Yamada Juichi's path to awakening divine arts was not going smoothly. With the Research Institute's assistance, he had tried all sorts of methods, but still hadn't managed to awaken a divine art. This left the Institute's senior staff, Orochimaru included, completely baffled.
Amado alone, knowing about Shinji's "Artificial Otsutsuki Project," wasn't particularly concerned. He continued pushing the various tests forward methodically while preparing for the sixth ritual.
Only the Research Institute could manage this. No other organization—not even the Five Great Shinobi Villages—had the financial and material resources to support rituals so frequently.
In the Shinobi World today, the Research Institute's existence was no longer a secret.
To avoid being targeted by the Research Institute, the various shinobi villages, led by the Five Great Shinobi Villages, all adopted a hands-off stance. They turned a blind eye to the Institute's every action, neither investigating nor interfering. When the Institute needed help, they would even offer it themselves.
As for the daimyos of the various countries, the Research Institute had terrified them out of their wits.
All the daimyos, including those of the Five Great Nations, regularly sent funds and supplies to the Research Institute. Under the guise of sponsorship, they were effectively paying the Institute "protection money" in exchange for their own safety and continued existence.
So, as time went on, the Research Institute's ability to harness the overall power of the Shinobi World continued to grow steadily.
World No. 5.
Shinji stood atop the Divine Tree, gazing toward the distant sky.
With two fully mature Divine Trees absorbing the planet's energy, the process was far more efficient than before. After scanning and analyzing the situation, the scientific sphere "Little Round" estimated that World No. 5 had only thirty-seven days left.
In these circumstances, Shinji didn't dare wander around. He could