Konoha's Mission Master

She had truly become stronger. The excruciating pain she had just experienced no longer mattered. In fact, she was eager to do it a second time, and the desire in her eyes was impossible to conceal.

In this world where fate is not in our own hands, everyone is chasing power. Without great power, one cannot protect those they care about. This is the truth of this world.

Machi has someone she longs to follow, so naturally she pursues power.

Yakumo pushed open the laboratory door.

"The results are good. Take another blood sample."

"Oh, right, take those cat ears off your head."

Maki was a little puzzled, but Mori Masako promptly took out a round mirror from her storage scroll and handed it to Maki.

In the reflection of the mirror, she finally saw... two triangular blue striped cat ears on the top of her head, which made her look more playful and cute.

A few seconds later, Maggie's face turned bitter.

"I can't control...those ears."

"Haha, it looks quite cute."

Mori Masako subconsciously reached out and stroked the cat ears twice.

"Meow~ So comfortable." Maggie closed her eyes and enjoyed it.

Yakumo silently picked up her pen to take notes. Forcibly activating a recessive gene would cause the owner to acquire certain animal characteristics. She could only hope that it wouldn't be a permanent change, but the catgirl didn't look bad at all.

"Huh? Why am I meowing?"

After Masako withdrew her right hand, Maki regained her senses and asked herself in disbelief, feeling her worldview gradually collapsing.

Yakumo shared his guess.

"Observe for a few days. If the animal characteristics subside, you can conduct a second experiment. Also, remember to strengthen your exercise during these few days."

"understand!"

"What if it doesn't fade?"

"Of course, you can continue to enhance it, but your body will develop more feline characteristics, such as whiskers and a tail."

"Aaaaaah, I don't want this to happen!"

Maggie was somewhat doubtful about life, like a salted fish that had lost its ideals, and slowly left the laboratory.

She planned to go back to practice with the dragon and report on her mission. As for stopping the strengthening, that was not within her consideration. Her strength had almost reached its limit, and this was the only way to improve.

While he wouldn't go to the brink of despair, he would push himself to his limits, and he would never stop until he reached those limits.

"These animalistic traits are probably a side effect of incorporating animal will; I estimate they will fade away in a few days."

Yakumo shared his speculation with Mori Masako.

“I’m not worried about that, and...the extra cat ears are kind of cute, aren’t they?” Masako Mori replied.

"Cat ears are indeed cute, but I'm afraid the hands will turn into claws."

Yakumo picked up Machi's blood and began to examine it.

Recessive gene activation level: 53%.

The activation level of the Devil Fruit was just as Yakumo predicted, but it came with some side effects.

To reduce side effects, simply lower the activation level per activation.

In this way... what could have been an experiment that was completed in ten attempts would have been extended to twenty or thirty.

This is a waste of time, but it's the only correct solution.

"For safety's sake," Yakumo thought to himself.

This enhancement must be carried out within safe limits; this is the bottom line he adheres to as a doctor. He will never resort to any means to improve his strength.

"I did all this to strengthen the revolutionary army."

The azure energy perfectly enveloped the test tube, and with the injection of two solutions, Yakumo began to activate the recessive gene.

This process is not difficult; the essence of so-called mastery of life is the terrifying technology of freely manipulating genetic material.

Ten minutes later, the reagent preparation was complete.

Devil Fruit Activation Solution: 55%.

Yakumo left the lab and saw Machi, who had changed her clothes, sparring with Masako Mori to hone her physical strength. It was clear that Masako Mori was holding back and deliberately not going all out.

This kind of concealment is not very meaningful, after all, the great battle on Beehive Island has already exposed her strength, and judging from the bounty, she can be considered to be at the level of a vice-roy.

Yukotsu Chiyuki was practicing Sage Mode on the side, which was also a way to strengthen herself. Due to Yakumo's split panel, Yukotsu Chiyuki's skills improved, and the Yukotsu Secret Manual had reached the Master level. The remaining threshold was the Grandmaster level.

This process requires ten Grandmaster Breakthrough Scrolls, but unfortunately, with the amount of gold coins You Gu Qianxue has accumulated, she can only obtain a maximum of about six Grandmaster Breakthrough Scrolls.

Yakumo was hesitating whether to increase Yukotsu Chiyuki's chakra level, which, based on the current gold coins, could increase by about 1 chakra.

This is already a huge boost to their strength.

Yakumo checked the time; it was time to prepare lunch.

I'll prepare this for lunch today: a mushroom soup rich in trace amounts of toxins, and roujiamo (Chinese hamburger). The meat will still be chunks of sea monster meat.

The group enjoyed a very satisfying lunch, but after drinking the mushroom soup, they experienced slight symptoms of poisoning.

Over the next few days, the four continued to recuperate on the nameless deserted island and explore underwater. Machi, a Devil Fruit user and an absolute landlubber, also experienced the wonder and magnificence of the deep sea with the help of Yakumo.

Various deep-sea fish of different shapes, and shipwrecks on the seabed.

In the remaining time, the group would spar and refine their combat systems. Machi trained very hard, but unfortunately, her sparring record was... ten losses out of ten.

After a series of battles, both Mori Masako and Yukotsu Chiyuki have become much stronger, especially in terms of combat experience, which has made them able to suppress Machi with ease.

During these four days, Machi displayed the cuteness and arrogance of a feline. One night, she crawled into Mori Masako's bed, but was quickly discovered by Mori Masako and thrown out.

But soon Maki crawled back in, and after several times, Masako Mori finally accepted it. The two often slept together under the same blanket, embracing each other tightly.

It is said that this is an unconscious, instinctive reaction.

Maggie even developed a love for hunting, chasing wild animals and birds in the sky as dusk approached, nearly eating the seabird that delivered the World Economic Herald, and she was full of curiosity about her surroundings.

The latest issue of the World Economic Herald mainly reports on the Beasts Pirates' declaration of war against Yakumo, and the changes in the New World order following Blackbeard's death.

The Beasts Pirates' occupation of two-thirds of the New World is an unprecedented achievement. With the Whitebeard Pirates nowhere to be found, the Beasts Pirates have nominally taken control of the entire New World.

Additionally, there is good news... that the machi feline traits gradually subsided over the next few days.

On the fifth day, the uncontrollable ears disappeared from his head.

After being examined by Yakumo, Machi has returned to normal and is able to awaken her Devil Fruit ability for the second time. However, at this rate... it's only 5% every five days.

It will probably take about fifty days to awaken, and... Machi's willpower may not be strong enough to withstand the fully awakened animal will.

Although awakening is a key point, she finds it difficult to achieve.

Inside the laboratory, Maggie injected herself with the reagent and quietly awaited the next reaction.

Yakumo had quietly left the laboratory, leaving only Masako Mori to record the situation. He didn't need to see it with his own eyes, he only needed the experimental data.

Half an hour later, Yakumo reviewed the experimental data in his hand. Machi had completed her transformation into a half-orc thirty seconds after the reagent was injected, and had lost control of her Devil Fruit abilities.

After a 15-minute battle of wills, he regained his abilities and made significant progress in speed and strength.

The absence of cat ears on its head this time is another improvement.

Yakumo completed the preparation of the third reagent in half an hour, and the awakening level of the Machi Devil Fruit has now reached 55%.

"Next time... the activation ratio will be set to 3%."

Yakumo said to Machi.

“Okay.” Maggie nodded, full of confidence.

As Machi's Devil Fruit powers developed, her skin changed from a healthy wheat color to fair skin, and the marks from her workouts on her arms and the calluses on her palms gradually disappeared. This was another kind of enhancement, like removing the traces of artificial sculpting and restoring her to a natural state.

“This time it seems much better than last time…” Masako Mori said.

“Machi, she’s almost at her limit,” Yakumo replied.

Yakumo closed his Soul Eye. According to calculations, 70% activation should be Machi's limit. For safety reasons, around 65% Devil Fruit activation would be the end of this experiment.

This is still a very long way from awakening.

Over the next two days, the feline traits in Machi's personality gradually disappeared, and the time for the third enhancement had arrived.

Inside the laboratory, Machi had transformed into a half-orc, and two opposing wills clashed rapidly in her mind.

It took nearly half an hour to overcome the animalistic will within the Devil Fruit, and it produced severe side effects.

Its movements are more like those of a feline, in addition to growing cat ears, a blue tail over a meter long has grown from its tailbone.

Neither of these can be brought back into the body through willpower; they can only be allowed to dissipate naturally over time.

Machi's Devil Fruit Awakening Level: 58%.

In the following days... Machi exhibited feline characteristics again, her curiosity grew infinitely stronger, she was filled with the urge to hunt animals, and even began to crave raw meat.

This time, the side effects were even more severe, just as Yakumo had predicted. Machi was nearing her limit.

Over the next few days, Machi sneaked into Mori Masako's bed several times in the middle of the night, and she herself couldn't explain why her instincts in her sleep made her want to get close to Mori Masako.

Next came a smooth transition period, during which Machi's animalistic features gradually disappeared, and she was ready for the fourth enhancement.

However, Yakumo did not begin the fourth round of enhancement experiments. Instead, he asked Machi to wait one more day, as he was waiting for an opportunity.

That night, Yakumo went up to the sky alone and waited quietly.

The Executioner mission is about to conclude today. All the shadow clones outside have been dispelled, and now we are just waiting for midnight.

[Ding! Congratulations to the player for completing the quest "The Judge".]

[With the blade of slaughter, I will sever the sins of the world.]

[Note: Gold coin rewards have been settled.]

[Note: Task completion exceeded the limit. You have received an additional reward: the Proof of the Overlord. Task progress: 20%, exceeding the maximum threshold.]

[Note: The completion rate of the Condemner's quest has exceeded the limit, reaching the threshold for obtaining the hidden reward.]

[Hint: Congratulations to the player for gaining a glimmer of hope.]

[Message: We offer our highest respect to everyone who upholds justice; this glimmer of hope will help you in the most crucial moments.]