Lend Me Your Strength

However, if he were caught by his elder brother again, it would likely be more than just a sound beating and three months of house arrest.

What should he do? How could he ensure the successful development of the Reanimation in secret?

Although he still retained the memories of the Summoning Technique hand seals, restoring them would take a considerable amount of time. Moreover, in Konoha, he no longer had the channels or the margin for error to acquire experimental subjects.

Outside the village, there was no stable environment for experimentation either.

At that moment, a figure suddenly flashed through Tobirama's mind—

Toji.

Hashirama trusted Toji, and Toji had his own unique insights into the development of ninjutsu.

More importantly, Toji was the director of Gospel Hospital.

Theoretically, that was the easiest place to obtain human subjects.

He had to find a way to win Toji over and stain that pure white haori of his black.

He had to make him understand that the Reanimation was the final line of defense against death; make him see clearly that practicing medicine could not protect Konoha; make him realize that killing was for the sake of a greater salvation... and ultimately, bring Toji to his side.

Even though Toji treated him as a friend, he was calculating how to scheme against him, which filled Tobirama with guilt.

Attempting to drag a man of noble character, whose faith was to save lives, into his own dark plans made Tobirama feel despicable.

But for the sake of Konoha...

"I must utilize your power. I'm sorry, Toji."

"Protecting Konoha at all costs—that is my resolve. That is my... ninja way!"

Tobirama silently vowed in his heart.

After a while, the voice of his wife, Senju Toka, pulled Tobirama back to reality.

"Tobirama, what happened this afternoon? You seem distracted."

Tobirama looked at the sunset on the horizon. "I did something, got a harsh lecture from my elder brother, and now I'm grounded for three months."

"Was it right or wrong?"

"I can't tell, Toka."

"Then when Lord Hashirama returns tonight, just offer him a sincere apology," Senju Toka said. "After that, spend these three months peacefully in the clan grounds, teach your disciples, and chat with your friends."

"Alright."

Tobirama agreed readily.

Those around him only needed to enjoy the peace of the passing years, but he had much to think about.

Having made up his mind, Tobirama did not rush to put his plan into action.

During this period of confinement, he lived a rare, leisurely life at home.

Until one day, two of his disciples came to visit.

"Monkey, Danzo, it's you two."

"Teacher."

Danzo spoke first: "We heard from Ryuji that you haven't been able to leave the Senju clan grounds lately, so we came to check on you. Are you ill?"

"I'm not sick."

"Is that so? But you look..."

Danzo hesitated, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Tobirama stood up and cracked his neck. "Enough, you brats! This old man doesn't need you to worry about him. Since you're here, let me test how your studies have been progressing lately."

"As my disciples, slacking off is not permitted."

"Yes, Teacher!"

"Flying Raijin Slash!"

"..."

Half an hour later.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura lay sprawled on the ground in a sorry state, gasping for air.

They were no match for Tobirama at all.

"Danzo, you idiot, and you said the teacher was sick," Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to climb up from the ground. "I think the teacher is not only fine, but even stronger than before."

Is that so?

Danzo lay on the ground, but he reached a different conclusion in his heart; he felt that Tobirama was very tired.

As a disciple, he should become stronger as quickly as possible to share the burden of his teacher's pressure.

The fighting spirit in Danzo's heart ignited, and he climbed up from the ground.

"Teacher, again!"

"Oh?" Tobirama snapped out of his thoughts, looking at him with surprise. "Danzo, you certainly have a lot of energy today."

"I'm coming too! I can't let Danzo outdo me!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen scrambled to his feet as well.

The two youths exchanged a glance and charged toward Tobirama in unison.

Late at night.

Toji was completely unaware that he had been quietly targeted by Tobirama, becoming a recruit in the man's sights.

Of course, if he had known, he probably wouldn't have been able to help but laugh out loud.

At this moment, Toji sat upright on his bed, eyes closed to rest his mind.

The room was silent, save for the ticking of the clock.

Today was the final day of the month, the day he and Uchiha Yan had agreed upon for the "delivery."

As the clock struck midnight.

Toji slowly opened his eyes and let out a low command:

"Earth Grudge Fear: Clone!"

A gash split open across his back, and pitch-black tentacles surged out, rapidly coalescing into a humanoid clone.

Under Toji's silent control, the Earth Grudge Fear clone vanished into the night, darting through the shadows of the Forest of Death as it sped toward the rendezvous point.

Toji did not know Uchiha Yan's exact situation.

But relying on the Cursed Seal carved into her heart, he could sense that her heart was still beating steadily, meaning she had not encountered any fatal danger. The moment that heartbeat stopped, he would detonate the Cursed Seal directly to avoid any risk of exposure.

The Forest of Death was not entirely undefended.

Several ninja squads on assignment were patrolling the vast wooded area.

However, relying on his keen perception and intelligence gathered in advance, Toji easily avoided them.

The Earth Grudge Fear clone moved as if through empty space, soon arriving at the designated location: a hidden tree hollow.

Toji did not see Uchiha Yan inside the hollow.

Although that woman had average talent, she was quite cautious; she hadn't lingered, withdrawing immediately after completing the mission.

Even with the intelligence Toji had provided beforehand, she knew this was no place to stay for long.

Toji walked into the depths of the tree hollow. The light was dim, and he nearly missed the two people lying on the ground.

Both had dark skin.

Toji crouched down and was surprised to find that Uchiha Yan had attached a note to them, detailing their numerous heinous crimes.

"This girl, does she think she's a messenger of justice?"

Toji chuckled, releasing two black tentacles to hoist the unconscious pair out of the tree hollow, then slipped back into the Underground Laboratory without a sound.

He bound the two tightly to the operating table and connected them to various instruments.

A ninja's absolute strength in battle could not be simply divided by the crude classifications of Genin, Chunin, and Jonin. However, in experiments, data on chakra quality and physical strength could serve as a baseline for judgment.

Looking at the values fed back by the instruments, Toji felt a bit of regret:

"Two Genin..."

"The quality is a bit poor."

Both men were under Uchiha Yan's genjutsu and had lost consciousness.

Toji pressed his hands onto their faces and activated the Mystical Palm Technique, correcting the chaotic chakra in their cranial nerves.

The scarred man, whose physical constitution was slightly better, was the first to wake up.

He looked dazed at first, followed by terrified whimpering sounds.

"Deep breaths."

Toji raised his hand, and several black threads slowly extended from his palm. "Dizziness is a normal phenomenon from here on out."

Swish—

The black threads pierced into his body.