Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 109 The Lost Bloodline

Chapter 109 The Lost Bloodline

night.

Bellflower Pavilion.

Sosuke pushed open the heavy oak door, shutting out the wind and snow behind him.

The room was very warm, and there was charcoal burning in the fireplace.

"Welcome back, boss."

Kaori Uzuki knelt in the entrance hall and took Sousuke's snow-covered coat with both hands.

She was wearing a simple, elegant kimono, her hair loosely tied back, with a few stray strands falling across her face.

The sharp edge of the elite female ninja was gently concealed in this home.

"It must be cold outside, right?" Kaori's fingers touched Sousuke's cold hand, and she immediately covered it with both hands to warm it.

"Hmm, it's a bit cold. Is Xiyan asleep?"

"Not yet. Recently, the students at school have been really into practicing with ninja tools. This child took a lot of ninja tools to school today and distributed them to her classmates, gaining a few followers." Kaori smiled helplessly and affectionately. "She's in great spirits right now and can't sleep."

Sosuke smiled slightly and walked into the warm living room.

On the carpet, a small figure was lying there, looking at a picture book.

Upon hearing the noise, the little girl immediately raised her head like a kitten.

"Uncle Sousuke!"

The little girl threw down her book, ran barefoot over, and bumped into Sosuke's arms.

Sosuke caught her with one hand, then picked her up and placed her on his lap.

"Xiyan, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I'm waiting for Uncle to come back." Xi Yan's big eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Mom said Uncle will bring something delicious today."

""

"Mom is right."

Sosuke smiled and took a sealed glass jar out of his pocket.

Inside the jar were golden fruits soaking in a thick liquid.

"What is this?" Xi Yan asked curiously as she leaned closer.

"Honey-soaked kumquats".

Sosuke unscrewed the cap. The fresh scent of citrus and the sweet aroma of honey filled the air.

"This was transported from the south of the Land of Rivers and has been preserved in honey for three months. It's good for your throat and lungs."

In the winter when supplies were scarce, fresh fruit was already out of stock, and even Chiba strawberries couldn't be available every day. Being able to eat this kind of candied fruit was already a luxury.

Kaori brought over a small bowl and a spoon.

Sosuke personally scooped out a kumquat, along with its glistening nectar, and fed it to Yugao's lips.

Xi Yan opened her small mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.

The sweetness of the honey and the slightly bitter and spicy taste of the kumquat peel intertwine in the mouth, turning into a warm current that slides down the throat.

"Cough—" Xi Yan coughed lightly, "My throat—feels cool and so comfortable."

"If it tastes good, eat one more, but don't overdo it, or it will cause cavities."

Kaori knelt to the side, her eyes gentle.

"Boss, this is too much of a waste—these kinds of kumquats are only available in Daming Prefecture now, right?"

"It won't cost you anything."

Sosuke put down the jar and reached out to ruffle Yugao's hair.

After eating the kumquats, Xi Yan quickly felt sleepy. The sugar made her eyelids droop.

Go to sleep.

"Hmm—Goodnight, Uncle; goodnight, Mom."

Kaori picked up Yugao and carried her into the inner room.

Sosuke sat alone in the living room, closing his eyes to rest.

A moment later, Kaori returned.

She closed the door, walked behind Sosuke, knelt down, and began massaging his shoulders.

"You must be exhausted today? I heard the supplies department is causing trouble again?"

"There's nothing they can do."

Sousuke closed his eyes, enjoying the service.

Kaori's fingers were strong, and she accurately located several blocked acupoints on his cervical spine, pressing them gently.

"Boss————"

Kaori's voice was very soft; she only revealed this allure when the two of them were alone.

"The water's hot enough. Would you like to take a bath?"

Sosuke grabbed her hand.

Kaori's hands were well-maintained, but there were thin calluses on her fingertips and the area between her thumb and forefinger from practicing swordsmanship. These were hands capable of killing, but also of comforting.

He pulled her into his arms.

Kaori obediently nestled against his chest, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

In this private space, she was his woman.

"Not needed tonight."

97

Sosuke stroked her long hair.

"I have more important things to think about."

The tenderness in Kaori's eyes vanished instantly. She straightened up, straightened her clothes, and her expression returned to the respectful one befitting a subordinate.

"Please give your instructions."

This is what Sousuke admires most about her. She knows exactly what role to play at what time.

"I need you to investigate someone for me."

Sosuke looked out the window at the pitch-black night.

"Who?"

"Jonin, Misa Hayama."

Sousuke recalled the feeling when that female Jonin unleashed her chakra on the training field.

That enormous amount of chakra—

"I need all her information. Her background, her lineage, and—whether she has suffered any special injuries or performed any special missions."

Kaori frowned slightly, recalling the name.

"Misa Hayama—that Jonin known for her taijutsu and chakra reserves?"

"right."

Sosuke touched the eyepatch over his left eye.

"I think there might be something about her that interests me."

"That vitality—"

"Perhaps it's related to the First Hokage."

Kaori's body stiffened slightly.

The First Hokage. Hashirama Senju.

His secrets are an absolute taboo subject in Konoha.

"I see."

Kaori didn't ask any further questions.

"I will investigate. But it will take time. Most of the information on the Senju clan has been sealed away."

"Do your best."

Kaori bowed deeply, her figure disappearing into the shadows.

Sosuke turned and left the room.

Today's tasks are complete.

Next, it's time to go back and check on the progress in the lab.

That was the foundation upon which he became stronger.

Underground laboratory.

Chiba was wearing a magnifying glass and disassembling a puppet arm.

"That's brilliant!"

Chiba exclaimed in admiration.

"The joint design here utilizes the lever principle and pulley system, requiring only a very small amount of chakra threads to drive a grip force of hundreds of kilograms."

"And the triggering mechanism of this venom sac—"

He was dismantling the structure while simultaneously drawing diagrams.

These puppets are not just made of wood and iron.

Inside the puppet is a complex and terrifying chakra transmission network.

Those were thin wires made of metal and conducted with chakra, spreading throughout the puppet's entire body like blood vessels.

-

These are the meridians of a puppet.

The puppetry techniques of Sunagakure actually use mechanical structures to simulate the movement logic of living organisms.

Sosuke sat to the side, staring at the parts.

"Chiba, since inanimate objects can move like living things—"

"Then, can living things be as solid as inanimate objects?"

Chiba paused for a moment.

"You mean...human body modification?"

Not entirely.

Sosuke recalled his last trip to the front lines.

Even the Third Kazekage, as strong as he was, could get injured. Even Sakumo Hatake, as strong as he was, could bleed.

In the face of a massive war machine, the individual's physical body is ultimately fragile.

"I'm thinking about something."

Sosuke picked up a pen and sketched a rough outline on the drawing.

It's a frame that wraps around the outside of the human body.

"If we break down the structure of a puppet, instead of making it into an independent puppet, we can make it into—armor to wear."

"Using the principles of puppetry to amplify power, and using the outer armor to withstand damage."

"You could even pre-install chakra loops and ninja tool launchers inside this armor."

3

Sosuke looked at Chiba.

"This is called an exoskeleton."

Chiba's eyes lit up. This was a completely new way of thinking.

"This is equivalent to turning yourself into a living puppet?"

"That's right."

Sousuke nodded.

"No need for powerful chakra, no need for a strong physique. Just wear an exoskeleton like this—"

"This will grant you immense strength and speed."

"Moreover, it doesn't require decades of cultivation."

Chiba stared at the blueprints, lost in thought.

"Theoretically, it's feasible. However, the power source is a problem. Chakra threads need a continuous output, and if it's a full-body exoskeleton, the chakra consumption would be enormous."

"Perhaps we could use batteries."

Sosuke quickly came up with a solution.

"Or—sealing techniques. Pre-sealing chakra within a scroll, like a battery pack."

This is a long road of research and development. But the direction has been set.

After finishing his business in the lab, Sosuke returned to the second floor.

Outside the window, the snow has stopped.

A figure emerged from the shadows.

Kaori is back. She's holding a scroll in her hand.

She is always very efficient.

"Boss."

She handed over the scroll.

"This is information about Misa Hayama. I secretly obtained it by taking advantage of my position. However, it's only a part of it; the more crucial information is sealed in the Hokage's office's secret vault."

Sosuke took the scroll and tore off the seal.

Name: Misa Hayama

Age: 18

Rank: Jonin

[Chakra Attributes: Water, Earth, Yang (Extremely Strong)]

[Mission Experience: S-rank 2 times, A-rank 15 times, B-rank 48 times ————]

His resume is impressive. He's a true elite Jonin.

But these were not the things that Sosuke was concerned with.

He continued reading.

[Background: Commoner ninja. Parents died in the Second Shinobi World War.]

[Special Background: Formerly a member of the Medical Department's Special Operations Team. During a mission, the team was ambushed and wiped out. She was the sole survivor.]

[Medical report note: When the member was found, she was severely injured and had lost a lot of blood. However, she miraculously recovered without receiving treatment.]

[Physical examination data: Extremely high cell activity. Vast chakra reserves, and possesses extremely strong yang attribute properties.]

Sousuke's snake-like eyes narrowed slightly beneath his eyepatch.

These features are so similar.

Like the Senju clan. Or the Uzumaki clan.

But the file states that she was a commoner ninja.

"Kaori, do you think she's a descendant of the Senju clan?"

"Possibly."

Kaori speculated.

"After the Second Hokage, the Senju clan disbanded itself in order to integrate into the village. Many clan members changed their names and intermarried with commoners."

"3

"In fact, there are many Senju descendants in Konoha who are living in seclusion."

"Lady Tsunade is the publicly recognized representative. But there are also people like Misa Hayama who have awakened some of their ancestral constitution."

Sousuke closed the scroll.

"interesting."

"A Jonin who is suspected of having the bloodline of the Senju, possesses a vast amount of chakra, and has a vigorous life force."

"If we could get a blood sample from her, or—"

Sosuke didn't continue. But he already had a plan in mind.

Misa Hayama may be the key to unlocking the secrets of the "Immortal Body".

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