aircannonsinc Chapter 148 Jugo's Exploration Plan
Chapter 148 Jugo's Exploration Plan
Chapter 148 Jugo's Exploration Plan
This is not Jugo's fault, after all, when he first had memories, he was regarded as a monster by the villagers.
It could be said that this had long been his obsession.
Jugo took a deep breath and finally suppressed his eagerness to succeed.
But he was still thinking about how to speed up the process.
Gen Takuno looked up at the darkening sky, and with Jugo and Shiro, the three of them walked silently toward the orphanage in the dim light of dusk.
Throughout the journey, Jugo remained unusually silent.
His thoughts, like a wild horse, were completely absorbed in how to more quickly master and control natural energy.
With each step he took, he repeatedly considered various possibilities in his mind, until the familiar walls of the orphanage came into view, and a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
"My lord!" Jugo's voice, tinged with barely perceptible excitement, suddenly rang out, breaking the tranquility of the journey home.
Takuno paused slightly, having already keenly sensed Jugo's absent-mindedness along the way, and he could roughly guess why.
"Hmm? What is it?" He turned around, his gaze calmly falling on Jugo's face, waiting patiently.
Jugo took a deep breath, trying to make his tone sound more composed, but the intense anticipation in his eyes was impossible to hide.
"My lord, just now—just now I saw you trying to figure out how to control natural energy, and you were thinking about a question."
This kind of trial and error requires your time and energy—I'm wondering if I could try to sense and explore on my own when you're not directly guiding me?
He paused, and seeing that Yuan Tuoye did not immediately object, he seemed encouraged and spoke a little faster.
"If I find anything, I'll have Xiao Hei notify you immediately! That way, maybe—maybe it can speed things up a bit?" He stared intently at Yuan Tuoye, his eyes shining brightly, as if this was his only lifeline.
Yuan Tuoye was slightly taken aback, and then fell into deep thought.
Jugo's proposal was indeed quite attractive.
He thought to himself, "Theoretically, it's much more effective for the host to actively explore and control the natural energy within their body than for me, an outsider, to use spiritual techniques to scratch the surface. After all, it's one's own body, and the compatibility is irreplaceable."
This is the most fundamental feasibility.
However, a problem soon arose: "But, Jugo is still young, and his mental strength is far from mature. How can he withstand the innate, violent erosion of natural energy? If he fails, going berserk and out of control will almost certainly be the end result—"
Thinking of this, Yuan Tuoye frowned.
Several possible solutions flashed through his mind instantly.
"The most direct way to ensure this is for Haku to master the relevant sealing techniques. One is a barrier technique used to isolate the natural energy escaping from the outside, and the other is a powerful binding seal that can suppress the berserk Jugo at a critical moment —"
But reality is not that simple.
The sealing technique previously applied to Jugo was only intended to suppress his simple berserk state.
If he actively introduces natural energy and begins to manipulate so-called "Sage Chakra," given its instability, there is a high probability that he will make a mistake.
Once that pseudo-Sage Mode chakra is formed, ordinary sealing techniques would likely be unable to withstand the power it unleashes.
Thinking of this, the name of a famous sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan came to mind: "Four Symbols Seal"!
This powerful technique, which embodies the essence of the Vortex Sealing Technique, can theoretically ensure that an out-of-control Jugo cannot harm himself or others if it is supplemented with multiple binding runes.
However—Yuan Tuoye's gaze quietly shifted to Bai, who was quietly following beside him.
Bai's talent is undeniable, but the child currently knows nothing about sealing techniques.
The Four Symbols Seal is an extremely advanced sealing technique, very difficult to learn, and cannot be mastered overnight.
How can someone with absolutely no prior knowledge be expected to start learning now and master the skills necessary to handle situations far more dangerous than a normal rampage in a short period of time? This is practically an impossible task.
"—So, having Bai provide security is not a viable option for now." Yuan Tuoye rejected the plan in his mind, his brows still furrowed.
"Then, I'll have to provide protection for Jugo's proposal myself. That will also take up a lot of my energy—"
As he pondered deeply, Jugo, standing before him, was experiencing inner turmoil.
Every second of silence felt incredibly long. Looking at Yuan Tuoye's tightly furrowed brows, his heart sank little by little. His hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched inside his wide sleeves, and his palms were slightly sweaty.
That hard-won hope seemed to be extinguished at any moment by the silence of rejection.
Finally, Takuno raised his head, his deep gaze seeing through Jugo's tension, and finally settling on that pure longing for the future.
He weighed the pros and cons and came up with the best solution: to use the Shadow Clone Technique to carry out the guardian mission, while the sealing technique would be created by his main body in the form of a scroll.
In this way, the shadow clone only needs a small amount of chakra to activate the sealing technique that has already been set up, so there is no need to worry about not having enough chakra to set up the sealing technique.
In this way, the entity can focus its main energy on more critical matters, which is the optimal solution.
"Yes." Yuan Tuoye spoke calmly, uttering two decisive words, his clear voice sounding particularly powerful in the stillness of the twilight.
"That's great!" As if a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders, even the usually composed Jugo couldn't help but let out a suppressed gasp!
His clenched fists trembled slightly from the force, and a fleeting glint of joy flashed in his eyes.
The long-standing burden has finally found a practical solution!
Shiro, who had been quietly listening, saw Jugo's reaction and a warm smile sincerely appeared on her lips.
Although he didn't care about other people's opinions, he deeply sympathized with the pain that Shigeo was carrying.
He knew better than anyone how the inferiority and fear stemming from their "monster" form tormented his companion's soul day and night.
The thought that Shiro could live peacefully in the orphanage from now on, without having to be anxious because of fear and go berserk, and without having to listen to those heartbreaking whispers, brought a sense of relief to Shiro's heart.
Having resolved a major concern, Bai's gaze fell upon the small door of the orphanage, which was emitting a warm light. His relaxed expression was tinged with hesitation.
He hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage and spoke softly, "My lord—I also have something to say."
"Hmm? Go ahead and say it." Yuan Tuoye turned his gaze to him, with a hint of gentle encouragement.
"It's about Sister Nonou—" Shiro said earnestly after organizing his thoughts.
"As you instructed, Jugo and I have been observing her carefully these past few days. We feel—her care and gentleness towards us, towards all the children, and even towards everyone in the orphanage, comes from the bottom of her heart. I can clearly feel that sincere goodwill. So, sir—"
He bravely looked up at Yuan Tuoye, a hint of confusion and caution in his eyes, "Is there some misunderstanding between you and the nun that we are unaware of?"
His words clearly revealed his protectiveness towards the gentle dean.
This doesn't mean he's sided with the other side. If that were the case, he wouldn't be discussing this with Yuan Tuoye. He simply hopes that both sides can coexist peacefully.
After listening, Yuan Tuoye did not immediately explain, but simply replied, "It's good that she's kind to you."
His gaze was somewhat profound, clearly indicating that there were some things he couldn't tell Bai.
"As for misunderstandings? Not at all." Seeing the lingering worry in Bai's eyes, he continued, his tone reassuring, "Don't worry, as long as she focuses on her job as the orphanage director and takes good care of everyone here, there won't be any problems."
Hearing this, Bai's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and he nodded vigorously: "Mm!"
As long as the nun continues to treat everyone with sincerity, everything will naturally be fine, and Bai's anxious heart can finally be put back into his stomach.
Although he hadn't spent much time with the Pharmacist Nonou, her gentle, nurturing love and meticulous care convinced him that the nun truly cared for the orphanage.
"Alright, you can go in now. I'll discuss the rest with you in more detail later." Yuan Tuoye waved his hand gently.
"Yes! Goodbye, sir!" Jugo and Shiro said in unison.
They watched as Yuan Tuoye's figure vanished into the twilight like mist, as if he had never existed.
The two then looked at each other, both seeing relief and understanding in each other's eyes, and stepped side by side into the orphanage gate illuminated by warm lights.
Inside the door, the pharmacist Nono, who had been standing quietly by the window, seemingly tidying up her belongings, finally felt a sense of relief when she looked up and saw the two boys.
The barely perceptible worry on her face quickly faded, replaced by her signature gentle, loving smile, her eyes softly welcoming the children's return.
Yuan Tuoye returned to the somewhat empty laboratory and leaned back wearily into the familiar high-backed chair.
The continuous and frequent use of the Spirit Transformation Technique was like repeatedly forcibly extracting and re-injecting spiritual energy; finally, at this moment...
It revealed strong aftereffects, with a series of slight stinging pains and a deep sense of fatigue coming from deep within the brain, like an overstretched bowstring that desperately needs to be relaxed.
He closed his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously pressing against his throbbing temples.
Jugo's suggestion about "mastering Sage Mode first" clearly came to mind at this moment.
This plan is indeed highly efficient, allowing him to hitch a ride on that powerful force at minimal cost.
However, any shortcut comes with a price.
If Chongwu were to reach that realm first, and I were to use the Spirit Transformation Technique to invade his body, the risk factor would undoubtedly increase significantly.
Being rejected or even retaliated against by a consciousness that controls the power of nature has far more serious consequences than in a normal state.
"The risk is small—" Yuan Tuoye slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his dark pupils, "but this risk is worth taking."
He muttered to himself, with an undeniable resolve.
Time is a far more precious resource to him than any temporary risk.
The appeal of this plan lies in the fact that it can save him an unimaginable amount of time.
Moreover—a powerful sense of self-confidence rose within him.
Even if Jugo truly mastered Sage Mode, so what? A barely perceptible smile curved the corners of Minamoto Takuno's lips.
He has absolute control over his current strength and realm. Even if Chongwu successfully becomes an immortal, he will have no chance of causing any real trouble in front of him!
Especially in the spiritual realm, which is the area that Yuan Tuoye has always been proud of! His strong mental will has long been forged into the finest steel through countless hammerings.
That powerful spiritual strength was so great that even the Uzumaki clan, known for their vast chakra reserves, could not truly deplete him when extracting chakra!
"How much of a chance does the boost from Sage Mode have against absolute mental strength?" Yuan Tuoye tapped his knuckles lightly on the armrest, his expression resolute and steady.
This confidence, rooted in his very being, completely dispelled the last vestige of doubt in his mind.
No need to worry, he already has victory in his grasp in this game.
Not to mention, the possibility of Jugo turning against him is relatively low; such consideration is merely his personal habit.
He always considers the worst possible outcome of a matter, and as long as the worst outcome is not a big deal, then there is absolutely no problem with the matter.
Putting aside the matter of Jugo for the time being, Gen Takuno turned his thoughts to the next key plan.
It's time to lure that important little guy, Kabuto Yakushi, out of the shadows.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the unseen distance in the void.
The biggest obstacle right now is which ninja village Kabuto is infiltrating as a dangerous undercover agent. The intelligence points in Konoha are relatively clear, but the other villages are like being hidden in a thick fog.
"Then let's cast a wide net."
To be precise, aside from refraining from action in the already confirmed Konoha area, we should immediately begin skillfully spreading information about the name "Yakushi Nonou" and related, sufficiently attractive messages around the ninja villages of the other four major powers.
The release of information must be subtle enough to trigger the target's radar without revealing the unusual nature of its source.
Given Kabuto's motherly feelings for Nono Yakushi, there's no need to worry about her not taking the bait.
Yuan Tuoye's gaze fell on the occasional black shadow of a crow flitting past outside the window.
The final step in closing the net will be once Yao Dou follows the clues and finds his subordinate.
Then the crows that monitor those subordinates will silently and accurately deliver this message to him.
Waiting for good news is the main theme going forward.
He only needed to remain calm and wait for the skilled spy to walk into his carefully laid trap.
Yuan Tuoye stood up. Today's events had come to a perfect end. The barrier experiment had been a complete success, and there was even a plan to explore Sage Mode that could save him a lot of time.
This was an even more perfect day than he had imagined, making him feel that he would have a good dream tonight as well.