Over the next few days, Gekko Chizan let Kakashi and the others continue resting in the Land of Lightning, while he himself headed to the Land of Waterfall.
...
Land of Waterfall, Orochimaru's experimental base.
"You sure you can handle this, sensei? It's been days already, and the brainwashing still isn't done?"
"Just look at the way they're staring at us—don't you find it irritating?"
Gekko Chizan stood beside Orochimaru, looking at Mabui and Samui, who were tightly bound.
He had sent the two of them here precisely to borrow Orochimaru's hand to brainwash them and put them to use for himself.
But after arriving, he discovered that Orochimaru hadn't taken any action at all.
"Hehehe… my research has reached a critical stage lately."
"I don't have the energy to deal with such trivial matters."
"Perfect timing that you're here, Chizan-kun. Want to take a look at my new technique?"
A new technique? Orochimaru's new technique?
Thinking of the Great Snake Manipulation Technique from before, he already had a rough idea of what Orochimaru's new technique might be.
"So? Have you found the path to immortality?"
Hearing Gekko Chizan's words, Orochimaru burst into laughter, his expression tinged with madness.
Seeing that look, Gekko Chizan understood—it must be the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.
"Mm, I've found it."
"And the technique is already prepared. When the time is right, I'll give it a try."
"But not now."
"However, the technique I want to talk about isn't that one, but another—one of the forbidden techniques created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama."
"The Edo Tensei!"
Well then—this technique had appeared after all.
A forbidden technique that completely led shinobi astray.
This was an otherworldly summoning technique developed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. It extracted a certain amount of flesh from the deceased, used a living person's body as a vessel for the dead person's soul, then summoned the soul from the Pure Land of the afterlife into the present world. The soul would attach itself to the vessel, and dust would cover the living body, transforming it into the appearance the deceased had before death.
"Sensei, this technique carries huge risks. You need to know—it can be cast, and it can also be undone."
"For example, if you use Edo Tensei to revive the Second Hokage, he knows how to release seals. What if he cancels the technique while in an Edo Tensei body?"
"At that point, a mummy that can't die and whose chakra recovers endlessly would be very hard to deal with."
Orochimaru was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Gekko Chizan to know so much.
But after a moment's thought, he felt relieved. Back then, Gekko Chizan had read the Scroll of Seals.
The forbidden techniques recorded in it included Edo Tensei, so it was only natural that he understood the technique to some extent.
"Hehehe… don't worry. I'll create corresponding talismans to erase the consciousness of those revived and make them serve me."
"The completion of this technique has made me even more curious about the pinnacle of ninjutsu."
"The next step is senjutsu. During my experiments over the past few years, I discovered something—senjutsu isn't exclusive to the Three Great Sage Regions."
"Through your intelligence network, I obtained some information, including data about special energies."
Gekko Chizan nodded. He was quite familiar with Orochimaru's research style—dabbling in this today, that tomorrow.
The key was that with each dabble, he actually figured things out. Otherwise, why would Orochimaru be called the number one scientist of the shinobi world?
"Alright then. Just don't forget about these two."
"I'm counting on them to shine and generate value for me."
As for Gekko Chizan's arrangement, Orochimaru nodded. Brainwashing two people?
Easy!
...
Several days later, Gekko Chizan and his group finally returned to the village.
Compared to the anger he felt when he left, he was now in a very good mood.
"Alright, you all go report the mission to the Hokage-sama. I'll head home first."
"I've been gone so long—I need to check on your sensei's wife and the kids."
With that, Gekko Chizan vanished in front of the four youngsters using the Flying Thunder God. Of course, he also took that large sum of ill-gotten gains with him.
That was precisely why he wasn't in a hurry to see Namikaze Minato. With so much money involved, he needed a good excuse to keep a bit more for himself. If he handed over too much, it would hurt his heart.
As for keeping every last cent—impossible. With the intelligence network in place, the higher-ups had probably already learned about their actions in Kumogakure.
Upon returning home, the house was as lively as ever.
"Oh? Kushina, Mikoto, what are you up to?"
"Yo, yo, yo? Isn't this little Naruto and little Sasuke? Come on, let uncle take a look!"
What also entered his view were a small blond head and a small black head—Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
The famous crown prince and the so-called second pillar.
"Chizan, you're back?"
"Didn't Minato say you were making a big move in the Land of Lightning?"
"Why are you back so soon?"
Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto were chatting with Pakura when they saw Gekko Chizan return.
Pakura hurried over, her face full of joy.
"It's all wrapped up. I sent Kakashi and the others to report the mission."
"How have things been lately?"
"I noticed there are still ANBU around here?"
When Gekko Chizan returned, he saw ANBU stationed around his home. Clearly, the earlier incident had put the village on alert.
"Yeah. I heard they're all your trainees, voluntarily standing guard."
"As for that, the higher-ups are turning a blind eye."
The current ANBU members had all received Gekko Chizan's training, so they were all his trainees. When they heard that Kumogakure had dared to bully their ANBU instructor, how could they tolerate that?
After all, one of the rules Gekko Chizan taught them was called: If the enemy offends me, I will repay it a hundredfold.
No one knew how many people volunteered to go to the Land of Lightning, but all of them were rejected by Namikaze Minato.
Since Gekko Chizan had already led a team there, there was no need to mobilize others.
Thus, these ANBU organized themselves and sent people to stand guard at the Gekko residence every day.
"Where's Dōnin?"
"He went to the academy—studying with Principal Hatake."
"...Is that old bastard trying to make my son inherit his mantle? He drags Dōnin along to study every single day?"
Hearing that his son had gone off again to study with Hatake Sakumo, Gekko Chizan felt terrible all over.
Can't he study at home? Why does he have to go learn from someone else?
"Dōnin's bloodline limit is being used very well now, but the fundamentals still need to be solid."
"Dōnin really likes Principal Hatake. He follows him around every day, saying he wants to become the second Konoha White Fang."
Gekko Chizan was speechless.
The second Konoha White Fang???
Then Kakashi…
Uh, forget it.
Gekko Chizan originally wanted to say—wouldn't Kakashi be the second Konoha White Fang?
But thinking about how Kakashi had already gone off the rails, built like a bull, with Lightning Release thoroughly figured out…
Sword techniques had long been tossed aside. It seemed there was no hope left for the Hatake blade arts.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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