gaze meeting Fumori Masaki's, understanding the unspoken meaning.
Thus, her heart also settled.