It was like an illusory organ—one that didn't exist on the physical level.
"Not thorough enough." Zenji pinched his chin thoughtfully. "It should be completely nonexistent until the moment the Eight Gates need to erupt. Only then should they become openable."
"Samehada's traits haven't manifested sufficiently either. Merely absorbing one's own chakra isn't enough. Ideally, it should be capable of devouring all chakra."
He continued making adjustments. The sun rose and set. An unknown amount of time passed.
"This is the best I can achieve for now."
Zenji gazed at the body before him—Toji Fushiguro's form—and slowly exhaled.
The flesh was complete. Next came the soul.
"The soul..." His eyes narrowed as a name surfaced in his mind.
Masamichi Yaga.
This man's Innate Technique was Puppet Manipulation—the ability to control puppets through Cursed Energy. When that energy depleted, the puppet lost its motive force.
However, Yaga had developed something revolutionary: the Independent Cursed Corpse technique.
This wasn't merely about creating puppets. It was about creating artificial souls capable of developing their own will.
Because of this breakthrough, Independent Cursed Corpses could generate their own Cursed Energy and survive autonomously, without requiring human support.
The technique's two most prominent features were the birth of self-awareness and the self-generation of Cursed Energy.
"Being able to generate Cursed Energy doesn't mean it can generate chakra," Zenji mused, "but the self-awareness aspect alone is sufficient."
He searched through all information regarding this technique.
Through a specific acquired method, Yaga could extract and replicate the "soul information" carried within a biological body.
He would then inject that replicated information into three different Cursed Corpse cores. These cores needed to be compatible with each other on a soul level.
Under their mutual interaction—by "observing" each other's souls—the three cores would eventually generate independent self-awareness spontaneously.
The newly born consciousness would activate a Cursed Energy self-sufficiency mechanism after approximately three months, allowing the Cursed Corpse to operate without external energy supply. True independence.
"Mutual observation of three cores?"
Zenji focused on this crucial detail.
It reminded him of the three underlying thought colors: humanity, divinity, and bestiality. Together, they composed a person's complex will.
Was the birth of self-awareness simply the entanglement of these three aspects?
His perception entered the purple-black sphere of light. He pushed aside nearby glowing patterns and looked toward the other side.
Specks of light in varying sizes floated there, radiating like scattered bulbs.
They contained information—soul information.
Zenji locked onto Toji Fushiguro's cluster of light. Amidst the fluctuations of will, the soul's data appeared before him piece by piece.
"Divinity, bestiality..." He thought of the Tiger Talisman's ability to separate good and evil. "Those could perfectly serve as two of the three components. Add humanity to contain and balance them both..."
His mind drifted to the split pages of the Book of Ages.
"It feels too simple to actually work. But I should try regardless."
Copying all of Toji Fushiguro's soul information, Zenji focused his perception on the Book of Ages.
He controlled one of the split pages. A fist-sized drop of ink drifted over from the side.
Over the past year, he'd been able to obtain some ink nearly every month.
Through careful observation using the Book of Ages' abilities, Zenji had basically determined the cause and effect of this power.
The Book of Ages used him as an anchor, continuously recording the history of this world.
The greater his impact, the more significant his proportion in history became—allowing more ink to generate each month. Furthermore, when he formed crucial historical events or nodes, additional pages would split off.
The ink flowed out in thin black threads, writing across the blank page.
The first line contained only five words: Zenji's Horcrux.
The second line bore Toji Fushiguro's name, followed by all his memories and soul-related information.
Upon completion, massive amounts of chakra surged in, beginning the refinement process.
Suddenly, veins bulged across Zenji's hands. Pain erupted from within his body. Blood flowed abruptly from his nostrils.
Chakra surfaced, cleaning away the stains.
"The consumption really isn't trivial."
Expressionless, Zenji extended his hand. The page of the Book of Ages emerged amidst a burst of blue light.
A new Horcrux.
With a casual wave, the paper flew onto Toji Fushiguro's forehead and merged in easily.
The body's eyes opened—devoid of emotion. Like a program awaiting commands.
"As expected, it didn't work."
Zenji exhaled and shook his head.
Toji Fushiguro's body was continuously generating physical energy, but spiritual energy remained as scarce as before.
The Horcrux merging into the mind had indeed brought thought and memory—but it operated more like software executing instructions.
At best, it qualified as weak AI. No self-will. No capacity to self-generate spiritual energy.
"From a Puppet Jutsu perspective, this represents a massive improvement. But without growth potential, it's still a failure."
Despite the setback, Zenji didn't appear depressed. Methods for improvement still existed.
He could use Masamichi Yaga's technique to create true self-will.
With a casual gesture, the Yang Horcrux flew into the laboratory and landed in his palm.
Gripping the pure white orb, Zenji sat and closed his eyes.
His forehead bulged slightly. The pitch-black eye opened, then slowly drifted free.
The Yin Horcrux floated above Toji Fushiguro's forehead and began descending.
Flesh split apart. The Yin Horcrux merged into the body like a third eye. Purple-blue chakra erupted.
The energy rapidly integrated into the body and was devoured by it. The third eye grew increasingly illusory. The split flesh sealed and healed, as if the wound had never existed.
Life sparked in 'Toji Fushiguro's' eyes.
He stood, testing the formidable physique.
"This is far stronger than my old body." 'Toji Fushiguro'—or rather, Zenji—smiled broadly.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The sound of tearing air filled the chamber as his fists blurred through the space ahead like phantoms.
"Transfer successful. Initial adaptation proceeding smoothly."
Zenji assessed his condition with satisfaction.
Although this wasn't the body he'd ultimately prepared for himself—merely a preliminary prototype—the results exceeded expectations.
A smile tugged at his lips.
Then his expression froze. He turned sharply, looking toward the area beyond the barrier.
As his lair, this location naturally possessed defensive arrangements.
Within a one-to-two-kilometer radius, sensing barriers monitored all movement.
Any approaching chakra would be detected.
"Twelve chakra signatures. Moving fast. None of them weak. Heading straight toward me."
Zenji didn't know who they were, but he absolutely couldn't let them approach unchallenged.
His figure flickered, passing silently through the barrier.
The entire process triggered nothing—as if this body didn't exist at all.
One kilometer away, a twelve-person team advanced rapidly. Three were Jonin. The remaining nine were all veteran Chunin or Special Jonin, with minimal gaps in ability between them.
The squad gradually halted. The three Hidden Mist Jonin exchanged glances.
"The summoning coordinates point to this area." The operation's captain spoke with a grim expression. "The enemy must have used a specialized Sealing Jutsu to contain the seven ninja swords."