Shisui clutched his face.
After spending days adapting to life with a single eye, the sudden return of his full vision was disorienting. He still wasn't quite used to it.
But...
Having two eyes felt truly wonderful.
He gazed up at the sky, his mind replaying the words of the Black Robed Man.
The Swirl-Masked Man was indeed a "Fourth Party."
Furthermore—
"Itachi... have you awakened as well?"
Shisui looked toward the distant stars, feeling as though Itachi were standing on the other side of that same night sky.
Itachi must be in agony right now, forced to make impossible, despairing choices while the Uchiha Clan stood like a withered tree, unable to support its own weight.
If even Shisui had been helpless to stop it, how could Itachi possibly shoulder the burden alone?
"Sigh..."
Shisui let out a long, heavy breath.
Aside from worrying, there was nothing he could do in his current state.
However...
There was one potential path.
The Masked Man.
If that man truly represented a fourth faction and had the power to control the "Village of the Bloody Mist," he must possess immense strength and a vast network of subordinates.
If Shisui could secure that man's aid, perhaps the Uchiha wouldn't be completely wiped out. Maybe a few seeds could be preserved...
But...
The fear remained that the Black Robed Man had spoken the truth.
If the "Nine-Tails Incident" really was orchestrated by that Masked Man, the probability of him betraying the Uchiha was far higher than the probability of him saving them.
And right now, that probability seemed terrifyingly high.
Shisui's brow furrowed in distress. He sighed softly again, unsure of his next move.
Fortunately, the Black Robed Man had left him some soldier pills.
They tasted terrible, but they would allow him to survive here in hiding—"turtling up"—without needing to hunt or risk exposing his location.
Inside his room, Masahiko opened his eyes.
'Unprecedented success...'
'I just hope Zetsu isn't tracking me.'
'No, he shouldn't be.'
Masahiko didn't regret the risk.
The moment he realized Shisui might have encountered an outsider, he knew he had to intervene personally. Otherwise, all his previous groundwork could have been for nothing.
Zetsu was a busy entity; he wouldn't be watching Shisui twenty-four hours a day.
And if he was watching...
Then let him watch.
Masahiko had only sent a Shadow Clone, after all.
Konoha was shrouded in a massive, intricate sensory barrier. Zetsu wouldn't dare infiltrate the village openly for the time being.
As for the ninjutsu he used, it was merely a trick utilizing the Water Style: Water Jellyfish technique to blend chakra into blood. While rare, it wasn't a technique exclusive to him.
After mentally reviewing the night's operation one last time, Masahiko closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Masahiko habitually scanned his System Interface.
He hadn't expected much, but—
[Current Status: Shikotsumyaku (Weak / Bloodline Under Development)]
'Shikotsumyaku?!'
A look of genuine astonishment crossed Masahiko's face.
Since using the Bloodline Development Card, his physical constitution had been steadily improving over the past few days.
He had speculated that he might be a distant relative of the Senju or Uzumaki. He had even considered that the surname "Yagyu" might have some obscure connection to the Uchiha.
But he had never considered the Shikotsumyaku—the Dead Bone Pulse.
That was the Kekkei Genkai of the Kaguya Clan from the Land of Water.
To think he was connected to that lineage...
He had briefly suspected the Hyūga Clan as well, but quickly dismissed it. The Hyūga were notoriously strict about controlling their bloodline. Over the years, the only trace of a leak was the Kohinata family; there were no other records of their Byakugan flowing into the outside world.
The Kaguya Clan, on the other hand, was different.
They were a battle-crazed race. Internal conflict was rife, making it all too common for branch lineages to splinter off or for illegitimate children to be scattered during their chaotic wars.
Masahiko felt a surge of joy, followed immediately by a wave of concern.
Shikotsumyaku was powerful.
At a minimum, this bloodline guaranteed the potential of an Elite Jōnin. With the right effort and by combining it with his other abilities, reaching Kage Level wouldn't be difficult.
Furthermore, as a body-altering Kekkei Genkai, the physical enhancements it provided were visible to the naked eye.
But... this thing came with a Bloodline Disease!
'Most bloodline diseases have a traceable cause...'
A strange light flickered in Masahiko's eyes.
If before he was learning Medical Ninjutsu solely to enhance his Water Style, now he had a reason to pour his genuine heart and soul into it.
Another day passed.
Kanpō invited Masahiko out for dinner that evening.
Since Masahiko intended to strengthen his medical knowledge anyway, he accepted without hesitation.
After a quick meal and some shop talk, the two parted ways.
Once again, Masahiko found himself in the Konoha Hospital Library.
This time, he didn't borrow books on basic Medical Ninjutsu. Instead, he applied for permission to access texts related to Kekkei Genkai.
He wasn't worried about being questioned.
Kurama Yakumo's "Ido" monster was, in a sense, a form of Bloodline Disease—a manifestation of her Yin Release growing too powerful for her body.
Neither the Hokage nor Danzō would suspect him; they would simply see a dedicated instructor doing his due diligence.
He read through several volumes...
The ninja world was plagued by various Kekkei Genkai illnesses. They differed in symptoms, but the root cause was often the same: a specific power becoming too strong for the body to balance.
For Shikotsumyaku, the issue was the bones themselves.
Excessive regeneration and manipulation of bone density could affect other organs and body parts, leading to severe complications.
Kimimaro's case was particularly tragic because he also utilized the Curse Mark, which accelerated the deterioration.
'If I don't abuse the Shikotsumyaku, the probability of developing the disease should be low.'
Masahiko closed his notebook and the reference text.
Just as he prepared to return the books, he looked up and saw a figure standing nearby, looking hesitant and timid.
Noticing Masahiko's gaze, the young man quickly bowed respectfully and summoned the courage to approach.
"Yagyu-sensei, hello. My name is Yakushi Kabuto. I'm a Genin who specializes in Medical Ninjutsu."
"Hello."
Masahiko returned the greeting, showing no sign of recognition or suspicion. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Kabuto looked surprised, then slightly conflicted. "I heard that you are a kind and talented teacher... There is something I wanted to ask your advice on."
"I am hardly a genius," Masahiko replied with a gentle smile, completely devoid of arrogance. "After all, I only managed to pass the Chūnin Exams this year myself. But if you have questions, I will do my best to answer them."
Kabuto seemed to relax, letting out a breath he'd been holding. "You are even more gentle and benevolent than I imagined... You see, I am a 'dead last' who failed the graduation exam three times..."
"It wasn't until this year that I finally passed and became a qualified Genin."
He began to ramble, pouring out his "life story."
Masahiko nodded along, listening patiently without interrupting.
According to Kabuto, his talent was poor, and only his aptitude for Medical Ninjutsu was somewhat decent. Despite that, it took him three years to graduate.
Now assigned to a team, his teammates wanted to take the Chūnin Exams this year. However, Kabuto felt he wasn't ready and wanted to forfeit to try again next year...
Under Konoha's rules, a three-man cell had to register together. If he quit, his teammates would be disqualified as well.
If one didn't know Kabuto's true background, they would see nothing but an earnest, struggling youth. But knowing who stood before him...