Awakening the Tenseigan

After Konan returned to the Rain Country, she told Nagato about what had happened in the Land of Fire.

"Those people should be Konoha’s Root, just like the group of Konoha Ninja who collaborated with Hanzo back then."

Konan spoke with a cold expression. This was the one thing she would never forget. Akatsuki had undergone a tremendous change that day, and the culprits were Hanzo and Konoha’s Danzo.

"Ninja from great nations have always been this unscrupulous, casually shifting their pain onto others. Once the plan begins, I will make them repay every bit of pain they inflicted upon small countries."

Pain, controlled by Nagato, spoke expressionlessly.

"Only by experiencing pain, knowing pain, and understanding pain can one understand the value of peace. Once all nine Tailed Beasts are gathered, the Ninja of those great nations will no longer dare start wars at will. That is how peace can be achieved."

Konan silently nodded at this, then suddenly thought of something and asked Nagato, "Nagato, that man who calls himself Madara has not shown himself for a long time. Could he be up to something?"

"There is no need to worry. Before these eyes, every little scheme is futile. After perfecting Pain’s Six Paths, he no longer poses a threat to Akatsuki."

Pain spoke slowly. Hearing this, Konan silently sighed to herself.

After developing the Rinnegan’s abilities, Nagato had indeed grown much stronger, but his personality had also changed greatly. Not only had he begun cooperating with the Masked Man, but he also showed signs of looking down on the Ninja Villages of the other great nations. That was not a good thing.

Yet within Akatsuki, Nagato was the only one capable of changing this wrong world. He bore Yahiko’s dream and was Konan’s only companion. That was precisely why Konan silently supported him.

"How is the search for organization members going?"

Konan replied, "There is still no news of Orochimaru or Hyuga Mirai. Zetsu has not discovered their whereabouts. However, Masked Madara has found two suitable candidates for the organization, though it will take some time."

Only after Zetsu’s investigation over this period had Akatsuki recently managed to recruit an official member—Raiga Kurosuki. This brought Akatsuki’s total number of official members to six.

The Amegakure Ninja who had partnered with Kakuzu had been killed by Kakuzu during another mission and exchanged for money. Nagato therefore arranged for Raiga to form a team with Kakuzu.

With the members recommended by Masked Madara joining as well, only a few more people were needed before the plan could begin.

"Obito, Obito, I found out some extremely secret information!" White Zetsu happily came to Obito’s side, wearing an expression that clearly invited him to guess.

Obito asked, "Did you find Orochimaru and Hyuga Mirai?" If they could be brought into the organization, Akatsuki’s plan to capture the Tailed Beasts could begin very soon.

"Nope. Here’s a hint: it has something to do with Konoha."

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is about to give birth," Black Zetsu suddenly interjected.

"Hey, you! Don’t just reveal my intelligence whenever you want, damn it!"

White Zetsu angrily shouted at the other half of his body. One of his few pleasures had actually been taken away by Black Zetsu.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? That’s my teacher’s wife.

Obito stood up and asked, "When?"

Since Black Zetsu had revealed his information, White Zetsu could only say helplessly, "It should be four months from now. My clone learned it at the Uchiha Clan Head’s home, then went to Konoha Hospital to confirm it."

Black Zetsu asked, "Obito, what do you plan to do?"

"Konoha recovered its strength quickly after the war. We can use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s childbirth as an opportunity to release the Nine-Tails in Konoha and weaken Konoha’s strength."

Obito spoke coldly. No one in Akatsuki understood Konoha’s strength or Uzumaki Kushina better than he did. She was a Jinchuriki capable of forcibly taking Nine-Tails Chakra.

While the Nine-Tails was inside Uzumaki Kushina, there were only two chances to forcibly extract the Tailed Beast. One was when the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki gave birth, and the other was when the Jinchuriki was being replaced.

The Uzumaki Clan’s suppression of Tailed Beasts was far stronger than that of other Jinchuriki, and Konoha was still the strongest Ninja Village in the Ninja World. If they missed this opportunity, then they would likely have to wait until Uzumaki Kushina grew old before they had another chance to seize the Nine-Tails from Konoha.

"Zetsu, increase surveillance of Konoha. Once the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki gives birth, I will extract the Nine-Tails from her body."

Upon hearing Obito’s words, White Zetsu could not help chuckling. "No problem, Obito. Honestly, I really want to see that happen. Hehe."

"Stop talking nonsense. There must be no mistakes in the intelligence regarding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." After saying this, Obito left through the Kamui Dimension.

"Understood!" After Obito left, White Zetsu also departed by sinking into the ground.

Rōran

After accumulating within the Dragon Vein for many years, coupled with Rōran’s unique magnetic field, the Natural Energy seemed to have undergone some changes.

After staying here, the Three Snake Princesses no longer wished to return to Ryūchi Cave. There was no one to eat there anyway, and Ryūchi Cave’s Natural Energy could not compare to that of Rōran’s Dragon Vein.

Even sleeping in the training room beside the Dragon Vein was much more comfortable than sleeping in Ryūchi Cave.

Hyuga Mirai had made another major breakthrough in researching the Shikotsumyaku Bloodline Gene. He could now perfectly fuse his own genes with the Shikotsumyaku genes, increasing his gene count to 673.

According to his research and analysis, Otsutsuki’s original gene count should be around 720. In other words, after fusing the Shikotsumyaku Bloodline Gene, Hyuga Mirai had become infinitely close to the purest Otsutsuki Clan.

A perfect life form capable of sealing the Ten-Tails without burden, stepping through the gates of the Six Paths level, and living for thousands of years.

Only after Hyuga Mirai deciphered the Otsutsuki Gene Sequence would he truly possess the means of a creator, capable of creating beings close to gods.

"Kimimaro, we’ll modify you first today. This will prevent the bloodline disease caused by Shikotsumyaku."

Hyuga Mirai called Kimimaro over and had him lie down on the test bench.

"Thank you, Lord Mirai."

Though only six or seven years old, Kimimaro was already remarkably composed. After thanking Hyuga Mirai, he obediently lay down on the bed.

Hyuga Mirai first injected Kimimaro with four doses of Gene Modification Serum, then performed an eye-transplant operation.

He transplanted Hyuga Hirin’s pair of Byakugan into Kimimaro. After the genetic modification, Kimimaro would be able to fully wield the Byakugan’s power.

After the operation ended, Hyuga Mirai reviewed the diagnostic data and the procedure recording, then nodded in satisfaction. The operation had been flawless, without any errors.

"All right, wait for the serum to improve your body. Get checked once a day, and you will be fine in half a month."

Hyuga Mirai clapped his hands and had someone send Kimimaro away.

Once Kimimaro’s genetic modification was complete, he could use him to perfect his own Gene Sequence.

During this period, aside from observing Kimimaro’s condition, Hyuga Mirai either trained or guided Haku’s cultivation. There were not many of their own people in Rōran. The Three Snake Princesses barely moved beside the Dragon Vein, as though they were constantly resting after a full meal.

Haku’s Kekkei Genkai had tremendous potential. Once Ice Release was fully developed, it could be combined with Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Art to make Ice Release even more powerful.

Although Haku was not very willing to fight due to his personality, his strength could still be put to great use in the right places.

For instance, protecting the Uzumaki Company’s interests from Root’s encroachment.

After Kimimaro’s genetic modification was complete, he would be sent back to Orochimaru. However, Haku would definitely remain. Hyuga Mirai did not have much time to teach his subordinates, but Haku had his own motivation to become stronger.

Half a month later, Kimimaro had completely adapted to the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai. He also felt that using Shikotsumyaku had become much easier on his body, as though he had broken through a layer of shackles.

"The genes have been successfully repaired, but using Shikotsumyaku intensely in battle will still place a heavy burden on your body. After you return, learn how to cultivate Yang Release Chakra from Orochimaru. That will ease the strain battle puts on your body."

After giving him a few instructions, Hyuga Mirai had Kimimaro board a returning cargo ship and head back to the Tea Country.

After seeing Kimimaro off, Hyuga Mirai began repairing his own genes.

With countless calculation results and a successful trial on Kimimaro, Hyuga Mirai was completely confident this time.

After injecting himself with four doses of Shikotsumyaku gene serum, Hyuga Mirai quietly waited for the changes in his body.

For the first three days, he merely felt occasional itching throughout his body. That was the abnormal sensation caused by his bones growing.

By the sixth day, the itching in his bones had disappeared, but Hyuga Mirai’s appetite had grown once more. He could only go to the Dragon Vein Training Room and absorb Natural Energy to ease the hunger coming from his cells.

On the ninth day, Hyuga Mirai could already control the bones within his body and make them grow freely. He could also control their density, allowing them to grow through his body and become weapons. He had awakened the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai.

Moreover, according to Hyuga Mirai’s perception, Shikotsumyaku possessed even greater power that he needed to develop one by one.

On the twelfth day, the final dose fused completely. Hyuga Mirai suddenly felt a stirring in both eyes, followed by a faint pain. The pain lasted only a short while, and within a dozen minutes, Hyuga Mirai sensed a change in his eyes’ abilities.

His eyes had evolved. Looking into the mirror at those starry blue pupils, Hyuga Mirai could not help staring blankly.

"I actually awakened the Tenseigan."

It had more and stronger abilities than the Byakugan. Hyuga Mirai felt that he could control gravitational and repulsive forces at any time, enter Tenseigan Chakra Mode, and wield many other abilities as well.

"Ugh—"

A sharp pain came from Hyuga Mirai’s eyes again. The blue in his pupils gradually faded, and less than a minute later, the Tenseigan had regressed back into the Byakugan.

"Is my ocular power insufficient? Even if I forcibly enter the Tenseigan with Sage Chakra, I can only maintain it for a very short time."

Looking at the familiar Byakugan in the mirror, Hyuga Mirai silently made up his mind.

The trip to the moon needed to be moved up as soon as possible.