Yujin's consciousness gradually cleared from the haze, and he felt a bone-chilling cold seep through his entire body.
"Hey! Wake up!" a harsh voice rang in his ear, and immediately after, a splash of icy water poured over his head, forcing him fully awake.
His eyes slowly opened, and his vision sharpened from the blur.
He found himself in a dim, cold prison. The walls were made of stone, damp and chilling, and the air was thick with moisture and mildew.
He shook his head, flicking the water off his face.
When he looked closely, he saw a dark-skinned prison guard standing before him.
The guard held an iron rod in his hand, a malicious smile on his face.
"Talk! What did Iron-Head Torin Fuller say to you? Or else—" The guard struck the iron bars with his rod, producing a dull thud that carried a clear threat.
Yujin shook the water from his face again and stared at the guard, his voice calm but carrying an unshakable firmness. "Or else what?"
The guard sneered, cruelty glinting in his eyes. "Heh, you'll feel pain soon enough!"
He swung the iron rod as if enjoying the power to hit someone without consequence.
"I have nothing to confess," Yujin said calmly and firmly, meeting the guard's gaze without a trace of fear.
He would never reveal what Iron-Head Torin Fuller had told him.
Torin was the one who had taught him to master iron body—the one who had guided him!
The guard's expression darkened. He had clearly not expected the prisoner before him to react this way.
His face grew even more sinister as he decided to teach Yujin a lesson.
He raised the iron rod high and swung it down with all his strength toward Yujin's head!
The anticipated sound of bones shattering did not come.
Instead, the iron rod hit Yujin's head with a dull metallic clang, as if striking a solid block of iron.
"Daring to use Iron Body! You really don't know when to die!" the prison guard shouted in anger.
Realizing he couldn't subdue Yujin alone, the guard immediately called for backup.
Together, they grabbed a bucket of ice water and dumped it over Yujin's head without hesitation.
Although the Iron Body could protect against blows, it couldn't defend against the bone-chilling cold.
The icy water ran down Yujin's hair, instantly covering his body with a layer of freezing chill.
Shivering all over, his teeth chattered, yet he gritted his teeth and didn't let out a single groan.
Seeing this, the guards decided to up the pressure. They turned on the prison's air conditioning and set it to the lowest temperature.
Cold wind howled from the vents, sending a piercing chill through Yujin, as if even his blood were freezing.
His breath became rapid, and his body shook uncontrollably.
The guards watched him suffer, their faces twisted into cruel smiles.
"Let's blast you for a week first, see if you behave!"
With a creak, the cell door shut.
A voice echoed in Yujin's mind.
Marvel Yujin: "I can't accept this! I can't take it! I can't watch! I'll fight them! Killing one isn't a loss, killing two is a gain!"
Pirate Yujin slowly opened his eyes. "No. I haven't figured out the Six Styles yet."
"Because even Torin Fuller, who taught me the Six Styles, ended up in the blazing hell, if I don't master it and pass it on to you all…"
"I'd be letting Torin Fuller down, and I'd be letting you down too."
Shivering, he continued: "Observation Haki, Armament Haki, Six Styles, Devil Fruits…"
"There are so many things in this world that can greatly increase our chances of survival."
"I can't risk everything for a moment of haste and steal your hope. Even if I have to live like a turtle, I'm willing!"
In the gambling room, Uchiha Yujin, bare-chested, suddenly welled up with tears.
The lead medical ninja in front of him frowned.
"Kid, endure it! If you can't even handle a little pain, what kind of ninja do you think you are?"
"Lady Tsunade," Uchiha Yujin nodded slightly, "I can endure it. I can."
Smack!
Tsunade slapped Uchiha Yujin on the back.
He let out a sharp cry and spat out black blood.
Kakashi Hatake rushed in immediately.
Tsunade packed up her tools. "Orochimaru's cursed seal is very complicated. I can't remove it completely in such a short time, but at least now, I can guarantee this child's life isn't in danger."
Kakashi bowed slightly. "Thank you very much."
Then he gave Uchiha Yujin a light headbutt. "Hurry up and thank Lady Tsunade! If we hadn't run into her here by chance, your life might have been over!"
"Uh…" Uchiha Yujin reluctantly bowed, handing over the large bundle of money Kakashi had lent him.
"Thank you."
In the corner, Shizune took the money while holding her pig, without counting it, and tucked it into her bag.
This was how Lady Tsunade survived after leaving Konoha over ten years ago.
The so-called title of "Golden Goose"—what was it really based on?
Not her bloodline as the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju.
Not her substantial wealth.
Not even her fame as one of the Legendary Sannin.
It was her medical ninjutsu skills.
Treating people—that was how she made her fortune.
Uchiha Yujin even suspected that Hiruzen Sarutobi's massive financial holes were patched up with "Tsunade's milk money" after she took office.
"Goodbye!"
Watching the medical ninjas leave, Uchiha Yujin glared at Kakashi, fuming. "You're too biased against Orochimaru! I felt strong at that moment! There was nothing wrong with it! Why did she have to seal it?"
Kakashi gave him a sharp bop on the head. "The Cursed Seal of Heaven would turn you into something neither human nor demon. You'd become a killer with no will of your own! Didn't you see how those five kids were? So annoying!"
"Hmph, I only care about becoming stronger. Nothing else matters!"
"Orochimaru is a rogue ninja," Kakashi said, unusually serious as he stared at Uchiha Yujin. "If you let power blind you and walk down a path you shouldn't…"
"Then I will personally cut you down!"
Uchiha Yujin straightened his posture and saluted Kakashi. "Teacher, as long as I can grow stronger, I can love every inch of Konoha! Let my Will of Fire burn! Can you teach me a new technique? I want to learn an offensive Water Release! Please!"
"Is he really in a normal state?"
"I-I don't know. F-First, let's spray some of this medical solution on him."
In the corridor of the engineer's main hall, Zhang Jie and Daniels looked at the chunk of flesh growing from the thirty-centimeter-long gap on Yujin's back. It was both disgusting and chilling!
Clearly, this had nothing to do with Fuming; it was a problem with Yujin himself.
Looking again at the faint, tattoo-like spots on his body, they couldn't help but feel that Yujin might be possessed by a ghost.
****
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