"How can I make Shizune master this?"
After experiencing the soul wandering, Mr. Lurigan withdrew his spirit. If he wanted Shizune to learn the Spirit Transformation Technique, he would have to enhance her Yin Release proficiency.
In Konoha, the Yamanaka clan specializes in mind-related jutsu and likely has methods to practice Yin Release. The Yuhi clan, known for their genjutsu, should also have ways to practice Yin Release.
Of course, Mr. Lurigan had another method, which was to awaken Shizune's Sharingan. However, cultivating Uchiha Madara's cells was not easy. It would take an unknown amount of time for Shizune to absorb and awaken the Sharingan.
Uchiha Madara's cells, unlike Hashirama's cells, didn't possess aggressive properties that could autonomously erode the host cells and absorb the host's life energy to reproduce themselves. Furthermore, Uchiha Madara's cells, being of Six Paths level, contained immense energy.
Similarly, cultivating and proliferating these cells would require vast amounts of energy and experimental materials. Unless Mr. Lurigan had many willing creatures to provide him with vast life energy, which he could then use to feed and proliferate Uchiha Madara's cells using his parasitic beetles.
Thinking about willing creatures, Mr. Lurigan recalled the snakes in Ryuchi Cave. "Once I find a way to the moon and master the Tenseigan and awaken the Rinnegan, maybe I can kill the White Snake Sage and turn Ryuchi Cave into a farm."
"This way, I won't have to worry about life energy..."
With that thought, Mr. Lurigan traveled to the forests of the Land of Water to find creatures to absorb life energy from. He then returned to his lab to continue transplanting Uchiha Madara's cells into White Zetsu, manipulating them to "mitotic divide" and absorb and feed back the energy.
By the afternoon, Mr. Lurigan returned to Tsunade's house to cook and dine with Shizune, enjoying their time together.
After a few days of this routine, Mr. Lurigan finally observed a significant advancement in his beetle.
"Is it finally evolving?"
In his lab, Mr. Lurigan took out the beetle and activated his Mangekyou Sharingan to accelerate its growth to a suitable state for advancement.
[Beetle: Can attach to the target's surface, providing a perfectly fitting armor suit, enhancing their defense. The armor model can be adjusted by the host.]
The parasitic beetle had already evolved into a legendary insect, so there was no hurry to further evolve it. Mr. Lurigan's current task was to cultivate three types of insects to the epic level before advancing them to the legendary level and receiving system rewards.
At this point, both the leaf beetle and the healing beetle were in the process of evolving. The only one left was the beetle.
[Beetle, rare insect species, has evolved nine times, currently able to advance.]
[Advancement is irreversible, please choose carefully.]
[Please select...]
[Option One: Armor Beetle: Epic species, attaches to the target's surface, providing a perfectly fitting full-body armor, significantly increasing their defense. Defense is related to the target's physique—the higher the physique, the greater the defense boost. The armor model can be adjusted by the host.]
[Option Two: Exoskeleton Beetle: Epic species, attaches to the target's surface, providing a perfectly fitting exoskeleton suit, enhancing their defense and physical attack. The stronger the target, the greater the attack power. The exoskeleton model can be adjusted by the host.]
[Option Three: Symbiote Beetle: Epic species, fuses with the target, granting them the ability to transform into armored form, enhancing all of the target's abilities. The higher the target's overall quality, the greater the boost. The transformation model can be adjusted by the host.]
Wow...
All three advancement options were excellent! No, they were amazing!
Seeing the options, Mr. Lurigan squinted his eyes, contemplating which one to choose. The Armor Beetle greatly increased defense, while the Exoskeleton Beetle enhanced physical attacks. The Symbiote Beetle, however, improved all abilities and granted an armored transformation ability, though its defense and attack boosts were not as high as the other two.
"Well, since it can transform, I'll choose the transformation."
After some thought, Mr. Lurigan selected Option Three: Symbiote Beetle!
He was curious to see what his transformation would look like.
[Selection successful, beetle advancing, advancement time: 30 days]
[During the advancement period, the beetle cannot be summoned or used.]
"It seems that the first advancement for any insect species takes thirty days."
"The second advancement requires sixty days. How long will the third take? One hundred twenty days? Ninety days?"
Looking at the now dormant beetle, Mr. Lurigan frowned slightly. The long advancement period was a bit frustrating.
Then, Mr. Lurigan thought it over and felt relieved. The insect species only had six levels. Even if it advanced from a common insect to a calamity insect, it would only need five advancements, taking just two to three years.
He was being too impatient.
"Next, I need to find a way to control Rimei Hyuga and seize the Hyuga clan's ancestral records."
"But before that, I should fully awaken Uchiha Madara's bloodline power."
"Another few rounds of absorption and feedback should completely awaken Uchiha Madara's bloodline power. Then, I'll just wait for the Rinnegan to awaken."
With this in mind, Mr. Lurigan headed to his lab to continue transplanting Uchiha Madara's cells.
By 4 PM, he returned to Tsunade's house to spend time with Shizune or went to Hotspring Town, the Land of Demons, and other places to accompany Mikoto and Miroku.
At night, he would sneak into Rimei Hyuga's room to feed her some life energy using his parasitic beetles, keeping her alive.
Every morning, Rimei would feel puzzled, noticing changes in her body as if something had happened the night before.
After some time, Mr. Lurigan finally obtained all of Uchiha Madara's bloodline power. Now, he just had to wait for the day his Rinnegan awakened.
March 31, Konoha Year 60.
Disguised as Mr. Lurigan, Shishou returned to Konoha to provide the Third Hokage with information on the Akatsuki members.
After a month, Shishou was confident that Kurenai Yuhi hadn't revealed his identity to anyone.
"Third Hokage, this is the list of Akatsuki members."
Shishou handed a photo of Sasori to the Third Hokage.
"Thank you, Mr. Lurigan," the Third Hokage said with a smile, inspecting the envelope before looking back at Shishou.
"I have a favor to ask of you, Mr. Lurigan."
Shishou was delighted. He could guess what the Third Hokage wanted.
During this time, Konoha and the Hyuga clan had been frantically searching for the Flying Thunder God user, while the Mist Village returned the Third Hokage's letter, stating they had no information to provide.
With no other options, the Third Hokage turned to Mr. Lurigan.
"I'd like to ask you to investigate the whereabouts of the Flying Thunder God user. What would you require as compensation?"
As Shishou nodded, the Third Hokage made his request.
From the Third Hokage's perspective, finding the Flying Thunder God user might lead to finding Tsunade, killing two birds with one stone.
As soon as the Third Hokage finished speaking, Hiashi Hyuga entered the room, having just received the news, and solemnly addressed Shishou.
"As long as you can find the Flying Thunder God user, you can name your price."