Reincarnation in Progress

"Hiruko, have you ever considered that this world may never have belonged to us at all?"

Deep within the laboratory, Hiruko walked slowly past the equipment with a hint of amazement in his eyes.

This is probably a feat that only a country where researchers control the budget could accomplish—even the basic equipment is already the most perfect laboratory he has ever seen.

The thought of soon having the right to use these devices filled him with excitement. Upon hearing Kato Osamu's voice, he couldn't help but look away and ponder for a moment.

"This world? It probably doesn't belong to anyone, does it?"

Hiruko was somewhat puzzled, probably because he had never considered such a question before.

With a slight smile, Kato Osamu didn't seem to have any expectations. "This is what I told you about, 'the number one research in the Shinobi World '..." A huge scroll appeared in the laboratory.

Kato Osamu organized Kabuto's experimental records, following the clues that the data subtly revealed, and also recorded some of his conjectures.

"It seems to be telling me that kings and nobles are all born with their status... while ants are always just ants..." Kato Osamu gently stroked the scroll, a moment of absentmindedness in his eyes, with a hint of reminiscence.

"Oh?" Seeing Kato Osamu's expression, Hiruko also frowned slightly, and with confusion in his eyes, slowly opened the scroll.

The laboratory was quiet. Kato Osamu didn't say anything more, glanced at Hiruko who was engrossed in the scroll, and then turned and left.

"Xu! You're finally out!"

As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw Lin, who was sitting on the ground, propping her head up with her hand, looking bored. She looked anxious and seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time. When she saw Kato Osamu, she jumped up from the ground.

"Lin, you skipped school again?"

"When did Xu-kun become so wicked!"

Lin paused for a second, then pouted and glared angrily at Kato Osamu. As if she had just remembered something, her expression changed in an instant.

"Xu-kun! Come with me quickly! Guren has suddenly fainted, and the medical-nin at the hospital are helpless!"

Lin grabbed Kato Osamu and was about to take him away. A hint of doubt flashed in Kato Osamu's eyes, but seeing Lin's anxious expression, he didn't ask immediately. He lightly touched the ground with his feet, grabbed Lin by the back of her neck, and disappeared from the spot.

"Didn't you go through it?"

The scenery rushed past her ears, and Lin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Kato Osamu spoke softly.

"I can't figure out what the problem is either..."

If it were a common injury, given Kabuto's current level of Medical Ninjutsu, he shouldn't be helpless. Kato Osamu kept moving, thought for a moment, and couldn't help but show a hint of interest.

"I see..."

The hospital in Kusagakure isn't very big, just a small building. There are many ordinary medical staff, but very few who can be called medical-nin. After all, Medical Ninjutsu is difficult to learn and requires a high level of Chakra control. Without that kind of talent, it's hard to achieve anything.

Kato Osamu led Rin into the hospital.

Although the hospital is small, it sees a considerable number of people coming and going. The Land of Grass is just a small country and does not have a 'government institution' comparable to the daimyo of the Five Great Nations. However, because of this, the Kusagakure is both the violent institution and the governing body of the Land of Grass of Land of Grass.

Over the years, under the rule of Nonō and Zabuza, Kusagakure has gradually become the political and economic center of the entire Land of Grass. A large number of civilians have poured into the Land of Grass, bringing tax revenue to Kusagakure and increasing the demand for infrastructure. This small hospital is now overcrowded.

"Here! Here!"

Lin and Kato Osamu went up to the second floor. As soon as they entered the ward, Kato Osamu's eyes flickered and his gaze fell on the girl who was trembling on the hospital bed.

"Master! You've come..."

"I... I can't see what the problem is..."

Kabuto heard Rin's voice and suddenly looked up. When he saw Kato Osamu, he had a look of relief in his eyes, but then a hint of frustration appeared on his face again.

"It's alright, Kabuto, this isn't an ordinary injury..."

Kato Osamu's eyes flickered slightly, and the other doctors and nurses in the ward filed out, leaving only Rin and Kabuto.

"I think I understand what's going on..."

Kato Osamu slowly walked to the side of the girl named Guren. The twelve or thirteen-year-old girl was covered in a fine sweat, her body trembling incessantly, her brows furrowed, as if she were enduring some kind of deep pain...

After examining her for a moment, and with Rin and Kabuto's eyes widening slightly, Kato Osamu slowly unbuttoned half of Guren's shirt, exposing her shoulder to the air...

"This is..."

Three jet-black Tomoe lay gently on the girl's shoulders, faintly emitting a red glow. Kabuto instantly understood that the girl's pain stemmed from these stones...

"Cursed Seal... and there seems to be a familiar aura..."

"Xu, what's wrong with Guren?"

Lin's eyes still held confusion, somewhat bewildered by the current situation...

"Rin, when did this girl arrive in the Land of Grass?" Kato Osamu didn't answer Rin's question, but instead asked her.

"About two years ago... not long after Osamu left, he was a war orphan rescued by Lord Zabuza..."

"She is also a rare Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai ninja..."

"Xu..., is there something wrong with her?"

Over the past two years, Lin and Guren have grown very close. She likes the child very much, but the current situation makes her vaguely aware of something, and she looks at Kato Osamu in disbelief.

"Don't worry... it's probably just a little joke my teacher Orochimaru and I played..."

Kato Osamu smiled gently, comforting Rin, and lightly placed one hand on the Cursed Seal, Chakra slowly flowing into it, as if sensing something...

"The Chakra within the Cursed Seal fluctuates greatly... the originally stable Cursed Seal has become extremely unstable, and the overflowing foreign Chakra is causing this girl pain..."

A slight smile flickered in his eyes; Kato Osamu seemed to understand something. Aside from Orochimaru, only he truly understood the secrets of the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu...

"It seems Orochimaru- sensei has reached a crucial moment..."

A jet-black chain of runes appeared in his hand, instantly forming a circular seal that completely contained the energy emanating from the Cursed Seal.

The red light slowly faded, and the girl's body gradually calmed down. Her breathing became steady, and she fell into a deep sleep...

Seeing that Guren's condition was improving, Rin and Kabuto both breathed a sigh of relief, and Kato Osamu also smiled.

He ruffled Rin's hair with one hand and looked at Kabuto: "Kabuto, would you be interested in meeting my teacher— Three Legendary Sannin, one of the Orochimaru...?"

"Master's teacher? Is that really possible?"

"Perhaps he will really like you..."