Cosmetic Surgery

"Hōzuki Mangetsu!"

Chukichi suddenly said in a dejected tone, "Actually, saving me was a complete mistake."

He had already realized that the rules in Kirigakure regarding prisoners of war had not changed. In other words, he was still technically a prisoner of war; returning to the village would still mean death.

This left Chukichi feeling utterly hopeless.

Truth be told, he had been resisting stubbornly in Konoha all these years. Even when his fellow captives surrendered, he had gritted his teeth and refused to capitulate.

Chukichi loved his village deeply and would never do anything to betray it.

Since he had become a prisoner of Konoha, he had long been prepared to rot in a cell for the rest of his life.

Hōzuki Mangetsu scrutinized Chukichi for a few moments before suddenly asking, "There is something I wish to know. Why have you never surrendered to Konoha all these years? As far as I know, many Kirigakure ninja surrender once they are captured."

Surrender!

Chukichi's mouth twitched a few times as he replied, "I am a man of Kirigakure. Even in death, I cannot tarnish the prestige of the Mist."

If he were the type to surrender, he would have done so long ago; he wouldn't have held out until today.

To Konoha, Kirigakure ninja were the most troublesome because the village refused to participate in prisoner exchanges.

Once captured by Kirigakure, there was only death; if they captured a Kirigakure ninja, the village refused to trade them back, and even if they were returned, they would still be executed. Therefore, most Kirigakure ninja either committed suicide before capture or surrendered. Someone like Chukichi, who did neither, was a massive headache for them.

Furthermore, he was a Kekkei Genkai user, and his Dark Release ninjutsu was extremely unique; it was impossible to learn without the corresponding bloodline.

Thus, there was no fear of Konoha uncovering the secrets of his Dark Release.

Chukichi's stubbornness was legendary in Konoha. The guards had grown so frustrated over the years that they petitioned the Third Hokage annually to execute him, but the Third Hokage had refused every time.

Now, he had finally come in handy.

In a way, by sending Chukichi away, Konoha had rid itself of a headache.

The Third Hokage was truly a cunning old fox; dealing with him might seem like a bargain, but in reality, one always ended up at a loss.

However, the Dark Release user Chukichi was extremely important to Hōzuki Mangetsu, who lacked subordinates.

Well said!

Hōzuki Mangetsu clapped his hands.

Judging by Chukichi's performance during the later Impure World Reincarnation, he was indeed deeply devoted to the village.

In other words, he was somewhat blindly loyal.

This was a trait Hōzuki Mangetsu could exploit.

With Dark Release combined with his sensory abilities, Chukichi was undoubtedly a powerful support-type teammate.

"Senior Chukichi, the situation in the village is very delicate right now. I think it would be best if you didn't return just yet."

Hōzuki Mangetsu said with a smile.

Not return?

Chukichi paused, looking at him in confusion.

It was this Hozuki kid who traded him back from Konoha, and it was this same Hozuki kid who was telling him not to go back. What exactly was this boy planning?

However, one thing he knew for certain: if he returned to the village, he would likely be dealt with as a traitor.

Hōzuki Mangetsu saying this was likely out of good intentions.

"I am a ninja of Kirigakure. Even though I was captured by Konoha, I have never betrayed the village all these years. I know you mean well, but..."

Chukichi said in a deep voice, "Even if I am to die, I want to die in Kirigakure, at the hands of my own kin."

Fool!

Hōzuki Mangetsu couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. There were always such fools in the world, people who would obsess over a single principle.

It was precisely because of such fools that the world remained so colorful.

"Senior Chukichi!"

He said earnestly, "The current Kirigakure is in a period of sharp conflict. If you go back now, you will surely be dragged into it. My suggestion is that you rest outside for a while; it won't be too late to return once the village has stabilized. Besides, your Dark Release and sensory skills are indispensable to the village. If you were to suffer any harm, it would be a loss for Kirigakure."

Having finally reached an agreement with Konoha to privately trade for the Dark Release user Chukichi, how could Hōzuki Mangetsu be foolish enough to bring him straight back to the village?

If Yagura were to execute him, wouldn't all of Hōzuki Mangetsu's hard work be for nothing?

Besides, a Dark Release user was a powerful reinforcement; how could Hōzuki Mangetsu let him go so easily?

Chukichi shook his head. He was a man of rigid principles; he would never betray the village in this lifetime.

No matter how Hōzuki Mangetsu tried to persuade him, he was determined to return to the village, even if he had to sneak back in.

With no other options, Hōzuki Mangetsu spread his hands and said, "You can return to Kirigakure, but you cannot go back like this, or the Anbu will surely execute you."

Then what should he do? Use a Transformation Jutsu?

Chukichi shook his head again.

While the Transformation Jutsu could briefly alter one's appearance, it could not deceive the sensory ninja of Kirigakure.

And there was no shortage of sensory ninja in Kirigakure.

No need for the Transformation Technique!

Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled and said, "That's too low-level!"

He had already made plans in his heart.

No Transformation Technique?

Chukichi felt a bit depressed.

"Then what should we use?"

He asked, feeling puzzled.

A smile appeared at the corners of Hōzuki Mangetsu's mouth as he enunciated each word: "Naturally, the super-lethal weapon that will take the future by storm, capable of stealing the heavens and changing the sun, transforming one's appearance, and turning a dinosaur into a goddess—plastic surgery!"

What, plastic surgery?

Chukichi was stunned for a moment, looking at Hōzuki Mangetsu in confusion.

Hōzuki Mangetsu's face broke into a smile once more, saying, "Produced by a master, no side effects, safe and reliable."

At this moment, Amachi of the Land of the Sea finally came in handy.

It must be said that Orochimaru's modification surgeries were truly impressive; they could completely turn Chukichi into another person.

Amachi was the primary surgeon for Orochimaru's modification procedures, so performing a plastic surgery was, of course, a trivial matter.

If they wanted to ensure Chukichi wouldn't be recognized in Kirigakure, besides refraining from using Dark Release ninjutsu, the most important thing was to have him change his appearance—ideally, even his physique.

In that case, even those most familiar with him wouldn't be able to recognize him.

Furthermore, Hōzuki Mangetsu also intended to give Chukichi a bit of a makeover; after all, his original appearance was truly an eyesore.

Perhaps this would be the first plastic surgery in the Naruto World.

Thinking of this, Hōzuki Mangetsu felt a bit excited; he suddenly realized that there were some mischievous tendencies hidden within his own heart.

One takes on the habits of one's company; having spent so much time with a pervert like Orochimaru, he seemed to have picked up some bad habits.

Fine!

Chukichi nodded slowly. At this point, he had nothing left to say; as long as he could return to the village, even plastic surgery was acceptable.

How could someone who didn't even fear death care about a mere plastic surgery?

Very good!

Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled, pointed his finger, and said, "Target: Land of the Sea. Let's move out!"

Amachi was located at Orochimaru's base in the Land of the Sea.

After providing Amachi with some funding, Amachi had agreed that he could help modify some people.

Originally, Hōzuki Mangetsu had intended to create an amphibious body to replace Kisame, but he hadn't expected the matter of Chukichi to suddenly arise, making him Amachi's first test subject.