Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 33: Perfecting the Chimera Technique — The Next Target
At this moment, Konan appeared more youthful and radiant than ever—her beauty seemed to have deepened even further.
Alex dispelled the Water Formation Wall, flew before Konan, and gave his paper body a shake, sounding rather pleased with himself.
[Konan, are you satisfied with how you look now?]
Konan blinked back to her senses, nodded vigorously, and pulled Alex into a tight embrace, pressing him firmly against her chest.
Once again, he was wrapped in a sea of white softness, drowning in bliss.
Only this time, that feeling was even softer and more springy than before, so comfortable that he almost wanted to close his eyes and melt away…
Knock, knock, knock!
Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed from the door.
Konan's expression shifted instantly. She released Alex and quickly began dressing herself.
Alex, however, stayed nestled comfortably against her chest, refusing to leave that soft haven.
Once dressed, Konan opened the door with a click. Her expression was cold and emotionless as she looked at the Sky Ninja standing outside in black attire.
The man's face twitched nervously. The moment he saw Konan, a flash of shock crossed his face before he quickly bowed his head, not daring to look again.
What the—? Why does the new leader suddenly look so young? She looks over ten years younger!
If not for the familiar pressure of Kage-level chakra radiating from her, he would have thought the woman before him was the leader's twin sister.
"What is it?"
Hearing the familiar voice—though slightly younger in tone—the Sky Ninja immediately bowed lower.
"L–Lady Konan… the third level of the Sky Fortress was too heavily damaged. It's almost completely destroyed. We have no choice but to abandon it."
"Then abandon it," Konan said coldly. "You don't need to ask me about such trivial matters."
The airborne fortress was vast; losing one layer was hardly a major issue. It could always be rebuilt later.
The Sky Ninja, sweating at his temples, trembled as he stammered,
"B–But… the third level was also the fortress's main energy core. It's been completely destroyed as well."
Konan's brows furrowed. "You mean the energy source is gone—and the fortress can no longer fly?"
Her cold, suffocating aura pressed down on him like a weight of ice.
This Sky Fortress was under Akatsuki's command—she would not allow anything to go wrong.
The man nearly fell to his knees, gritting his teeth as his voice quivered with fear.
"Y–Yes, my lady. This fortress is massive and heavy—it could only float using the previous leader's special energy source… The secondary power core on the second level is empty. Without that special energy, it can't function…"
Konan's oppressive chakra grew heavier, forcing the man's forehead against the cold stone floor.
Now that her body had been rejuvenated and her ailments gone, her chakra refinement rate had increased by thirty percent—and her total chakra capacity had doubled.
Her overall strength had risen to an entirely new level.
As she glared down at the trembling Sky Ninja, her expression suddenly shifted slightly. Alex, still resting near her heart, sent her a silent message.
Konan eased her aura and said coldly, "Take me to the backup energy chamber."
"Y–Yes!"
Freed from her crushing pressure, the Sky Ninja shakily stood and led the way without daring to glance back.
The new leader not only looks younger—her power feels even more terrifying than before!
Inside a sealed stone chamber, a small, empty basin lay at the center. Its size and structure were identical to the energy pools Konan had seen under Shinnō's control—only this one was empty.
The west wall and the floor were lined with countless pipes, crisscrossing like veins.
One end connected to the basin, the other disappearing through the wall beyond.
The Sky Ninja pointed to the basin and its pipes. "This is the backup energy device for the Sky Fortress. If we had the former leader's energy source, we could simply place it here and it would work."
Konan gestured calmly. "Leave us. Wait outside."
Though puzzled, the man immediately obeyed, bowing before retreating.
Standing guard outside the door, he stared straight ahead, not daring to eavesdrop.
Inside, Alex emerged from Konan's chest and flew into the empty basin.
Konan remained silent, watching his every move intently.
Having fully absorbed Shinnō's research and mastered the Zero-Tails formula, recreating an energy core was no longer difficult for Alex.
His paper-white body began to glow with a dark, obsidian hue.
Threads of black light spread outward from him, weaving across the chamber until they converged into a dense shadow that covered the basin entirely.
The Zero-Tails technique was a success—identical to Shinnō's creation, though slightly smaller.
[Done.]
Alex floated up from the basin.
[The Zero-Tails will automatically absorb ambient emotions and convert them into chakra. In about half a day, it should produce enough power to lift the fortress again.]
"Half a day…" Konan quietly calculated the time.
Kumogakure shouldn't be a concern for now—they likely hadn't discovered the deaths of their three missing ninjas yet.
But as for Obito and White Zetsu… that aerial battle earlier had made quite a commotion. They'd surely notice soon enough.
All she could do was hope they wouldn't arrive too quickly.
After finishing the process, Alex returned to his usual resting place against her chest.
"My lady," the Sky Ninja greeted the moment Konan exited the chamber.
"The energy issue has been resolved," Konan said flatly. "Once night falls, the Sky Fortress will ascend again."
It was midday now—half a day until dusk.
She looked at the man coldly. "Use this time to repair the damage. I expect the fortress to be ready for flight by nightfall."
"Yes, my lady!" he barked, standing straight. "We'll complete the repairs at once! By nightfall, the fortress will rise again!"
He had no idea how the leader had solved the energy problem—but if she said it was done, it was done.
He only needed to follow her orders.
"Go," Konan dismissed him with a wave before returning to her quarters.
"Alex, what's our next move?"
Sitting on the stone bed, she looked up at him floating before her. Their mission with Shinnō was complete—it was time to plan their next step.
Alex drifted lightly in the air.
[With the Dark Medical Ninjutsu and all of Shinnō's research data, I can now perfect the Chimera Technique.]
[I've already upgraded it—no more side effects, and it no longer requires… consuming people.]
The Chimera Technique had finally reached its completed form, far surpassing its original creator, Hiruko.
Konan's expression softened slightly. "Then, do you have a target in mind for your first kekkei genkai?"
Uzumaki, Senju, Uchiha, Kaguya, Hyūga, Ōtsutsuki… she was curious which bloodline Alex would choose first.
[Uzumaki,] Alex replied without hesitation.
"The remaining members of the Uzumaki Clan…" Konan murmured, thoughtful. "You mean Uzumaki Naruto?"
Through her final conversation with Nagato before his death, she had learned that Naruto was also an Uzumaki.
Though it was strange—his hair was golden, not the crimson typical of the clan.
"Alex, taking a bloodline sample—will it harm the person?" she asked softly.
If it would, she didn't wish to hurt Naruto, the one Nagato had entrusted his dreams to.
[No. I only need a bit of blood—or another small biological sample.]
Konan exhaled in relief. "Good. Then Naruto won't be hurt."
Alex shook his head.
[He's not the first target.]
What a joke—Naruto might be simple-minded, but Konoha wasn't. They'd never allow anyone near their Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's body. That would be a nightmare to pull off.
"Not Naruto…" Konan frowned, a red-haired figure flashing through her mind. "Then… Uzumaki Karin?"
She remembered her vaguely—from the time Sasuke's Taka team had briefly joined Akatsuki.
Alex still shook his head.
[Not her either.]
"Then who?" Konan asked.