According to the rubbings' records, the altar itself was only a prototype.
That meant no one could confirm whether it truly had the power to forge an elixir of immortality, grant divine abilities, or command the spirits of the underworld.
One thing, however, was certain—it had indeed produced something unnatural: the Inkonrei (Soul-Summoning Bell).
As for the so-called elixir of eternal life, Shigeo suspected it might actually refer to the Divine Tree Fruit.
But could the Divine Tree truly grow through blood sacrifice? He wasn't sure. Everything about the Orchid Sect's experiments had been uncertain, and even after three years of research, they had failed.
Shigeo studied the inscriptions once more, then sighed softly.
Some of the text mentioned "extraterrestrial energy" and "celestial power." Those parts, he knew, had truth behind them.
He sealed the rubbings carefully and stored them within a massive scroll.
Looking around his vast office, he activated his internal system. The nine tailed beasts within his chakra network merged under his command, forming a tiny sapling that leapt from his body and landed on the desk.
"Master!" chirped the little tree—Shōjū (Little Ten)—shaking its leafy branches joyfully.
Shigeo brushed a finger along its trunk. "Tell me, is that blood ritual similar to how I nourish you—using my own blood and chakra to feed you, to cultivate another small Divine Tree?"
Shōjū tilted its head. "I don't know. But it feels like… they didn't offer enough."
That statement made Shigeo's eyes widen. "If—just hypothetically—what if the amount was enough?"
Scratching its bark with a branch, Shōjū replied,
"I don't know how other Divine Trees are born, but I'm sure of this—Divine Trees love consuming life. If there were enough blood and living energy, maybe… that method could work?"
As it finished, an eerie smile curved its face.
Shigeo frowned. He knew Shōjū wasn't evil—not yet. Its instinct was simply to devour.
If he couldn't control the fusion and separation between it and the tailed beasts, it might already have drained his life dry.
"How long would it take?" he asked quietly.
"I'm not sure. It's only my guess."
No one could hear the violent pounding of Shigeo's heart.
If another Divine Tree appeared in this world… the Earth itself could be doomed.
Clenching his fist, he made his resolve. The rubbings might not be entirely true, but he would never allow such a possibility to exist.
He reabsorbed Shōjū into his system, feeding it chakra before separating it back into the nine tailed beasts.
"Do not worry, Master," said Kurama, the Nine-Tails. "We'll do everything we can to prevent another Divine Tree from ever harming you."
Shigeo nodded. He trusted them—and believed that, in time, even Shōjū would learn to feel warmth, to grow a heart of flesh instead of wood.
"Immortality…" he murmured. "The dream of Orochimaru and Shichidō."
He reached into his system's vault and retrieved a pill he had acquired two years ago. Now nineteen, he wondered if it was time to try it.
As he pondered, the Eight-Tails turned to the others. "Is the Master planning to become immortal already? Isn't that a bit early?"
"Yeah," said the One-Tail. "Feels kinda premature."
"Give it a few years," the Six-Tails hummed. "He'll be more manly then."
"Agreed. He's too young for that now."
While the beasts debated, Shigeo leaned on his desk, spinning the pill between his fingers. Then, without ceremony, he flicked it upward—and caught it in his mouth, swallowing it whole.
The tailed beasts froze.
"Master! That's the elixir of eternal life—rare across all worlds! You didn't even taste it?"
"So casual!" cried another.
And so, from that day onward, Shigeo's physical appearance remained forever nineteen.
No one noticed it for years—not until much later, when he had become an extraordinary being—and his body was coveted by those who called him "the monk's flesh of immortality."
Time passed.
Shigeo immersed himself in the mountain of work that had piled up in Ink Village.
His shadow clones handled minor matters, but all major policies and decisions required his personal signature.
Days of intense work turned into weeks. Before long, a month had gone by.
Then, one day, Ink Village welcomed two highly unusual visitors.
The moment they entered, the peace shattered—one loudly demanded ramen, the other insisted on visiting the seaside hot springs to "gather inspiration for his novels."
Only after Honglin escorted them to the Ink Shadow's office did they finally quiet down.
They were none other than Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya, out traveling for training.
"Sensei, your village is amazing!" Naruto exclaimed. "It's almost as developed as Konoha! You even have a ramen shop! I wonder if it tastes as good as Ichiraku's! Hey, Pervy Sage—how about we train here instead? Shigeo-sensei can teach me too!"
"Don't get carried away," Jiraiya chuckled. "We just stopped by to see how he's doing. Once we know he's fine, we'll move on."
He said this, but his eyes were already drifting toward Akahana, who stood quietly nearby.
"Though… if a beautiful lady asked me to stay, I might reconsider," he added slyly.
He stood and approached her. "Beautiful lady, what's your name?"
Akahana, the cold and elegant beauty, showed no expression. Normally stationed at the Blue Gate Division headquarters in the Land of Rivers, she rarely returned—today, she was here only to deliver a report.
Placing a folder on the desk, she said evenly, "My lord, this is this month's report. Please review it."
Jiraiya leaned closer, grinning. "Little miss, I feel like fate brought us together. You're not his wife, right? Then how about being my girlfriend instead? I'm tall, handsome, and one of the most powerful men in the ninja world! Marrying me would be your honor!"
Naruto groaned. "Pervy Sage, you're hopeless! Who would fall for that line? Everyone knows you're full of crap!"
"Don't call me Pervy Sage," Jiraiya muttered gloomily.
Akahana ignored them completely and left the office, while the two continued bickering like children.
(End of Chapter)
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