Research Progress

No sooner had Obito left than Ikura rushed into the Tsuchikage's Office. He had come over as soon as he heard Yichen's shout, and since he was about to unleash his ultimate move, he wasn't worried about Obito alert. If he was lucky, he might even be able to deliver a powerful blow to Obito.

However, he was a little too late and only caught a glimpse of Obito's departing figure.

Yichen shook his head at Ikura and said, "We didn't keep him, but he was seriously injured this time and probably won't be out causing trouble for a while. By the way, how's Akino doing?"

The final killing move from the Barrier Team was truly powerful. Yichen thought all they could do was distract Obito and buy Yichen time to attack. And that's exactly what Yichen did, striking Obito. Although that strike wasn't a heavy blow to Obito, it should have been enough to make Obito back down.

However, Yichen did not expect that Obito's Hollowfication would be shaken, and he was forcibly shaken out of the Kamui Space by Atsumi Akino and the others. With this back and forth, Obito's injuries were more than a hundred times worse.

Speaking of this, Ikura laughed and said, "The harvest should be quite good. At first, all we could do was interfere with Space-Time Ninjutsu, slowing down the opponent's Ninjutsu activation speed. But later, it seems that Atsumi Akino found some patterns in Space-Time Ninjutsu, and then she set up this trap."

After listening, Yichen thought for a moment and said, "Obito Uchiha probably won't dare to stay in the village any longer. Have the Barrier Team keep an eye out and see if anyone leaves the village. I'll go check on Akino."

Ikura responded and went to the Barrier Team himself.

Although Obito had left, Atsumi Akino's research was not over. After Yichen arrived, she did not get up, but kept her head down, writing and drawing, studying the data recorded after the barrier's reaction.

Obito's final entry and exit from the Kamui Space caused a shockwave that nearly caused the entire barrier to collapse, but it also provided Atsumi Akino a wealth of data for research and analysis.

Yichen took a closer look at the runes drawn by Atsumi Akino and found that he couldn't understand them at all. However, judging from their complexity, he could tell that Atsumi Akino had made great progress this time. Yichen had been keeping track of Atsumi Akino's research progress, and she had never been able to handle such complex runes before.

Yichen waited on the side, Kawazoe Yura and Uzumaki Yumi, out of curiosity, did not return to the Barrier Team. The two of them were carefully reading Atsumi Akino's book, even though they couldn't understand it, it was good to broaden their horizons.

Yichen said to Kawazoe Yura, "Youlan, tell us in detail what just happened on your side."

Upon recognizing Yichen, Kawazoe Yura said, "Yes, Teacher Yichen. We activated the barrier after sensing the fight in your office. The barrier is very effective at detecting Space-Time Ninjutsu; every time the intruder uses Space-Time Ninjutsu, the barrier fluctuates violently."

"Based on these fluctuations, Akino made several adjustments to the barrier, and finally roughly guessed the purpose of some of the Space-Time rune combinations."

"Then we specifically set up a barrier that could limit Space-Time Ninjutsu to the greatest extent possible."

"Actually, we have to thank that intruder. It was because he used Space-Time Ninjutsu time and time again that we had enough time and data to analyze the function of those rune structures."

"So far, Akino has at least mastered the runes and usage for sensing Space-Time Fluctuation and restricting Space-Time Ninjutsu. As for the rest, I'm not so sure, but I estimate that Akino has also gained some knowledge about how to traverse space."

Yichen nodded. If Atsumi Akino could grasp the first two points, that would be about enough for Iwagakure at the moment.

What the Iwa ninja fears most is that Konoha will produce another Minato Namikaze. If a ninja Flying Thunder God like Yichen, who likes to wander around other ninja villages whenever he has nothing to do, it would be a disaster for those villages.

With nothing else to do, Yichen inquired with Kawazoe Yura and Uzumaki Yumi about the recent development of Sealing Jutsu by the Barrier Team.

The group chatted idly while waiting for Atsumi Akino to finish her research.

After a long while, Atsumi Akino suddenly raised her head with an excited expression.

She looked around and saw Yichen was there, so she said eagerly, "Teacher Yichen, I understand! I know how to teleport! I know how to use the Cloud ninja's Heavenly Transfer Technique!"

Yichen was overjoyed and immediately inquired about the details.

Atsumi Akino carefully explained the principle she had just figured out to Yichen.

Although Yichen didn't quite understand what he was hearing, he still managed to extract the main idea.

Atsumi Akino analyzed the fluctuations in the barrier caused by Obito Uchiha's repeated use of Space-Time Ninjutsu and finally found the key to traversing space and time.

After understanding, Yichen quickly led Atsumi Akino and the others to the Training Ground to prepare for testing the Heavenly Transfer Technique. It just so happened that Ikura and and the other advisors had also finished their own work, so the group went together to witness the legendary Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Upon arriving at the Training Ground, Atsumi Akino first placed the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique, and then inscribed some runes a dozen meters away.

According to Atsumi Akino, she is not yet able to control the location teleported by the Heavenly Transfer Technique, so based on the Space-Time Ninjutsu she just learned from Obito, she set up a traction device at the destination.

After everything was finished, Atsumi Akino placed a Kunai made of fine steel on the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique.

Then, amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, she began the teleportation.

Atsumi Akino formed several hand seals, activated the Heavenly Transfer Technique, and then with a low shout, the Kunai disappeared from everyone's sight.

Bite!

As Kunai disappeared, an irregularly shaped iron block appeared not far away, near the place where the receiving runes were engraved.

Upon hearing the sound of the iron block hitting the ground, everyone instinctively turned their gaze towards it.

Although the iron block didn't appear directly in the center of the rune, but rather off-center, and although the Kunai before the teleportation became junk after, Atsumi Akino did indeed achieve the teleportation.

The entire venue erupted in cheers, with everyone, including Yichen, joining in the jubilation for Atsumi Akino.

Atsumi Akino was a little embarrassed. Actually, the Heavenly Transfer Technique could be used entirely thanks to the Cloud ninja's base. The transfer runes on the base were all carved by the Cloud ninja beforehand.

She's at most a user.

However, even among users, she is the only one in the entire Iwagakure who knows how to use it.

After watching the excitement, Yichen dismissed the others and then spoke with Atsumi Akino to get more details. He encouraged the girl for a while before letting her go to rest.

Yichen was far less optimistic than the others. Atsumi Akino had only just begun to truly experiment with Space-Time Ninjutsu, and had only just transitioned from theory to practice. She still had a long way to go.

Furthermore, Yichen also knew that his current level of Space-Time Ninjutsu was still far from being truly usable, even compared to the Genma Shiranui Flying Thunder God by Genma and Shiranui together in the original work.

Atsumi Akino Heavenly Transfer Technique, and Yichen specially arranged for several Anbu to take turns protecting Atsumi Akino around the clock.

From this moment on, Atsumi Akino's role has risen to a strategic level. If used properly, Space-Time Ninjutsu can change the course of a battle at crucial moments.

Picking up the Kunai that had been squeezed and deformed by the spatial force, Yichen smiled. In any case, this was a good start.

"Obito, thank you!"

Meanwhile, the White Zetsu clone, carrying Obito, swiftly arrived at the location of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path using the Mayfly Technique.

Only after connecting Obito to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path did the White Zetsu clone breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hey, Obito, are you still alive?" The White Zetsu main body was surprised to see Obito brought back by his clone, who was almost dead. He connected with his clone to obtain memories while checking on Obito's condition.

"White Zetsu, do you know Medical Ninjutsu?" Obito asked weakly.

White Zetsu shook his head and said strangely, "No way, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path can heal from any injury, let alone the Hashirama Cells in your body."

Obito gritted his teeth. Neither Hashirama Cells Demonic Statue of the Outer Path could heal him; they couldn't remove the rock from his body.

"Where's Black Zetsu?" Obito asked.

"Black Zetsu hasn't returned from Nagato in the Land of Rain yet," White Zetsu said.

"Send one of your clones out to capture a doctor, someone capable of surgery. My body is full of Yichen's Porcelain Release Shards, which need to be surgically removed," Obito said.

"A doctor? No problem." White Zetsu contacted his other clones.

After a long time, a White Zetsu clone brought back a surgeon.

Obito didn't want to waste words with the other party, so he directly used his Sharingan Genjutsu to make the other party perform surgery on him according to his request.

Half an hour later, the broken rock in the vital parts of the Obito was finally removed.

With the help of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Obito, whose surgical wounds had healed quickly, breathed a sigh of relief, then his head lolled to the side and he fainted.

Because of Obito's disturbance, Yichen's intensive training for his three disciples came to an end.

Since Uzumaki Riori has already mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, Yichen doesn't plan to train her excessively in the short term. She can find fights on her own, and her combat skills will improve eventually.

Atsumi Akino's research has just yielded initial results and is in a time that requires time to develop, while Ishinose Kiyoshi has entered a state of selfless cultivation because of Sasori of the Red Sands's Water Release scroll.

With none of his three disciples needing his care, Yichen became restless again.

Yichen sat alone in the Tsuchikage's Office, thinking through all the leaders of the Great Ninja Village in the Ninja World, not even sparing the S-rank ninjas.

As a result, Yichen discovered that there didn't seem to be any opportunities for him to profit recently. Although Kirigakure had begun to marginalize Bloodline Ninja Clan since Karatachi Yagura took power, this was a gradual process, and the internal conflicts within Kirigakure hadn't yet reached the point of infighting.

Although the Kaguya Clan, the Yuki Clan, and others had very tense relations with the Mist ninja leadership, the situation was similar to that between the Konoha High-ranking officials and the Uchiha Clan —there had never been a direct rebellion or massacre of any of their clans.

This made it difficult for Yichen to find a suitable opportunity to cause trouble.

"Sigh, why hasn't Konoha returned the Seven-Tails yet?" Yichen sighed after putting down the information on various countries in his hand.