The location of the sixth ritual was arranged by the Research Institute in the desert of the Land of Wind, where yellow sand filled the sky.
The reason for arranging it here was that the Research Institute had developed several new technologies. If these technologies could be practically verified, the success rate of the ritual would be further improved, and the reliance on natural phenomena such as celestial events would also be reduced.
Watching the researchers bustling about at the ritual site, Sasuke said coldly: "I want to see how they conduct the ritual!"
Haku said softly: "Sasuke, don't be careless!"
Yakumo also chimed in: "Yeah, the power of Shinjutsu is much more terrifying than you imagine. Yamada Juichi lost to you mainly because he failed to awaken a Shinjutsu. The previous Owl was practically impervious to swords and spears, water and fire, completely immune to ninjutsu attacks!"
"Hmph!"
Sasuke snorted lightly.
He had matured a lot now, knowing that Haku and Yakumo cared about him, so he didn't engage in pointless arguments.
But deep down, he still looked down on the experimental subjects, feeling that the power these subjects obtained through crooked ways was defective and simply unqualified to touch the 'Six Paths Level'.
Naruto, who had looked around the ritual site curiously, returned to Sasuke and the others. Pointing at the six sacrifices bound by restraints at the ritual site, he asked: "What are they doing? Why are they tied up at the ritual site?"
Yakumo said: "They... are sacrifices."
"Sacrifices?"
Naruto scratched his head.
Haku sighed lightly and explained: "These people have successfully transplanted the cell tissue of a mysterious Otsutsuki and obtained the power of that mysterious Otsutsuki. So the Research Institute uses them as sacrifices, allowing the experimental subject conducting the ritual to absorb the power of the mysterious Otsutsuki within these six people through the ritual, thereby obtaining the power to awaken Shinjutsu!"
Naruto was startled: "What!?"
Sasuke was also somewhat surprised, but the reaction on his face was very calm.
Yakumo explained: "Naruto, you don't need to sympathize with them too much. These sacrifices are all heinous criminals, unworthy of sympathy."
"Is this really okay?"
Knowing that the sacrifices were all criminals, Naruto felt slightly better, but still felt in his heart that the Research Institute's ritual was somewhat bloody.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto: "Childish!"
Haku smiled and said: "Naruto, your thoughts are not wrong. However, perhaps you don't know, precisely because the Research Institute needs a large number of criminals as experimental subjects, criminals in the entire Shinobi World have faced a calamity. Now, even in remote small countries, there are rarely bandits and robbers."
Naruto clicked his tongue; such cause and effect was something he hadn't expected.
While the group chatted, the ritual site in the distance was finally set up, and the Research Institute's sixth ritual officially began.
The experimental subject conducting the ritual this time was also a felon with numerous crimes, unruly and intractable.
However, he also knew what this ritual meant to him, so he was very humble at the ritual site, honestly cooperating with the assisting researchers, actively preparing for the ritual.
Observation Area.
A group of high-level officials of the Research Institute gathered. Beside them, researchers were conducting final debugging of instruments and equipment. The medical team and the curse jutsu team were on standby nearby. Everything was ready.
Orochimaru asked: "Can we start?"
Amado looked at the time and nodded: "Start!"
With the transmission of the order, the staff at the ritual site quickly evacuated, leaving only the experimental subject conducting the ritual.
The sixth ritual officially began.
All procedures proceeded step by step without any errors or accidents. The experimental subject smoothly entered the 'cocooning' state.
Looking at the giant cocoon hidden in the mist at the center of the ritual, Naruto frowned tightly: "I have a bad feeling!"
Yakumo beside him asked busily: "What's wrong? Is something amiss?"
Naruto said: "Can't say, just that the thing inside the cocoon makes me feel uncomfortable!"
Sasuke didn't speak, but from his expression, he undoubtedly agreed with Naruto's view. Whatever was being nurtured inside the giant cocoon wasn't anything good!
Obviously, as they both stepped into the 'Six Paths Level', their chakra sensing abilities improved further, so they both keenly perceived the aura belonging to the Otsutsuki within the giant cocoon.
Inside the Observation Area.
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
When the experimental subject in the center of the ritual successfully 'cocooned', his Shinjutsu 'Absorption' began to react, as if smelling something delicious.
"It seems the ritual succeeded this time!"
After thinking to himself, Orochimaru turned his head to look at Sasuke and the others in the distance, his face suddenly turning a few shades gloomier.
The arrival of Sasuke and Naruto not only changed the landscape within the Research Institute but also significantly constrained his power.
Previously, the Research Institute could only rely on him and the siblings Eida and Daemon to constrain the experimental subjects. And Eida and Daemon were not very interested in such matters, which gave him the opportunity to secretly absorb Yamada Juichi's Shinjutsu.
Now with Sasuke and Naruto, two true 'Six Paths Level' beings, and Sasuke being very enthusiastic about displaying his strength, under these circumstances, the difficulty for him to act secretly again can be imagined.
Crack...
Just then, a shattering sound came from the giant cocoon in the center of the ritual. Following closely, a figure walked out of the giant cocoon.
When the figure walked out of the mist, everyone on the sidelines felt their hearts skip a beat because the experimental subject's Otsutsukification was even more obvious than Yamada Juichi in the previous ritual.
"Eh..."
Amado let out a soft sound of surprise.
Although the ritual process was optimized by the Research Institute time and again, the direction of optimization mainly focused on the success rate.
However, for some reason, the experimental subjects completing the ritual were becoming closer to Otsutsuki one by one.
For example, the initial experimental subject Orochimaru had very unobvious Otsutsuki characteristics. By Owl, Otsutsukification began to be significant, and Yamada Juichi needless to say, possessed almost all some Otsutsuki characteristics.
As for the figure before them, if everyone hadn't watched him complete the ritual step by step, they might even mistake the opponent for being an Otsutsuki originally!
Sasuke became vigilant: "What's going on!?"
Haku and Yakumo shook their heads in unison; it was also their first time seeing this situation.
In the air.
Shinji, who had just cleared the Fear Hegemon's interference with the ritual, also had a strange look flash across his eyes because the experimental subject undergoing the ritual's baptism this time looked too much, too much like an Otsutsuki!
Consequently, an inexplicable feeling lingered in his heart.
However, because he had just fought a great battle with the Bewitching Hegemon, his brain was being interfered with by countless noises, so he couldn't perceive anything in detail for the moment.
But he knew what his top priority was, so he suppressed his thoughts and silently repaired the mental damage from the battle with the Bewitching Hegemon.