The heavy stone door closed behind them.
With a dull rumble, the last traces of light and sound from the surface were completely cut off.
Embedded lamps along the walls emitted a steady, cold white glow, illuminating the passage that stretched endlessly into the depths.
Uchiha Anlan walked in front.
Tsunade followed silently behind.
The hem of her white lab coat swayed with each step. Beneath it, the black dress and stockings remained, her high heels striking the stone floor with crisp, rhythmic echoes.
The air was neither damp nor cold.
Instead, it carried a faint scent of soil and stone.
The rock walls bore clear signs of excavation and reinforcement. From time to time, faint barrier seals flickered across the surface like ripples of light.
This tunnel—
Had clearly undergone extensive modification through ninjutsu.
The mastery of Earth Release was extraordinary.
Structure, airflow, stability—
Everything was perfectly balanced.
Tsunade's heart tightened subtly.
The Uchiha's resources and large-scale ninjutsu capabilities far exceeded anything the outside world imagined.
Infinite City… was no simple settlement.
It was a carefully constructed stronghold.
What exactly are they planning?
She glanced at Anlan's unguarded back.
The thought of attacking him flickered briefly—
Then quietly faded.
Since she was already trapped in this "evil family's lair," she might as well understand it.
After nearly a kilometer of walking—
A glow appeared ahead.
Faint sounds of machinery and voices echoed through the tunnel.
When they stepped out from the final staircase—
An enormous underground dome opened before them.
The ceiling towered over ten meters high.
Instead of rough stone, it had been smoothed into a stable arc through Earth Release and structural reinforcement.
Rows of powerful floodlights hung overhead like artificial stars, turning the underground into daylight.
The scale was breathtaking.
The space stretched so far it seemed endless.
Towering metal racks rose like steel forests, stacked with countless supply crates.
Workers and transport machines moved in steady streams, unloading goods marked with the Ginza emblem from elevator shafts connected to the surface.
Some ninja stood along walls and ceilings, reinforcing the structure with ninjutsu.
"This place is…"
Tsunade muttered unconsciously.
No ordinary clan could afford this.
How long had they been building it?
How many resources had been poured into it?
Questions flooded her mind.
"This is the underground warehouse of Infinite City's western district," Anlan said casually.
"A standard storage facility under the Uchiha Ginza Merchant Group."
The casual tone made Tsunade's lips tighten.
Then she let out a cold snort.
Her gaze slid sideways toward him.
"Heh. Dressing up a pig with green onions doesn't make it noble."
Even now—
She refused to give him an inch.
Anlan simply smiled.
Then—
He raised his hand.
And struck.
Smack.
His palm landed squarely against the curve beneath her lab coat.
Even through layers of fabric, the firmness was unmistakable.
Tsunade froze.
Shock.
Rage.
Humiliation.
All surged through her light-brown eyes.
A flush spread uncontrollably across her face.
"You—!"
The word burst out—
But everything else stuck in her throat.
Anlan slowly raised his hand again, a faint smile on his lips.
"Tsunade-senpai."
"Don't forget."
"I'm an inherently evil Uchiha."
"So the rules are different."
"If you can't occasionally say something pleasant… perhaps flatter me a little—"
"Then I might have to 'pat' you in other ways."
This shameless, despicable brat!
Tsunade cursed inwardly.
Her chest rose and fell sharply beneath the loose coat.
After a few seconds—
She forced out a stiff smile.
"…Lord Anlan is wise."
"Now that's adaptability," Anlan said cheerfully.
Educating Tsunade—
Was surprisingly enjoyable.
But there was no need to rush.
He turned his attention back to the vast warehouse.
If nothing else—
Earth Release truly was miraculous.
No heavy machinery.
No long construction periods.
A skilled team could reshape terrain and build entire facilities in days.
Within the Ginza Merchant Group, many ninja had been guided toward practical applications of ninjutsu—
Construction.
Agriculture.
Environmental engineering.
And the results—
Were already showing.
"Let's go."
Tsunade blinked, then followed.
They descended a spiraling staircase.
Soon—
The second level came into view.
Another vast space.
Slightly lower in height.
Divided into multiple training zones.
The ground had been reinforced repeatedly with specialized techniques, mixed with metallic particles.
Flat.
Dense.
Capable of withstanding intense combat.
The outer ring consisted of a wide circular track.
Nearby were training tools—weights, climbing frames, balance structures, and obstacle courses simulating real terrain.
Further inward—
Chunin-level chakra control and nature transformation zones.
At the very center—
A tactical combat arena.
Though much of the space remained unused due to ongoing construction above, training had already begun.
Most trainees were lower-level ninja.
An adult version of the academy—
But far more brutal.
Here—
They learned how to kill.
Ninjutsu.
Taijutsu.
Genjutsu.
Team coordination.
The two newly formed forces—
Volcano Army
Wind Forest Army
—trained within their respective zones.
Coordination was still rough.
But discipline was evident.
Four-man squads moved in formation.
Commands echoed sharply.
Footsteps struck in unison.
Ninjutsu exploded with controlled violence.
On an observation platform above—
Uchiha Yashiro stood watching.
He turned slightly, sensing something.
But seeing no disturbance—
Anlan continued walking.
Deeper.
Further down.
Until—
They reached the third level.
This floor felt completely different.
At the end of the corridor stood a massive metal door engraved with complex sealing arrays.
Anlan formed a hand seal.
The door slid open silently.
Inside—
A pristine laboratory.
Bright.
Sterile.
Perfect.
Smooth white walls.
Even lighting.
Temperature and humidity precisely controlled.
Rows of advanced instruments filled the space—
Equipment so valuable even Orochimaru would covet it.
On one side—
A neatly organized material storage area.
On the other—
Observation rooms separated by reinforced transparent barriers.
The entire space was silent.
Only the faint hum of machinery remained.
"Welcome to your laboratory, Tsunade-senpai."
Anlan stepped aside, his voice echoing softly.
"The equipment here should match your reputation."
"And support any research I require."
His gaze settled on her.
"Cellular regeneration."
"Vitality enhancement."
"Forbidden jutsu reconstruction."
"Pharmaceutical development."
"Even the structure of life itself."
"As long as your ideas meet my standards—"
"The Uchiha will provide everything."
Then—
His tone turned cold.
"But one condition."
"Everything follows my command."
Tsunade stood frozen at the entrance.
The lab before her—
Was paradise.
For any researcher.
Yet she understood clearly.
This was a perfect prison.
"The first level stores resources…"
"The second builds military strength…"
"The third hides research…"
She curled her lips slightly.
She wanted to mock him—
But when she saw his slowly rising hand—
Every word died.
"Heh…"
"So I really am trapped."
"Tsunade-senpai isn't a bird in a cage."
"And I'm not some devil keeping one."
Anlan reached out—
Toward her hand.
Instantly—
She recoiled.
Her reaction was sharp.
The lab coat fluttered violently.
She even stepped back.
Her face filled with disgust and vigilance.
Anlan clicked his tongue softly.
"Tsunade-senpai… we're already quite familiar, aren't we?"
He emphasized the words.
"Do you really need to treat me like a monster?"
"Familiar?"
Tsunade nearly exploded.
But seeing the look in his eyes—
She turned away.
Ignored him completely.
"Tsunade-senpai."
"Come inside."
Anlan walked in without looking back.
That same indifferent attitude—
Brought back memories of the private room.
The suffocating pressure returned.
Tsunade's body trembled slightly.
She bit her lip until she tasted blood.
Then—
Forced herself to follow.
Anlan stopped at the material storage area and took out a scroll.
"This contains the blood sample used on the Mist ninja."
"Corpse Blood."
"Initial tests show—"
"Once injected, humans or animals will transform into 'Dead Bodies' within minutes to hours, depending on compatibility."
"The process is irreversible."
"Bites or scratches spread infection."
"Current infection rate—100%."
"We don't yet know if higher variants will evolve."
Tsunade's expression darkened with every word.
She hesitated—
Then accepted the scroll.
It felt heavy.
Like holding disaster itself.
If this spread—
It would be hell.
"Uchiha Anlan!"
She could no longer remain silent.
"This thing is evil!"
"I don't know where you got it—but it shouldn't exist!"
She stared into his eyes—
Searching for hesitation.
There was none.
"Tsunade-senpai."
"As far as I know…"
"Konoha's Wood Release experiments also killed many."
Her face turned pale.
He continued calmly—
"If they can do it…"
"So can I."
"So don't judge me as if I were a good person."
"And don't try to restrain me with morality."
"It's meaningless."
Her lips trembled.
"Are you not afraid?"
"One day, everyone will stand against you?"
"Afraid?"
Anlan's voice remained steady.
"That would only mean I wasn't strong enough."
He stepped forward slightly.
Before the worst ending could arrive—
"I will become stronger."
His voice echoed through the sterile laboratory.
"Stronger than anyone who has ever lived."
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