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Chapter 48 — Bloodline News, Secret Organization
They—were spies.
Alex pressed against the wall, frowning inwardly.
Which village did they belong to? Or were they part of some unknown force in the shinobi world?
From what the black-clad youth had said, the infiltration began back when the Bloody Mist era first started — they'd been embedded in Kirigakure for years.
Ten plus years… How old was he back then? Their stealth and patience were astonishing.
Heh… this was getting more and more interesting.
Alex continued to strain his ears and eavesdrop.
"Yes." The black-haired manager nodded, a hint of excitement in his tone. "A few days ago, while drinking with one of Kirigakure's technicians, he complained his workload suddenly increased. He also mentioned that most of his colleagues who worked on the same research were being gathered together — they're planning to restart an extremely classified project."
"A classified project?" Takeda's curiosity was piqued. "What project? Did you manage to pry anything out of him?"
"No…" the manager shook his head. "He hadn't been drunk enough to spill details. After that one complaint he realized his slip and laughed it off; he didn't say more."
Takeda felt a twinge of disappointment at the lack of hard intel.
"However," the manager continued, "I've been contacting other researchers over the past two days. Though I didn't directly get a confirmation from them either, I've formed a rough hypothesis."
"Oh? Tell me." Takeda's disappointment evaporated; he now listened with keen interest.
This subordinate was competent — even a guess from him could be nine times out of ten right. Valuable information indeed.
The manager's voice grew serious. "I suspect Kirigakure is calling the researchers together to restart bloodline research. More precisely, they may be trying to reproduce the Yuki clan's Hyōton and the Ōtsutsuki clan's Shikotsumyaku in Kirigakure."
"Bloodline research, huh." Takeda murmured, a flash of pleasure crossing his face — his thinning hair caught the light. Anything involving kekkei genkai or tech piqued his interest; those were exactly the things his organization had long sought to collect.
"Restarting bloodline research suddenly… recent events must have prompted it." Thinking of recent catastrophes, Takeda's expression hardened. "It seems Konoha being razed by Akatsuki shook Kirigakure badly — they feel insecure. That's why they're rushing to reproduce Hyōton and Shikotsumyaku to strengthen the village."
"That's my thought as well." The manager agreed.
Hearing Hyōton and Shikotsumyaku, Alex's heart stirred. He hadn't even begun searching the village himself, yet he'd overheard mention of those bloodlines from these two spies. If they knew where any leftover samples were stored, Alex could skip the long hunt across Kirigakure.
Unlike Alex, Takeda didn't care about surviving biological samples of Hyōton or Shikotsumyaku. He cared only about research data and techniques — that was his target.
"Who is in charge of this project in Kirigakure?" Takeda asked.
He doubted Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumī would personally oversee such grisly, cruel bloodline experiments. From his understanding, she might turn a blind eye — but she wouldn't directly run it.
The manager's answer confirmed his suspicion. "It's Genshi overseeing the project."
"Genshi? That old immortal — ninety-plus, toothless, and still at it?" Takeda scoffed. He had met the man once before: bent on a serpent-headed cane, looking utterly decrepit. Yet Genshi was Kirigakure's living fossil — cunning and not to be underestimated despite his age.
Takeda stroked his chin, thinking. "In that case, research progress over this period probably won't advance too fast."
"You should keep cultivating those researcher contacts." Takeda continued. "Don't pry directly or make them suspicious. Get along with them, be casual. I've brought some rare items popular in other countries — give those as gifts to raise favor and trust."
"Understood!" The manager took the order and asked, "Could the organization provide updated equipment? The old gear is outdated — it still works but tends to fail, increasing the chance of exposure."
Takeda glanced at the parts on the table and nodded. "Next delivery I'll bring upgrades. The organization recently developed a new surveillance device the size of a button. Extremely covert — it can record video and audio. You'll secretly replace a researcher's shirt button with it; they'll unknowingly carry research data and techniques out."
"That would be perfect!" The manager's eyes lit up. With such superior gear, he needn't risk his life to steal intelligence; it would become easy and safe.
The manager's understanding of his organization was shallow — he'd only met Takeda and knew little else. But the glimpses he'd seen were enough to leave him stunned and proud. The Five Great Villages and their Kage were nothing compared to this hidden colossus operating quietly for years. Its technologies led the market by at least two generations. If the organization revealed itself, the shinobi world's balance would topple.
Button? Miniature surveillance device? Alex whispered in disbelief. Market surveillance tech was still bulky — like the gadgets shown during Konoha's chūnin exams: wires, power sources. How could it be integrated into a single button? The tech gap wasn't a generation or two — it was massive.
Moreover, this organization surely hadn't limited its infiltration to Kirigakure. They likely had operatives embedded in the other Great Villages and in many smaller factions. Their tech, depth of infiltration, and secrecy over such a long time meant most of the shinobi world hadn't even heard of them.
Only one group fit that bill. If Alex hadn't accidentally stumbled into this, he might never have remembered.
Thinking deeper, the organization had indeed operated for ages in the shadows. Perhaps some had noticed but were disappeared. If Alex hadn't been paper — an unusual form — the chamber's instruments might already have detected him and raised an alarm. He might never have heard Takeda's private briefing.
Half an hour passed. When Takeda and the manager finished discussing plans, they left the secret chamber.
Alex slipped out behind them and exited the room without leaving any trace.
Takeda returned to the shopfront and resumed his merchantly smile. He and the two assistants left, feigning a routine resupply and headed for Kirigakure's gate.
At a nearby corner, a plain middle-aged man stood and watched Takeda's retreating figure.
"Akatsuki, does this person have issues?" the voice asked.
It was Konan — disguised as a local villager — who had slipped away when the manager wasn't looking.
Alex pressed against Konan's palm; black characters began to appear on his white paper body.
[Takeda's identity is complex — likely an outer member of a mysterious faction. I've left a white-paper mark on him; after Kirigakure's matter is settled, I'll go find him.]
After thinking it over, Alex decided to focus first on obtaining Hyōton and Shikotsumyaku. Takeda could be handled later; he wouldn't run off.
Alex's curiosity about the organization only deepened.
Maybe that unlucky Jiraiya—if his body had been taken—was now lying on this organization's operating table…