"Tch… that old man is truly delusional. He actually wants me to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Ren Takashi chuckled to himself as he watched Hiruzen's retreating back disappear from view. With a casual wave, he activated a layered isolation barrier around himself and Uzumaki Mito. "Even if I wanted to teach him, does he even have the talent for it? This isn't a technique you can brute-force your way into mastering."
Uzumaki Mito laughed softly. "In his position, I'd probably want it too. But you're right—talent is the line that can't be crossed. Instruction alone won't help if it's just not there."
Ren, however, tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Well… maybe not necessarily. Who's to say I can't one day develop a potion that grants spatial affinity?"
"Oh?" Mito raised an eyebrow with interest. "Is that even possible?"
"We'll see," Ren said, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. "Not happening anytime soon, though. It's not a priority. But someday? Maybe."
Mito chuckled. "Then I'll be waiting for your good news, young master."
Three Months Later — The Institute's Completion
"Whew! Finally done! Come take a look and see if anything's missing," Uzumaki Luming exhaled as he surveyed the last batch of equipment being installed. He waved to Ren, Orochimaru, and Uzumaki Mito.
Ren scanned the facility with his spiritual perception and nodded. "It's excellent. We just need to reinforce the place with defensive and anti-surveillance seals. Once that's done, we're ready to launch."
He turned to Orochimaru and the others. "You all set?"
"Absolutely," Orochimaru said, his tongue flicking out as he grinned. "I've been studying the materials you gave me. I've already made headway in optimizing thermal energy systems. Once we get confirmation from practical tests, we can go commercial."
He scoffed. "Besides, I've had to make do lately—my teacher and Danzo weren't thrilled about my cooperation with you. They've been cutting my research funding ever since."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Sarutobi's targeting even you? I thought he held you in high regard."
"He did," Orochimaru replied with a dry laugh. "Until I stopped being useful."
They entered the facility and toured each section thoroughly. Ren and Mito embedded a triple-layered sealing formation, turning the institute into a veritable fortress. Within minutes, all prying eyes were rendered useless.
Watching from his office, the Third Hokage furrowed his brow as his telescope technique suddenly blacked out.
"Hmph. That brat's sealing technique has already reached such a level?" Hiruzen muttered. "The Uchiha clan… has truly produced a monster."
The Institute Begins
The next day, the Research Institute officially began operations in a quiet opening. Ren, Orochimaru, and a handful of senior Uzumaki researchers launched into work on thermal power systems and electrical home appliances. After the first day, the core members began dispatching shadow clones, allowing their real bodies to focus on cultivation, technique development, and higher-level projects.
Ren, in particular, created shadow clones to deepen his work on the Rasengan and Chidori series, expanding them into a full-scale combat framework. Simultaneously, progress at the Pharmaceutical Institute on the Blood Purification Elixir accelerated.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Lightning...
Inside a secret Cloud Shinobi base, tensions were high.
"Damn it! Another Jinchūriki died!" a furious researcher yelled, pounding the table. "What went wrong?!"
"Calm down," another soothed. "The sealing method isn't the issue. The Armor Seal held. The problem lies in compatibility—these hosts aren't strong enough."
"Uzumaki Mito was different," another muttered. "It wasn't just the seal—it was her vitality, physique, and raw Chakra pool. We can't replicate that with just any subject."
"So what then? Risk top-tier Cloud shinobi? Use our own elites as Jinchūriki guinea pigs?"
The room fell into thoughtful silence until a crazed-looking researcher named Kimu spoke up, eyes gleaming. "Then use me. I'll do it."
"No! You're too important to lose!" Xi, the Lightning Village's lead assistant, slammed the proposal down. "Let me report everything to Raikage-sama. He'll decide."
Raikage's Office
Xi stood at attention, relaying the incident in full.
"…Which is why I believe our only option is to capture Uzumaki Kushina from Konoha. She's highly compatible and has studied sealing arts under Uzumaki Mito."
The Third Raikage tapped his fingers, then nodded. "Approved. Deploy two elite jonin teams. You'll handle personnel selection."
He paused. "Also—"
"Yes, Raikage-sama?"
"Capture Uchiha Ren Takashi if possible. He's more valuable than any Jinchūriki. Our intel says the medicines reshaping the market are mostly his doing. If we can get our hands on him—his techniques, his mind—we could change the game entirely."
Xi hesitated. "He's Tsunade's disciple, Mito's favored, and the Uchiha heir. Konoha won't just roll over—"
"And?" Raikage scoffed. "Let them come. Let them declare war. I'm not afraid of a dying Konoha being dragged down by Sarutobi Hiruzen's mediocrity."
"Understood," Xi said grimly. "I'll prepare the mission."