Chapter 179: Mental Energy Fluctuations
The Land of Water.
A country made up of numerous islands.
Most of its population resided on the largest island in the archipelago, where the Village Hidden in the Mist (Kirigakure) was also located.
Although Li Yao had a general idea of the area, locating Kirigakure in the vast ocean wasn't an easy task.
During their flight, Li Yao and Yuzu found an outpost on one of the islands—a Kirigakure forward scouting base, similar in function to Konoha's border patrol teams.
On the island were six ninjas, split into two teams of three. One team was scattered across the island using binoculars to observe the sea, while the other team rested.
"Wait up here for me."
"Okay, Uncle."
Yuzu nodded. After everything they had been through, she had complete trust in Li Yao's strength—no ninja could stand against him.
Li Yao descended from the sky, with two paper wings forming behind him to slow his descent.
Paper Style was a special type of ninjutsu. When using its chakra, it made a person's weight as light as paper, allowing them to float in the air. With paper wings, one could freely fly.
"What the—"
By the time the Mist shinobi noticed Li Yao, it was already too late. Under his Sensory Deprivation Technique, all six collapsed motionless to the ground.
Clang... Six black iron chains flew from Li Yao's body, coiling around each of the six fallen Mist ninjas and dragging them toward him.
"Still the usual two men and one woman setup."
On the ground before him, the six Mist shinobi lay neatly in a row. Two of the kunoichi were particularly attractive—delicate features and alluring bodies.
It was strange—so far, every female ninja Li Yao had encountered, even the Third Hokage's wife, had been both beautiful and well-proportioned. None had a less-than-stunning figure.
These two Mist kunoichi had shoulder-length, straight black hair, tender faces like water, and curves in all the right places—perfect embodiments of feminine charm.
Judging by the youth still present in their expressions, they were likely inexperienced girls around eighteen or nineteen.
At that age, surviving the Second Great Ninja War meant they must've been both strong and lucky.
Unfortunately, they ran into Li Yao.
Just as he was about to absorb the chakra from all six, Li Yao paused as he looked at the two female Mist ninjas. A thought struck him.
"What if... I test whether emotional extremes cause changes in mental energy?"
Li Yao acted on the thought immediately. Until now, he had used the Sensory Deprivation Technique to strip others of control and then possessed them via Spirit Transformation to study their soul and mental energy.
But in those states, emotional fluctuations weren't intense.
If he could provoke extreme emotional states, maybe he could more clearly sense the differences in mental energy.
Without hesitation, Li Yao released the six ninjas from most of the sensory suppression, keeping only their mobility sealed. He also used sealing techniques to block their chakra so they couldn't use jutsu.
Then, he created two shadow clones and had them carry out acts of unspeakable evil on the two Mist kunoichi. Meanwhile, his spirit possessed one of them, intending to study her mental energy under emotional duress.
"I wonder if this counts as doing it to myself?"
The thought suddenly passed through his mind—but he quickly dismissed it.
Of course it didn't count. He wasn't controlling the kunoichi's body, nor could he feel the physical pleasure. He was only focused on the spiritual and mental sensations.
"You bastard!!!"
"Let me go—who are you... ah..."
"I'll kill you!!!"
The evil acts began. One kunoichi shouted curses and threats, while the other grit her teeth in silence, her furious eyes fixed on Li Yao.
Li Yao remained unmoved and continued his vile experiment.
By modern standards, this kind of act would mark him as a universally despised monster.
But in the world of Naruto, there was no one to stop him. He did whatever he wanted in his pursuit of the perfect Transformation Technique.
An hour later, just as the minds of the two kunoichi reached a peak of psychological and physical overload, Li Yao's shadow clones rationally ended their lives.
In the chaotic swirl of fear, rage, brief ecstasy, and death, the two women experienced emotional waves unlike anything before.
At that moment, Li Yao's spiritual focus was at its maximum.
Ding—his spirit, residing in one of the kunoichi's bodies, suddenly stiffened. He had sensed a mental energy fluctuation that was different from his own.
He immediately concentrated, trying to detect it again.
But... that brief fluctuation seemed to last only an instant. It wasn't even very distinct. He could tell there had been a change—but couldn't pinpoint exactly how it was different.
"So close!"
With a gloomy expression, Li Yao's spirit exited the kunoichi's body and floated in the air in frustration.
But soon, he put aside his disappointment.
He turned his gaze toward the remaining four male Mist ninjas.
"Should I... try it with men?"
The idea popped into his mind. After all, it would be his shadow clone doing it—not him. Once the clone dispelled, he could simply delete its memories. He wouldn't inherit any of its experiences.
"Boss, please—have some decency. Be human."
"Don't forget—we can reject your ideas."
"If anyone's doing that, it's going to be you, not us."
Li Yao had forgotten: shadow clones shared consciousness with him. The thought that formed in his mind immediately echoed in theirs.
The two clones stared at him, expressions deadpan, clearly unwilling. They had the same memories and understanding of modern morals—there was no way they'd go along with it.
Do not do unto others what you do not want done to you.
Li Yao quickly realized his mistake and said, "My bad, my bad."
He swiftly discarded the terrifying idea.
Shadow clones were a part of him—he couldn't treat them differently.
Since going through with the male route was off the table, that left only one option: torture.
And so began a merciless ordeal.
But even after torturing the four Mist ninjas to death, Li Yao still couldn't detect any further differences in mental energy.
"Either not everyone produces distinct fluctuations during emotional extremes…"
"Or their emotions weren't pushed far enough!"
Based on his comparisons with both male and female test subjects, Li Yao arrived at two possible conclusions.
Regardless of which one was true, his reasoning was sound.
Only under intense emotional stress would mental energy possibly reveal detectable distinctions.
That meant his next move was simple.
"Let's go to the Daimyō's castle in the Land of Water."
After reducing the bodies to ash, Li Yao returned to his flying clay bird in the sky and spoke to Yuzu beside him.
"Okay, Uncl—huh?" Yuzu suddenly paused and looked at him, puzzled. "Uncle, weren't we heading to Kirigakure to find the Third Mizukage?"
(END CHAPTER)
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