Chapter 78: Secret Techniques

"Brat! Even if you joined my head back, don't think I'll forgive you." 

Hidan was indignant when he saw Kiyoshi reattach his head, even using medical ninjutsu to treat him. 

Feeling confident, Hidan mocked, "If you'd join Jashin's cult, Lord Jashin would be thrilled." 

But— 

In the next moment, Hidan's expression changed drastically. 

After reattaching his head, Kiyoshi reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a storage scroll. 

He stared intently at Hidan, who was bound tightly by vines and struggling fiercely. 

Kiyoshi smirked, "While storage scrolls typically can't contain living beings, I figure someone with an immortal body like yours won't just die of suffocation, right?"

"You—"

Poof!

In an instant, smoke filled the air. 

The storage scroll unraveled, revealing an intricate pattern of sealing techniques, forming a human figure in the center—a scaled-down depiction of Hidan, as lifelike as if he were still alive. 

"You brat..." 

Watching Kiyoshi's technique, Tsunade and Shizune were speechless. 

Normally, a young ninja encountering such an unkillable enemy would be terrified. But Kiyoshi? He was treating Hidan like a research specimen.

"Experiments like this are hard to come by, killing him outright would be such a waste..." Kiyoshi shrugged. 

He could handle Hidan's immortality easily, even going as far as dismembering him or incinerating his body with Fire Release if needed. 

But where else would he find such a unique test subject?

"Now, it's your turn..." 

With a grin, Kiyoshi stomped the ground forcefully.

Boom!

The earth shook violently. In the stunned gazes of Tsunade, Karin, and Shizune, a figure emerged, propelled from beneath the ground by an earth wall. 

In an instant, several vines shot out, piercing through the target. It was none other than White Zetsu.

"How... How did you detect me?" White Zetsu exclaimed in disbelief, staring at Kiyoshi. "And you even possess the Wood Release."

"What is that thing?" Tsunade asked, frowning as she observed the humanoid creature covered in spikes. 

Karin studied the pale White Zetsu with a shiver, "Gross."

Kiyoshi focused on White Zetsu, unfazed, and said calmly, "You're good at hiding, but I'm part of nature itself. I've already marked your unique aura—detecting you is easy." 

Kiyoshi's eyes suddenly turned a menacing crimson. 

White Zetsu tried to scream, but he was instantly trapped by Kiyoshi's genjutsu. 

"Tell me your purpose," Kiyoshi demanded. 

Without resistance, White Zetsu replied robotically, "The main body instructed us to locate the whereabouts of the madman from the Land of Hot Water."

A scream followed as the sharp vines penetrated White Zetsu, consuming him completely in seconds. 

"So they were after him?"

Kiyoshi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. It made sense—Hidan's brazen actions, leaving a trail of murders, would undoubtedly cause panic. 

The Akatsuki, as a mercenary group operating in the shinobi world, had probably taken on a request from the Land of Hot Water to track down Hidan. 

Additionally, they might see potential in Hidan as a strong candidate for recruitment.

"Alright, now that that's dealt with, let's head back," Tsunade said, pointing at the scroll in Kiyoshi's hand. "And we'll research that guy when we have time."

"Got it..." Kiyoshi smiled, glancing distantly, as if sensing something, before following Tsunade and the others away.

However—

Not long after they departed, another figure emerged from the ground, identical to Kiyoshi.

Whoosh!

Soon, a figure in a black cloak appeared before Kiyoshi, kneeling on one knee. 

"Lord Kiyoshi." 

The man wore sunglasses, his expression icy. 

Insects crawled over his face, which he ignored entirely. 

If Orochimaru were present, he would have recognized this man instantly—it was his former Root comrade, Danzo's trusted subordinate, Aburame Tatsuma. 

"Did you bring what I asked for?" Kiyoshi asked. 

To keep his dealings with Danzo concealed, Kiyoshi had used Kotoamatsukami to control Danzo's loyal subordinate, a capable and skilled ninja. 

"Yes, it's all here," Tatsuma replied, producing two storage scrolls and presenting them to Kiyoshi. 

"The scrolls contain secret techniques from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans… all of the sealing and secret jutsu currently accessible within Root." 

Tatsuma looked up at Kiyoshi with admiration and zeal, explaining, "Additionally, all remaining forbidden techniques developed by the Second Hokage are included here as well."

"In the other scroll, you'll find the corpses of various shinobis with different Kekkei Genkai that Root has collected over the years, as well as DNA samples from the former Kage of the major villages, as per your orders."

Tatsuma added apologetically, "I regret to report that aside from Konoha's former Hokage, we only managed to secure the bodies of the Second Kazekage, Shamon; the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu; the Second Tsuchikage, Mu; and the Third Raikage."

"And the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu?"

Kiyoshi inquired.

Naturally, Kiyoshi was not foolish or stubborn; he saw the potential in Root as a valuable asset. 

Long before this, he had commanded Danzo to gather corpses with different Kekkei Genkai's and other materials. 

Root had no shortage of samples from previous hunts, eliminating the need for Kiyoshi to search for specimens himself.

"Together with the Flying Thunder God Technique, Spirit Transformation Technique, and the Eight Gates, all are included," Tatsuma confirmed. 

To fulfill Kiyoshi's order to collect DNA from Kage across the shinobi villages, Root had deployed elite squads to infiltrate the great villages, even resorting to grave-robbing. 

Many operatives had been lost.

"Dismissed."

"Yes, my lord."

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