Chapter 287: Connection?

Second Parallel World, the Base

Shortly after finishing negotiations with the Third Mizukage of Kirigakure, Senju Tobirama grabbed Link by the arm. "Quick, use that jutsu on me!"

When the cord from Link's Cast Net Jutsu dug into Tobirama's body, he sensed that peculiar connection and nodded. "Yes, it's the same principle as that strange summoning jutsu of yours—but it's changed a bit. You're using chakra as a link, spiritual energy as a tag… Hmm—"

"Huh?"

Tobirama wore a puzzled expression. "Why do you have cords connecting so many rabbits?" He, too, could sense all those rabbits, constantly broadcasting random "junk thoughts."

"I'm just maintaining the jutsu to see if there are any side effects," Link answered matter-of-factly.

In fact, the chakra expenditure was shared among all connected creatures. Yes, each new cord (expanding the net) raised the overall consumption, but it got distributed so that each individual used a little less.

Which made this jutsu well-suited to large groups. So Link simply had his shadow clone round up all the wild rabbits in the area and plugged them in one by one, forming his own manufactured "rabbit network."

After a few days of observation, he was fairly certain the Cast Net Jutsu inflicted no harm. Unfortunately, even though the rabbits were forced to share their thoughts and couldn't stop mindless chatter, it didn't prevent them from squabbling—often escalating fights they normally wouldn't have. Total mutual understanding sometimes led to fiercer conflict. It was kind of sad, really.

"Alright, I get it. No issues," Tobirama grumbled, face dark. "Now hurry up and remove the jutsu from them." The endless overflow of rabbit thoughts and impulses was nauseating.

This wasn't just "sending messages"—the rabbits lacked any concept of restraint. Through the chakra link, they kept blasting their every sensation at him.

"No need to go to all that trouble."

Link coolly flipped a mental switch, blocking the rabbits' transmissions.

Tobirama's face darkened even more—clearly, Link had done that on purpose. As the jutsu's caster, he definitely had fine-tuned control over who could send or receive.

[So… a 'great and benevolent admin' behaves like this.]

Link, smugly crossing his arms in his mind, cut the rabbits' permissions altogether. No more spamming each other, since all they did was fight worse when they actually understood what the other was thinking.

Well, maybe I could use rabbits to harass an enemy someday… Link mused. But the cords of his Cast Net Jutsu didn't move fast, so even a genin would have time to dodge—unless you were already close enough to literally jab it into them. At which point, other seal-based or genjutsu-type moves would be easier.

He shrugged. He wasn't even sure when he last had a real fight.

"The jutsu is still drawing on my chakra to keep the link," Tobirama said. "B-Brother—!" He called out automatically, then remembered the man standing nearby was the Second Parallel World's Hashirama, not the original. An awkward expression flashed across his face. "Ahem, I mean… First Hokage-sama."

They were so alike—in appearance, aura, and chakra—that if Tobirama let his guard down, he mixed them up.

Chuckling softly, the "second" Hashirama came over and willingly allowed one of the Cast Net Jutsu's cords to connect with him.

Tobirama then pushed aside all distractions, giving Link's new jutsu a serious test.

First up was transferring information—its most basic function. A more advanced version involved conveying emotions or sensations, exactly as the rabbits had been doing.

After that came data that cost more energy to transmit—like sound, images, memories, and so on. Thanks to the second Hashirama retaining most of his previous strength, testing the needed chakra/stamina and distance limits was easy for them.

In short, simple "info" transfer (like normal chat) was basically baked into the jutsu's upkeep. So long as the Cast Net Jutsu was running, it created a mutual chakra flow between those linked, so passing along messages didn't require extra effort. The heavier the content—voices, images, memories—the higher the additional cost. Even so, it was low enough for a rabbit to handle. Most crucially, distance didn't matter.

"Does that mean we can't share experiences, jutsu, or power?" Link couldn't help asking.

Tobirama gave him the look you'd give a clueless student. "You think it's so easy to open your heart and mind enough to share everything?"

"But you did teach me Edo Tensei before…?" Link countered.

Tobirama sighed. "That jutsu involved a personal willingness to open your spiritual side, allowing for mind-to-mind communication. This Cast Net Jutsu is different."

The differences were huge. The undead-communication jutsu focuses on "communication," while this new technique focuses on "connection." Two distinct concepts meant you couldn't expect them to have the same effect. Tobirama could talk at length about the deeper mechanics and differences, but to keep things simple for Link: "They're just not the same jutsu."

"Got it." Link nodded, letting the matter drop. "So basically, this is just chat, sending 'pictures,' and sending 'videos?'"

That made it sound like a cheap, mass-market app—and definitely lowered the "cool factor."

"You think infinite communication is nothing special?" Tobirama retorted. "The best wireless radio we have right now can barely manage five hundred meters. Cross-country comms need big equipment and eat tons of energy. Your jutsu is— Wait." His tone abruptly went serious. "Link, go back over to your world."

"You mean cross-world?" Link realized the same thing—that Cast Net Jutsu might allow them to bridge the communication gap that came from hopping between worlds. Without hesitation, he pulled out a scroll to cast the Boat Passage technique and headed to the main world.

…

Thud—

Link landed in his laboratory, mentally checking his open Cast Net Jutsu connections. He could still "feel" them, but they were extremely faint. Whether it was the Tobirama-Hashirama duo or the rabbits, everything was blurred. If he tried to transmit me—

Wha—?

Before he could even finish thinking about how to send data, his surroundings jolted. His vision stuttered like dropped frames in a video game. The empty floor suddenly showed a glowing, frameless doorway, and within that opening stood the Senju brothers, their Cast Net Jutsu link abruptly crystal-clear again.

Judging by the furnishings behind them, this was probably the other world's lab.

"Whew!" A fierce wind blasted out from that "door," apparently due to the second Hashirama being in Sage Mode, pumping out chakra. The floor kept cracking and crumbling under him.

Tobirama, reacting quickly, threw a scroll through the doorway.

Pop—

A sound like a bubble bursting, and the portal disappeared. The wild forces vanished as if nothing had happened, leaving just the scroll spinning on the ground.

Huh? What was that…?

Link stood there, momentarily stunned.

~~~

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