Chapter 220:
Konoha Village's Scientific Ninja Tools Department.
"This is where Amado lives," Shikamaru said to Boro and Code. "You two had better not make too much noise. If you draw attention, I'll have no choice but to send ninja after you."
"This looks like a security door. Without an ID card and password, there's no way to get in without making a scene."
Boro walked up and examined the door. Just as he finished speaking, the department's secure door suddenly slid open, and a researcher in a white lab coat appeared before them.
"No need to panic. This is Inuzuka Akita—she's one of ours."
Shikamaru's words came just in time to stop Code, who had already positioned himself behind Akita with his right hand at her neck.
"Come on in, everyone."
Despite the fact that her throat could be crushed at any moment, Inuzuka Akita remained completely calm.
"No wonder they call it S.H.I.E.L.D. You people are full of surprises. Just how many agents do you have embedded throughout Konoha?"
Code lowered his restless hand, squinting with a smile. But Shikamaru only chuckled in response, offering no answer.
"Akita, take them to Amado. I'll head back to avoid suspicion."
"Yes, Lord Shikamaru." Akita turned to Code and Boro and said, "Follow me. Amado is working on the second floor."
Only after the trio had gone inside did Shikamaru speak to the two guards behind him. "Set up the scene and hide."
...
Outside the second-floor lab of the Scientific Ninja Tools Department, Akita swiped her ID card, and the heavy laboratory door slowly opened.
"Akita, did you bring my coffee too?"
Amado smiled as he looked toward the doorway. Ever since arriving in Konoha, he'd felt like his life back in Kara had been absolute garbage.
Kara never appreciated talent. Konoha, on the other hand, not only fed and housed him well but also gave him an attractive assistant.
"Amado, long time no see."
At the sound of the familiar voice, Amado looked past Akita to see Code and Boro step forward. His smile instantly froze and twisted into a look of fear.
"How did you get in here?!"
Amado's voice trembled as he backed away from the approaching Code and Boro.
"What do you think?"
Boro cracked his knuckles with a sharp popping sound.
"It's you?!" Amado stared in disbelief at Akita standing at the door. "Why would you do this?!"
Ever the cautious man, Amado had done a full background check on Akita when she'd been assigned as his impulsive assistant.
A regular member of the Inuzuka clan, born and raised in Konoha. Someone like that couldn't possibly have any connection to Kara.
"I won't let myself be taken that easily!" Amado suddenly dropped to his knees. "What—?!"
"A scientist like you wouldn't know this, but in addition to the regenerative abilities you engineered into Boro, he also has the power to control viruses."
Code explained as he stepped up to the kneeling Amado.
"This isn't over yet..."
From within Amado's sleeve, a Y-shaped scientific ninja tool emerged. It emitted a soft vibrating sound—a sonic wave capable of inducing unconsciousness.
As a liquid-based robot, Inuzuka Akita remained unaffected, but Code and Boro clutched their ears in pain. A sickly green light flickered around them as their bodies flickered between human and beast-like forms.
"What the hell are you?!"
Amado had only heard of chimeric beast warriors before—he'd never actually seen one. His face was now contorted with fear.
"Amado!"
Boro lunged forward and grabbed Amado by the throat, veins bulging on his forehead as he panted heavily.
Struggling to breathe, Amado hastily deactivated the scientific tool.
He understood clearly: if they hadn't killed him on sight, it meant he still had some value.
If he could still be of use, then he didn't want to die.
Once the sonic waves ceased, Boro and Code gradually returned to normal. The two exchanged glances, both still shaken.
Their near-transformation had made one thing painfully clear—becoming a chimera might grant immense power, but the price was nearly unbearable.
"What the hell just happened to you two...?"
Amado, also shaken, asked with a lingering look of dread.
"Amado, once you meet the leader, everything will make sense."
Boro responded with a grotesque smile, twisted and disturbing in every way.
...
The next morning, after Code and Boro had taken Amado away.
"Did something happen?"
Sakura, out shopping for groceries with Hinata on Konoha's main street, glanced at the hurried movements of the village's ninja.
"No idea."
With Naruto out of the village and Sasuke being naturally reticent, both Hinata and Sakura were completely in the dark about what was going on.
"Konohamaru!"
Hearing Sakura call his name, Konohamaru instinctively shivered. Back when Naruto wasn't yet Hokage, he'd often been on the receiving end of Sakura's punches. That lingering fear hadn't faded.
"Sakura-senpai, Hinata-senpai, is something the matter?"
Konohamaru approached, scratching his head with a nervous laugh.
"What's happening in the village?" Sakura asked.
"Uh..."
Konohamaru's gaze drifted. Per Shikamaru's orders, the death of the gatekeeping ninja was to be kept under wraps to avoid panic.
"What, don't tell me there's something going on and you're keeping it from the Seventh Hokage's wife and Lady Tsunade's student?"
Seeing Sakura's expression grow cold, Konohamaru quickly waved his hands. "No, no, Sakura-senpai! It's just—Shikamaru's orders..."
"Sakura, maybe let it go. Don't make things difficult for Konohamaru."
Hinata tugged gently at Sakura's arm, trying to ease the tension.
"...Fine."
Sakura eventually gave in with a sigh.
"Okay then, I need to report to the Hokage's office. See you later, Sakura-senpai, Hinata-senpai."
With that, Konohamaru quickly turned and left.
"He seemed really scared of you."
Hinata chuckled as she watched Konohamaru scurry off.
"Seriously, I'm not that scary."
Sakura shot a plaintive look at Hinata. Ever since getting married and having a child, she'd made a real effort to restrain herself and avoid using force in the village.