A ninja's life truly isn't worth much.
But even laboratory mice—however many die—should have some value, right? Even mice shouldn't die in vain.
Gorō Fūma, as a standard cold-blooded native ninja, held cruel and extreme views. Often, he felt it wouldn't matter if every ninja in the world except his own people died.
So here, he had to sincerely thank Yūshin. Because of Yūshin, he discovered for the first time that he could feel compassion even for outsiders.
Why? Because he was kind.
"Could we... pretend we never realized this?" Gorō Fūma hesitated before speaking.
So what if it was self-deception? Avoidance might be shameful, but it works. Once he accepted Yūshin's suggestion, wouldn't Gorō Fūma have wasted all this time for nothing?
Not that his work lacked progress, but his work efficiency would seem extremely low, and the costs extremely high.
Why hadn't Yūshin mentioned this earlier? If he had, wouldn't success have come much sooner?
The "Grudge" in Cursed Grudge Fear was the grudge of the tragic test subjects, and also Gorō Fūma's grudge.
As for the "Cursed," who knows how many curses Yūshin had silently endured.
"Of course not. What are you thinking? We can use such experiments to directly screen internal ninja who can adapt to the Cursed Grudge Fear secret technique. If they have no objections, they'll get a chance to become stronger... Better late than never."
Having discovered a special mechanism, it must naturally be utilized. How could one choose to ignore it? Where's the scientific spirit?
Using the "skin test mechanism," they could completely screen out those who could adapt to the secret technique, directly avoiding its risks and making transplantation targeted, eliminating blindness. Could there be anything better?
Although this "skin test" might hurt a bit—requiring cutting off part of the subject's flesh and tissue—compared to the enormous risks avoided and potential benefits gained, what was one cut?
Which ninja doesn't get cut daily? This wasn't even worth mentioning.
Thinking this, Yūshin instantly lost interest in the surviving test subject.
He said to Gorō Fūma:
"Put the iterative cultivation of grafts on hold for now. Your work priority needs to shift to identifying cellular changes after transplantation... What changes occur with successful transplantation? What direction do failures take? This needs to be clarified quickly."
"This matter cannot be sloppy in any way, because the next recipients will be our own people."
Yūshin hadn't thought of such a simple experimental method before because he simply hadn't considered it. Only when it came time to transplant into his own people did he have this "flash of inspiration."
It seemed he truly didn't care much about the lab mice's survival.
"I understand." Gorō Fūma took a deep breath, then nodded solemnly.
Seeing that Yūshin's new discovery could truly help his own people avoid risks, he immediately forgot about those previous tragic test subjects... It was better to discover such things late than never—thinking this way, there was no problem.
Ahem, humans are always good at self-persuasion.
The precious test subject remained precious, but both felt there was nothing more to see. Gorō Fūma immediately redirected his research, and soon achieved ideal results.
When Earth Grudge Fear grafts were transplanted onto someone or their body tissue, the cellular changes from compatibility versus incompatibility were very obvious.
But for safety, following cautious principles, Gorō Fūma still conducted multiple experiments and repeated observations before finally confirming the identification method's accuracy.
Essentially, Gorō Fūma wasn't really a researcher—he lacked such basic qualities. His current so-called research project was just being forced into service.
Why did he seem to be doing well? Because the research itself was only at the level of "dig a hole and bury some dirt"—any ninja could handle it.
But regardless, results were achieved, and practical application was possible.
Although Cursed Grudge Fear transplant grafts currently seemed insufficiently iterated and couldn't achieve "complete detoxification," as long as the screening mechanism was fully utilized, it could already become a usable blade for the organization.
...
After resting just one day, Tobirama Senju felt his body had recovered considerably. Judging himself not too weak to fight, he decided to leave Kikyō Castle and return to the Senju Clan as soon as possible.
Yūshin's guidance on Flying Thunder God development was valuable, but even with direction, space-time ninjutsu development wasn't accomplished overnight.
Especially considering the extreme dangers of spatial jumping, Tobirama Senju would never risk his life on rash experiments without absolute certainty.
Who knew how long developing such ninjutsu would take? Therefore, Tobirama Senju couldn't stay long in Kikyō Castle.
Last time, when he developed the Rasengan with Yūshin, he wasted considerable time. His prolonged absence caused much panic within the clan—after all, in this era, ninja overdue from missions were likely dead.
So this time he didn't want to trouble the clan the same way... but he didn't know he was already causing trouble.
After discussing with Yūshin in the morning, he decided to bid farewell that evening.
With Tobirama Senju's personality, he should have left the hospital directly—with his sensing ability, he needed no guide to find Yūshin.
But for some reason, he didn't do this. Instead, he inexplicably sought out Chihori Hagūgen first, explained his intention to leave, then had her guide him to find Yūshin... Perhaps because he was civilized and polite.
When Yūshin saw Tobirama Senju and understood his intention, he naturally had no objections... To Yūshin, Tobirama Senju either returned from Kikyō Castle or didn't—how long he stayed was completely unimportant.
However, before leaving, Tobirama Senju somehow produced a bird and handed it to Yūshin—it could be used for contact when necessary.
Yūshin calmly accepted the bird. Regardless of where it came from, it was a good bird... See, achieving "instant communication" represented further relationship development.
Go ahead, Tobirama Senju, go. Once you're gone, just leave the bird.
Just as Tobirama Senju left Kikyō Castle, at the Sarutobi Clan village—
An uninvited guest unafraid of night travel arrived.
The renowned Sasuke Sarutobi personally received this visitor. At this time, Sasuke Sarutobi wasn't the Sarutobi Clan leader, but due to his fame, he could represent the entire clan better than the leader... Whether inside or outside the clan, this man's recognition was extremely high.
"Hashirama, long time no see. You look even stronger... Why suddenly visit us? Did something happen?"
The visitor was Hashirama Senju.
Sasuke Sarutobi appeared older than Hashirama Senju—they seemed to differ by four or five years. Strength-wise was hard to say, but currently Sasuke Sarutobi's reputation in the ninja world was greater than Hashirama Senju's.
After all, age was crucial—Sasuke Sarutobi living four or five years longer meant four or five more years of killing.
This ninja "killing" wasn't simple elimination—it was slaughter.
Hashirama Senju had experienced all the pain ninja should endure, but rarely showed bitter expressions. Often he appeared cheerful and optimistic, but this time he couldn't smile.
"Sasuke, there's something... Earlier, my brother Tobirama and another clansman were ambushed by the Hagoromo Clan. My support was delayed—when I arrived, the battle had ended."
"I pursued those enemies and learned from them that one clansman died, while Tobirama was rescued by your Sarutobi ninja."
Don't ask how Hashirama Senju extracted information—just gently awakening sleeping minds and slowly opening not-so-hard skulls.
"What location?" Sasuke Sarutobi asked.
Hashirama Senju reported the specific location. Sasuke Sarutobi decisively shook his head.
"That's not right. Our Sarutobi ninja haven't appeared there recently."
"But I heard the person who saved my brother was your brother, named Sarutobi Yūsuke—a capable ninja who apparently mastered Boil Release kekkei genkai."
"Huh?"
"Is there a problem? Yūsuke sounds like your brother's name. Isn't your brother called that?"
"No, I don't have a brother." Sasuke Sarutobi said.
At least, no living brother.
"Among all Sarutobi Clan ninja with combat ability, none are named Yūsuke... And Boil Release is rare—no one in our clan masters this kekkei genkai."
"Not Sarutobi Clan assistance? Then who helped Tobirama? According to the enemies, Tobirama seemed very familiar with them." Hashirama Senju was completely puzzled.
"Familiar? That at least means Tobirama was indeed rescued and won't be in danger."
Sasuke Sarutobi's expression grew strange, his thoughts even turning conspiratorial... Someone was impersonating Sarutobi ninja identity to incite conflict between the Sarutobi and Hagoromo Clans.
Could it be Tobirama staging this himself? Though unlikely, it wasn't impossible.
But he couldn't pursue this matter. Regardless of whether Tobirama caused trouble, Hashirama had already cleaned up after his brother... Undoubtedly, Hashirama Senju had dealt with those Hagoromo ninja who knew about "(fake) Sarutobi ninja assisting Senju against Hagoromo."
Yes, Swift Release ninja were fast.
But they couldn't even escape Hashirama Senju's attack range.
Some ninja are just that unreasonable.
"So... where did my brother go?"
Sasuke Sarutobi was speechless—how could he answer that question?
...
The "where did my brother go" program would soon conclude. On the third day after Tobirama Senju left Kikyō Castle, the Fireflies organization conducted an internal "population census."
Yūshin began searching for ninja who could adapt to the "Cursed Grudge Fear secret technique."
Out of curiosity, Yūshin also participated in the "skin test." As expected, his adaptability to this secret technique was excellent.
The reason was simple—those graft cultures had been repeatedly cultivated using White Zetsu corpses, so Yūshin's compatibility wasn't surprising.
But now he no longer needed Earth Grudge Fear-like secret techniques. For his current stage, such techniques' enhancement effects were no longer significant.
Yūshin was more determined to pursue the "White Zetsu evolution route," using composite kekkei genkai to increase combat power and pursue higher limits.
Whether Earth Grudge Fear or Cursed Grudge Fear, they could hardly integrate into his "evolution system"—they might even cause interference, so better to abandon them.
Besides Yūshin, organization-wide screening found five compatible individuals. Gorō Fūma then delivered the results to Yūshin.
"Five people? That many? Isn't that exaggerated?" Though it should be good news, somehow Yūshin felt things going this smoothly was actually an ominous sign.
The Fireflies organization currently had around seventy ninja. Including Yūshin, Cursed Grudge Fear compatibility was nearly ten percent... and this was still a highly dangerous prototype.
After his surprise, Yūshin looked at the specific list:
"From the Fūma Clan... uh, Fūma Chi? Good name—looks like future elite material."
"Wutong, Tachibana Wakamatsu."
These two were Yūshin's clansmen from the Hagūgen Clan. Yūshin remembered Wutong well—he was that hot-headed kid who nearly exploded with excitement during the Tsugawa assault operation.
Fate was cruel—two unremarkable youngsters could adapt to Cursed Grudge Fear, while the consistently enthusiastic Ryūnosuke Hayasaka and Kansen Morinaga were directly rejected.
"Akimichi Shenyu, youngest of the Akimichi three brothers, and... hmm, Nara Hideyuki."
The list members had diverse backgrounds and seemed scattered. Yūshin thought, then asked Gorō Fūma:
"What about their individual opinions? Are they willing to accept this secret technique?"
Cursed Grudge Fear gave a very unpleasant impression—not everyone could accept such extensive body modification.
But Yūshin was ignorant here. As long as they could gain power, most ninja at this time didn't mind physical changes.
"Nara Hideyuki is still considering. Akimichi Shenyu chose to refuse after understanding the technique details. The remaining three are all willing to accept." Gorō Fūma said.
"Huh? Such high acceptance... What's Akimichi Shenyu's situation?"
Yūshin wasn't questioning—just purely curious.
Gorō Fūma's expression grew strange as he said:
"Akimichi Shenyu's refusal reason was abstract—he said he couldn't accept it psychologically, felt like countless little bugs were crawling inside his body... In front of his brother, after seeing the technique details, his hair stood on end. Akimichi Noharu severely scolded him for this."
Uh, was Akimichi Noharu scolding because his brother wouldn't accept the technique, or because he dared make his hair stand up in front of him?
Or was he disappointed that he couldn't adapt to this technique himself?
If possible, Akimichi Noharu would definitely want to plant Cursed Grudge Fear grafts on his scalp, making that barren "land" lush again.
But Yūshin understood Akimichi Shenyu—he knew the other wasn't simply being dramatic.
"I get it. This person probably has trypophobia, psychological cleanliness issues, or similar problems."
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