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Two days were clearly not enough for Mina to improve the control seals for the Impure World Reincarnation technique, but it allowed Yoichi to become very proficient with the Sage Curse Mark.
Here, he could simulate living beings and Serpent Heart Pills. In just two days, Yoichi administered the Sage Curse Mark to over a hundred people. Although there were initial failures resulting in death, the latter seventy to eighty recipients all survived.
By the end, Yoichi had a deep understanding of the Sage Curse Mark, ensuring a 100% survival rate.
After concluding his work, Yoichi then visited Mina.
However, upon seeing Yoichi, Mina hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry, Yoichi-sama, I haven't improved the control seal yet!"
"I'm disappointed in you!"
Yoichi's expression darkened. He picked up a whip from the torture table and lashed Mina ten times.
Mina bit her lip, bracing herself against the table.
"If there's no progress by tomorrow, it'll be reduced to seven lashes. No, five!"
"What?"
Mina was already displeased at the mention of seven lashes, but her face fell even more when the number was reduced to five.
Then, Mina quickly assured, "I will definitely do it, Yoichi-sama!"
If this could motivate Mina, he was willing to adapt.
"Go back, and don't speak of this to anyone. No one!"
"Yes, I understand, Yoichi-sama."
Yoichi checked the time; it was exactly forty-eight hours before he left the dream space and opened his eyes to the ceiling of his bedroom.
"I forgot to ask Mina how long it would take to improve. If it can't be done within a month, then the dream space will be gone."
Yoichi thought, realizing he'd have to wait for Mina to return to the village to slowly try.
"Apart from Mina, Kushina is also a formidable sealing master. But she's not one of us, and this involves the Impure World Reincarnation technique. It wouldn't be good if she leaked it."
Yoichi quickly dismissed the thought. His relationship with Kushina was merely formal, limited to greetings; even though Kushina and Mina were close, he didn't want Kushina to know about the Impure World Reincarnation technique.
Who knows if Kushina would inform Minato upon learning about the forbidden technique, leading to a chain of reports until the upper echelons of the Leaf were aware.
"You've worked hard today, go back."
Yoichi spoke to the Ryūchi Cave snake in the corner, then added, "Tell Ichikishimahime not to rush me. I will eventually go to the Ryūchi Cave to learn Sage Art."
The two types of Sage Art from the Ryūchi Cave were quite useful; one combined light and sound in the White Rage Technique, a powerful control type of Sage Art, impenetrable even by Susanoo.
The other could control inanimate objects, not strong in attack but able to alter the environment, controlling the enemy.
Typical battlefield crowd control abilities.
Unfortunately, he didn't have time now, and Yoichi also wanted to let his body adapt to natural energy before attempting to learn Sage Art. The longer the adaptation, the less dangerous the training would be.
After returning from the eastern front, if there was enough time, he would go to the Ryūchi Cave to train in Sage Art.
Meanwhile, at the Kikyo Castle battlefield.
Mina suddenly woke from a dream, then sat up and looked around. She was still in her lodging at Kikyo Castle. That was a dream.
"How could I dream of such a thing? Yoichi-sama punishing me in that manner is too much. All my previous dreams were—"
Mina rubbed her behind, the pain from the dream feeling very real, as did the seal improvement experiment she conducted in her dream.
"I must be too tired recently, having such outrageous dreams. Bring back my previous dreams!"
Mina slapped her head, then lay down again, hoping to return to her previous dreamland.
---
The next morning, Uchiha Yokawa and Uchiha Seijin had already selected those willing to join Yoichi on the battlefield, twelve Chunin and thirty-six Genin, with the list prepared.
However, only twenty people gathered today, chosen for either their activated Sharingan or notable talent, deemed worthy of focused cultivation.
They all knew they were about to receive a powerful force, understanding that acquiring it would be painful, but none would forsake power due to pain.
After distributing Serpent Heart Pills, Yoichi explained, "I will bestow upon you the Sage Curse Mark. Once the curse mark spreads across your body, immediately consume the Serpent Heart Pill in your hand, then endure."
"Understood, Yoichi-sama."
The twenty individuals replied in unison, some older than Yoichi but without any familial ties. Calling him "sama" wasn't excessive, given his achievements and his feat of severing the Third Raikage's arm, earning the moniker "Konoha's Thunder Fang."
Dividing into twenty Shadow Clones, \Yoichi then bestowed the Sage Curse Mark upon these twenty people.
Soon, a three-tomoe Sage Curse Mark appeared on their chests; upon receiving the mark, they almost simultaneously felt a domineering external energy invade their bodies, mixing with their chakra.
The curse mark rapidly spread across their bodies, bringing pain, but they were prepared and endured silently.
After the marks covered their bodies, they immediately consumed the Serpent Heart Pills and then collapsed, clutching their chests.
"Don't worry, there won't be any problems. I've tested this many times."
Seeing the concern in the others, Yoichi reassured them, having perfected the technique in the dream space after numerous fatal experiments.
This was merely the process of adapting to natural energy and undergoing Sage transformation.
As time passed, the skin color of these twenty clan members changed, but no other physical mutations occurred.
Yoichi knew from his dream space experiments that his capacity to absorb natural energy far surpassed that clan's incomplete physiology, far inferior to his.
Using his chakra, the body wouldn't undergo excessive mutations, just skin color changes.
Eventually, they began to rise, amazed at their hands, feeling their chakra flow increase manifold, with a significant boost in chakra quantity.
Strength, speed, and reflexes all improved markedly, a comprehensive enhancement.
"The chakra has changed so much. Truly, it's Sage Mode."
Yokawa, observing their transformation with his Sharingan, commented enviously.
"Don't be envious, Yokawa-senpai. Once we have more Serpent Heart Pills, all our clan members will have it."
"By the way, Yoichi-san, the clan head knows about this."
Uchiha Yokawa approached and spoke, referring to the previous day's recruitment for the battlefield, not the Sage Curse Mark.
"What did the clan head say?"
"After inquiring, there was no further action. But something feels off."
"Fugaku, the clan head, may lack ability but wouldn't interfere in this matter. If there's any targeting, it would only be against me. Don't worry, Yokawa-senpai."
With timing in mind, Yoichi had the twenty individuals deactivate their cursed states after five minutes.
Once out of the cursed state, they sat exhausted, gasping for air.
"The Sage Curse Mark will drain a lot of your stamina. With your current strength, five minutes is the limit. Beyond that, death isn't far off. This is for your survival."
The first state of the curse mark could be activated frequently, consuming less stamina, but the second state of the Sage Curse Mark was a desperate trump card.
"Understood."
"Yes!"
The twenty Uchiha clan members nodded eagerly, having tested their newfound strength, which indeed was formidable and offered an all-around boost.
After advising them to familiarize themselves with their power over the next two days, Yoichi left to find Sakumo.
The Hatake family, just father and son, had a not-so-small house, especially with their own training field for practicing kenjutsu.
Without beating around the bush, Yoichi told Sakumo he could bring fifty people, including twelve Chunin and thirty-six Genin.
Including his four students, it made no sense for the Elite Jōnin to remain in the village.
"Yoichi-san, you'll be the captain of the ninja squad. I'll speak to the Third Hokage about it."
Sakumo said, having already assigned the eastern front's overall commander and his deputy. All that remained were the captains of the three ninja squads and those managing other affairs.
With Yoichi's strength and reputation, leading a squad was entirely within his capabilities.
The mission in the Land of Rivers and the ambush on the Third Raikage's Cloud ninja squad proved Yoichi was a reliable teammate.
"Alright, then I'll wait for Sakumo-senpai's news."
After Yoichi left, Shikaku went to the Hokage building to find Hiruzen.
When Sakumo explained his intentions, Hiruzen was initially hesitant.
Yoichi leading forty-eight Uchiha ninjas into battle was certainly good, but he was reluctant to give him such an important position.
This role, next to command, held the greatest authority on the battlefield. If Yoichi returned successful, the Uchiha's prestige in the village would only grow.
He didn't mind accommodating the Uchiha, but Hiruzen hoped they would inherit his friend Kagami's will. In that case, he wouldn't mind expanding the Uchiha's influence in the village.
However, Hiruzen had only found two individuals who, like Kagami, were truly dedicated to the village: Uchiha Shisui, Kagami's grandson, and Uchiha Obito, who didn't seem like an Uchiha at all.
Even Fugaku thought of developing the Uchiha clan through peace rather than for the sake of Konoha.
Let alone Yoichi with his uncompromising nature. Publicly fighting in the Hokage building, if his status continued to rise, what would become of it?
"Sakumo, isn't Yoichi too young? Isn't it somewhat inappropriate for him to take on such a crucial role?"
"Third Hokage, although Yoichi is young, his strength and mission sensitivity are exceptional. Just looking at his flawless mission record is enough to prove his capabilities. I believe he can handle the role of captain well."
Sakumo argued, almost vouching for Yoichi.
With that said, Hiruzen had no choice but to approve Yoichi's appointment. Disagreeing would firstly offend Sakumo, and finding a suitable replacement now was impossible.
Besides, looking on the bright side, this was also the Uchiha contributing to the village.
---
"Madara-sama, Madara-sama~"
White Zetsu emerged from the ground, calling out a few times, but noticing no response from Madara, he then shouted in panic, "Madara-sama is gone!"
"Silence!"
Madara's aged voice sounded, followed by the opening of his lone three-tomoe eye, glaring at the annoying White Zetsu, "What is it?"
"The Obito you asked me to monitor recently left the village. Should we proceed with the plan? But, there's another Uchiha genius in the village, Uchiha Yoichi, and his temperament resembles that of Uchiha Obito, almost like a combination of the two."
"Is that so? Does he have any close associates?"
"It seems not. He often trains alone."
"Alone..."
Without love or the chance to lose it, it's difficult to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. The strength of three-tomoe is average, not fitting for his plans.
"No need then. Continue to observe Obito. Also, the plan is not in a hurry. Even for an Uchiha, a body around ten years old is hardly capable of sustaining the activation of three-tomoe or the Mangekyō. Don't bother me without reason."
Madara warned White Zetsu with a glance.
People like Obito, who have intense emotions, can awaken stronger powers after losing love.
As for the plan, there's no rush. Nine years old is still too young; the body isn't sufficient to support the activation of three-tomoe or the Mangekyō.
"Go and gather information on negotiations among the four ninja villages."
"Understood, Madara-sama. But could you give me more clones? With so many tasks at once, it's difficult to accomplish them with so few clones."
"Wait."
Madara said, then closed his eyes to silence. Behind him stood the massive form of the Gedo Mazo, providing him with chakra and life support, while numerous White Zetsus crowded its surface.
(End of Chapter)