The corridors of the four-story building interconnect, enclosing an expansive area— a mid-courtyard plaza that is directly exposed to sunlight.
The pavement is laid with smooth, hard-wearing stone slabs, surrounded by flowers and trees, bringing a natural freshness.
Located on the fourth floor at the center is the office where Hakushi resides.
At this moment, Hakushi is sitting in his office, where chairs and bookshelves are neatly arranged, there are several flower pots on the balcony, placed outside to soak up the sun, and he regularly waters them.
Hakushi currently holds an ear-clip wireless communication device in his hand, the kind he has seen in Konoha Village before; upon switching it on, it allows communication with teammates, sharing information and tactics.
However, due to long distances, communication becomes impossible, thus its practical use in combat isn't markedly significant.
The collection and timely exchange of information are crucial for strategy and tactics.
The wireless communication device in his hand is the latest model developed by the research department, slightly more advanced than commercially available ones, with a longer communication range—approximately five kilometers.
This distance is generally achievable by perception-type ninjas using perception ninjutsu.
If equipped in team mode combat, it would provide a significant advantage.
Additionally, some other electronic tools are being gradually modified and invented at Hakushi's request.
In Hakushi's view, the future era will inevitably change, and ninjas' combat methods must gradually align with the era; otherwise, they will be left behind.
This is also why Hakushi, early on, requested the organization to search for research talents throughout the Ninja Realm.
An individual's strength is extremely small, incapable of pushing the era forward; it requires more talented people to create.
The organization has currently recruited dozens of researchers; while they may not be top talents in every field, their collective wisdom and strength are certainly formidable.
Hakushi set the ear-clip wireless communication device aside and moved to the area where many boxes filled with books and scrolls were placed, many of which were covered in dust.
These items are ancient materials transported by Insect Man's people, and the affairs of Mount Myoboku served as a reminder to Hakushi.
The power of the Three Great Sacred Lands is definitely not limited to Immortal Techniques.
Hakushi needs to find more information and materials to study the affairs of the Three Great Sacred Lands.
Hakushi began rummaging through the boxes in search of what he needed.
These books and scrolls record legends about immortals and summoning beasts, but some content is so far-fetched that it's clearly fictional stories, not the materials he seeks.
"Hmm? What's this..."
Hakushi pulled out a book from the bottom of a box; its pages were somewhat yellowed with water stain marks, and some pages were very stiff.
The book is titled "The Story of the Heroic Toad Sage."
The title unmistakably mentions toads and immortals, leading Hakushi to associate it with Mount Myoboku.
Hakushi suspected this book might be what he was looking for.
After all, ordinary people wouldn't easily link toads and immortals together.
Hakushi eagerly opened it; initially reading with care and seriousness, but as he continued, he felt something was off, his face growing increasingly rigid.
Until he reached the part where the protagonist claiming to be the 'Toad Sage' engages in indescribable relations with a large-breasted young woman, detailed and bold content with rich emotional expression led Hakushi to silently ponder the title "The Story of the Heroic Toad Sage."
The content doesn't cover Mount Myoboku; it merely narrates the erotic love stories of a human youth claiming to have gained toad powers, wandering the Ninja Realm under the title 'Toad Sage,' having various thrilling affairs with women.
Simply put, it's a smut novel.
Utterly impertinent.
A waste of his time and emotions.
Moreover, the writing is immature; Hakushi is certain the author of this book couldn't have been over twenty years old at the time of writing.
Then he swiftly flips to the last page, noticing a familiar signature——
Jiraiya.
Single copy sale price: 200 ryo.
"...No wonder it involves toads and immortals."
Hakushi smiled wryly.
He knows a bit about Jiraiya, one of the Sannin.
Lustful, with a penchant for writing, yet according to Tsunade, most of what he writes is unfit for minors, inappropriate adult stories.
Hakushi resignedly set the book aside and moved to another box, starting to browse through those books and scrolls.
Before long, Hakushi found an arm-length scroll tied with a thin rope.
On this scroll, he detected faint chakra fluctuations.
Curiously, Hakushi spread the scroll open, revealing names written in blood; under each name, a red bloody fingerprint was placed.
"This is the summoning beast contract scroll."
Hakushi recognized the origin of this scroll, which is a contract scroll that can no longer have new names signed.
The last box also contained a signed name, indicating it's used up, merely a collectible summoning contract scroll.
"But... quite a distinguished surname, with ninjas from the Uzumaki and Senju Clans. The most recent Senju Clan ninja dates back over three hundred years ago."