Uzuki Yugao

"Lord Yoru, do you know what Kou's existence represents?"

After finishing all the examinations, Orochimaru showed a rare, sickly grin of excitement. Uchiha Yoru, standing nearby, replied directly, "Wood Style?"

"No! You're wrong!" Orochimaru immediately dismissed his student's answer, his own gaze feverishly fixed on the precious data in his hands, his snake eyes brimming with obsession.

"It represents bloodline limits! Created from nothing—bloodline limits can be cultivated in ordinary people too."

Good grief, looking at Orochimaru before him, Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but show a stunned expression. Truly, a scientist's train of thought was absurd.

He had thought Orochimaru wanted to cultivate a batch of Wood Style users—watered-down versions, sure, but still Wood Style. Who would've guessed the man was already ahead of him? What Orochimaru was actually considering now was cultivating all kinds of bloodline limits.

If Wood Style could be cultivated, then what about other bloodline limits?

Kekkei Genkai—a mysterious existence that had never vanished from the Shinobi World. During the Warring States Period, the highest tier was the Kekkei Genkai families, representing immense power, followed by the secret technique clans.

If this challenge could be overcome and bloodline limits could be mass-produced, the entire Shinobi World would be shaken.

"Teacher Orochimaru, you mean—"

At that moment, Uchiha Yoru seemed to catch on. Orochimaru saw this and nodded wildly, "Exactly. While Kou's Wood Style can't compare to the First Hokage's, as long as I crack this cultivation hurdle, I can personally create a Kekkei Genkai family."

Damn! Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but curse inwardly. How did the train of thought loop back again? He'd thought Orochimaru was talking about cultivating every bloodline limit in the Shinobi World, but it circled right back. Truly, he couldn't grasp a scientist's mind at all.

But on the surface, Uchiha Yoru feigned excitement. "If Teacher Orochimaru can cultivate a few Wood Style ninja, you could use that to secure the position of Fifth Hokage."

This display of excitement from Uchiha Yoru made the thrilled Orochimaru cool down a bit, a flicker of irritation passing through his snake eyes. So there really was a gap in common ground—how could you jump to that conclusion?

Rely on a few Wood Style ninja to become Fifth Hokage? Was that great? Wasn't personally creating a bloodline clan far greater? Like the legendary Sage of Six Paths, he would be a god who could create all things.

Two people, two minds, their thoughts poles apart.

Orochimaru, who had been so excited, suddenly realized no one could share his joy. How frustrating. He waved his hand hoarsely, "Lord Yoru, Kou stays with me for now. Remember to keep it secret."

It seemed Orochimaru had taken Kou from Danzo's hands. Though Wood Style was rare, Kou's version was merely a weakened bloodline limit, worlds apart from the First Hokage's, so Danzo was willing to part with it.

Or perhaps Danzo, now cooperating with Orochimaru to restart the Wood Release Project, was hoping to churn out a few more Wood Style ninja. After all, no one ever had too many bloodline limit users. If by chance another First Hokage-level Wood Style user popped up, wouldn't that be a jackpot?

"Lord Orochimaru."

Kou, who had just been thoroughly examined and had who knows how much blood drawn, swayed slightly as he got out of bed, but still bowed respectfully to Orochimaru.

Long accustomed to Root's brainwashing and conditioning, Orochimaru showed little reaction, merely waving dismissively. "Kou, you've worked hard. I'll call you when needed."

Clearly, Danzo had reassigned Kou to work under Orochimaru, since Orochimaru was now part of Root.

"Yes!"

Kou was numb, like a puppet without emotions, with no plans for his own future—the most loyal lab rat imaginable.

As Uchiha Yoru watched Kou and Orochimaru's obsessed expressions, he quietly pondered. Orochimaru could artificially create bloodline limits, but there were also certain ninjutsu that could achieve the same.

Returning to the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Yoru looked exhausted. Sitting in his office, a few leaves occasionally fell from his palm beneath the desk.

Strangely, those leaves seemed off, as if they had been electrocuted, faint arcs of electricity flickering as they dropped.

Taking a new leaf from the drawer and gripping it in his palm, Uchiha Yoru smiled. Clearly, he could feel progress. So, enhancing a certain aspect of one's physique was like enhancing talent itself.

Before awakening his Sharingan, he was merely an average ninja with decent aptitude. After unlocking it, he had clearly undergone a strengthening process. He could distinctly feel that his training results were much faster than before.

For example, the chakra volume that once took a month to increase could now be achieved in ten days after awakening his bloodline and strengthening his body. Now, with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and enhanced physique, his training speed had improved again, reaching the level of a genius.

"Especially in Lightning Release training—I should count as a genius now too," he murmured, a faint smile crossing his tired face.

In the ninja world, strength was the foundation. Status alone wasn't enough; matching power was essential. And until he reached the level of the First Hokage or Madara Uchiha, who could single-handedly overpower an entire village, he had to blend in with the group.

"Teacher Orochimaru, you really are something else." Every time he exchanged ideas with Orochimaru, his training direction was recalibrated. As expected, the scientist of the Shinobi World had directly analyzed his talent path.

Orochimaru's arranged training direction was to first focus on enhancing Lightning Release's nature transformation, while intensifying physical training over the next three months. With the Sharingan's boost, learning ninjutsu was fast.

Just as Uchiha Yoru was thinking about Orochimaru's training plan, a knock came at his office door.

Knock, knock, knock~

"Come in."

The office door opened, and in walked Uchiha Shisui, followed by a female ninja carrying a stack of documents, though she looked a bit young.

Uchiha Yoru didn't pay much attention, simply smiling at Shisui. "Shisui, what's up?"

Seeing the exhaustion barely hidden behind Uchiha Yoru's smile, Shisui felt a pang of guilt. His older brother bore too much for the clan.

"Brother Yoru, the Seventh Division has finished recruiting all its members. Here are the files for everyone in the unit."

A thick stack of documents was placed on the desk. Each file contained the ninja's photo, background, grades and teachers from the Ninja Academy, and their post-graduation squad leader—everything.

"Brother Yoru, this is Uzuki Yugao. She's good at handling paperwork." Shisui smiled as he introduced the female ninja behind him. He had personally selected her to lighten his brother's workload.

Today is Tuesday, please keep reading.