Although every single interaction with Danzō made Uchiha Jiyuki feel utterly disgusted, he could endure that discomfort for the sake of his plan.
After steadying his thoughts, he began searching the Archive Room for scrolls related to medical ninjutsu.
"Healing Technique, Mystical Palm, Chakra Scalpel, Yin Healing Wound Destruction, Disease Extraction, Cellular Activation, Body Disorder Wave, Gland Pulse…"
Standing on tiptoe in the corner of the Archive Room, Jiyuki's eyes scanned the titles of each scroll, his expression gradually shifting to surprise.
"There are this many kinds?"
About an hour later, Jiyuki had roughly grasped the categorization of these medical techniques.
The first category consisted of output-type jutsu such as Healing Technique, Mystical Palm, and Chakra Scalpel. These were used to accelerate cell repair, metabolism, and regeneration—or to cut through cells, tissues, and nerves.
They were essentially the most basic clinical surgical tools.
The second category, represented by Yin Healing Wound Destruction, Disease Extraction, and Cellular Activation, fell under theoretical-practical jutsu. Their defining trait was that without mastering the underlying theory, one could not hope to use them effectively, requiring a deep foundation in medical knowledge.
These were the hardest to learn.
The third category included techniques like Body Disorder Wave and Gland Pulse. They worked by converting chakra into bioelectric currents to either enhance or suppress neurotransmitter activity, allowing for emergency anesthesia or extending the treatment window.
Interestingly, most scrolls had notes and insights scribbled in the margins from previous practitioners. However, the scrolls for Body Disorder Wave and Gland Pulse had none—only a single line of different handwriting at the bottom of the text:
"As expected of Lady Tsunade!"
"Damn… so no one could understand this?"
Jiyuki tried reading it carefully, but by the third line, he gave up. He recognized each character individually, but together they were incomprehensible.
"…Yeah, truly worthy of Lady Tsunade."
That evening
In his dimly lit room, Jiyuki sat by the bed, gazing at the moonlight through the window and murmuring to himself:
"Genjutsu, Izanagi, Izanami, Mangekyō Sharingan, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Totsuka Blade, Yata Mirror…"
"And keen opportunity-grabbing ability, rich tactical reserves, sky-high combat IQ, superb strategic vision…" He frowned. "Itachi is terrifying—hardly any weaknesses at all."
Even as his sworn enemy, Jiyuki couldn't help but acknowledge Itachi's strength.
More importantly—
He wasn't Sasuke. Itachi wouldn't hold back against him. If he went after Itachi without perfect preparation, it would be suicide.
"As expected, I still have a long way to go."
With a sigh, Jiyuki shifted his gaze from the moonlit window back to the small room.
Honestly—
It was tiny.
But still large enough to practice his Ope Ope no Mi abilities.
He quickly activated his ROOM space, drew his father's tachi, Fūrin, and dismembered his own body. Then, while his detached hands practiced hand seals, his two isolated feet walked across the floor.
Soon, an unintentionally comical scene emerged.
After only a few steps from the walking feet, the floating hands stopped moving altogether.
"Hah… looks like I need a lot more practice."
He imagined an enemy seeing him split apart—kunai clenched between his teeth, sword gripped between his legs, hands forming seals while ninjutsu erupted from his gaping torso—and thought that perhaps Law had developed the Ope Ope no Mi in the wrong direction.
Wouldn't it be better to turn himself into a three-part or even multi-part weapon system?
After all, the body cut apart by the ROOM Slaughterhouse was still "alive." Average shinobi might fail to react, but an experienced jōnin would certainly notice something off—and the longer it went on, the greater the risk of being found out.
So, Jiyuki felt that instead of using it on enemies, he could use it on himself. Sure, the style might not be very Kishimoto—it was more Oda—but if it made him stronger, who cared?
Thinking this, Jiyuki began experimenting with abandon, playing around until he was completely immersed.
It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that he finally fell asleep.
The next morning
Yawning, Jiyuki walked to the training grounds outside the base and found many people already there.
Some were practicing with kunai.
Some were relentlessly striking wooden dummies.
And some were even sitting in the trees, drawing.
"…Huh? Something feels off."
He stared blankly for two seconds, still a bit drowsy, then shrugged it off and rubbed his sore shoulders, walking toward Yamanaka Kaze and Aburame Torigen, who were sparring nearby.
In the anime, the two had served as Danzō's guards during the Five Kage Summit, accompanying him to the Land of Iron. They were both formidable—unfortunately, they ran into Tobi, the ultimate cheat character, and were killed.
Otherwise, they'd be at least Kakashi-level powerhouses.
What a waste of talent under Danzō's command…
Thinking that, and eager to recruit them for himself, Jiyuki unconsciously quickened his pace.
However, once he reached them, he didn't speak right away—instead, he stood by and observed quietly.
Before long, he noticed that Kaze's offense was well-structured and his stance steady—clearly a trained martial artist.
Torigen, on the other hand, was far less refined—more like a primary schooler relying on brute force, with zero technique.
Probably a result of his upbringing…
Could it be that Torigen wasn't well-treated at home?
Maybe… this was the opening he'd been hoping for.
Although neither he nor Aoki Hiro had ever been leaders, they'd watched enough dramas to at least have some ideas.
Before long, Torigen—still slow to adapt—was pushed to the ground by Kaze.
"Damn it!"
Torigen clenched his jaw in frustration.
"Torigen, take a break."
Jiyuki stepped forward, extending his right hand to the boy lying on the ground, clearly intending to help him up.
"I…"
As someone who fed poisonous insects with his own body, Torigen wanted to warn him not to touch him.
But Jiyuki didn't give him the chance—he shook his right hand slightly and said firmly:
"Give me your hand."
He… doesn't mind touching me?
It should be fine to shake hands just once, right?
Besides, I'm wearing gloves…
After a moment's hesitation, Torigen grasped Jiyuki's hand and used the pull to stand up.
The warmth of that touch caused a subtle shift in Torigen's emotions. Not that he showed it—he simply gave Jiyuki a slight nod before walking to the shade of a tree to rest with his arms folded.
A good start… Jiyuki withdrew his gaze and turned toward Kaze.
This one probably wouldn't be as easy to win over.
Just then, Kaze's eyes lit up as he said eagerly:
"Perfect—let's see how strong the 'Alpha' personally named by Lord Danzō is!"
At his words, the children training nearby stopped in surprise, staring at Jiyuki.
"No way—he's the Alpha?"
"Impossible!"
"He doesn't look like much…"
"Kaze, take this!"
With so many eyes on him, Jiyuki remained calm. He nodded slightly at Kaze, activated his Sharingan, and charged forward.
"Good!"
Kaze grinned, meeting Jiyuki's incoming punch with a kick.
Jiyuki quickly sidestepped, then countered with a punch toward Kaze's chest.
Kaze intended to press down and trap Jiyuki's fist before pushing him to the ground—but Jiyuki anticipated this. With a flick of his right arm, he knocked Kaze's palm aside.
The two locked eyes briefly, then stepped back.