Underground Base

Inside an unknown underground base.

The Giant Tiger King was licking a dilapidated, large glass culture tank.

The tank stood taller than a man and was filled with nutrient solution.

After licking up nearly half a tank of the solution, the Giant Tiger King's injuries had improved significantly.

Kimura Takuya observed this underground base through his soul energy.

The base was vast; even with the Giant Tiger King's massive size, it did not feel cramped inside.

The walls of the main hall were lined with glass culture tanks.

The one the Giant Tiger King was licking was just one of many.

Could this be a human experimentation lab?

Is it Orochimaru's laboratory?

It looks somewhat similar to the place where Yamato was raised.

It probably isn't the same place, though; after all, Yamato was taken in by Root, and that laboratory would have been seized along with him.

Then whose place is this?

Forget it, no use dwelling on it.

Perhaps it's a laboratory abandoned by Orochimaru, or maybe it's the secret base of some other "scientist" in the village.

Come to think of it, besides Orochimaru, isn't the other famous "scientist" in Konoha the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama?

If this were the Second's laboratory, that would be going back quite a long way—wouldn't this nutrient solution be expired by now?

However, looking at the aged facilities inside the base, Kimura Takuya felt it was quite possible.

But how did the Giant Tiger King get in?

Just as Kimura Takuya was wondering, the Giant Tiger King finished half a tank of nutrient solution and stood up to head outside.

Then, he saw the Giant Tiger King return to the surface through an underground passage.

It turned out that due to a geological collapse, a corner of this sealed base, which had been carved out underground using Earth Style, had been exposed.

It connected to an underground passage formed by a subterranean river that had long since dried up, and the collapse had created an entrance on the surface.

The Giant Tiger King had been using this passage to enter and exit the base.

"So that's how it is. This is a good spot. Hmph, it's mine now."

Kimura Takuya secretly noted the location.

He decided that once his chakra recovered, he would come here to finish off the Giant Tiger King and claim this underground experimental base for himself.

"Takuya, are you feeling any better?"

"Ah, still a bit uncomfortable."

"That shouldn't be? My medical ninjutsu couldn't have regressed, could it? I've been working alongside Lady Tsunade all these years, and I've been using medical ninjutsu to earn my keep the whole time."

Shizune shook her head in confusion and continued to treat the shameless fellow for a while longer.

It wasn't until the person in question felt that if he kept acting lazy, his ruse would be discovered, that he slowly sat up on his own.

"Ah, Sister Shizune, your medical ninjutsu is truly excellent; I feel much better."

"Ha, that's good then, but I still feel like something is off. Are you praising me or mocking me?"

Shizune stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes.

Being complimented on her medical ninjutsu by Kimura Takuya made her doubt his previous words.

After all, it had taken her nearly half a day to heal him, and given this brat's arrogant personality, who knew what he was thinking?

Feeling guilty, Kimura Takuya answered in a flustered tone.

"How could I be mocking you? I'm praising you sincerely, Sister Shizune. Your medical ninjutsu makes me feel very comfortable!"

"Wait! You seem to be able to absorb other people's chakra to use, right? You could have just absorbed my chakra and used your own medical ninjutsu to recover quickly, couldn't you?"

"Uh, that chakra-absorbing technique requires chakra to activate as well. I really don't have a single drop of chakra left right now, so I can't use that technique."

"Oh, I suppose that's true. Your body shouldn't be refining any chakra for the next few days, understand?"

"Yes, Sister Shizune, let's head back. It's dark now, and it's hard to track anything; we should go back and get some ninja hounds before coming back."

Shizune didn't commit to an answer and brought Kimura Takuya back to the city.

Throughout the journey, Kimura Takuya kept pretending to be weak so as not to expose his Immortality.

He had actually fully recovered halfway through, but he still let Shizune carry him all the way back.

At the entrance of Kimura Takuya's home.

An Anbu was waiting there. Seeing the two return, he spoke a few words to them and then left, completely ignoring their surprise.

"What? Tonton didn't go to the Forest of Death?"

"And she ran all the way back to Lady Tsunade on her own? Oh, I remember now. Tonton's sense of smell surpasses even that of ninja hounds; she probably caught Lady Tsunade's scent and tracked her down herself."

"So we chased after nothing? And almost got eaten by a tiger to boot? If that pig ever falls into my hands, I swear I'm going to cook her a hundred different ways!"

"Baka! You can't eat Tonton!"

Thump!

Shizune couldn't help herself and knocked Kimura Takuya on the head again.

Kimura Takuya, having been struck, took the opportunity to fall backward.

After Shizune flashed over to catch him, he began to moan and groan.

"Ouch, ouch, my head hurts again."

"Ah, Takuya, are you alright? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to; I forgot you were still a patient."

Just as a flustered Shizune was about to continue treating Kimura Takuya, a figure in a green spandex training suit—a kappa, or rather, the fully-realized Lee—flashed into view beside them.

"Takuya, what's wrong? Don't die on me!"

"Uh, I think I'm fine now, Shizune-nee. No need to treat me, I'm okay."

"Really? Are you sure you're alright?"

Under Shizune's concerned gaze, Kimura Takuya waved his hand to dismiss her, thanked her, and the two parted ways.

Once Shizune had left, Kimura Takuya's tone turned inexplicably cold as he spoke to Lee.

"The time has come again today. Are you ready?"

"Of course, Takuya. I finished my own training before coming here. So, I apologize for being late today."

Lee bowed to apologize, but Kimura Takuya didn't seem to care, merely waving his hand.

"It's fine, it's fine. I had things to do anyway; I just got home myself."

"Ah, I see. Takuya, haven't you noticed anything different about me today?"

Seeing Lee puff out his chest with a smug look, trying to show off his new outfit.

"I opened the First Gate, and Guy-sensei rewarded me with this uniform! It's a limited-edition custom piece, brother! You can't buy this anywhere!"

"Haha, then congratulations, brother. With new clothes comes a new spirit. How about we double the electrotherapy today? That's what youth is all about!"

"Hi! As expected, only you truly understand me, Takuya! I feel like I'm about to catch up to your pace!"

Kimura Takuya shook his head with a smile and pulled Lee into the house.

Following that, Kimura Takuya proceeded to neutralize Lee's vocal cords.

Lee didn't resist; he naturally knew why Takuya was doing this.

After all, this wasn't the first time. Rather than screaming his throat raw, it was better to preemptively disable his vocal cords.

Ever since Takuya mastered this technique, he never had to worry about screaming his throat raw again.

However, thinking about what was coming next, Lee still couldn't help but gulp.

Gulp.

"Ha~."

Lee tried to make a sound, but only a breath escaped. He helplessly waved his hand to signal to Kimura Takuya that he was ready.

"Ready?"

Kimura Takuya confirmed once more, and seeing Lee nod, he began immediately.

Powerful currents of electricity surged from Kimura Takuya's hands.

Lee felt his very liver tremble at the sight.

No way, why is the current so strong?

We agreed on double, not ten times, hey!

"Ha~~!"

Instantly, every muscle in Lee's body, even his internal organs, began to convulse.

Kimura Takuya, seeing this, kept his gaze firm.

Tremble, Lee!

I just have better chakra control now, allowing me to regulate the current more effectively—this is definitely not revenge for you interrupting me!

I'm doing this for your own good!

If I don't do this, how are you going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the geniuses?

The geniuses of this world are all locked in a rat race, each one working harder than the last and cheating with their own hidden powers.

You are merely a genius of hard work.

If you don't cheat, how can you hope to beat them?

If any passerby were outside Kimura Takuya's house, they would only see flashes of electric light flickering through the window.

But who would know of the silent screams within?

When the Blue Beast of Konoha finally shines, perhaps some will still attribute it all to mere talent.