Chapter 30 Chakra and Natural Energy
The next noon.
"The details of the incident have been understood by us, Hiruzen."
Inside the meeting room of the Hokage's building, the elder advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, after reading the contents of the scroll, both sighed lightly and furrowed their brows, seemingly troubled by something.
This scroll was information passed back by the frontline commander, Orochimaru.
The task regarding the attack on the Sand Village supply point didn't match the actual circumstances, resulting in severe dispersion of the strength of Team Sakumo, and they even came close to being trapped within the Sand Village's encirclement.
Though the document didn't explicitly mention Root, being advisors, they couldn't help but understand the underlying implications.
All fingers pointed towards another Konoha elder, Shimura Danzo.
Root shinobi used deception to implicate Team Sakumo, and they even managed to infiltrate ANBU, making them the root cause of this incident.
"How do the two of you view this matter?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, looked expressionlessly at the two individuals.
Mitokado and Koharu wanted to absolve Danzo, to shift the blame onto the Sand Village, but the others weren't fools. Doing so would only worsen the already dire situation.
"Danzo has gone a bit too far this time..."
"Just a bit too far?"
Hiruzen's face suddenly darkened. Infiltrating ANBU was something he could tolerate, but he could only represent himself, not the opinion of the Uchiha clan.
That was the real difficulty of this incident.
Sending Uchiha Rui as part of Sakumo's team for experience was a transaction between him and the Uchiha higher-ups.
Now, the team had just started working together, and such an incident occurred. How would the Uchiha leadership perceive him as the Hokage?
"So, Hiruzen, what do you plan to do? After all, he is a high-ranking figure in the village and has contributed countless achievements over the years, dealing with many enemies that threatened the village..."
Hearing Hiruzen's plea for Danzo, Sarutobi impatiently waved his hand, signaling him to stop.
"Where is Danzo right now?"
"In the Land of Grass."
"No messages from him?"
"He said everything is normal, but..."
"But what?"
"His four subordinates were on a secret mission in the Land of Rivers, and for some reason, they suddenly disappeared. It's likely they met their end."
After listening to this statement, Hiruzen nodded and said, "I understand the situation now, and I will negotiate with the Uchiha side. You two can get in touch with Danzo and advise him to be more honest and stop these unnecessary actions. How to handle the Uchiha is my responsibility as the Hokage, and Root shouldn't meddle in this matter."
The reason Danzo acted without restraint must be due to the recent conciliatory policy he adopted towards the Uchiha.
For the radical faction like Root, this was indeed a dangerous signal.
The Uchiha's reputation within Konoha was mixed. While they couldn't be considered fully integrated into the village, deeming their social interactions worthless would be too absolute.
Just as the Konoha higher-ups were divided into conservatives and radicals, the Uchiha also had their own factions.
But whether Uchiha aligned with the radicals or the conservatives, their ultimate goals were clear to Hiruzen.
It was all about gaining more power within Konoha, having a say in the village's direction, and perhaps even desiring the Hokage position to surpass the Senju.
Knowing their intentions made dealing with the situation much easier for Hiruzen.
If it wasn't for Danzo causing this mess, Hiruzen could have somewhat improved the Uchiha's relationship with the village before the next Hokage succession, avoiding the previous tense situation.
"Hopefully, after this lesson, that guy Danzo can behave himself..."
Sometimes, Hiruzen didn't know how to handle his close friend Danzo, he could only sigh with a headache, hoping that his character would become more restrained from now on.
Neither Homura nor Koharu spoke. If Danzo were that honest and straightforward, he wouldn't have become the head of Root.
"As for the Hyuga side, we'll explain there. Since you want to handle the Uchiha alone, we'll leave it to you, Hiruzen. But remember one thing: no matter how you try to appease the Uchiha, don't fully trust members of that clan. There are many within that clan who have inherited dangerous thoughts from that person."
Giving Hiruzen a deep glance, Homura finished speaking and left the meeting room with Koharu.
"Uchiha Madara... and the Mangekyou Sharingan..."
Hiruzen muttered as he sat in his seat.
Uchiha Madara's battle against Senju Hashirama at the Valley of the End had left a significant impact on Konoha.
Although Madara was the defeated party, the subsequent death of the First Hokage shortly after their final clash caused a power vacuum that led to the disastrous First Great Ninja War a few years later.
The power that made Madara famous, the ultimate Sharingan — the Mangekyou Sharingan — was the most mysterious and darkest force recorded in Uchiha's records.
His mentor, Tobirama Senju, had mentioned many times that Uchiha shinobi who awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan had already plunged deep into the abyss of darkness, no longer able to be treated as normal people.
Arrogant, extreme, mentally unstable, they would do things that defied common sense and were unbearable to ordinary individuals.
Immediate measures were necessary to prevent Konoha from falling into disaster.
However, for now, Hiruzen wasn't worried about that.
Since Madara's defeat and his death, there had been no instances of the Mangekyou Sharingan being activated within the Uchiha clan.
Even if there were exceptionally gifted Uchiha, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was their ultimate limit.
As the Hokage, he wasn't intimidated by the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
…
At three in the afternoon,
The trio, consisting of Shiroshi, Rui, and Ayane, returned to Konoha after days of being separated at the frontlines.
The peaceful and serene scene in the village stood in stark contrast to the tense and heavy atmosphere at the front.
And this peace was the result of countless shinobi sacrificing their lives on the frontlines.
"Well then, let's part ways here."
As they reached a fork in the road, Ayane suggested parting first.
Neither Shiroshi nor Rui objected; indeed, now was not the time for trivial matters.
The Uchiha clan's territory remained as usual, neither bustling nor desolate. There were some children wearing clothes embroidered with the Uchiha fan symbol, playing along the streets.
They were the younger generation of the Uchiha clan, the new blood.
They all seemed to know Rui, the peerless genius of the Uchiha clan, and greeted her with sweet calls of "Sister Rui."
Rui took out some candies from her pockets and distributed them to the children, reminding them to be careful while playing.
"I'll go to the elders next to understand the situation in the village. You go back first."
Watching the children leave, Rui turned to Shiroshi and said.
"Understood. After all, someone like me just needs to quietly be an invisible person."
Shiroshi had no complaints about this.
Rui nodded. In this regard, Shiroshi indeed had a positive attitude.
"Though I feel that the way things will be handled might not satisfy you personally."
As Shiroshi was about to leave, he added this remark.
Upon hearing this, Rui's eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.
She was about to say something when Shiroshi had already walked away, waving to her with a departing gesture that said "see you later."
After bidding farewell to Shiroshi, Rui headed alone towards the Naka Shrine.
And as expected, when she arrived there, an Uchiha elder was already waiting for her.
It was Uchiha Zane.
Beside him knelt a young man, Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku gave Rui a slight smile and nodded as a greeting.
Rui also nodded in return to greet him.
Honestly, though both she and Fugaku were candidates for the Uchiha clan's clan head position, Rui didn't enjoy interacting with him.
It's not because Fugaku's strength is weak. As one of the candidates for the clan head position, Fugaku's strength is undoubtedly that of a formidable Jonin. He has honed his Sharingan to the level of three tomoe.
However, Fugaku's way of handling matters is excessively conservative and mild, and this happens to be the very approach that Rui dislikes the most.
Rui respects his impressive power, but she's skeptical about whether his character can bear the weighty responsibility of being the clan head.
After all, the Aburame clan is different from the typical ninja clans. Being too mild and conservative would be a slow death for the Aburame clan. That's Rui's personal view of her own clan.
Sitting down, Rui respectfully lowered her head to Aburame Zane, showing respect for her elder.
"Elder Zane, about this matter..."
Rui was just about to speak when Elder Zane raised his hand, interrupting her. His tone was not as impulsive as she had imagined.
"I've already heard about this matter from the Hokage."
"Is that so?" Rui murmured softly and continued, "So, how does the clan plan to arrange this?"
"What's your opinion on this, Rui?"
Elder Zane didn't reveal the clan's arrangement to Rui. Instead, he asked for her perspective on the matter.
"I remember Elder Zane telling me before that the leader of Root is Danzo Shimura, right? He's a close friend of the Hokage and a disciple of the Second Hokage."
"Yes."
"This kind of tightly organized group won't act without orders from superiors. I don't believe that the other two members of the team were their targets. The target of Root can only be me or the Uchiha clan. Therefore, all of this is orchestrated by Danzo Shimura. He's targeting our Aburame clan. Furthermore, this can be seen as a severe crime of senselessly killing fellow comrades. He should be imprisoned in Konoha's Great Prison for repentance."
As long as the mastermind is imprisoned in the Leaf's prison, whatever accomplishments they had before become meaningless. Their achievements will be erased, and they'll become powerless figures to the village.
This is the punishment Rui hopes for the higher-ups in Konoha.
Saying this, Rui took out a scroll and placed it in front of Elder Zane.
Without a doubt, the contents of this scroll contained ironclad facts and evidence of Root's manipulation and framing of fellow shinobi.
All it would take is to have it authenticated by the Anbu Black Ops, and the charges against Root would be substantiated.
The leader of Root would also be implicated and could not escape the consequences.
Elder Zane sighed; he knew Rui would do this.
He had watched Rui grow up and understood her "eye for an eye" temperament well.
"It won't work. If you've killed those four Root shinobi, it means there's no evidence. As long as Danzo denies it to his death, he can let his subordinates take the blame for him. Moreover, the Aburame clan has a major incident happening right now, which will take a few days to handle."
Perhaps he was afraid that Rui would bring the corpses of the Root shinobi to the Aburame clan for examination.
Whether this was an order from the Hokage himself or from other high-ranking officials had shown the Aburame clan's determination.
Are these the comrades of the village? I understand."
Rui didn't sigh in disappointment; it was exactly as she had expected.
So, the bodies of those four Root shinobi, which Shiroshi had specially dealt with, were now useless.
"After the battle, the Hokage will impose restrictions on Root and promise that similar accidents won't occur again, otherwise, he will take measures against Danzo. Moreover, the Hokage allows you to revisit the Sealing Scroll and choose one of the jutsu."
"He's quite generous. However, Elder Zane, what I want isn't these."
Rui lifted her head, her eyes with distinct black and white, fearlessly meeting Elder Zane's gaze.
"Not these?"
Elder Zane thought that Rui's stubbornness should end here.
After all, being able to review the Sealing Scroll again and select a powerful jutsu to learn is something that many Jonin dream of and can't obtain easily.
For the Uchiha clan, it's also a purely advantageous thing.
So, he had a secret meeting with the Hokage rather than convening a clan meeting.
"No matter how powerful the jutsu within the Sealing Scroll is, I can't swallow my pride. I want to gain the strength of the clan. Furthermore, forgive me for speaking frankly, but someone like Danzo Shimura is too dangerous. If there are individuals within the village's high ranks who target the Uchiha clan, it will inevitably sow a great seed of disaster for us. We must seize this opportunity to thwart him, even if it means damaging the vitality of the Uchiha clan..."
Rui's face was ice-cold, and her eyes were filled with intense killing intent.
Zane stood by, hesitating to speak, seemingly wanting to help Rui calm down.
However, Elder Zane wasn't angered by Rui's intense words. He merely smiled disdainfully and said, "Rui, you're overestimating Danzo Shimura. The Shimura clan and Root aren't worthy of being our stepping stones. This shady rat can only scheme in the shadows. These tricks are meaningless against the absolute power of the Uchiha clan."
Implicitly, people like Danzo Shimura aren't worth the Uchiha clan's expenditure of vitality to deal with.
"Keep this evidence for now. I can promise you, if Danzo tries this again, you can handle it your way. However, I believe Danzo won't dare to continue targeting the Uchiha clan."
As he said this, Elder Zane displayed absolute confidence in the Uchiha clan's power.
Rui gave a brief glance to Elder Zane's confident expression and then lowered her head slightly.
"I understand. I'll follow your advice, Elder."
Clenching her fist, her potent chakra surged violently, demonstrating her profound internal turmoil.
Elder Zane patted Rui's shoulder, knowing that she harbored dissatisfaction. He tried to console her, "Rui, you have much to learn. Politics involves constant compromise. Though your talent surpasses Fugaku's, I believe this is your greatest shortcoming in this aspect."
"Is it all for the position of Hokage?"
Rui suddenly asked in a cold tone.
Elder Zane smiled comfortingly, "The position of the Fourth Hokage is something the Uchiha clan will strive for with all its might. Since you understand this, think about it carefully."
Saying this, he stood up from his seat, and Zane also rose in unison.
After they left, Rui remained seated, motionless.
Her eyes emitted a deep and gloomy light as she stared at the ground.
The room was filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
"How boring..."
She muttered.
Rui wasn't ignorant of Elder Zane's earnest intentions.
While she could understand Elder Zane's perspective, it was definitely not the outcome she desired, and she would never agree with such a viewpoint.
"The Uchiha's power is undoubtedly strong, but it should not be a reason to look down upon others.
In this world, there's a saying: 'Thieves last a thousand days, but those guarding against thieves do not last a thousand days.'
Slowly rising from her seat, she turned around to gaze outside the room.
She could still faintly see the receding figures of Elder Zane and Fugaku.
"Elder Zane, I don't really dispute your decisions, it's just that I didn't expect you to misunderstand my intentions from the very beginning."
It was a bit frustrating.
Perhaps it was more accurate to call it resignation.
Coming here had truly been a waste of time. She might as well return and go to sleep directly, giving herself some rest.
Whether it's the clan leader or the Hokage, power is the fundamental factor that determines everything.
Just like the Sage of the Ninja World; without his power as an underpinning, his idealistic aspirations would be ignored by all.
If the Uchiha clan followed the same path as the Senju clan to gain the position of Hokage, would it prove their superiority over the Senju?
That would be self-deception.
At the moment when the first Hokage was elected, the Uchiha had already failed.
The current restlessness among the Uchiha might stem from their shared pride in founding Konoha alongside the Senju.
However, unlike the Senju, no Uchiha ninja has ever become Hokage.
It's not just dissatisfaction or jealousy anymore for the elder Uchiha generation, including Elder Zane; it's likely turned into obsession.
The terrifying obsession of hoping for a Uchiha to become the Hokage.
"Without power, no matter how beautiful a dream is, it remains illusory. When it comes to criminals who have plotted against their comrades, and the Hokage doesn't impose punishment, such a Hokage is utterly unworthy of trust. It seems I need to find like-minded companions within the clan..."
In an instant, Rui's irises turned crimson. Over her red irises, the three black tomoe emerged, one after another.
…
Tailed Beasts.
Ultimate malevolent entities passed down since ancient times.
They have always symbolized disasters.
Possessing vast power beyond human reach.
Their name comes from the number of tails they have – from one to nine, collectively known as the Nine-Tails. They are peculiar life forms formed from the materialization of immense chakra.
Immortal.
Can only be sealed.
Shiroshi carefully sought various information about Tailed Beasts. The texts he studied all portrayed these chakra life forms as demonic entities, referred to as calamities.
To quell the chaos caused by Tailed Beasts, a sacrificial offering was necessary to become a vessel for sealing them. This chosen individual is known as a Jinchuriki.
In the present era, each of the Five Great Ninja Villages possesses a Jinchuriki who wields the power to seal Tailed Beasts.
Among them was the village where Shiroshi currently resided, Konoha. It was home to the mightiest Tailed Beast – the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails, a colossal fox with nine tails, was once controlled by Uchiha Madara. However, the First Hokage managed to defeat Madara and considered the power of the Nine-Tails too malevolent and potent. Thus, he seized the opportunity to seal the Nine-Tails away, suppressing it within Konoha.
The records abruptly ended at this point.
Nonetheless, this knowledge was sufficient for Shiroshi.
Tailed Beasts are beings materialized from chakra.
They possess power akin to natural disasters.
Recalling the rampage of the One-Tail Shukaku, even from a distance, it evoked a sense of insurmountable dread.
Shiroshi felt that bestowing upon Tailed Beasts the symbolic name of disasters was entirely appropriate.
This power was indeed beyond human control.
Crucially, even if a Tailed Beast was killed, it would eventually revive randomly at some place within the ninja world after a certain interval.
Thus, sealing jutsu was the only means to address Tailed Beasts.
Shiroshi gazed at the hermetically sealed glass column in the hollow of the adjacent monitoring device. Within it condensed a pale purple luminescence, a manifestation of tangible chakra.
"It is unmistakably chakra, but it seems there's a change in chakra nature incorporating Yin-Yang attributes..."
Based on his knowledge and practical experience, Shiroshi understood that chakra possessed volatile characteristics.
In other words, if chakra was materialized, it would dissipate after a certain period.
Tailed Beasts, however, were solely maintained through tangible chakra, and they did not continue to dissipate like normal chakra.
At least from the known information, Tailed Beasts didn't exhibit this persistent volatile nature.
"Is it due to the incorporation of Yin-Yang attributes? Furthermore, there's an enigmatic unknown element. Without the prior experimentation on natural energy, I might not have detected this aspect."
With a puzzled expression, Shiroshi fixed his gaze on the enigmatic Tailed Beast chakra.
This cluster of Tailed Beast chakra originated from Shukaku, the One-Tail of the Hidden Sand Village.
Shiroshi believed that this type of chakra held significant research value. Thus, when he had escaped earlier, he had managed to procure a bit of it using an experimental vial that could autonomously absorb chakra.
Shiroshi had already made a preliminary analysis of the Tailed Beast chakra.
However, for the deeper aspects, an effective approach for exploration and decryption was still missing.
Most importantly, although he was proficient in Yang attribute nature manipulation, he wasn't well-versed in Yin attribute manipulation.
The Spirit Transformation technique that Rui had previously given him also fell under the Yin attribute chakra manipulation category. It allowed him to bypass defenses and enter an opponent's mental realm for destruction and control.
Therefore, in order to delve into the secrets of Tailed Beast chakra, a prerequisite was to be proficient in both Yin and Yang attribute nature manipulation.
Just as Shiroshi was pondering, the laboratory door above swung open, and the sound of footsteps approached from a distance.
A petite figure descended the staircase of the corridor.
"Back already? You took quite some time," Shiroshi quipped upon seeing that it was Rui.
"You got it right," Rui replied.
Shiroshi raised an eyebrow and then supported her chin with her hand, appearing to be deep in thought.
"I see. So, on the Hokage's side, they're prepared to trade remaining benefits to ensure the Uchiha clan doesn't press this matter further. And the Uchiha higher-ups vetoed your proposal, treating this as though it never happened?"
As he finished speaking, a kunai came hurtling toward him.
Shiroshi effortlessly caught the kunai between two fingers, twirling it around the hilt, and then balancing it on his fingertip. Leaning slightly against the laboratory table behind him, he grinned and said, "Your reaction is quite ice-cold. Didn't I already mention it? While the Uchiha clan as a whole might benefit, the resolution might not satisfy you personally. Politics often require both sides to compromise in order to maintain balance. When one party refuses to compromise, that's when bloodshed becomes inevitable."
However, neither the Uchiha clan nor the Leaf's higher-ups had intended for such actions.
"You really have a knack for gloomy predictions."
"Well, considering you're a staunch advocate of power, it makes sense. For you, power begets authority, and you don't seek to profit through politics. With power in hand, whether it's seizing resources or competing, you're averse to compromise for personal gain. This fundamental difference between our two sides is our major point of contention."
Rui gave Shiroshi a slightly nauseated look.
It was as if he could see through her, leaving her feeling uncomfortably exposed.
"Though I think the Uchiha higher-ups' approach is a form of strategy too. Remember, the Uchiha clan isn't insignificant. Politics, economics, and military are all interconnected for them. It's a threefold unity, where each aspect is essential..."
"Enough with the lecture. I didn't come here to listen to your lengthy explanations."
Faced with Rui's determined demeanor, Shiroshi didn't protest. He simply spread his hands innocently, conveying his helplessness.
"Fine, let's drop this topic. Let's shift to another one. I need your help with something."
Shiroshi had become skilled at asking for Rui's assistance, showing no embarrassment on his face.
"What is it?"
"I want to gather information about Tailed Beasts. Within the Uchiha clan, there should be more information related to this, right?"
"We do have some. Do you want this..."
As Rui spoke, she glanced at the glass column inside the nearby monitoring instrument, containing a tangible chakra emitting a faint purple glow.
"Shukaku's chakra?"
Rui understood Shiroshi's intention.
"Ah, yes. Don't you think the power that guy displayed that day was incredibly impressive? Moreover, I believe there might be some similarities between Tailed Beasts and my research. There could be shared elements. If I could get more Tailed Beast data or chakra..."
Shiroshi talked freely here, not caring whether he was informing Rui that Tailed Beast chakra held significant research value.
As for whether his research was related, only he knew.
"I can provide you with the data, but forget about Tailed Beast chakra. Jinchuriki are the core secrets of each village, and unrelated individuals aren't allowed to access them."
"That's true."
Shiroshi wasn't disappointed either. To obtain more Tailed Beast data already left him satisfied.
However, his previous words were not deceiving Rui.
Tailed Beast chakra and his experimental research did indeed have many resonances.
Especially the natural energy.
"Besides that, I also need detailed data about Yin-Yang attribute chakra nature transformation. I'm counting on you for this as well."
After making the request for Tailed Beast data, Shiroshi continued with his second request.
Tailed Beast chakra involved Yin-Yang attribute chakra nature transformation. If he truly wanted to uncover the secrets of Tailed Beasts, learning Yin-Yang attribute chakra nature transformation was an essential prerequisite.
Rui suddenly felt the urge to kick Shiroshi's smiling face a few times.
What did he take her for? A tool to withdraw funds?
"By the way."
Shiroshi thought of something and added suddenly.
Rui's brows couldn't help but furrow.
"Is there something else?"
"When you reported to Orochimaru's senior ninja, did you mention anything about Tailed Beasts?"
Sand Village was secretly preparing to utilize Tailed Beast weapons. This wasn't a matter to be taken lightly.
"No need. If we hadn't known in advance that Shukaku was sealed there, the Root ninja wouldn't have misled us to that location. The frontline Leaf ninja were already informed about this. Moreover, whether Sand Village would use Shukaku's power after witnessing the failure of the pursuit team remains uncertain."
Rui pondered for a moment and answered Shiroshi's question.
"I see... No problem then."
"Given this situation, the village will likely give us the cold shoulder for a long time. You have enough time for research during this period of inactivity."
"Of course. Speaking of which, we really should thank those folks from Root."
Shiroshi said with a smile on his face.
I should prepare a super generous gift for them in the future. He added this thought quietly to himself.
Just as Rui had mentioned, apart from Captain Sakumo Hatake who was on a regular mission, the rest of Team Sakumo received notices of vacation.
Due to the ANBU's mishandling of tasks leading to unexpected outcomes, a two-month leave was specially granted to Shiroshi's team to allow them time to recover from the shock.
This was an official notice from the Hokage's office, or something along those lines.
Shiroshi glanced at it and then didn't pay it any further attention.
This arrangement happened to provide him with ample time to focus on his research.
The research he had to conduct was simply too extensive.
Practicing Yin attribute chakra nature transformation, senjutsu, spiritualization technique, verifying if a person dies when chakra is lost, Tailed Beast chakra... and so on.
He had a mountain of tasks on his hands, and a mere two months seemed rather rushed in Shiroshi's perspective.
Fortunately, many experiments could be carried out concurrently, and they didn't conflict.
For instance, he could conduct senjutsu experiments while also verifying whether losing chakra led to death; all could be done simultaneously.
He could also practice Yin attribute chakra nature transformation while swiftly mastering the spiritualization technique.
The trade-off was that, aside from eating and sleeping, he would spend the rest of his days immersed in the laboratory, conducting research and practicing.
Mastering Yin attribute chakra nature transformation wasn't difficult for Shiroshi.
Back when he learned Yang attribute chakra nature transformation, it hadn't taken him much time either. Mastering the Yin attribute chakra nature transformation of similar difficulty level was equally straightforward.
In less than a week, Shiroshi had grasped Yin attribute chakra nature transformation.
After mastering it, Shiroshi even asked Rui to teach him a simple basic genjutsu – the Naihishin no Jutsu (Inner Nightmare Technique).
It was a genjutsu that made the opponent see their most terrifying inner fears.
This could be considered an entry-level genjutsu.
Learning this genjutsu wasn't for combat or confronting enemies; it was to warm up before learning the spiritualization technique.
Compared to the basic genjutsu like the Inner Nightmare Technique, which involved the soul, the spiritualization technique posed an infinitely greater difficulty in learning.
Therefore, from the outset, Shiroshi didn't intend to rush through. In reality, he didn't have that innate talent to master S-rank secret techniques at a mere glance.
Moreover, even if such a person who could instantly master S-rank secret techniques existed, it would be too exaggerated.
After all, not even the copied abilities of the Sharingan could achieve that level.
A few more days passed, and Shiroshi finally touched upon the threshold of the spiritualization technique.
Although he had merely touched upon a hint of the threshold, Shiroshi felt he had gained a lot from it.
The spiritualization technique could not only utilize one's own spirit to mentally control enemies but also invade and disrupt others' mental worlds.
Due to its capability to remotely lock onto targets, it also possessed a wide-range perception ability, making its target-locking prowess quite exceptional.
At present, Shiroshi only needed to form seals and release his intent to sense everything within a radius of twenty meters around him.
This jutsu felt akin to gaining a god-like perspective and boosted Shiroshi's confidence in his future Tailed Beast research.
Shiroshi's objectives were very clear – whether it was the basic genjutsu Inner Nightmare Technique or the spiritualization technique, they all served his deeper exploration of the Yin attribute chakra nature transformation for his research.
While Shiroshi was utilizing his consciousness to freely perceive the external world, suddenly, he experienced a sharp headache. Signals of warning continuously rang out in his mind, prompting him to hastily interrupt his chakra and cease the external perception.
"Huff... only eleven seconds? Truly deserving of an S-rank jutsu from the Sealing Scroll. With my current abilities, even in its preliminary stage, I can't use it skillfully."
For now, Shiroshi could only achieve a rudimentary external perception, unable to even lock onto distant targets, let alone employing his spirit to attack an enemy's locked mental world or the even more complex task of manipulating an enemy's mental world.
The full accomplishment of the perfected spiritualization technique was far from something Shiroshi could boast about.
Moreover, this spiritualization technique carried a massive risk: while perceiving and attacking with the spirit, the original body would become immobilized and defenseless.
Therefore, for this technique to be effectively executed, the presence of secure and reliable teammates in the vicinity was essential.
Furthermore, the longer the spirit remained detached from the body and the farther away it went, the more chakra it required.
While the ability was potent, its application was quite troublesome.
For the practitioner, it was a double-edged sword of immense power and risk.
Fortunately, Shiroshi's primary reason for learning this jutsu was to gain a better understanding of the Yin attribute chakra nature transformation for research purposes.
Even if the spiritualization technique proved lackluster in actual combat, as long as its research value was exceptionally high, for Shiroshi, the pros outweighed the cons.
Just then, a voice from one of the experimental subjects came over:
"Lord Shiroshi, the experimental data has been updated."
These five experimental subjects had become quite obedient to Shiroshi's intentions, following his lead.
Though it might seem incredible, their physical attributes now far surpassed those of ordinary individuals. With just some basic physical techniques, they could defeat average-level Genin.
Consequently, they weren't only Shiroshi's valuable experimental subjects but also reliable assistants for his experiments in terms of safety.
While Shiroshi was researching the spiritualization technique, these five individuals executed experiments based on the pre-written procedures provided by Shiroshi.
Putting himself in a good mood, Shiroshi walked over and checked the computer screen. The display showed data from multiple integrations of senjutsu, with a prominently displayed success probability of 37%.
Although he had gathered body data from Rui's previous experiments with senjutsu, including the negative and positive impacts of senjutsu chakra on the human body, this success probability still left Shiroshi somewhat dissatisfied.
While there had been significant progress compared to before, the risk associated with this probability wasn't sufficient for Shiroshi to immediately embark on mastering senjutsu.
Rui's previous attempt with senjutsu could be considered both a success and a failure. The success lay in successfully releasing the senjutsu, but the failure was in the subsequent chaotic surge of senjutsu chakra within Rui's body.
It holds some reference value but can't be considered correct.
"Lord Shiroshi, this is the highest fusion value achieved so far."
Seeing Shiroshi's dissatisfaction, one of the experimental subjects whispered.
"I'm not blaming you. After all, I designed the procedure. It seems I need to approach this from a different angle. Well, how about the results of Experiment No. 2?"
Experiment No. 2 referred to the test to verify whether the absence of chakra leads to death.
Hearing Shiroshi's question, another experimental subject assisting with Experiment No. 2 said, "Almost all the test subjects used in the experiment have died, but there's one peculiar case..."
"Peculiar?"
Shiroshi walked over and observed. He saw a rat convulsing desperately inside a glass enclosure, even though its chakra had been withdrawn, it didn't die immediately.
Shiroshi observed with interest.
Although the rat seemed barely alive, the fact that it didn't die immediately after chakra withdrawal was intriguing.
"What's going on?"
The experimental subject awkwardly scratched his head and explained, "It's my fault. I accidentally used the wrong syringe earlier and injected a different concoction into this rat..."
As he finished speaking, the rat within the glass enclosure stopped convulsing and became completely motionless.
Shiroshi picked up the mistakenly used syringe, which still contained residues of the concoction.
Shiroshi stared at the syringe for a moment and murmured, "Vitality elixir..."
This vitality elixir's primary component underwent a special process and could supply natural energy absorbable by living organisms.
Shiroshi's expression turned peculiar.
He had considered using natural energy as a substitute for chakra to supply the experimental rats with life energy.
However, the outcome was that every one of those hundreds of rats died after chakra withdrawal, without exception.
Since then, he had ceased using natural energy as a replacement for chakra in experiments and instead focused on the connection between chakra and the human body.
So, what was happening now?
In the shinobi world, there are countless examples of ninja dying due to chakra depletion during battles. Therefore, chakra can be seen as an essential energy element that the human body requires for life activities. If this energy is lost, the body's functions will cease, resulting in death.
Although there are various causes of human death, the state of dying from chakra depletion is what Shiroshi considers to be one of the most distinctive forms of death. Even though the mysteries surrounding this phenomenon are yet to be unraveled, the current experiment's results have brought about some unexpected occurrences, opening a mysterious gateway to an unknown destination.
The vitality elixir infused with natural energy was accidentally injected into an experimental rat. After depleting the rat's chakra, this elixir temporarily replaced the role of chakra in providing life energy, sustaining vital activities for a certain period.
Shiroshi immediately initiated new experiments to determine whether this was a special case or a universally applicable phenomenon. He took out another twenty rats, all injected with the same vitality elixir. After depleting their chakra and placing them in observation glass enclosures, he observed their reactions.
Shiroshi observed that, out of the sixteen rats, even with the vitality elixir as an energy source, they died inside the glass enclosures immediately after chakra depletion.
Among the remaining four rats, one appeared weak, lying lethargically on the ground, its eyes closing and opening intermittently. It eventually lay still and lifeless shortly after. The second rat exhibited similar reactions, lasting only a few more seconds before collapsing and remaining motionless.
Then came the third rat, which remained healthy and showed no signs of weakening even after chakra loss. Instead, it was lively and active within the glass enclosure.
The transformation of the fourth rat left Shiroshi amazed. After ingesting the vitality elixir, the rat's body expanded significantly, its eyes turned redder, giving off a highly dangerous impression.
"This is..."
An experimental subject assistant showed surprise and stared unblinkingly at this mutated rat.
"I didn't expect the vitality elixir to have this effect. It's almost like consuming energy hormones perfectly attuned to one's own body, stimulating latent potential," Shiroshi objectively commented.
The fourth rat was evidently undergoing a mutation towards an unknown direction.
However, the outcome of this mutation is beyond prediction, even for someone like Shiroshi.
Shiroshi shifted his focus back to the third rat. What was once a vibrant and energetic rat suddenly entered a state of weakness, just like the first two rats. It lay motionless within the glass enclosure and died.
Shiroshi opened the enclosure and carefully picked up the only surviving rat, the one undergoing mutation, observing it in his hand.
After briefly sensing it, Shiroshi realized that this rat's body was filled with incredibly abundant natural energy. Though it couldn't be guaranteed whether leaving it in this state for an extended period would lead to sudden weakness and death like the other rats, at present, this rat's life force was vibrant, showing no signs of exhaustion.
Furthermore, the experiment had demonstrated that chakra could indeed be replaced by other forms of energy as a source for vital life activities. This supply of energy was related to natural energy.
However, there was an issue. Previously, when Shiroshi had directly used natural energy to replace chakra for life activities, all experimental rats died without exception. But after undergoing a special treatment and being formulated into the vitality elixir, the natural energy managed to function as a life energy supply.
The experiment's success in demonstrating that human life activities could be sustained even without chakra made Shiroshi content. It meant that the process of breaking free from the confines was a step closer.
Yet, the connection between chakra and natural energy left Shiroshi even more perplexed. Comparing the two energies stirred a sense of unease, an indescribable discordance.
"It always feels like something important is missing here. Only by finding this missing piece can all the questions about chakra and natural energy be resolved," Shiroshi pondered aloud.
Unfortunately, what this "something" was and where its answer lay remained a mystery. Shiroshi had no clue about it and could only engage in random contemplation, exploring alternative paths to prove the existence of that elusive "something."
…
Following this, Shiroshi dedicated himself to researching the replacement of chakra with natural energy for supplying human life activities. If the previous experiments were mere speculative hypotheses, the accidental discovery that day provided enough evidence for Shiroshi to assert that substituting natural energy for chakra was a highly feasible means of sustaining essential life energy.
Given that the operation difficulty for this experiment wasn't high, Shiroshi assigned the task to the five experimental subject assistants to meticulously record the process.
Shiroshi continued to practice the art of spiritualization, striving to further master the manipulation of the Yin attribute chakra nature transformation.
Time passed unconsciously, reaching the end of August. The weather grew increasingly hot. It had been about a month since they returned to Konoha.
During this month, The Sakumo Trio corresponded with their team leader, Sakumo Hatake, who was on the frontlines, exchanging letters to understand each other's current situations.
Sakumo learned that the three of them had unexpectedly fallen into a Sand Ninja trap. They had engaged in a fierce battle, managing to escape the Sand Ninja's scheme. However, upon returning, due to severe injuries, the trio needed to undergo treatment in Konoha, with a recovery period of two months.
As for the rest of the matters, they haven't been mentioned.
In the letters Sakumo sent back, he mostly expressed concern for them and reported that their tasks on his end were progressing smoothly. They successfully destroyed a crucial base of the Sand Village, which added some advantage for the Leaf Village ninjas on the frontlines.
Currently, the morale of the Leaf Village ninjas on the frontlines was gradually rising, whereas the Sand Village side appeared to be struggling.
It was believed that before long, Konoha and the Sand Village would sit down for negotiations to end the war peacefully, putting a perfect end to the war that had lasted for several years.
Although Sakumo tried to paint a lighter picture of the situation on the frontlines, The three knew that it was merely comforting words from him. The actual situation on the frontlines was far from optimistic.
Nonetheless, as long as they knew Sakumo was safe, the Trio felt relieved.
…
"The village seems much quieter than before."
After having lunch, walking alongside Rui, Shiroshi commented with a sigh as they strolled down the streets of Konoha, observing that the crowd was sparser than usual.
This was most likely due to the ongoing war.
Konoha had already gone through two wars, first with the Hidden Rain Village and then with the Hidden Sand Village. While they emerged victorious against the Hidden Rain, their vitality had been depleted, requiring time to recover and develop.
However, not long after Konoha started recovering, in this weakened and lethargic state, the Hidden Sand Village stirred up trouble, forcing Konoha to hastily respond.
Both sides had seen victories and losses during the battles with the Sand Village, resulting in the current stalemate without any satisfying outcomes.
The Sand Village aimed to raid resources within the Land of Fire's borders for its own development. On the other hand, Konoha hoped to exert direct pressure on the Sand Village, forcing them into signing a peace treaty to end the war.
It was an insoluble issue; they could only wait to see who would give in first.
Rui didn't pay much attention to Shiroshi's sentiment.
"How's your work going?"
In these days, Shiroshi had been mostly holed up in the laboratory, rarely appearing outside except for meals.
During the daytime, Rui had her own activities and rarely had time to inquire about Shiroshi's situation.
Shiroshi knew Rui was referring to her research on senjutsu, so he replied, "The success rate has improved somewhat, but the risks haven't been eliminated. If used recklessly, it could end up like what happened to you that day."
Rui nodded.
That day, she had forcefully merged her chakra with natural energy within her body, forming senjutsu chakra to enhance her Fire Release technique. It seemed successful at first, but problems arose afterward.
Her senjutsu chakra began to go haywire within her body, causing her consciousness to fall into a deep coma. If not for Shiroshi's prompt intervention, the outcome could have been dire.
Hence, under those circumstances, her attempt at senjutsu could be considered a failure, not a success.
However, reflecting on the overwhelming sensation of power when she merged senjutsu chakra that day, Rui felt a strong desire.
The potency of senjutsu was formidable. From the enhancement of her Fire Release using senjutsu chakra, she could sense it. Senjutsu could enable a ninja to undergo a drastic transformation, evolving their strength qualitatively.
What was most crucial was that her Sharingan had already reached the third tomoe state, essentially the pinnacle of a normal Sharingan's power. She had almost lost the potential for further growth.
There were two paths to take next.
One path was to acquire the method to awaken a more advanced Mangekyou Sharingan from the Four Elders, further elevating the power of her Sharingan.
The other path is senjutsu.
And in Rui's eyes, senjutsu held greater significance.
Because Rui didn't have a clear understanding of the power of Mangekyou Sharingan, but she had personally experienced the might of senjutsu.
Moreover, the person who defeated Uchiha Madara, the wielder of Mangekyou Sharingan, was the First Hokage.
Among the First Hokage's exceptional abilities, aside from Wood Release, there was the enigmatic and unpredictable senjutsu.
Senjutsu was unquestionably a power on par with, if not superior to, Mangekyou Sharingan.
Although Rui was eager, she also knew that mastering senjutsu wasn't an easy task. So she had refrained from pressuring Shiroshi, to avoid putting too much burden on him.
"Why don't we go over there? I want to buy a few clothes."
"Sure."
Shiroshi didn't have anything he needed to buy; he just followed Rui's lead.
This was a traditional clothing store with an excellent reputation in Konoha.
As Shiroshi accompanied Rui inside, he unexpectedly recognized a familiar face.
"Uchiha... and also Shiroshi ?"
Wearing the Leaf Village headband, a man in his early twenties stared at Shiroshi and Rui walking into the clothing store with a look of astonishment.
"Teacher Fujimura?"
Shiroshi also recognized the man's identity. From the first year until the end of the sixth year, he had been their homeroom teacher — Daiga Fujimura.
He hadn't expected to run into him here.
"Are you the owner of this store, Chuunin-level teacher Fujimura?"
Rui scrutinized Fujimura with an appraising gaze.
Fujimura's mouth twitched. Teacher was teacher, why did she need to specially add the 'Chuunin-level' prefix?
"No, no, not that... Actually, um..."
Fujimura scratched his cheek, looking a bit embarrassed.
"...This is my girlfriend's store. She had to step out for something, so I'm watching over it for her."
"So, Chuunin-level Teacher Fujimura also has a girlfriend."
Shiroshi rubbed his chin, as if in deep thought.
"..."
What kind of remark was that? He's following his wife around, right? Fujimura inwardly complained.
"On a different note, how come both of you are in the village? I remember your team's instructor is Jounin-level Sakumo…"
"Ah, due to some unexpected events, we are currently on vacation in the village."
"Is that so?"
Fujimura didn't pay much attention and began to introduce the clothes in the store to Shiroshi and Rui.
Inside this clothing store, there was a variety of clothing, including ninja attire, yukata, casual wear, sportswear, and more.
In addition, there were many accessories, such as intricately designed masks and earrings that were quite eye-catching.
"How is it? The clothes here are quite nice, right?"
Fujimura said with excitement.
"It's okay."
While Rui said this, her gaze was fixed on a particular piece of clothing.
It was a kimono with a style and color that exceptionally pleased her.
As for the price, it was not within her considerations.
Shiroshi also noticed the kimono and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, Rui, I haven't really given you many gifts over these years. If you like it, I'll buy it for you."
Since Rui had been providing for their research and accommodation expenses, Shiroshi didn't spend much money. The task rewards he had saved up were more than enough to buy a kimono like this.
After Shiroshi finished speaking, a remarkably quick blush spread across Rui's normally calm face.
Seeing Shiroshi's somewhat inexplicable reaction to Rui's blushing, Fujimura sighed and said, "Shiroshi you can't just casually give someone a kimono. For girls, when a guy gives this kind of clothing, it signifies a proposal, you know."
"Huh?"
Shiroshi's body stiffened; he sensed... danger!
(Chapter End)