It couldn't be destroyed.
That meant it had to be sealed.
Mufasa clenched his fists, frustration evident on his face.
Such a vast energy source, wasted by being sealed away. What a shame. If only he could harness it, his giant city puppet project would take a huge leap forward.
Inside the brainwave enhancement chamber, the glowing core of Altair pulsed steadily. As Mufasa's unwillingness surged, Altair's eyelids fluttered. The sword began to orbit around her as if sensing his emotions.
Mufasa exhaled sharply, forcing himself to accept reality. "Then let's seal it."
His gaze shifted to Jugo. "Can we extract him and seal him separately?"
Orochimaru's smirk was unreadable. "Possibly… but at a heavy cost."
Mufasa's eyes narrowed. "I don't care about the cost. We have to try."
Before he could take action, a rush of chakra signatures filled the air. Gaara, Sasori, Deidara, Kankuro, and Sasuke arrived, along with the armored tank units of the First and Second Squads.
Gaara and Sasuke landed atop Manda's massive head. Sasori and Kankuro maneuvered their puppets—towering humanoid war machines—alongside the advancing tank battalions. Deidara perched atop a tank, his ever-present smirk widening.
Manda groaned internally. "Are you all seriously having a meeting on my head?!"
But Mufasa's presence was too intimidating for the great serpent to protest out loud. He stayed still, enduring the impromptu war council.
Gaara gave his report. "Sensei, the village is stable. No disturbances. Temari and Kurotsuchi are organizing medical teams for the injured workers."
Mufasa nodded in approval. "Good."
He pointed to the raging Jugo, still caught within the swirling metal storm. "We need to extract him first. Then we seal the dragon vein."
His tone carried an unmistakable sense of loss. He hated wasting potential. It was like throwing away a fortune right before his eyes.
Gaara studied Jugo. "Sensei, let our battle team try first. We'll sever his connection to the dragon vein."
Mufasa crossed his arms. "Alright. Give it a shot."
Gaara commanded, "First and Second Squads, prepare for bombardment! Position the cannons!"
The teams moved with practiced efficiency. Forty tanks adjusted their aim simultaneously.
"Earth-Style shells, loaded!"
"Earth-Style shells, loaded!"
"Ice-Style rounds, primed!"
The Earth-Style shells were specialized chakra artillery rounds that combined two nature transformations, creating effects similar to Kekkei Genkai techniques. Wind and Water chakra produced Ice-Style rounds, while Fire and Water resulted in Boil-Style ammunition. These advancements were a direct result of Sunagakure's booming economy.
In the past, the village was too poor to waste chakra scrolls. But now? They had the funds, and they weren't afraid to use them.
Some brilliant—if slightly insane—researchers had realized they could replicate Kekkei Genkai techniques by fusing elemental scrolls into artillery rounds.
At first, the results were unpredictable. But after years of burning through money and endless testing in the desert, they had finally developed functional "Hybrid Element Shells." Now, they were working on "Triple Element Shells."
Mufasa smirked. The investment had paid off.
"Fire!"
"First Squad, fire!"
"Second Squad, fire!"
BOOM!
Forty cannon barrels roared, launching Ice-Style rounds at Jugo's waist.
A violent frost explosion spread across his lower body, rapidly freezing the corrupted chakra flow.
Deidara whistled, impressed. "Now that is an explosion worthy of being called art!"
Jugo's movements slowed. His massive body strained against the ice coating his waist.
Sasuke took the opening. With a burst of speed, he launched himself into the air, activating his Chidori Blade. The crackling lightning extended into a long sword of pure energy.
With a single downward slash, he struck Jugo's frozen torso.
CRACK!
The ice shattered.
From the opposite side, Sasori's giant puppet slashed with its massive blade, accelerating the fracture.
Chunks of frozen chakra broke away like an avalanche. A flicker of awareness returned to Jugo's wild eyes. He barely had time to process what was happening before his upper body toppled forward, severed from the dragon vein's connection.
Mufasa's heart leapt.
Did it work?
Then—the earth trembled.
A deep, guttural roar rumbled from underground.
BOOM!
The ground split open as a geyser of dragon vein energy erupted into the sky. The polluted chakra surged like a volcanic explosion, engulfing Sasuke, Sasori, and Jugo.
Sasuke and Sasori leapt back just in time, avoiding the main blast. But Jugo was consumed by the rising torrent of corrupted energy.
The glowing purple-blue chakra fountained into the air, scorching the ground wherever it splashed. The entire team pulled back to avoid the corrosive fallout.
When the energy finally settled, Jugo emerged from the glow.
But he had changed.
He was even larger than before. His body had become more defined, more monstrous. Dark, jagged horns curved upward from his skull. His entire form pulsed with raw, unstable power.
He looked less like a man—and more like a dragon.
Mufasa scowled. "Damn it. It's getting worse."
Nearby, Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a smirk forming on his lips. "Master, allow me to try something."
Mufasa gave him a sharp glance. "A Stand ability? What's its name?"
Kabuto grinned. "White Matron."
Although it is a substitute technique in the ninja world, there are still fundamental principles that must be followed.
First: A Stand user can only possess one Stand ability. (Of course, there are exceptions.)
Second: Most Stand users can control their Stand's actions at will and freely summon or retract them.
Third: With the exception of long-range autonomous Stands and material assimilation types:
The Stand user shares sensory input with their Stand.
Damage taken by the Stand is reflected onto the user, and vice versa.
Fourth: Ordinary people cannot see Stands. Only those with Stand abilities can perceive and interact with them.
For example, Kimimaro could see the Stand summoned by Kabuto.
Mufasa vaguely sensed a strong magnetic field radiating from Kabuto's position. He couldn't discern its exact nature, but he knew it was there. However, since this was not a world governed by Jojo's rules, the principle that only Stands can interact with other Stands did not apply.
While Stands were invisible to the naked eye, certain techniques allowed one to perceive them—similar to how Susanoo manifests. Furthermore, they could still be harmed by specific jutsu if their nature allowed it.
In Kimimaro's eyes, the Stand beside Kabuto appeared as a tall woman clad in a full-body nun's robe, her face resembling a Noh mask with pure white pupils. Though her expression was vacant, her lips carried a serene smile, evoking both sadness and peace.
Stand: White Matron
Ability: Silent Orphanage
By injecting his chakra into a target's body, Kabuto could bring their soul and consciousness into a dream world known as the Silent Orphanage.
Once inside, the target became an orphan under the care and training of the White Matron. There were three possible outcomes:
The target earns the Matron's approval and is allowed to leave.
The target is influenced, their hostility erased, and they begin to admire the Matron—allowing Kabuto to manipulate them.
The target fails to gain approval within a set period and remains trapped indefinitely. Their real body manifests symptoms such as diminished intelligence, dementia, or deep sleep.
Though immensely powerful, the White Matron was not entirely under Kabuto's control. She possessed her own will and independently judged whether a target was worthy. While Kabuto could select a target, he could not force the Matron's decision, making her an unreliable tool for his otherwise precise and calculated methods.
Perhaps the White Matron's existence was linked to the orphanage buried deep within Kabuto's subconscious—a place he had envisioned countless times.
As she hovered behind him, silently watching, Kabuto turned to Mufasa. "I noticed Jugo's eyes were filled with shock. I thought the White Matron might be able to calm him down."
Mufasa gave a curt nod.
Kabuto continued, "But I need to inject my chakra directly into him for the ability to take effect."
Mufasa smirked. "Leave that to me."
He clapped his hands together and formed a javelin.
"Channel your chakra into the hollow tip."
Kabuto complied, pouring his energy into the weapon.
With a powerful throw, Mufasa launched the javelin like a bolt of lightning, piercing through Jugo's shoulder and breaking through the dragon's corrupted chakra defenses. Upon impact, the javelin's head exploded, dispersing Kabuto's chakra into Jugo's system.
The White Matron descended upon Jugo, extending her arms as a holy light radiated from her being. A translucent version of Jugo's form separated from his body and floated toward her, slowly reverting to that of a young child as it reached her embrace.
Jugo's monstrous body came to a sudden halt.
To Mufasa, Orochimaru, and the others, nothing had changed. They couldn't see the White Matron, only the sudden stillness of Jugo's transformed state. However, Mufasa sensed a shift in chakra flow.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "What did you just do to Kabuto?"
Mufasa smiled faintly. "I simply allowed him to awaken his Stand ability."
Orochimaru's lips curled into an intrigued grin. "And how powerful is this ability?"
Mufasa pointed toward where the White Matron stood. "You can see for yourself with the right technique."
Orochimaru activated his chakra-enhanced vision. Though blurry, he caught sight of a spectral figure—a womanly shape looming over Jugo.
Kabuto touched his own forehead, healing his minor wounds. He then sat down, his consciousness drifting into sleep. The Silent Orphanage now existed within his dream. If someone forcibly woke him, the orphanage would shatter, and Jugo's consciousness would be freed.
However, should Jugo possess an exceptionally strong will, he might escape on his own.
As Kabuto's body slumped into sleep, the White Matron vanished, carrying the childlike version of Jugo into the dream realm.
She pushed open the orphanage's door and gave a gentle smile. "Come, child. This is your home now."
Her voice, warm like sunlight, filled Jugo with unfamiliar comfort. He hesitated only for a moment before stepping inside.
Thus began the battle of wills—a struggle between his soul's resistance and the Matron's influence.
To the outside world, however, it merely looked as if Kabuto had fallen asleep atop Manda's head, while Jugo stood unnervingly still.
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Word count: 1674
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