Chapter 233

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[Naruto: Superpower Roulette] 

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"Kakashi, Itachi, Kimimaro, Haku—I've called you here because the village has developed a powerful genetic serum. Injecting it will enhance your strength significantly. Even for you, Kakashi, it will double your power and physical abilities," Yoichi explained to the people in the room.

The first batch of recipients were those close to him, including Kurenai, Rumi, Rin, and Ichiko, as well as a few outstanding young Uchiha ninjas.

Since Shisui was not around, Yoichi planned to save his share for when someone from the clan would visit the capital.

After distributing the different types of Jūkyoku Virus, Yoichi instructed them to go to the hospital at their convenience for the injection, ensuring that the data would be recorded there.

Everyone knew that anything given by Yoichi would be beneficial, so they all thanked him in unison before leaving the office to head to the hospital.

Sasuke and Naruto were nearly two years old, and both had started learning letters. In another year or so, they would be ready for formal training. Kimimaro and Haku were already five, almost six, and would be entering the Ninja Academy later that year.

Kimimaro's kekkei genkai disease had not yet manifested, but the Jūkyoku Virus infused with Wood Release should help prevent it. Based on the symptoms of kekkei genkai diseases in the ninja world, most were triggered by genetic issues.

With the virus, Kimimaro's genes should improve, preventing the onset of the disease. Coupled with the regenerative power of the Wood Release, his Shikotsumyaku would become the strongest version in history.

Kimimaro and Haku were well-liked in Yoichi's household. Kimimaro was reserved and polite, while Haku, who was growing more beautiful by the day, now bore an increasing resemblance to a girl.

Once, Mina had whimsically bought a girl's outfit for Haku. After much persuasion, she managed to get him to wear it. When Haku shyly emerged in the outfit, both Itachi and Kimimaro were left dumbfounded.

Haku in girls' clothing had quite an impact—even Itachi blushed and turned his head away, though he couldn't resist sneaking glances.

More doses of the Jūkyoku Virus were in production. At the very least, any ninja injected with it would become a Jonin within the village. For those with exceptional talent, like Kimimaro and Itachi, reaching the Kage level was within reach.

After handling some village affairs, Yoichi noticed that Kurenai and Rumi had become more proficient in their duties, although they were still short-handed and sometimes had to run errands themselves.

Yoichi decided to assign them an assistant team, so they could take on most of the work. After all, they had been with him long enough to understand his decision-making style.

Bringing some documents from Sunagakure back home, Yoichi was greeted by Mina's exasperated voice as soon as he entered.

"Karin, stop bullying Naruto, or I'll hang you up... Ah, Yoichi-sama, you're back," Mina said, smiling as she retracted her Adamantine Sealing Chains and set Karin down.

Karin stuck out her tongue at Mina before running to Yoichi, grabbing his pants and climbing up into his arms. "Papa, Mama's bullying me," she complained with a pout.

"I'll help you get back at her tonight, but don't bully Naruto anymore. He's your little brother," Yoichi said, holding Karin with a smile. Mina, blushing, scolded him, "Yoichi-sama, what are you saying in front of our daughter?"

Karin was now three years old, old enough to start formal training, but Mina hadn't begun teaching her yet. She planned to start once Naruto and Sasuke had completed their basic ninja training.

"Yoichi-sama, can Kushina come back yet?"

"It might still take some time. She's made great progress recently, and in a few more days, she should be able to fully suppress her dark side," Yoichi replied seriously, though he was secretly planning to visit Kushina one more time.

From the perspective of sunk costs, after three times, Kushina wouldn't be able to back out of resurrecting Minato. She wouldn't dare to make it public, and even if she did, Yoichi would still have the upper hand in the village.

Three fainting spells, countless hours of intense activity, and dozens of videotapes—Kushina wouldn't be able to resist.

Mina nodded, saying, "That's good. Naruto seems happy, but sometimes he still asks about Kushina."

"Does he fight with Sasuke?"

"How did you know, Yoichi-sama?"

Mina's face showed surprise as she continued, "Naruto gets upset when Karin bullies him, but he and Sasuke seem to be natural enemies. Whenever they're together, they're always fighting. They're almost at it right now!"

Swish! Swish!

Two Adamantine Sealing Chains shot out from Mina's back, pulling the head-butting Sasuke and Naruto apart, knocking them lightly on the heads.

The two reluctantly separated. Seeing this, Yoichi couldn't help but smile as he pulled both Naruto and Sasuke into his arms, using the Spiritual Transformation Technique to examine the chakra deep within their souls.

The chakra in both boys' souls was highly active, likely because they spent so much time together. The chakras of Indra and Asura sensed each other, and their inherent antagonism was awakening.

For Yoichi, both boys' chakras were quite tempting, especially Asura's. It felt like a missing piece of himself, something he needed to complete his own evolution.

As an Uchiha who had merged with the Senju, his genes were naturally gravitating toward the God Tree. Hagoromo's powers came from the Ten-Tails, and Indra and Asura's chakras were the closest to the Yin-Yang energies of the Ten-Tails.

Obtaining Asura's chakra would be like acquiring the key to the Six Paths level. Once he collected the chakra of all the Tailed Beasts and merged them, he could potentially evolve to unlock the Rinnegan and reach the Six Paths level.

After a while, Mikoto returned home, and after dinner, Yoichi asked her about the situation in Sunagakure.

Nearly a year had passed since the Chūnin Exams, and in that time, Sunagakure had received five shipments of supplies from Konoha, all handled by Pakura.

The rest of the Wind Country was starting to recover, but Pakura's reputation was growing rapidly. This was partly due to Uchiha Corporation secretly promoting her after entering the Wind Country.

"Need to buy daily necessities? First, thank Sunagakure's hero, Pakura, the Scorch Style user. Without her hard negotiations, Konoha and the Fire Country wouldn't have opened trade with the Wind Country."

In Sunagakure, basic necessities were almost under wartime control. A family of three could purchase basic necessities without a voucher, but anything extra or of better quality required a voucher.

And to get a voucher, people had to go to Pakura.

Even so, Pakura had a legitimate reason: the supplies sent by Konoha and the Fire Country weren't enough. Without rationing, there would soon be people going hungry while others ate their fill.

As Sunagakure's hero, Pakura couldn't allow anyone in the village to starve.

Three days after she made this statement, her words, along with her photograph, were polished and published in the Ninja World Daily, sold at half price in the Wind Country.

The fourth day, Rasa's office received new furniture, as the original set had been smashed to pieces.

After hearing Mikoto's report, Yoichi felt that everything in Sunagakure was progressing as he had planned.

Talk about loyalty to the village or the "Will of the Sand"—none of that mattered when people were starving.

When the lower-ranked ninjas and villagers sided with Pakura, Rasa would become a traitor to Sunagakure.

Yoichi then instructed Mikoto to start bribing the families of mid-to-low-ranked ninjas in Sunagakure. In a state of semi-hunger, material incentives would be the hardest for them to refuse.

Mikoto hadn't been idle during the past six months. She had expanded Uchiha Corporation's influence into the Land of Tea and the Land of Bears, effectively encircling and blockading the Wind Country.

The next step was to take over the business associations and material reserves within the Wind Country.

When the time came, Yoichi would control how much food the Wind Country received and who got to eat.

The plan to annex the Wind Country within three years was now looking like a conservative estimate—it might happen several months earlier than expected.

————————————

"Edo Tensei!"

Boom!

A coffin emerged from the ground. A moment later, cracks appeared on the coffin, followed by a loud explosion as the lid shattered.

Black Zetsu and White Zetsu narrowly avoided being hit by the debris.

"Already resurrecting me? It seems Obito and Nagato did a good job."

As the dust settled, a figure stepped out of the coffin.

Seeing this, Black Zetsu realized that the Edo Tensei had succeeded, but something was off. The revived Madara still looked as he had at the time of his death—old and with white hair.

Though the chakra was powerful due to the nature of the Edo Tensei, it couldn't change the fact that he was in his elderly state.

"Madara-sama, there's been a slight change of plans. You weren't resurrected with the Rinne Rebirth. I brought you back using the Edo Tensei," Black Zetsu explained.

"In the time since your death, Konoha's power has grown rapidly, especially with that Uchiha Yoichi. He captured Obito, and much of the information about Nagato and the Rinnegan has been leaked. They're currently hiding in Iwagakure."

At first, Madara was dissatisfied that Edo Tensei had been used instead of Rinne Rebirth, but hearing Black Zetsu's report made him take the situation more seriously.

"It seems the Uchiha Clan has produced some remarkable talents. A complete Susanoo… He must have acquired the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. But how could someone without parents or siblings have obtained it?"

In theory, the Mangekyō could achieve a complete Susanoo, but no one had ever done so. It required an enormous amount of chakra, far beyond the capacity of most Kage-level ninjas. Moreover, the frequent use of the Mangekyō would lead to blindness, making it impossible to master.

"It might have been Fugaku's eyes. That fool left his Mangekyō Sharingan within the clan, intending to pass them to his son, but Yoichi must have taken them," Black Zetsu speculated.

When Black Zetsu received this information, even it, with its millennia of experience, couldn't help but curse Fugaku's stupidity. If he wanted to leave the eyes for his son, why not keep them with him until Itachi was old enough to inherit them? Instead, Yoichi ended up with a pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

"There's another problem, Madara-sama—your current state. Although I successfully used Edo Tensei to bring you back, you're in the same condition as when you died. Even if Nagato used Rinne Rebirth to revive you…"

Reviving an 80-year-old Madara? Once he shed the Edo Tensei body, Madara's power would drop by several levels.

Madara noticed the issue as well. He didn't mind being an Edo Tensei, but if he were to be revived in this state, he wouldn't stand a chance in a real fight. A few uses of Susanoo would exhaust him.

"The technique needs improvement, at least to restore me to my prime. I understand Edo Tensei well enough; for now, let's focus on reviving me in my strongest form."

Madara glanced at his aged hands, disgusted by his current body.

"I also gathered the flesh of other ninjas. I originally intended to use Edo Tensei to summon them and help you collect the Tailed Beasts. But we should wait until you've perfected the technique. That way, they can assist you more effectively," Black Zetsu suggested.

Madara frowned and asked, "Hasn't Nagato collected even a single Tailed Beast yet?"

"Madara-sama, it's only been three years since you passed. Nagato has been constantly hunted by Konoha ninjas."

Madara fell silent for a moment before shaking his head in frustration. "What a useless brat. Black Zetsu, keep an eye on Nagato. If necessary, bring him back. We can't let the Rinnegan fall into the wrong hands. Also, leave a few White Zetsu clones with me. I need to catch up on what's been happening in the ninja world."

"Understood, Madara-sama. Nagato has become quite adept with the Rinnegan and has mastered most of its abilities, including Rinne Rebirth. He should be able to revive you at any time," Black Zetsu said before sending White Zetsu underground, leaving a few clones behind to brief Madara on recent events.

Though Madara had only been dead for a little over two years, much had changed during that time.

But for Madara, the most pressing concern was perfecting the forbidden technique so he could return in his prime.

"Heh, who would've thought I'd have to study my own body? If Tobirama could see this, I wonder what he'd think."

With that, Madara's thoughts turned to the other ninja whose flesh Black Zetsu had collected.

(End of Chapter)