Exploring A New World

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Orochimaru wasn't the type to procrastinate—once he set his mind to something, he acted immediately. With so many fascinating new things to study, he could barely contain his excitement.

Meanwhile, Kitaro arranged for a team to work under Orochimaru's direction and appointed him as the captain of the 10th Division, tasked with overseeing research and development.

With the vast resources at Kitaro's disposal, managing a sprawling new world wasn't a simple job. The Uchiha Company had only a limited number of direct members, but their allied forces were extensive—much like how Whitebeard's pirate crew had numerous subordinate fleets.

However, Kitaro wasn't interested in maintaining a system like Whitebeard's. His Uchiha Security Company was already powerful enough. Keeping large fleets of pirates around wouldn't be beneficial, but subordinate organizations that could assist the Uchiha Company in handling various tasks? Now that was mutually advantageous.

Later, Kitaro treated Guy and Kakashi to a meal, taking the opportunity to explain the nuances of this new world. Over the course of their conversation, the two gained a decent understanding of their surroundings and expressed their eagerness to explore.

To prepare them for leadership roles, Kitaro appointed Kakashi as the captain of the 7th Division and Guy as the captain of the 8th. While their current abilities were not yet top-tier, both had incredible potential.

Kakashi, despite being somewhat lacking now, was the Sixth Hokage after all. His right eye housed a Mangekyo Sharingan that, while unable to manifest Susanoo, allowed him to use the space-time ninjutsu Kamui. That ability alone made him formidable.

Furthermore, Kakashi had inherited the blade techniques of Konoha's White Fang.

At his peak, White Fang's reputation rivaled that of the legendary Sannin. With the Lightning Breathing technique under his belt, Kakashi could reawaken his proficiency in swordsmanship, transforming into a fearsome assassin.

As for Guy? Once he mastered Armament Haki, his combat power would multiply significantly. Adding Observation Haki to his arsenal would further enhance his prowess, and if paired with the "Demonic Physique," Guy would become an unstoppable war machine.

After the meal, Kitaro personally taught the two of them the fundamentals of Armament and Observation Haki.

Over the past year, his understanding of these abilities had deepened considerably. While Observation Haki required time and practice to master, Armament Haki was relatively easier for them to pick up, as they were already familiar with manipulating energy as shinobi.

Still, they would need dedicated training to convert their energy into the unique properties of this world. It was a process only possible due to the distinct nature of this world's laws—a uniqueness Kitaro found fascinating.

To further accelerate their growth, Kitaro gave each of them a drop of his own blood. He had carefully removed his will and any cannibalistic impulses from it. This drop would help them gradually adapt, and once they had, he would provide more to strengthen them further.

Kakashi and Guy were amazed at the immense changes in their bodies. Guy, in particular, felt an overwhelming surge of energy—he was tempted to sprint around the entire main island.

They now fully grasped Kitaro's terrifying power. No wonder he could use the chakra-intensive Expansion Jutsu to fight the Nine-Tailed Fox for three days straight and come out victorious.

Guy was especially ecstatic.

The Eight Gates technique had always come with the drawback of excruciating pain, as opening the gates tore apart his muscles. But now, with his newfound regenerative abilities, those effects would be nullified.

He could open the Seventh Gate or even the Eighth Gate without worrying about the consequences.

With the addition of Haki training and possibly the Demonic Physique, Guy could hardly imagine the extent of his potential.

As for Devil Fruits? That could wait for Orochimaru's research results. He trusted that his teacher would not disappoint him.

After wrapping up these matters, Kitaro decided it was time for some personal relaxation. No matter how busy or exhausted he was, he always made time to "pay his dues" at home.

With more children being born into the Uchiha family, Hancock had grown increasingly eager for a child of her own with Kitaro. He was more than happy to oblige, believing in the blessings of a large family.

Over the next few days, Kitaro also found time to visit Gion at Marine HQ to "pay his dues" there as well. With the Navy in a period of relative peace, the atmosphere at the headquarters was calm and laid-back.

Meanwhile, he continued nurturing his relationship with Shirahoshi, the little mermaid. Feeding her his blood, he knew it wouldn't be long before she developed legs of her own. When that day came, he wouldn't hesitate to act.

Elsewhere, Shiki the Golden Lion was busy stealing soil from the Red Line to create new floating islands. With plans for 36 medium islands and 108 smaller ones, it was no small task.

The Uchiha Security Company was thriving under the leadership of Uchiha Fugaku, who efficiently managed the organization, leaving Kitaro with little to worry about.

Kakashi and Guy were fully immersed in their training, much like the younger Uchiha members when they first arrived in this world. Discovering new powers had lit a fire within them, and they were eager to master these abilities.

With some free time on his hands, Kitaro decided to resume his exploration of other worlds.

Ever since his Mangekyo Sharingan evolved into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, his ocular powers had been significantly enhanced. Each eye could now lock onto three separate world coordinates, giving him a total of six. Besides the Naruto and One Piece worlds, he had room to explore four more.

In the past year, he had traveled to numerous worlds, hoping to one day return to Earth—or at least a version of it.

Unfortunately, he'd only encountered Earth-like worlds that lacked the extraordinary forces he once knew. Some had no supernatural abilities at all, while others possessed only minor ones.

These worlds held little value to him now. After exploring their landscapes and taking in the sights, he would leave without even bothering to mark the coordinates.

Suddenly, a portal shimmered into existence before Kitaro.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

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