In the dimly lit room, a bright yellow light shone.
This was a rather rudimentary laboratory. Compared to the underground lab in Konoha, the equipment and materials available here were not abundant.
But this place was originally just considered a spot for quick resupplies, so naturally, the standards were lowered.
This laboratory was located at a secret base somewhere in the Land of Tea. After securing sufficient funds, Hakushi instructed his subordinates to build such resupply bases in many countries.
Most bases were set up within small nations, with only a few located within the Five Great Nations, where the personnel guarding the bases communicated using special codes.
Inside the enormous floor-to-ceiling glass cylinder, the Earth General was placed, surrounded by vibrant green solution rich in Natural Energy and some Recovery Potion to heal its body.
Although the Earth General possessed a degree of 'undying' ability, it was not truly immortal.
After suffering such a devastating explosion, no matter how strong its Life Force, it was utterly exhausted.
Most of the 'mud' had already synthesized into its body, but some fragments of 'mud' were still drifting in the solution, slowly in the process of recovery.
Soon, the laboratory door opened.
The Insect Man walked in from outside.
"Shattered to this extent, and it can still regenerate?"
He stood next to Hakushi, watching the Earth General in the glass tube with great interest, marveling at the strong Life Force of this Artificial Being.
"This guy's core, after all, relies on Natural Energy as its energy source. At the moment of the explosion, it absorbed a substantial amount of energy from the ocean, neutralizing most of the blast's force."
"So, does that mean as long as Natural Energy exists, it won't die?"
This was the first time the Insect Man had heard of such a thing.
Hakushi smiled and said: "Theoretically, but that's limited to theory. Actually, it has a limit to its endurance. However, if it can incorporate more powerful Sage Art Chakra in the future, it will become the perfect Artificial Human I envision."
The Insect Man didn't fully understand, but he knew that the creature Hakushi created, to some extent, exceeded the limitations of Chakra.
If it evolved into its Complete Form, the terrifying form it could take was unpredictable.
But thinking this way was somewhat unnecessary. As its creator, Hakushi wouldn't fail to leave something within it.
As a creation, how could the creator allow it to betray him?
There would surely be comprehensive limitations and control measures in place.
Meanwhile, the Earth General, with its black-hole-like, faintly golden-glowing eyes, looked around in the green solution, seeming to carefully consider something, while gurgling bubbles from its mouth, then started to swim and frolic inside the glass tube.
The resentment in its eyes had also dissipated quite a bit.
"Is everything alright in Konoha? Being away for this long?"
"No problem. It's the weekend; the Ninja School is closed. In about an hour, the Earth General's body will recover; it can then slip back into Konoha and summon me back. The total time won't exceed ten hours."
Even if an accident occurred, Ruri would help cover for him.
Moreover, as a transparent figure like himself, the only connection he had with the Hokage Faction was Tsunade, one of the Sannin.
Regarding Sakumo, he was a representative of the civilian class. Strictly speaking, he couldn't fully belong to the Hokage Faction.
"Did you read the letter I sent last time?"
Recalling something, Hakushi looked at the Insect Man.
"Yes, the people of Akatsuki won't be contacted anymore, and the Land of Rain will be treated as a forbidden area; all bases there have been withdrawn."
The Insect Man answered this way.
He didn't know what had occurred to make Hakushi decide this, but as a subordinate, all he needed to do was carry out orders.
"What about the arrangements for the Uzumaki Clan remnants?"
"Yesterday, we sent someone to escort them back to the Land of Demons. Here is their blood and hair."
The Insect Man took out two transparent sanitary bags, one containing bright red hair and the other containing several tubes of blood.
Hakushi accepted these, having faith in the Insect Man's capabilities.
Cautious, meticulous, decisive, and formidable. Even important tasks were entrusted to him, and his completion rate always satisfied Hakushi.
"Did they not disclose the whereabouts of other Uzumaki remnants?"
Hakushi believed the Uzumaki Clan remnants might be secretly staying in contact with each other. He hoped to find other survivors through this group.
Whether to teach them Sealing Techniques or transform them into combat personnel, they were far superior to ordinary people.
Born with greater than average Life Force and Chakra, they were well-suited to train in the Natural Energy System.
"No, but I believe it's just a matter of time."
"As long as you're confident."
Hakushi didn't ask about how the Uzumaki remnants were being looked after, but he trusted that the Insect Man clearly understood his intentions, leaving the specific details for him to handle.
Currently, the organization had already gathered many useful talents.
Blacksmiths, engineers, doctors, and the like who were relatively well-known in the Ninja Realm. Anyway, whoever had real skills but lived in hardship, Hakushi would have the Insect Man recruit them.
Then, these people would be concentrated at the headquarters base in the Land of Demons to work for the organization.