And what about that unfathomable "Shadow" himself, and the "Master" he claimed would return to the world?
"Continue the research," Danzo Shimura said coldly, leaving no room for doubt. "We need to find methods other than destroying the mask to effectively counter these monsters."
"And also study the patterns of the energy beams fired by 'Xu', as well as how to interfere with or defend against soul devouring."
"Especially the changes that appear on the killer after a 'Xu' is slain."
"My intuition tells me that the most efficient way to kill 'Xu' is hidden there."
The middle-aged man straightened and replied solemnly, "Yes. We will do our best."
He knew that the results of this research would directly determine the future survival of Konoha, and even the entire Ninja World.
After that, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado each gave some instructions. They then exchanged a glance and looked together at the silent Yunchuan Hyuga.
"Yunchuan, do you have anything else to ask?" Homura Mitokado asked proactively.
Including Danzo Shimura, all three understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was recuperating in the hospital, had sent Yunchuan Hyuga here.
Even though the "Caged Bird" restricted him under the Hyuga Main Family and prevented Yunchuan Hyuga from becoming the next Hokage, he would still be groomed as an important future leader of Konoha.
As one of the future high-level figures, it was only natural that he would be allowed to know some of Akatsuki's secrets.
What Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado worried about was whether the still-young Yunchuan Hyuga might grow arrogant under Hiruzen's favor and start looking down on others. For example, he might believe he could stand on equal footing with veteran advisors like them.
Yunchuan Hyuga seemed to come back from his thoughts and shook his head at the three advisors. "I came on behalf of the Third Hokage. I have already asked everything he wanted me to ask."
Seeing that Yunchuan Hyuga did not overstep his bounds, a hint of satisfaction flashed through the eyes of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. They smiled and said, "Then please pass everything on to Hiruzen."
"We heard that Kakashi Hatake is hospitalized as well, just like Hiruzen. Once all the postwar arrangements in the village are settled, we will go visit them then."
They already knew about Kakashi Hatake's experience as well. This included the fact that the masked man who had orchestrated the previous Nine-Tails incident and the recent Uchiha massacre was actually Obito Uchiha, who supposedly died at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
Even if he was not the real "Madara Uchiha", he was still a powerful figure who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. For Kakashi Hatake to drive him back was a significant achievement.
Under normal circumstances, after the losses of the Third Shinobi World War and the casualties from this incident, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not be able to keep his position as Hokage.
If Tsunade and Jiraiya still refused to take over as Fifth Hokage, the specially positioned Kakashi Hatake would likely become one of the candidates.
Once the severely injured Shisui Uchiha awakened from his coma and clarified the cause of the Uchiha massacre, he might also become a candidate.
The premise was that Shisui Uchiha had remained completely clean in this matter, unaware from start to finish, and that no one had interfered in secret.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado glanced at the expressionless Danzo Shimura, then quickly withdrew their gaze. Taking the research reports, they left the institute.
They were extremely busy now.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's aging body and mental exhaustion were severe, and in the current unstable postwar state of Konoha, only the two of them could hold things together.
After they left, Danzo Shimura also turned and departed with the research report. Yunchuan Hyuga followed closely behind.
Click. Bang.
The heavy doors of the technical research institute slowly closed behind them, cutting off the cold lights and oppressive atmosphere inside.
Leaning on his cane, Danzo Shimura walked into a forest path leading toward Root Base. His steps were steady and unhurried.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, breaking into scattered patches on the ground. The surroundings were silent, with only the faint sound of the cane tapping fallen leaves and the breathing of Danzo Shimura.
After walking several hundred meters without slowing, Danzo Shimura suddenly spoke, breaking the stillness.
"How long are you going to keep following me?"
His voice echoed along the quiet path, but there was no reply. Only the sound of wind rustling through the leaves answered him.
Danzo Shimura's face showed no expression. His single eye gleamed coldly in the shadows as he abruptly raised the hand gripping his cane.
Clang.
With a soft mechanical click, slender senbon shot out from the bottom of the cane.
The target was not ahead, but to his side.
Crack.
The sharp tips sank deeply into the tree trunk without resistance. In the next instant, the empty space rippled like water.
A figure appeared silently.
Yunchuan Hyuga stood in front of the tree, his head slightly tilted as he looked at Danzo Shimura. The poisoned blade tip was only a hair's breadth away from him.
The force of the blade stirred a few strands of his hair, but those clear Byakugan eyes remained perfectly calm.
A soft sound came from behind. Duoduo.
Danzo Shimura did not turn his head. He kept leaning on his cane and walked forward on his own.
"Worthy of Danzo Shimura," someone said.
Yunchuan Hyuga slowly straightened his body and looked at Danzo Shimura's back. The faint smile was still on his face as he spoke in a clear voice, asking how he had noticed.
Danzo Shimura stopped. He did not turn around, only letting out a cold snort and saying that the restraints inside his body were beyond imagination.
He said it was only a Genjutsu controlled by Five Senses Manipulation. The old Kurama Clan had such things before, and it was far from enough to affect him.
This was not boasting. What he said was true.
He carried too many secrets and too much intelligence. If anything went wrong and it spread to Akatsuki, it would be a crushing blow to all of Konoha.
Because of that, Danzo Shimura carved more than one Sealing Technique and restriction into his own body. Among them was the S rank Forbidden Technique called Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
Once the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing formula carved into his body was activated, everything within several hundred meters would be forcibly sealed into the corpse. After his death, his brain would also be destroyed, leaving enemies no way to steal information.
In the original events, Danzo Shimura tried to take Shisui's eyes and was controlled by Shisui with Genjutsu. He instantly triggered cracking and used Izanagi to dig out Shisui's eyes.
It was possible that he had carved methods to detect whether he was under Genjutsu, or methods that would automatically break it once affected. In his view, breaking Yunchuan Hyuga's Genjutsu was only natural.
But in fact, it was not that simple.
"So you are that ruthless to yourself," Yunchuan Hyuga said with a smile, offering praise and calling Danzo Shimura frightening.
"That line should be mine," Danzo Shimura replied without turning, his tone flat. He said everyone thought Yunchuan Hyuga was nearly perfect, fitting every fine word without effort.
He continued that there was no such thing as a perfect person. The brighter the surface, the deeper the darkness hidden inside.
He turned slowly, his single eye fixing on Yunchuan Hyuga. He asked him to put away that false smile in front of him.
He said he could already smell the greed hidden in his bones.