Behind Konoha's mountain.
Underground, in Root's laboratory.
Deep within the dark corridor, a faint light shone inside the lab. Orochimaru was deep in his research, surrounded by countless glass vials and flasks, tinkering with various lab equipment.
After working nonstop for extended periods—007-style—his hair was messy, his lips pale and cracked, and dark circles ringed his eyes like a panda's. He looked utterly exhausted.
Yet his bloodshot eyes burned with fanatical excitement, as if he had just discovered a new world.
"Finally...success."
Orochimaru whispered, carefully lifting a translucent, crystal-clear gemstone from the lab table with both hands.
Inside the crystal, a black mist continuously changed forms—wild beasts, trees, clouds, rivers...all creation imaginable swirling within.
This mist, painstakingly extracted over more than 300 days and nights from Black Zetsu's severed arm, contained something extraordinary.
Though only a faint trace, with minimal destructive power, Orochimaru keenly sensed that its essence represented an advanced form of energy beyond anything he'd ever known.
It was clearly far superior to a ninja's chakra.
Orochimaru tried every possible way to destroy the black mist, but nothing worked. This convinced him even further—the secret to eternal existence lay hidden within.
Therefore, he sealed the mist inside this crystal, planning to carry it on his person at all times for continuous study and enlightenment.
However, just as Orochimaru put away the crystal, preparing to rest—
a green fog, unknown when or how, silently spread into the lab.
Hmm?
Instantly alert, Orochimaru narrowed his snake-like pupils, tensed every muscle, and assumed a defensive posture.
After all, this underground laboratory belonged to Root's most secret facility—not only was there a sealing formation guarding the entrance, elite ninja patrolled the corridor as well.
Yet an enemy had infiltrated unnoticed.
Seeing the toxic fog thickening rapidly, reducing visibility, Orochimaru knew he couldn't wait any longer—he needed to act first.
He quickly formed Hand Seals, then slammed both palms onto the ground.
[Hiss!]
In an instant, hundreds upon thousands of poisonous snakes surged from his technique, charging into the green mist to clear his path.
But he completely failed to notice a tall figure slowly emerging from the darkness behind him—a figure clad in gray armor, with twin green wings sprouting from its back.
Crack!
A precise strike smashed into the back of Orochimaru's neck. Stars exploded before his eyes as he collapsed unconscious to the floor.
The towering figure removed its mask—it was Heiyan.
"Little snake, you've worked hard."
Heiyan crouched down, patted Orochimaru's shoulder, then retrieved the crystal from his body.
"So this is the Kekkei Mora inherited by Black Zetsu from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki..."
Holding the crystal close, observing the thin wisp of black mist inside, Heiyan mused silently.
Kekkēi Mōra is a power that surpasses both Kekkēi Genkai and Kekkēi Tota. It is formed from the fusion of seven chakra natures: Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Yin, and Yang.
Hagoromo's Amenominaka, Yomi's Otsutsuki teleportation, Infinite Tsukuyomi, Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, and other techniques all fall under Kekkēi Mōra Ninjutsu.
Heiyan, too, had chosen this very path.
His Yin-Yang Release originated from the fusion of Yang, Water, Earth, and Lightning chakra, granting him formidable abilities like Xirang, Parasitic Spores, and True Clones.
Heiyan's next step was to complete the cultivation of Wind, Fire, and Yin Nature Transformation techniques, gradually fusing them into his Yin-Yang Release until ultimately achieving Kekkēi Mōra.
Undoubtedly, this was an idea as difficult as climbing to heaven. However, with the assistance of that strand of dark chakra, at least Heiyan now had a trail to follow in his pursuit.
[Crossing the river by following Kaguya's lead] would save Heiyan from countless detours. (a metaphor meaning benefiting from another's actions or efforts)
"Little Snake, I hope when I come again next time, you'll have completed the remaining research and separated Kaguya's memories from Black Zetsu's severed arm. Keep it up!"
Heiyan gave the unconscious Orochimaru a few words of encouragement, then stood up, put on the crystal with satisfaction, and left this laboratory.
Ten minutes later.
"Ugh..."
Orochimaru groaned softly, slowly opening his eyes. While rubbing his neck, he got up from the ground.
Soon, Orochimaru desperately discovered that the crystal containing the sealed dark chakra was gone.
Why?
How could this happen?
At this moment, Orochimaru felt like crying bitterly.
After a long pause,
"I should've moved my lab earlier. The Feng Shui (geomancy) here is just bad."
After some thought, Orochimaru reached this conclusion. After all, this place had been robbed more than once before.
Last time, Heiyan stole Hashirama's cells from him, and this time, he didn't even see the face of his attacker.
If this place could even be called a secret lab, then it might as well be labeled a public bathroom.
Whoever wants to come, just walks right in, and leaves whenever they please.
The unfortunate Orochimaru immediately began gathering his things, ready to relocate his entire lab somewhere else.
He vowed with conviction—he wouldn't be robbed a third time.
...
Heiyan arrived at Konoha's distant suburbs, located the familiar abandoned well, and used Enshinsui to return to Penglai.
The night at Penglai was quiet and still; all the villagers had fallen into deep sleep.
At the mountain-top villa,
Returning home, far removed from the shinobi world (the world of shinobi), Heiyan relaxed both physically and mentally, preparing to take a shower and rest well for the night.
Passing the guest room, he noticed the door wasn't closed. Inside, Pakura wore only a light nightgown and slept soundly, a faint smile lingering on her lips, dreaming who knows what sweet dream.
It seemed that after a month of adjustment, she had already recovered from the blow of being cast aside by Sunagakure, and adapted well to her new life at Penglai.
Heiyan smiled slightly, gently shut the door for Pakura, and then returned to his bedroom to sleep.
The night passed peacefully.
The following day.
After returning to Penglai, Heiyan spent several days inspecting various aspects of the village, engaging in thorough conversations with clan elders and villagers alike.
After arranging the follow-up development and construction of the village, Heiyan took a large amount of supplies and went to the sea in search of Samehada.
He entered the Eternal Space within Samehada's form and began a new round of secluded cultivation.
Inside this Eternal Space, time moved at just one-tenth the speed of the outside world, allowing Heiyan to train relentlessly without pause.
Meanwhile, the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu he had mastered thoroughly was also an extremely effective method for boosting his cultivation efficiency by multiples.
By combining both methods, Heiyan's cultivation progressed at an incredible pace—just one year of training amounted to decades' worth for ordinary practitioners.
That was also part of what gave him the confidence to push forward into exploring and developing Kekkei Tota.
The days raced by like sun and moon chasing each other, seasons passing swiftly from heat to chill. Before long, an entire year had passed in the world of shinobi.
During that year, peace held across the shinobi world. No wars erupted among the nations—instead, all focused their efforts on development, bringing about unprecedented prosperity.
However, at year's end, a major incident suddenly occurred in the Sand Hidden Village (Sunagakure):
One night, a mysterious ninja infiltrated the village, stole the kettle used to seal Shukaku, the One-Tail, and severely injured Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage.
When the news spread, the ninja world trembled.
Instantly, every great ninja village raised its guard, redoubling protections around the jinchuriki and the tailed beasts.
Beneath the calm surface of the shinobi world, unseen currents stirred once more, threatening to disrupt the fragile peace.
Meanwhile, far away overseas in Penglai Village,
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