All regeneration cores currently developed by Shiraishi were created using his own chakra.
Because chakra inherently contains the user's spiritual will and consciousness, the regeneration cores he produced likewise carried a fragment of Shiraishi's awareness.
Sasori of the Red Sand's human puppets traditionally used the deceased person's chakra as the core, constructing a regeneration core through chakra extraction. By injecting that chakra into the core, the puppet could reproduce a portion of the individual's abilities from when they were alive.
Within every regeneration core existed a special sealing array, designed to erase the original user's residual consciousness.
If this sealing array were removed, there was a very real possibility that the human puppet would retain self-awareness.
Following Sasori's line of thinking, he might have intended to one day turn himself into a human puppet.
At its core, a human puppet was not fundamentally different from clone techniques—
Both involved transferring chakra-based consciousness.
Recognizing this similarity, Shiraishi made a critical design decision:
He discarded the consciousness-sealing mechanism when creating his own regeneration cores.
This effectively meant that each human puppet he created was equivalent to a clone of himself.
If the human puppet were destroyed, the chakra consciousness within it would simply return to Shiraishi's main body.
However, this process still required a set of linkage seals to function correctly.
Compared to the gemstone-style regeneration core embedded in his gloves, Shiraishi's newly manufactured regeneration cores took the form of flesh-sphere cores.
These cores were produced by configuring portions of his own blood and tissue, then injecting chakra energy into the spherical mass.
The ocular regeneration cores were a special crystal-type variant—
Brilliant, blood-red, diamond-like structures.
When connected to the flesh-sphere regeneration core, they formed a complete human puppet framework.
This human puppet body was fully synchronized with Shiraishi's primary consciousness.
Its thoughts and actions were unified with his own—
In essence, it functioned as an advanced clone, more accurately comparable to a Shadow Clone rather than a basic bunshin.
Additionally, Shiraishi installed a Scarlet Mirror computation module within the puppet's brain.
This allowed the regeneration-core eyes to receive continuous computational assistance—
Including chakra detection, threat evaluation, and predictive judgment.
At present, Shiraishi had completed five human puppet clones.
They were capable of basic network linkage, though they still fell short of his envisioned large-scale data integration system.
Even so, this marked an excellent starting point.
Despite knowing it was merely a clone, Kitajima instinctively stepped backward when he saw Shiraishi's crimson-eyed gaze.
"As for the detonation tag arms trade," Shiraishi said calmly,
"Once the joint factory is established, production will proceed cooperatively. Take the profit-sharing agreement back and have the Kitajima family review it."
"Understood…"
Several months passed with Shiraishi remaining in the village.
With the assistance of his human puppet clones, his main body was free to focus almost entirely on cultivation.
During this period, the development and refinement of Steam Explosion was essentially completed.
At the same time, his tree fruits began to mature, gradually causing a stir throughout the Wind Country.
In addition, the new-style tea bricks he created became extremely popular, evolving into one of the Kitajima family's most important export commodities.
The tree-fruit system interface remained simple.
After extraction, most of the fruits Shiraishi cultivated were intended for consumption.
Fruits with practical or medicinal properties often tasted terrible—
Some were so bitter or spicy that they were nearly impossible to swallow, even when refined into soldier pills.
As a result, these special-purpose fruits were mostly processed within Shiraishi's research facility into new medicinal formulations.
The most significant development during this time was the joint detonation-tag factory established by Shiraishi and the Kitajima family.
Large-scale production began immediately, with shipments exported to multiple countries.
Business was booming.
After Kikyo Mountain, even small nations realized the importance of this combat model.
The leader of Amegakure, Hanzō, personally placed an order for ten billion detonation tags.
Shiraishi's promotion to jōnin was finally approved after prolonged wrangling between the Elder Council and the Kazekage's office.
The official appointment document was handed to him.
The main Sunagakure forces that participated in the Kikyo Mountain battle had already been redeployed to the Revelation Mountain Range by Rasa.
Meanwhile, major clan forces—including the Yamaji clan—returned to the village.
At present, Yamaji Ryōko's attention was focused on the development of the New Oasis Ring Zone.
Extravagant estates rose atop desert plateaus, forming luxurious oasis compounds.
Luxury goods were continuously transported to the area.
What was once a small oasis had been forcibly transformed into a highly comfortable living environment through the use of ninjutsu.
The consequence was severe—
Sandstorms within Sunagakure proper intensified dramatically.
Public resentment toward the major clans grew stronger by the day.
The Fourth Kazekage's reputation plummeted.
Accusations of being a "clan mouthpiece" spread without restraint.
What angered civilians most was the redeployment of veterans from Kikyo Mountain back into the Revelation Mountain Range.
It was painfully obvious that these commoner ninja were being used as cannon fodder.
Hoshino Mai and her three-person team were also transferred to the Revelation Mountain front.
Shiraishi himself, however, remained stationed within the village.
Until the day his jōnin promotion came with an additional assignment.
"An A-rank mission…"
As the head of a public academy, Shiraishi was assigned his first task by the Kazekage:
He was to escort a group of students to the Land of Rivers, cooperating with Konoha on a reconstruction support mission.
The Land of Rivers?
Shiraishi was extremely familiar with this country—
As were most Sunagakure ninja.
Situated between the Fire Country and Wind Country, the Land of Rivers served as a buffer state.
In wartime, it was ravaged.
In peacetime, both major powers secretly established bases there.
Kikyo Mountain itself was technically located within the Land of Rivers.
But neither great nation had ever cared about the small country's sovereignty.
Compared to the Rain Country—wedged between Fire, Wind, and Earth—the Land of Rivers was almost fortunate.
Now that hostilities had ceased, both Fire and Wind were obligated to offer sympathy and reassurance
Konoha dispatched Hyūga Hiashi.
Sunagakure sent Black Mist Shiraishi.
The so-called "support mission" was, in Shiraishi's view, nothing more than a political performance.
A ceremonial appearance.
"Orochimaru has established several secret bases within the Land of Rivers."
Ebizō said, flipping through documents in his office.
"He sent a private message. He will be waiting for you at one of them."
This, Ebizō explained, was Shiraishi's true mission.
"We require some of Orochimaru's research data. His motives are unclear, but they likely involve the techniques you possess."
"These are the materials we've prepared as bargaining chips. You have the authority to use them in negotiations."
Ebizō let out a dry chuckle.
In truth, he knew Shiraishi himself sought Orochimaru's assistance—
This was simply an opportunity to exchange mutual interests.
Orochimaru was an extremely troublesome existence.
Konoha issued a bounty but made no serious effort to hunt him down.
Sunagakure, wary of Konoha's stance, could not act openly.
And Orochimaru himself was a solitary Kage-level powerhouse.
Dealing with him was inherently dangerous.
The documents prepared for negotiation contained many research results that even Shiraishi had never seen.
All were sealed.
"One more thing," Ebizō said calmly.
"There may be resistance from locals in the Land of Rivers."
"You needn't concern yourself with their feelings. Necessary force should not be withheld."
"We are the Sunagakure that forced Konoha into peace talks. The Land of Rivers must understand its position."
"Konoha agreed to transfer twenty-five southern districts to us?" Shiraishi asked.
He was well aware this was one of the negotiation's core terms.
The Land of Rivers was nearly as fertile as the Fire Country.
It had long been under Konoha's protection.
Now, Konoha had finally been forced to concede part of its interests.
Ebizō chuckled.
"They only agreed to thirteen districts."
"But combined, that's nearly one-tenth of the Land of Rivers."
"Leased to the Wind Country for fifty years."
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