Lend Me Your Strength

But if his experiments were discovered by his brother again, he feared it would no longer be as simple as a beating and three months of confinement.

What should he do? How could he ensure that Impure World Reincarnation could be developed in secret?

Although he still remembered the hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu, reconstructing them would take quite some time. Moreover, in Konoha, he no longer had any channels to acquire experimental materials, nor any room for error.

Outside the village, there was no stable environment for experiments.

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

Toji.

His brother trusted Toji, and Toji had his own insights into developing ninjutsu.

More importantly, Toji was the director of Gospel Hospital.

In theory, that was the easiest place to obtain human materials.

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 Impure World Reincarnation was the last line of defense against death; make him see that practicing medicine could not protect Konoha; make him realize that killing was for better salvation... and ultimately, make Toji stand by his side.

Toji clearly regarded him as a friend, yet he was plotting how to use him. Tobirama felt guilty.

Trying to drag a good man of noble character, one who regarded saving lives as his faith, into his dark plan made Tobirama feel despicable.

But for Konoha...

"I have to use your strength. Sorry, Toji."

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

Tobirama murmured inwardly.

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

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

Tobirama gazed at the fading light on the horizon. "I did something, got severely lectured by my brother, and now I'm confined for three months."

"Was what you did right or wrong?"

"I can't tell, Touka."

"Then when Lord Hashirama returns tonight, apologize properly first," Senju Touka said. "Then spend these three months peacefully in the clan grounds. Teach your students and chat with your friends."

"All right."

Tobirama Senju answered readily.

The people around him only needed to enjoy peaceful days, but he had to think about many things.

Having made up his mind, Tobirama did not immediately put his idea into action.

During his confinement, he lived an unusually leisurely life at home.

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

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

"Teacher."

Danzo spoke first. "Takayuki told us you haven't been allowed to leave the Senju Clan lately, so we came to see you. Are you sick?"

"I'm not sick."

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

Danzo trailed off.

Tobirama stood up and rolled his neck. "All right, you brats! I don't need you worrying about me. Since you're here, let me test how well you've kept up with your training lately."

"As my students, slacking off is not allowed."

"Yes, Teacher!"

"Flying Thunder God Slash!"

Half an hour later.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō lay sprawled on the ground in a miserable state, gasping for breath.

They were no match for Tobirama at all.

"Danzo, you idiot. You said Teacher was sick." Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to his feet. "I'd say not only is Teacher fine, he's even stronger than before."

Was that really so?

Danzo lay facedown on the ground, but he came to a different conclusion. He felt that Tobirama was exhausted.

As his student, he should grow stronger as soon as possible and help shoulder his teacher's burden.

The fighting spirit in Danzo's heart ignited, and he climbed to his feet.

"Teacher, again!"

"Oh?" Tobirama came back to himself and looked at him in surprise. "Danzo, you're quite energetic today."

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi climbed to his feet as well.

The two youths exchanged a glance, then charged at Tobirama together.

Late at night.

Toji had no idea that Tobirama had quietly set his sights on him and made him the target of his recruitment.

Of course, if he had known, he probably would have laughed out loud.

At that moment, Toji sat upright on his bed, resting with his eyes closed.

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

Today was the last day of the month, and also the day he had agreed to make the "delivery" to Uchiha Yan.

When the clock struck midnight—

Toji slowly opened his eyes and shouted in a low voice:

"Earth Grudge Fear Clone!"

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

Under Toji's silent control, the Earth Grudge Fear Clone disappeared into the night, speeding through the shadows of the Forest of Death toward the designated location.

Toji did not know Uchiha Yan's exact circumstances.

But through the Curse Mark carved into her heart, he could sense that it was still beating steadily and that she had not encountered any fatal danger. The instant her heart stopped beating, he would directly detonate the Curse Mark to avoid any risk of exposure.

The Forest of Death was not entirely unguarded.

Several ninja squads that had accepted commissions were patrolling the vast woodland.

But with his sharp senses and intelligence acquired in advance, Toji easily avoided them.

The Earth Grudge Fear Clone traveled as though no one else existed and soon arrived at the designated location: a concealed tree hollow.

Toji did not find Uchiha Yan inside the hollow.

Though that woman had mediocre talent, she was still cautious. She had not lingered, withdrawing immediately after completing her task.

Even with the intelligence Toji had given her beforehand, she understood that this was not a place to stay long.

Toji walked deeper into the tree hollow. The light inside was dim, and he nearly failed to notice the two people lying on the ground.

Both were dark-skinned.

Toji crouched down and discovered, somewhat unexpectedly, that Uchiha Yan had attached a note to the two men listing their many evil deeds.

"Is she treating herself like some champion of justice?"

Toji chuckled, released two black tentacles to carry the unconscious pair out of the tree hollow, and silently returned to the underground laboratory.

He securely strapped the two men to operating tables and connected them to various instruments one by one.

A ninja's absolute strength in battle could not be crudely judged by the ranks of Genin, Chunin, and Jonin. But during experiments, data on chakra quality and physical strength could serve as a basic measure.

Looking at the values returned by the instruments, Toji felt somewhat disappointed.

"Two Genin..."

"The quality's a little poor."

Both men had fallen unconscious under Uchiha Yan's genjutsu.

Toji pressed both hands against their faces and used the Mystical Palm Technique to correct the chaotic chakra in their brain nerves.

The scar-faced man, whose physical condition was slightly better, woke first.

He was initially bewildered, but then terrified whimpers came from his mouth.

"Take a deep breath."

Toji raised his hand, several black threads slowly extending from his palm. "Feeling dizzy next will be normal."

Whoosh—

The black threads pierced into his body.