vncnus Chapter 158 Professional Substitute Player, Top-Paying Bodyguard!
Chapter 158 Professional Substitute Player, Top-Paying Bodyguard!
Chapter 158 Professional Substitute Player, Top-Paying Bodyguard!
In this world, the Daimyo of the five great nations hold nominal supreme power, even capable of issuing appointment or dismissal orders to the Kage. Although the Kage usually ignores them, they still have to maintain appearances.
Why do these powerful figures have such great power?
Ultimately, it's because they control the money.
In the world of ninjas, the operation of ninja villages requires a lot of money. War requires money, construction requires money, compensation requires money, and research requires money.
Where does this money come from?
It came from the hands of the daimyo.
The daimyo amassed enormous wealth through taxes, trade, land, and minerals, and then used this wealth to employ ninja villages to protect their interests.
It's a delicate balance.
The ninja village provides military force, and the daimyo provides financial resources.
But the question is, what do these nobles have besides money?
There was nothing there.
They lack martial arts skills, bloodline limits, ninjutsu, and most of them don't even have the basic ability to protect themselves.
This is something that Makoto Kotachibana simply cannot understand.
In this extraordinary world, there exists a group of noble lords who, despite not wielding any power, hold the highest and greatest authority in the world.
is it possible?
The five elders of the Pirate King next door are all comparable to the Emperor level in terms of combat power!
As the saying goes, political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. In Makoto Koji's view, only the bigger the fist, the bigger the power. Otherwise, why should people obey you?
But that's just how the world is, even before the Sage of Six Paths descended to spread chakra.
"I haven't read enough books."
Gouju Cheng gave a light snort and expressed his opinion.
To some extent, the ninja world is still a feudal, even slave society, where the upper echelons monopolize everything, including all resources such as education and healthcare.
Although the major ninja villages seem to be very close to the people, with resources such as ninja academies and medical facilities open to civilians, just look at what these ninja academies actually teach.
How to train and become a ninja.
How do you become a ninja and then go on missions?
How to become a better ninja and perform missions better.
As long as your ninja skills meet the requirements, you can graduate early, become a ninja, and go on missions!
There was no ideological education, no social awareness, no moral values whatsoever.
Oh, and Konoha will also brainwash you a bit, making you a better sucker, a torchbearer, igniting the Will of Fire~
In this ninja world, no matter how I look at it, all I see is the word "cannibalism"!
The next day, outside Wuyin Village, at the temporary resettlement area.
Gouju Cheng stood in front of a simple but relatively tidy wooden house, watching the Loulan survivors packing their things, a satisfied smile on his face.
In just one day, with the help of the Fog Shadow logistics department, these people from the desert had been initially settled. Although the conditions were rudimentary, for them who had been hiding in the ruins of Loulan for four years, living a precarious life, this place was already paradise.
"Lord Cheng!"
'
Sarah jogged over, her face filled with genuine gratitude: "Thank you so much! We...we really don't know what to say!"
"No need to thank me. I promised you, so of course I'll keep my word." Makoto Koji waved his hand. "How are you getting used to it?"
"I'm used to it, so used to it." Sarah nodded vigorously. "Lord Yagura came to see us yesterday and brought a lot of supplies. He said he'll process our citizenship in a few days, and then we'll be official citizens of the Land of Water!"
"That's good."
Gouju nodded, took out a bulging money bag from his pocket, and handed it to Sarah.
"Here is 500,000 taels of silver, a small token of my appreciation. Take it to buy some daily necessities, or keep it for emergencies."
Sarah was stunned, and quickly waved her hands, "How can we do that! Lord Cheng, you've already helped us so much, how can we take your money again!"
"Just take it."
Gouju Cheng stuffed the money pouch into her hand, his tone leaving no room for refusal, "You have nothing right now, and there are many places where you'll need money to start over. Keep this money, in case there's any emergency, you won't be caught off guard."
"Thank you so much."
"No problem, no problem."
Exchanging 500,000 taels for a dragon vein is a sure-fire way to make a profit.
Moreover, the Land of Water is currently in the post-war recovery phase, with everything in need of rebuilding and a severe shortage of manpower. Although the number of people Sara and the others joining Kirigakure is small, they can still contribute to the future development of Kirigakure.
After seeing off the profusely grateful Sarah, Makoto Koji turned and walked out of the temporary resettlement area.
My thoughts about the noble gentlemen are becoming clearer and clearer.
Although Kirigakure won the war, it had indeed depleted its resources. When Yagura's cousin mentioned that number, Makoto Karatachi, though outwardly calm, felt a jolt in his heart.
They were really short of money.
His own upcoming research on white leukocytes is a bottomless pit.
That guy Sasori will be coming to the Land of Waves in half a month. He'll need to provide research facilities, research funding, and all sorts of rare materials.
Scorpion pursues eternal art, but he, the Red Sand Scorpion, is not one to live on air alone.
"Well, looks like I need to get on with this wool-plucking work."
Gouju Cheng stood on a high slope outside the village, gazing at the coastline that was faintly visible in the mist in the distance, his gaze seemingly piercing through the mist and reaching even further into the distance.
The Land of Fire, the Land of Thunder, the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind —
The nobles and lords of the five great kingdoms were all incredibly wealthy. Their palaces were piled high with gold and jewels, their warehouses were stacked with neatly arranged silks and satins, and their underground vaults held hidden riches—
Even a small amount would be enough for him to study for several years.
The next day, in the Mizukage's office.
"What did you say?"
Yagura put down his teacup and looked at his cousin in disbelief.
"You're going to the Land of Fire?"
"Yes." Makoto leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and looked completely at ease. "I have some things to take care of in the Land of Fire. I'll be back in about two weeks at most."
Yagura frowned.
Although the war was over and Konoha had signed a reparations agreement, the hostility between the two sides had not been completely eliminated. Going to the Land of Fire at this time would be like throwing oneself to the wolves.
"Acheng, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Don't worry, we're not going to fight," Makoto Goji chuckled. "We're going to do business."
"Doing business?"
"Yes, the mercenary business!"
Makoto Karimoto took out a carefully prepared scroll from his pocket and handed it to Yagura.
Yagura took the scroll, unfolded it, and frowned even more.
"You want to be a mercenary, getting paid to fight for you?!"
"Yes, cousin, I'm serious." Makoto Koji coughed lightly and said in a deep voice, "You know the current situation in the ninja world, especially in Konoha. The war between Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure has not stopped. According to the intelligence department, Konoha is about to collapse."
Yagura's brows were almost furrowed into a deep frown.
He put down the reel and stared at Makoto Koji with the look of someone who was looking at a madman.
"Ah Cheng, are you serious? Konoha is indeed surrounded by enemies right now, but you, the Mizukage of Kirigakure, are going to the Land of Fire to become a mercenary for their enemies? If this gets out—"
"Don't worry, cousin. I was prepared. Besides, I'm going to talk to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, not the Hokage. Daimyo, you know what I mean."
Yagura's brows furrowed even more.
The scroll that Makoto Gojibana gave him was quite extraordinary. It contained a detailed business plan, covering everything from market analysis and target customers to pricing strategies and risk control. It was so well-organized that it seemed impossible for a ninja to have written it.
But what really catches the eye is the large text in the title.
[A feasibility study on providing high-end military support services to the nobles and wealthy merchants of the five major powers during wartime]
"The noble lords of the five great nations are all incredibly wealthy, but what do they fear most? Of course, they fear death!"
"Iwagakure and Konoha are still at war, as are Sunagakure and Iwagakure. The territories, trade routes, and properties of those nobles are in constant danger of being affected by the war and urgently need protection."
"At this point, if we, the Hidden Mist Sect, were to launch a 'high-end armed bodyguard service'..."
Gouju Cheng spread out his hands and made a gesture as if counting money.
"Isn't that like providing charcoal in snowy weather, where supply can't meet demand?"
Yagura listened, completely bewildered.
What this kid said actually makes some sense.
"But----"
Yagura was still somewhat hesitant. "We just finished fighting Konoha. If we go to the Land of Fire to take on a mission now, will Konoha agree?"
"Why do we need their consent?" Makoto Karatachi retorted. "I'm not going to negotiate with Konoha; I'm going to protect those noble lords. If the Daimyo of the Land of Fire feels unsafe and wants to hire me as a bodyguard, would Konoha dare to stop him?"
Yagura fell silent.
That's something that's hard to refute.
Although the Daimyo and the Kage are nominally equal in rank and check each other, they are two jewels of the same country.
But the truth is that the daimyo's power and status are above that of the kage!
If the Daimyo insists on asking the Hidden Mist Ninja for protection, Konoha really has no substantial means other than protesting.
Moreover, Makoto Karatachi's strength—
Yagura recalled the battles between Kazama and Tani, and then thought of the Dragon Vein. Looking at his cousin, who was smiling like a fox, he suddenly felt that he should worry about those unlucky fools rather than his cousin's safety.
"Alright."
Yagura finally nodded and handed the scroll back to Makoto Karatachi: "Since you're confident, then go for it. But remember, safety first, don't be too conspicuous."
"Don't worry, cousin, don't you trust me to handle things?"
Yagura's lips twitched.
rest assured?
Don't be so sure!
Immediately after I said that last time, Konoha's supply depot was blown up.
After you said that last time, you went to the Land of Hot Springs and stirred up a conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure.
You said that again this time —
Yagura suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for those aristocratic gentlemen who were about to become customers of the "Kujiki" brand.
Makoto Koji didn't rush to the Land of Fire.
The main purpose of this operation is to make money, and the most important thing is how to plan the use of this money.
Inside the Hidden Mist Medical Department.
Gouju Cheng pushed open the door to a special laboratory deep inside the research institute, and a smell mixed with disinfectant and some strange biomatter wafted out.
In the laboratory, Mizuki Hyou was intently operating a precision chakra microscope. In several petri dishes beside her, pale white cell tissues slowly writhed in the nutrient solution, emitting a faint bioluminescence.
"Minister Bing, I'm sorry to bother you."
Gouju Cheng walked over, stopped in front of the petri dish, and looked at the few clumps of white blood cells.
When Mizuki Hyou looked up and saw that it was Makoto Karatachi in his true form, she immediately put down her work and a rare smile appeared on her face.
"I didn't expect you to come in your real body. You usually use shadow clones."
"I'm sending you money, of course I want the real thing."
With a smile, Makoto Koji took out a scroll from his pocket, then created a shadow clone that stood next to Hyo Minazuki.
Since he began studying White Zetsu, Makoto Kariju has basically been using clones to follow Hyo Minazuki, striving to master and learn this technique to the greatest extent possible.
Science is the primary productive force, a fact that Gouju Cheng has never forgotten.
With the help of the Sharingan and other powers, Makoto Kotachibana's mastery of biotechnology has made considerable progress. Although he is not yet on par with Hyou Mizuki, he has already achieved some success in cell research.
Mizuki Hyou took off her gloves, took the scroll, and opened it.
Two leather trunks suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Mizuki Hyou opened the first box, inside which were neatly stacked finely crafted gold bars, gleaming with a soft golden luster under the laboratory lights.
"This is----"
"The first batch of research funding is 20 million taels."
Gouju Cheng leaned against the lab bench, his tone relaxed: "Use this for now, we'll talk about it if it's not enough."
Mizuki Hyou looked at the box of gold bars, then at Makoto Koji, a complex expression flashing in her cool eyes.
Twenty million taels.
For a medical research project, this is an enormous sum of money that would tempt any researcher. Especially given the village's current financial difficulties, the fact that Gouju Cheng could come up with this amount is clearly no small sum.
"This money—"
"Everything is clean, don't worry." Makoto Koji waved his hand, interrupting her concerns. "My cousin said that I will be responsible for the funding of the White Zetsu project, so I will provide the research funding for the rest of the project."
"—Lord Cheng is certainly wealthy and powerful."
Mizuki Hyou closed the box and pushed it aside. "With this money, many experiments that were previously put on hold due to insufficient funding can be restarted. In particular, research on the maintenance and proliferation of white blood cell activity will progress much faster."
"It's all up to you, Minister Bing. Once the finished product is ready, you'll get a 10% share!"
Mizuki Hyou paused for a moment, then shook her head.
"Lord Cheng is joking. I was just doing my duty. Besides, the research on White Zetsu cells is for the benefit of the village, so what's the point of talking about shares?"
"You can't say that." Gouju looked at her seriously. "Minister Bing, you're a professional, I'm a self-taught one."
The progress and advancements in leukocyte research largely depend on your investment and effort. A small percentage of the profits is the most direct way I can think of to express my gratitude.
"Of course, it won't be given to you now, but after the research results are commercialized. At that time, whether it's for medical products or other applications, you will receive 10% of the profits. This is what you deserve."
Mizuki Hyou remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Since Lord Cheng insists, then I shall accept. However—"
She changed the subject, her gaze becoming somewhat subtle: "Lord Cheng came in person today and specifically mentioned commercialization," it couldn't be just about giving money, could it?
Gouju chuckled and didn't hide anything.
"Minister Bing has keen insight. Giving money is one thing, but on the other hand—I'd like to discuss with you the deeper potential applications of leukocytes."
"A deeper level?"
"right."
Gouju Cheng walked to the lab bench and pointed to the slowly wriggling white cell tissue in the petri dish: "Minister Bing, after this period of research, what are your thoughts on the nature of white blood cells?"
Mizuki Hyou paused for a moment, then organized her thoughts and said, "The activity of this cell far surpasses that of ordinary human cells, reaching an almost unbelievable level. It can divide and proliferate rapidly, and it has an extremely high affinity for chakra, and can even autonomously absorb and convert natural energy."
"More importantly, these cells seem to lack clear 'exclusivity.'"
"good."
Makoto Kujira nodded. His shadow clone had been following along with the research, so he naturally understood what Mizuki Hiromi was saying.
"So, Minister Bing, don't you think these cells are very similar to Samehada?"
Samehada?
Mizuki Hyou paused for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed, the principles are similar, but the forms of expression are different."
"Samehada is a biological weapon that absorbs chakra through physical contact. White Zetsu cells, on the other hand, are a form of assimilation and adaptation at the cellular level. Theoretically, if we implant White Zetsu cells into the human body, they will directly adapt to the body."
"But Samehada is different. Samehada requires a long period of matching and fusion. Of course, Samehada's fusion with the human body is also at a deeper level."
After listening, Gouju Cheng nodded.
Mizuki Hyou's research findings were even more in-depth than he had anticipated.
"Minister Bing, what if—I mean, what if—white blood cells were to undergo deep fusion with human cells, instead of simply coexisting?"
"Deep integration?"
Mizuki Hyou frowned slightly. As the head of the Kirigakure Medical Department, she naturally understood the enormous risks and possibilities behind this term.
"Does Master Cheng mean—complete fusion at the cellular level?"
"right."
Goji nods, his gaze fixed intently on the wriggling white cells in the petri dish: "It's not just about coexistence, but about true integration. It's about making the white blood cells part of the human body, part of the body, not parasitic outsiders."
"Or rather, based on this, directly create a completely new type of cell!"
Mizuki Hyou remained silent for a moment, walked to the lab bench, picked up a detailed experimental data record, quickly glanced through it, and then slowly began to speak.
"Theoretically, it's feasible."
"Oh?" Makoto Goji's eyes lit up.
"The 'non-exclusivity' of leukocytes is the biggest breakthrough."
Mizuki Hyou pointed to the wriggling white cells in the petri dish, her tone becoming professional and calm.
"Ordinary xenogeneic cells implanted into the human body will cause a severe rejection by the immune system, resulting in inflammation and necrosis in mild cases, and life-threatening situations in severe cases. However, leukocytes are different; they can secrete a special adaptive factor," actively neutralizing the attack of immune cells while mimicking the characteristics of surrounding tissues, achieving "disguised coexistence."
Gou Jucheng nodded; he knew all of this.
Having studied the Shadow Clone Technique for so long, he has long since mastered the basic theories.
"But this coexistence is ultimately just a 'pretense'."
Mizuki Hyou continued, tapping her fingers lightly on the edge of the cultured blood.
"Leukemia cells are still leukemia cells, and human cells are still human cells. They can coexist peacefully and work together, but they are essentially two different life forms. Once the external environment changes, or leukemia cells are stimulated in some way, this fragile balance may be broken."
"Deep fusion is about breaking this pretense of coexistence," allowing the two types of cells to truly merge into one, creating a completely new fused cell that possesses the advantages of both.
1
Is the success rate high?
Gouju Cheng's eyes were burning.
"Currently, it's less than 10%."
Mizuki Hyou's answer was crisp and to the point, without any embellishment.
"While leukemia cells exhibit remarkable activity, their non-exclusivity also has its limits. We have conducted several preliminary experiments inducing the fusion of leukemia cells with ordinary human cells in vitro."
"As a result, most of the experimental groups collapsed during the fusion process, with cell walls rupturing and cytoplasm leaking out, ultimately leaving only a pool of organic residue without any life activity."
"Although a small number of experimental groups successfully fused, the fused cells were extremely unstable. Some underwent apoptosis within hours, some experienced uncontrollable cancerous proliferation, and others—developed some strange phagocytic properties," turning around and attacking surrounding normal cells.
Gouju Cheng frowned slightly.
Sure enough, this road was not easy to travel.
"What about those cells that have successfully fused and stabilized?"
"Almost none."
Mizuki Hyou shook her head: "However, when using the blood cells of the Kaguya clan, the degree of fusion between the two was greatly improved, but it still failed in the end."
"The Kaguya clan?"
Gouju Cheng frowned slightly, as if he had thought of something, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
Could it be that...
A descendant of the Otsutsuki clan?!