Mayuri Kurotsuchi Card Game, starting from Naruto

Chapter 56 Inquiry

Camp.

Minato Namikaze looked at the three summoned members, Shinobu, and said softly, "Are you ready? If you are, then let's go. I have received orders to escort you back to the village as soon as possible."

"Escort?" Lu Nie and Zhi Shui keenly grasped the key words.

Who would need Minato Namikaze to abandon everything and escort them? The border post is only stable now thanks to Minato Namikaze's harassment and attacks, as well as his ability to withstand the Third Hokage's son, Rui, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

Letting him leave now, aren't you worried that the situation will worsen again?

"Don't worry, Kumogakure has focused its efforts on the Land of Rain, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Waterfall. They shouldn't have many more people to harass or invade the Land of Fire in the short term," Minato Namikaze explained, noticing their confusion.

"Would they give up so easily?" Shisui thought of the Cloud Village members who were relentlessly pursuing him. Judging from their aggressive pursuit style, they didn't seem like the type to cower in fear.

"The main force of Kumogakure was tied down by Sunagakure, and the forces that were spared also suffered significant losses in a previous battle. In other words, it wasn't that they wanted to give up invading the Land of Fire, but rather that, based on various considerations, they had no choice but to abandon this plan."

So there's no need for me to stay any longer." Minato smiled.

"The Hidden Cloud Village set up a trap for Minato-senpai, but Minato-sensei saw through it and killed several Jonin instead." Shisui secretly passed on this information to Shikagure.

Lu Nie nodded knowingly.

Even though the requirements for promotion to Jonin are different in each ninja village, and the required strength is also different, a Jonin is still a Jonin, belonging to the top level of combat power in a village, apart from the Kage and Jinchuriki.

With a major battlefield tying down their main force, it's understandable that the Hidden Cloud Village would be troubled by losing several Jonin in a short period of time.

"Let's go. The Hokage and the village leaders all hope we can get back as quickly as possible," Minato Namikaze said, glancing at Shikane.

Noticing Minato Namikaze's gaze, Shikano immediately understood. He knew that those words were meant for him.

Wood Release?

Lu Nie immediately thought of the goal that made the village leaders so eager.

Especially now, with the storm brewing and another Shinobi World War possibly imminent, the realization and existence of Wood Release makes people even more uneasy.

After all, the village leaders had experienced the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, and they were well aware of the cruelty of war and the pressure and danger that Konoha Village had to endure.

In such a turbulent and perilous time, the appearance of Wood Release is truly heart-wrenching.

However, Lu Nie didn't intend to keep it a secret forever. This kind of thing only gains more resources and materials when its value is demonstrated.

Led by Minato Namikaze, the group was brought back to the village at top speed. After exchanging their exit permits and identification documents at the village entrance, the four of them didn't go home but rushed straight to the Hokage Building.

Inside the Hokage's office, the Hokage and his advisors patiently waited for Minato Namikaze to finish reporting and handing over the mission before turning their attention to the three people behind Minato.

The first to speak was Shimura Danzo, his single eye fixed on Shikagure, his lips pursed, as he asked, "Nara Shikagure, you've mastered the Wood Release bloodline limit?"

Upon hearing Danzo Shimura's blunt question, the Hokage and the two advisors' expressions darkened, but they maintained a tacit silence.

As for Orochimaru, who rushed over upon hearing the news, he wore an even more contemptuous smile but remained silent.

"Lord Hokage, Shikane has not mastered the Wood Release bloodline limit!" Minato Namikaze, who was standing to the side, took the initiative to speak up for Shikane and defend him to the Third Hokage.

"We want to hear Nara Shikano's answer!" Shimura Danzo sneered.

"I don't know Wood Release," Nara Shikano denied. Shisui and Anko were summoned to Orochimaru's side, who gestured for them to remain silent.

"Liar! The Root ninjas have already investigated the area where you fought, and there are indeed traces of Wood Release there!" Shimura Danzo, as if he had caught someone red-handed, ignored Shikagure and turned to the Third Hokage, saying, "Hiruzen, hand him over to me. I will find the secret of Wood Release from him."

"Absurd!" The Third Hokage scoffed. "Shikaguchi is not a rogue ninja, nor has he committed any wrongdoing. Danzo, you have no right to interrogate or deal with him. We are merely conducting an inquiry."

After reprimanding Danzo, the Third Hokage turned his gaze to Shikane and said in a gentle tone, "Orochimaru told us that this is a bloodline limit device you invented? We would like to hear about this technology. If possible, the village can allocate funds to the technology development department, just like the Uchiha and Kurama clans, to support your and Orochimaru's experiments."

Shisui and Anko stared blankly at the scene, while Orochimaru beside them wore an even more pronounced mocking expression, so obvious that it was plain to see.

"It's just a semi-finished biotechnology based on cloning. It's not practical at the moment," Lu Nie replied calmly.

"But you successfully used Wood Release with that Bloodline Limit Technique, didn't you?" Shimura Danzo narrowed his eyes, looking at the Third Hokage and his advisors with his single eye: "I propose that the Bloodline Limit Technique invented by Nara Shikanobu be shared with the Anbu and included in the Book of Seals."

"Excuse my bluntness, but you and your teacher simply don't understand the difficulty this technique involves." Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and deep, filled with deep sarcasm.

"This is not a forbidden technique! Forbidden techniques will one day be learned and even inherited by a talented ninja."

However, Lu Nie's bloodline prosthetic body technology involves many different knowledge systems. What use would you have for it?

Moreover, this is only a semi-finished product.

"Then let him develop the complete technology, but the village must have backups and access to all the technical data," Shimura Danzo said firmly.

"Success in technology depends on inspiration and talent. Your eagerness for quick results will only lead to another failed Wood Release experiment," Orochimaru licked his lips and sneered.

"Orochimaru!" Shimura Danzo frowned.

"Are you able to successfully create more bloodline gadgets?" The Third Hokage ignored Orochimaru and Danzo Shimura's argument and simply looked at Shikagure and asked gently.

"Given sufficient resources, materials, and funding, it's feasible to replicate a semi-finished product and perfect it," Lu Nie said, looking at the diverse group of people present. "Furthermore, the technology of Bloodline Limitations isn't limited to Wood Release."

P.S.: Can't get discouraged, I need to make sure to update two chapters a day tomorrow...

(End of this chapter)