"You gave the Bull Model Fruit to Duy?"
Akaba asked, slightly taken aback.
"Exactly. After some research, its effects suited Duy best. With the Bull Model Fruit, the side effects of Duy's [Eight Gates] will be significantly reduced while increasing their power. Best of all, he now has a pair of bull horns, giving him more variety in attacks."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement. That overwhelming, eerie power made him eager to continue his research further. Duy was undoubtedly an excellent test subject.
Akaba stroked his chin and nodded lightly. "Fine."
He had planned on giving it to Duy anyway, but Orochimaru proceeding straight to having Duy eat it after his research somewhat surprised him.
"By the way, when can you get me a Rinnegan for study? I'm extremely curious about this legendary eye."
Orochimaru's eyes sparkled with intense interest.
Hearing this unreasonable request, Akaba fell silent.
Is there any hidden meaning behind these words?
I can't even create a Rinnegan!
That alone already costs ten thousand points to obtain—that's not even the main issue. The real problem is whether I could even use it at all, and I'd have to sacrifice my Kaleidoscope Sharingan as well.
Plus,
even if I had one, I'd never take it out just for your research.
He inwardly scoffed.
"Sorry, but it seems you lack the ability to turn imagination into reality."
Orochimaru sighed regretfully.
Studying the Bull Model Fruit left him baffled—it broke every rule he thought existed.
Among countless hypotheses forming in his mind, one was that Akaba had somehow "created" this Devil Fruit himself.
"Do you seriously think that's possible?"
Akaba remained utterly composed. With his current spiritual strength and [Genjutsu] abilities, controlling his emotions was second nature.
"Hehe, just imagine—if you could do that, I'd have so many materials to research. So secretly, I still hope Mr. Akaba can accomplish this."
Smiling, Orochimaru stood up to leave.
It was rare for him to come out from the laboratory—not simply for small talk with Akaba, but because The Third urgently needed him elsewhere. A messenger had even delivered official documents directly to the lab.
"Farewell then. If you need anything, come here. I'll be holed up doing drawings lately, so I probably won't leave."
Thinking again, Akaba left this parting remark.
Yesterday alone, he drew *One Piece* up to chapter 195, where Luffy and Crocodile's battle had reached its most critical and intense moment.
Today, maintaining such an update pace might finally finish the Alabasta arc.
The binge update strategy worked like a charm. Just today alone, over ten thousand points already flowed into his account. If not for worrying that directly exchanging for the Rinnegan would ultimately result in him ending up like Nagato—being able to open it yet unable to shut it off, leaving his body eventually drained—he could've already exchanged for the Rinnegan.
Though he couldn't trade for those right now, he could certainly upgrade his physique.
When he got up at noon and headed out, he spent seven thousand five hundred points to exchange for thirty Physical Strength, raising his physique attribute to two hundred points.
Two hundred was a crucial threshold.
According to Akaba's experiments, two hundred Spirit Points already surpassed The Third's level. True, The Third wasn't particularly skilled in Genjutsu, thus his spiritual energy would naturally be relatively weaker.
Even so, two hundred Physical Strength points might barely qualify as reaching the lower limit for Kage-level Attribute Points.
In terms of overall capability, once Akaba unleashes his full power, he would be an extremely formidable presence even among Kage-level fighters.
However, if Madara manages to locate Black Zetsu using the Whispering Fruit, he might discover the secrets of the Rinnegan earlier than expected and gain its power.
If that happens, there would be no need for him to go through another reincarnation.
After all, although Madara is aging right now, thanks to Hashirama Cells, he might still survive for a few more years.
In short, there are many variables.
Recalling yesterday, when Mito Uzumaki voluntarily gave up her youthful appearance,
Akaba mused silently to himself.
Although Mito Uzumaki still has a considerable amount of lifespan remaining, she could probably endure only one or two full-scale battles before entering complete decline.
Kyoyuki already demonstrates foundational Jinchuriki-like capabilities, but compared to Madara, she's still far too weak.
Mito Uzumaki must not die!
Should I make it into a movie special?
"After all, she still has plenty of life left, and Madara wouldn't dare attack Konoha while Grandma Mito is still alive," Akaba thought to himself.
Right now, Madara should be hiding in the Land of Water, where information is scarce, and the manga won't spread there quickly. There won't be any immediate action for a while.
As for Black Zetsu, there's no way to completely prevent him. The only choice is to update faster and obtain methods to train Observation Haki as soon as possible.
Coincidentally, since he'd just distributed some Attribute Points today, he decided to try summoning four Shadow Clones again. Yesterday, after using three Shadow Clones and working alongside his original body all afternoon, he still had plenty of stamina left.
At the training field,
Duy completed five hundred laps, sat down to catch his breath for a moment, then immediately resumed training.
When he received the fruit this morning, he hadn't felt anything unusual at first, but after returning and researching it further, he realized this kind of fruit seemed to be unique to Konoha, with only one specimen existing.
Understanding this, Duy felt his youthful passion begin to boil.
The next second, his form abruptly transformed into a bison state, the change coming suddenly and unexpectedly.
A few seconds later, he plowed through several trees before finally stopping.
"Damn it, I still can't control these sudden transformations. How can I face Akaba-sama and Orochimaru-sama's trust without mastering this?!"
"I'll run another thousand laps around the training ground! If I can't accomplish that, I'll do five hundred strikes on the wooden posts—upside down on my feet!"
"This brat... this brat..."
Black Zetsu held a book and stared in disbelief. Today's chapter actually showcased him!
What's more, there was also the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Suddenly, unease surged within Black Zetsu. Ever since he first approached that kid, he seemed to have been continuously unlucky, and this streak of misfortune had yet to fade away.
He took a deep breath.
But what really mattered wasn't even that—he began wondering how much else the boy actually knew.
Everything? Or... something worse?
Black Zetsu couldn't determine the answer. This uncertainty made him deeply anxious. From birth until now, he had always lived hidden in darkness beyond others' sight. What Akaba did was equivalent to pulling aside that veil, fully exposing him from darkness into bright daylight.
"No, I must kill him. I absolutely must eliminate that brat!"
Black Zetsu hissed under his breath. That kid was truly a calamity. If he continued living, everything might collapse, especially for someone like Madara.
[The grand plan to resurrect Mother must NOT fail!]
But how?
"Using Madara Uchiha won't work. That guy is naturally suspicious—I push too hard, the more he'll feel something's off. If Akaba knows enough, he might even turn Madara Uchiha against us."
Black Zetsu tried calming himself.
If Madara discovered all this was his plan, then after awakening the Rinnegan, Madara's first enemy would probably be none other than Black Zetsu himself.
I have to rely on myself.
But relying on myself… How could he possibly play this game?
Black Zetsu excelled at schemes—his scouting abilities were unmatched in the world. But when it came to brute force, perhaps any Jonin from Konoha could pin him down and beat him senseless.
He didn't know Akaba's exact strength, but judging from that brutal martial arts style and the oddly effective Genjutsu, that kid must have an exceptionally strong spirit.
Moreover, that guy could sense him.
"I need to find someone."
Throughout his long existence, Black Zetsu had never felt so desperate and helpless. Even the most cunning plots have their limits.
Like now.
After careful consideration, he believed manipulating Sunagakure offered the highest chance of success.
Sunagakure had recently welcomed its new Kazekage, who had long been oppressed by Konoha. Recently, Akaba's two manga volumes had also heavily slandered Sunagakure; swaying this young leader should be quite feasible.
"But I alone probably can't convince them... First, I'll go investigate. With sufficient justification, even Madara Uchiha can be manipulated."
Deciding this, Black Zetsu set off toward Sunagakure to observe the situation.
Meanwhile, unaware they'd become a target, Sunagakure was currently discussing the Devil Fruits issue. Communication was slow since the Land of Water lay far from Sunagakure—even with messenger hawks, there would still be delays.
"The sale of the Devil Fruit has been confirmed as a scheme orchestrated by a cult," Minister Ebizō read aloud from the received reports. "However, a genuine Devil Fruit unexpectedly appeared within this plot, prompting a powerful unknown figure to fight fiercely over it."
Among the four seated elders, Chiyo already knew all this, so she wasn't surprised. However, Gaikotsu Sankai and Shamon hadn't known before, naturally shocked upon hearing this.
A second later, Sankai asked cautiously, "A real Devil Fruit? Can we confirm that?"
"Not entirely certain, but those cultists definitely don't understand its effects."
Minister Ebizō remained calm.
"In other words, it's truly possible one exists..."
Sankai took a deep breath.
Anyone who had read the manga knew how bizarre Devil Fruits were—their powers often outclassed even the rarest Kekkei Genkai abilities, like those found in ancient legends.
If such devilish fruits truly existed out at sea, Sunagakure certainly needed to launch maritime expeditions to search.
Sankai originally wanted to decide on his own but hesitated before turning to The Teacher beside him. "Teacher, what do you think?"
"I believe pursuing this holds nothing but benefits. The ocean contains abundant resources. Previously, I proposed developing these maritime resources, but the Daimyo refused, claiming the seas barren and scarce. This presents an excellent opportunity."
Shamon nodded in agreement.
"Alright then. I'll draft an application immediately, requesting ships from the Daimyo."
Sankai looked excited.
Then, a hawk soared from Sunagakure, flying straight toward the Land of Wind Daimyo's mansion.
Actually, it's not just Sunagakure Village — Iwagakure Village, Cloud Village, and even Takigakure have caught wind of the news that the real Devil Fruit has surfaced in the Land of Water. As a result, they've readied some ships and set out from their respective nations, embarking on maritime expeditions toward the Land of Water.
The Great Maritime Age of the Ninja World begins with a single Devil Fruit!
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