C 55

"Wood Style Thorn Killing Technique!"

Nawaki quickly formed hand signs and pressed one hand against the ground. Tsunade, standing ten meters away, suddenly noticed numerous tree roots with branches and leaves springing up from beneath her feet, entangling and binding her.

Kain, who was watching from the sidelines, felt a surge of excitement at this display. The unconventional binding technique worked wonders for Tsunade.

As Tsunade noticed Kain's intrigued gaze, she hoped that Nawaki's demonstration of Wood Style ninjutsu would spark Kain's interest. However, her naive brother's actions had unintended consequences.

"Stupid Nawaki!" Tsunade exclaimed, furious. She broke free from the only Wood Style ninjutsu Nawaki had managed to cast and swiftly used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him, delivering a punch to his head that made him yelp in pain.

"Sister, you're too strong! Didn't you say you wanted to try out some ninjutsu?" Nawaki protested, rubbing the large bump forming on his head. He looked at her with a mix of indignation and confusion, perhaps suspecting that she had merely wanted to beat him up under the guise of testing ninjutsu.

"Hey! This is a warning not to be so careless in the future! You were lucky last time. There won't always be a miraculous serum to save you, idiot Nawaki!" Tsunade admonished, her tone firm yet protective.

Clearing her throat, she found a justification for her actions. Nawaki had slowly mastered the Wood Style Bloodline Limit. Under Tsunade's guidance, he had learned a new Wood Style technique in just four days, and it was no weak move; without Tsunade's unusual strength, it would have been difficult for any average ninja to escape its grip.

After testing his abilities, it was evident that Nawaki was significantly stronger now, exhibiting improvements in strength, speed, physical fitness, and chakra volume. In terms of chakra alone, he was nearing the level of a Jōnin. Not to mention, he also possessed an astonishing recovery ability.

The new Extremis virus, now fused with Hashirama cells, granted him incredible resilience. Orochimaru had tested this on numerous subjects, and even if a major injury was inflicted on the heart, the subjects could slowly recover. Only decapitation or dismemberment could ensure death.

Kain also enjoyed this extraordinary healing speed, but he knew that once Konoha learned about the effects of the Extremis virus serum, they would not let it go lightly. While they seemed to maintain a facade of civility, Kain sensed that their patience might wear thin.

Currently, the relationship between Kain and Tsunade was amicable, and with dozens of members from the Senju clan working with them, Konoha also benefitted from the supply of medicine Kain provided.

However, Kain believed that Konoha would continue their experiments in the dark, even if they could not act against him openly.

Orochimaru had attempted to cast an illusion on Nawaki, but the moment the illusion struck, Nawaki's eyes glowed red; Orochimaru's technique failed before it even began.

The Extremis virus automatically repaired all abnormalities in the body, including brain neurons, which was crucial for its effectiveness. However, merely observing Nawaki's performance was not enough.

Kain planned to find an opportunity to let Kakuzu use an illusion on him so he could experience the effects firsthand.

Aside from Nawaki, Kain himself had undergone significant changes. He could now effortlessly lift weights exceeding 2,000 kilograms with one hand and could manage seven tons with both hands.

His senses, including hearing and sight, had also been greatly enhanced. Notably, all these feats were achieved without the aid of chakra.

If he were to refine and apply chakra to his limbs, his capabilities would likely double or triple. In the context of the Marvel universe, he was undoubtedly superhuman, ranking among the elite on the surface.

Although this level of strength seemed relatively modest in the ninja world, it was an impressive feat within the realm of superheroes.

Kain had no desire to engage in combat with others in the ninja world. If challenges arose, he could simply hire ninjas to handle them; with sufficient payment, he might even be able to recruit a Rinnegan user in the future.

After spending some time at the experimental base, Tsunade, Nawaki, Orochimaru, and Kain prepared to return to Konoha. Their research on the Extremis virus serum had consumed a significant amount of time, and upon their return, they intended to avoid undertaking any immediate missions.

Additionally, they had noticed signs of Konoha Anbu operatives in the vicinity. Once Tsunade and Orochimaru became aware of their presence, they decided it was time to head back to the village.

Orochimaru had successfully obtained the serum he desired, but he chose not to use it immediately. Kain had also gifted Orochimaru the research base and all its equipment.

The equipment was worth only a few million dollars— a modest sum considering the value of the knowledge it would provide. Kain saw it as a favor, knowing he could call upon Orochimaru in the future when needed.

After they left, Kain planned to return to the Marvel world briefly. It seemed that Cheat was preparing to open the next world, so Kain methodically relayed his tasks in the ninja world. Aya should be capable of managing most issues, including those in the Land of Waves.

However, Kain recognized that the transaction with Kirigakure still required his attention. Fortunately, there was no active conflict at the moment, and transactions typically occurred every two or three months. He felt assured that Kirigakure wouldn't demand goods from him anytime soon.

When saying goodbye to Tsunade, Kain requested her to deliver a copy of the IOU to Kushina. With Kushina's calculative prowess, she should be able to assess how much she owed Kain, and if interest continued to accrue, it would be significant by the end of three years.

Given that Hokage had to effectively sold Konoha Village, repaying such debts would be challenging. Additionally, Kain had plans to address the commission for terminally ill medicine; now that Nawaki's situation had been resolved, Tsunade would focus on that matter next.

" Kain, would you like me to see you off? It's no trouble if you want to leave a little later," Orochimaru offered, smiling. He had received a valuable gift and felt inclined to return the favor. With his unique perception ninjutsu, he could detect hidden individuals nearby through the movements of his serpents.

"Thank you, Orochimaru, but I have my own way of returning," Kain replied, declining the offer. He intended to use Cheat to travel back to the Marvel world.

After Tsunade and the others had departed, Kain was approached by two groups of masked Konoha Root operatives, who instantly surrounded him. Some even placed their hands on the short swords at their sides.

"Merchant Kain, please accompany us immediately," the leading Root ninja commanded, but before he could finish his sentence, Kain suddenly vanished from view.

"Crow, scan the surroundings," the captain ordered.

Obeying quickly, one of the Root ninjas formed hand seals, closing his eyes to activate the Chakra perception technique. After several tense moments, he reported, "Nothing found, Captain. No sign of intruders."

Even the legendary Sannin had moved far enough away before they appeared before Kain.

"Disappeared without a trace," the captain mused. After considering for a moment, he ruled out the possibility of an illusion, a Body Flicker Technique, or simple evasion. He could only conclude that it was the result of space-time ninjutsu; only such a technique could allow someone to escape the Root ninjas' detection so swiftly.

"Let's return and report this to Lord Danzo!"

…

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