Disguised and unrecognizable, Hyuga Gakuya and Uchiha Izumi arrived in the Land of Grass. Over the past few days, Gakuya's image and deeds had spread throughout the entire ninja world, and countless people were eager to claim Konoha's enormous bounty on their heads.
To avoid attention, Gakuya and Izumi used the Transformation Jutsu to appear as a married couple and approached the gates of Kusagakure.
"Stop! What business do you have here?"
"We've come seeking medical help."
"You don't know there's an entrance fee?" the Kusagakure shinobi sneered arrogantly.
"Apologies. It's our first time here—we weren't aware of the rules." Gakuya pulled out 2,000 ryō from his wallet and discreetly stuffed it into the guard's pocket.
"Sir ninja, may I ask you something?"
The guard gave a satisfied pat to his pocket. "Ask."
"I heard there's a special kind of healer here—someone called a 'living medicine'? Just one bite from them can cure any illness."
"Of course. There's a wooden shack at the edge of the slums. That's where you'll find her. But it'll cost you—20,000 ryō for a single bite. Think you can afford that?"
"We'll figure something out. Thank you."
Gakuya gave Izumi a subtle tug on the sleeve, and they slipped into Kusagakure. It didn't take long to find the hut with a sign that read: One Bite – 20,000 ryō.
A Kusagakure shinobi stood at the door, ready to block them, but the moment Gakuya met his gaze, the man froze in place. Gakuya walked past him and stepped into the worn-down shack. Lying limply on the wooden bed inside was a white-haired woman, half-conscious, her chest partially exposed and covered in bite marks.
Beside her sat a red-haired girl who, the moment Gakuya entered, glared at him with burning anger.
"Stop biting my mom!" the girl shouted, moving to block him.
Even someone like Gakuya, hardened by years in the ANBU, couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. This was just… too cruel.
Izumi tugged at Gakuya's sleeve, silently pleading with him.
"Take the girl outside. I need to speak with her mother alone."
Gakuya approached the bed. The red-haired girl—Karin—instinctively reached out to stop him, but Izumi held her back.
Forming hand seals, Gakuya placed both hands gently in front of the unconscious woman's chest. A soft green light emanated from his palms.
Little by little, color returned to the woman's lifeless face. Strands of red hair slowly emerged within her snow-white locks.
Her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Gakuya, healing her.
"Let's make a deal," Gakuya said calmly. "You two become mine—follow me, serve me—and I'll get you out of here. I promise you a life better than this one."
Gakuya wasn't planning to consume them. That would be wasteful. The smarter path was to keep them alive—as living blood banks. Sustainable. Renewable.
"And your daughter will get to grow up safe and healthy."
The woman nodded without hesitation. Staying here meant death—and then it would be Karin's turn.
"I agree."
Gakuya stood and called Izumi over, motioning for her to take the still-resisting Karin and the now-revived woman—Uzumaki Yukari—out of the shack.
Kusagakure was a minor village, barely able to scrape together a handful of jōnin. They didn't have the power to stop someone like Gakuya.
But when some of the guards saw Gakuya leading away their so-called "treasure," panic set in. One fired a flare into the sky, sending a signal across the village: Intruder!
Gakuya activated his Lightning Armor. With a flash of movement, he swept his hands through the air—every shinobi that tried to block him was cut down effortlessly.
"They're taking the living medicine! Stop them!"
Dozens of genin and chūnin swarmed toward Gakuya.
"Fools." Gakuya stomped the ground, activating a glowing Eight Trigrams seal beneath his feet. Several shadow clones burst into existence and immediately took out the incoming enemies.
Gakuya, Izumi, and the Uzumaki mother and daughter quickly reached the village gate. If they made it past, they'd be free.
Glancing over his shoulder at the still-approaching pursuers, Gakuya came to a stop.
"Izumi, take them to the cave we passed earlier. I'll hold them off."
Izumi nodded. She knew full well that no one in this village could stand against Gakuya. If she stayed, she'd only slow him down.
Gakuya stood still at the gate, eyes closed, waiting.
Karin, being dragged along, stole one last glance behind her—at Gakuya's back.
In that moment, she thought it was the coolest thing she had ever seen.
The first wave of Kusagakure shinobi arrived—but seeing Gakuya standing there, unmoving, they hesitated. More gathered, surrounding him in a half-circle.
Over fifty ninja rushed him all at once.
Gakuya's eyes snapped open. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly, and his chakra surged like a tidal wave.
"Susano'o!"
In a flash, a massive ribcage of glowing blue bones enveloped his body. The skeleton grew flesh, then armor.
A towering, blue-armored half-giant loomed over the battlefield.
Susano'o swung its arm, and dozens of shinobi were flung away like rag dolls.
"The legendary power…!" someone gasped. All eyes were locked on Gakuya's terrifying gaze.
Fear crept into the hearts of the Kusagakure forces.
"Use wind and fire combo jutsu! He can't be invincible!" a jōnin barked, rallying them.
Dozens of hands blurred through hand signs.
"Fire Style: Flame Arrows!"
"Wind Style: Gale Burst!"
The two elements merged into a massive wall of fire, roaring toward Gakuya.
He raised a hand—Susano'o formed a long blade in its grip. With a sweep of the sword, the combined jutsu was shattered, along with any remaining resolve in the Kusagakure shinobi.
Some immediately turned and fled. The formation collapsed. In minutes, not a single enemy remained.
Gakuya let Susano'o dissipate and winced as pain stabbed through his eyes. His vision blurred slightly, and he could feel his ocular power fading.
But the drawbacks of the Mangekyō weren't as harsh on him. Maybe it was his Sage Body lineage—or maybe he hadn't used it enough yet to feel the full consequences.
Leaving Kusagakure behind, Gakuya tracked down Izumi and the others.
When he entered the cave, Izumi immediately dropped into a defensive stance.
"Who's there?"
"It's me."
The silhouette in the dark stepped forward, and Karin and Yukari both immediately bowed low.
"Thank you for saving us," Yukari said gratefully.
"No need. This was just part of the deal. I haven't asked your names yet."
"I am Uzumaki Yukari. This is my daughter, Uzumaki Karin."
"Understood. From now on, you'll both stay by my side—just like Izumi. Serve me, tend to my needs, and give me your blood once a week."
"Is that clear?"
"Yes. We'll do our best," Yukari said without hesitation.
Gakuya decided to settle in a nearby town to help the mother and daughter recover. In their current state, they wouldn't survive regular blood draws—not even with Uzumaki regenerative bloodlines. Kusagakure had treated them like livestock. There was no sense of sustainability.
Besides, Gakuya himself needed time—to train, to absorb the power, and to push his taijutsu to the next level.
They arrived at a modest town and rented a place to stay. Gakuya tasked Izumi with buying medical herbs and overseeing Karin and Yukari's recovery.
He, meanwhile, focused entirely on his training.
Yukari, grateful to the man who had pulled her from hell, served him with quiet devotion. She did everything she could—she even made sure his bed was always warm...
...
Land of Fire
While on a mission, Kakashi suddenly found his path blocked by a dark figure.
"Sharingan Kakashi," the figure said coldly. "I've come to take your eye back."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo