Chapter 394

"A small gain."

After quickly reviewing the memories transferred from the symbiote, Yoichi felt somewhat satisfied.

Although it didn't provide much in terms of power enhancement, its ability to copy the memories of previous hosts and pass them on to the next was already quite valuable.

It was still unclear which universe this symbiote originated from, but it had already parasitized three previous hosts. One of them had even been the chief technology officer of a star empire.

However, the symbiote's influence had caused his ambition to grow unchecked, ultimately leading to a civil war that shattered the empire within a few hundred years, breaking it into dozens, even hundreds, of separate federations.

The second and third hosts were less remarkable. By then, the symbiote had been discovered, forcing it to hide within ordinary individuals. Nevertheless, it had managed to survive and even became a renowned interstellar drifter.

Unfortunately, none of those memories were of any real use to Yoichi. Even though some of them had discovered treasure troves—one even left behind by the Celestials—it was meaningless since he had no way of reaching the Marvel universe. Even space-time wormholes wouldn't help.

Gurgle…

The symbiote wriggled on Yoichi's body and transmitted a vague intent.

After sensing it, Yoichi realized the symbiote had settled around his internal organs like a protective layer. If this had been the old him, he would never have allowed such a thing near his vital areas.

But now, even if his organs were shredded, he could regenerate almost instantly. His body could even transform into flames at will. In reality, it was the symbiote that feared him. If not for the threat he posed, it wouldn't have chosen to reside inside him at all.

"Stay put for now. I'll create a suitable body for you in the future. Until I fully absorb these memories, I won't let you die."

Yoichi spoke calmly before letting the symbiote retract into his body. He recalled that symbiotes could reproduce, and if he could artificially breed them into living battle armor, it would be an incredible breakthrough.

The chief technology officer's memories had already planted this idea in his mind, though he had never had the chance to realize it before his empire fell.

When Yoichi stepped out of the Kamui dimension, the sun had already risen. Checking the time, he realized he had spent about an hour inside.

Temari was awake as well, having taken a bath and tidied up the messy bed.

Seeing Yoichi enter, she spoke up. "I've cleaned up the bed. I'm heading back."

However, before she could finish her sentence, Yoichi stepped forward, cupping her delicate face and lowering his head.

Time passed slowly.

By the time the morning sun had fully risen, Temari returned to the Nara household, carrying a bag of breakfast and slightly out of breath.

But as soon as she stepped inside, she saw Nara Shikadai preparing to head out. Feeling guilty, she asked, "Shikadai, where are you going?"

"Mom? Where did you go so early? And why did it take so long?"

Shikadai looked at her curiously before explaining, "Dad hasn't come back yet, so I was going to buy some food and bring him something to eat. Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet… but I already bought some. Sorry, I really wanted to eat this today, so I waited a little longer."

Temari forced a smile. Hearing that Shikadai was thinking about whether Shikamaru had eaten, she felt a deep sense of guilt. As Shikamaru's wife, she hadn't even considered him. Instead, she had… early in the morning… with another man…

"Sorry, Shikadai. Take this to your father, and tell him I'll make a big meal for him at lunch, so he shouldn't overwork himself."

After saying this, Temari thought to herself that she was truly a failure as a wife. This was the only way she could try to make amends.

"Alright, got it. But Mom, don't push yourself too hard. You haven't been feeling well lately."

Shikadai nodded and took the breakfast from her hands. Noticing that there were three portions, he asked, "Huh? Didn't you get something for yourself?"

"Ah… I just didn't have time. Leave one for me."

Her voice was slightly flustered as she quickly took a portion and walked inside. Facing Shikadai always made her feel guilty, as if she had completely failed as a mother.

"What's with her today…?"

Shikadai scratched his head in confusion before heading to the Hokage's office with breakfast in hand. He took out one portion to eat on the way so that he'd be finished by the time he arrived.

Meanwhile, at Yoichi's Apothecary

After Temari left, Yoichi returned to the Kamui dimension once more.

Now, he possessed two Divine Trees. The one cultivated by Isshiki Ōtsutsuki was nearly mature. As long as he fed it an Ōtsutsuki, it would rapidly reach full maturity.

The only problem was that the Jūbi had begun developing its own instincts.

After thinking for a moment, Yoichi decided that he would refine the Jūbi into a medicinal pill.

No matter how much it evolved, its fundamental nature as a Jūbi wouldn't change—it was born to serve the Ōtsutsuki's evolution.

Moreover, the alchemist's memories he had obtained included methods for refining living beings into elixirs.

As for Isshiki, the Kamui clone had already memorized the coordinates of the space-time portal's other end. They could go after him at any time. But for now, Yoichi decided to let him live a little longer—if only to keep the Five Great Nations' attention focused on him.

(End of Chapter)

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