Devotion

Naraku hadn't used the Cursed Seal he obtained yet, and now that he had some experimental subjects delivered to his doorstep, Naraku planned to use it on the bodies of the two people outside to see the effect.

Orochimaru casts his Cursed Seal by biting directly with his teeth, extracting Chakra, and then injecting the Cursed Seal into the other person's body through his teeth. Naraku has not yet found a way to improve this method.

He could only follow the instructions and bite with his teeth according to the requirements of the Cursed Seal, but Naraku's neck was not as long as Orochimaru's, so he could only get close and bite his neck.

The Root members' squad leader kept an eye on the situation in the distance, not stepping into the range of Naraku's Chakra Genjutsu. What they saw appeared normal.

The two saw the orphanage gate open, and a man in pajamas with bloodshot eyes and long, curly black hair walked out and headed straight for the two Root members who were circling around.

"Uchiha Nara".

The root members on the branch, seeing the pair of scarlet eyes and physical characteristics, reminded the squad leader beside them.

He was a key figure of Root's top concern; even if he were reduced to ashes, they would still recognize him. This was someone Root had to take seriously.

"Hmm, what is he doing?"

The squad leader nodded, indicating that he understood. At the same time, the black-haired man in their eyes approached the two Root members who were under the Genjutsu spell, opened his mouth, and bit each of them on the neck.

The two Root members, lurking on the tree branches, observed the strange situation in the distance. Knowing their mission was doomed and they should return to Danzo to report the enemy's Ninjutsu, they said to the squad leader beside them:

"Captain, Uchiha Nara's Ninjutsu is very strange and dangerous. We should report this strange Ninjutsu to Danzo first. Shall we retreat?"

"Um."

The squad leader heeded the advice completely. He sensed the danger; his teammates were beyond saving, and even if they were rescued, the two others would be punished and wouldn't live long. Retreating was more important, and he needed to report back to Uchiha Nara's strange behavior.

After Naraku injected Cursed Seal into the bodies of the two Root members, the two members immediately let out a miserable scream and then fainted. Naraku licked his lips.

The development of Cursed Seal is for the purpose of reincarnation and control. Releasing the recipient's own potential and maximizing the recipient's abilities are actually just a side effect.

As Naraku Cursed Seal, he felt a sense of Soul Stripping; it seemed as if a part of his soul had been separated from him.

Naraku controlled the amount of Soul Stripping; the souls stripped away by the two Cursed Seal were about the size of a fingernail.

Based on the rate of soul absorption within the alternate dimension, it would take approximately one week to recover; this is the Soul Stripping that Naraku controlled within a relatively small area.

"Soul Stripping, controlling others, so that's how it works."

After comprehending the Ninjutsu, Naraku nodded as if he had gained some insight. He then gathered Chakra in his feet and leaped towards the other two Root members in the forest.

As Naraku out of the orphanage, his Sharingan glanced at the two people in the distance. When the two Root members met Naraku's eyes, they had already unknowingly fallen into Genjutsu.

The two escaped within the Genjutsu for a long time, until Naraku rushed in front of them and bit down on their necks, at which point the Root members, who were under the spell, finally awoke.

"Do not be afraid, I am giving you strength."

Naraku looked at the awakened Root members, and after injecting the Cursed Seal, he said with amusement.

The Root members who were affected by the spell seemed quite shocked that Naraku had suddenly appeared in front of them. When they saw the trees nearby, their eyes widened in terror, as if they realized that the scene of them about to return to the organization was Genjutsu, and that their real selves had not moved.

When Naraku planted the Cursed Seal Level 1 on the two Root members, one after the other, they were jolted awake from the Genjutsu. After being injected with the Cursed Seal, the Cursed Seal forcefully unleashed their potential, and the two quickly succumbed to the pressure and fainted.

Naraku licked his lips, dragged the two unconscious Root members outside the orphanage into the woods, laid the four of them together, carefully checked that the Cursed Seal on their necks had successfully taken shape, and then turned and walked towards the orphanage.

After the Cursed Seal is planted, the caster and the recipient can sense each other's approximate location within a certain distance. Naraku all the Earth Cursed Seal, planning to sense how many of the four could survive after dawn.

"Nonō, I've punished the Root Squad. They probably won't wake up tonight. I'll be going to the Capital City soon, and I'll arrange for the Police Force to guard this place for another month. After that, you'll have to rely on yourself."

After returning to the orphanage, Naraku spoke to Nonō, who was still up late at night, keeping an eye on the battle.

Naraku's actions went beyond mere punishment; he directly used Root elites to experiment with Ninjutsu. Considering the Earth Cursed Seal's 50% success rate, only two of the four will be able to return by tomorrow during the day.

Furthermore, these individuals will definitely not wake up tonight during the process of Cursed Seal, so the orphanage will definitely be safe tonight.

During the day, orphanages are generally safer, unless a ruthless person attacks the orphanage and causes a terrible incident.

However, even if Danzo ruthless, he wouldn't dare to act so recklessly around Konoha. Konoha wasn't his personal fiefdom, and the Konoha Ninja, imbued with the Will of Fire, wouldn't stand idly by.

At the same time, Yakushi Nonō is not without power. As long as Nonō brings the news to the village, Danzo will surely be disgraced. Even the Third Hokage could not cover up such a heinous incident, and someone has to take the blame.

Therefore, Danzo wouldn't do that; he would only resort to underhanded tactics. Of course, Danzo tactics are usually too much for most people to handle. If it weren't for Naraku's protection of the orphanage, the orphanage would have suffered the same tragic fate as in the original story.

"Lord Naraku, you... you've worked so hard. I... I have no way to repay you..."

Seeing Nonō Uchiha Nara tirelessly helping with the orphanage's affairs on multiple occasions, Nono felt unsure how to repay Uchiha Nara, and her words stammered.

A determined glint flashed in Nonō's eyes, and as if gathering her courage, she closed her eyes and whispered:

"Naraku doesn't mind, Nonō... Nonō, though of humble appearance, is willing to serve you."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Naraku was originally engrossed in the Cursed Seal experiment, sensing the condition of several Root, when Nonō's words pulled Naraku back to reality. Naraku asked in disbelief in a soft voice.

Nonō's previously haggard face regained some color, and she lowered her head slightly, speaking softly again:

"If Lord Naraku doesn't mind, Nonō, though of humble appearance, am willing to serve you..."

Naraku looked at Nonō's face; she had blond hair and a gentle, intellectual face with glasses.

Then he remembered that he seemed to have been dumped by Tsunade. After spending a few months with Tsunade, he had indeed become somewhat addicted to the relationship.

However, Naraku and Tsunade, and Naraku hadn't yet asked Tsunade directly.

Entering another relationship so quickly seems a bit inappropriate, and it even feels somewhat like taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state.

Naraku thought for a moment, then reached out and touched Nonō's cheek, whispering:

"Nonō, Naraku truly fortunate to have won your heart, but I already have a lover, so you don't need to do this. Just be there when I call upon you."

Naraku thought for a moment and politely declined, but he didn't dare to be too direct or show that he had no feelings for the woman.

Otherwise, it would be a blow to the woman's confession, and if she were to turn her love into hatred, it would be even more of a loss.