That was why the powerful members of the Kaguya Clan were usually young. They were destined not to live long, while those who lived to an old age were the ones who lacked sufficient talent.
That was also why the man before him had become clan head at such a young age. His talent and strength were the greatest in the Kaguya Clan at present, and as a clan of warmongers, they naturally believed that the stronger someone was, the more qualified he was to be clan head. Otherwise, how could he keep the others in line?
After learning the root cause of the clan's illness, the Kaguya Clan had been caught in a dilemma.
If they wanted to live, they had to make themselves mediocre, even deciding never to awaken the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai in their entire lives.
But that choice was entirely untenable in the war-torn Warring States Period. Without great strength to rely on, they would die at the hands of others even if they escaped the Kekkei Genkai Disease. The power of Shikotsumyaku had to be mastered.
After sacrificing many clan members and conducting cruel experiments, the Kaguya Clan had found a solution that was hardly a solution: "Blood Exchange Therapy."
"Blood Exchange Therapy" involved exchanging blood between clan members who had awakened Shikotsumyaku and those who had not. This method could reduce the severity of the Kekkei Genkai Disease and extend the lives of the clan's Shikotsumyaku users. It was a way to treat the symptoms, not the cause.
But with the Kaguya Clan now wiped out, even this method seemed impossible to carry out. There were no other Kaguya Clan members left to exchange blood with the Kaguya Clan Head. That was the real reason for his despair.
Lan furrowed his brow. Learning this made the situation seem suddenly tricky, though merely tricky—not impossible.
"Since you already know I'm beyond help, stop wasting your time and give me a quick death."
Lan had placed a seal on the Kaguya Clan Head. Apart from speaking a little, he couldn't do anything else, much less kill himself.
"Your illness is indeed quite a challenge. Someone else might truly have no way to deal with it, but you've underestimated what I can do.
"It'll be a little troublesome for me, that's all. Extending your life until the day my plan succeeds is still possible..."
Lan spoke with such confidence that it was unclear what he had in mind.
"What? You have a way to treat it? That's impossible. My clan couldn't do it in a thousand years. How could you possibly have a solution?"
The Kaguya Clan Head grew agitated, seemingly unwilling to believe what Lan had just said.
"Your narrow perspective limits your imagination. You have no idea how powerful technology can be."
"What exactly do you want from me? With abilities like yours, why would you need my help?"
In the Kaguya Clan Head's eyes, the mysterious figure before him possessed several unbelievable abilities. The fact alone that Lan could make a puppet act autonomously with its own consciousness was beyond his imagination, to say nothing of his mastery of the Ninja World's exceptionally rare Space-Time Ninjutsu.
Why would someone so powerful need him for anything?
Was it because of the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai?
Could the power that made his clan feel both love and hatred conceal a secret he didn't know about?
Seeing the Kaguya Clan Head's confusion, Lan slowly lowered his head and stared into his eyes. The other man was so intimidated by Lan's Dōjutsu Power that he didn't dare meet his gaze.
Even through the mask, Lan's eyes left the Kaguya Clan Head stunned. What kind of Dōjutsu Power was that?
Not even the Ninja World's most renowned Byakugan and Sharingan could possess such immense Dōjutsu Power. Could this be a new, unknown ocular Kekkei Genkai?
"What kind of eyes are those? Is your scheme related to your eyes?"
The Kaguya Clan Head seemed to have accidentally hit upon Lan's intentions, so Lan replied,
"Perhaps my eyes are already more than enough to satisfy other people.
"But I know that even stronger eyes exist.
"To obtain that kind of Dōjutsu Power, I'll need your help. It will be my new light, with power enough to bridge the gap between ordinary people and the Sage. They are truly the Sage's Eye.
"And you are the perfect womb in which these new eyes can develop. So please, sleep soundly and wait quietly for that day to come."
With that, Lan put the other man into a deep slumber, then ordered the Third Kazekage Human Puppet to keep watch over him. The Kaguya Clan Head could not be allowed to come to harm before Lan's plan succeeded.
As he left the laboratory, Lan began considering exactly what to do next.
Preparing for his new plan would likely take a long time, and he would need to master more genetic technology and secure a large amount of funding.
He faced many problems at present, and funding was the first.
If he used the method he had devised to treat the Kaguya Clan Head, the cost would be more than he could afford. He would need someone to help shoulder the burden.
Lan only had to think for a moment before deciding that Pakura could take on that responsibility for him.
"As expected of a Kekkei Genkai user, you recovered much faster than I estimated."
Lan looked at Pakura, who was back on her feet and full of energy, and nodded.
With the antidote's help, Sasori's poison had been completely purged from Pakura's body. She had even gained some resistance to his poisons as a result, demonstrating the remarkable adaptability of a ninja.
"This trouble won't die down easily. You'll need to keep a low profile for a while."
Hearing Lan say that, Pakura knew he hadn't come to see her without a reason. He had another mission for her.
"What do you need me to do?"
"My current plan requires a great deal of money. Your main job from now on is to help me raise funds."
"How much money do you need?" Pakura asked, puzzled.
"The more, the better!"
Hearing that, Pakura knew this mission wouldn't be simple either. But then something seemed to occur to her. Her eyes shifted as she said to Lan,
"I happen to know a way to get a large sum of money—and keep it coming."
With that, she took out a scroll and handed it to Lan.
Lan opened the scroll and examined its contents. Once he understood the information inside, the corner of his mouth twitched beneath the mask.
"Maki? The student you took in at Sunagakure?"
"Heh... this is most likely a trap targeting you."
"Looks like your ordeal finally taught you to be smart. You won't fall for something like this so easily.
"But that steady stream of money you mentioned... you're not talking about that guy, are you? You want to use yourself as bait?"
Lan spoke teasingly, but he actually approved of her plan.
If they managed to capture that man this time, it would not only avenge Pakura, but also resolve Lan's short-term funding problem.
This woman really did hold a grudge. The moment she got a chance, she wanted revenge—and now she was trying to use him to get it.
Being used annoyed him a little, but for the sake of his plans, he readily agreed to her suggestion.
"Good timing. I want to test the strength of my new toy, and that guy should make a decent opponent."