The refining process was difficult, but thanks to his excellent chakra control, after multiple trials, he finally managed to stabilize the ratio.
Only a small amount.
At the mont, it wasn’t of much practical use—unless his body could adapt to absorbing more natural energy and Senjutsu chakra. At this rate, the day he could achieve that wasn’t too far off.
Next ca the process of acclimation.
Through the night, they occasionally heard strange, low growls from outside, but those quickly faded away.
By the next morning...
Hara Takeshi and Shibukawa arrived with a group of villagers.
They stood at the door, all wearing grave expressions. The mont they saw Kyoichi, they dropped to their knees and shouted in unison:
"Please, Shinobi-sama, save us!"
"You’ve made up your minds?"
"Yes, Kyoichi-sama. If there’s a chance, of course we hope to join Konohagakure. If not, we’ll follow your instructions and leave this place," Hara Takeshi said with utmost respect.
It was the conclusion of a long night of discussion.
They all understood—not everyone could beco a ninja. In the end, not everyone would be accepted into the village.
Those who weren’t would follow the initial plan: leave the village and resettle elsewhere.
But of course...
If they had a choice, it’d be best if they all could go to Konoha.
Konoha was the foremost of the Five Great Ninja Villages—strongest among them, and relatively peaceful. Naturally, they wanted to go.
Besides...
If they made it there, they could even learn specialized ninja techniques.
Who wouldn’t want that?
"Don’t celebrate just yet. For now, Konoha can’t officially accept you, and even if you do join, those receiving treatnt will still have to repay part of the cost through missions. You understand that, right?"
"Yes, Kyoichi-sama. Don’t worry, we’ve thought it all through."
Everyone nodded.
Paying for dical treatnt was only natural—being accepted by Konoha was a bonus.
And to them, that condition hardly felt like coercion—
They just wanted to live safely, after all.
Plenty of people wanted into Konoha and couldn’t even get in!
"Have the younger ones with more serious symptoms step forward."
Younger minds adapt faster.
Shibukawa and a few others stepped up. Kyoichi gathered them and began to instruct them.
The process wasn’t long.
The technique’s main function was guiding natural energy, and the thod was rather crude. As long as they grasped the basics, they’d at least stop being affected by the environnt—no more random berserk episodes.
This would take ti.
Which worked out...
Kyoichi still needed to wait for Kakuzu to act. He could afford to stay here longer. Back in the village, Gekkō Hayate and Mukai were managing things in the Anbu—no major issues there.
Over the next few days...
Kyoichi focused on teaching them to guide natural energy. The results were promising—most of them successfully grasped the basics.
They hadn’t seen a significant boost in power yet...
But their loss-of-control episodes had already shortened. What used to happen every day or two now only happened every few days.
Kyoichi’s hypothesis was correct.
Their symptoms mirrored those of Slug Sage Mode. That ant he could let Shisui and the others begin training safely.
At worst, they’d end up like these villagers.
And for so of them, a Cursed Seal might even be life-saving in desperate situations.
And if it worked?
They’d unlock Sage Mode!
It was a win-win. Even a loss wasn’t too bad, but a win would be an absolute windfall. There was no reason not to train.
Shisui and the others, now imrsed in this environnt, had begun to sense natural energy.
While they hadn’t started synthesizing Senjutsu chakra yet, their bodies were slowly adapting.
Throughout his instruction, Kyoichi also received so feedback from the system.
His Senjutsu chakra mastery had increased significantly.
So...
He began testing whether he could inject the Senjutsu chakra he accumulated each day into his Yin Seal. If it worked, it ant he could store it over ti and enter Sage Mode instantly in critical monts.
If it worked with Tailed Beast chakra, there was no reason it wouldn’t work with Sage Mode.
Of course...
He only dared to try now because he’d gotten much stronger.
Ten or so days later...
They finally departed.
Anbu intelligence arrived: Iwagakure had a major incident recently.
Rōshi, together with Han—the Five-Tails Jinchūriki—had defected. Many were injured in the process, but curiously, they didn’t kill a single person.
Which made things awkward for soone else.
Kakuzu...
He tried to take advantage of the chaos and sneakily killed an Iwagakure shinobi to steal his heart, but Rōshi and Han had both shown restraint—wounding but never killing.
So...
Iwa-nin figured out that Rōshi’s current strength could easily kill any of them, aning the missing jōnin was clearly assassinated by soone else.
And so, Onoki sent soone once again—
To the Land of Fire border.
Kitsuchi ca in secret, waiting for the Konoha contact.
Monts later...
Four figures appeared before him.
"Kitsuchi, didn’t expect we’d et again so soon."
"Really? I thought you would."
Kitsuchi sighed helplessly.
He was certain Kyoichi must’ve said sothing to Rōshi, because when Rōshi returned, he’d gotten noticeably stronger—and not only defected himself, but took Han with him.
Who knows what kind of spell Kyoichi cast on him?
Onoki was absolutely livid.
But...
Now wasn’t the ti to argue over what Kyoichi had or hadn’t said.
Rōshi had hurt people but hadn’t killed anyone, and Kyoichi’s thods were still within the bounds of diplomacy. They had no concrete evidence against him.
But whoever was operating in the shadows—that was another matter.
So...
Kitsuchi joked lightly, then quickly got to the point.
"Kyoichi-sama, Iwagakure’s intel says you encountered Kakuzu in the Land of Rivers. We’d like to exchange information—terms have already been discussed."
"Kakuzu? We killed him once in the Land of Rivers."
"Killed him once?"
"Yes. I stabbed his heart with my blade, but he didn’t die. It’s strange—likely related to his technique. That’s all the intel I have."
Kyoichi said calmly.
Shisui and the others stayed silent behind him.
Their teacher was about to squeeze so money out of this.
Back when they’d reviewed the fight, Kyoichi had clearly explained: Kakuzu’s masks likely represented multiple lives. To truly kill him, every mask had to be destroyed.
And...
Each mask corresponded to one chakra nature. Kyoichi had ntioned this too—but now he was playing dumb.
"Kyoichi-sama, could you share a bit more? We’re truly sincere about this... While the paynt terms were already settled with your village, we’re willing to raise the offer."
Kitsuchi lowered his stance.
He wasn’t surprised—others might not know, but he was sure Kyoichi knew more.
"I just rembered—he had many special masks. Each one corresponded to a different chakra nature.
But we didn’t see an Earth Release mask, so it’s possible the one I destroyed was the Earth Release one."
Kyoichi smiled faintly.
Onoki was cunning, already guessing the enemy might be Kakuzu and had sent Kitsuchi to verify it.
But...
To Kyoichi, this wasn’t necessarily bad news.
The more people aware of the organization behind Kakuzu, the better—especially soone like Onoki, a powerhouse whose Light-Weight and Heavy-Weight techniques synergized with nearly anyone.
And let’s not forget—
He also had Dust Release.
Against soone like Uchiha Madara, Onoki would be a huge asset.
"An Earth-natured mask..."
Kitsuchi pondered for a mont, and it clicked. No wonder Onoki told him to confirm it with Kyoichi—he must’ve already suspected Kakuzu.
"What your father really wants to know is probably what Kakuzu’s up to, right? Sorry, we’re not sure. We only know he has a powerful puppet master ally—likely Sasori of the Red Sand."
Sasori of the Red Sand.
Another infamous rogue ninja, long ranked at the top of the wanted lists.
Kitsuchi went quiet.
Those two working together couldn’t an anything good.
Worst part?
They had their sights set on Iwagakure.
What were they planning?
Just looking to "replace" so masks?
He had a bad feeling.
"They’re not just two rogue shinobi teaming up. I suspect there’s a larger organization with a specific purpose behind them. I suggest you remain vigilant."
"...Understood. Thank you, Kyoichi-sama. We’ll send the paynt to Konoha."
With growing unease in his heart, Kitsuchi knew he couldn’t stay here any longer.
***************************
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