Spirit Transformation Clone Technique

"At last, it’s complete."

Hyuga Mirai said with delight. After several months of refinement, he had finally improved the Spirit Transformation Technique.

The Spirit Transformation Clone Technique required twelve hand seals and an extremely proficient mastery of Yin Release Chakra nature transformation before it could be successfully learned.

While improving this ninjutsu, Hyuga Mirai had drawn most heavily from the principles of the Shadow Clone Technique. However, the Spirit Transformation Technique split off the soul, while the Shadow Clone Technique split off Chakra. The two were vastly different.

That was why Hyuga Mirai had spent so long on it. But after several rounds of improvements and deductions, the difficulty of learning the Spirit Transformation Clone Technique had been greatly reduced. Although its danger level still placed it among Forbidden Techniques, anyone talented in Yin Release Chakra could master it quickly.

"I’ll try it first." Hyuga Mirai formed hand seals with both hands, swiftly completing all twelve. "Spirit Transformation Clone Technique."

Then, a pale blue soul body suddenly split off from Hyuga Mirai.

"This feels incredibly strange. It’s completely different from the Shadow Clone Technique. I can sense every thought of the Spirit Transformation clone, like I’m multitasking with one mind…"

Hyuga Mirai slowly recorded the data and insights he had gained from the ninjutsu, then began testing the applications of the Spirit Transformation clone.

His soul-body clone could return to his body. Since they shared the same origin, he could still control his body even while using the Spirit Transformation clone.

For example, Hyuga Mirai was currently writing different words with both hands. Though his left hand was somewhat clumsy at first, after writing a few characters, its handwriting became identical to that produced by his right hand.

"Using one mind for two tasks… It seems that anyone who learns this Forbidden Technique has the potential to become a Perfect Jinchuriki."

Once proficient, they might even be able to use one mind for three or four tasks. However, the more soul bodies they split off, the less mental energy they retained, and the more openings they would have in battle.

Hyuga Mirai noted this down. Otherwise, splitting off four or five at once might look impressive, but if the original body was taken down by a single Illusion Technique and destroyed afterward, the remaining spirit bodies would be left without a home.

"Orochimaru will definitely like this ninjutsu. Sasori, perhaps not."

After considering it, Hyuga Mirai uploaded the Spirit Transformation Clone Technique to the terminal. It would require missions to be completed before it could be exchanged for. However, it could also be exchanged in advance when there were no missions, with the recipient awaiting Hyuga Mirai’s orders afterward.

"With the Spirit Transformation Clone Technique, I should be able to try absorbing and refining ocular power."

According to Hyuga Mirai’s calculations, the best way to absorb ocular power was through Yin Release Chakra. However, directly using the Spirit Transformation Technique was too risky. If anything went wrong, he would be the one injured.

The Spirit Transformation Clone Technique was completely different. It could reduce the risk by four to five times. Even if an unexpected change caused the loss of

"Before that, I should inspect Android 18 first."

Hyuga Mirai checked his Wristwatch Terminal. Android 18 was in Rōran, so he summoned her over.

Chakra was an energy formed by combining mental energy and physical energy. The Star Stone contained extremely potent Chakra. Back then, Hyuga Mirai had only considered the issue of power supply and had never thought about the influence of the mental energy within Chakra on Android 18’s core program. Now, it seemed that the effect was indeed significant.

Thinking about it, though, that made sense. Mental energy and physical energy were respectively the foundations of Yin-Yang Release. The Sage of Six Paths had used Yin-Yang Release to separate the Ten-Tails’ Chakra and create nine Tailed Beasts whose intelligence was no lower than that of humans.

Creating the world might have been somewhat exaggerated, but using Yin-Yang Release to create things was truly possible.

Through messages passed along by the Ninja Cats, the Uchiha Clan soon learned of the Yasunori Trading Company’s request.

The Ninja Cat Clan was rather fond of petty gains. Besides, with the Yasunori Trading Company’s metal ore reserves and prices, a partnership with them would save the Ninja Cat Clan a great deal of money.

Furthermore, the Yasunori Trading Company appeared to deal in seafood as well. Sea fish were one of the Ninja Cat Clan’s favorite foods.

The Uchiha Clan’s current situation was not good. Compared with the Hyūga Clan’s good reputation, the Uchiha Clan had produced the most powerful Rogue ninja several decades ago and had recently been suspected of controlling the Nine-Tails. The Hyūga Clan, meanwhile, had merely had a Branch Family member defect, and that Branch Family member had an irreconcilable conflict with the Main Family in Konoha.

A closer look made it clear that although the Hyūga Clan was independent, the Main Family and Branch Family opposed one another while also relying on each other. They were said to be clansmen, but after the Hyuga Mirai incident, they could no longer trust one another at all. Under such circumstances, it would be difficult for the Hyūga Clan to develop ambitions.

The Uchiha Clan was different. Awakening the Sharingan required intense psychological stimulation. The method of gaining love and then losing it to open one’s eyes made the Uchiha Clan’s members more or less unstable.

Moreover, the Nine-Tails’ rampage had killed the Fourth Hokage. Now, none of the village’s Ninja really trusted the Uchiha Clan, and even their Police Force duties had become difficult to carry out. As word slowly spread that the Nine-Tails had possessed a Sharingan in its eyes, even Civilians sometimes looked at the Uchiha Police Force with hatred.

In the past, how would ordinary Civilians have dared to look at the Uchiha Clan like that? Yet now, Uchiha clansmen often received such looks while patrolling.

Once Villagers no longer regarded the Uchiha Clan as companions, the Uchiha Clan’s emotions inevitably became more volatile, and they became less forgiving when enforcing the law.

Previously, the Police Force would merely issue warnings over minor disputes among Civilians. Now, they essentially arrested anyone they encountered and imposed enormous fines. Those who could not pay were kept in holding cells indefinitely.

Even Uchiha Fugaku, the Military Police Force captain, found this situation difficult to manage. The clansmen had legitimate reasons to punish Villagers who broke the law, and the hateful looks they endured were also real. If Uchiha Fugaku chose to restrain his clansmen, his standing as clan head would be greatly diminished.

"You’ve worked hard all day."

When Uchiha Fugaku returned home, Uchiha Mikoto greeted him. She had possessed considerable talent herself, but after marriage, she had given up her Ninja career and chosen to become a housewife.

"It wasn’t that hard." Uchiha Fugaku hid the Military Police Force’s current situation from his family. He did not want them worrying alongside him.

"By the way, Fugaku, the Ninja Cat Clan sent over a scroll. Since you hadn’t returned, I accepted it for you first."

After speaking, Uchiha Mikoto took out a scroll and handed it to Uchiha Fugaku. It bore a contact seal exclusive to the two clans and had not been opened.

"Cat Matriarch? Something major must have happened in the Ninja World again."

Uchiha Fugaku said this casually. Whenever major events happened in the Ninja World, the Ninja Cat Clan would send word to them through scrolls, ensuring that the Uchiha Clan would not become blind. Otherwise, they had to apply even to leave the village, let alone gather intelligence.

"The Yasunori Trading Company? Why do they want to see me?"

After reading the scroll, Uchiha Fugaku was somewhat puzzled. They had never dealt with the Yasunori Trading Company before, yet now the company had asked the Ninja Cat Clan to arrange a meeting with him.

At the end of the scroll, the Cat Matriarch had also given Fugaku a detailed introduction to the Yasunori Trading Company. It was a noble trading company of the Land of Fire, and through trade with Sunagakure, it had nearly monopolized all output from the desert mineral veins of the Land of Wind.

Suna-nin spies? That was unlikely. The Yasunori Family had existed longer than Sunagakure itself. Nobles like them would not engage in espionage for the sake of impoverished Sunagakure.

I’ll meet them.

Uchiha Fugaku made up his mind. He would see what the Yasunori Trading Company was planning, and he also had to give the Cat Matriarch some face. After all, the Ninja Cat Clan supplied the Uchiha Clan’s ninja tools and intelligence.

However, there was no need for him, the clan head, to personally appear at their first meeting. Sending a trusted subordinate would already be giving the Yasunori Trading Company considerable face.

What troubled Uchiha Fugaku most now was finding the person who had controlled the Nine-Tails. Only then could their circumstances improve. Yet an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan could not control a Tailed Beast, and aside from his own Mangekyō Sharingan, the highest level achieved by other Uchiha clansmen was merely Three-Tomoe.

Unless another Clansman had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan like him but had not made it known.

Konoha Hospital

After Kushina learned the Yin Seal, Tsunade-sama was also preparing to leave Konoha. Shikkotsu Forest had no solution for the Curse Mark, so she intended to look elsewhere in the Ninja World. Moreover, Tsunade-sama still could not get used to Konoha’s atmosphere. Staying even one more day made her feel uncomfortable.

Kushina asked, "Tsunade-sama, when are you leaving?"

"I’ll set out shortly." After answering, Tsunade-sama looked at the still-sleeping Uzumaki Naruto and could not help saying, "If Naruto weren’t a Jinchuriki, all of you could leave Konoha with me and relax for a while. Tch, that Namikaze Minato…"

The Will of Fire was beyond reproach, but from the perspective of family, Namikaze Minato had truly been a failure.

"I’ve already spoken to Kimura. If you’re busy, you can temporarily entrust Naruto to her."

After giving a few more instructions, Tsunade-sama called Shizune and left Kushina’s home, heading toward the village gates.

However, at the main gate, Tsunade-sama ran into Sarutobi Hiruzen. From the looks of it, he wanted to persuade her to stay.

"Stop right there, old man. You know my personality. If you don’t intend to fight me, there’s no need to say those things."

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could speak, Tsunade-sama cut him off decisively.

After hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen still unwillingly tried to persuade her. "Tsunade, the village needs you now."

"Forget it. If you truly want what’s best for the village, hurry up and choose the Fifth Hokage, then hand over the power in your hands."

Tsunade gave a cold laugh before continuing, "I haven’t even gone out much, yet I can still sense that something is wrong with the village. Old man, don’t let another Hyuga Mirai incident happen. The Uchiha Clan isn’t as easy to handle as that White-eyed Kid."

Konoha’s atmosphere had been extremely wrong during this time. The Police Force harshly punished Villagers who made mistakes, the Anbu monitored the Uchiha Clan, war raged outside, and instability festered within. All of it was the result of her teacher’s excessive hesitation and indecisiveness.

His strength clearly had not declined, yet his mindset had become incomparably aged. Tsunade had no faith at all in someone like that leading Konoha.

Tsunade did not respond at all to Sarutobi Hiruzen’s attempt to keep her. Instead, she firmly left with Shizune.