434 Learning Ninjutsu in a Glance

Victor Company — Reception Hall.

Lee said with a dark expression,

"These people are really despicable!"

"When we came before, they wouldn't even let us through the door. Now that Shinju is here, suddenly they're all polite!"

Tenten handed Lee a cup of tea.

"Alright, alright, stop complaining. Shinju is the Hokage now. He represents the entirety of Konoha…"

Just as she finished speaking, the reception hall door was pushed open. The short-statured Victor walked in with his female secretary.

"I had no idea the Hokage-sama would personally visit. My apologies for failing to welcome you properly… ( --0027▿ --0027 )"

Victor plastered on a smile as he reached out to shake hands with Shinju.

Shinju stood up, wearing a polite but fake smile.

"Nice to meet you, President Victor…"

"Since you're being so courteous, I'll be direct. I'm here to take Anato with me."

Victor: (||๐_๐)

"Hokage-sama, you may not be aware, but Anato is an employee of our company. His body developed serious issues. As a biotechnology firm, we couldn't possibly abandon him…"Victor continued speaking with a smile.

Shinju couldn't be bothered to keep up the act. After taking a sip of tea, he narrowed his eyes.

"Victor Company wouldn't happen to be researching something… unspeakable, would it? o_O"

"I've heard Anato's physical abnormalities look very much like the result of Hashirama cells being implanted into his body."

As he spoke, Shinju carefully observed Victor's expression, waiting for the old fox to slip up.

Unexpectedly, Victor's expression didn't change at all.

"Our company conducts legitimate business. We would never research anything like that…"

"If Hokage-sama doubts us, you're welcome to tour the inside of the company with me."

Victor maintained his smile the entire time.

Shinju nodded and stood up.

"Since President Victor is extending such a gracious invitation, then let's take a look."

Victor: 눈_눈

He was just being polite!

He didn't expect the other side to actually agree!

Across from him, Shinju was just about to rise from the sofa.

"Creak—"

A researcher in a white lab coat pushed open the reception hall door and whispered something into Victor's ear.

After listening, Victor's expression shifted slightly. He put on a regretful look.

"I'm very sorry, Sixth Hokage-sama. Anato's condition was simply too severe. Although we did everything we could to sustain his life, he still… just now… ε--003d(´o｀)"

Victor didn't say it outright, but anyone with a brain could guess what had happened.

Shinju remained completely calm.

"It's fine. I'm also a doctor. Take me to see his body."

Victor continued apologetically,

"I'm terribly sorry. Because his symptoms were far too strange, our medical staff sent him to the cremator immediately after his death."

Shinju and the others: …

Victor's actions were far too deliberate!

Even so, Shinju stayed unflustered.

"That's fine. Take me to the cremator."

"This is a mission entrusted to Konoha. Alive, I must see the man. Dead, I must see the body."

Since the person had already been dealt with, Victor naturally didn't refuse Shinju's request and took the initiative to lead the way…

Soon, they arrived at the roaring cremator deep inside the company.

Victor forced down his laughter.

"Hokage-sama, what's burning inside right now… is Anato…"

...

Mia's home.

Mia, the client who commissioned this mission, collapsed on the spot when she heard her husband had already been reduced to a pile of ashes.

Fortunately, Shinju's medical skills were exceptional, and he managed to save her in time.

However, even though she was alive, her heart felt dead.

"A perfectly healthy person… gone just like that…"

Shinju gestured for Mia not to panic.

"I'll find a way to bring your husband back."

"Waaah—!!"

Mia cried even harder!

She pointed at the urn of ashes Lee was holding.

"It's already like this! He's already like this! How could he possibly come back?! (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)"

The next moment, Shinju created a Wood Clone. Using the ashes as a medium, he called out,

"Edo Tensei!"

Dust and particles gathered, transforming the Wood Clone into the appearance of Mia's husband, Anato!

Immediately after, Shinju created an Aoki-no-Mikoto clone, using a single Samsara Rebirth technique to grant Anato a second life!

Lee, Neji, and the others were completely stunned.

"This actually works?!"

Shinju smiled and explained,

"The old Six Paths guy can pull a person's soul out of the Pure World without relying on any external medium. Compared to that, this is nothing."

Lee and Neji exchanged glances.

Shinju's benchmark now was already the Sage of Six Paths, while they were still dumbly throwing kunai!

"You can't judge Shinju by common sense. Relax. ㅍ_ㅍ"

Neji muttered to comfort himself.

Beside them, Anato and Mia were already holding each other, crying tears of joy.

Pressed for time, Shinju softly interjected,

"Could you two hold off on hugging for a bit? I have a few questions for Anato."

A few dozen seconds later, Anato wiped away his tears and composed himself.

"Please ask whatever you wish!"

Shinju said,

"What position did you hold at Victor Company? What were you researching? And do you know anything about Hashirama cells?"

Anato answered each question patiently.

"I was just an ordinary researcher. My field was cellular regeneration… As for Hashirama cells, this is actually the first time I've ever heard that term…"

Lee asked curiously,

"Then why were Hashirama cells implanted in your body, turning you into that monster-like state?"

Hearing this, Anato looked ashamed.

"I accidentally saw company security transporting something classified. I got curious and went to take a look… after that, I lost consciousness… (ꈍᴗꈍ)"

"So the trail ends here. What do we do now? Force our way into Victor Company and steal the Hashirama cells?" Tenten asked.

Neji shook his head.

"The place is heavily guarded. It won't be easy… and if we get caught, it won't be worth it."

Just as everyone was thinking of a countermeasure, Anato seemed to recall something.

"Wait—when they killed me, I think I heard the president mention 'Hashirama cells.' He said something about them being taken away, and about capturing someone and bringing them back…"

After that, Shinju asked for Anato's consent and read his memories, confirming that every word he said was true.

"Now this is interesting. The Hashirama cell samples from Victor Company have been taken away…"

"Let's check the major black markets!"

...

The Land of Silence.

The Daimyō's estate.

Chino was listening to reports from her ministers.

"Recently, flooding disasters have occurred across multiple regions of our country. Most of the relief grain distributed was embezzled, and the people are unable to survive…"

"Additionally, neighboring nations look down on the Land of Silence and constantly harass our borders. We ask the Daimyō for guidance…"

"Because the Land of Silence opened its borders, a large number of wandering ninja have poured in, making city governance extremely difficult… We ask the Daimyō to rescind the order."

"And also—the black market of the Land of Silence has seen the appearance of Hashirama cells. Daimyō, what do you think…"

Chino listened to the endless reports with a headache—until she heard the last one!

Her eyes widened.

"What?! (≖╻≖;)"

"Hashirama cells?"

"Immediately send word to Konoha!"