Mayuri Kurotsuchi Card Game, starting from Naruto

Chapter 90 Returning to the Village and the Dialogue

"Forehead!"

The battle ended, and Shisui immediately covered his eyes and knelt on the ground. Crimson blood slid down his eyelids.

"Shisui?" Lu Nie and Hongdou instantly appeared in front of Shisui.

"I'm fine." Shisui's kaleidoscope had faded, revealing his black pupils. Not only his eyes, but his entire body was also in excruciating pain.

Lu Nie inserted a syringe into his neck and pushed the liquid inside the syringe in.

Soon, Shisui felt his poor physical condition rapidly recovering, including his eyes, which were in excruciating pain, being soothed by a cool sensation, and the pain dissipated.

The previously blurry vision has become clear again.

"Take care of this for now. Once we get back to the lab, I'll conduct a full assessment of your physical condition," Lu Nie said to Zhi Shuidao, who had removed his hands from his eyes and stood up.

Zhi Shui nodded.

He didn't ask any questions about the injection Lu Nie gave him or the subsequent tests.

With the cooperation of the Uchiha clan, the Technology Development Department possessed complete physical data on the entire Uchiha family. From the One-Tomoe Sharingan to the Mangekyou Sharingan, everything had been studied by Orochimaru and Shikagure.

Prior to this, the most extensive and powerful bloodline limit data held by the Technology Development Department, or rather Orochimaru, was the Wood Release of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

It's no secret within Orochimaru's team that the First Hokage's cells can, to some extent, compensate for the aftereffects of the Uchiha clan's Mangekyou Sharingan.

The only challenge lies in maintaining a balance between the two bloodline limits.

A white substance suddenly emerged from Zhishui's body, growing rapidly in the wind until it formed a humanoid monster covered in white.

"Wood Release and the power of nature?" The white monster, having broken free of Shisui, was bound in place by a black shadow before it could escape when it stepped onto the ground.

"What is this?" Startled by the strange person who suddenly appeared, Red Bean thought it was a new enemy, and the flames burning on her fist almost hit the other person's face.

Shadow Hanging Technique!

A jet-black arm snaked up the white monster's body and gripped his neck tightly.

Click!

The strange man lowered his head.

"It seems to be some kind of parasitic ninjutsu." Lu Nie was also somewhat surprised to see the unexpected appearance of White Zetsu. He immediately took out a spare storage scroll and sealed White Zetsu's corpse inside.

According to his somewhat hazy memory, the White Zetsu's body was remarkably similar to Shin's, and it also involved Wood Release techniques.

He had always wanted to find a White Zetsu for his research, but only today did he finally see one.

Was it because he came into contact with the Akatsuki trio?

Or is it because of Uchiha Shisui?

Lu Nie thought about the reasons why he was targeted and parasitized by White Zetsu, and after thinking it over, it seemed that there were only two possibilities.

To be on the safe side, Lu Nie used the power of nature to check his and Hong Dou's bodies again, and nothing unexpected happened.

The only one that was parasitized was the one on Shisui's body.

"What should we do with him? Should we take him back to the village?"

Watching as Shiro sealed the monster's corpse in the scroll, Anko's gaze fell on Kakuzu, who was still standing motionless on the other side of the field.

"Let the cat take him back."

As Lu Nie spoke, he used chakra to stimulate the sealing technique in his abdomen. As the hand pressing on his abdomen pulled outward, a small, blue, cat-shaped beast landed lightly on the ground.

"She really knows how to boss people around."

The cat arched its back on the ground again, grumbled, and then strode quickly toward Kakuzu. The black shadow domain spread out with its leaping body, like a black curtain, completely enveloping the defenseless Kakuzu, and they both disappeared from the spot.

A black shadow darted back as swiftly as flowing water and merged into the shadow of the deer.

……

Upon returning to Konoha, the three members of the Shikagami clan immediately went to the Hokage Building to hand over their mission. After reading the mission report submitted by Shikagami, the Third Hokage suddenly asked a question.

"How are they?"

Although the Third Hokage's question seemed abrupt and out of the blue, the three of them understood who he was referring to.

"Well, it suits Jiraiya-senpai's tastes perfectly, doesn't it?" Shika Nie thought for a moment and gave a reply that made the Third Hokage raise an eyebrow.

"Jiraiya's preferences?" The Third Hokage's expression faltered as he recalled his disciple, whose lewd figure he always saw near the bathhouse.

"Kindness, pursuit of peace." Lu Nie replied, "Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, among whom Yahiko is the core of the three. His personality and character are somewhat similar to Minato-senpai."

"That's quite a high evaluation!" The Third Hokage was somewhat surprised, astonished that Shikagure would have such a high opinion of Yahiko.

As a rising star among Konoha's new generation, Minato Namikaze is like a perfect figure.

He is powerful, humble, and approachable. He has a burning love for his village and the Will of Fire, but he is a ruthless grim reaper who strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies.

Every ninja in the village who had contact with or cooperated with him spoke highly of him, and he was a respected and beloved figure among the villagers.

The fact that Yahiko from the Land of Rain could be compared to Minato Namikaze according to Shinobu's words certainly piqued the Third Hokage's interest even more.

"It's just a similarity in personality," Lu Nie added. "In reality, whether it's strength or vision, he can't compare to Minato-senpai yet."

"That's still excellent." The Third Hokage smiled and didn't let the three of them leave after handing over their mission. He put down his work, got up and went to the window of the Hokage's office. He looked at the scenery outside the window and smoked his pipe, as if he was thinking about something.

"You mean, their Akatsuki organization has already reached a certain size and influence?" After a moment, the Third Hokage suddenly asked.

"Yes, I went to the Akatsuki's base with Shisui and Anko. They already have about a hundred ninjas and their reputation in the Land of Rain isn't bad."

For that country, Yahiko's advocacy and pursuit of peace naturally attracted many people who abhorred war and sought peace.

Lu Nie answered seriously.

"What about Hanzo? What about the Rain Village? What is their attitude towards the existence of this organization?" the Third Hokage continued.

"According to what we've heard, Hanzo hasn't made a public appearance for quite some time. As for the Rain Village ninja, their attitude towards Akatsuki is somewhat ambiguous."

"There have been some frictions between the two sides, but both sides have exercised restraint," Lu Nie reported, recounting everything he had learned.

"There have been conflicts? It seems the Akatsuki still has considerable strength." The Third Hokage nodded.

Given the irreconcilable contradictions and frictions, and the restraint shown by both sides, it seems that the strength of the two sides is not as great as an insurmountable gap.

Without sufficient strength, there will be no restraint, and the Akatsuki organization will be completely wiped out during the initial skirmishes.

Of course, the Third Hokage wouldn't really believe that the Akatsuki could be compared to Amegakure, since Hanzo of Amegakure didn't participate in the conflict.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Akatsuki organization has become an independent ninja group in the Land of Rain that cannot be ignored.

After the three of them, Shimura Danzo, left, appeared in the Hokage's office.

"Let me go to the Land of Rain, Hiruzen." Shimura Danzo stood in front of his desk, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi in the chair opposite him, and made the request.

"What are you going to do?" The Third Hokage frowned slightly.

"Since Akatsuki and Konoha have this kind of relationship, we must bring them into the Land of Fire's camp," Shimura Danzo said earnestly, leaning on his cane.

"They've grown quite large now, and conflict with Amegakure is inevitable. If possible, it would be good for us to make Jiraiya's disciple the leader of Amegakure."

"That Yahiko isn't one of those who started the war with Amegakure." The Third Hokage shook his head. "It's going to be difficult for you to use them in the war."

"Let him see his situation clearly, then he won't be so naive!" Shimura Danzo sneered. "Pursuing peace? A vision that even Konoha hasn't achieved. A fledgling organization founded by three young people in the Land of Rain, hmph..."

"Let me think about it." The Third Hokage certainly didn't doubt that his old partner could do what he said. As the Dark Side of Konoha, Shimura Danzo's style of doing things outside the village was even more radical and ruthless than inside.

He said that if he could make the Akatsuki members realize their situation, he would inevitably force them into a near-desperate situation.

"What's there to consider? Now that they've received Konoha's aid, they have to obey Konoha's orders! When did Orochimaru become so gentle?"

Right now, both Iwagakure and Sunagakure are focused on Kumogakure, which is one of the few opportunities we can seize. Let me go. Whether it's Akatsuki or Amegakure, one of them has to stand on Konoha's side.

Danzo Shimura's tone was cold.

"Don't do anything reckless! Yahiko and the other two are Jiraiya's disciples." The Third Hokage glared at Shimura Danzo.

"He is first and foremost a Konoha ninja! He should act in the interests of Konoha! If the Akatsuki is unwilling to obey Konoha's orders, then find someone to replace them. At most, I'll spare those three lives and let them join Root!" Shimura Danzo said bluntly.

"I've already sent Jiraiya back! You go and take over from him, in charge of searching for and driving away the ninja squads that have infiltrated Kirigakure." The Third Hokage shook his head again, cutting to the chase: "Leave the Land of Rain to Jiraiya and Shikagure."

……

Technology Development Department.

In Lu Nie's laboratory.

Kakuzu, who had just been awakened, felt his body was incredibly heavy, and his emerald green eyes swept over Shikano standing next to him.

"Are you awake, Mr. Kakuzu?" Without even looking up, Shikaguchi used his chakra scalpel to cut another black tentacle from Kakuzu's body.

"Cough cough! You bastard! What did you do to me?"

Sensing the stagnation of chakra within his body, Kakuzu did not show any signs of panic or confusion; he was quite accepting of this situation.

"As you can see." Lu Nie placed the black tentacle in his hand into another device.

Based on the data analyzed so far, Earth Grudge Fear truly lives up to its S-rank forbidden technique. Apart from transforming the user into someone who is not human, it is incredibly powerful in terms of support.

The fact that one can gain an extended lifespan simply by constantly replacing their heart is astonishing.

"Mr. Kakuzu, shall we cooperate?" Lu Nie stood in front of Kakuzu again. "You cooperate with my research, and I will upgrade your Earth Grudge Fear."

"The Earth Grudge is perfect!" Kakuzu, lying on the experimental table with only his head capable of some movement, opened his mouth and said with difficulty.

"It's clear that your five hearts were carefully selected, and you've also developed corresponding composite ninjutsu based on the five chakra attributes."

But your ceiling is always there! To put it bluntly, Mr. Kakuzu, you're like a bankrupt version of the Third Hokage.

Lu Nie and Jiao Du looked at each other and spoke calmly.

So-called composite ninjutsu is not simply about using two types of chakra-based ninjutsu together. You need to consider the combination of ninjutsu, the ratio of chakra, which type of ninjutsu is the primary one, and which type of ninjutsu is the secondary one.

For example, the most common combination of compound ninjutsu, Fire Release and Wind Release, uses Fire Release as the primary means of attack and Wind Release as a secondary means of attack.

Even a typical Jonin can combine two types of ninjutsu, but combining three types of chakra ninjutsu suddenly raises the difficulty level by a whole level.

After all, the targeting, restraint, and fusion of chakra attributes, as well as the combination of ninjutsu, require a deep study and understanding of ninjutsu and chakra, and the immersion in numerous ninjutsu techniques to successfully unleash the power of more than three combined ninjutsu.

Among those who excelled at using compound ninjutsu, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was undoubtedly the top-tier figure in the ninja world.

The title of PhD is well-deserved!

"So how do you plan to upgrade my Earth Grudge Fear? I've already reached its limit." Although Kakuzu was somewhat annoyed that Shikane described his strength as a bankrupt version of Hiruzen Sarutobi, he didn't dwell on the issue and instead asked the key question.

"Have you considered fusing with the heart of a bloodline ninja?" Shiro asked softly.

"Are you crazy?" Kakuzu's eyes widened. He never imagined that Shinobu's idea would be so insane!

"So you've tried it?" Lu Nie noticed the changing expressions on Kakuzu's face, a look of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "And the result? Tell me!"

"I failed. I simply couldn't fuse with the heart of a bloodline ninja, and that heart damaged Earth Grudge Fear." Kakuzu paused for a moment before replying, "Earth Grudge Fear can only accept hearts of a single nature. Even if a ninja possesses multiple chakra natures, only one will be accepted by Earth Grudge Fear."

"Then it seems there's still room for it to evolve, isn't there?" Lu Nie smiled with satisfaction.

"I only have one heart left!"

Faced with Lu Nie's smiling face, Kakuzu remained silent for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying, "If the experiment fails and affects his final heart, then he, who is immortal, will have to go to the Pure Land."

(End of this chapter)