Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Secret Path
Yuto pushed open the door and stepped out, just in time to encounter several masked Konoha shinobi.
He calmly blocked the doorway and said, "Who are you? The patient needs rest."
"We are... members of the ANBU," said the man leading the group, who wore a dog-faced mask.
ANBU? I bet they're from [Root], Yuto thought with a smirk, then said, "Even if you are ANBU, you can't just barge into the ward. This child just returned from the battlefield. Can't whatever it is wait until he wakes up?"
"It's like this," the Root member softened his tone, "Lone Lion, we are his comrades. We heard he encountered danger on the front lines and were worried, so we came to check on him."
"Oh... Once the patient is transferred to a regular ward, you can visit anytime. But for now, he needs to be monitored in the emergency room for two hours," Yuto said as he closed the door. "Those are the rules, unless you have an order from the Hokage."
He turned and walked away, not sparing the Root members another glance.
It was forceful, but given his current status and position, such a tone was normal. Besides, this was the Konoha Hospital, and few would dare cause trouble here.
Yuto returned to his private office, reclining in a wide chair, quietly formulating his plan.
Yamato is probably... around eight years old now.
No known parents, kidnapped by Orochimaru as a child, and subjected to the "Hashirama Cell Transplantation" experiment at a secret site. Out of sixty children, he was the sole survivor.
Even Orochimaru deemed Yamato an ugly failure and discarded him. However, the young Yamato, with a strong will to survive, held on until Danzo Shimura found him and took him to be raised in [Root], giving him the code name [A].
Those Root members' only goal in coming here was to ensure Yamato's "Wood Release kekkei genkai" was not discovered.
If Yamato's Wood Release was found out, it would expose the human experiments involving Hashirama's cells, revealing Orochimaru's experimentation site and Danzo Shimura's plans, igniting a major crisis!
Of course, as long as he didn't use Wood Release, no one would suspect that the eight-year-old Yamato possessed the First Hokage's kekkei genkai. After all, many shinobi had both "Water" and "Earth" chakra natures, which wasn't unusual.
— Yamato couldn't possibly use Wood Release while unconscious.
Since the likelihood of discovery was extremely low, Root allowed Yamato to be sent to the hospital without taking any drastic actions.
Unfortunately, Yuto was a transmigrator.
'Yamato, Hashirama Cell Experimentation Site...' Yuto kept pondering these terms, his thoughts gradually becoming clear.
He licked his lips, left his office, and exited the village, performing reverse summoning in a secluded forest.
Yuto arrived once more in the lush yet lifeless Shikkotsu Forest.
"Slug Sage!" He called the slug sage out respectfully.
"Is... that you, Yuto..."
A rumbling sound emanated from deep underground, where a massive life form gazed at him from afar: "What do you... need my help with?"
Yuto grinned, looking quite radiant: "Slug Sage, I need something from someone's mind."
The contents of the mind could either be memories or mental power. As Lone Lion, Yuto had the authority to request help from the Yamanaka Clan for such a trivial matter. They wouldn't refuse.
But coming to the Slug Sage implied, 'This is something that must remain hidden.'
"Yuto-kun, you should learn a genjutsu. Not just for intelligence and combat, but because practicing genjutsu will help you understand the brain and mental power better."
"You're right. However, I already have a backup plan for learning genjutsu."
"Very well..." The Slug Sage remained silent for a moment. Shortly after, a slug no larger than a fist emerged from the ground: "I've placed a genjutsu in this slug called Sage Art: Worm House. Place it inside the person... and you'll get what you want."
"Thank you, Sage." Yuto picked up the slug and hesitated, "Is there anything I can do for you? You've helped me a lot since the Battle of the Land of Hot Water."
"There will come a day when I need you... You are... an unceasing stream," the Slug Sage said, then fell silent.
Yuto nodded respectfully and left the Shikkotsu Forest.
...
Bubbles, bubbles.
A boy opened his eyes, fearfully taking in his surroundings.
He was soaking in a pungent chemical solution, wearing an old breathing apparatus. Through the cylindrical glass tank, he could see strange metal instruments outside.
He knew this place well.
This was... his hell.
He would die here, along with fifty-nine others.
His body would deteriorate, his organs fail, all his cells suffering from intense rejection, waiting for death in agony until thrown into a pit to be scavenged by vultures.
No! This is... a dream!
The boy gasped. He had indeed endured all this, but now he had survived and been taken in by Lord Danzo. His code name was... [A]!
Suddenly, strength surged through his body, and he smashed the glass tank. Chemical solution enveloped him as he fell to the ground.
Wood Release: Wood Hammer!
The boy's arm transformed into a massive hammer. He charged forward, smashing into a wall just as he reached it.
Bang!
The wall collapsed, and the bright moonlight spilled onto the ground, revealing the distant lights of Konoha and the towering Hokage Rock.
Yes, that's right, this is a dream. I'm a Root shinobi... I have power...
The boy laughed heartily, running towards Konoha.
This was the path away from death and nightmares.
However, he didn't notice that the moon above was different, more animated, closely watching his every move.
Rather than a full moon, it was more like... a gigantic Byakugan!
...
Yuto opened his eyes, rubbing his forehead in fatigue.
Soon, the small slug carrying the sage's genjutsu emerged from the emergency room and discreetly came to Yuto's desk.
"Good work," the Byakugan user whispered, petting its antenna.
"Return to the sage with my thanks."
Poof!
White smoke billowed, and the slug vanished.
Yuto closed his eyes and carefully recalled the path to the human experimentation lab.
Not too far from Konoha, making it convenient to transport supplies; but not too close, to avoid easy discovery. Even the soil hardness and air humidity were perfect.
"A superb location, orchestrated by Orochimaru. Truly worthy of being a veteran," Yuto muttered.
TN: Maybe give this translation a review. Please!
(End of chapter)
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