Land of Swamps, Demon Sealing Mountain.
Within the underground base, Suijin stood silently before a surgical table. On the table, a clone body was slowly sitting up. As it did so, the cloth blanket draped over its form slid down, revealing a well-built, naked physique. The clone body slowly opened its eyelids, revealing two dark, empty eye sockets.
Looking at this particular clone body, a look of satisfaction appeared in Suijin's eyes. On their last trip to the Moon, Tatsuya had not only obtained the Otsutsuki clan's Tenseigan but had also acquired a tissue sample from Toneri Otsutsuki. After a period of fusion and cultivation, Tatsuya had finally managed to derive fused cells that perfectly inherited Toneri Otsutsuki's bloodline. Using these fused cells, Tatsuya had successfully cultivated the clone body now before Suijin.
This was a clone body that perfectly inherited Hamura Otsutsuki's bloodline. All that was needed now was to combine a high-purity Byakugan with this physique to generate a Tenseigan. The Tenseigan, those legendary eyes—Tatsuya had coveted them for a very long time.
Currently, they possessed both a high-purity Byakugan and a body that perfectly inherited Hamura's bloodline. However, one final condition was still lacking: this current clone body was not a permanent existence. Tatsuya first needed to cultivate this clone body, which perfectly inherited Hamura's bloodline, into a suitable host for the Earth Grudge Fear technique, and then use that secret art to transform it into a permanent clone. Only after the permanent clone was fully formed would it be time to transplant Suijin's eyes into it. This entire process would take at least another six months.
Just as Suijin was meticulously examining his carefully crafted creation, a large influx of information suddenly flooded his mind. It was being transmitted from the main body, Tatsuya, using the Shadow Clone Technique.
"You should familiarize yourself with your new form for a bit," Suijin said to the clone on the surgical table after a slight pause, his body momentarily still. Then, he turned and left the laboratory.
Exiting the underground experimental base, Suijin flickered a few times and arrived at the nearby Ancor Vantian fortress. In the central plaza of the fortress, a small figure was training relentlessly. This small figure was Amaru.
Compared to when she had first arrived in the Land of Swamps, Amaru's aura was noticeably stronger. To help Amaru grow stronger as quickly as possible, Tatsuya had invested considerable effort. Not only had he inscribed his Fujinhoin onto her body, but he had also arranged for Suijin to personally guide her training whenever he had spare time.
"Teacher!" Seeing Suijin arrive, Amaru immediately stopped her training and greeted him respectfully. Nowadays, the gloomy, withdrawn look that had once clouded the little girl's face was gone, replaced by an aura of vitality and youthful energy.
However, Suijin, with his Byakugan, could keenly perceive that the Zero-Tails sealed within Amaru's body was continuously and slowly growing stronger. It was carefully absorbing the negative energy from the demon Moryo to quietly enhance itself. Suijin pretended not to have noticed this. If the Zero-Tails itself was so eager to grow and serve as a power source, Tatsuya certainly wouldn't object.
"Amaru, pack your things. You're coming with me on a trip," Suijin said to Amaru with a faint smile, his voice gentle.
"A trip? Where are we going?" Hearing this, Amaru's small face lit up with excitement. She had been in the Land of Swamps for so long and had rarely had the chance to go outside and explore.
Suijin replied, "To pick someone up."
"Pick someone up?" Amaru looked puzzled.
Suijin nodded. "Mm. Your Uncle Jizo will be going with us to pick them up."
Land of Fields. Yakugakure, the Village Hidden in Medicine.
In the Ta-kage's office, Pakura stood alone before the large window behind her desk, silently gazing down at the village below. Her eyes held a look of lingering attachment and reluctance.
Knock, knock, knock~
A knock sounded from outside the office door.
"Come in." As Pakura's voice fell, Guren, dressed in practical combat attire, hurriedly walked in.
Entering the room, Guren spoke quickly, her voice urgent, "Teacher, news has come from the Land of Iron! The Five Great Shinobi Villages have reached a unanimous decision. They are preparing to declare war on both Akatsuki and the Divine Court!"
Pakura, her back still to Guren, replied indifferently, "Mm. I know."
"Teacher, the Five Great Villages are preparing to declare war on Akatsuki and the Divine Court simultaneously! Our Yakugakure will likely be implicated as well!" Seeing Pakura's seemingly unconcerned reaction, Guren's voice grew more anxious.
In the ninja world, most major powers were aware of certain connections between Yakugakure and the Divine Court. After the Five Great Villages issued their joint declaration, Yakugakure would undoubtedly become a primary target. After all, it was always wisest to pick the softest persimmon first! After the recent Moon battle, the higher-ups of the Five Great Villages all believed that Akatsuki had gained the upper hand. It would likely be very difficult for Yakugakure and Ansei Hall to maintain their previous special, somewhat protected status. Even if the Five Great Villages didn't directly declare war on Yakugakure, a significant amount of probing attacks and acts of sabotage were certainly to be expected. Even if Brother Tatsuya were to dispatch several powerful Divine Court members to reinforce them, it would probably be difficult to effectively defend against such widespread and insidious tactics.
"Guren, don't be anxious. Your Brother Tatsuya already has a plan," Pakura said, turning around. Seeing Guren's worried face, she couldn't help but smile reassuringly.
"Brother Tatsuya has a plan? What is he going to do?" Hearing this, a look of delighted surprise appeared on Guren's face, and she quickly asked for details. Towards Tatsuya, she always held an inexplicable, absolute confidence.
A slight, wry smile touched Pakura's lips. "A full village evacuation."
Guren stared, momentarily stunned. "A full village evacuation?"
Pakura nodded with a bittersweet smile. "That's right. A full village evacuation. The village's relationship with the Divine Court has long been exposed. There's no longer any need for Yakugakure, as it is, to continue existing."
"But… what about all our previous efforts? Are we just going to give it all up like this?" Guren's eyes reddened slightly, her voice filled with unconcealed unwillingness and a sense of loss.
Pakura walked over and gently placed a comforting arm around Guren's shoulders. "It's not giving up, Guren," she said softly. "It's… relocating."
Guren murmured, somewhat dazed, "Relocating? Where to?"
Pakura looked at Guren with a meaningful gaze. "The Land of Swamps."
Guren repeated, "The Land of Swamps?"
Pakura nodded. "Mm. The Land of Demons is too remote from the mainland. The Land of Swamps is now the Divine Court's primary base of operations."
Guren asked, still concerned, "Then how will we get there? With so many people from the village moving together, it will be very difficult to avoid the notice of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, won't it?"
Hearing this, Pakura smiled mysteriously. "Don't worry. Someone will come to pick us up."
Ten days later.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~
In the forest outside Yakugakure, a series of air-cutting sounds echoed continuously as several figures rapidly approached the village. Soon, these individuals arrived before the main gate of Yakugakure.
"Huh? Captain, it seems there's no one guarding the gate here?" Looking at the empty, unguarded main gate of Yakugakure, the faces of the group all showed expressions of confusion and wariness.
"Go! Let's go in and take a look," the leader of the group ordered in a low voice after carefully observing the surroundings of the gate for a moment. With that, the group of ninja flickered and entered Yakugakure.
More than ten minutes later, the figures of this same group reappeared at the main gate of Yakugakure. Standing atop the gate wall, their faces were all etched with expressions of utter disbelief.
Yakugakure… was completely empty! There wasn't a single person inside!
When did they leave? And why did no one hear even the slightest whisper of Ansei Hall and the people of Yakugakure departing?
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