It was precisely because of the large number of bounty ninjas serving the Research Institute that the bandits and banditry troubles entrenched in various parts of the Shinobi World, which could never be cleared out before, were repeatedly harvested several times within just over half a year, making the entire criminal world panic-stricken!
Now, going to the black market, it was already difficult to find bounty missions.
In a way never imagined before, the Research Institute led the Shinobi World into an unprecedented period of peace.
It could be said that in this year, the public security of the Shinobi World was the best in thousands of years.
While the Research Institute was actively preparing for the sixth ritual, Orochimaru also began to privately prepare for his second ritual.
"Ahhh..."
"Kill me!"
"I won't let you off!"
In the laboratory, experimental subjects confined on operating tables were either wailing in pain or cursing loudly, making the laboratory, which should have been quiet, as noisy as a market.
Yakushi Kabuto strolled through it, his face full of the joy of harvest.
With the continuous iteration of cell transplantation technology, so far, whether it was the Hashirama cell transplantation surgery or the Shibai Otsutsuki cell transplantation surgery, the success rate had been greatly improved.
Previously, it took dozens or even hundreds of experimental subjects to luckily produce a qualified sacrifice. But now, as long as luck wasn't too bad, enough sacrifices for the ritual could be cultivated without paying too great a price.
At this time, Orochimaru walked into the laboratory.
Kabuto went up to greet him: "Lord Orochimaru!"
While examining the experimental subjects on the operating tables, Orochimaru asked: "How is the situation?"
Kabuto answered with a smile: "Very good. The latest cell transplantation technology has raised the success rate by another three percentage points!"
"That's good!"
Orochimaru nodded.
Due to the Research Institute's increasing control over the Shinobi World, it became difficult even for a strong person like Orochimaru to replenish experimental subjects.
Because once a disappearance case was discovered in their jurisdiction, the Daimyo would directly notify the Research Institute to send people to investigate. And as long as the Research Institute issued relevant missions, bounty ninjas, and even ninjas from various villages, would swarm to compete for the Research Institute's funds.
Thinking of this, Orochimaru asked again: "Have the loose ends of this batch of people been cleaned up?"
Kabuto suppressed the smile on his face: "They have been dealt with, but it seems to have attracted the attention of some bounty ninjas."
Orochimaru said: "Change the location next time!"
"Understood!"
Kabuto nodded slightly. He knew very well what consequences it would bring once this matter was discovered by the Research Institute.
Coming to the study, Orochimaru looked through the experiment records and said: "We must start the second ritual as soon as possible!"
Seeing that Orochimaru seemed to have some concerns, Kabuto asked: "Lord Orochimaru, has something happened?"
Orochimaru said: "I suspect Yamada Juichi is concealing the fact that he awakened a Shinjutsu!"
Kabuto was startled: "What!?"
Orochimaru frowned: "He might be worried about ending up like Owl, so he cleverly chose to conceal it."
Kabuto asked: "Then what should we do?"
Orochimaru shook his head.
If Yamada Juichi really chose to conceal the awakening of Shinjutsu from the Research Institute, it was not good news for him. Because the Research Institute was not so easy to fool. Over time, Yamada Juichi would inevitably show his true colors.
And once the Research Institute confirmed that Yamada Juichi concealed this matter, it might consequently arouse the Research Institute's suspicion towards him.
After all, including him, among the three experimental subjects who successfully survived the ritual, two awakened Shinjutsu, and only he didn't. Anyone would be suspicious.
Seeing Orochimaru pondering silently, Kabuto continued to ask: "Can you confirm that Yamada Juichi awakened Shinjutsu?"
Orochimaru shook his head again: "Just intuition!"
"Intuition..."
Kabuto showed a helpless expression.
At this time, Orochimaru changed the subject: "Arrange the second ritual as soon as possible. We don't have much time. We must seize the opportunity while Uchiha Shinji is tied up by other things to improve our strength as quickly as possible!"
Kabuto guaranteed: "Understood, I will definitely not disappoint you!"
After leaving his secret laboratory, Orochimaru rushed towards the Research Institute.
He actually didn't tell Kabuto the truth just now. Regarding Yamada Juichi awakening Shinjutsu, it wasn't entirely intuition; there was also a faint sensing from 'Absorption'.
During a test, while sparring with Yamada Juichi, he found that his Shinjutsu 'Absorption' reacted to Yamada Juichi. Although this reaction was very weak, it was indeed an undeniable signal for him.
So he was certain that Yamada Juichi definitely awakened a Shinjutsu, but the state might not be right. Either Yamada Juichi hadn't fully mastered the newly awakened Shinjutsu, or the Shinjutsu Yamada Juichi awakened this time was somewhat special.
"The Research Institute has already started to get suspicious. Yamada Juichi is no match for Amado. I must act in advance!"
On the way, Orochimaru secretly made up his mind.
He originally didn't want to act so early, but Yamada Juichi foolishly chose to conceal it, which would likely arouse the Research Institute's suspicion. And this suspicion would inevitably spread to him, who was also a ritual experimental subject.
So if he wanted to dispel the Research Institute's suspicion, the best way was to absorb Yamada Juichi's Shinjutsu and confirm the "fact" that Yamada Juichi couldn't awaken Shinjutsu.
In this way, Owl awakening Shinjutsu would instead become a low-probability event, and the suspicion that he might be concealing Shinjutsu would cease to exist.
Returning to the Research Institute, Orochimaru went directly to the testing ground.
Sure enough, he saw Yamada Juichi in the testing ground.
During this time, Yamada Juichi almost lived in the testing ground, participating uninterruptedly in various tests arranged by the Research Institute, and he himself seemed tireless about it, without a single complaint.
Walking to the observation area by the field, Orochimaru casually picked up the test records. While looking through them, he asked the researcher: "How many more tests are there today?"
Knowing that Orochimaru was not only a group leader but also one of the top combat powers of the Research Institute, the researcher hurriedly stood up and answered respectfully: "There is one more taijutsu confrontation test next."
"Taijutsu confrontation test?" Pausing, Orochimaru asked: "Who is responsible for the test?"
The researcher answered: "Daemon!"
Orochimaru's heart trembled, thinking: "It seems Amado really got suspicious, actually sending Daemon to test Yamada Juichi."
Feeling that if he didn't act now, Yamada Juichi would likely be seen through by Amado, Orochimaru smiled and said: "My hands are itching. Go inform Amado that I will be responsible for the next taijutsu confrontation test!"