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Chapter 177: Return to Konoha!
🕑 Added 2025-09-07 11:56:41 +0000 UTCChapter 177: Return to Konoha!
'S-rank Technique: Art of Cellular Regeneration?'
The name of the new technique from the S-rank scroll was completely unfamiliar to Keisuke. He focused on its effects.
'What kind of JoJo-level ninjutsu is this?!'
Frankly, the first effect of the technique still fell within the realm of medical ninjutsu. As far as Keisuke knew, the "Creation Rebirth" technique that Tsunade would develop in the future was a similar type of ultra-fast healing. The difference was that Creation Rebirth worked by pre-storing a massive amount of chakra to stimulate rapid cell division, while the Art of Cellular Regeneration worked by directly burning through the lifespan of one's cells to achieve its recovery effect.
Looking at the first effect alone, one might mistake it for a legitimate, albeit forbidden, S-rank medical jutsu. But the second effect revealed its true nature.
'Replenishing one's own cells by absorbing and converting the cellular tissue of other ninja...'
Keisuke marveled at the technique. 'The panel doesn't say it, but this has to be an S-rank forbidden jutsu developed by Orochimaru, right?!'
For an ordinary ninja, this jutsu was pure suicide. Even a shinobi's cells had a finite lifespan—a limited number of times they could divide. So-called "cellular activation" techniques were essentially "life-burning" techniques. But for Orochimaru, this jutsu had almost no drawbacks. Any physical cost could be completely recouped by absorbing the cells of others.
'It's literally a man-eating ninjutsu!' Keisuke gave the S-rank technique a fitting evaluation in his mind. Overall, it was a forbidden art dripping with Orochimaru's signature style. Although Keisuke was disgusted by the second effect—believing that both "eating people" and "being eaten" were terrible prospects—he had to admit that the first effect alone was worthy of an S-rank evaluation. Full-body activation techniques like this were incredibly rare and could be used as a trump card to turn the tide in a desperate situation.
'For the future Orochimaru, once he develops the Living Corpse Reincarnation, he can freely activate the cells of his new bodies to increase his chakra levels. Even if a body is damaged beyond repair, he can just switch to a new one. But both this jutsu and his future one were developed for his specific needs. For me, the effects of this technique will need some... modifications.'
Not even Princess Tsunade knew the true extent of Keisuke's current medical ninjutsu skill. By his own estimation, he wasn't on the level of a top-tier master like her, nor could he compare to a self-taught "mad scientist" like Orochimaru. But in the grand scheme of the ninja world, his medical skills were absolutely in the first tier, especially when it came to the human nervous system. Modifying this new jutsu would be difficult, but not impossible.
Keisuke silently added "Modify the Art of Cellular Regeneration" to his daily research schedule.
Just then, Shisui returned with a new mask.
"Father." He first handed the mask to Kagami, who put it on, leaving only his eyes exposed. When not activated, an Uchiha's eyes were indistinguishable from a normal person's, unlike the Byakugan.
Shisui then looked at the lounging Keisuke. "Captain?"
"Hm?" Keisuke replied with a short nasal sound, his eyes still closed.
Seeing that he wasn't asleep, Shisui immediately reported, "Captain, a message just came from Orochimaru-sama. He says we are to return to the village as soon as possible."
"I know." Keisuke opened his eyes and glanced at Shisui. "Go and bring Retsu and Shizune here first. Then we'll all head back together."
"Captain." Shisui didn't move immediately, his voice filled with concern. "You look completely exhausted... Should we rest in the camp for a night and leave tomorrow?"
Kagami was also watching him. He still couldn't forget the image of the Black Samurai that had gone toe-to-toe with a Susanoo and even shattered its head with a single blast. For a Nara clan ninja to develop a technique of that magnitude and not immediately drop dead after using it... the fact that Keisuke still had the energy to talk was, in itself, astonishing to Kagami. Back when he was alive, he considered himself lucky to maintain his own Susanoo for thirty seconds. It was an incredibly taxing forbidden technique.
"No need," Keisuke said, closing his eyes again. "I left the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and a live White Zetsu in this forest earlier. Bring those two over before you go and get the others."
Shisui hesitated for a moment, but still complied. "Yes, sir."
A short while later, Shisui returned from the temporary base with Han and the Zetsu. He then left again to fetch Retsu and Shizune from their training area. Seeing Keisuke in his meditative state, Kagami didn't disturb him. He took it upon himself to use the black robes from Madara's base to cover the bodies of "Madara," the Zetsu, and the unconscious Han, hiding their identities. Some things the captain could know, but it was better for the rest of the team to remain in the dark.
After some time, Minato arrived with his three subordinates, and Shisui returned with Retsu and Shizune. The two teams were finally all gathered.
"Captain," Shizune said, rushing to his side. "Are you okay?" A ball of pale green medical chakra was already forming in her hands.
"I'm fine," Keisuke said, pushing himself up. He looked past his own teammates to Minato. "Minato-san, is there a situation with your squad?"
"There is," Minato said, glancing at Obito and Rin before speaking in a low voice. "There were two on Obito, and one on Rin. None on Kakashi. But my perception isn't as refined as the Hyūga's Byakugan. Considering the situation, Keisuke, I suggest we have Hyūga-san check everyone over."
"What a pain," Keisuke sighed, looking at Retsu. "Retsu, use your Byakugan and scan everyone here. The target is an extremely small plant spore... should be no problem, right?"
Retsu nodded silently, her face a cool mask. With the aid of her Byakugan, she quickly checked everyone present. No one else was carrying a spore, but she did find one more on Obito. Minato swiftly dealt with it.
Kagami, who knew the situation, looked at Obito with a strange expression. Even Shisui only had one spore, yet this child has three... Has he been marked as a person of special interest by Lord Madara?
Minato had a similar thought, but since "Madara" was dead, it no longer mattered. Unless... 'The White Zetsu that's still in the shadows makes another move on Obito and Shisui!' He filed the thought away, making a mental note about Obito's future arrangements. Considering his girlfriend's status, allowing Obito, who was clearly a Zetsu target, to have casual contact with Kushina was not a good idea.
No one else knew what was going through Minato's mind. His team gathered up the corpses of the Zetsu they had killed. For Konoha, these white creatures that could use Wood Style were a special case. Minato planned to take their bodies back to the village for the Third Hokage to handle.
Keisuke took a scroll from his pouch and summoned two pre-drawn ink hawks. The scale of their return trip was massive. Not only did they have the Zetsu corpses, but also "Madara's" body and his personal effects, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and more. One ink hawk wouldn't be enough.
"Shisui, you guys get on that hawk," Keisuke directed. "And you... Mr. Mask, you and all this miscellaneous cargo can ride with me on the other one."
A short while later, two ink hawks took to the sky, leaving the Land of Grass and heading for Konoha. After months away, they were finally going home.
Night fell. The two ink hawks slowly descended onto Mount Kikyo. A lone figure was already there, having waited for a long time.
"Minato, Keisuke, and..." Hiruzen Sarutobi ran towards them, his eyes passing over the robed and masked Kagami, but he held his tongue. "Shisui, Kakashi... everyone, you've done well." The Third Hokage greeted each of the ninja by name.
"Lord Third..." Keisuke and the others returned the greeting.
At their captains' command, the six junior members were dismissed and headed towards the village. Their mission was now officially over. After they were a safe distance away, Hiruzen finally spoke the name he had withheld.
"Kagami... you've returned."
"Yes, Sarutobi..." Kagami slowly removed his mask, revealing his cracked face. "No, I should call you Lord Third now."
Hiruzen nodded slightly, then turned to Keisuke and Minato, his voice full of gratification. "Keisuke, Minato, you both did exceptionally well!"
"You praise us too highly, Lord Third," Minato said humbly. "The success of this mission was largely due to Keisuke's efforts. In my opinion, he has already surpassed me as a ninja."
Keisuke shot an exasperated look at Minato. You really didn't need to bring that up right now!
"Is that so?" Hiruzen looked at Keisuke with surprise. He didn't necessarily take Minato's words at face value, but to receive such high praise from him... it meant that Keisuke's strength had truly earned his deepest respect. "As expected of Konoha's Shadow of Darkness!" he said with a broad smile.
But hearing that epithet come from the Hokage himself in this context, Keisuke was so embarrassed he could have dug a three-bedroom apartment into the mountainside with his toes.
Hiruzen didn't notice his awkwardness and continued, "I was right to entrust this mission to you two."
The moment he finished speaking, a mission completion notification popped up on Keisuke's panel.
Oh... Suddenly, the title "Shadow of Darkness" didn't seem so embarrassing after all.
[S-Rank Mission [The Founder of Konoha] has been completed!]
[You have obtained one S-Rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]
