Transition

"Boil Release—Skillful Mist Technique."

The rolling mist surged like ocean waves, instantly spreading throughout the entire forest. Then all the trees began to melt. Most terrifying of all, even the stones on the ground turned to liquid.

"So powerful! Its strength actually increased severalfold!" Mei Terumī’s face lit up with delight. "Is this Sage Mode?"

In just a few seconds, she could easily enter Sage Mode. Once she became more proficient, she might even be able to enter it instantly. In this mode, ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu would all undergo explosive growth due to the improved quality of her Chakra.

It could be said that Sage Mode was a ninja’s strongest enhancement technique. Not only did it have no adverse effects on one’s strength, but prolonged absorption of Natural Energy would also improve one’s physical constitution and Chakra reserves.

If the former Mei Terumī had been somewhat unqualified to sit in the position of Mizukage, then after learning Sage Mode, she would absolutely not be among the weaker members even of the current Five Kage.

Boil Release, Lava Release, taijutsu, Water Release—Mei Terumī used every technique at her disposal. To her delighted surprise, the Chakra in her body was still fairly abundant. Her Chakra reserves alone had doubled, and when Sage Mode was taken into account, it was equivalent to suddenly possessing three times as much Chakra.

For ninjas—especially Mist Ninja, who had survival of the fittest carved into their bones—increased strength was practically everything. After finishing her tests, Mei Terumī was brimming with excitement. She suddenly threw herself into Yota’s arms and gave him a passionate kiss.

Yota did not refuse. Kirigakure’s honey trap had been laid out in the open. On one hand, they wanted to rely on him; on the other, they wanted to put themselves at ease.

Yota did not have any particular emotional hang-ups, so naturally he did not care about that.

After the kiss ended, Mei Terumī, still lying in Yota’s arms, suddenly chuckled. She looked at him with a teasing gaze and said, "You really are bold, Lord Yota. Aren’t you afraid I’ll melt you directly?"

Yota looked calm on the surface, but inwardly he laughed. As long as you aren’t afraid I’ll swallow you whole, why would I be afraid of that?

Although Yota no longer used his mouth to activate the Munch-Munch Fruit, that did not mean the ability had disappeared. In fact, the strongest defense on his entire body was probably inside his mouth. He could swallow even a nuclear bomb whole.

Of course, Yota was not an idiot. He certainly would not say something so mood-killing. Even if it was only an act, he still had to say a few sweet words!

Yota stayed in Kirigakure for two or three months. Originally, he had only planned to leave after half a month, once he obtained the Ice Release Bloodline Limit and the Six-Tails’ Chakra.

Both matters were handled rather quickly. Every day, he drew a little blood from Haku, then healed him. It had no effect on his health.

As for Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, after hearing that most of the tailed beast’s Chakra inside him could be extracted, he was not discouraged at all. Instead, he cooperated enthusiastically. Though this would seemingly reduce a Jinchuriki’s strength considerably, it would greatly increase control. At the very least, there would no longer be any risk of going berserk.

These matters were finished in just over a week. As for why he had delayed for so long afterward… ahem, ahem. Naturally, it was to cultivate his relationship with the Mizukage and prepare for the future cooperation and development between Akatsuki and Kirigakure. It definitely was not because Yota could not bear to leave or anything.

What? Why did Mizukage Mei Terumī wake up at noon every day during that time, looking constantly sleep-deprived? That was surely because she had just become Mizukage and had to work tirelessly through official documents until midnight every day!

After the Rinnegan merged with Obito’s Kamui Sharingan, Yota’s travel speed increased considerably. Kamui possessed an ability almost like Instant Transmission, though the distance of each movement was limited and could not exceed the range of the Kamui dimension.

Even so, Yota took only two hours to return to the Land of Rice Fields.

Now, the Sound Ninja Village in the Land of Rice Fields had become Akatsuki’s new gathering place—the environment in the Land of Rain was simply too harsh, and even an underground base there was prone to flooding.

Yota had long wanted to relocate, but he had refrained from doing so because he needed to disguise himself as Nagato Uzumaki.

Now, however, Black Zetsu had fled and Obito was finished. Naturally, Yota could move the organization’s base.

Yet the moment he stepped into the base, Yota saw a certain blonde female ninja gathering people for a gambling session.

"Hahaha! This time, I’ll definitely win it all back!!"

Yota looked around. Mm, aside from Tsunade, Kakuzu and Hidan were there as well, both playing cards with Tsunade.

Then he backed out and carefully examined the entrance.

"That’s right. This should be Akatsuki’s new base… but what the hell is this? How has it already turned into an underground casino?!"

A few minutes later, Yota overturned the gambling table. Only then did he finally get a grasp of the current situation.

Basically, Tsunade had been bored out of her mind and came to gamble with a certain money-grubbing fellow.

Kakuzu had no choice but to admit that he normally never gambled, since it was uncertain whether he would profit or lose money. But a certain female gambling addict’s money was simply too easy to win, and he could not stop!

Collecting debts was a bit troublesome, though… Someone’s skill at dodging debts was almost on par with Lord Kakuzu’s ability to collect them.

As for Hidan, he had nothing better to do. As a cultist, he clearly did not hold any belief that he and gambling were irreconcilable enemies.

Besides, gambling with Tsunade was incredibly addictive!

Tsunade had remained here because she had agreed to teach Yota Medical Ninjutsu. It was just that Yota had not had the time to return during this period.

Yota also felt that it was time for him to settle down for a while. He would study Medical Ninjutsu, human body research, and Sealing Jutsu, while also training and developing his current body’s combat power.

As for gathering more ninjutsu knowledge, Bloodline Limits, tailed beast power, and such, there was no need to rush. The Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path were now both in his hands. There was no way Kaguya could make any moves, and without Kaguya, his strength was invincible within this little corner of the ninja world.

A month or two of peaceful days passed. Yota learned at an astonishing pace. After all, he had now nearly gathered the Ōtsutsuki clan’s bloodline. In terms of talent, he was absolutely at the pinnacle of the ninja world, so learning some Medical Ninjutsu naturally posed no difficulty.

Even in Sealing Jutsu, Yota’s bloodline power gave him an enormous boost. Sometimes, he succeeded simply by following his instincts. Human body research was the only thing that required him to put in some real thought.

According to Tsunade, in at most half a year, she probably would not have anything left to teach him.