The Sublimation of Life

"An Illusion Technique?"

Konan instantly realized she had fallen under an Illusion Technique. She had barely noticed the ninja who cast it, which meant the user was quite skilled—at the very least, they had concealed themselves extremely well.

However, after using the Dance of the Shikigami, Konan naturally had ways to deal with Illusion Technique users.

In an instant, her body shattered into countless sheets of paper, freeing her from the cherry blossom tree’s restraints. After turning into paper, Konan dispelled the Illusion Technique on herself and flung paper shuriken at its user.

Clang! Clang!

Yuhi Kurenai blocked the paper shuriken with a kunai, but the force behind them still knocked her back two steps. Although her taijutsu had improved considerably, there was still a significant gap between her and Konan.

After being forced back by the shuriken, Yuhi Kurenai recognized Konan’s strength. She immediately created an illusion clone while her true body hid to the side, preparing to support her captain from the shadows.

"Trying to seize the captives? What a pointless move. The employer’s request was dead or alive…"

After seeing Kaminari Kaede and Asuma’s actions, Konan spoke expressionlessly. Two paper wings then grew from her back, and she instantly flew into the air.

Konan waved her hand, and numerous Exploding Tags suddenly appeared among the sheets of paper binding the Root ninjas.

Not good!

Kaminari Kaede spotted the Exploding Tags on the Root ninjas and immediately warned Asuma, "Get away, Asuma!"

As he warned Asuma, he also used a simple Sealing Technique to hastily destroy some of the Exploding Tags. Then he yanked hard, pulling the Root ninja free from the paper’s restraints.

Rumble!

A string of massive explosions rang out. Dozens of Exploding Tags devastated the entire street.

"Cough, cough!"

After hearing Kaminari Kaede’s warning, Asuma immediately retreated, but the blast still broke two of his ribs and left him with several external injuries.

Kaminari Kaede was injured as well, but he had used the Root ninja as a shield in front of himself, blocking most of the impact. The Root ninja died, but Kaminari Kaede preserved his head.

"You were willing to risk your lives just to seize a corpse? Your coordination is extremely smooth. You don’t seem like wandering ninja. Are you from Konoha?"

Konan waved her hand again, and over a hundred fluttering sheets of paper appeared around Kaminari Kaede and Sarutobi Asuma.

Knowing that the female ninja before them was far beyond what his squad could handle, Kaminari Kaede revealed their identities. "We are Konoha Ninja. These people were impersonating Konoha, so we had to capture them alive."

"Hmph. Impersonating Konoha? What a laughable excuse. I will report this matter in detail to the employer."

Konan snorted calmly. The ninja who had used the Illusion Technique was hiding in the shadows. If she killed the two men before her, that ninja would certainly leak information about her, drawing Konoha’s attention and harming Akatsuki’s development.

Moreover, those four people had used advanced ninjutsu and coordinated skillfully. Other than ninjas from a major nation, ninjas from small countries and wandering ninja could not possibly reach such a level.

Compound Ninjutsu was also Konoha’s specialty. It would be difficult for the other Four Great Ninja Villages to impersonate Konoha’s Anbu.

Konan then flapped her paper wings and departed through the air.

Only after seeing her leave did Kaminari Kaede and Sarutobi Asuma let out sighs of relief.

Facing a ninja capable of taking their lives at any moment had kept them constantly on edge. Fortunately, she had left out of concern for Konoha’s reputation. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for the two of them to survive.

"Captain, Asuma, are you all right?"

Yuhi Kurenai emerged from hiding. She had not rashly revealed herself earlier because that woman was too powerful. Even if Yuhi Kurenai had intervened, she would only have given the enemy another captive.

"We’re fine, Kurenai. Good thing you didn’t reveal yourself earlier, and she was wary of Konoha."

Kaminari Kaede slowly said, "Asuma, is your injury all right? Once we meet the employer, we’ll return to Konoha immediately."

After speaking, Kaminari Kaede glanced at the Root ninja’s head in his hand. He had fought hard to snatch it from the Exploding Tags so they could verify their identities later. The Tongue Curse Seal was indeed on its tongue. There was no mistaking their identities—they were Root ninjas.

Sigh!

Kaminari Kaede sighed inwardly. He had not expected a simple team coordination mission to lead them into such trouble. He had heard about that Higher-up in Konoha who operated in the shadows.

Once they returned, he would report this matter to Hokage-sama. That blue-haired female ninja also seemed hostile toward Konoha, so they could investigate her as well.

After receiving simple treatment, Sarutobi Asuma recovered the ability to move. The three of them then immediately headed for the Sakai Company estate.

However, when they asked to see the employer, the butler informed them that the Patriarch did not wish to see Konoha Ninja and told them to leave at once.

Kaminari Kaede sighed inwardly. It seemed that female ninja had already told the employer what had happened. Learning that Konoha Root ninjas had been responsible for attacking them and causing such enormous losses, the employer would certainly file a complaint straight to Hokage-sama’s desk.

"Captain, what’s going on?"

Kinoshita Hikaru was still confused. The captain and the other two had gone out to carry out their mission, yet not long afterward, the employer had driven him out.

"We’ll talk after we get back. Kinoshita, support Asuma and leave immediately."

This place was no longer safe. Even within the Land of Fire, they could encounter enemies at any moment. Although Kaminari Kaede still retained his full combat strength, if they encountered another woman like that blue-haired ninja, their squad would not stand a chance even at full strength.

"Sir, news has come from Konoha. The matter of Root attacking the Uzumaki Company has been completed according to plan."

Android 18 spoke to Hyuga Mirai, pulling him out of his focused research on Shikotsumyaku cells.

"The plan?"

Hyuga Mirai froze for a moment. He had been observing the fusion between his own cells and the Shikotsumyaku cells, so he did not immediately understand what Android 18 meant.

After Android 18 repeated herself, Hyuga Mirai said, "Danzo probably won’t let this go. Namikaze Minato is still somewhat powerless against an old bastard like him. Continue transferring the sales business to others. The Uzumaki Company only needs to retain control over developing and updating new products."

Once Computers became widespread, the Uzumaki Company would develop other electronic products, such as portable Game Consoles and lithium batteries.

It would be extremely difficult for Danzo to target the Uzumaki Company. The only core members he knew were Uzumaki Ayaka and the masked Nohara Rin, but one was in the Capital of the Land of Fire while the other was in Rōran. Even if Root wanted to move against them, it would be very difficult.

With Android 18 overseeing the company’s development, Hyuga Mirai could rest assured. The data she acquired increased every day, and her responses to and handling of matters always allowed her to make the optimal choice.

Hyuga Mirai had also made a major breakthrough. Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai greatly compensated for the shortcomings in his Gene Sequence.

Through comparative research between the two Gene Sequences, Hyuga Mirai found that incorporating the Shikotsumyaku cell sequence could increase the number of his genes to six hundred. This was entirely different from fusing with Hashirama Cells.

One made his genes more perfect without increasing their number. The other nearly doubled the number of his genes, raising his level of life.

"This is the true inheritance of the Otsutsuki. Hashirama Senju’s Kekkei Genkai should have originated from the God Tree. Although it can make the genes of Otsutsuki descendants more perfect, it cannot achieve the sublimation of life."

Although Hyuga Mirai was already certain that Shikotsumyaku could complement his genes, he needed more research to be completely sure. It was his own body, after all. Even the slightest error would not do.

"Right, I could transplant Byakugan Kekkei Genkai cells into Kimimaro. That could make up for the defective genes in his body as well."

Hyuga Mirai remembered that he still had Hyuga Hirin’s corpse, which still retained a complete pair of Byakugan.

If he transplanted those eyes, then after Kimimaro repaired his defective genes, he could further strengthen his combat ability. The Byakugan would greatly enhance a taijutsu ninja’s strength.

Hyuga Mirai then sent Orochimaru a copy of his research findings on Shikotsumyaku. He believed that after reading the report, Orochimaru would take the initiative to send Kimimaro over.

"Android 18, keep an eye on the calculation results. If there are no abnormalities after one hundred thousand runs, notify me immediately."

After giving the instruction, Hyuga Mirai headed toward the Dragon Vein’s sealed High Tower. He had converted several rooms there into training chambers where one could absorb Natural Energy to cultivate Sage Art Chakra. The renovated chambers were practically the places with the densest Natural Energy.

According to Ichikishimahime, even the place in Ryūchi Cave with the richest Natural Energy could not compare to this place.

For that reason, Hyuga Mirai had built several more training chambers specifically for the Three Snake Princesses.

Hyuga Mirai arrived at his own training chamber. After opening the door, he saw someone rolling around continuously on the bed.

Hyuga Mirai’s mouth twitched. "Ayaka, why aren’t you training properly? What are you doing?"

"Ah, Lord Mirai, I want to ask you to teach me Sage Art!" Uzumaki Ayaka twisted her body as she drew closer to him. Hyuga Mirai did not know whether it was his imagination, but after using Ichikishimahime’s gene-modification fluid, Uzumaki Ayaka seemed to be becoming more and more like a snake.

"Ichikishimahime is next door. My Nintaijutsu isn’t suitable for you…"

Konoha Hokage’s Office

After summoning Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other three higher-ups, Namikaze Minato directly slapped the Kaminari Kaede Squad’s mission report onto the desk.

"Elder Danzo, you should explain this. Why did Root members attack a merchant company belonging to nobles of the Land of Fire? Do you know that this has put Konoha in an extremely passive position? If we are not careful, Konoha could lose all Mission Commissions."

Faced with Namikaze Minato’s rebuke, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not know what had happened at first. But after reading Kaminari Kaede’s mission report, his face immediately darkened. He passed the report to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, then questioned Danzo.

"Danzo, explain yourself. Why did you have Root ninjas do this?"