Maximizing Value

"Just as long as I’m alive, they won’t be able to rest easy. The power Kotoamatsukami can exert in my hands is too…"

"Running away, is it?"

Xu Yue looked at Shisui standing at the edge of the cliff and did not let him continue.

Shisui’s reason for committing suicide in the original story was absurdly laughable.

Even with only one eye left at the time, there were still far too many things he could have done if he had wanted to.

Yet he still chose suicide in the end. That meant Danzo’s attitude had made him fully understand just how helpless and hopeless the path he had been striving toward truly was.

Even if Danzo were dealt with now, it would be useless. The hatred within the village had already been planted, and the blame for the Nine-Tails incident had already been pinned on the Uchiha Clan. Sooner or later, the same ending and fate would still arrive. Between the village and his clan, he truly could only choose one!

He had even already seen an ending and fate for himself similar to Itachi’s in the future.

He had shouldered this burden all along, yet could not see even the slightest hope. There was no longer any way to turn things around…

"Perhaps. Now, I think I can understand your thoughts too. As expected, you saw through it long ago."

Shisui did not deny Xu Yue’s words. His eyes were somewhat lost.

The only reason Itachi had been able to make that decision and bear such a burden back then was because Sasuke supported his faith.

But clearly, Shisui was already somewhat broken.

Even taking the Uchiha Clan away from Konoha was no longer possible.

Konoha would never allow such a dangerous Kekkei Genkai clan to join a hostile force. Even a potential risk was unacceptable!

Even the Third Hokage would decisively choose to act when necessary.

"My thoughts?"

"I suppose you still can’t see them…"

A crow flew past Shisui. The eye installed on that crow instantly transformed into the symbol of a shuriken.

Kotoamatsukami…

"Heh, I never expected you to use this method to keep me here."

Shisui looked at Xu Yue with a bitter smile, his face full of helplessness.

The most terrifying thing about Kotoamatsukami was that it could complete its Illusion Technique control without affecting the target’s personality at all.

Although its cooldown was somewhat long, and it took some time to prepare before use, its effect was beyond question.

Kotoamatsukami: Can be used once every four Mission Spaces. Alters the target's subconscious without affecting their personality, achieving true overwrite and control. Note: Against units with high mental resistance, both sides must undergo a mental check for partial effect. When used by someone other than the original owner, cooldown time is doubled. Soaking in First Hokage's Cells solution halves cooldown time. In this Mission Space, the base cooldown is ten years.

(Note: Xu Yue only received the system prompt because he had obtained First Hokage's Cells solution from Orochimaru. Otherwise, there would have been no prompt.)

Xu Yue already possessed the Eternal Mangekyo and the Rinnegan. No matter how powerful Kotoamatsukami was, it was still only an ordinary Mangekyo, so he had no intention of replacing his own eyes with it.

He had specifically waited until Danzo’s eye was secured before acting. Taking it from a Kage-level powerhouse had required genuine effort, enough to offset the charge based on its inherent value. After all, he was only using it as an auxiliary. Its effects were weaker than those of a genuine Mangekyo, and there was only one eye, so its price would naturally be relatively lower.

Using the crow-based Illusion Techniques he had learned from Shisui, he sealed Kotoamatsukami into a special illusion crow.

His previous conversations with Shisui had all been meant to activate Kotoamatsukami’s preparations for use.

No matter what, it was better for this bug-like power to remain in his own hands.

However, after seeing the mental check mentioned after Kotoamatsukami, Xu Yue understood that this thing was not invincible after all. If Shisui used it on him, then with his Rinnegan and the fact that he had devoured the entire C World, he would probably only be partially affected.

It would create some kind of change similar to him "voluntarily" altering his plans for the future.

But if even he could be partially affected, then it was already terrifying enough.

As for Shisui, after being affected by Kotoamatsukami, his personality would not change in the slightest, but he would subconsciously obey Xu Yue’s "suggestions."

Afterward, Xu Yue arranged for Shisui to fake his death and escape.

He also took the opportunity to provoke Itachi into awakening the Mangekyo.

Shisui did not hesitate in the slightest when it came to helping his close friend.

He had chosen to run away. Itachi would have to bear everything that remained, so naturally, the stronger he became, the better…

News of Shisui’s "death" still spread throughout the village. For a time, the smell of gunpowder seemed to fill all of Konoha.

However, after this incident, Danzo never met Xu Yue again.

He was probably worried that Xu Yue would use Kotoamatsukami to control him.

With the crow assisting in its use and the soaking in First Hokage’s Cells solution obtained from Orochimaru canceling each other out, the Kotoamatsukami Xu Yue had incorporated into his own skill set could only be used once every four plot worlds.

He had already used it on Shisui, so Danzo’s worries were completely unfounded.

Still, since it had been used on Shisui, he could occasionally have Shisui use another Kotoamatsukami to control someone else!

But in terms of the Naruto World’s cooldown, there would only be this one opportunity before the Fourth Holy Grail War ended. Xu Yue had to be cautious about who he used it on.

It might not work on Madara or Nagato. It should work on Obito, but that guy was too hard to catch, and even Shisui needed preparation time to use Kotoamatsukami.

For the moment, he had not found a suitable target, but there was no need to rush…

Shisui’s death made Itachi even more taciturn.

Meanwhile, the Reincarnators in the village became increasingly active. They all seemed to be eagerly investigating something, hoping to obtain firsthand information.

A few who had probed too obviously were invited by the Anbu for tea.

At the same time, Xu Yue was also making use of the Mission Space’s quest mechanics to prepare himself for the greatest possible gains during this night of the massacre!

With an S-Rank Skill as his foundation and so many A-Rank Plots to work with, it really was enough to carry out this plan.

It was just that Danzo kept hiding from him, forcing Xu Yue to spend quite some effort before finally cornering the old man.

"Don’t act recklessly. Kotoamatsukami should not be abused like this."

Inside a secret chamber of Root, Danzo looked at Xu Yue, who had appeared out of thin air, with a fierce expression.

"Anyway, I’ve already used it somewhere else. I came this time to discuss a deal."

Xu Yue spoke calmly.

Hearing Xu Yue say that it had already been used elsewhere, Danzo could not help but breathe a complete sigh of relief. The other party had no reason to deceive him. Although Danzo believed that, so long as he was not ambushed, he was no weaker than Xu Yue—

He also had to admit that if Xu Yue wanted to use Kotoamatsukami on him now, then with the speed of the Flying Thunder God, he truly would not be able to escape.

"A deal? Let’s hear it."

Once he knew there was no threat from Kotoamatsukami, Danzo completely returned to normal.

"I want the complete set of Wood Style ninjutsu. In return, I’ll cooperate with Itachi in the operation."

Xu Yue’s tone was flat, but Danzo was instantly shocked.

He could hardly believe it!

How was that possible?! Given Xu Yue’s reputation, even Danzo could not force him to do such a thing. Nor did he have a weakness like Sasuke.

As for Wood Style ninjutsu, that was even more absurd. With Xu Yue’s connections, he could easily obtain the complete set from Tsunade!

Yet he was delivering himself right to Danzo’s door for no reason? What conspiracy or intention was behind this?

"You should know that once you do this, no matter how great your past achievements are, they will become meaningless. You will definitely become a rogue ninja and be hunted down."

"No one is competing with you for Hokage. Isn’t that what you’ve been hoping for? Of course, I think being a behind-the-scenes Anbu adviser would still be fine. My Wood Clone is quite useful."

Xu Yue spoke casually.

He did indeed have a way to obtain Wood Style through Tsunade.

But unfortunately, obtaining it through her would be far too easy…

That was right!

It was too easy!

Which meant the techniques would be so expensive that he could not accept the price.

Since that was the case, by abandoning his reputation in Konoha, his potential reputation for contending for the next Hokage position, and participating in the massacre operation, he could exchange such enormous effort and cost for Wood Style. Its price would undoubtedly become cheap enough for him to accept.

With only a single S-Rank Plot, without paying enough effort and cost, did he think he could learn

True Several Thousand Hands: Buddha’s Hand

through Sage Art Wood Style?

What a joke. Without discounts, even the Wood Style: Wood Golem Technique alone would require at least multiple S-Rank Plots!

Now, by using a mission to bring down the price, then paying for it himself, he was completely following the Mission Space’s nature.

Once he got it, he could learn it immediately. Then his Wood Clone could peacefully serve as an adviser while his true body went out to have fun. There was absolutely no problem with that…

Two updates finished.

I wanted to put some iodine on my hand. There was some left over from the boil last time, but when I opened it, the cotton swabs had already become rock-hard. I cleaned it, applied some erythromycin ointment, and put on a bandage. I wonder if that will make it heal faster. Typing really hurts.