After silently finishing the meal prepared for him, Ye Zi offered Kotoe a sincere "It's delicious," prompting a delighted response as she began cleaning up the dishes.
With the new base established, daily operations resumed as normal.
Informing Kotoe of his plans, Ye Zi left the room and began making his rounds through the base. He focused on filling gaps and crafting furniture using Wood Release techniques. At times, while walking through the corridors, he randomly created wooden sculptures like an egg carved from wood or a figure resembling Orochimaru.
These sculptures, seamless in their craftsmanship, bore no signs of carving, showcasing Ye Zi's extraordinary control over Wood Release.
Unbothered by the thought of what Orochimaru might think of his likeness, Ye Zi indulged in his creative whims. Spurred on by curiosity and the desire to hone his skills, he left wooden sculptures scattered throughout the labyrinthine hallways.
Once he finished, Ye Zi visited the training area to check on the children. Their dedication to training had noticeably intensified, likely fueled by the sight of his return in a severely wounded state after the previous mission.
Among them, Kimimaro stood out. His determination appeared to have been sparked by Ye Zi's efforts. He had developed an intense drive, becoming the only child who sought daily sparring matches against Shin.
Regardless of their efforts, one fact remained: in a year's time, all these children would undergo the implantation of Hashirama's cells.
Next, Ye Zi headed to Orochimaru's lab but was promptly dismissed. Though Ye Zi had shared all the information he possessed, he remained intrigued by Orochimaru's ongoing research.
According to Orochimaru, the fusion of Curse Marks and Sage Chakra might replicate Jugo's berserk state, minus the loss of reason. Essentially, it could result in an incomplete but functional Sage Mode.
If Orochimaru succeeded in refining this, Ye Zi planned to have the children accept Curse Marks as an additional method of strengthening their powers.
With Hashirama's cells, Sharingan implants, and the power of Curse Marks, they would possess the strength Ye Zi required.
In this new era of escalating conflict, being weak equated to certain death. To survive, they would need overwhelming strength.
After leaving Orochimaru's lab, Ye Zi visited Nanako's workspace. She was deeply engrossed in her research to minimize the risks associated with Hashirama cell implantation, determined to reduce the death toll among the children during the upcoming procedure.
When Ye Zi arrived, Nanako immediately set her work aside.
On a table against the wall sat the Sharingan orbs, neatly arranged. Under the room's light, their vivid scarlet hue and intricate black tomoe made for an unsettling sight.
"Ye Zi, you're here," Nanako greeted with her usual gentle smile.
"Mm. Just came to check. Will I disturb you?" Ye Zi met her gaze.
Nanako shook her head, her eyes drifting back to the table of Sharingan. "No."
A silence followed.
Ye Zi also turned his attention to the Sharingan. Everyone in the base was moving forward working tirelessly for a purpose, a mission, or for someone dear to them. He, too, couldn't afford to slow down.
Breaking the quiet, Ye Zi finally spoke: "Danzo is dead." Though he viewed this as avenging Nanako in part, he was uncertain if the news would bring her any solace given their familial ties.
"I see." Nanako's reaction was indifferent, as though Danzo were no more than a stranger.
"Mm." Ye Zi observed her composed demeanor before returning his gaze to the Sharingan.
"To think he would die like that… It's strange," Nanako remarked calmly. "I always believed that even if everyone in Root were to die, he'd still find a way to survive."
Ye Zi remained silent. He had no intention of detailing the arduous process behind Danzo's death.
"When I was young, I hated the knowledge I now possess. It was forced upon me by him. From the moment I could form memories, all I ever saw were books. Eventually, when I could no longer resist, I began to accept it."
Nanako's tone remained even as she spoke. Turning her gaze to Ye Zi, she added, "But still… he was my uncle. Should I grieve for him, Ye Zi?"
Ye Zi shook his head resolutely. "There's no need. He doesn't deserve it."
Nanako smiled faintly, her voice soft. "Yet I still feel the need to thank him."
"Why?" Ye Zi asked, surprised.
"If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have the knowledge I have today. Without this knowledge, I wouldn't have met you. And if I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have realized that I don't truly despise what I know. Because now, this knowledge lets me help you."
Her gentle, stream-like gaze met Ye Zi's.
A subtle warmth stirred in Ye Zi's heart. He silently vowed that even if he were to fail and fall along the way, he would ensure that Nanako and the others never came to harm.
"Thank you," Ye Zi said, his gratitude heartfelt.
This was a path he had chosen for himself, a path only he could walk, because it belonged to a different world altogether.
Ye Zi believed himself resolute in his journey, yet this road was no longer one he traveled alone. Under his influence, Nanako and the others had joined him along the way.
Nanako watched Ye Zi with a smile, her heart filled with unspoken words. She wanted to confirm Ye Zi's feelings for Kotoe and, perhaps, his feelings for herself. But in the end, those thoughts remained lodged in her chest, unsaid.
After staying for a while, Ye Zi turned and began to leave.
Nanako silently observed his retreating back as he walked toward the door.
Just as Ye Zi reached the door, he suddenly stopped. Without turning around, he asked, "Nanako, what can I give you?"
Perhaps it was guilt over Nanako's one-sided dedication, or perhaps Orochimaru's words had influenced him, making him feel that her contributions deserved a response.
Nanako was briefly stunned by Ye Zi's question and didn't know how to respond immediately, falling silent.
Ye Zi stood patiently at the door, waiting for her answer.
"This isn't a transaction, so I don't need anything in return," Nanako said, her gaze fixed on Ye Zi's back. Her tone carried a faint hint of anger. "If you can, please don't burden yourself with such thoughts."
"I'm sorry," Ye Zi said, exhaling deeply. He opened the door and left.
Nanako watched the door close after him, sighing softly as a look of disappointment crossed her face.
"Fool. What I want can never come from one-sided giving."
After leaving Nanako's lab, Ye Zi prepared to meet Nagato. By now, news of his attack on Konoha must have spread throughout the ninja world, and Nagato was surely aware of it as well.
However, before meeting Nagato, Ye Zi locked himself in his room, forbidding anyone from disturbing him, even Kotoe.
He needed to organize the intelligence and abilities he had gleaned from his attack on Konoha. Additionally, he intended to study the sealing technique scrolls he had obtained from the ruins of Uzushiogakure.
The knowledge of sealing techniques would not only help Orochimaru refine the process of embedding sage chakra into curse marks but was also invaluable to Ye Zi himself.
The more techniques one mastered, the better. Having the opportunity to learn sealing techniques was not something Ye Zi could afford to pass up.
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Currently on Chapter 503 - Two Different Types of Lightning