Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

"It seems that my impression in your hearts isn't too great," Kagetsu chuckled, baring a sly grin. "Don't worry, I only want to study those legendary eyes. As for transplantation—forget it."

"You don't want them?" Everyone present, including Nagato himself, was stunned by Kagetsu's choice.

Jiraiya-sensei had once told them that the Rinnegan was the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths! Alongside the Sharingan and the Byakugan, it was one of the Three Great Dojutsu, the most mysterious and powerful pair of eyes known in the shinobi world.

Given the Sage of Six Paths' mythic legacy in the ninja world, calling the Rinnegan the "Eyes of God" was no exaggeration.

Because of this, Jiraiya-sensei had also warned them never to reveal these eyes lightly in front of others.

Yet Kagetsu, despite actively setting the terms for this exchange, could give up the opportunity to obtain the Rinnegan?

"I'm just interested in research, but transplantation? No thanks. I don't want to subject my body to that kind of strain." As Kagetsu spoke, he stepped forward again.

"Let me take a look at Yahiko's injuries first."

Hearing this, Konan and Nagato immediately stepped aside to make room for Kagetsu. They watched as his hands began to emit a vibrant green glow, brimming with the vitality of life. Pressing his hands onto Yahiko's body, Kagetsu focused on diagnosing and healing him.

Moments later, Kagetsu withdrew his hands, the glow of the Mystical Palm Technique fading.

"How is he?" Konan and Nagato, who had been holding their breaths for fear of disturbing him, immediately asked eagerly when they saw Kagetsu stop.

"I'm feeling much better!" Yahiko, lying on the stone bed, answered instead. His tone was stronger than before, and the skin exposed outside the bandages showed a healthier flush of color.

"Hanzo's Explosive Flame Formation?" Kagetsu's tone held a hint of disbelief, though he also gained a new level of respect for Yahiko's tenacity.

Despite looking battered and half-dead, surviving the power of the Explosive Flame Formation was already an extraordinary feat.

It was akin to the Second Hokage's forbidden technique, the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags. For even someone at the Kage level, even a single mistake could lead to instant death when caught in its blast.

"Yes!" Upon hearing Hanzo's name, both Konan and Nagato instinctively radiated a deep hatred in their voices and expressions.

Anyone who approached a negotiation with goodwill and trust, only to be betrayed and nearly lose their life, would naturally feel a sense of anguish and fury born from such a profound betrayal.

"Yahiko's body has suffered extensive injuries. His limbs have completely lost functionality, and the nerves are already necrotic. With pure medical ninjutsu, I can heal him without much difficulty. However, whether he can continue as a ninja or regain any significant portion of his former strength—I can't guarantee that," Kagetsu stated after a moment's thought, speaking honestly.

Even though his medical ninjutsu expertise was among the most advanced in the ninja world, he had his limits.

For instance, Sunagakure's Chiyo was also considered an elite medical ninja, but her specialty lay in poisons. When it came to saving lives, she couldn't surpass Tsunade and, in some areas, might even lag behind Sakura, who inherited Tsunade's teachings.

Hearing Kagetsu's words, both Konan and Nagato's faces immediately darkened.

"However," Kagetsu added, "if you're open to it, I can use other techniques to modify his body, granting him a certain degree of power."

"Modify?" Konan and Nagato instinctively turned to look at Yahiko, as if seeking his guidance and approval, just as they had always done when faced with difficult decisions.

"Is there no better option?" Nagato turned back to Kagetsu, his tone filled with reluctance. In his mind, modification equated to becoming a monster or an aberration. If possible, he didn't want Yahiko to face such a fate.

"Don't think of modification as something so terrible. The very existence of chakra itself is already a miracle," Kagetsu said, easily picking up on the resistance in Nagato's eyes and heart. He couldn't help but feel a little exasperated at the prejudice.

Still, he didn't press further. 

"It can serve as a backup plan. If you're willing, I could attempt to track down Lady Tsunade. Perhaps she could provide a better treatment option."

"Lady Tsunade?" A glimmer of admiration flashed through Konan's eyes as she recalled the beautiful kunoichi who once stood beside her sensei.

As Tsunade's reputation spread throughout the shinobi world, and with Jiraiya-sensei often mentioning her unintentionally, their impression of Tsunade was far higher than that of most shinobi in the Land of Rain.

Even though they had never left the Land of Rain, they were well aware that Konoha's Tsunade, the Princess of Slugs, was the most powerful medical ninja in the entire shinobi world!

Even Shinnō-sensei, who had taught Konan, was full of praise for Tsunade's unparalleled medical ninjutsu skills.

"Tsunade-sama doesn't just heal anyone who asks, especially now that she's been away from Konoha for so long. Even if I manage to find her, convincing her to help won't be easy," Kagetsu reminded Konan with a hint of caution.

Konan and Nagato exchanged a glance, suddenly at a loss for what to do.

"I can plead with Lady Tsunade! I'll keep asking until she agrees!" Konan thought deeply and could only come up with sincerity and sheer persistence as her approach.

"You could also request Jiraiya-sensei's help," Kagetsu added casually, effortlessly dragging Jiraiya into the matter as well. "Additionally, while searching for Tsunade-sama, you could work on restoring Yahiko's ability to move, even partially.

In the meantime, you might also want to learn about body modification technology as a backup option."

Konan and Nagato, initially confused, listened to Kagetsu's suggestion and immediately nodded in gratitude.

"Then, it's time to leave," Kagetsu said.

"Leave?" The three of them froze in surprise.

"Yes, let the Akatsuki remain dormant for a while. Temporarily leave Amegakure," Kagetsu explained. "Since Hanzo has already made his move against you, he won't stop until he eliminates your group.

Moreover, the conditions here aren't suitable for my research or for Yahiko's treatment."

Hearing this, the three of them silently nodded. As Konan and Kakuzu went off to organize the evacuation, Kagetsu approached Nagato. 

A soft green chakra glowed around his hands as he placed them on Nagato's body under Nagato's watchful gaze.

Nagato felt a warm energy flow through his body, spreading out from Kagetsu's palms. Suddenly, he noticed a strange itching sensation in two areas of his body.

The next moment, under the horrified gazes of Yahiko and himself, two humanoid white creatures began sprouting from Nagato's body like seedlings emerging from a tree trunk.

Looking at Kagetsu efficiently snap the necks of two humanoid white monsters and then swiftly seal them into a scroll that he had somehow retrieved and opened,

Nagato and Yahiko blinked in confusion.

"What... are those?"

Nagato felt a deep sense of terror upon realizing that such creatures had been parasitically residing within his own body.

****

Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,

https://ko-fi.com/pirateking24/tiers