Bear Country, Daimyo's Mansion:
The ninja and samurai guarding the Daimyo were sprawled across the floor, their fates unknown. The Daimyo himself hung from a flagpole like a dead dog.
Only one figure remained, sitting boldly, indulging in a feast. The stack of empty dishes in front of him was over a meter high.
Letting out a thunderous belch, Fuma picked his teeth and glanced at the trembling chef, waving his hand as he asked, "Where does your Daimyo usually keep his money? I'd like to borrow some."
The chef, kneeling on the ground with his hands covering his head, was shaking violently. The earlier scene had severely traumatized him.
This demon had appeared out of nowhere, asked who could cook, and in the next moment, everyone was lying on the ground. If he hadn't instinctively replied that he was a chef, he might be lying there too.
Seeing the speechless chef, Fuma shook his head, lowered his tone, and gently asked, "If you don't speak, you'll die."
Moved to tears by these heartwarming words, the chef controlled himself and stammered, "S-sir, the Daimyo keeps his banknotes on him. He loves to count them when he's bored."
Fuma nodded knowingly, searched the Daimyo's body, and retrieved a thick stack of banknotes, which he pocketed with satisfaction. He then handed a small bundle to the chef and said softly, "I'm Hanzō of the Rain Country, got it?"
The chef was taken aback but quickly secured the money, nodding excitedly. He then abruptly stood up and ran headlong into a pillar in the hall, knocking himself out.
Fuma clapped his hands in appreciation, acknowledging that intelligence is always a valuable trait, regardless of one's strength.
For the past few days at the Daimyo's mansion, Fuma had been living lavishly, enjoying good food and rest to recuperate his body. Hanzō's salamander poison had indeed troubled Fuma, but it had also given him a gift.
The [Savage Growth] ability had not only healed his body completely but also granted him a new perk:
[Poison Immunity : After days of exposure to potent toxins, your liver and kidney functions have evolved, and your immune system has significantly strengthened. Biological poisons no longer pose a threat to you.]
This is the dominant effect brought by [Savage Growth]. What doesn't kill Fuma only makes him stronger!
The next time he encounters Hanzō or Chiyo, those ninja who love using poisons, Fuma is sure to give them a surprise.
During his time at the Daimyo's mansion, Fuma lived indulgently. If it weren't for Tsunade waiting for him, he wouldn't even want to return to Konoha. This place had abundant resources, low guard standards, and scenic beauty, making it a perfect vacation spot.
Whatever he desired to eat or drink, he could simply take it, hassle-free.
During his missions as a member of the ANBU, Fuma would often visit nearby Daimyo mansions when the opportunity arose.
In fact, the wine he shared with Tsunade on the night he won her over was also obtained from the Water Country's Daimyo's mansion.
As the saying goes, "Don't stockpile guns, but food is everywhere." As a ninja, you don't make much money from missions alone. In the presence of elite jōnin-level ninjas, the guards of these small country Daimyos were just ornaments.
Fuma agreed to Danzo's mission to search for the Root's lost funds in Bear Country not to curry favor with him but as a pretext to verify his own theories. It was a step toward setting a higher bar for himself.
The world of Naruto, beyond the five great nations, holds many small countries with mysterious powers. For Fuma, who possesses unique abilities, these places hold immense development potential.
In the movies, these so-called antagonists typically showcase power no greater than that of a kage-level ninja.
This doesn't mean they are genuinely weak. They may lack combat power, but their "special traits" are exceedingly precious.
"Devour," "immortality," and "time manipulation" are rare attributes that often come with limitations, appearing less potent.
However, in Fuma's eyes, these are like gems in the desert, hidden within small nations.
He just needs to absorb their extraordinary characteristics, plant a seed of power within himself, and, with his own ability titles, he can fully unleash their power.
The Grass Ninja with the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the Demon Ninja with the Sealed Mouryou, the Hidden Waterfall Village with the Hero Water, and the Dragon Vein deep in the desert—the ninja world has numerous opportunities waiting to be tapped.
Since he transmigrated, Fuma truly feels that the entire ninja world is like a gigantic treasure map.
Beyond the apparent resources like the tailed beasts contested by the great nations, ancient secrets from millennia past are even more worthy of exploration.
For Fuma, under the current circumstances, acquiring the unknown treasures of these small countries offers a much higher return than vying for tailed beasts.
After all, openly showing interest in tailed beasts would not only make the five great nations reject him but would also attract the attention of Uchiha Madara, complicating matters significantly.
The Star Village of Bear Country is Fuma's target this time.
.............
Star Village
In the Star Village, the village leader Hoshikage stared solemnly at the village's treasure, his face full of worry.
Ever since a meteorite fell onto this land over a thousand years ago, everything changed.
The village leader at the time discovered that the "star" could alter the chakra within ninjas, significantly enhancing their combat abilities, which gave rise to unseemly ambitions.
He awarded himself the title of Kage, claiming the title "Hoshikage," and led the entire village to cultivate under its influence, developing a unique technique known as the "Mysterious Peacock Method".
Initially, the entire village celebrated, thrilled by the power granted by the star's techniques. However, changes began to unfold.
As the villagers exploited the star's power more frequently, the mortality rate of the village's ninjas increased alarmingly, with more children dying young.
The first Hoshikage suddenly died, and the second Hoshikage similarly perished, coughing up blood. Everything pointed ominously at the star.
Yet, no one paid heed. In a small nation, obtaining such a secret technique justified a few sacrifices.
Hoshikage was a cautious person. At seventy years old, he already sensed something was amiss—the power from the star came at the cost of his villagers' lives.
Continuing down this path, regardless of how strong the star's power became, the Star Village would inevitably face destruction.
"It can't go on like this. It's time to abandon these dangerous illusions!"
Hoshikage resolved that, regardless of the village's obsession with the star's power, he would prohibit the cultivation of the "Peacock Method" to save his village!
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