After the two women left, Uchiha Anlan skimmed through the intelligence reports for a while.
Not long after—
A soft knock came again.
"Come in."
"Good day, Lord Shogun."
The door opened.
Uzumaki Minako stepped in, barely able to hide the excitement on her face.
She walked forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke—
"The encrypted scroll about the 'Weapon Sealing Site'… has been fully deciphered!"
Anlan set down the document in his hand.
A glint of interest flashed in his eyes.
He didn't rush to question her.
Instead, he smiled faintly and gestured to the seat before him.
"You've worked hard."
"Sit. Tell me everything."
A few days ago—
Minako's team had returned from the Land of Whirlpools.
Not only had they brought back over twenty scattered members of the Uzumaki Clan—
They had also transported a large number of high-level sealing scrolls from the Noodle Mask Hall.
Those techniques had already been copied and archived.
Strengthening the Uchiha's foundation.
But among them—
Two things had caught Anlan's attention most.
Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
And—
Weapon Sealing Site.
The former—
He kept for personal research.
The latter—
Was completely unreadable.
Encoded in Uzumaki cipher.
Now—
The answer had arrived.
"Thank you, Lord Shogun."
Minako sat and began explaining.
"The sealing site has been located."
"Southwest border of the Land of Fire, near the Land of Rivers."
She handed over a newly drawn map and notes.
"According to records, a coalition of the Senju, Uzumaki, and Sarutobi clans fought the Uchiha there."
"In the end, the 'weapon' was sealed beneath an ancient ritual site."
Anlan scanned the map.
His gaze paused briefly—
On the same region where Orochimaru and Rasa had clashed.
The Land of Rivers—
A buffer zone.
Chaotic.
Filled with rogue ninja and black-market forces.
Now—
Even more unstable due to war.
But Anlan didn't care.
Just trash.
Let Kakuzu handle it.
Using underground networks—
Sweep the area.
Fast.
Efficient.
Minako continued—
"The seal is built upon a natural dragon vein node."
"It draws energy from it."
"Without the proper release method—"
"It cannot be broken."
That answered the last concern.
"Well done, Minako."
Anlan looked up.
His praise was sincere.
Because he understood—
The true value of this discovery.
Uchiha Hikari.
Not just a weapon.
A possibility.
A network.
A system.
Something that could reshape the Uchiha entirely.
Of course—
Only if she cooperated.
Anlan's thoughts flickered—
Give her cats.
Give her children.
Give her belonging.
Uchiha… drown in love.
He returned to the present.
"Spend some time with Karin."
"When the Land of Rivers operation begins—"
"You'll lead it."
Minako nodded firmly.
"Yes, my lord."
The formal report ended.
The atmosphere softened.
Anlan leaned back slightly.
"How is the new settlement?"
"The eastern district prepared for the Uzumaki."
Minako's expression warmed instantly.
"It's perfect."
"South-facing slope, forest behind, stream in front."
"Everyone says…"
"They never imagined having land like this."
Anlan nodded.
"Good."
"If anything needs changing—say it."
"Everything is already well arranged."
Minako replied quickly.
"Black Cat had people level the land."
"Barrier nodes are already placed."
"Materials have arrived."
"Everyone's been working nonstop."
"And supplies?"
"Plenty."
She smiled softly.
"Food, clothing, medicine—everything is sufficient."
"Even the merchant families sent extra cloth and baby supplies."
Anlan smiled faintly.
"Good."
"No need to rush reconstruction."
"Let everyone settle first."
They chatted a little longer.
About elders planting vegetables.
About children finally laughing again.
Then—
Minako stood.
"Lord Shogun is busy. I will take my leave."
She hesitated—
Then added seriously—
"If war comes…"
"The Uzumaki will fight."
Anlan chuckled lightly.
"Having more children is the best support you can give."
Minako flushed.
Lowered her head.
Then quietly left.
Silence returned.
Anlan touched his arm.
A faint glow flickered beneath his clothes.
That blonde…
I should visit the lab soon.
Underground Laboratory — West District
Dim.
Cold.
A single light illuminated the central table.
Tsunade and Shizune stood side by side.
Before them—
A syringe.
Inside—
A thick, dark, iridescent liquid.
Extracted from—
Dead bodies.
Refined.
Condensed.
"Teacher…"
Shizune's voice trembled.
"Do we really use it?"
Tsunade didn't answer immediately.
She touched the syringe lightly.
Eyes sharp.
"Seventeen simulations."
"Now—"
"We test reality."
The subject—
A dying mouse.
Severe wound.
Infection beginning.
Injection.
Time slowed.
Nothing.
Then—
The wound moved.
Muscle closed.
Flesh stitched itself.
Healing.
Rapid.
Violent.
Within seconds—
Almost complete.
"Teacher! It worked!"
Shizune gasped.
But Tsunade—
Did not smile.
Because—
It didn't stop.
The fur decayed.
Limbs twitched.
Eyes turned gray.
No breath.
Yet—
It moved.
Clawed.
Hit the glass.
Again.
Again.
A corpse—
Alive.
Or something else.
Shizune froze.
Tsunade placed the syringe down.
A soft ding echoed.
"A good beginning."
Her voice was calm.
"We extracted 'life'…"
"But something else came with it."
She turned.
"Record."
"Yes!"
"First—expand samples."
"Different sizes."
"Different conditions."
"Second—dosage control."
"We need the threshold."
"Third—refinement."
She paused.
"Use chakra."
"Medical chakra can distinguish life energy."
"Separate it."
"Even slightly."
Her eyes were steady.
"This will take time."
"Maybe failure after failure."
"But research—"
"Is finding the difference."
Shizune closed her notebook.
Eyes burning with determination.
"We'll succeed."
Tsunade looked at the twitching creature.
Something between life—
And death.
And said quietly—
"Let's see… what this really is."