Chapter 136 Yakushi Nonou and Yakushi Kabuto
Chapter 136 Yakushi Nonou and Yakushi Kabuto
Chapter 136 Yakushi Nonou and Yakushi Kabuto
Night enveloped Konoha Village.
Gen Takuno bid farewell to the almost unreal warmth of Minato Namikaze's home and slowly stepped onto the starlit path home.
A cool breeze brushed against his clothes, bringing a refreshing tranquility.
After spending a night in the peaceful, warm, and homey atmosphere of the Fourth Generation's house, even someone as aloof as him couldn't help but have his tense heartstrings gently plucked, and he unconsciously relaxed, almost immersing himself in that ordinary tranquility.
However, though his steps were light, a chilling clarity lingered in his heart.
The deep-seated secrets buried in his heart, like an invisible chasm, quietly separated him from this rare warmth, making it impossible for him to truly integrate into it and become a carefree bystander.
However, Gen Takuno didn't mind this at all; on the contrary, he felt a sense of relief that came naturally.
Compared to immersing himself in that atmosphere, the flame of desire within him burned even brighter—an absolute pursuit of power.
Looking back on himself, the road to the top, though full of thorns, was clearer than ever before in his eyes.
What's lacking right now is simply to let time flow quietly, honing our existing abilities to their fullest potential.
He was certain that if he could fully digest and master all the power he currently possessed, whether it was acquired through his own cultivation or through scheming, the barrier that stood before the threshold of becoming a Transcendent Shadow would surely be broken down by him.
If he had reached this level of strength before the very beginning of the manga's storyline, he would have been invincible in the ninja world for a period of time!
Even if Pain himself came, it wouldn't make a difference!
His steps became lighter with this burgeoning ambition, as if he were walking on clouds.
Moreover, this visit also brought an unexpected surprise. In addition to the brief period of peace and quiet at the Fourth Generation's house, it was accompanied by an unexpected and secret gain.
In the instant he inadvertently touched the still-young Uchiha Sasuke, a barely perceptible drop of blood quietly fell into his control.
These few light drops of blood seemed to weigh a ton, representing the seeds of power from the reincarnations of Indra and Asura, which had fallen into his palm.
The next steps are crystal clear. After activating the Mangekyou Sharingan, he can safely and perfectly integrate the cells containing these two supreme bloodlines into his own body. This will be a crucial step on his path to the Rinnegan!
Let go of your thoughts and return to the present moment.
With the shadow of war temporarily receding, Gen Takuno quickly resumed his pre-war routine of life.
He was not in a hurry to set off, whether to go deep into the Land of Snow to continue exploring the mysteries of the bloodline limit, or to rush to the Land of Rivers to find Jugo, who has a special physique, to try out Sage Mode.
Right now, he has something more urgent to master: Yin Seal and Creation Regeneration!
He devoted himself entirely to learning these two profound medical ninjutsu, and he also continued to study the Hundred Healings Technique.
Although he may not need this power, since Tsunade has given it to him in its entirety, he must learn it.
It wasn't just for his own sake, but also for potential future assessments, or to put the Fourth Hokage at ease.
Fortunately, his foundation paved the way for him.
The key to Yin Seal lies first and foremost in the exquisite control of chakra and the understanding of advanced sealing techniques.
These two areas are precisely where he excels, and his progress has been rapid.
In just a few days, a light purple diamond-shaped mark quietly formed on his smooth forehead, already containing extraordinary energy.
After using the subtle chakra within the Yin Seal to regulate his body, his appearance unsurprisingly became even younger once again.
Looking at the changes in himself in the mirror, Gen Takuno nodded. In this way, if he were to use the Oni-Garaku technique to fuse with the power of Kaguya Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku in the future, his body would once again exhibit an abnormal rejuvenation phenomenon.
The subtle changes brought about by the Yin Seal now become a perfect and logical explanation, saving a lot of trouble.
In comparison, the S-rank ninjutsu Creation Regeneration presented him with an even greater challenge.
He remained adept at sealing techniques, but the core challenge lay in the vast and profound system of medical ninjutsu.
He considered himself to be highly skilled in medical ninjutsu, but compared to a master like Tsunade who stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world, the gap was still very large.
The secrets of regenerating the human body require a life understanding and energy manipulation that goes far beyond what is typically used to treat trauma.
Fortunately, he has never lacked patience and resilience, and the difficulties did not shake him.
Yuan Tuoye calmed his mind and focused on studying, accumulating, and deducing bit by bit.
He believes that it will not take too long to completely unlock the secrets of creation and regeneration.
The obstacles ahead are merely steps that must be climbed to reach the temple of power.
Yuan Tuoye's private studio was shrouded in an almost stagnant silence, broken only occasionally by the faint sound of paper rubbing together.
At that moment, the heavy wooden door was silently pushed open and then quietly closed. The squad leader, looking travel-worn, stepped into the room and stopped a few steps away from the desk.
He respectfully reported to the figure sitting upright in a high-backed chair, whose face was covered by a sharp mask symbolizing an "eagle": "Deputy Captain."
Beneath the mask came Takuno's calm, deep voice, utterly undisturbed: "Any progress in the investigation? Have you ascertained the background and purpose of the intruder who, without the key, managed to quietly breach Konoha's barrier?"
Such occasional breaches of the barrier are almost commonplace in Konoha, usually caused by wandering ronin or merchants who have stumbled upon it.
The process of verifying an identity will not be too difficult.
But the squad leader bowed even deeper, his tone carrying a barely perceptible tension: "I'm sorry, Deputy Commander-in-Chief—the target is extremely cunning, and we still haven't found his exact whereabouts. He—seems to possess extraordinary counter-surveillance capabilities."
This is the only mysterious intruder in recent times that has left even elite units like the Dark Guard helpless.
Yuan Tuoye's gaze, hidden behind the mask, seemed to sharpen a bit.
The squad leader quickly added the only valuable clue at the moment: "However, when we traced their movements, we discovered that before leaving the barrier area, the target lingered for quite some time in front of an abandoned orphanage."
"An orphanage?" This unusual location alerted Yuan Tuoye to a connection. He subtly raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing interest. This instantly brought to mind a vague outline of a certain intelligence expert. "Do you have any files on that orphanage?"
"Yes, sir, it's ready for you." The squad leader had clearly anticipated his superior's request and immediately took out a scroll from his pocket, presenting it with both hands.
Yuan Tuoye began to read the documents carefully; they contained a record of the orphanage's long-forgotten past.
Suddenly, his gaze fixed on two names, as if nailed to them: Dean Yakushi Nono and one of the orphans, Yakushi Kabuto!
It really was them!
However, on this file, both of them are marked as missing, with the reason for their disappearance stated as unknown.
After being taken by Root, the two never appeared in Konoha again. Moreover, they were not found when Root was being cleared out, so they were simply marked as missing. It is speculated that they may have met with misfortune and died in Root.
Yuan Tuoye's mind raced in an instant. Without making a sound, he rolled up the scroll again, placed it on the table, and gave the order concisely and steadily: "Hmm. I am aware of this matter."
Continue the search. Report back immediately if any clearer leads emerge. The target has not yet taken any dangerous actions; there is no need to alert the Fourth Hokage for now.
"Yes, sir!" The squad leader's tense nerves finally relaxed a little. The pressure of days of fruitless efforts gave him a sense of relief at this moment. After bowing, he quietly withdrew from this office, which symbolized the darkest and most secretive place in Konoha.
After the soft click of the door closing, only a new rhythm remained in the empty room: Yuan Tuoye's slender fingers rhythmically tapping the cold tabletop.
The knocking sound revealed the turmoil in his mind.
What a surprise! That old fox Danzo Shimura died earlier than I expected. So, was Yakushi Nonou carrying out her Root spy mission before Danzo's death?
Yuan Tuoye's thinking was exceptionally clear.
It's highly likely, considering that Orochimaru, the rogue ninja, was present when Danzo forced Nono to return to the martial world by using Kabuto as a hostage.
This means that the "walking shrine maiden" Yakushi Nonou most likely resumed her old ways within the same year as the Nine-Tails' attack, or even during the delicate period after the disaster when Konoha was rebuilding.
So, here's the question: Did that suspicious old man, Danzo Shimura, already sense something unusual after the Nine-Tails' catastrophe?
He hastily dispatched his top spy, Nono, to gather intelligence. Which ninja village was the target?
Could it be that they are wary of Iwagakure, which committed various crimes during the Third Shinobi World War and seems most likely to take advantage of the situation?
In this light, it seems that he showed a rare moment of concern for Konoha before his death.
Furthermore, since Nonou has been dispatched on a covert mission, her "adopted son," the exceptionally talented Kabuto Yakushi, is likely also lurking in some dark corner, using another false identity to weave an intelligence network for Root.
"Yakushi Nonou — Yakushi Kabuto —" Takuno Minamoto muttered these two names repeatedly in a low voice.
He felt no emotion towards the former; an excellent spy, though rare, is not unique.
However, the latter name "Dou" is completely different!
That kid possesses more than just remarkable espionage talent; his exceptional research abilities are the real gem. And most importantly, once Orochimaru takes control of him—his loyalty will be beyond question.
So, is it possible for him to recruit this future super genius before Orochimaru truly notices and subdues Kabuto?
This idea sparked like a fire in the darkness!
Moreover, I currently hold a potential trump card that could play a decisive role: Yakushi Nonou!
With this key figure whom Yakushi Kabuto regarded as his own mother around, his loyalty was almost guaranteed.
In this way, not only will we gain a future top researcher who can relieve him of a lot of research pressure, but we can also save him a lot of time!
A genius scientist who combines intelligence, research, and medical capabilities; a top talent who can be firmly bound together by "loyalty"!
If this "investment" succeeds, its value will be immeasurable!
The decision in Yuan Tuoye's mind formed instantly.
For this priceless treasure that has yet to be discovered by others, he must find that key point as quickly as possible, before the others in the Dark Division find the other party, Yakushi Nono!
Gen Takuno's figure darted swiftly through the streets and alleys of Konoha, his destination clear: the brand-new orphanage that housed many orphans.
He knew very well the purpose of the "walking shrine maiden" Yakushi Nonou's return to the village.
What she most desperately wants to contact is undoubtedly the "Root" organization to which she once belonged, in order to escape her responsibilities.
However, the "Root" no longer exists in the shadows of Konoha, and her search is destined to be in vain.
Aside from "roots," the only thing that could stir the heartstrings of this master spy was the orphans she had once considered her shackles.
Unfortunately, since Nono's mysterious disappearance, the meager funds supporting that simple orphanage have been completely cut off, and the old site has had to be closed.
Fortunately, under the benevolent rule of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the large number of war orphans who suddenly emerged after the Nine-Tails' rampage found a new home.
A larger, better-equipped official orphanage was established to house all the helpless children.
The kind of small, privately-run orphanages run by Nono naturally lost their reason for existence, and the children left behind were properly transferred to this new home.
Knowing that Nono's intelligence-gathering abilities were exceptional, Gen Takuno was certain that it would not be difficult for her to find out the location of the new orphanage.
At this moment, he had quietly taken up a secluded spot on the outskirts of the orphanage.
With a thought, the powerful perception technique "Kagura's Mind's Eye" instantly opened, and an invisible force spread out like mercury, clearly reflecting the chakra traces of everyone within a radius of hundreds of meters in his mind.
Within his sensory network, besides the faint chakra of ordinary villagers and orphans, he also detected several familiar and well-practiced chakra fluctuations, which belonged to his directly subordinate elite ANBU members.
Clearly, his subordinates were not mediocre.
After finding nothing from investigating the abandoned orphanage site, they quickly realized the key: instead of searching high and low, they decided to wait and see, shifting their surveillance focus to the children.
Thus, an invisible net has been quietly laid, waiting for the target to appear.
A glimmer of admiration flashed in Yuan Tuoye's eyes.
Without his intervention, this well-trained group of secret agents might have actually succeeded in their ambush.
However, for the sake of his future key piece, Kabuto Yakushi, he must not allow the "Walking Priestess" to return to Konoha's embrace.
A faint smile crept onto Yuan Tuoye's lips.
He skillfully covered his face with the iconic fox mask, maintaining the powerful perception of Kagura's Mind's Eye. His consciousness sank into the "vision" outlined by chakra, where every unusual presence was as vivid as a flickering candle flame.
Time slipped away quietly in this highly focused state, and a sense of monotony gradually spread.
As the last rays of dusk began to fade, that incredibly condensed chakra, seemingly blending into the shadows yet also incredibly abrupt, finally appeared like a ghost on the edge of his perception!
The target was extremely clear: the orphanage building. With textbook-perfect stealth skills, she perfectly evaded every point of the hidden defenses.
This uncanny and elusive reconnaissance skill, moving freely before the "prey," silently reveals its owner's identity: "the walking witch!"
Yuan Tuoye's gaze pierced through the shadows beneath the mask, precisely locking onto that invisible location, and a silent whisper rippled out from behind the mask.
"Found you!"
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