Muzan's Fury

By his own efforts, he had made the Shinobi World, which had chosen the wrong skill tree, grow another branch. On the path of truth, Orochimaru was a pioneer and the founder of future cellular technology.

The notebook in his hands was nothing short of priceless.

"According to the records in this notebook, Orochimaru has probably already begun working on cultured cells?"

"Hashirama's cells..."

Looking at the development of the Shinobi World as a whole, there was one powerful figure who could not be ignored.

The God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.

Susanoo-clad Buddha, two men against four nations!

With the strength of just two people, they had swept through the Warring States Era, turning the shinobi who had fought independently into the various villages—the prototypes of the major shinobi villages.

Wood Release naturally became Konoha's symbol. In Konoha, and even in the eyes of the Shinobi World, Wood Release was an invincible ninjutsu.

Of course, it was not the ninjutsu that was powerful, but the shinobi!

The most classic example was this: Hashirama's Wood Release shook the world, while Yamato's Wood Release handled landscaping!

"Unfortunately, I don't have the First Hokage's cells. Otherwise, I could compare them."

Researching the notebook would take time, and discovering flaws in cells was even less something that could be done overnight.

"Not only am I lacking research materials, I don't even have enough funding."

As everyone knew, experiments required a certain amount of capital. Even as Orochimaru's disciple, the funds he received were pitifully small.

"I need to find a way to make money! Otherwise, the research will run into trouble."

Using a sealing scroll, he sealed everything on the table inside it.

Not long after Muzan left the laboratory, a figure silently appeared within it. Looking at the spotless table, the person felt somewhat puzzled.

"What exactly is that brat doing? Or did Orochimaru teach him some dangerous experiments? Those two are both bastards!"

She would not allow Muzan to become a cold-blooded and heartless person.

"It would've been nice if Jiraiya were here. Given his personality... forget it. Konoha doesn't need another little hooligan."

The moment he stepped onto the street, Muzan sensed several gazes falling on him. He turned his head and met their eyes. Seeing the disgust in their expressions, he was utterly baffled.

He had only just returned to Konoha. He had not offended anyone, had he?

What exactly had happened?

"He's Sakumo's kid. I heard that because of Sakumo, this mission caused the village considerable losses. Their family should pay for it!"

"Hmph! Shouldn't shinobi put their missions first? He actually abandoned the mission. He doesn't deserve to be a shinobi!"

"What an idiot! I heard from some people that the losses from this mission are immeasurable. With things being unsettled lately, life is going to get harder for us."

They were speaking so loudly, right in front of him. It seemed they were doing it on purpose.

"Just as Teacher Orochimaru said, Konoha really has rotted away..."

A bloodthirsty glint flashed through Muzan's eyes beneath his black robe. Fixing his gaze on those spreading the rumors, he appeared before them in an instant.

Bang!

Bang!

The hand beneath his black robe transformed into brambles and lashed their faces directly. Blood instantly splattered across the ground, horrifying the nearby people so badly that they scrambled away from the scene.

Those people wanted to flee as well, but Muzan gave them no chance. The brambles bound their bodies, and the pain of spikes piercing their flesh made them twist and howl.

"Y-you! What are you doing?! You're openly attacking civilians! The Konoha Police Force won't let you get away with this!"

"Ah! Bastard, we weren't wrong! It's all because of Sakumo Hatake that Konoha suffered losses!"

Muzan stood where he was, a cold smile on his lips.

Any mission involving a Kage Level powerhouse was at least A-rank, perhaps even S-rank. The confidentiality of such missions was so strict that even ordinary Konoha higher-ups had no right to inquire about them.

Only those connected to the Hokage

could investigate whether the mission had succeeded. "The Third... and Danzo!"

"I hope you won't cross my bottom line."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Three figures suddenly appeared beside Muzan, kunai in hand. One of them said:

"Release the civilians in your hands!"

Muzan turned to look at them. They all wore fox masks. Sensing that the three were Chunin-level, it seemed they had anticipated that something might go wrong.

"Anbu, or Root..."

The brambles abruptly contracted. The arms of the villagers lying on the ground were torn off at the same moment. A rain of blood fell from the sky, droplets landing around him before blending into his black clothes.

Listening to their wails, Muzan's face beneath the black robe gradually twisted. A man-eating demon's nature was inherently violent, especially when someone touched his reverse scale.

"Shut up!"

With a hoarse roar, invisible lashes instantly passed through their bodies, knocking them unconscious.

"Bastard! What are you doing?!"

Konoha's Anbu immediately unleashed ninjutsu, trying to restrain him.

"You think you can stop me?"

Watching the ninjutsu rushing toward him, Muzan gradually released the power within his body. In the Demon King state, his strength could rise dramatically, but he normally did not do this.

That was because the cold, emotionless sensation gave him an illusion: whether civilians or shinobi, everyone before him was food for his mouth. He looked down on lower lifeforms from the depths of his heart.

"You fools will lose your lives because of your stupidity!"

"Blood Demon Art! Black Blood Brambles!"

It was the same stance he had used when fighting Kakashi years ago, except Muzan was far stronger now. His body had grown stronger with age, not to mention that it was filled with chakra.

The erupting brambles extended along the ground, crisscrossing together to block the incoming fireball before pressing toward the three of them.

The three immediately retreated. Looking at the twisting brambles beneath their feet, they stared at Muzan at the center with horrified expressions.

"What kind of ability is this?!"

"It looks a little like Lord Orochimaru's ability..."

These brambles resembled mutated venomous snakes. Combined with the fact that Muzan was Orochimaru's disciple, it was no wonder he was Konoha's publicly acknowledged genius.

"We have to subdue him today, or we won't be able to explain ourselves!"

The three-man squad joined forces against Muzan.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Release: Whirlwind Fist!"

With the aid of the strong wind, the newly formed fireball suddenly expanded. This was the coordination between teammates. As for the third person, his hands rapidly formed seals as he deployed a sealing technique.

A layer of chains appeared beneath Muzan's feet. Because he had violently resisted, the three chose to injure him first, then capture him and bring him before the Third Hokage.

"Calling you fools is practically an insult to the word 'fool'!"

So what if he could not move? What did an attack like this amount to?

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru's signature technique. Several venomous snakes burst from beneath Muzan's black robe, with some of them hidden beneath the brambles!

"Not good! Dodge!"