Chapter 162: The True Plant Person—White Zetsu!
[Having mastered an elemental Kekkei Genkai [Boil Release], your [Ninjutsu] and [Wisdom] stats have been increased!]
A new notification immediately popped up on the panel. Keisuke gave it a cursory glance before dismissing it.
"First Scorch Release, then Explosion Release, then Lava Release, and now Boil Release."
"Four elemental Kekkei Genkai. That number alone is pretty explosive by the standards of ninja history."
Keisuke shook off his excitement and quickly returned to a state of calm. The research difficulty and the power level of elemental Kekkei Genkai both confirmed their A-rank status—the level of a conventional Kage. But even without these four abilities, Keisuke's own power had already reached that level long ago. Mastering them had only increased the "breadth" of his skillset; it hadn't significantly impacted its "strength."
"Elemental Kekkei Genkai are powerful and have unique effects, but they are not my final destination!"
Keisuke set down the Boil Release mask and clenched his fist. Black chakra surged from his body, slowly enveloping his hand.
"Using my research experience from all these Kekkei Genkai to develop my own unique bloodline—and eventually, a Kekkei Tōta—that is my ultimate goal!"
"I don't expect a Kekkei Tōta anytime soon, but my first self-created Kekkei Genkai... I can feel that it's not far off!"
He had been continuously pushing forward with his experiments on fusing Yin and Earth Release. At this point, under controlled conditions, he could already use this new "Kekkei Genkai" with proficiency. The problem was that the Yin Release chakra, created purely from spiritual energy, was far too unstable. He still hadn't found the most stable jutsu structure to support the fusion.
The moment he discovered the precise chakra ratio and stabilized the formula, that would be the day he created a new bloodline.
Keisuke suppressed his excitement and let his clones continue the experiments while he once again slipped into Han's mind to express his gratitude to Kokuō.
"Your talent is truly amazing, Nara Keisuke," the Five-Tails said, accepting his thanks and offering its own praise. "Of all the ninja I have ever met, you are the first to master Boil Release so quickly."
When it came to learning, Keisuke's talent was indeed impressive. But he wasn't satisfied with just Boil Release. Kokuō may have looked like a harmless white deer, but the amount of top-secret information it held was immense.
"Kokuō, in our world, new natures created by fusing two different chakra natures, like Boil Release, are called Kekkei Genkai—specifically, elemental Kekkei Genkai," Keisuke said, sitting cross-legged and humbly asking for guidance. "But besides these, there are also physical Kekkei Genkai, like the Uchiha's Sharingan, the Hyūga's Byakugan, and the Kaguya's Shikotsumyaku. Do you know the specific difference between the two types?"
"Uchiha, Hyūga, Kaguya..." Kokuō pondered for a moment. "They are all descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. I did not witness him have children, but I know one thing: all special abilities are related to chakra. The physical Kekkei Genkai you speak of may also be the product of fusing two or even more chakra natures, but they must have been influenced by the power of Yin and Yang Release. Yin Release gives form to nothingness; Yang Release gives life to form. Only Yin-Yang Release can grant a ninja a special physical constitution."
Hearing Kokuō's explanation, Keisuke nodded slightly. He had come to a similar conclusion himself. The Five-Tails' words only served to further validate his own theory. After chatting for a while longer, Keisuke withdrew his consciousness from Han's mind.
He reinjected the mixed snake venom he had extracted earlier and then restored the Four Symbols Seal to its original state. The Five-Tails Jinchuriki returned to the same comatose condition he had been in when he arrived.
Keisuke then shifted his attention to the other figure: the white creature.
Based on its appearance, the unique way it had emerged, and the target it had been attached to, Keisuke was almost certain of its identity.
"A White Zetsu!"
White Zetsu were the final form of the humans subjected to Kaguya's Infinite Tsukuyomi a thousand years ago. Over that vast expanse of time, they had been transformed from humans into their current pale, neither-human-nor-ghost-like forms. And according to Keisuke's knowledge, the reason White Zetsu could use "Wood Style" was because Uchiha Madara had mixed Hashirama Senju's cells into them within the Gedo Mazō.
That's right. The first generation of modified White Zetsu were also "victims" (or beneficiaries?) of Hashirama's cells. And unlike the figurative "vegetable" Hashirama had become, White Zetsu were the true plant people.
Their quality varied greatly. Some were little more than cannon fodder used for surveillance. Others, however, could single-handedly summon a wood golem to hold off the five Kage and the entire Allied Shinobi Forces.
Keisuke's Shadow Manipulation Technique had been too subtle. This White Zetsu had been captured before it even had a chance to show its strength. Keisuke couldn't yet confirm its overall power level, but one thing was certain: it wasn't the special "Tobi" Zetsu.
"Considering this Zetsu had the ability to control, or at least interfere with, an A-rank Edo Tensei version of Uchiha Kagami, it shouldn't be too weak, right?" Keisuke rubbed his chin, considering whether he should farm its mission before using it as "Wood Style experiment material."
"Wood Style... Let's do it."
Keisuke immediately put his plan into action. Taking into account White Zetsu's ability to move freely through the earth, he made some preparations.
"Earth Release: Tectonic Core!"
First, he caused a patch of empty ground in the forest to sink, creating a deep pit. Then, activating his Lacquer Eye, he used his Shadow Gathering Jutsu. Countless thin shadow tentacles shot out from his own shadow, wrapping around the White Zetsu's limbs and suspending it over the newly created hole.
"Hopefully this one has a brain and doesn't get itself shattered into pieces..." With a thought, Keisuke released the Shadow Manipulation Technique.
The White Zetsu's consciousness was freed. Its eyes snapped open as it surveyed its surroundings. "Huh? Where's Uchiha Kagami?" It tried to push itself up but found the black ropes binding it were surprisingly tough. "What happened?"
"As expected, you're not so simple..." Keisuke watched the self-talking Zetsu and rubbed his chin. "This kind of plant-based tool should be very useful..."
"You are..." The White Zetsu noticed the stranger. It frowned and said with some uncertainty, "Nara Keisuke?"
"Oh?" Keisuke raised an eyebrow. "You know me? Right, Kagami knew me too... You really are useful."
"Yeah, yeah, Lord Madara always praises us for being so capable," the White Zetsu said, secretly activating its ability while stalling for time. "We, uh... can absorb chakra!"
The Yin Release chakra that made up the shadow bindings was instantly sucked into its body, and the shadows vanished. The White Zetsu plummeted into the pit below, even having the presence of mind to wave goodbye. "See you later, little genius of the Nara clan!"
[B-Rank Ninja Battle Mission has been detected!]
[B-Rank Mission: White Zetsu]
[Mission Content: Defeat/Kill the White Zetsu]
[Mission Reward: One B-Rank Shinobi Secret Scroll]
'So it did trigger a mission, and a B-rank one at that...'
Keisuke's figure instantly vanished. When he reappeared, he was at the bottom of the pit. The spider-shaped mark of his Flying Thunder God technique was faintly visible in the darkness.
"I really am a genius!" The White Zetsu thought gleefully as it looked up at the hole, thinking it had escaped. "Lord Madara will definitely praise me when I get back!"
Just then, a calm voice came from below.
"Konoha Hurricane."
Wham!
Keisuke delivered a simple, unadorned roundhouse kick. With no chakra enhancement, relying purely on his own physical strength, he kicked the White Zetsu straight back out of the pit.
"Huh?" The White Zetsu was bewildered, its plant brain unable to process what had just happened.
At that moment, a shadow thread shot up from below, instantly connecting to its body and sealing its consciousness. At almost the exact same time, the mission completion notification popped up.
[You have defeated the B-Rank Ninja Battle Mission target!]
[You have obtained one B-Rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]
Keisuke leaped out of the pit, grabbed the falling Zetsu, and brought it back to the surface.
"Mission complete?" the now-controlled White Zetsu asked aloud. "Quick, see what's in the scroll. I can use this Zetsu's body to test the new ability."
"One moment," Keisuke replied, and with a thought, opened the scroll on his panel.
[Opening...]
[Contents of this B-Rank Shinobi Secret Scroll: Technique]
[B-Rank Technique: Art of False Plantation]
[Description: As calm as a plant! The ultimate presence-concealment technique!]
[Effect: By simply utilizing the natural energy that fills the earth, the user can seal off all traces of their presence, making them completely undetectable even to the most skilled sensor ninja's chakra perception.]
[Evaluation: Using ninjutsu to peep is a forbidden act in the ninja world, you know.]
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