Miko's Call for Help

Hyuga Kagami had wanted to mention the Ryumyaku and Moryo to Orochimaru, but considering how difficult it would be to explain how he knew such secrets, he hesitated and ultimately said nothing.

Besides, judging by Orochimaru's expression, he did not seem particularly interested in artificial Tailed Beasts.

That was only natural. For Orochimaru, who had mastered forbidden techniques such as the Eight Branches Technique and Physical Regeneration and was developing Living Corpse Reincarnation, chakra was not a problem at all.

After weighing his options, Hyuga Kagami asked, "Lord Orochimaru, what price would I have to pay to obtain your materials on artificial Tailed Beasts?"

Orochimaru studied Hyuga Kagami with great interest. "I am curious. Why are you so obsessed with artificial Tailed Beasts? Is there some other reason?"

Hyuga Kagami countered, "Then why are you so fascinated by forbidden techniques? You and I are the same kind of people. When it comes to research, no reason is necessary. Interest is enough."

"That explanation does not convince me." Orochimaru shook his head, then suddenly smiled. "Fine. I also want to see what kind of monster you can create."

Hyuga Kagami was delighted. "You agree?"

Orochimaru held up two fingers. "I will give you all the materials, but I have two conditions."

"Please, go ahead!"

Orochimaru smiled. "First, you will share the results of your research with me. Second, I want you to gather information on every Anbu member, including the old man's Shadow Guard."

With no room to bargain, Hyuga Kagami could only nod in agreement.

That night, Hyuga Kagami received all of the village's materials on artificial Tailed Beasts from One-eyed Viper.

From this, it could be inferred that Orochimaru had stolen the vast majority of the village's forbidden techniques and research materials before defecting. That might have been one of the reasons the village higher-ups had carried out a bloody purge of Orochimaru's former subordinates.

Spreading open the Scroll containing the artificial Tailed Beast experiment records, Hyuga Kagami merely glanced over it before his brows furrowed tightly.

The complexity of artificial Tailed Beasts far exceeded his earlier expectations. There were more than seven hundred different complex formulas alone, and many of the sealing formulas were so intricate that even Jonin-level ninja would find them difficult to perform.

Moreover, artificial Tailed Beasts also had extremely demanding requirements for their shells.

According to the Scroll's records, the village had tested seventeen high-strength materials back then. In the end, only one material called Purple Mud Glue could barely withstand massive amounts of chakra.

Purple Mud Glue was a specialty of the Land of Swamps, a type of clay found in the deepest parts of swamps.

For that reason, Purple Mud Glue was difficult to mine and produced in small quantities. Its market price was nearly equivalent to gold, making it an exceptionally rare and expensive material.

He had thought that a massive source of chakra would be the main obstacle to creating an artificial Tailed Beast, but after reading the materials, Hyuga Kagami realized that everything from the formulas to the shell material was a problem!

"No wonder Shennong, who controlled the remnants of the Sky Ninja Village, spent so many years at it and still only made that neither-fish-nor-fowl Zero-Tails."

After a quiet sigh, Hyuga Kagami put away the Scroll.

At present, Hyuga Kagami was severely lacking in both technical knowledge and material reserves. He simply did not have the ability to launch the Artificial Tailed Beast Plan anytime soon.

Early the next morning, Hyuga Kagami arrived at the Anbu reporting location.

After receiving a new ninja identification card, he officially became a Special Jonin of Konoha and formally joined the Anbu directly under the Hokage.

In the equipment storehouse, Hyuga Kagami met Guy and Shisui.

After greeting one another, the three began carefully selecting their equipment.

Before the mask rack, Hyuga Kagami took a liking to a Hawk Mask. He tried it on, found that it fit perfectly, and chose it.

Guy selected an ordinary dog-face mask.

Shisui hesitated for a long time between a fox-face mask and a cat-face mask. In the end, he gave up the fox-face mask, which looked too cunning, and chose the comparatively gentle-looking cat-face mask.

Inside the Hokage's Office.

Now dressed in Anbu uniforms, Hyuga Kagami, Guy, and Shisui stood ramrod straight before the Hokage's desk.

The Third Hokage carefully looked the three of them over from top to bottom, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Not bad. You all look spirited. From this moment on, you will fill the vacancies in Anbu Team 11."

With that, the Third Hokage lightly clapped his hands.

A figure landed beside the three of them.

The Third Hokage introduced him. "This is Kakashi. He will serve as the captain of your Team 11."

Kakashi removed the fox-face mask from his face and said coldly to the three, "I am Kakashi. Please take care of me."

Hyuga Kagami and the other two also removed their masks and politely returned the greeting.

"There is a particularly difficult mission at hand." Tapping his pipe against the desk, the Third Hokage continued, "A few days ago, the Miko of the Land of Demons sent a request to Konoha, hoping we would send people to assist them in sealing an otherworldly demon threatening the Ninja World. This will be your first mission after joining the Anbu. Mission rank: S!"

The moment Hyuga Kagami heard this, his heart tightened.

He had only thought of the demon Moryo yesterday, yet today the Third Hokage had assigned him a mission to seal a demon. He did not know whether this was a coincidence or whether the village had noticed something.

The Third Hokage rose to his feet, turned to gaze out at the village beyond the window, and said, "We know nothing of the mission's details, so you must hurry to the Land of Demons and rendezvous with its Miko. The Land of Demons may have sent requests to other ninja villages as well, so you may encounter ninja from other villages during this mission. Be careful, and avoid conflicts with them whenever possible."

All four answered in unison, "Yes!"

Time was short and the mission urgent. The four did not dare delay. After leaving the Hokage's Office, they headed straight out of the village and rushed toward the Land of Demons.

After leaving the village, Guy said excitedly to Kakashi, "Kakashi, I am a Jonin too now! I finally caught up with you!"

Kakashi responded listlessly, "Yeah, yeah."

Completely unaware of Kakashi's impatience, Guy continued happily, "Kakashi, this kind of rivalry, where we chase after each other, is true youth! Just thinking about it fills me with energy!"

Kakashi turned his head to glance at Hyuga Kagami and Shisui, who were slightly behind the rest of the group, while continuing to brush Guy off. "Yeah, yeah."

At the rear of the group.

Noticing that Hyuga Kagami seemed somewhat preoccupied, Shisui asked curiously, "Senior, what is wrong?"

Hyuga Kagami shook his head. "Nothing."

Hyuga Kagami really was being somewhat paranoid. He had met Orochimaru only yesterday and mentioned matters concerning a chakra source, yet today he had been assigned to take part in a mission to seal Moryo. The timing was far too coincidental.

But after thinking it over carefully, he recalled that the Miko of the Land of Demons seemed to have died sealing the demon Moryo around this time, leaving behind Shion, the next-generation Miko, who was about Naruto's age...