บท 155: Start The Operation!

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**Early the next morning,**

Yakumo stood outside the room, waiting. Today was the day she had both anticipated and dreaded for so long. It was her last chance to heal her body, and anxiety churned inside her.

*What if even Lord Hokage's methods can't cure me?* The thought that she might never become a ninja weighed heavily on her mind.

"Good morning, Yakumo."

"How long have you been waiting?"

Takuya greeted her with a smile as he approached.

"Not long," Yakumo replied, forcing a smile of her own.

"Let's not waste any time. I'll take you to Orochimaru's lab."

Yakumo nodded, and they began to walk side by side.

"Are you nervous?" Takuya asked lightly, though his eyes showed concern.

"A little," Yakumo admitted. "I'm afraid... if this doesn't work..."

She trailed off, unable to voice her fear completely. This treatment was her last hope of achieving her dream.

"Don't worry," Takuya said with a reassuring smile. "I believe in you. Your problem can definitely be solved."

His confidence calmed her somewhat. If the Hokage believed in her, then maybe—just maybe—things would turn out alright.

They continued walking, chatting as they went. Slowly, the knot in Yakumo's stomach began to loosen.

"Yakumo, hold on to my hand," Takuya instructed, sensing her relaxation.

Yakumo obediently took his hand, and a moment later, she felt a sudden shift. The air around them rippled, and when it settled, they were standing in a dense forest.

Yakumo looked at Takuya, her eyes wide with realization. He could have transported them here directly, but instead, he had taken the time to ease her nerves.

"Thank you," she murmured, gratitude welling up inside her.

Takuya gently patted her head. "Don't overthink it. We're here."

With that, he led her into Orochimaru's hidden laboratory.

After a short walk, Orochimaru appeared, his expression unreadable as always.

"Takuya-kun, what brings you here this time?" Orochimaru's eyes briefly flickered to Yakumo before returning to Takuya.

"Yakumo's body is weak," Takuya explained. "She gets out of breath just from walking. Can we do a transplant?"

Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Not directly. Her body is too fragile for that kind of surgery."

Yakumo felt her heart sink, but before despair could fully take hold, Orochimaru continued.

"I can strengthen her body first, make her more resilient. Once that's done, the surgery will be much safer."

Takuya nodded in agreement. "I'll leave it to you."

Yakumo's spirits lifted at Orochimaru's words. Moments ago, she had felt hopeless, but now, there was a glimmer of hope.

"Come with me," Orochimaru said, turning back toward the lab.

"Go on," Takuya encouraged.

Yakumo followed Orochimaru, her steps lighter now. After what felt like an eternity, they returned.

"Takuya-kun, it's done," Orochimaru said. "Give her a month to adjust to the changes in her body, and then we can proceed with the next surgery."

"Thank you," Takuya replied. He glanced at Yakumo, noticing the relief in her eyes. "Let's go."

As they walked back, Yakumo could hardly contain her excitement. "Lord Hokage, I already feel so much better!" she exclaimed.

She marveled at the newfound energy coursing through her. Before, a walk like this would have left her exhausted, but now, she felt stronger than ever.

"Haha, this is just the beginning," Takuya said with a smile. "Once you're fully recovered, we'll do the next surgery. After that, you'll have power beyond your imagination."

Yakumo could hardly believe her luck. "Thank you so much, Lord Hokage," she said, her voice full of gratitude.

Takuya chuckled. "I don't need thanks. I've helped you this much, so how do you plan to repay me?"

Yakumo blinked, caught off guard by the question. For a moment, she was at a loss. Then she saw the playful glint in Takuya's eyes and understood.

Blushing furiously, she stood on her tiptoes and quickly pecked Takuya on the cheek before darting away, embarrassed.

Takuya watched her go, a smile playing on his lips. The soft touch of her kiss lingered, and he found himself amused by the whole situation.

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**Konoha Village**

At the training ground, Takuya sat quietly, watching as Yakumo ran laps, her breaths coming in short, quick gasps. A small smile played on his lips.

"Yakumo, do you want to take a break?" Takuya called out, casually munching on a slice of watermelon.

"No need," Yakumo replied, her voice determined. "I can still keep going!"

Takuya chuckled and shook his head, taking another bite of watermelon as he continued to watch her.

Yakumo's breathing grew heavier, and despite her best efforts, her legs eventually gave out, causing her to collapse onto the ground.

"Are you alright?" Takuya asked, concern evident in his voice as he walked over. He gently lifted her by the waist and carried her to the shade of a nearby tree.

"You've been pushing yourself pretty hard," Takuya remarked, sitting down beside her. "Even though your body's recovering, you don't need to overdo it."

Yakumo smiled weakly. "I just... I want to enjoy this. For the first time, I can really push myself. It's a wonderful feeling."

Though her lungs burned and her body ached, Yakumo's heart swelled with joy. She had spent her whole life being weak, getting tired after just a few steps. Now, she had been able to run for what felt like forever. This newfound strength was exhilarating.

"Alright, let's take a short break and eat something," Takuya said, placing a hand on Yakumo's back. A warm, gentle energy flowed into her, quickly revitalizing her.

In mere moments, the fatigue vanished, leaving Yakumo feeling completely refreshed. She marveled at the power Takuya had used—it was nothing short of miraculous.

For a ninja, training is crucial for growth, but it often leaves behind hidden injuries that are nearly impossible to fully heal. Yet, with Takuya around, she didn't have to worry about that. He could restore her body—and her spirit—to peak condition effortlessly.

"Thank you, Takuya-sama," Yakumo said, gratitude shining in her eyes.

Takuya grinned, raising an eyebrow. "No need to be so formal with me, Yakumo."

Blushing, Yakumo lowered her head and began to nibble on her watermelon.

"After I rest a bit, I want to practice some more jutsu," she said after a moment, eager to continue.

"Go ahead," Takuya replied, understanding her excitement. After all, she had spent so long dreaming of being able to train like this.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" Yakumo shouted as she formed the hand seals, releasing a powerful fireball. She quickly followed up with "Water Style: Water Whip!" and "Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

She practiced until she had exhausted nearly all of her chakra, finally stopping with a satisfied yet slightly disappointed sigh. There was still so much more she wanted to do.

"Yakumo, it's getting late. We should head back," Takuya said, ruffling her hair affectionately.

"Okay," Yakumo nodded, obediently following him as they returned to Takuya's home.

For the past few weeks, Yakumo had been staying with Takuya as part of her physical recovery training. She had become a familiar presence in the household, her kind and gentle nature endearing her to everyone. Though she wasn't officially a part of the family, they had all come to see her as one of their own.

During the days that followed, Yakumo continued her training under Takuya's guidance. Thanks to his support, her progress was rapid. She didn't need to worry about overexertion or injury—Takuya was always there to heal her.

A month later, Yakumo's physical condition had improved drastically. It was then that Takuya took her to Orochimaru's lab.

"Orochimaru, are you sure everything will go smoothly?" Takuya asked, his tone serious.

"Don't worry, Takuya," Orochimaru replied with a confident smirk. "I've conducted countless successful experiments."

He gestured to the artificial beings lined up in the lab. Transplanting the powers of Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan into others was now a routine procedure for him.

Takuya nodded, satisfied with the response. He watched as Yakumo and Orochimaru entered the operating room together.

Half an hour later, Orochimaru emerged, his expression pleased. "The surgery was a success. When she wakes up, Yakumo will have both Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Orochimaru's voice held a hint of nostalgia. These were powers he had once been obsessed with but could never attain. Now, they were within his grasp, ready to be bestowed upon others.

"Takuya, you truly are a remarkable leader," Orochimaru added, his respect for Takuya evident.

"I'm glad to hear it," Takuya replied, his happiness clear. With this success, Yakumo—and others in his circle—would now possess some of the most powerful abilities in the ninja world.

Unlike Kakashi, who struggled to control the Sharingan due to lacking Uchiha blood, Yakumo's genetic modifications would make these powers fully her own.

"By the way, Orochimaru, how is the research on the sacred tree coming along?" Takuya asked, recalling the project he had assigned some time ago.

"We've made significant progress," Orochimaru answered, a sly smile forming on his lips. "It won't be long before we can mass-produce sacred tree seeds."

"Excellent work," Takuya said, clapping Orochimaru on the shoulder. With mastery over genetic technology and the ability to create sacred trees, the future was bright. Soon, the mass production of ninja on the level of the Six Paths Sage would be within reach.

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