Exchange

After a great battle, everyone was captured in one fell swoop. Even Jiraiya, who had come over again, was caught as casually as a rabbit flushed out while gathering grass.

In a dim underground base, Sara complained to Yota, "I think being a ninja isn’t much different from being a mole. You people dig holes so fast. There are underground bases everywhere."

Yota shrugged. "Can’t be helped. Any ninja who knows even a little Earth Release won’t feel safe walking around every day unless they have three to five underground bases."

"If you went to any of the Five Great Shinobi Villages and dug down beneath any somewhat important location, there’s an eighty or ninety percent chance you’d find an underground base. Some even have several levels."

While the two of them chatted, Tsunade, who had been locked in a dungeon and bound by dark plants, started shouting, "You bastard, Black Shadow Ninja! What do you want by capturing us? If you’re going to kill or torture us, just say it!"

Yota rolled his eyes. "I’m not particularly interested in killing people. The reason I tied you up is naturally because you’re useful to me."

As he spoke, he glanced at Orochimaru and Tsunade.

"One of you is a master Medical-nin, and the other is an expert in human modification. I’ve long heard of both of you and greatly admired you."

Tsunade shook her arm. "Hypocritical. So hypocritical. Your words are giving me goosebumps."

Orochimaru, on the other hand, remained very quiet. A wise man knew when to submit; he did not want to die just like that.

Although this man was known as the hardest ninja in the entire shinobi world to kill, it would be strange if his resurrections came without a price.

Even using Living Corpse Reincarnation had such a great impact on Orochimaru’s soul, let alone reviving himself through soul fragments.

Thus, while Orochimaru still had some confidence, if he could avoid dying even once, he naturally did not want to die.

"So it seems you have something you want to ask of me? But you were able to integrate Hashirama Cells into your body so easily, develop them to such an extent, and even fuse them with your Bloodline Limit. It’s simply unbelievable."

"This level of human modification is far beyond mine. I truly can’t understand what you need my help with."

Yota shook his head. "You think too highly of me. In truth, my human modification techniques are far inferior to yours."

"The reason I can easily fuse Bloodline Limits is because my own Bloodline Limit possesses the ability to modify human bodies."

At those words, Orochimaru’s eyes lit up. A Bloodline Limit that could directly modify people’s bodies—he had never even heard of such a thing. And wasn’t such a Bloodline Limit practically made for him?

But when he looked at Yota, he had no choice but to admit that he could not beat him!

Yota naturally saw the covetousness in Orochimaru’s eyes, but he did not care.

Just as Orochimaru coveted Itachi Uchiha’s Mangekyo Sharingan, wishful thinking without sufficient strength did not make someone a threat.

"Well? Are you willing to follow me? Setting everything else aside, making you a body fused with most Bloodline Limits wouldn’t be much of a problem."

Orochimaru let out a low laugh. "Would that include your Dark Release?"

"No. That isn’t something a Bloodline Limit can accomplish." Yota shook his head. "But things like Wood Release and the Sharingan can certainly be arranged."

"Is that so? Then that works." Orochimaru nodded. In truth, he was at the mercy of others now and had no room to choose.

"Fine." Yota formed hand seals and directly released Orochimaru. "Then welcome to the Akatsuki."

Jiraiya, standing nearby, rolled his eyes. He had not expected Yota to still be borrowing the Akatsuki’s name.

By now, Yota had clearly defeated the Akatsuki’s leader and taken the position for himself.

Afterward, his gaze turned to Tsunade. Tsunade sneered and simply turned her head away.

Fine then. Yota rubbed his temples and shifted his gaze to Shizune, who was only sixteen or seventeen now. "What about you, Miss Shizune? Would you be willing to teach me Medical Ninjutsu?"

Yota had always figured out his Medical Ninjutsu on his own, and he had reached the limit of what he could achieve that way.

Although Yota was confident that, with his powerful Yang Release Chakra, his Medical Ninjutsu had definitely surpassed Shizune’s, he was certainly inferior to these formally trained students in terms of theory.

Or rather, Yota had no theory at all. He had merely learned Medical Ninjutsu step by step and relied on his own Chakra to brute-force results.

"I won’t associate with someone like you!" Shizune declared courageously.

"Then all you can have for dinner tonight is roasted pork!" Yota said with a straight face. The trunk of a tree emanating black mist swayed and lifted up the little pig, Tonton. The little pig seemed able to understand human speech and immediately began struggling desperately.

Shizune’s face instantly crumpled as though she were about to cry. "You’re absolutely despicable!"

"Are you going to teach me or not? Don’t make me get rough with you."

"I… I’ll teach you!" Shizune said, like an eggplant wilted by frost.

If only one of Shizune and Tsunade had been captured, there might have been some complications. But now that both had been caught, Yota was not afraid they would refuse to submit.

Sure enough, merely threatening her with a little pig, without even using Tsunade, was enough for Shizune to cave.

Seeing Yota threaten Shizune, Tsunade was so furious that her eyes nearly spat fire. Unfortunately, Yota did not pay her any attention and instead looked toward the other captives.

Jiraiya… not much use.

The Aburame Clan… seemed useless too.

The dog breeders… perhaps he could learn their Transformation Technique that fused them with their dogs, then teach it to Yamato later?

At the thought of himself and Yamato fusing together through a Transformation Technique, Yota shuddered. Better not.

Lastly, Hizashi Hyuga… he was from the branch family and bore a Caged Bird Curse Mark… Wait, the Caged Bird Cursed Seal?

Thinking of something interesting, Yota suddenly reached out his hand. Black aura spread out, instantly swallowing Hizashi Hyuga.

Then, after giving it some thought, the black aura continued to spread and swallowed the Aburame Clan ninja as well.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Shizune immediately asked, her face full of horror.

But Yota ignored her. A moment later, he tossed Hizashi Hyuga and the Aburame Clan ninja out of the Dark Space.

Hizashi Hyuga sprang to his feet, taking up a Gentle Fist stance as he watched Yota warily.

The Aburame Clan ninja silently got to his feet against the wall. Since the Aburame Clan’s bodies had become insect hives, there was no point expecting much from their taijutsu—it was basically abysmal.

After having their Chakra drained dry, they had virtually no ability to resist. After all, even controlling insects required Chakra.

Before the two could say anything, they heard Shizune let out a startled cry.

Not only that, but Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were all staring at them in astonishment, making the pair feel deeply uncomfortable.