Chapter 75: The Sun Valley and the Fusang Tree!
Upon entering the base.
Seeing the chaos that lay before him, Danzo quickened his pace.
He passed through the passageway created by Shinkū's attack and entered the laboratory that had been reduced to ashes by flames.
"..."
The sudden silence was the most unnerving.
After a while.
"Sir, the enemy has retreated, and the base's losses are...!"
A Root ninja began reporting the damages, as if the surrounding flames and smoke didn't exist at all.
To be honest, the base wasn't severely damaged.
But the most crucial elements were gone.
Hashirama's cells could be cultivated again, albeit at a great cost of resources.
The problem was the experimental data, which had been obtained through immense time and effort. Now, it was all gone, rendering previous work futile.
More critically... the people were gone.
Researchers aren't as common as cabbages; you can't just have as many as you want.
There are few who specialize in research.
Because this field heavily depends on talent—either you have it, or you don't. No amount of effort can change that.
Just like how people can accomplish anything when pushed to the brink.
Except for math!
Scientific research is the same.
These people were brought in by Danzo through various means.
Now, everything was in vain. How could the experiments continue from here?
Even with money and resources, it wouldn't work.
"By any means necessary, find those who dared to attack Konoha!"
Danzo ordered through gritted teeth.
If the enemy appeared before him, he would swallow them whole.
Without soy sauce! That's how deep his hatred ran at this moment.
"And what about the research...?"
A figure clad in a high-collared coat, wearing gloves and sunglasses, asked in a low voice.
An Aburame clan member! Just by looking, one could tell this Root ninja hailed from that clan.
"..." Danzo pondered his next move and quickly made a decision, "Suspend the research for now, take everything with us!"
He actually already had an idea, but hadn't made up his mind until now.
Seek cooperation!
The best candidate was naturally Orochimaru.
His research capabilities were exceptional, and he harbored darkness in his heart. Recruiting him would also sever one of Sarutobi's arms, making him the perfect partner.
As for Uchiha Takashi, whom he had always wanted to recruit for his own purposes, he now saw him as a problem that needed solving.
"Yes, sir!"
The Aburame clan ninja bowed his head.
After giving his orders, Danzo left the base, seething with anger.
He didn't need to oversee the investigation himself; as a Konoha elder, he couldn't stay away from the village for long.
Once the laboratory was left with only the Aburame ninja.
He slowly squatted down in front of a charred corpse, reduced to little more than carbonized remains.
It was the body of a Nara clan ninja.
Crack! Suddenly, the Aburame ninja twisted off his 'friend's' head.
True friend.JPG!
Of course, this wasn't about desecrating the body, but about gathering intelligence.
For a ninja, a corpse is a source of information, and even the dead can speak.
"Goodbye!"
The Aburame jonin silently stood up, carrying his friend's head as he left the flame-ravaged laboratory.
This base would be abandoned, and they couldn't even return the body to the family.
But this is Root! Silently sacrificing for Konoha, dying in the shadows, this is also their fate.
Elsewhere, Uchiha Takashi had already escorted Hyuga Aotsuki back to Konoha.
He learned from her that she would soon head to the battlefield and that she would try to team up with Yamakawa Koji.
Chapter 75: The Valley of Hot Springs and the Fusang Tree!
When the two work together, there's no need to worry about safety; it's the enemies who should be concerned. One is a quasi-Kage level powerhouse, and the other has strength comparable to a Jonin.
Yet, both are disguised as 'crippled' Genin, making their deception highly effective.
Once Hyuga Aotsuki is sent back to Konoha, this revenge operation will be completely under the radar.
After all, who would pay attention to a pitiful, weak, and lame branch member of the Hyuga clan?
As for Uchiha Takashi?
Even if there were suspicions, there would be no evidence.
He's currently on a mission to 'distract the Sand Ninja,' leaving him no time to act, lacking the strength, and certainly without the intelligence... and so on.
Therefore, Danzo has no suspicions about him.
In this way, Uchiha Takashi successfully played a trick right under their noses.
Currently, the other side still poses a threat to him, but in the future, even if they suspect him, it won't matter.
Next, he plans to head to the Land of Wind.
He's going there to plant the Fusang Tree.
The Fusang Tree thrives in sunny environments.
And when it comes to abundant sunshine... is there any place better and more hidden than the scorching, sand-filled Land of Wind?
At the same time, there's no need to worry about Sunagakure.
Their controlled areas are only on the edges, in some oases, so there's no concern about the tree being discovered there.
With Taiichi serving as his mount, the speed of travel is remarkable.
In less than two days, Uchiha Takashi has ventured thousands of kilometers into the heart of the desert in the Land of Wind, arriving at a forbidden area.
The Desert of Death!
This region is barren, devoid of any life.
And this is Uchiha Takashi's 'promised land.'
Gwa! Taiichi slowly folded its wings and descended.
Continuous flying, even with chakra, is exhausting.
"Not a bad place. From now on, this will be called 'The Valley of Hot Springs,' and it will be a new sacred land, a sacred land of my own!"
Uchiha Takashi glanced at the massive sand valley he had specifically chosen.
It's incredibly well-hidden! Who would think to place the Fusang Tree here?
Not only would they not think of it, but even if they did, finding it in the endless desert would be impossible.
The first task is to transplant the Fusang Tree.
Now, even the courtyard of Uchiha Mei is off-limits to others.
The environment has become too unusual!
The natural energy is so dense that it is almost 'liquefying.'
What does it mean when natural energy can liquefy?
Sage Mode! Like the toad oil of Mount Myoboku, the snake venom of Ryuchi Cave... the corrosive liquid of Shikkotsu Forest, these are essential aids for learning Sage Mode and are liquefied products of natural energy in sacred lands.
With such things, the three great sacred lands can teach their contractors 'Sage Mode.'
Now, do you understand the value of the Fusang Tree?
With the allure of Sage Mode, it's no wonder Uchiha Takashi is eager to transplant the Fusang Tree.
Once he masters Sage Mode, even if he can't become a 'founder,' he'll have the power to protect himself, and he can relax.
Sage Mode!
It's also Uchiha Takashi's current goal.
Hashirama cells, the Fusang Tree, all serve this purpose.
Boom! Taiichi spewed a massive fireball, blasting a pit over ten meters deep in the sandy ground.
The Fusang Tree, once grown, will benefit it the most, which is why it's so diligent.
"Well done!"
Uchiha Takashi praised.
Gwa! Taiichi, still unable to speak, cried out proudly.
The several-meter-tall Fusang Tree was carefully placed into the deep pit by Uchiha Takashi, and its roots were covered with sand.
This completes the initial transplant.
There's no need to worry about its survival.
Even if only the roots remain, as long as there's enough sunlight, it can slowly recover.
"Next, it's time to witness a miracle!"
Uchiha Takashi took out an item and murmured to himself, his face filled with anticipation.
(End of Chapter)