"These notes are very complete this time."
"Even though it's not very advanced research, it's enough to show that my trust level with Danzo has increased."
"The acting didn't go to waste."
Back at the base, Masahiko had already received the notes Danzo promised.
This was a set of research notes regarding the "Body Softening Technique."
Not all of it.
However, it should be all the relevant notes kept within the Root Organization.
Masahiko bid farewell with a solemn expression.
Upon returning home, he put the notes away and directly entered the Ninjutsu Training Space.
A blank training world.
A familiar figure appeared in front of him.
The "Kakashi" projection.
Masahiko made a request: "I need to research a way to break the Cursed Seal. Help me observe the state of the seal."
The projection thought for a moment and nodded slightly.
In the next moment, Masahiko began refining Chakra, mobilizing the power of Shikotsumyaku to strengthen his skull and hyoid bone.
It was difficult!
Although he had tried to strengthen them before, this time, that pulse of Chakra seemed to interfere with his technique, preventing him from condensing it as he had before.
A moment later, Masahiko collapsed on the ground, unable to move his entire body.
The Cursed Seal had been triggered!
"As expected. Again. This time I'll try to increase control over the skull."
Using the abilities of the training space, Masahiko cleared his negative status, stood up to think for a moment, and began imagining himself revealing information about Danzo.
The Cursed Seal triggered.
"First, figure out the flow of Chakra, then try to amplify the bones to cut off the Chakra."
Masahiko tried again.
In the next moment, the sensation of numbness spread through his body once more.
This time... he sensed the flow of Chakra.
"If I enlarge the hyoid and laryngeal bones, I should be able to cut off the Chakra flow."
"Let's try."
Masahiko tried again.
In the next second, he felt a wave of suffocation. After his brain went blank for a brief moment... the "Kakashi" projection spoke: "It hasn't been completely cut off yet. If you try to break the Cursed Seal in your current state, there's a risk of backlash."
Masahiko deactivated his Shikotsumyaku ability and gasped for air.
The feeling of suffocation was truly unpleasant.
He rested for a few seconds, reviewed the process with the projection for a while, and then modified his plan.
And so... over and over again.
Eventually, Masahiko finally succeeded!
Of course.
It wasn't directly breaking the Cursed Seal.
The version he had worked out now, besides using Shikotsumyaku to affect the hyoid and laryngeal bones, also incorporated Chakra to disrupt the cycle of the Cursed Seal itself.
Through this method, although the Cursed Seal wasn't broken, it allowed Masahiko to ignore some of its effects for a short period of time.
For example—
During the suppression period, he could write down Danzo's related deeds without hindrance.
If he used the "speaking" method, his head would ache a bit more.
This was due to the principle of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
If it weren't for the relevant information provided by Orochimaru, Masahiko would have needed to research and learn more knowledge and try many more plans to figure out these methods.
It was precisely because of that information that he could accurately and quickly succeed in his attempts.
Although it wasn't perfect yet, it was enough for now.
He still needed to keep the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal to gain Danzo's trust; it was impossible to actually remove it... When he woke up again, it was already the next morning.
Masahiko hadn't woken up yet.
But someone had already arrived ahead of him.
There was a knock on the door.
Masahiko was awakened. After getting up and opening the door, he couldn't help but be slightly startled by the person outside.
An Anbu Ninja.
"Hokage-sama requests your presence."
The other party said in a muffled voice.
Masahiko nodded slightly: "Okay, I'll wash up."
A minute later, he followed the Anbu Ninja to the outside of the Hokage Office. The other party nodded and then left with a Body Flicker.
He pushed the door and entered.
What he saw was not the smiling Hiruzen Sarutobi of the past, but the Third Hokage with a cold face and eyes filled with disappointment.
The man was smoking, his expression somber.
Masahiko entered and was about to pay his respects, but Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand: "Close the door and find a chair to sit in."
"Yes!"
He did as he was told.
Sitting in the chair, Masahiko thought about how to answer.
However.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not reprimand him but sighed and said, "As a Ninja from a civilian background, it's very difficult, isn't it?"
Masahiko remained silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't continue questioning him, just smoking.
In the silence, Masahiko's eyes gradually turned red. He tilted his head up slightly and spoke:
"Hokage-sama, it took me six whole years to go from graduating the Ninja Academy to becoming a Chunin, but it took me less than half a year to go from Chunin to Special Jonin."
"I don't think I'm worse than anyone else, but there was only one narrow path laid out before me."
"When I became Naruto's teacher and tried to help Naruto get better and stronger, an opportunity suddenly appeared before me..."
"Things that seem commonplace to you are precious to me."
His eyes were glistening.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned, even forgetting to smoke for a moment.
Masahiko continued:
"My parents died that night."
"I thought for a long time, why is there war? Why is there death?"
"I want to understand the mysteries of all Ninjutsu, so that everyone can use stronger Ninjutsu. That way, not as many people in the Village will die."
"Maybe, in this way, peace will come."
Masahiko spoke of his vision.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was dazed.
In his vision, the young man before him seemed to overlap with the child from back then, telling him of his ambitions with a calm but hidden passion.
How similar?
Even fate... He took a puff of smoke and looked up: "Stick out your tongue and let me see."
"Yes!"
Masahiko stuck out his tongue, and the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was revealed before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed: "Do you regret it?"
"I don't regret it. To gain something, you must first give something up."
Masahiko's emotions were calm. At the same time, he took a scroll from his robes, "This is the research I've completed recently, along with the relevant notes. Please take a look."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took it.
On the scroll, the title "Medical Water Release" was written.
Looking further down... the notes were about the research on "Water Jellyfish," including his ideas for the technique's application scenarios and suitable Ninjas.
This was a very complete piece of Ninjutsu research.
He quietly flipped through and read it.
After a long time, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his expression a bit more serious than before:
"What do you think of Root?"
"The Ninja World is not yet at peace. Root has its necessity for existence, but as the situation changes, Root's methods and approaches must also change with the times."
Masahiko replied, "When the Ninja World is at peace, perhaps such dense roots will no longer be needed."
"Ninja World peace... these words are easy to say, but how difficult are they to achieve?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled.
He wasn't a child; he wasn't that naive.
"It must be done even if it's difficult. If we don't try, peace will never come."
Masahiko's attitude was firm.
"You're right. An old man like me is listless and has long since lost his drive."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, "The future belongs to you. How to define the Will of Fire and Root will ultimately be decided by you."
At this moment, his gaze toward Masahiko carried a hint of appreciation, and his expression became more kind and gentle.
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe.
"Stay firm in your ideas. I will help you."
"Yes!"
Masahiko was overjoyed. He stood up, gave a respectful bow, and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, fell silent.
He had said similar things to Shisui, but in the end, he hadn't achieved them.
"I hope you... can change Root."