As soon as he stepped into the room, seven jōnin suddenly burst out from the dark corners and attacked Uchiha Madara.
"Fuck off."
Madara didn't even bother to dodge. He casually caught the incoming kunai and, in a single instant, killed all seven attackers.
He then walked down the staircase that led to the chamber deep underground. The ground was covered with intricate sealing techniques, their patterns spreading outward toward a central altar.
At the center of the altar stood a massive black urn about half a person's height, covered with sealing talismans.
"Barrier…" Madara muttered as he glanced at the runic formations surrounding the giant urn.
Since this place was used to seal the Seven-Tails and conduct jinchūriki rituals, it was only natural that powerful barriers had been arranged to deal with intruders.
Madara paid them no mind and walked straight toward the altar.
The moment he stepped forward, the runes on the ground suddenly lit up. Dozens of Ninjutsu attacks erupted from the formation and shot toward him.
Madara walked forward as if he hadn't even noticed them.
The attacks struck his body—only to dissipate instantly.
After being resurrected, Madara not only possessed the Rinnegan's sealing techniques, but also the body granted by Edo Tensei. Techniques like these meant nothing to him.
To him, they were nothing more than trivial tricks.
Reaching the altar, Madara casually picked up the urn that sealed the Seven-Tails.
"And three left."
Konoha — Scientific Research Bureau
Basement Level Thirteen
Inside the laboratory, Orochimaru, dressed in a white coat, was explaining the scene before them to Ryoma.
In the laboratory stood exactly one hundred test tubes, each filled with a crimson liquid resembling blood.
"Ryoma, our experiment has achieved a major breakthrough."
Orochimaru's tone carried a hint of excitement.
"Do you remember Hiruko? His research on the Chimera Technique gave me quite a bit of inspiration. We've been studying how to extract Kekkei Genkai factors in order to obtain multiple bloodline abilities. In a sense, his research overlaps with ours."
"So later, I went back and studied the cultivation method of the Chimera Technique. Sure enough, the sections about absorption and fusion helped me a lot."
As he spoke, Orochimaru took one of the test tubes from the rack. After removing the sealing cap, he tilted the tube and allowed a single drop of the crimson liquid to fall onto his palm.
In the next moment, the skin on that part of his hand began to transform, hardening into a metallic texture.
"You applied the theory behind the Chimera Technique."
Ryoma watched calmly as Orochimaru sliced away the transformed piece of flesh from his palm.
"This is indeed a new breakthrough," he said slowly. "But the effect doesn't seem stable."
The essence of the Chimera Technique was to obtain another person's abilities by devouring their flesh and blood. Orochimaru had integrated this forbidden technique into his own research on Kekkei Genkai factors.
However, the method had changed.
Originally, the Chimera Technique required the entire body of the user as the fusion medium. Now, Orochimaru had reduced it to the cellular level.
The fusion target had also changed—from the flesh and blood of the victim to isolated Kekkei Genkai factors.
In other words, the technique had evolved from a forbidden ritual that fused entire human bodies into a cell-based fusion technique.
Orochimaru's intention was clear.
He wanted to absorb Kekkei Genkai factors through specialized cells, allowing those factors to gradually spread throughout the body naturally—rather than obtaining power by devouring entire humans like Hiruko once did.
However, judging from the current results, Orochimaru had not yet developed a perfect mechanism to control the mutated cells after the fusion.
That was why he had only dared to use a single drop during the experiment, applying it to his hand and immediately cutting away the affected flesh once the metallic transformation began.
If he hadn't done so, the mutated cells would likely have spread throughout his entire body—
At a speed countless times faster than cancer.
"I've reviewed the results so far. You've done well."
Ryoma looked at Orochimaru and spoke calmly.
"I'll have the Treasury allocate additional funds to the Scientific Research Bureau. Your research clearance will also be upgraded. Next time, I hope to see the finished product."
Scientific research required enormous resources. Now that Ryoma effectively controlled the entire ninja world, the resources at his disposal were practically limitless.
Orochimaru already had several research projects underway under Ryoma's direction. Since Ryoma intended to use them, he intended to use them properly.
Good steel should be used on the blade.
When it came to research investment, Ryoma had never been stingy.
When Ryoma left the Scientific Research Bureau, it was already evening.
As he walked along the road through Konoha, he suddenly sensed a faint and extremely subtle presence trailing behind him.
Ryoma instantly used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing behind the person in a flash.
Just as he was about to subdue them, a familiar face came into view.
"Shikaku? Why are you following me?"
Ryoma frowned slightly.
The man standing before him was Nara Shikaku, one of his chief strategists and the backbone of Konoha's intelligence and planning system.
Ever since Ryoma unified both the ninja world and the continent, he had practically become a hands-off ruler.
Most administrative affairs were dumped onto Tsunade, Nara Shikaku, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who complained almost every day that they were being worked to death.
So why was Shikaku wandering around this late at night?
"Lord Ryoma, I just finished work and was heading home," Shikaku quickly explained.
"Oh? Is that so?" Ryoma replied calmly.
"In that case, hurry back."
After saying that, Ryoma turned and walked away.
But as he watched Shikaku's departing figure, the gentle expression in Ryoma's eyes gradually turned cold.
In the next moment—
Thick tree roots suddenly burst from the ground.
They shot upward and instantly bound Nara Shikaku.
"My lord!? What are you doing!?"
Shikaku looked at Ryoma in shock, as if he had no idea what he had done wrong.
Ryoma stared at him quietly.
"That was quite the performance," he said coldly.
"You even managed to fool me for a moment."
(End of Chapter)
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