[Reality]
Makumi's body suddenly jolted, a crazed scream bursting from his mouth, "Ah…"
Beside him, Yakushi Kabuto stared intently at the monitor, then suddenly jabbed a needle into Makumi.
"Uh…", Makumi froze for two seconds, then immediately fainted.
Rengoku asked with concern, "How's Makumi?"
Kabuto replied calmly, "Rengoku-sama, don't worry. Though Makumi's spirit was on the verge of collapse, he still managed to endure."
"It's just that his spirit has been injured. Even though we have the Water of Life, he'll remain unconscious for a long time."
Rengoku also let out a breath, "Looks like it's still too dangerous.
"Forget about Kiyan, then."
Not everyone present could sense fluctuations of the spirit.
But technology changes life, under the monitoring equipment, nothing could hide.
They all noticed Makumi's mental power value had just skyrocketed wildly, nearly collapsing.
"So, Rengoku, how do you plan to deal with the others?"
Other than Makumi and Kiyan, several other groups of elites had also been sent out under the guise of secret missions.
But all of them had been struck down by genjutsu and brought back.
"Since we're putting on a show, let's do the full act. Beat them all up and have them lie in the hospital for a while."
To awaken the Mangekyo, both aptitude and circumstance are indispensable.
Forcefully opening the Mangekyo, if the spirit collapses, then that's the loss of a three-tomoe elite.
Makumi, Kiyan, Yusuke, and Rinjin were already at the peak of their lives.
Whether chakra or pupil power, this was when they had the greatest reserves.
If they missed this time frame, their soul strength would only start to decline.
For example, the elder Kairen. Even though he also had three tomoe, his soul strength was weaker than these younger ones.
Even geniuses had levels.
Even among the Uchiha, people's fates were not the same.
Outstanding individuals like Itachi and Shisui awakened the Mangekyo in their teens, proving their soul power had already reached the threshold then.
The most exceptional was Obito, who leapt straight from two tomoe to the Mangekyo.
Though his awakening might have had something to do with half of White Zetsu's body.
Kaori was also an outstanding individual. Even though she hadn't fought for so many years, her soul power still met the standard.
When Rengoku crossed over and his two souls merged, he also directly awakened the Mangekyo.
For Rengoku, being able to use Izanagi to check his clansmen's soul strength, and accurately pick out those able to awaken the Mangekyo, was already more than good enough.
Rengoku had never planned to wait until Sasuke and Naruto grew up. It wasn't like the clan lacked people.
———
[Uchiha Hospital]
Upon learning that Torifu could still be saved, the Akimichi immediately rallied their clansmen and carried Torifu over.
This was also the first time Rengoku saw this man who had lived in obscurity despite being from the same era as the Third Hokage.
Akimichi Torifu was extremely tall. Even lying on the bed, it was clear he was nearly two meters in height.
And his frame was very large, double that of a normal man. Truly broad shoulders and thick waist.
Though the illness had already worn down much of his fat, it was still obvious how robust his figure must have been in health.
"Orochimaru-sama, I entrust my uncle to you."
Choza had once fought on the battlefield with Orochimaru, so there was some old bond. Now he didn't stand on ceremony.
Orochimaru didn't waste words, only said, "Tell Kabuto all his usual treatments and medicines."
"I'll check him first."
With Orochimaru's own examination and machine assistance, he quickly understood Torifu's illness.
"He can be saved."
Orochimaru's opening words were straight to the point, making the stone in Choza's chest fall to the ground.
He continued explaining, "Torifu's lungs are necrotic, and his bronchi and heart can't handle it anymore."
Choza nodded, "Yes, two years ago Tsunade-sama said there was no real way, that it couldn't be cured."
Orochimaru excitedly stretched out his tongue and licked his face clean.
"Count yourself lucky. My cloning technology has just had a breakthrough. The lungs are one of the easier organs to clone."
"Though I can't cure it, I can give Torifu a replacement lung."
Orochimaru's medical skill might not match Tsunade's, but he specialized in an unorthodox path.
Clone and replace whatever part fails.
The lung, once cloned, is relatively simple to transplant.
As for the bronchi and heart issues, once the lesion is handled, treating them isn't difficult.
And Orochimaru just happened to need to conduct experiments on independent organ cloning.
The Akimichi sending someone like this was perfectly timed.
Orochimaru added unhurriedly, "But cloned organs are expensive. Be mentally prepared."
Choza said gravely, "Orochimaru-sama, do as you see fit. Whatever the cost, the Akimichi will cover it."
Orochimaru smiled and nodded, "Good. I'll first keep Torifu alive. The lung clone will take about three to four months."
"The cost will be one hundred million per month."
There were many short of money in the shinobi world, but the Akimichi were certainly not among them.
As an old clan, they also ran barbecue shops all across the Land of Fire.
Choza didn't even blink, "No problem, Orochimaru-sama. I'll have the money sent soon."
"Alright then, I'll begin emergency treatment first."
Saying that, Orochimaru had Kabuto push Torifu into the operating room.
He himself followed inside.
As for Orochimaru's trick of profiting while others were desperate, Rengoku fully approved, strongly approved.
After all, it was mutual benefit. Orochimaru both earned money and satisfied the client's need.
After all, only he had the technique. If untreated, Torifu would die.
"Many thanks, Elder Rengoku," Choza also turned to Rengoku to express his gratitude.
'Look at that, he even thanked me.'
Rengoku patted Choza's shoulder, "Once this period passes, our Uchiha will take action."
Choza said evenly, "Elder Rengoku, rest assured. I know what to do."
"The Nara and Yamanaka clans have already received my message."
———
[Nara Clan Compound]
Shikaku had already taken the position of clan head, but before Shikai, he was still the junior.
When the two sat together, they would always take out the board.
"Uncle, Choza just sent word. He says the Uchiha can save Elder Torifu."
"They've already carried him over."
Shikaku moved his pieces as he chatted with Shikai.
Shikai chuckled, "Count him lucky, he actually has a chance to survive."
Akimichi Torifu had been bedridden for many years, and these past two years his consciousness was hazy at best.
This kind of turnaround was indeed rare.
Shikaku agreed deeply. After a few moves he said, "The Uchiha should be about ready to act, right?"
Shikai picked up his tea, took a small sip, "From the moment Uchiha Rengoku appeared with his sister near our compound, that was already action."
"But now Rengoku should be pressuring the Third Hokage."
Shikaku thought for a while, "So they're preparing a counter-strike?"
Shikai snapped up one of Shikaku's pieces, "No. The Uchiha are testing what cards the Third still has."
"But I always feel, it's not that simple."
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