That’s right.
Riku had gone ahead and brought the Hollowfication experiments into the shinobi world.
His approach was somewhat different from Aizen’s direct fusion method, however.
Riku had made a few adjustments of his own.
First, he extracted factors from a Menos Grande and combined them with chakra, producing a special substance capable of inducing Hollowfication.
That material was then injected into the target shinobi, where it triggered the transformation from within.
It sounded simple when summarized like that.
Actually making it work was anything but.
The procedure itself was complicated enough, but the real problem was the disappointing increase in power.
A shinobi went through all the trouble of undergoing Hollowfication, yet their overall parameters did not even reach five times their original level.
How was that acceptable?
Even a Shinigami’s Shikai could provide a greater boost than this!
So where exactly was the problem?
Riku stared thoughtfully at the Hōgyoku floating among the surrounding instruments.
Naturally, this Hōgyoku had been copied from Aizen.
The chat-group system apparently considered it one of Aizen’s “abilities,” just like Kyōka Suigetsu.
“If the results are below expectations, why not simply increase the dosage?”
A red-haired young man slowly approached in a wheelchair.
His pale violet Rinnegan remained fixed on the experimental subject inside the containment tank.
“Nagato-bro, I’m starting to think you might be a little too extreme.”
Riku rolled his eyes helplessly.
“We both know increasing the dosage any further will just turn him completely Hollow.”
“But it would provide valuable data,” Nagato replied calmly.
For the time being, Nagato was serving as one of Riku’s specially invited research consultants.
His knowledge of body modification, chakra, and the soul was genuinely valuable, and the precious experimental subject currently suspended inside the tank had also been provided by him.
“We don’t need to waste him for data.
I can get Danzō to provide plenty of that.”
Riku shook his head before looking toward the man inside the tank.
“Seriously, Nagato-bro.
You already killed this guy yourself and got your revenge.
Do you really need to keep abusing his corpse afterward?
We’ll bring Yahiko-bro back eventually.
Do you want him waking up and seeing you acting this miserable?”
There was a reason Riku described it as abusing a corpse.
The experimental subject was none other than the former leader of Amegakure, the man once known throughout the shinobi world as the “Demi-God”—Hanzō.
Nagato had killed him two years earlier.
The body standing inside the containment chamber now had been brought back through the Impure World Reincarnation.
“Hmph.
I don’t need a brat like you lecturing me.”
Nagato gave an irritated snort.
Riku said nothing.
He simply stared at him with an innocent expression.
Nagato raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, I’m not looking at you.” Riku smiled.
“I’m admiring the keepsake my great-uncle left behind.”
Nagato froze for several seconds before his expression darkened.
“If that bastard Uchiha Madara ever comes back to life, I’ll destroy these eyes right in front of him.”
He had already read the Naruto manga, so naturally he knew the truth behind his Rinnegan and what the future originally held for him.
“There’s no need to go that far.
We can start by discussing the part where Black Zetsu stabs him through the chest.”
Riku smiled pleasantly.
“Afterward, I’d also like to show him that tragic romance manga I wrote about him and hear his thoughts.”
“His… Visit g.com for the full chapter.
thoughts.”
The corner of Nagato’s mouth twitched.
He took a breath.
“Is he really your great-uncle?”
“Completely genuine.
My nephew can confirm it.”
Riku turned toward Uchiha Itachi.
“In terms of blood relation, yes,” Itachi answered stiffly.
Only in terms of blood relation.
Anything beyond that was difficult to judge.
The things his uncle sometimes said and did to Uchiha Madara were certainly not how Itachi imagined most people treated a respected ancestor.
“You Uchiha really are strange sometimes,” Nagato said expressionlessly.
“We’re not that bad.
At least we’re not all bastards like Obito.”
Riku smiled and glanced toward Itachi.
“Besides, I’m personally teaching this kid now.
There’s no chance he’ll end up walking the same road he did in the original story.”
“That much I believe.”
Nagato nodded lightly.
By now, he had become completely convinced that the young man beside him was capable of changing the future of the entire shinobi world.
Compared with that, changing the fate of one Uchiha Itachi hardly seemed difficult.
“The road I took in the original story?” Itachi asked, looking confused.
“If I hadn’t interfered, you would eventually slaughter the entire Uchiha clan for the sake of the village.”
Riku told him without the slightest attempt to soften it.
“What?!”
Uchiha Itachi’s eyes flew wide open, and he stood frozen in place.
…
Konoha, Hokage’s office.
“Outrageous!
This has gone too far!”
Shimura Danzō slammed one hand against the desk, his face twisted with fury.
“Does that damned fool think being the daimyō means he can do whatever he wants?!
I refuse to tolerate this!”
“Calm down, Danzō.”
“Yes.
Don’t act rashly.”
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both tried to placate him from nearby.
“Calm down?”
Danzō stabbed a finger toward the manga lying on the Hokage’s desk.
The title printed across its cover read:
My Childhood Sweetheart from Root: My Boyfriend Is the Third Hokage!
“You expect me to remain calm after seeing THIS?!”
“Pfft—”
Homura almost lost control.
He barely managed to suppress his laughter before forcing his expression back into something serious.
“I understand that this is…
ah…
a grave insult.
But if you’re angry, shouldn’t you be looking for the author?
What does the daimyō have to do with it?”
“Exactly, Danzō.”
Koharu nodded in agreement, though even her aged face had developed a slight flush.
“The person responsible should be the one held accountable.”
Danzō roared.
“Look at the publisher’s mark!
The seal printed on this book belongs to the daimyō’s office!
Those idiots are openly throwing filth at us!”
He turned sharply toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“Hiruzen, are you really going to tolerate this?”
Hiruzen remained silent for a long moment before exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“I will personally question the daimyō about this matter.”
“Question him?
That’s all?”
A vein bulged across Danzō’s forehead as he glared at his old friend.
“What else would you have me do?” Hiruzen asked calmly.
“Kidnap him?
Assassinate him?
Mobilize Konoha’s shinobi and start a civil war with the daimyō?”
Danzō hesitated.
“That isn’t what I meant.
I simply think they’ve gone far beyond what should be tolerated.”
“Is that really all this is?”
Hiruzen gave him a long look.
Danzō frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Hiruzen did not answer.
Instead, he opened one of his desk drawers and placed three documents on the table.
Analysis of Missing Persons Cases in the Land of Fire Over the Past Five Years.
Experimental Viability of Senju Hashirama Cells.
Practical Guide to Sharingan Implantation and Use.
“Th-These are…!”
Utatane Koharu sucked in a sharp breath.
Mitokado Homura picked up the missing-persons report and quickly flipped through several pages.
His expression changed from confusion to disbelief.
“Root has been using civilians from the Land of Fire for human experimentation?”
Danzō’s mouth twitched.
“Who gave those to you?”
“Danzō.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s voice turned cold.
“Are you questioning me?”
His expression had lost every trace of warmth.
“You committed acts like these without showing the slightest remorse.
Do you still consider yourself a shinobi of Konoha?”
“Everything I have done was for Konoha!” Danzō shot back, refusing to yield.
“Starting today, Root is dissolved.”
Hiruzen drew a deep breath.
“All of its personnel, facilities, and authority will be transferred directly to the Hokage’s ANBU.”
His gaze hardened.
“As for you, Danzō…
stay home and spend the rest of your years in retirement.”
“You intend to confine me to my home?”
Danzō’s expression twisted.
“You’ll regret this, Hiruzen!”
“I am the Hokage, Danzō.”
“Hmph!”
Danzō stormed out and slammed the door behind him.