"So this is the secret behind the Impure World Reincarnation?"
Kiyohara pondered silently.
He felt that his previous speculation was not entirely unreasonable.
Moreover, the bodies of those reincarnated through the Impure World Reincarnation did not truly die. Once an Edo Tensei body was damaged, it would automatically regenerate.
Therefore, an Impure World Reincarnation user could repeatedly burn through the energy of their physical body. Each time the body's energy was exhausted, the body would automatically restore itself. Once the body had recovered, the soul could once again provide chakra, allowing the process to repeat over and over. This created the appearance of having an unlimited supply of chakra.
However, the energy of the soul was not truly infinite either.
Restoring the soul had to consume something even deeper. Perhaps it was the energy of the Pure Land, or perhaps it was the soul's own lifespan.
It was simply that during ordinary battles, this consumption was so insignificant that it could almost be ignored. That was why the Impure World Reincarnation gave people the impression that its users possessed infinite chakra.
"So the core lies in the conversion mechanism between soul energy and chakra."
Kiyohara drew a circle on a sheet of paper and enclosed the words "soul" within it. He then drew several arrows extending outward from the circle.
"Soul energy becomes chakra, chakra is released, the remaining chakra returns to the soul, the soul converts it again, and then it is released once more. This is the chakra circulation system of the Impure World Reincarnation."
Unlike living people, once an ordinary person released chakra, that chakra would be consumed and disappear. They would need to rest and eat before they could refine chakra again.
However, after an Edo Tensei body released chakra, the residual chakra would be recovered under the influence of the jutsu.
The principle might be similar to the Preta Path ability of the Rinnegan. After the chakra was recovered, the soul would convert it again, allowing it to enter the next cycle.
Therefore, in reality, the total amount of chakra possessed by an Impure World Reincarnation body did not actually increase. It was simply being recycled and reused over and over again.
If he wanted to create an independent chakra circulation system, essentially a chakra battery, what he needed to do was separate this circulation process from the overall framework of the Impure World Reincarnation.
Ever since the idea of planting the God Tree had appeared in his mind, Kiyohara had been steadily advancing his research in this area.
Now that the God Tree had been planted and the data from the first stage had been collected, he could finally begin the formal optimization process.
On the laboratory table, a sample of active White Zetsu tissue was immersed in a pale green nutrient solution. Its cellular activity had already been reduced to the lowest possible level, yet it still retained the ability to divide.
The nutrient solution had been personally prepared by Kiyohara. Its formula incorporated the cell culture medium used for the First Hokage's cells along with extracts from the mycelium of the Shikkotsu Forest. It could maintain cellular activity while suppressing the autonomous consciousness of White Zetsu cells as much as possible.
This was a White Zetsu sample that Kiyohara had brought back from the biological research institute. It was far more suitable for precise experiments than the DNA he had just collected from the Memorial Stone.
White Zetsu itself was a human transformed through the God Tree. Its cellular structure and chakra pathways retained some characteristics of the Otsutsuki clan, making it the ideal intermediary for connecting the systems of the Impure World Reincarnation and the God Tree.
He dripped the White Zetsu cell suspension into a specially designed miniature sealing array before taking out a blank chakra crystal.
It was a high-purity energy container refined from Gelel Stone.
Kiyohara formed a series of hand seals. Simplified patterns of the Impure World Reincarnation appeared within the sealing array, wrapping around the White Zetsu cells at the core.
Then Kiyohara simultaneously created more than a thousand Shadow Clones.
The enormous laboratory was quickly filled with his clones, each of them conducting a different experiment and carrying out various forms of research.
Meanwhile, Kiyohara's original body focused on recording the results.
He intended to use this circulation system to feed the God Tree.
If he succeeded, the God Tree would no longer need to rely on the chakra supplied by individual Edo Tensei bodies.
As long as the circulation module operated normally, it would be able to continuously produce chakra.
The source of physical energy for the circulation module itself could be White Zetsu cells. Since those cells could be cultivated in batches, they could be produced on a large scale.
Likewise, the souls could also be supplied through White Zetsu souls.
All he needed was a portion of their soul fragments, after which he could form an enormous collective of souls.
In this way, by using White Zetsu bodies and the Impure World Reincarnation technique, he would be able to continuously produce enormous quantities of chakra.
Only a small portion of each soul would be used, which would conveniently prevent any significant impact on an individual living being.
Kiyohara stroked his chin.
He intended to transform the Impure World Reincarnation into a group-based version.
The existing Impure World Reincarnation was essentially a one-to-one summoning. One sacrifice was bound to one soul.
However, if the technique could be modified into a group version, a single large-scale sealing array could simultaneously bind multiple soul fragments and multiple White Zetsu cells. The entire structure could then function as an independent chakra battery.
As long as the White Zetsu cells continued dividing and transforming into more Edo Tensei bodies, while the soul fragments continued regenerating, chakra could be produced continuously.
At the same time.
Otsutsuki Momoshiki hovered above a lush mountain forest.
His white Otsutsuki robe remained completely still despite the hot afternoon wind, while his white hair was neatly tied behind his head.
He folded his arms across his chest, raised his chin slightly, and coldly swept his pure white eyes across the continuous mountain range below.
This mountain forest was located in the northern border of the Land of Rivers, far away from any signs of human habitation. The terrain was rugged and dangerous.
The valleys were densely covered with towering cedar and cypress trees. Their enormous canopies blocked out the sunlight and cast the forest floor beneath them in a dim green shadow.
Deep within the mountain forest was an inconspicuous cave. Its entrance had been thoroughly concealed by vines and moss.
That was the secret base of Kara, as well as the hiding place of the vessel in which Isshiki had been residing.
"Isshiki."
Momoshiki spoke, his voice carrying an arrogant tone.
"I know you're here. Come out and meet me."
There was no response from the forest.
Several birds were startled by his voice and took flight, flapping their wings as they disappeared into the distance. In an instant, the only sounds that remained were the wind and the gentle murmuring of the stream.
Momoshiki's brows furrowed slightly.
He raised his right hand, and a mass of blood-red chakra appeared in his palm.
Boom!
A dazzling red light shot into the sky from the valley.
The shockwave spread outward from the center of the explosion, throwing everything within several hundred meters into the air.
Trees were uprooted and burned into charred remains by the intense heat while broken rocks were carried along by the blast and scattered in every direction like buckshot.
Within just a few seconds, the entire mountain forest had been reduced to a flat wasteland, leaving behind nothing but a gigantic crater that continued to billow black smoke.
Deep within the ruins, the entrance to the cave had been blasted open, leaving behind a massive opening.
A figure slowly walked out through the gap.
Otsutsuki Isshiki, or rather, Isshiki residing within Jigen's body, stood upon a piece of scorched rock. His white robe fluttered violently in the lingering shockwaves of the explosion.
His expression was cold and rigid, while a black diamond-shaped mark was engraved on his chin.
"You finally came out."
Momoshiki folded his arms across his chest once again, his tone still carrying that condescending attitude.
"I was beginning to think you intended to hide in that cave for the rest of your life."
"Hide?"
The corners of Isshiki's mouth curled slightly upward.
"Momoshiki, you've misunderstood. I wasn't hiding. I simply didn't want to be disturbed by someone as boring as you. You blew up the place I was staying, and you dirtied my clothes. You should be grateful that I'm still in a relatively good mood."
His gaze moved away from Momoshiki's face and swept across the scorched ruins surrounding them.
"Speak. Why did you come looking for me? Your time is limited, and my patience is even more limited."
"Cooperation. A native has obtained her chakra and even awakened the Tenseigan. Dealing with these trivial matters alone is too troublesome, so I came to ask you to join forces with me. It will be far more efficient."
Isshiki tilted his head slightly. His Byakugan remained fixed on Momoshiki's face for quite some time before he let out a mocking laugh.
"Cooperation?"
"Momoshiki, you stand above my hiding place, use your chakra to flatten my valley, and then speak to me about cooperation in that tone, as though you are doing me a favor. Do you really think I would agree?"
He took one step forward.
The rock beneath his foot cracked under the pressure of his chakra. The fractures spread outward from beneath his foot in every direction like a spiderweb unfolding across the ground.
Momoshiki's brows furrowed, and the veins at his temples became faintly visible.
"With the body you're currently residing in? A mortal vessel that cannot even withstand your full chakra. Isshiki, have you stayed on this planet for too long? Has your perspective deteriorated?"
"Since we can't come to an agreement, then let me see exactly how much strength this vessel of yours still possesses."
He slightly turned his head and called out to the figure behind him.
"Kinshiki."
Otsutsuki Kinshiki was nearly twice Momoshiki's size. His arms were extraordinarily thick, and with one hand he could easily crush a person's skull.
His skin was dark, and he wore a white Otsutsuki short robe. His white hair was neatly tied behind his head.
Most striking of all was the red ring floating behind him. It was a unique weapon belonging to the Otsutsuki clan, known as the Furious Smelting.
Fiery red chakra flowed within the ring, producing a low, humming sound.
"Let Isshiki see your strength. Let me also see whether this vessel of his is worthy of continuing our discussion about cooperation."
Kinshiki nodded.
He turned around and faced Isshiki, who was standing on the scorched rocks below. His legs bent slightly.
Then the rocks beneath his feet exploded.
His enormous body transformed into a black afterimage and shot directly toward Isshiki at a speed completely inconsistent with his massive physique.
The red ring floating behind him left a streak of red light as he moved at high speed. The chakra fluctuations on its surface suddenly intensified, accompanied by a deep humming sound.
Kinshiki pulled his right arm backward and spread his five fingers. Five clusters of blazing orange flames instantly condensed at his fingertips.
His five fingers struck toward the ground simultaneously.
The power of the attack was compressed into an extremely small area, striking directly at the rock beneath Isshiki's feet.
BOOM!
The scorched rocks exploded beneath the force of the claw strike, sending fragments flying in every direction.
The impact force traveled from the center of the strike deep into the earth, causing the ground across an area spanning dozens of kilometers to shake violently.
Several surviving trees several kilometers away were shaken until they snapped in half. Their trunks tumbled through the air several times before crashing heavily into the ground.
However, Isshiki had already evaded the attack the moment Kinshiki's strike descended.
Intangibility!
This was a unique space-time ninjutsu associated with the Byakugan of the Otsutsuki main family. It allowed the user to move back and forth between real space and an alternate dimension.
Isshiki had cultivated his Byakugan to this stage.
Immediately afterward, Kinshiki's Byakugan rotated within his eye sockets and instantly detected Isshiki, who had appeared behind him.
Without even turning his head, he reached his right hand backward and pulled a gigantic red naginata from the red ring behind him.
The blade of the red naginata was longer than his entire body.
He tightened his grip around the handle, rotated his body halfway, and swung the naginata through the air in a perfect arc.
A gigantic red blade of chakra broke free from the weapon and swept horizontally toward Isshiki.
Wherever the blade of chakra passed, the earth was split open, leaving behind a ravine several meters deep. The rocks on both sides were shattered into powder by the lingering force of the attack.
Isshiki raised his right hand and aimed it at the incoming red blade of chakra.
Sukunahikona!
Isshiki shrank the red blade of chakra.
His ocular technique could make almost anything smaller. Restoring the object to its original size was merely a matter of an instant.
"Not bad."
Isshiki nodded.
"Furious Smelting is still the same as ever. Its power is sufficient, but its speed is lacking. Kinshiki, your strength has indeed improved compared with the time when we were in the hunting grounds. However, you've improved in the wrong direction. No matter how great your strength is, it is useless if you cannot hit your opponent. My current body indeed cannot display much of my true power, but it is more than enough to deal with you."
Kinshiki remained silent.
The red light of the Furious Smelting ring behind him suddenly became much brighter.
His body once again launched itself forward from its original position.
This time, he was even faster than before. His massive body transformed into a streak of purple lightning in midair. Furious Smelting
Kanyarai!
He charged straight toward Isshiki.
Seeing this, Isshiki had no choice but to mobilize an even greater amount of chakra from this body.
He then punched toward Kinshiki.
Kinshiki was sent flying backward by the punch.
He stabilized his body in midair.
A wound appeared across his chest, burned by black light. Black smoke rose from the injured area.
The ring behind him dimmed for a moment before its red light returned.
He was about to charge forward again, but Momoshiki raised one hand.
"That's enough, Kinshiki."
Momoshiki spoke.
He slowly descended from the air.
"Isshiki."
Momoshiki stood in front of Kinshiki with his arms folded across his chest. His chin was still slightly raised in that arrogant posture.
"Your strength is indeed impressive. At least within the limits of what this vessel can withstand, you've already pushed it to its absolute limit. Those attacks just now must have shortened the vessel's remaining lifespan by at least several months, yet you still chose to fight. That means you are not completely uninterested in the cooperation I proposed."
"Yes. I'm not interested in you, but I am interested in Kaguya. I want Kaguya dead."
Isshiki spoke coldly.
Although he was unwilling to cooperate with Momoshiki, he also understood that joining forces with Momoshiki was the best option.
Otherwise, they would not be able to defeat Kiyohara.
For the sake of accomplishing that objective, Isshiki had no choice but to cooperate for the time being.
"Excellent."
Momoshiki smiled.
…
Konoha, late at night.
Kiyohara entered the data from the final batch of Shadow Clones into his experimental records. He closed the notebook and rubbed his slightly throbbing temples.
The initial design draft for the group-based Impure World Reincarnation sealing array had already been completed. The general framework of the White Zetsu cell plan had also been finalized. The remaining details and optimization could be left to his Shadow Clones to continue developing.
He stood up from his chair and stretched his shoulders.
Then his figure flashed and disappeared from the laboratory.
At Kaguya's residence.
Moonlight streamed through the window and spilled across the tatami, bathing the entire room in a cool silver-white glow.
Kaguya was sitting beside the window. Her white hair cascaded down her back, while her legs, wrapped in black silk, were crossed and resting beside the cushion.
She heard Kiyohara's footsteps stop at the entrance.
Her pure white eyes turned toward him, while her face remained as calm and emotionless as still water.
"It is quite late."
She watched as Kiyohara opened the door and entered.
"You have consumed a great deal of chakra."
Kaguya spoke.
"I just came from the laboratory."
Kiyohara sat cross-legged on the cushion opposite her and placed both hands on his knees.
"Kaguya, I want to ask you for something."
Kiyohara spoke.
Kaguya tilted her head slightly, indicating that she was listening.
At the same time, she was quite curious about what Kiyohara wanted to ask her for.
(End of Chapter)