"His nervous system, cells, and organs have suffered irreversible damage. Even medical ninjutsu can only keep them from further deterioration and necrosis.
It's lucky that he's still alive. But if treatment isn't timely, he'll still die."
Walking out of the lab, Kagetsu reminded Konan once again, who was drenched in sweat, "So you must constantly monitor his physical condition."
"You said that you could cure him." Nagato, sitting in a wheelchair, was being pushed alongside Kagetsu by Konan. His body had also been treated and bandaged.
"Of course. I'll perform several neurological surgeries to restore his consciousness first. After that, I'll replace his necrotic organs and tissues using my technology. But all of this takes time," Kagetsu replied.
"How can I cooperate with you?" Nagato asked. Hearing another reassurance from Kagetsu, he finally felt some relief. He also proactively brought up their prior agreement. "If you want to study the Rinnegan…"
"I've already begun some preliminary research while examining and treating your injuries earlier. I won't deny that some of my studies are bloody and less than humane. But rest assured, you are not a test subject, much less disposable material. My research won't be overly crude." Kagetsu smiled faintly.
"In fact, the Technology Development Department's studies on dojutsu and kekkei genkai can be traced back to its founding. The famed Sharingan of the ninja world has been on the research list since the beginning."
Konan and Nagato exchanged shocked glances upon hearing this. Their perception of Konoha—the peaceful and gentle village their teacher once described—shattered instantly.
"You've been studying your own village's ninja? Did they commit any crimes?" Nagato licked his lips.
Even though he was not well-informed about the ninja world, he still knew about the legendary Uchiha and Senju clans of Konoha, and the famous Sharingan and Wood Release.
These two Kekkei Genkais were as well-known and mythical as stories of gods.
"No, they committed no crimes. They all volunteered for the research. Also, don't let all your emotions show on your faces. If this were truly some inhumane human experimentation done openly, then both Orochimaru-sensei and I would have long been notorious in the village—or even labeled rogue ninjas."
Kagetsu glanced at their expressions and immediately understood how far their imaginations had run. However, he had no intention of providing a more detailed explanation.
"I don't quite understand the point of you telling us all this," Nagato said, confused. He had already agreed to the conditions and intended to cooperate with the research.
So what was the meaning behind Kagetsu's words?
If you called this voluntary, didn't his current situation count as that too?
"I'm saying this to let you know that I have extensive experience and data accumulated on Dojutsu and Kekkei Genkai. What I'm about to say next might sound a bit abrupt."
Kagetsu stopped walking suddenly and looked at him.
"You're a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, aren't you?"
"Other than the Uzumaki Clan, there are indeed people in the ninja world with red hair, but your body's data matches exactly with the bloodline traits of the Uzumaki Clan that I've studied."
"What are you trying to say?" Nagato asked, looking up at Kagetsu from his wheelchair.
"Konoha holds records and historical texts of the Uzumaki Clan. And in those records, not a single Uzumaki has ever awakened the Rinnegan," Kagetsu said softly.
"Maybe Nagato is just that special!" Konan interrupted, clearly uneasy. "Like Jiraiya-sensei always said, he could be the Child of the Prophecy!"
"Nagato is special. But awakening a Kekkei Genkai has incredibly strict and demanding requirements. While I don't yet understand what chakra nature transformations create the Rinnegan, it's definitely not a basic Kekkei Genkai of two chakra natures fused, nor is it a Kekkei Tōta requiring three chakra natures fused."
"Also, these eyes must place an immense strain on your body, don't they? I've seen your physical data. These eyes and your body… they aren't perfectly compatible."
Kagetsu's calm, analytical gaze shifted to Konan. That icy stare made her feel like she was standing bare in a freezing snowstorm.
"So what are you trying to say?" Nagato asked, his tone steady. "Or rather, what did you notice from my body's data? And what are you trying to suggest?"
Nagato remained calm because what Kagetsu was saying matched his own experiences. These eyes often gave him a sense of danger—powerful but difficult to control.
As he grew older, the burden they placed on his body only seemed to increase.
In the past, Nagato assumed this was a natural result of growing stronger and further unlocking the Rinnegan's potential. But now, he sensed that Kagetsu was hinting at something entirely different.
"These eyes… perhaps they aren't really yours."
Kagetsu reached out and touched Nagato's eye sockets. Nagato didn't flinch, his expression blank as Kagetsu's words echoed over and over in his mind.
"How is this possible? The Rinnegan doesn't belong to Nagato—whose eyes could they be then?" Konan exclaimed in disbelief.
"The body scan data doesn't lie. Of course, this is only one possibility, and we'll need more research and data to back it up.
The reason I'm telling you this is to remind you: if these eyes don't belong to Nagato but somehow appeared on him, then what purpose does the person who gave him these eyes have?
Nagato, could it be that your every action is under their watch?"
Kagetsu withdrew his hand. From the body scan data earlier, there were indeed some abnormalities between Nagato and the Rinnegan, but nothing definitive enough to immediately suggest transplantation.
After all, the Rinnegan, as the Sage of Six Paths' legendary eyes, had only ever existed in myths throughout the history of the ninja world. Information about it was far too scarce.
Konan still looked doubtful at Kagetsu's words, but Nagato suddenly remembered the two white, humanoid creatures that had been found parasitizing his body through unknown means in the cave.
For a moment, Nagato's mind was thrown into chaos. His first instinct was to find Yahiko, but then he remembered that Yahiko was still unconscious.
If Kagetsu hadn't brought it up, Nagato wouldn't have thought in this direction. But now that he had, his thoughts uncontrollably began spiraling in the direction Kagetsu had pointed, leaving his mind jumbled and his emotions in turmoil.
"How did you find them?" Nagato looked up at Kagetsu.
"After we parted ways in Amegakure last time, I discovered these humanoid creatures on my way back to the village. One of them had parasitized Shisui at the time." Kagetsu crouched down, reached into his shadow, and pulled out a white head.
"Apologies. I might've gone a little overboard in studying its corpse sample." Kagetsu casually waved the head in front of Nagato and Konan before shoving it back into his shadow, which rippled like water.
"All in all, it has the traits of both a ninja and a plant, allowing it to hide its presence and existence quite effectively." For original chapters go to novel※fire.net
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