A Night of Cultivation Was in Order (Long Chapter-Please Keep Reading! Happy New Year!)

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head,

Every gain came with a loss. The Fujin and Raijin brothers had gained extraordinary physical gifts, but they had also gotten brains like dogs.

They might not even be able to extract Chakra.

"But they don't need to extract it."

"With bodies this powerful, they're naturally overflowing with Chakra..."

"They just have trouble controlling it..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the mountain of flesh at his feet, clearly sensing the Chakra within them.

As people with top-tier physical gifts,

the amount of Chakra in Fujin and Raijin's bodies exceeded that of most Jonin, even without extracting any.

They simply couldn't control it precisely—or perhaps, like Rock Lee, they were incapable of using Ninjutsu and could only crudely channel it into their physical movements.

Looking at the two mounds of flesh before him,

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved to the Anbu standing nearby, ordering them to bring people over to move the brothers.

They were taken to the Konoha Anbu laboratory, where Orochimaru had once conducted his experiments. It was fully equipped with all the necessary apparatus.

"Now, then..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen first placed restrictive Cursed Seals on Fujin and Raijin to ensure they wouldn't lose control.

Then Sarutobi Hiruzen personally performed the procedure, injecting some of Kibutsuji Muzan's blood into their bodies.

Of course, the Blue Spider Lily had already been mixed into their food the previous day and fed to the brothers. By now, a large amount of it was already in their bodies.

So, as soon as the Demon King's Blood was injected, Fujin and Raijin began to stir. Their eyes bulged, their faces contorted, and their pupils turned red.

The muscles and veins throughout their bodies swelled, as if they were about to lash out at someone.

This time, however, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been prepared. The Cursed Seals covering them were densely packed, applied according to the standards used for a Jinchuriki.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched his handiwork with eager anticipation.

Although he had gained quite a bit from the Demon Slayer World, aside from Immortal Breathing, the only thing worth focusing on was the Biological Weapon known as the Perfect Being.

In the Demon Slayer World, an ordinary person's physical abilities became strong enough to match a Chunin or even a Jonin after turning into a Demon.

That had immediately brought to mind the physically monstrous individuals in the Ninja World.

By comparison, there was no one better suited than Fujin and Raijin to serve as models for the Perfect Being.

"Even in their normal state, they have strength and physical abilities that surpass those of a Jonin."

"So what will they be like after they become Demons...?"

But according to the rules governing Demons in the Demon Slayer World, the stronger someone was, the longer it took them to transform. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Fujin and Raijin, still struggling in agony.

"It'll probably take several days. After all, according to Tsugikuni Michikatsu..."

"It took him a full three days to become a Demon. Fujin and Raijin are physical freaks, so it'll probably take even longer."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was patient about the outcome. Rather than wait around, he left the laboratory and instructed the Anbu to keep a close watch over the brothers.

Back in the Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the files on his desk.

He flipped through a couple of them, then frowned.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had been busy with Transmigration and Danzo's assassination attempt, and hadn't had time to deal with the Hokage's administrative duties.

He hadn't known what a mess things were until he took a look. Now, he couldn't help frowning.

The files weren't even sorted by category, and they were incredibly miscellaneous. Even petty disputes between distant relatives and neighbors were being brought to him for the Hokage to resolve.

"Konoha Village's administrative system is a complete joke..."

"Responsibilities are all muddled, and everything falls to the Hokage."

"It's worse than any actual village back in my previous life..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.

"No wonder the original Third Hokage aged so quickly. Handling all these trivial, frustrating matters every day would make anyone lose their hair..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of spending all his time on these things.

In a world where the supernatural was real, strength was power.

"But I don't need to hand over all authority. We just need clear responsibilities and greater efficiency."

"And for the remaining work, there are methods like Shadow Clones."

Sarutobi Hiruzen began considering a sweeping reform of Konoha Village.

It wasn't only to make his future career as Hokage more comfortable. It was also for the sake of Space-Time Source Energy.

Reforming this world's administrative system could also earn him Space-Time Source Energy.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Lord Third!"

A clear, youthful voice rang out. Hatake Kakashi had arrived.

"Kakashi..."

Seeing who had come, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his mood lighten slightly.

"How did the mission go?"

Kakashi nodded.

"All the Root members involved in the assassination attempt against you have been eliminated."

"Except..."

As Kakashi spoke, he looked toward the young boy of his age whom he had brought along.

Kakashi had indeed recognized the boy's distinctive quality at a glance, just as Sarutobi Hiruzen had said.

His Wood Release was far too conspicuous—if only its power weren't so weak.

The boy looked somewhat dazed, but his Chakra was strong, and he had a peculiar aura of vitality about him.

"You're Yamato, right...?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and addressed Yamato kindly.

"Lord Hokage..."

Yamato stood there in a daze, then slowly bowed.

His assassination mission had failed, and his superior had been killed. Yamato was still in a deeply bewildered state of mind.

"I know what you've been through,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said reassuringly.

"You're a victim, just like Kakashi."

"Danzo is dead now, but you're still a member of Konoha."

"From now on, you can go on missions with Kakashi..."

"Kakashi,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed,

"Take good care of Yamato from now on. He should be a little younger than you..."

Kakashi looked rather reluctant. He didn't want to look after a kid, but since the order came from Sarutobi Hiruzen, he agreed with a cold expression.

"I'll count this as an A-rank mission,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

"And..."

Before sending the two of them away, Sarutobi Hiruzen handed Kakashi a book with no cover.

"Consider this your mission reward."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was rather suggestive.

"There's a surprise inside..."

Kakashi looked completely baffled. He had no idea what Sarutobi Hiruzen meant by a surprise.

After Kakashi left the Hokage Building,

he took Yamato to his place. Remembering Sarutobi Hiruzen's suggestive expression, Kakashi couldn't help taking out the book he'd been given.

No cover...

Kakashi frowned.

He opened the first page, where a line of messy handwriting appeared:

Icha Icha Paradise, by the Toad Sage Jiraiya

Lord Jiraiya's treatise on Ninjutsu?

Kakashi guessed to himself and kept turning the pages.

Sure enough, two profound techniques were printed inside.

One was a Sealing Jutsu: Transcription Seal.

It was a Sealing Jutsu invented by the Uchiha Clan, capable of sealing the visual prowess of the Sharingan in someone else's body.

This Transcription Seal had clearly been modified. Quite a few parts had been altered, changing its main function to sealing the Sharingan's activity and thereby reducing its Chakra consumption.

Kakashi fell silent when he saw it. He understood that the Third Hokage had prepared this Sealing Jutsu for him, allowing him to have the best of both worlds.

It meant he wouldn't have to give up the Sharingan, yet could avoid its burden.

Only a Sealing Jutsu could accomplish that.

Lord Third... went to all this trouble for me...

Kakashi felt a warmth in his heart, and his loyalty to the Third Hokage rose even further.

When Kakashi looked at the other technique, his expression turned serious. He found it strange, yet somehow weighty.

Rather than a technique, the other method seemed more like something a warrior would practice.

Breathing Style?!

As Kakashi read its contents, he grew more and more astonished.

According to the explanation, this Breathing Style could reduce the daily wear on the body's cells, improve the efficiency of rest and digestion, and increase cell vitality and the rate at which cells divided.

In this way, it could nourish the body and even prolong one's life.

Kakashi's expression was solemn. With his intelligence, he naturally understood the value of this technique.

Countless Ninja, himself included, had pushed their bodies to the limit while training from a young age.

As for extracting excessive amounts of Chakra—a practice that inevitably shortened one's lifespan—that was commonplace for Ninja who fought for their lives.

When a battle dragged on too long, Ninja had no choice but to push their bodies past their limits and forcibly extract more Chakra.

The replenishment from Military Ration Pills was a mere drop in the bucket.

This Breathing Style could reduce the strain on a Ninja's body. Even when eating Military Ration Pills, it could improve the body's ability to digest and absorb them.

Without a doubt, it could improve a Ninja's stamina and prolong the period for which they could maintain peak condition.

Over time, Ninja who mastered the Breathing Style would inevitably gain an enormous advantage over those who hadn't.

Something this dangerous...

Lord Third really thinks highly of me.

Kakashi was suddenly troubled by the weight of the favor. A strategic technique like this had been given to him without restriction, putting a great deal of pressure on him...

The first two techniques are already this astonishing. What's further on?!

Only then did Kakashi realize that the book still had a thick stack of pages after the two techniques he'd read. There seemed to be plenty more inside.

Anticipating what he might find, Kakashi turned to the next pages.

"..."

"Senior Kakashi."

"What's wrong?"

Yamato noticed that something was off. Kakashi was reading as he walked, but he was getting slower and slower.

Kakashi suddenly snapped out of it and raised his head, looking at Yamato in a panic.

"W-what?"

"I-I'm fine!"

Kakashi hurriedly closed the book in his hands. The exposed part of his face had turned red.

Yamato looked worried, but since Kakashi said he was fine, he could only stay quiet.

Kakashi stared at the now-closed book, his face flushed and his heart unable to settle.

This Icha Icha Paradise was a precious handwritten manuscript by Jiraiya. He had only written it recently and had sent a copy to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Naturally curious, Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken a look at the book that was so renowned in the Naruto world.

It was indeed an erotic novel, with plenty of explicit content and a dramatic, twisting plot.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen had been through the internet age in his previous life. He had long since transcended the distinction between censored and uncensored content, so he couldn't appreciate such immature prose.

For people in the Ninja World, though, it was utterly shocking.

So Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken the opportunity to do someone a favor and given Kakashi the handwritten manuscript.

So...

This book really was written by Lord Jiraiya!

And the contents are truly...

Absolutely captivating.

No...

Kakashi's expression turned resolute.

A book this important demands a whole night of diligent study!

The sun set and the moon rose; time flew by.

The turbulent day that had shaken Konoha Village finally came to an end.

Although Danzo's death had sent shockwaves through the Konoha High Command,

it hadn't caused much of a stir among the villagers or the lower- and middle-ranking Ninja.

Sarutobi Hiruzen set aside the day's work and began his evening cultivation.

An even, rhythmic breathing filled the room as an ethereal white mist gradually spread through the entire bedroom.

Ever since he had learned Immortal Breathing, Sarutobi Hiruzen had, out of concern for his limited lifespan, spent time practicing Breathing Style almost every night, using it to replace some of his sleep.

After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't want to remain in this old body forever. He wanted to return to his original, youthful state.

Feeling the Cell Activation within his body grow more vigorous, Sarutobi Hiruzen finished a round of Breathing Style practice,

and silently sighed to himself,

Still too slow.

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.

Compared with ordinary people, Sarutobi Hiruzen was naturally exceptionally talented. His learning ability and physical abilities were both top-notch.

But he knew he was far behind the progress Tsugikuni Yoriichi had made, as witnessed in the System Space.

"After abandoning Sun Breathing and switching to Immortal Breathing, Tsugikuni Yoriichi entered the realm of Total Concentration Constant in about half a year."

"He brought his physical abilities up to the level of a Perfect Being..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed faintly. He still couldn't compare to someone with a cheat.

At his current pace, he had only become proficient in how Immortal Breathing worked. He was still a long way from maintaining it at all times.

"But fortunately, the problem of my lifespan has been resolved..."

"At least I won't keep growing older. I'll only get younger."

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that every journey had to be taken one step at a time. He still had plenty of time to prepare.

The Ninja World's later descent into chaos was still a long way off.

"What I need to focus on next, instead..."

"Is strength."

Sarutobi Hiruzen considered the matter.

"With ordinary Ninjutsu, I've already reached the pinnacle of what a mortal can achieve."

"If I want to go further..."

"Simply improving my physical abilities to the level of a Perfect Being..."

"Or developing a Kekkei Genkai or Kekkei Tōta... would only give me another tool to use."

"The improvement would be extremely limited..."

"What's more..."

"Either I go further down the Otsutsuki path and reach the pinnacle of Yin-Yang Release..."

"Or I introduce some other factor to strengthen Chakra itself."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered how he could break through his limits and reach the realm of the God of Shinobi.

By the System's standards, that meant becoming a Three-Star powerhouse.

"Clearly, it'll be hard to find that missing factor in the Ninja World."

"Senjutsu is a decent option."

"It can raise my Chakra ceiling..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen believed Senjutsu was a highly versatile power, one that could even be useful in worlds of a higher order.

"But until I've fully researched it, I won't risk turning to stone just to practice Senjutsu."

"Maybe I don't need to think so much about it..."

"I hope the next world I Transmigrate to won't disappoint me..."