The Plan Proceeds Smoothly

Released from their bonds, the three fell to the ground in agony. After a bout of labored gasping, they each scrambled to their feet, looking up at Yura, who hovered in mid-air.

"Damn it! What did you do to me!?" Qian Gui Aoi demanded sharply, her eyes lingering with terror.

The pain from just moments ago was too deeply etched into her soul; it felt as though thousands upon thousands of insects, like iron wires, were burrowing deep within her flesh and blood. It was a torture akin to being sliced into a thousand pieces—a fate perhaps no worse than this.

Her brain, in particular, was still trembling.

That needle-stabbing sensation in her mind was a nightmare.

If she could help it, she never wanted to experience it a second time.

Uji Shuichi and Shin-getsu remained silent, their eyes locked onto Yura. They were the smarter ones, vaguely sensing something...

What kind of jutsu was this?

"No need to be nervous..." Yura chuckled, savoring the scent of fear from the four people present. Fear value +1 +1...

Everything Yura did was based on the simple, fundamental need to generate negative emotions—to keep herself fed.

It was a matter of striking them whenever she felt like it; she might as well, since she had nothing better to do.

There was basically no such thing as a person who felt no emotion after being beaten.

"I've simply planted a little something inside your bodies..."

Invisible strands of hair stretched from the three of them, connecting to Yura's fingertips.

"If you aren't obedient, you're going to suffer."

As she spoke, Yura snapped her fingers.

Black Secret Technique: Bone-Eroding Brain-Diving.

The next second, fresh screams erupted from the trio. Writhing in agony, they collapsed to the ground, arching and twisting like worms, sweat pouring off them like rain.

Whether it was the Kusanagi, the Qian Gui, or the Uji, Yura didn't trust any of these three clans. Even if these three were considered outcasts within their own ranks, any ninja clan that had survived since the Warring States period—and any active ninja today—couldn't possibly be mentally sound. There was absolutely no such thing as an innocent party.

After a long while, Yura ceased the punishment.

The hair strands connected to her fingers snapped. Currently, all of Yura's hair strands required a direct connection to her body to function; they could not exist or operate independently of her.

Therefore, once the connection was severed, the so-called control over their bodies ceased to exist.

However, the three of them were unaware of this.

Huan stood to the side, trembling. If you've already beaten them, you can't beat me, she thought, desperately trying to lower her own presence.

After a long while, the three struggled to their feet, gasping for air. This time, when they looked up at Yura, their eyes were clear, their defiance gone, and they all lowered their heads in submission.

Although Shin-getsu looked like Orochimaru, he was, after all, not Orochimaru.

Shuichi was undoubtedly clever; he stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Lady Yura, I do not know what orders you have for summoning us."

"You are very familiar with your clan, aren't you?" Yura looked at Uji Shuichi.

Uji meant bridge, and Uchiha meant paper fan. To put it bluntly, Shuichi was Water-Bridge Shuichi, and Madara was Paper-Fan Madara.

A very rustic name and surname.

"Yes." Shuichi nodded. He was truly terrified of Yura, his body still trembling from the lingering pain. "I know most of what goes on within the clan."

"What kind of jutsu is the Hour of the Ox Worship, exactly?" Yura asked.

"This..." Shuichi broke into a cold sweat, stammering for a long time before saying, "I don't know."

Hearing this, Yura wasn't too disappointed. Secrets of that level were impossible for ordinary clansmen to know, much like the Mangekyo of the Uchiha. He only needed to lead the way.

Although Water Release and the Hour of the Ox Worship were unrelated, the same could be said for the Uchiha's Sharingan and Fire Release.

"Then, Uji Lucy, how much do you know?" Yura continued to ask.

"I've only heard rumors..." Shuichi said. "She is a war weapon secretly cultivated by the clan."

"That's it?" Yura frowned. "Is there anything special about her?"

In Yura's perception, the girl was a very strange existence, which was why she hadn't rashly made close contact at the start.

"There is a rumor in the clan..." Shuichi said, struggling. "It seems she has awakened the clan's Kekkei Genkai, but no one in the clan has awakened a Kekkei Genkai for a very long time. During a great war between the Senju and the Uchiha long ago, the clan's records regarding the Kekkei Genkai were also deliberately destroyed."

Could it be the great war between Asura and Indra?

"In any case, the clan is very afraid of her," Shuichi said. "The elders once said that Lucy possesses power enough to drive others to madness and destruction, in no way inferior to the Uchiha's Mangekyo."

In the current ninja world, the Mangekyo was quite famous, and many had witnessed its power firsthand, unlike later eras where it became a legendary god-like power within a few short decades.

Still knowing nothing, she would have to make contact personally.

Yura waved her hand and said indifferently, "You may withdraw. In four days, Huan will notify you to assemble for the operation."

The three acknowledged the order and hurriedly used Body Flicker to depart.

They didn't want to stay in this place for even a second longer.

Seeing that the matter was concluded, Huan gave a dry laugh and said, "Lady Yura, shall we rest then?"

"Wake up early tomorrow. We are going to retrieve the Hero Water."

"Yes." After Huan nodded in agreement, she added, "Lady Yura, I must remind you: consuming an excessive amount of Hero Water will kill you."

Yura strolled back to the Black Nest and sat down, ignoring her.

Seeing this, Huan walked to the side, curled up with her knees to her chest, and muttered to herself with a face full of grievance.

The next day, Yura set off, bringing Huan to infiltrate Takigakure. Following Huan's guidance, they entered the interior of the God Tree at the heart of Takigakure via a secret waterway.

There were no guards inside the God Tree; it was as if the doors were left wide open, allowing anyone to come and go as they pleased.

Because of this, Yura had never been able to locate the position.

Leading Yura through a hidden barrier and opening a consecrated shrine, Huan took out a large bottle filled with Hero Water and handed it to Yura.

"This is all the stock our clan has accumulated over the past thousand years," Huan said. "There was one more bottle before, but it was used to capture a Tailed Beast."

Yura took the Hero Water to examine it and asked casually, "Did the ninja world have glass a thousand years ago?"

The transparent glass gourd bottle held, by visual estimation, nearly as much as two or three bottles of mineral water.

"Eh?" Hearing Yura's strange question, Huan asked in confusion, "Is there a problem?"

"No, no problem." Yura sealed the Hero Water and looked at Huan with a faint, mocking smile. "Let's just assume this is the entire stock."

"How could that be?" Huan laughed dryly. "I wouldn't lie."

It was not all of it; there was still half a bottle left at home, which was the Hero Water taken out previously.

"The business is done, let's go."

Taking one last look at the God Tree, Yura noted that the interior of the tree contained a vast space disproportionate to its external size and could produce Hero Water. However, Yura had no intention of investigating its secrets; without data or intelligence to verify, it would likely yield no results.

By comparison, Yura was more interested in the Hero Water now in hand.

Much like the Chili Pill, the two were undoubtedly the same thing—both served to overload and stimulate the body's potential, causing a massive eruption of chakra. The lethal risks involved were of no consequence to Yura's immortal body.

Therefore, what Yura cared about more was what exactly triggered the massive eruption of physical chakra.

Beyond being able to compensate for the weakness of having insufficient personal chakra reserves, it was also excellent research material.

Leaving the village once more and abandoning Huan, Yura arrived alone that same day at the cavern where the jinchuriki was hiding.