Tsuchidai worked with remarkable efficiency. After deeply discussing matters with the head of this laboratory and confirming that there were no meaningful results or viable breakthroughs to be expected, he dispelled his shadow clone and transmitted its memories back to his main body to report to the Third Raikage.
At the time, the Third Raikage was in the middle of studying and debating the tailed beast jinchūriki plan. After a brief consideration, he agreed. Tsuchidai immediately formed another shadow clone, went back to the laboratory, collected all the sealed Sharingan, handed them over to Tamura Zairo, and then led him deeper into the research division—toward the materials vault.
They stopped in front of a refrigerated cabinet labeled "Second Hokage." Tsuchidai解除d the seals and opened it, revealing rows of jars and containers inside.
"With the aim of easing tensions with Konoha, we returned the Second Hokage's body back then," Tsuchidai explained regretfully.
"However, we still intercepted and preserved some of his internal organs for research.
"Their value is far inferior to that of the First Hokage's remains, but the Second Hokage was still the strongest Senju after the First. His body far surpassed that of ordinary people. Even after twenty years, soaked in nutrient fluid, these tissues still retain strong vitality.
"Unfortunately, we never managed to extract any meaningful results. Due to funding issues, this research project was sealed away several years ago."
Tamura Zairo stared at the organs floating in nutrient solution with unconcealed excitement—especially at the intact heart.
These were the internal organs of Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage. Even if their value was less than Senju Hashirama's, they were still priceless.
Without the slightest hesitation, Tamura Zairo took out sealing scrolls and stored all the jars inside. These were top-tier nourishment for strengthening the Kaguya phantom.
Tsuchidai did not object. This had already been approved by the Third Raikage.
Moreover, these materials had been sitting here unused for years. Keeping them served little purpose.
"Gold and Silver Brothers—are those the two most notorious criminals who killed the Second Hokage?"
Tamura Zairo's gaze swept across the other cabinets, soon landing on two marked Kinkaku and Ginkaku, sparking new ideas.
"Yes," Tsuchidai replied.
"After the Third Raikage killed them, their bodies were brought back for research. The goal was to uncover how they gained the Nine-Tails' power by consuming its flesh, and to recover the Six Paths ninja tools they sealed away.
"Unfortunately, we failed at both."
As he spoke, Tsuchidai removed the seals from the two cabinets, revealing more jars and containers inside.
They held the brothers' corpses, various internal organs, and even separately stored blood samples.
"The blood must be kept," Tsuchidai said seriously.
"If future technology advances, it might be possible to locate the sealed Six Paths ninja tools through their blood. Everything else—you may take for research."
He was being extremely generous.
Although the bodies of Kinkaku and Ginkaku were valuable, the Third Raikage had already confirmed the feasibility of the tailed-beast fragment jinchūriki plan. That greatly reduced the importance of studying these two.
Compared to directly consuming tailed beast flesh, fragment sealing was far safer.
Additionally, the project involving eating tailed beast flesh had already been halted by the Raikage. The sacrifices were too great, and success was virtually impossible.
Furthermore, based on the research conducted on the brothers' bodies, it seemed their success relied heavily on their own bloodline. They even claimed to be descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. If that was the key, then the method was fundamentally unreplicable.
Its value dropped even further.
Most importantly, Tamura Zairo's recent contributions were immense. These materials were his reward.
For a ninja village to remain stable and thrive long-term, clear rewards and punishments were essential. Achievements must be rewarded—only then would shinobi be motivated to contribute and take risks.
As for lofty ideals like the "Will of Lightning"—those couldn't fill stomachs or make people stronger.
Kumogakure didn't believe in empty rhetoric. They valued tangible rewards. That was precisely why the village was united and rarely produced rogue ninja.
Naturally, Tamura Zairo didn't hold back. He quickly took out fresh sealing scrolls and stored all the jars.
After scanning the remaining cabinets and finding nothing else of interest, he turned back.
"Do not conduct reckless experiments—especially on your own body," Tsuchidai warned sternly.
"Human experimentation is extremely dangerous."
"I value my life very much," Tamura Zairo replied with a grin.
He had no intention of experimenting on himself. All of this was simply nourishment for the Kaguya phantom.
"Tsuchidai-sama, do we currently have any relatively mature tailed beast sealing techniques?"
Tamura Zairo asked next.
Although he desperately wanted the Six Paths: Ten-Tails Coffin Seal, that wasn't realistic in the short term. He had no idea when he might get the chance to scheme in Konoha.
For now, he needed some sealing technique to contain the Kaguya phantom. It couldn't just remain in his mental world forever.
"You want to apply the jinchūriki concept to those materials?" Tsuchidai realized.
It was a clever idea, but human tissue was fundamentally different from tailed beasts. The concept was sound, yet implementation would be extremely difficult.
"The idea is good, but the difficulty is still very high," Tsuchidai said after a moment.
"As for sealing techniques—wait for now. Once we take down the Uzumaki clan, we'll certainly obtain higher-level sealing arts there, possibly even ones specifically designed for sealing tailed beasts."
The plan to attack the Uzumaki clan had long been prepared. All that remained was letting Shimura Danzō learn of it so Konoha could cooperate, officially triggering the operation.
This time, Kumogakure was going all in. Even the Third Raikage himself would take action. The rewards would undoubtedly be enormous.
"So the operation against the Uzumaki clan is about to begin?"
Tamura Zairo understood immediately and grew serious.
"Sealing techniques are terrifying. Even the Nine-Tails can be sealed. The Uzumaki clan must have many deadly trump cards. A head-on assault would result in heavy losses."
Uzumaki sealing techniques were truly frightening.
The Reaper Death Seal alone could split the Nine-Tails in half—an ultimate one-for-one exchange.
"We've already considered that," Tsuchidai replied calmly.
"We won't confront the Uzumaki clan directly. The main attackers will be the other three villages."
Their true goal was to subdue the Uzumaki clan, not annihilate them.
"Your task is heavy," Tsuchidai warned.
"Shimura Danzō isn't easy to deceive. Don't reveal any flaws."
From years of intelligence gathering, Tsuchidai knew Danzō was ruthless and willing to do anything to achieve his goals—a truly dangerous man.
"I'll be careful," Tamura Zairo replied seriously.
He knew all too well that the so-called Pot Shadow was not someone to take lightly.
That was why he planned to rely on self-hypnosis for disguise—far more advanced than mere acting.
Hypnosis was a technique on the same level as the basic Three Academy Techniques, essentially a form of genjutsu. Its effects were quite strong, especially when combined with certain drugs.
Tamura Zairo had been practicing hypnosis for a long time—originally to recall memories from his previous life. That was precisely how he had been able to reproduce those "forbidden masterpieces."
In hypnosis, he was highly skilled.
With one round of hypnosis, he could become Danzō-sama's most loyal subordinate.
Back when he was in Root, he had already fabricated a layer of emotional "bond." As long as he deepened that bond appropriately and followed Yakushi Kabuto's script, Danzō would surely place even greater trust in him.
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