Chapter 80

"The chakra consumption is immense. It actually consumed a full one-third of my chakra!"

Uchiha Fugaku had anticipated that the Spore Technique would require substantial chakra, especially after observing White Zetsu nearly exhaust itself performing the same technique. Yet, after using it himself, he was still astonished by the sheer amount of chakra it demanded.

As a Kage-level ninja, Fugaku possessed a vast reservoir of chakra, but losing a third in a single technique was no small matter.

"With such an enormous chakra cost, it's no wonder Akatsuki needed the tailed beasts' chakra to mass-produce White Zetsu clones," he muttered to himself.

He reached out and touched the body of the spore clone he had created. It felt like real flesh and blood. Even when he pressed harder, causing slight bruises, the clone did not vanish.

Unlike shadow clones that disappeared upon damage, this clone was a genuine physical entity. Even in death, it would leave behind a corpse. Its only downside was its significantly weaker strength compared to the original.

"The chakra consumption likely comes from the process of creating flesh and blood itself," Fugaku reasoned.

Flesh and blood required immense nutrients to generate. Using chakra to simulate this process consumed far more energy than traditional ninjutsu.

"Except for the chakra drain and reduced combat power, spore clones are superior to shadow clones in every other aspect," he thought. "But they also have one major drawback: they don't transmit memories back to the original upon death."

After some thought, Fugaku found a way to mitigate this issue.

He placed his hand on the spore clone, channeling his chakra back into it. The spore clone shrank rapidly, condensing into a small spore before re-entering Fugaku's body.

The moment it reintegrated, memories from the spore clone flooded his mind. This workaround effectively replicated the memory-sharing feature of shadow clones.

"Spore clones have the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. I wonder… if I use *Corpse Melting* on my spore clones, could it enhance the strength of my Wood Release?"

The thought was as strange as it was intriguing. It felt akin to "smelting himself," but if it worked, it could significantly accelerate the growth of his Wood Release abilities.

"Spore Technique!"

Another spore clone materialized. Without hesitation, Fugaku willed it to die. As the original, he had absolute control over the life and death of his clones. The spore clone collapsed to the floor.

"Corpse Melting!"

Activating his Mangekyō Sharingan, a dark vortex appeared. Fugaku threw the spore clone into the vortex, waiting for the process to dissolve the body and extract its unique traits.

However, despite being immersed in the black liquid, the spore clone's body showed no reaction. It did not dissolve.

"It doesn't work." Fugaku frowned, commanding the vortex to release the clone's body.

"Is it because the spore clone shares the same biological makeup as me? Maybe *Corpse Melting* can't be used on my own cells since I'm the owner of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Though he couldn't confirm the exact reason, Fugaku dismissed the idea of using his spore clones to enhance his Wood Release. The concept, as promising as it seemed, was fundamentally flawed.

Shaking his head, Fugaku stored the clone's body in a sealing scroll for future study. He had hoped to find a shortcut to rapidly improve his Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, but it appeared there was no easy path forward.

Still, he was content with his other gains. Smelting the two White Zetsu corpses had strengthened his Wood Release, and his mastery of the spore technique opened new tactical possibilities.

---

In the underground chambers of the Root base, Danzo Shimura sat in silence, his expression dark and brooding. The dim lighting accentuated the lines of age and anger etched across his face.

Shimura Daisuke, the head of the Shimura family, had failed to report back after leaving Konoha. Sensing something was amiss, Danzo had dispatched his operatives to investigate.

The silence was broken as a Root ninja wearing a bug-shaped mask entered, a scroll clutched tightly in his hands.

"Danzo-sama, there's news," the masked ninja said, kneeling and offering the scroll.

Danzo took it, breaking the seal and unraveling the encrypted message. His eyes scanned the contents, and his expression grew even darker.

The report detailed the discovery of Shimura Daisuke and his escort team in a forest over 500 miles from Konoha. All of them were dead. The signs pointed to an attack by a *Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja*.

"Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja…"

Danzo's hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. Rage coursed through him as he processed the implications.

Shimura Daisuke had been a key figure in the Shimura family. His loss was not just a personal blow but a severe setback to the Shimura clan's influence.

"This isn't random," Danzo growled, his voice low and menacing. "This is deliberate. Someone is targeting the Shimura family—or me specifically."

The pattern was clear. Before Shimura Daisuke's death, Aburame Shiwei and two elite Aburame ninjas had been killed, also by a Wood Release user. Although they weren't direct members of the Shimura family, they had ties to him and the Root.

This wasn't a coincidence. The Wood Release user was systematically eliminating those connected to Danzo's faction.

"Why target me? Who could it be?" Danzo muttered, his mind racing.

His list of enemies was long. Decades of leading the Root had earned him a multitude of foes, and many harbored deep-seated grudges against him.

But among those enemies, who possessed the strength and audacity to wield Wood Release against him?

As Danzo stewed in his thoughts, the Root ninja knelt silently, awaiting orders.

After a moment, Danzo spoke, his tone icy. "Double the security around the Root base. Increase patrols. Whoever this Wood Release user is, they will not escape me."

The ninja bowed and left to carry out his orders.

Danzo sat in the dim chamber, his single visible eye burning with a mixture of anger and suspicion.

"This assassin won't stop here," he muttered. "But they will make a mistake. And when they do… I will make them regret targeting me."

(End of this chapter)

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