Uchiha Kiyo spent another half a month in the ninja world before finally returning to his base.
"Cultivation is king."
With numerous experimental instruments and data obtained from Root and Hashirama's cells, Uchiha Kiyo's next research phase could begin.
I don't know what kind of eyes I can create…
There's also Wood Release, a ninjutsu that can be acquired without cost, saving time in developing jutsu and achieving a significant increase in strength.
Kiyo is fortunate to have this clone. Unlike others like Iwa or Toshi, he doesn't have to develop it from scratch.
"However, Wood Release is definitely not easy to develop. The fact that so many Senju clan members failed for so long proves that its development is quite difficult.
However, there is still hope in developing it using Hashirama's cells."
Hashirama's cells are incredibly active and can produce chakra on their own.
If transplanted successfully, they grant Wood Release, which means the cells themselves extract the chakra necessary for the kekkei genkai.
Without any conscious influence, this ability is entirely an instinctual property of the cells!
Isn't this similar to Kiyo's advanced body forging and high-level nature transformation?
It's terrifying!
Kiyo didn't know how Hashirama achieved it, but the fact that he could was astonishing. To be honest, Kiyo deeply admired it.
He believed Orochimaru would also realize this after thoroughly studying the theory and experimenting with Hashirama's cells.
"No wonder Hashirama was so strong."
The late stage of body forging and advanced nature transformations greatly enhance ninjutsu, and Kiyo understands this best.
At least double the increase!
With Hashirama's perfect Sage Mode, the power boost is tripled, or even quadrupled or quintupled. The level of enhancement is simply unmatchable.
Kiyo didn't know how Hashirama achieved it, but it likely stemmed from Sage Mode or his Bloodline Limit Wood Release.
Otherwise, given Hashirama's intelligence, Kiyo found it hard to believe he achieved it unconsciously…
Hashirama's two most prominent traits are Sage Mode and Wood Release. His advanced body forging and nature transformations must have stemmed from one of these.
His Sage Mode is different from those of the Three Great Holy Lands. No one knows where he learned it, yet he mastered it perfectly. Kiyo suspected it was largely influenced by Asura's chakra.
"As for the structure of his Sage Mode, it must have been left behind by the Sage of Six Paths. Perhaps he didn't even intentionally inscribe it—his bloodline was simply too strong, allowing him to directly borrow from it.
Hah, the absurdity of power."
Another possibility is Wood Release itself.
How did Wood Release integrate with Yang Release? Some say ultimate Yang Release is the energy of the body, so does this fusion process modify the body?
"Forget it. Bloodline Limit Fusion is still too far off for me, let alone Bloodline Selection related to Yang Release. I'll focus on developing Bloodline Limit-level Wood Release first."
"In the future, if I research Bloodline Limits, I may need to use Dust Release as a reference."
Ohnoki: ??? Are you planning to steal it?
Fine, steal from Iwagakure's Secret Arts Department. Again.
Yugakure.
A year ago, in Konoha Year 41, an organization called "Akatsuki" emerged in the Land of Rain.
It was said to be founded by three young ninjas. They recruited wandering shinobi and worked to aid war victims under the banner of peace.
Although the Second Shinobi World War had ended, and major nations had recovered within four to five years, the Land of Rain was different.
For some unknown reason, its post-war recovery was deliberately suppressed by the three major nations. Even after several years, the Land of Rain remained devastated, filled with suffering and starvation.
Though large-scale warfare had ceased, people still faced hunger and death.
The Akatsuki organization, born in the name of peace, sought to alleviate this suffering. They gained a strong following and expanded rapidly.
They hoped to rebuild the Land of Rain into a prosperous homeland, free from the threat of war.
They pursued this goal with determination.
Unfortunately, their actions inevitably clashed with certain interests.
The rise of Akatsuki greatly diminished the reputation of Rain Ninja Village's official shinobi organization, catching Hanzo's attention.
Hanzo admired Akatsuki's ideals. Had it been before the war, he might have even supported them. But Hanzo was no longer the same man he once was.
After his defeat, Hanzo came to an understanding. He resigned himself to the reality of the ninja world.
The Land of Rain was doomed to stagnation.
The three great nations would never allow its rise.
Even with his strength as a "Demi-God of the Ninja World," there was no hope.
A single person cannot change the outcome of war.
It was laughable that his past self believed otherwise.
Numbers can overwhelm even the strongest. Without sufficient powerful ninjas, the Land of Rain could never stand against the great nations.
And raising strong shinobi requires resources that the Land of Rain simply does not possess.
So, he submitted.
The Land of Rain would never rise again.
No matter how much he admired Akatsuki, Hanzo had no choice but to suppress or even eliminate them for the sake of his country's survival.
They were a threat.
The Land of Rain could not afford any signs of growth—especially not an organization like Akatsuki—or it would face another devastating assault from the surrounding nations.
And so, once the guardian and symbol of the Land of Rain, Hanzo, turned his blade on his own people.
Akatsuki faced brutal suppression and relentless hunts by Rain Ninja Village.
"Sigh, our losses have been heavy lately."
"Yeah, even with Lord Yun's strategies, establishing underground bases and using guerrilla tactics, we've still suffered increasing losses."
Deep underground in a secluded forest in the Land of Rain, a complex network of tunnels stretched beneath the earth. At a key junction, in a large square, many ninjas gathered and discussed their situation.
Yun—Kiyo's clone stationed in the Land of Rain.
Long ago, after the three Akatsuki founders parted ways with Jiraiya, Yun encountered them just as they established Akatsuki.
He became the first recruit to join them.
With exceptional taijutsu and Water Release, Yun's strength was quickly recognized by Nagato and the others.
Thanks to his intelligence and combat skills, Yun's contributions to Akatsuki were second only to the three founders. He became one of the organization's key strategists and administrators.
In his personal quarters, not far from the gathering, Yun overheard the conversation.
"There's nothing we can do.
This is a world of extraordinary abilities. The gap between Akatsuki and Rain Ninja Village is simply too vast. The fact that Yahiko has held on this long is already a miracle."
Yun knew that while his strategies had helped reduce casualties, Akatsuki's survival was mostly thanks to Yahiko.
Compared to him, Konan and Nagato's contributions were secondary.
"Yahiko…"
Yun's eyes reflected his deep respect.
"Yahiko is an extraordinary leader."
If not for Madara's schemes, Yahiko's abilities would have allowed him to achieve greatness instead of dying as a pawn to fuel Nagato's fury.
His charisma and leadership were unparalleled. Otherwise, how could he have built such a formidable organization?
Even under relentless attacks from Rain Ninja Village, Akatsuki continued to gain new members, proving Yahiko's immense influence.
Even Jiraiya was moved by him.
Jiraiya once mistook him for the Child of Prophecy.
Despite Yahiko's orange hair, Jiraiya believed the Great Toad Sage had simply misinterpreted the color when prophesying about a blond savior.
This is why, upon meeting Yahiko, Jiraiya initially thought he was the one.
"Sigh… What a tragedy."
Yun lamented Yahiko's inevitable fate.
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