Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

Ancor Vantian.

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Yahiko struggled to move his feet, relying on Konan and Nagato to support him as he shuffled forward.

After undergoing several surgeries, he had barely regained some control over his body. Now, he was impatient to move and exercise his heavy limbs.

Lying on the operating table for so long had made him feel as though his body had rusted and gone numb.

"Do you want to take a break?"

Seeing the sweat pouring down Yahiko's face and the way he was gritting his teeth against the pain, Konan asked with some concern. Standing beside her, Nagato also paused, looking toward Yahiko with worry.

"No, I'm fine! Keep going!"

Yahiko shook his head and insisted on moving forward. Each step sent waves of soreness, numbness, itching, and sharp pain through his body—sensations so intense they were almost unbearable. Yet, these feelings made Yahiko feel exhilarated.

According to Kagetsu's explanation, these sensations indicated his body was healing and recovering. If there were no pain or sensations at all, it would mean the treatment had failed.

After walking a little further, Konan finally refused to let Yahiko push himself any longer. With Nagato's help, she brought him back to the lab, where they used the instruments to perform a routine check and monitor his condition.

"I know you want to recover quickly, but as Kagetsu warned, while rehabilitation training is good, it must be done in moderation. Overdoing it will worsen your condition again."

Konan noticed the regret and yearning in Yahiko's expression. Softening her tone, she gently tried to comfort him.

"I understand." Yahiko nodded. Compared to earlier, when he could only lie on the operating table completely immobilized, dependent on others for everything, his current state was worlds apart.

"It's just... these limbs look so ugly." Yahiko pulled up his sleeves and pant legs, revealing his pale, lifeless-looking arms and legs. He sighed heavily.

The damaged limbs and organs he had lost could not be saved. After they were amputated during surgery, Kagetsu had attached new limbs to him.

In Yahiko's experience, these transplanted limbs possessed a strange vitality. Without any rejection reactions, they even seemed to nourish his scarred and battered body.

"These bodies contain Wood Release cells, which can gently nourish your body. If your recovery goes well and you merge with these bodies effectively, you might be able to master the Wood Release power that only the First Hokage possessed after you recover."

Konan repeated everything she had been told by Kagetsu, word for word.

Seeing Yahiko's body gradually recovering, Konan's mood also improved day by day. Naturally, she felt immense gratitude and affection for Kagetsu, who had saved Yahiko.

At least in terms of the treatment plan, Konan had completely placed her trust in Kagetsu. 

She had earlier had some doubts about Kagetsu's methods, but after that, she stopped asking questions. 

Whatever Kagetsu suggested, she followed without hesitation, becoming a completely obedient assistant.

At this point, Kagetsu's authority regarding Yahiko's body was above even Yahiko's. If there were a conflict between Yahiko and Kagetsu, Konan would likely side with Kagetsu and try to mediate with Yahiko.

However, Yahiko was a patient who followed medical advice, which spared both Konan and Nagato from any difficult decisions.

"I heard from Mr. Hiroto and the others that Mr. Kagetsu has the ability to create Kekkei Genkai," Yahiko said, licking his lips, somewhat amazed.

After all, the ability to create a Kekkei Genkai was beyond what the three of them had imagined. In the past, they had known very little about Kekkei Genkai, only hearing rumors about things like the Uchiha's Sharingan.

After all, the Land of Rain didn't have any powerful, well-known Kekkei Genkai clans or ninja with Kekkei Genkai.

But that didn't stop them from knowing that ninja with Kekkei Genkai far exceeded ordinary ninjas in terms of talent and potential.

Konan nodded.

If the Akatsuki organization had this kind of technology, then its members would be stronger, safer, and better able to implement the organization's peaceful ideals.

However, that thought only passed through their minds briefly, and they quickly buried it in their hearts. This technology was undoubtedly a secret of Konoha, and they couldn't be too greedy.

"Any news, comrades?"

After Konan finished checking his body and laid him down on the nearby bed, Yahiko finally couldn't hold back and asked the question that had been weighing on his heart for a long time.

"Most of our comrades have successfully left the Land of Rain," Konan glanced at Yahiko, who looked at her with hopeful and pleading eyes, and then shared the information she had received from Kagetsu and Hiroto.

"Most of them?"

Having experienced Hanzo's betrayal, Yahiko, who had grown a little, was quick to pick up on the hidden meaning in Konan's words.

Not everyone can make the decision to leave their country. And not everyone can escape the tracking of the Hidden Rain's Anbu division.

But no matter what, the downfall of the Akatsuki organization had already become a fated outcome. Even if the three of them returned to the Land of Rain to rebuild the Akatsuki, it wouldn't erase their past failure.

"Don't worry about the Akatsuki members in the Land of Rain. Hanzo no longer has the time or energy to search for them," Konan added.

A voice from outside the laboratory door interrupted.

"Kagetsu?"

Hearing Kagetsu's voice, the three of them turned their heads and looked at Kagetsu, who had entered the laboratory.

"Did you finish your mission?" Konan asked instinctively, noticing the dust and weariness on Kagetsu.

"I've finished, but I can't stay long," Kagetsu stepped forward and quickly scanned the various data on Yahiko's body that Konan had recorded.

"Hanzo no longer has the energy to hunt us down. Did something happen?" Yahiko focused on the information Kagetsu had just mentioned.

"Literally, yes. He's in over his head. Because of you, he now has to face the wrath of Konoha and Iwagakure," Kagetsu said plainly.

"Because of us?"

"The channel for purchasing the Healing Tags has been cut off. Iwagakure obviously wants an explanation. While Konoha can't attack the Land of Rain, they can still cooperate with Iwagakure to put pressure on Hanzō of the Land of Rain regarding the Akatsuki organization."

Kagetsu finished reading the data, then walked over to Yahiko's side, using medical ninjutsu to check his physical condition.

"Is there going to be a war in the Land of Rain?" Yahiko asked, his face full of concern. Nagato and Konan, too, seemed to recall some unpleasant past events, and both fell silent.

"Your body has recovered well." Kagetsu didn't answer Yahiko's question directly, instead withdrawing his hand and speaking to him.

"How much longer until I fully recover?" Yahiko asked again.

"Not much longer. You should already feel that your strength is different from what it once was, right?" Kagetsu replied, gazing into Yahiko's eyes.

"Konan said I might be able to master the First Hokage's Wood Release in the future." Yahiko smiled faintly.

"You can indeed awaken and use Wood Release, but that's not the true power of this body," Kagetsu reminded him.

Yahiko and the others exchanged confused glances, waiting for Kagetsu to explain further.

"Shape Transformation!" Kagetsu spread his hand, and a certain force was extracted from the air, solidifying in his open palm under his control.

****

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