Returning to the base, Kimimaro let out a slow breath and then formed hand seals.
A moment later—
A snake appeared in front of him.
Masahiko smiled and said, "Orochimaru-sama thinks highly of you; he even gave you the summoning contract for Ryūchi Cave."
Kimimaro's expression darkened, and he didn't speak.
He was writing a letter.
When he finished, he placed the letter into the snake's mouth and instructed it to deliver it. Only then did he stand up and say, "I only hate my own incompetence..."
"Do you understand Shikotsumyaku?"
Masahiko asked with a smile.
Kimimaro was slightly startled and a bit confused. He said, "Of course, I possess this Bloodline Limit."
"It is a powerful but dangerous Bloodline Limit. It can bring power, but it can also bring kekkei sickness. Your talent is very strong, and because of that..."
Masahiko paused slightly, "The probability of your illness manifesting is even higher."
Kimimaro said, "Perhaps that's the case, but if I have enough power, at least I can do something for the Lord."
"The Cursed Seal can be applied sooner or later, but once a genius is lost, there's no way to bring them back."
Masahiko replied with a smile.
Kimimaro was only ten years old and couldn't fully understand; for a moment, he was in a fog.
"Hehe, Mr. Mahiko, I should thank you for enlightening Kimimaro for me."
At this moment, a snake emerged from space.
Then, it quickly opened its mouth, and Orochimaru crawled out. His body was still covered in some slimy liquid, but he didn't care at all.
Under the effect of Chakra, the liquid on his body dissipated in just a moment.
"Mr. Mahiko, you coming here... surely it wasn't specifically to guide my subordinate?"
"Of course."
Masahiko smiled and said, "Orochimaru-sama, do you have any grievances about being betrayed by Danzo back then, to the point of leaving Konoha in such a pathetic state?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru couldn't help but lick the corner of his lips.
"Sounds like an interesting cooperation. Tell me about it."
"Konoha has an operation planned to send Danzo out to do things that Konoha cannot officially do, so... he needs to become a Rogue Ninja."
Masahiko said.
Orochimaru looked up and stared at Masahiko.
A few seconds later, he smiled coldly: "Mr. Mahiko, if Danzo leaves Konoha, the person taking over the Root Organization will be you, right?"
"This operation must have been proposed by you as well, right?"
Orochimaru's tone was certain, "Why should I help you?"
Masahiko smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. If you don't come, I have ways on my end, I just thought you might want to vent your frustrations."
At this point, he paused slightly and said, "Additionally, we also encountered Shennong."
"Shennong?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru's expression instantly froze.
He carefully examined Masahiko's expression and said, "Although I'm curious about your trump cards, I'm interested in both Danzo and Shennong."
"The day Danzo makes his move, I will be there."
...Konoha, Hokage Building.
"Hokage-sama."
"You're here, sit."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and pointed to a seat.
Masahiko didn't follow the instruction immediately; he placed the sealing scroll in his hand on the table before sitting down.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "I've seen your plan before; it's bound to be good... I owe you one."
As he spoke, he sighed and reminisced about the past.
Masahiko sat to the side with a smile, listening quietly without saying a word.
A moment later.
The door opened, and Maruboshi Kosuke was first taken aback upon seeing Masahiko, then understanding, he quickly paid his respects.
After some pleasantries, the three of them went to the rooftop of the building.
"Try wearing it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi unsealed the scroll.
In the next moment, a prosthetic limb that was almost indistinguishable from the shape of a normal person's leg appeared before them.
Besides the prosthetic limb, there were also many scattered parts.
"Take a look first?"
"Okay..."
Maruboshi Kosuke took it and looked it over carefully, feeling surprised—
His prosthetic limb was self-made, so he had done some research on these things.
There might be mechanisms or hidden weapons inside that prosthetic leg; he could still understand that.
But he couldn't understand those individual components.
What are these... for?
Maruboshi Kosuke looked at Masahiko in confusion.
"There's a manual here, but I can also give a brief introduction."
Masahiko walked over, "A standalone prosthetic limb is difficult to exert force with, and its capabilities are relatively limited."
"These are Exoskeletons..."
He explained them one by one.
Maruboshi Kosuke's eyes lit up, and he immediately realized the benefits of this puppet prosthetic.
He put on the prosthetic limb and the puppet skeletons.
A moment later—
"Whoosh!"
He vanished in a flash and appeared in the distance in the blink of an eye.
Maruboshi Kosuke was extremely excited, with a look of disbelief on his face.
"Good! Great stuff!"
"Let me try!"
Seeing his old friend like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but feel some joy; he stepped forward and threw a punch at him.
Bang!
The fists collided, letting out a muffled sound.
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but take a step back.
Maruboshi Kosuke didn't feel joy, but rather a bit of melancholy: "Hokage-sama, you've grown old!"
"Who can avoid getting old?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed in spite of himself.
He looked at Maruboshi Kosuke, his heart full of joy.
For someone like Maruboshi Kosuke who had suffered from injuries and illnesses for a long time, many parts of his body were difficult to exert force with, and after his body aged, his strength was not what it used to be.
But with this set of Ninja Toolss... he felt as if the other man had returned to his peak!
Unfortunately, this kind of power also has a price, which is Chakra.
It is equivalent to transforming oneself into a special puppet; physical strength requires Chakra's assistance to achieve its maximum effect.
At their age, Chakra has often already declined, so such a state is actually difficult to sustain.
Even so.
Having this kind of power is already quite remarkable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was moved.
He looked at Masahiko, his gaze containing a silent inquiry.
Masahiko nodded slightly.
Maruboshi Kosuke marveled repeatedly, finding it hard to believe:
"Masahiko, your Puppet Technique is so impressive, have you really only been studying it for a little over a month?"
"All in all, I've been researching it for a while."
Masahiko answered.
"A Hero emerges from the youth!"
Maruboshi Kosuke lamented.
He vaguely saw the shadow of Nidaime(2nd)-sama in this young man.
The same overflowing talent and extraordinary intelligence.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and nodded slightly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a slow breath and said a few more words to Masahiko; Masahiko understood and found an excuse to leave temporarily.
Downstairs, Nara Shikaku was already waiting in the hallway. Seeing Masahiko come down, he immediately raised his hand to signal.
"Senior."
"Masahiko, I heard you customized a set of puppets for Senior Kosuke?"
Shikaku said meaningfully.
Masahiko thought for a moment and said:
"The Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Techniques can indeed be used in conjunction with puppets and hidden weapons, but the puppet skeletons probably isn't very necessary."
"Then..."
"I will design several suitable hidden weapons and Ninja Toolss. You can take a look then."
"I'll leave it to you then!"
Nara Shikaku breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he said:
"Our clan doesn't have much else, but we have plenty of medicinal herbs and deer antlers, and we've also researched medicine. I heard you also know medical skills; we can find time to discuss them."
"Alright, I will definitely pay a visit when I have time."