Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 184

Hyuga Yuzuru was completely absorbed, observing the scene with his Byakugan and a microscope. He enthusiastically discussed the next research focus with Yakushi Kabuto, and then generously contributed a portion of his own flesh and blood to personally oversee the more complex experiments.

To his surprise, he discovered that the properties of his own cells were vaguely similar to those of Danzo's cells, but they were not as violent and harmful as Danzo's cells.

This made Hyuga Yuzuru think in astonishment—I am actually the Tang Monk's flesh?

Yakushi Kabuto repeatedly praised it.

"If your ability to regenerate flesh and blood were to advance further, I'm afraid you might even be able to..."

Kabuto muttered excitedly to himself, but when the words were about to come out, he couldn't help but frown slightly. He looked around and finally said in a low voice, "Lord Yuzuru, I suggest that this experiment be temporarily suspended, or converted into a more secretive research project, preferably under your personal supervision."

"Reason?" Hinata Yuzuru intently observed the changes in the cells.

"Immortality...Based on the information from this experiment, if your cells can advance further and acquire some of the characteristics of Danzo cells, true immortality can be achieved...And once we possess your cells and master the relevant technology..."

Yakushi Kabuto kept his voice very low.

Hyuga Yuzuru suddenly fell silent. After a moment of contemplation, he realized what Yakushi Kabuto was worried about.

Once his cells also possess the property of 'immortality,' and are not as harmful as Danzo's cells, which are like cancer cells...

Given the level of expertise in the ninja world, it's quite possible that they could actually create an elixir of immortality using his cells.

Hyuga Yuzuru pondered for a moment, then, as if he had thought of something, slowly closed his eyes. After a while, he said in a low voice, "Continue with this. You will personally supervise it. All information about this experiment, including Danzo and Hidan, will be encrypted to the highest level. If there are any problems, contact me directly. There's no need to go through the motions."

Kabuto Yakushi has his communication crystal.

Kabuto nodded solemnly, looking at Hyuga Yuzuru's cells, which were unusually active in the petri dish, and Danzo's cells, which, although violent, could not devour his cells but instead seemed to be devoured. He couldn't help but swallow.

Immortality...

Even the legendary Sage of Six Paths probably couldn't do that, right?

It's just unknown whether Lord Yuzuru's mind possesses similar characteristics. Otherwise, while the body may be immortal, the brain might not be able to achieve the same. However, given Lord Yuzuru's abilities, perhaps he could use his soul to control his body, finding another way to achieve immortality...

Immortality...

Kabuto sighed inwardly, then cautiously said, "Don't worry, if things don't go well... I'd rather destroy all this research."

He absolutely could not allow this experiment to go wrong.

"Please, if needed, I can focus on my work here for the time being."

As Hinata Yuzuru spoke, he couldn't help but sigh. He didn't know if what he was doing was the right thing to do, but without a doubt, if he could really walk the path of immortality... he didn't want to be alone.

Kabuto shook his head: "Lord Yuzuru, there's no need to be anxious. Perhaps we're just being too optimistic... As you know, there are uncertainties in research."

"I will do my best to complete the task, Yuzuru-sama. Just come here occasionally to supervise and guide the work."

He adjusted his glasses, unusually confident in front of Hinata Yuzuru: "In any case, the research plan will not get out of control."

"Yes, I believe you." Hinata Yuzuru patted his shoulder. Their whispered conversation went unheard by others. The other researchers had already discreetly moved away to avoid suspicion while the two were talking in hushed tones.

Hinata Yuzuru took one last look at the cells constantly changing in the petri dish, shook his head: "At the same time, I'd rather study something else than this."

"What is it?" Kabuto asked, puzzled.

Hyuga Yuzuru softly uttered two words: "Tailed Beast".

Kabuto was initially bewildered, but then seemed to realize something. He remained silent for a moment, then his brows relaxed, and he said in surprise, "It seems that it is indeed possible! Danzo's cells can be used as a carrier for Yang Release, and after modification, they can be used to shape the body of a Tailed Beast."

"The Artificial Tailed Beast Project..."

Kabuto seemed to have thought of something and asked in a low voice, "But this requires a sample... Should we use the One-Tailed Beast?"

“Hmm.” Hyuga Yuzuru nodded, his eyes deep: “Let’s use the One-Tailed Beast as the sampling target.”

"In the short term, you will be responsible for the progress of these two projects. The first project can be done slowly, but the Tailed Beast Project needs to be done as soon as possible."

If we could master the method of creating tailed beasts...

Kabuto was overwhelmed with emotion, while Yuzuru Hyuga looked wistful and finally said, "Take it slow."

The figure disappeared.

Kabuto looked at the spot where he had disappeared, lost in thought.

Logically speaking, given Yuzuru's current abilities and the visible 'evolution' speed of each cell he contributes for research, there should be no need for these plans related to the Tailed Beasts anymore.

With his power, if he can continue to grow, it is not impossible for him to become a god-like being like the Sage of Six Paths.

But why is he still so fixated on the Tailed Beasts? Is it just a precaution, or is he preparing for some other plan?

What kind of enemy is it that requires the successful creation of artificial tailed beasts to deal with?

Yakushi Kabuto seemed lost in thought.

At this moment, Hyuga Yuzuru has no time to deal with those distant matters. He has to take things one step at a time, and he has to focus on the important things right in front of him.

The elders of Sunagakure and Kirigakure have now arrived in Konoha with their respective delegations.

If all goes well, the three parties should be able to reach a consensus within the next two days.

They all understood that Hyuga Yuzuru had a huge appetite this time, and might cause their ninja village to bleed heavily, but...

In fact, what Hyuga Yuzuru wanted to do, and what he was aiming at, was not just the two ninja villages.

The Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, the Land of Water...

It's time to remove the word "actor" from the title before "actor of Hokage".

Chapter 135 The Final Meeting

The living room feels a bit cramped today.

On Konoha's side, Hyuga Yuzuru was accompanied only by Hyuga Kaoru, his secretary, and Uchiha Izumi, who was required to accompany him as usual as an Anbu member. On Sunagakure's side, in addition to Rasa, there were two other core elders of Sunagakure, Chiyo and Ebizo, as well as two veteran elite ninjas as advisors and guards.

Only one elder from Kirigakure came, but he was a truly heavyweight figure, Genji. The four people following behind him were the only remaining core members of Kirigakure, whose status was similar to that of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio in Konoha.

This elder named Yuan Shi held an extremely high position in Kirigakure, even surpassing Kirigakure in status. Now, he appeared to be extremely old, walking with a trembling gait. The fact that such an old man, who had almost lost all his teeth, had traveled such a long distance to Konoha showed Kirigakure's sincerity and eagerness.

Despite being the victor, Hyuga Yuzuru still showed due respect to these elders. At their age, it was truly remarkable that they had come out. If they hadn't been outstanding ninjas in their youth, they might not have been able to make it halfway there.

"Fifth Hokage, we, the Hidden Mist Village, are willing to accept Konoha's conditions and also return the Byakugan we accidentally obtained from the Hyuga clan, to atone for our mistakes." Genji sat in his chair, speaking slowly and weakly. Mei Terumi stood silently behind him, her eyes filled with melancholy.

Mei Terumi respected the elder before her from the bottom of her heart, just like everyone else in Kirigakure. Yet now, this elderly master was still going to cross mountains and seas to Konoha to seek a way out for Kirigakure. As a member of Kirigakure, how could she not feel sorrow that Kirigakure had fallen to such a state?

Hyuga Yuzuru smiled slightly: "In that case, Konoha is willing to believe in Kirigakure's sincerity and will continue to maintain good relations with Kirigakure from now on, whether in business or other areas of cooperation... Konoha welcomes any friend who is sincere in their friendship."

I also deeply sympathize with the Fourth Mizukage who was manipulated.

Master Yuan sighed softly, stood up shakily, and bowed: "Thank you for your understanding, Fifth Hokage. The entire Hidden Mist Village will always remember the Hokage's benevolence and repay this kindness."

Looking at the various conditions proposed by Konoha, he didn't feel anything was amiss. From Kirigakure's perspective, Konoha's decision to launch a series of business projects and collaborations with Kirigakure could even be described as a life-saving measure.

As the defeated party, Konoha was not ceded territory, not ordered to pay reparations, and did not face any ruthless or opportunistic reckoning. On the contrary, it may benefit from the new business ecosystem. Even a master like Yuan Shi had to admit that Konoha's actions were truly 'kind' to the extreme.

Hyuga Yuzuru also rose and gave a slight bow in return, but said meaningfully, "I hope that from today onwards, Kirigakure and Konoha can forge a true friendship."

"Naturally... The Fifth Hokage had the world in his heart and could be called a hero of the ninja world. Our Kirigakure is now in dire need of help, and we are extremely grateful to Konoha for extending a helping hand. We will never do anything ungrateful. After this alliance, Kirigakure is willing to put Konoha first and work together with Konoha to fight for the peace of the ninja world."

Genji adopted a very humble attitude, and his words clearly conveyed that he understood Hyuga Yuzuru's thoughts. Hyuga Yuzuru, of course, responded with a smile.

"I am willing to work together with you." He cupped his hands to Yuan Shi, which was considered to have settled the matter. How to cooperate and what the specific content of the cooperation would be could be discussed in private. The purpose of the three-way meeting at the moment was to see their attitude.

Unlike Kirigakure, which is now leaderless, in Sunagakure, Rasa sat in a row with two elders. Even as the Kazekage, Rasa awkwardly kept quiet and didn't say a word, while Chiyo also stood up and bowed slightly to Hyuga Yuzuru with a complicated expression.

"I had heard of the Fifth Hokage's reputation for benevolence in Sunagakure, and seeing him in Konoha today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."

Chiyo first offered a respectful compliment, then adopted a pitiful posture and whispered, "We Sand Village ninjas are largely to blame for the Chunin Exams incident, but we beg the Hokage to consider that we were merely misled by a villain..."

Hyuga Yuzuru waved his hand and calmly said, "Chiyo-senpai, sit down and let's talk."

Chiyo had no choice but to sit down, while Hyuga Yuzuru sat on the sofa with his hands on the armrests, his fingers interlaced in front of him, and his head slightly tilted back. Without saying a word, an aggressive demeanor was immediately apparent.

The three from Sunagakure thought something was wrong, and sure enough, Hyuga Yuzuru got straight to the point.

"Is it true that Sunagakure intended to overthrow Konoha and start a war during the Chunin Exams?"

"It's true," Luo Sha replied stiffly.

"I could have joined forces with the Konoha ninja on the battlefield to annihilate the Fourth Kazekage and the entire Sunagakure army, but when the Fourth Kazekage decided to surrender, we gave the Sunagakure a way out and even saved the Fourth Kazekage's life. Is that true?"

“It’s true…” Rasa’s expression grew increasingly awkward. His fists clenched unconsciously, but the imposing aura he displayed at the Five Kage Summit was long gone. The Leaf Village had indeed spared his life—fighting in the Leaf Village was ultimately less advantageous than in the desert environment. The battlefield there was chaotic, and the strength displayed by the Leaf Village…

To put it bluntly, it would be more than enough to take down Gaara as well.

He still can't understand why the legendary Sharingan, which was supposedly only possessed by Madara Uchiha, seems to appear in Konoha's generation as if it were free.

What's even more terrifying is that the current Fifth Hokage's strength is so terrifying that it's unbelievable.

The black chakra swarm that Pain of the Akatsuki summoned that day was practically a giant meteorite created in mid-air. Its terrifying power meant that almost every ninja sucked into the air was instantly killed without any chance of resistance. Such power even made Rasa feel uneasy.

Half of the casualties in the battle came from the previous melee, while the other half were almost entirely caused by Pain's terrifying Earth-Blocking Star technique. Such power is simply unimaginable to humans.

However, Hyuga Yuzuru met the attack head-on, relying on a golden laser cannon that was so terrifying that he still falls silent when he thinks about it, and pierced through it in one blow.

If he heard correctly, the technique Hyuga Yuzuru used at that time... was Gentle Fist.

Anyway, he never imagined that Soft Fist would be such a thing in his life.

How terrifying must Hyuga Yuzuru's Kaiten be?

He didn't even dare to think about it anymore.

With a sigh, Chiyo gently tapped the armrest. She understood his meaning, her brows furrowing slightly, but in the end she could only lower her head and remain silent.

Hyuga Yuzuru then frowned slightly and calmly said, "I only ask that Sunagakure compensate the One-Tailed Jinchuriki. The rest of the business terms will certainly benefit Konoha, but I ask the Kazekage to ask himself, does Sunagakure not benefit at all?"

Or is it that my terms were too good, giving you room to maneuver in negotiations?

“No…” Rasa opened his mouth, looked at Chiyo beside him, and seeing that she was about to speak, he immediately waved his hand and said, “We have no intention of bargaining, nor do we have any intention of making too many excuses. It’s just that Sunagakure has really reached the point where it must either change or die. Now that we have been defeated, we have nothing to say and should let Konoha deal with us.”

But Gaara, he is, after all, my...son!

He started by appealing to family ties, but when he saw Hyuga Yuzuru raise an eyebrow, he immediately changed his tune, saying, "However, even so, I think Konoha's conditions are acceptable. But could you perhaps revise the business contract to give Sunagakure some room to maneuver?"

He still absolutely did not want Sunagakure to become a dumping ground for Konoha.

Hinata Yuzuru smiled slightly.

He then revealed his true intentions, saying directly, "That's natural... Compared to Konoha directly going to the Land of Wind to manage some industries, it's naturally easier for Sunagakure to handle certain matters."

As soon as Hyuga Yuzuru spoke, not only the people from Sunagakure, but even the master keenly sensed something. Everyone's eyes turned to him, but Hyuga Yuzuru spoke slowly and deliberately.

"The business dealings between Konoha and Sunagakure and Kirigakure, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will probably only take place between us, but for Konoha, that's far from enough."

Moreover, for your sake, I have come up with a good idea.

With technology and personnel training provided by Konoha, each ninja village would establish its own merchant guilds and conduct business activities in the countries of Water and Wind.

However, its core technologies will be retained, and raw materials and key materials must be imported from Konoha.

I also hope that the two great ninja villages can accept Konoha's patent law terms and pay the fees on time when using patents related to Konoha.

Of course, I also hope that the two great ninja villages can actively participate in the recent developments. The patent law protects not only Konoha; as long as a relevant patent is registered in Konoha, it can also collect patent fees under the protection of the patent law, ensuring the profitability of research and development.

Seeing their furrowed brows, clearly unaware of the extent of the changes this would bring to the ninja world, Hyuga Yuzuru felt compelled to explain the benefits more clearly.

"Konoha will guide, invest in, and build businesses in each ninja village, and Konoha's businesses will also build factories directly around each ninja village. This will bring a lot of jobs to both ninja villages and make our ties even closer."

What you will have to give is far less than what you will gain.

Rasa remained silent for a moment, then Chiyo stepped in to evade the question. She feigned ignorance and asked in a low voice, "Please forgive my ignorance, but is this action actually beneficial to Sunagakure?"

Hyuga Yuzuru smiled slightly: "Once people have their own factories and businesses, and provide employment, they will have their own wages. When villagers have money, they can spend it in the village. Consumption will create a market, and the goods produced will mainly be sold to the Land of Wind and other countries."

Konoha's current commercial activities are limited to the area surrounding the Land of Fire. Trade with other countries is often hampered. However, even so, Konoha no longer needs the Land of Fire's approval to ensure that its people can live and work in peace. The village can maintain a balance of income and expenditure through tax revenue and even continue to carry out infrastructure construction and improve people's livelihoods.

While Konoha's actions may indeed be driven by self-interest, I urge everyone to consider this, especially considering the frequent financial constraints faced by Sunagakure. If they could find new avenues for revenue and no longer rely on the Land of Wind's support...

It's activated.

Rasa's ambition was instantly activated.

The thought that he no longer needed to beg the daimyo of the Land of Wind for more money made his heart pound wildly. At that moment, he thought of Hyuga Yuzuru's famous "Reply" incident, and immediately felt a surge of passion, like the saying "Are emperors and generals born with special privileges?"

I really don't want to pan for gold in the sand to supplement my family's income anymore.

Is this something a movie star should do?

But he couldn't help but furrow his brow as he pondered how much Konoha could actually benefit from this.

How could the other party be as harmless as they claim?

Is it just about collecting patent fees?