“This is…” Kakuzu hesitated slightly; just by its appearance, he could tell how dangerous and terrifying this thing was.
“This is ‘Earth Grudge Fear’.
It was a trophy obtained when we previously wiped out a small Ninja clan.
Because it has great research value, I placed it here to conduct specialized research.
I hope to entrust this item to you, Kakuzu, for your use.” A strange glint flashed in Yayoi’s eyes as he spoke with profound meaning.
Earth Grudge Fear—this thing was something that appeared in the original work, or rather, it was a Forbidden Jutsu.
It was precisely by relying on this thing that Kakuzu remained active from the Sengoku era until decades later, while still maintaining his prime state without aging.
If he hadn’t died at the hands of a Konoha Ninja, Kakuzu might have been able to live for a long time.
After all, Earth Grudge Fear could capture others’ hearts to serve as a life energy source, providing the user with fresh vitality and achieving an effect similar to eternal life.
Moreover, this thing could also plunder hearts to obtain others’ Ninjutsu.
It was an extremely mysterious and terrifying Forbidden Jutsu.
Thus, Yayoi continued to explain some of Earth Grudge Fear’s characteristic abilities to Kakuzu.
After listening, Kakuzu only felt it was incredible.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to use it, but rather he felt that Yayoi-sama was actually willing to let him use such a powerful item.
Wouldn’t that be too wasteful?
According to Yayoi’s account, if he could master this Forbidden Jutsu, his strength would immediately increase several-fold, and the trait of being ageless and immortal…
this power was truly too tempting.
As for the risks of a Forbidden Jutsu…
if there were no risks, could it still be called a Forbidden Jutsu?
Moreover, he trusted Yayoi’s judgment; since he said he could master this technique, he surely had the talent for it.
In terms of trusting Yayoi, it even exceeded his trust in himself.
“I understand, Yayoi-sama.
Please let me…
no, please by all means let me try this technique.” Kakuzu had great courage and did not object to being a test subject for the Forbidden Jutsu.
As a Ninja who followed Yayoi to carve out a country in troubled times, he understood the importance of strength very well.
Often, he would also blame himself for his own powerlessness, unable to help Yayoi much.
Furthermore, the effects brought by this Forbidden Jutsu were so powerful and tempting.
“Then let’s begin.
There is a sealed secret room nearby; go there to fuse with it.” Yayoi pressed a switch, and a door suddenly opened in the adjacent wall, revealing a sealed quiet room.
Yayoi then opened the glass container, releasing the jet-black tentacled heart inside.
Kakuzu stepped forward and grabbed a tentacle.
Like venomous snakes, the remaining tentacles quickly climbed onto Kakuzu’s body and began to coil around him.
A cold aura penetrated Kakuzu’s entire body, causing him to frown.
“Then I will go in now, Yayoi-sama.” Grabbing the heart tentacles, Kakuzu stepped into the sealed secret room and closed the stone door; no sound from inside could be heard.
Yayoi did not disturb him, merely standing on the spot, waiting for the result with composure.
Yayoi was very confident in Kakuzu fully fusing with the Forbidden Jutsu, Earth Grudge Fear.
First, it was because in the original work, Kakuzu had withstood the Fusion of the Forbidden Jutsu and mastered it.
Second, Earth Grudge Fear had undergone special activation after being treated with his Chakra; while enhancing its power and vitality, it also greatly reduced the life risks brought by the Forbidden Jutsu.
Even if he failed, Kakuzu would not face any risk to his life.
One hour…
two hours…
three hours…
four hours…
Six hours passed before the stone door slowly opened.
Kakuzu, dressed in a tattered Ninja outfit, walked out of the room.
His originally dark green eyes seemed even deeper.
The aura on his body also gave Yayoi a dangerous feeling, no longer as harmless as before.
Several swaying jet-black tentacles emerged from his ears, resembling black blood vessels, with a dull luster on their surface.
Subsequently, as if receiving a command, the black blood vessel-like tentacles retracted into Kakuzu’s ears and disappeared.
Kakuzu’s body did not appear to have suffered any injuries; in fact, his body looked even sturdier, without the suture marks seen in the original work.
Yayoi suspected that the Kakuzu in the original work had deliberately modified his body into that stitched state to facilitate the attacks of the Earth Grudge Fear tentacles and enrich his combat methods.
“How do you feel?” Yayoi asked about Kakuzu’s feelings.
“Very good, it feels like I have stepped into a new Realm…
Hmm, and this.” Kakuzu took out a Kunai and quickly slashed a wound on his arm.
There was no blood; the black blood vessel tentacles sprang out from the wound, dancing wildly.
Immediately, the black blood vessels retracted, and the wound healed on its own.
Seeing this scene, Yayoi smiled with satisfaction.
“As expected, after enhancing its activity with my Chakra, this Forbidden Jutsu has gained the ability to heal the user.” Yayoi was not surprised by this result.
It was only natural for this situation to occur after treating it with his own Chakra.
Earth Grudge Fear is a living Forbidden Jutsu.
After enhancing its vitality and activity, possessing a new ability like self-healing was a very normal manifestation.
Moreover, the changes to Earth Grudge Fear did not stop there.
In the original work, when Kakuzu wanted to use the Ninjutsu of those he had plundered, he needed to release the corresponding Clone to use the Ninjutsu.
Now, even without releasing a Clone, Kakuzu, as the main body, could use the plundered Ninjutsu at will, which counted as an optimization.
“I was wondering why it was so similar to Yayoi-sama’s self-healing ability; so that’s why.
This technique has high value; now, if I were to fight that guy Orochi, I wouldn’t lose.” Kakuzu was full of confidence, very satisfied with his current state.
Endless vitality and Chakra surged within his body, continuously strengthening his frame.
He had previously been very wary of Aburame Yorochi’s power, but now he would no longer have such thoughts.
Yayoi smiled amusedly.
He knew Kakuzu had been under a lot of pressure recently.
After all, the Land of Night had added fresh forces like the Aburame Clan, and as a veteran who had followed him, his strength was gradually failing to keep up.
Now that anxiety had disappeared from Kakuzu’s eyes, replaced by firm confidence.
And this was just the boost in its base state; Earth Grudge Fear could still acquire four more hearts to further enhance his power.
A complete Kakuzu would have no trouble defeating Orochi, the Aburame Clan Chief.
But there was still a significant gap between him and Irori.
Even so, after his strength increased greatly, Kakuzu was now one of the rare top-tier Ninjas in the Ninja World.
‘In the short term, it is basically impossible for my strength to have a qualitative leap.
This is fine too; Kakuzu obtaining Earth Grudge Fear can lighten the burden on my shoulders quite a bit.’ Yayoi thought happily to himself.
Besides improving himself, doing his best to promote the strength of his subordinates was also a method to indirectly strengthen the military power of the Land of Night.
If there were no capable subordinates, the burden of a country pressing down would make the level of exhaustion imaginable.
Yayoi did not consider himself the type of person to endure unnecessary hardship.
Late December.
Land of Night, inner court of the Shogun’s Manor.
“Kicho-sama, you have truly been too unseemly lately!
If you continue to degenerate like this, you will be loathed by the General!” Perhaps unable to endure it any longer, the maids Hyuga Aoi and Hyuga Rinko finally lost their temper, beginning to sternly reprimand Kicho, the Sect Master, and loudly threatened her with the painful consequences of continuing to be decadent—being loathed, or even abandoned, by the General.
“Eh?
But my husband loves me dearly every night; he doesn’t care about such trivial matters at all.” Facing the two maids’ reprimands, Kicho smiled slightly, waved her hand dismissively, and continued to fiddle with various novel trinkets sent by subordinates trying to curry favor with her.
Like a child, she played with these things she had never seen before in the Hyuga Clan.
Some were baby supplies wishing her an early birth of a child.
Some were high-end cosmetics made from precious medicinal herbs to keep her young and beautiful.
There were also a rich variety of delicious desserts from various countries, gorgeous and beautiful clothing, and ingeniously crafted handmade or mechanical items…
In short, whatever she thought of, or hadn’t thought of, as long as she hinted at it, someone would naturally provide thoughtful service for her.
And this feeling of being surrounded and revered was a pleasure she could not experience in the Hyuga Clan.
Aoi and Rinko were so angry they couldn’t speak, their faces flushed red.
Don’t even get me started.
Every night, she is there teasing the General, and even late into the night, she is still’singing’.
Shouldn’t she consider the feelings of those who are sleeping in the side room?
Heaven knows how many wet sets of underwear they have to wash every day.
Is that sort of thing really so addictive?
Incidentally, as the master bedroom for Yayoi and Kicho, while it is soundproofed from the outside, the interior actually connects to the side room.
The part connecting to the side room also has some soundproofing, but it isn’t that strong.
Therefore, the two Branch Family girls resting in the side room can vaguely hear some of the movements from the master bedroom if they listen carefully.
Moreover, Kicho’s’singing’ is so loud every night that it would be hard not to hear it.
“Even so, Lady Kicho, you should economize on your living expenses.
Ninjas must be able to endure hardship…” Aoi and Rinko began earnestly lecturing Kicho, urging her to save money and not be extravagant or wasteful.
And certainly not to buy a whole pile of things for no reason that she might use only once and never touch again.
“It’s fine.
My husband says this level of spending doesn’t amount to much money at all.
Besides, if I don’t use them, I can bestow them upon the female relatives of the subordinate civil officials.” Faced with the two maids’ incessant lecturing, Kicho felt no sense of remorse.
“…” Aoi and Rinko were left speechless.
It was a fact; this wasn’t the first time they had reported to Yayoi that Kicho’s living expenses needed to be managed.
However, every time Yayoi said he understood, but then Kicho would start acting spoiled, and he would forget all about it.
Or perhaps he never had any intention of lecturing her in the first place.
Who knows what kind of romantic games the couple might be playing.
After all, since they got married, not a single night had been missed, rain or shine.
A Ninja’s powerful Physique wasn’t meant to be used specifically for that kind of thing.
The two young girls suddenly felt their bodies trembling with cold anger.
Kicho was even more excessive, and it had been three months since she married into the house.
Every day she ate the best food and used the best items, and their nightlife was extremely intense.
Otherwise, she would act spoiled, clinging to the General, and sometimes her hands would be a bit wandering during the day.
Once, in the courtyard corridor, they vaguely saw Kicho pressed against a pillar,’singing’ in a low voice.
Her life was just like that of a decadent noble young lady.
She hadn’t even engaged in a single instance of Ninja training.
Such a decadent and luxurious lifestyle was becoming unbearable even for them as her maids.
As for reporting it to the Hyuga Clan main family, that was impossible.
If the main family were to intervene, it would be interfering in the politics of the Land of Night, and it would no longer be an internal matter of the General’s household, which would trigger international disputes.
“Lady Kicho, we aren’t criticizing you; we just hope you can correct your attitude slightly.
Since you married over here, you haven’t trained for a single day; your body must be getting rusty.
The most important spirit of our Hyuga Clan is the ability to endure hardship…” As they spoke, Aoi and Rinko embarked on their path of incessant lecturing once again, determined to steer Kicho back onto the Righteous Path.
Ninjas should use suffering to constantly hone themselves and elevate their existence.
Indulging in pleasure is the greatest enemy of a Ninja.
“I know, I know.
I’ll pay a little more attention in the future.” Kicho waved her hand impatiently, signaling for the two to stop lecturing her there.
But as for how much she actually took in, only she knew.
After all, before she married over, she had suffered plenty in the Hyuga Clan.
Now that she was the General’s wife, she still had to suffer…
wouldn’t that mean she was the General’s wife for nothing?
Aoi and Rinko had no choice but to stop their lecture, hoping that Kicho would really improve in the future.
◎ The softly lit bedroom.
“Aoi and Rinko went to complain to me again.” Returning here, Yayoi placed his coat on the folding screen’s hanger, patted Kicho’s little head as she affectionately leaned in, and smiled helplessly as he watched the young girl throw herself into his arms like a small animal.
“Those two really love to be so serious.
Why didn’t I notice that when we were back in the clan?” Kicho also found the earnest lectures from these two maids to be a headache.
Especially lectures that were meant for her own good; she couldn’t scold or hit them, so she could only listen obediently.
Although she possessed the ability to cast the Caged Bird Seal and use the curse mark to make the two shut up…
she couldn’t possibly do such a thing.
Aoi and Rinko were doing this for her own good; it was a manifestation of their loyalty that they advised her this way.
If they had harbored other malicious intentions, she would have disciplined the two of them.
“It’s only because you, Kicho, are too laid back.” “Does my husband also despise me now?” Hearing the whimpering sobs suddenly coming from beside his ear, Yayoi couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
His wife’s talent for playing the victim was truly self-taught.
“I was just mentioning it.
Your level of spending doesn’t rise to a level that requires my concern.” That’s right; although Kicho had been spending money lavishly lately, far exceeding her past consumption levels.
But honestly, at her current rate of spending, even if it went up another level, it would be impossible to exhaust his private treasury even in a hundred years.
Moreover, the economic development of the Land of Night was stable and healthy; Kicho’s spending was far from keeping up with the income of his private treasury.
Furthermore, Kicho’s spending was not in vain; at the very least, she would take some of the things she bought and bestow them upon the female relatives of the civil officials.
As a person in a high position, this was in itself a means of affirmation and solicitation, which could put those civil officials at ease.
Whether the items were valuable or not was unimportant; who bestowed them was what mattered most.
As the Land of Night was a place where the military dominated everything, Yayoi himself was highly tied to the military, so his interests were aligned with the Ninjas and the samurai.
But for the civil officials who managed the country’s internal affairs, it was a form of torture.
They respected Yayoi, but they also feared him.
Therefore, if someone could substitute for him to reassure the hearts of these civil officials, it was also a good thing.
In this way, no one was more suitable for this task than Kicho.
In the eyes of outsiders, as the General’s wife, all of her actions were the will of the General himself.
Kicho bestowing gifts upon the female relatives of the civil officials to put them at ease meant that the General also valued them and recognized the contributions of the civil official collective.
This little wife was so shrewd; she had seen through the potential hidden dangers of the Land of Night at a glance and had provided her own solution at the very first opportunity.
“It’s good that my husband doesn’t blame me.
Alright, my husband, it’s time to rest.
Tonight, I want to try being on top.” Kicho pulled Yayoi’s arm toward the bedding, her body becoming passionate.
Her physical development was fuller than many adult women, which could be described with the phrase: a slender branch bearing bountiful fruit.
Inside the spacious bedroom, a layer of pink, ambiguous atmosphere was cast.
“Speaking of which, did you put that sword away?” Yayoi looked around and didn’t see the special Chakra sword that Kicho had carried with her when she married.
“It must be very inconvenient to keep carrying that thing around.” “But it can be used for self-defense.” Yayoi still remembered the scene of Kicho wearing her wedding dress and holding the sword for the first time.
“Geez, my husband, is it really that fun to bully me like this?” Kicho’s face flushed slightly, and her eyes filled with mock reproach.
“It is fun.
Kicho, the way you looked that night was very conquering.” “Then…
what about now?” “I should be the one asking you.
Kicho, has your heart finally calmed down?
Did you know, your smile lately has become very genuine.” Yayoi pinched Kicho’s chin and gently lifted it.
In the young girl’s pure white eyes, there was nothing but his reflection.
“Mmm…
then make me submit even further, my husband.” Kicho blushed shyly and slowly closed her eyes.
Her heart, perhaps, had already been completely molded into this person’s shape.
No, she had actively wanted to become this person’s shape.
Compared to that oppressive place, the Hyuga Clan, this was her true pure land.
Tonight was destined to be sleepless, singing loudly until dawn.