Chapter 308: The Symbiote

Chapter 308: The Symbiote

Arriving once again at the gates of Konoha, Tonari found the experience strangely different from before.

This time, he was disguised as Sasaki, a member of the Fourth Mizukage Yagura's escort team, and the perspective felt completely different.

When he noticed Mei Terumi's astonished expression beside him, he couldn't help but feel a bit proud.

Perhaps it was the satisfaction that comes when something that belongs to you is admired and praised by others.

"Everyone, control your expressions and emotions. Don't embarrass the Mist Village," Ao said, furrowing his brow as he reminded the group.

Hearing his words, the shinobi behind him finally regained their composure.

Yagura adjusted the conical hat symbolizing his position as Mizukage and looked up at the towering Konoha gate, his eyes revealing a hint of admiration.

"Ao, don't be too hard on them. Konoha truly lives up to its reputation as the First Hidden Village of the ninja world," Yagura remarked.

In his eyes, it wasn't just the colossal gate that Senju Hashirama had personally crafted using Wood Release that caught his attention, but also the faint traces of a protective barrier that surrounded the entire village.

To accommodate the arrival of shinobi from other villages, Konoha had increased its security to the highest level, with all barriers fully activated and every department on high alert.

"Understood, Mizukage-sama," Ao replied respectfully, ceasing his earlier admonishments.

However, the other Mist shinobi remained visibly excited, their eyes reflecting their inner turmoil.

"Let's go inside and see what the interior of Konoha looks like," Yagura said, stepping forward.

Since the Mist Village group had entered the Land of Fire, they had been under constant surveillance by Konoha's Anbu, who kept reporting their movements.

By the time they reached Konoha, the village's preparations were complete, including the welcoming party led by Tonari's shadow clone as the Fourth Hokage.

Standing at the entrance, the clone smiled warmly as Yagura approached.

The two leaders clasped hands in a symbolic gesture of mutual respect and cooperation between the two villages.

Tonari, standing among the crowd disguised as Sasaki, couldn't help but feel strange about the whole situation.

Seeing his own shadow clone shaking hands with his own puppet, Yagura, while pretending to exchange pleasantries just felt... weird.

He couldn't help but smirk, but before he could react further, Mei Terumi jabbed him lightly, signaling him to straighten his attitude.

She clearly interpreted his amused expression as disdain towards Konoha's grandeur, but he couldn't exactly tell her the truth—that both villages were essentially under his control.

After a brief exchange of words between the Hokage and Mizukage, some Root shinobi stepped forward and handed each Mist shinobi a white card.

"Apologies, but for everyone's safety, we ask that each Mist shinobi carry this card with them at all times. It serves as your identification while in Konoha.

Losing it means going to the Hokage Building to request a replacement, but if you're caught without it, you may be detained as a potential spy," explained Nara Shikaku, who was coordinating the event.

The cards bore unique identifiers, marked with Flying Thunder God Seals personally left by both Tonari and Minato, making them virtually impossible to tamper with or duplicate.

Realizing that the cards were not just simple identification, the Mist shinobi examined them cautiously.

However, seeing Yagura calmly accept the card with a smile, everyone else followed suit.

"Hokage-sama is truly thoughtful," Yagura praised.

Tonari's shadow clone kept a polite smile on his face, guiding the Mist group through Konoha's bustling streets.

The route taken was deliberately chosen to showcase Konoha's most prosperous areas, revealing vibrant streets lined with shops and cheerful villagers.

The contrast between Konoha's wealth and the Mist's relative austerity was obvious.

"Is this... really the legendary First Hidden Village of the ninja world? It's so... prosperous..." Mei Terumi muttered to herself, awe-struck.

Tonari, disguised as Sasaki, waved his hand in front of her face.

"Come on, don't embarrass the Mist Village. Keep your composure."

Even Ao found himself suppressing his curiosity, knowing that maintaining dignity was important.

However, most of the other Mist shinobi couldn't help but glance around, their eyes wide with wonder.

Only Zabuza remained stoic and indifferent, his face an unwavering mask of indifference.

"Don't you think there's a huge gap between our village and Konoha?" Mei asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Tonari shrugged nonchalantly.

"Of course there is. We're just emerging from the era of the 'Bloody Mist.' Give it time, and the Mist Village can develop just as much."

Mei's eyes lit up.

"You really think so?"

"Definitely. It's just a matter of time and effort."

Tonari's calm confidence seemed to inspire her, and Mei's determination to uplift her village grew stronger.

The group soon reached a large, newly built wooden inn—an impressive structure made entirely of solid, self-healing wood.

"Is this inn newly built? It looks brand new," Mei speculated.

Tonari took out a kunai and scratched the wall, leaving only a shallow mark that quickly repaired itself.

"It's made from Wood Release—likely created by the Fourth Hokage. Pretty efficient, right?" Tonari mused.

Mei's eyes widened.

"Wood Release... just for a building? Isn't that a bit excessive?"

"Not really," Tonari replied.

"Think about it—ten ordinary workers might take a whole day to build something like this. One Wood Release technique accomplishes it in seconds. Efficiency is everything."

Hearing Tonari's reasoning, Mei nodded thoughtfully.

"You're right. Managing a village efficiently really requires looking at the bigger picture."

Her admiration for Tonari grew even more. Not only was he strong, but he also possessed a pragmatic and insightful mindset—a rare combination.

That night, after settling the Mist shinobi into the inn, Tonari left a shadow clone behind and slipped away quietly.

His first destination wasn't the Hokage Office or even the cat shelter, but the Root Base's deepest laboratory.

As he approached, he saw Orochimaru engrossed in his research, his complexion paler than usual, with faint scales visible on his skin.

"Sensai... you've started transforming your body?" Tonari asked, noticing the changes.

Orochimaru grinned, his tongue flicking out habitually.

"Ah, Tonari-kun, indeed. I've made remarkable progress. After studying your genetic structure, I've gained new insights into furthering my own evolution."

Tonari eyed the preserved body of White Zetsu on the lab table.

"What did you find out about it?"

Orochimaru's golden eyes glinted with excitement.

"A fascinating specimen. Its cells contain Wood Release potential, but far weaker than either you or Senju Hashirama. However, it can enhance the Wood Release abilities of stronger users."

"Enhance?"

"Indeed. The weaker the base Wood Release power, the greater the enhancement. However, if one already possesses immense Wood Release power—like Hashirama—the boost becomes negligible."

Tonari processed the information, understanding that White Zetsu functioned more like a symbiote—a parasite that could augment weaker abilities but added little to those already at the peak.

"A symbiote, huh... That makes sense."

Orochimaru chuckled.

"Exactly. An invaluable tool in the right hands."