CH_145

Kikai Island…

Though Konoha's forces had withdrawn from the Land of Seas, that didn't mean everyone from Konoha had obediently followed suit.

Tenchi—a Konoha scientist stationed in the Land of Seas to conduct "modified human" experiments. Even now, he was still hiding in an underground laboratory on Kikai Island.

Tōji knew this in advance.

The moment Frog left after seeing Sweet Potato, Tōji prepared to make a trip to Kikai Island to find that ambitious scientist.

『So I really do have to use this "foreknowledge"…』 Tōji rowed his small wooden boat in a wide arc, avoiding attention as he headed toward Kikai Island.

Compared to vague concepts like "freedom" and "human rights," Tōji felt "life" mattered more. So he was going to leverage his foreknowledge now.

The Kiri-nin stationed on Kikai Island wouldn't be watching the entire island closely. Tōji planned to approach Kikai Island, tie his boat to a reef, and swim the rest of the way underwater.

An underground laboratory—there was no need for Tōji to go ashore. He just had to find the entrance underwater somewhere around the island.

『I wonder how far that piece of trash has gotten with his experiments without Orochimaru's support…』 Tōji had already spent half a day repeatedly diving around the island, searching for the entrance.

If he hadn't already known there was an entrance, he never would've found the "hole" leading into the lab.

『Without underwater breathing gear, this is really exhausting.』 Fortunately, Tōji had trained in the Land of Seas for months—otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to hold his breath long enough to dive that deep.

The underground laboratory had no defenses at all—no traps, no mechanisms.

Tōji casually walked along the damp "corridor," silently marveling at Tenchi's resolve… being able to endure the loneliness and conduct twisted experiments here alone for years.

Gradually, the further he went, the drier the "corridor" became… 『Should be getting close to the lab.』

Finally, Tōji saw a stone door that looked like a wall…

Knock? How were you supposed to knock on a stone door…

Tōji wasn't here to cause trouble on Tenchi's turf—he didn't want to blow the door open.

"Is anyone there!" Tōji resorted to the most primitive method—shouting!

Since Tenchi wasn't a shinobi and had no means of attack at the moment, Tōji wasn't afraid of being harmed by him.

It was just… Tenchi might not dare open the door, since whoever was outside could be a Kiri-nin.

"I'm from Konoha—are you Dr. Tenchi?" Tōji didn't know how to address Tenchi, but flattery couldn't hurt.

"You are…?" A somewhat sharp, grating male voice came from far behind Tōji.

…Tenchi wasn't behind the stone door.

"I'm a Konoha shinobi. Are you Dr. Tenchi?" Tōji turned around, gazing into the distant darkness of the "corridor," waiting for the person to approach.

Tōji quietly extended his limited sensory perception… Limited as it was, among non-sensor shinobi, Tōji wasn't bad—after all, his soul was a bit special, so his sensory ability was decent.

"I'm Tenchi, and I believe you're from Konoha." Tenchi didn't hide or conceal himself—he just walked over. "Only Lord Orochimaru knows this place is still operational, so…"

Tenchi had already reached Tōji. He touched some mechanism in the "corridor," and the lights came on.

"Were you sent by Orochimaru?" Tenchi pushed up his glasses, seemingly already convinced that Tōji was one of Orochimaru's people.

"Hello, Dr. Tenchi. Actually…" Tōji was here to "cooperate" or make a deal with Tenchi, so he couldn't lie recklessly. "I wasn't sent by Lord Orochimaru, but I'm here to help you!"

As he spoke, Tōji secretly prepared for any possible "dirty tricks" from Tenchi… but nothing happened!

"Are you one of Lord Danzo's people?"