Slowly rising from the hospital bed, Yamakawa Koji's confused gaze began to clear, turning into one of surprise and delight.
He could feel the changes within himself.
Strong, resilient! An endless stream of power coursed through his body.
A series of four surgeries had transformed Yamakawa Koji completely.
To put it in perspective:
Previously, with just an additional second heart, it was like a machine having a "dual power source," but the other hardware was lacking, unable to unleash the full potential of that power.
But now, with upgraded hardware, the machine could match the output of the power source.
Just ask yourself, isn't that strong? "Do you feel any discomfort?"
Uchiha Takashi began taking notes with a file in hand.
The difference between technology and bloodline is that one can be "replicated," while the other is unique to the individual. Therefore, he needed to summarize his experience and develop a complete and cost-effective technology.
The path to godhood is indeed powerful, but it must be "popularized" to be truly valuable.
If it can't be popularized, then the value of this technology would greatly diminish in Uchiha Takashi's eyes.
The investment in Yamakawa Koji alone, not counting his own technology, invaluable blood, and Hashirama cells, had already cost nearly a billion ryo just in material costs.
A Jonin's bounty on the black market is only around ten million ryo.
Even future Asuma's bounty was only thirty-five million ryo, and more than half of that was because he was the "Hokage's son." Otherwise, an elite Jonin would be worth less than twenty million ryo.
The cost-effectiveness is too low.
At the very least, Uchiha Takashi couldn't afford to invest so heavily in a second target.
If you factor in his technology, blood, and Hashirama cells, the cost could easily be in the billions of ryo.
So, to promote this technology, the cost must be significantly reduced.
"Never felt better..."
Yamakawa Koji, feeling the dramatic changes within him, began responding to Uchiha Takashi's various inquiries.
At this moment, he felt as if he had broken free from "restraints" and gained freedom.
After a while of questioning.
"To the training ground!"
Uchiha Takashi put away the file filled with data, ready to begin testing.
They could start testing immediately because he had absorbed enough nutrient solution. Otherwise, it would take a long period of recovery to return to normal.
Nutrient solution! It's definitely the biggest consumable in the path to godhood.
The first phase of five surgeries required tens of millions of ryo worth of nutrient solution.
No wonder they say the rich rely on technology, while the poor rely on mutation.
Can the poor really handle such consumption?
Training ground! There were plenty in the fortress, and the two easily found an empty one.
Uchiha Takashi stood to the side and spoke.
"Begin!"
He was eager to see the strength after completing the first phase of five surgical modifications.
I've invested so much money; I need to see some results, right?
Yamakawa Koji approached a training post as thick as a person's waist and two meters tall.
He clenched his right fist and struck.
Bang! With a sound like an explosion in the air, the post was sent flying as if hit by a truck, shattering into several pieces mid-air.
And Yamakawa Koji's right fist was only slightly red and swollen.
"This...!"
Uchiha Takashi looked at Yamakawa Koji's hand and the shattered post in shock.
He was shocked because Yamakawa Koji hadn't even used chakra.
That's the key! A ninja's strength comes from the chakra within.
Even future "Might Guy," a taijutsu master, might not be able to defeat a Genin without chakra.
But now?
The power of Yamakawa Koji's punch was comparable to a Genin using chakra.
A body beyond ordinary limits.
Uchiha Takashi couldn't help but be shocked by the situation. Yamakawa Koji was now in a permanent 'Chakra Enhancement' state. Even if his chakra was completely depleted, he could still hold his own against Genin or Chunin.
Moreover, the power under Chakra Enhancement was even more exaggerated.
That punch just now had at least a few tons of force.
In the past, he could also unleash such power, but his arm would be useless afterward.
Because his bones simply couldn't withstand that kind of force.
Now, after four consecutive surgical modifications, the limitations were lifted, allowing Yamakawa Koji to fully utilize his advantages.
Additionally, his defensive capabilities were now astonishing.
His entire skeletal structure was several times more durable, and his recovery ability was equally formidable, making him a 'little superman.'
As long as you don't compare him to those 'aliens' like Hashirama, but rather to ordinary ninjas, Yamakawa Koji indeed had the appearance of a 'demi-god.'
After a series of tests, Uchiha Takashi's eyes lit up.
Yamakawa Koji was at least on par with elite Jonin specializing in Taijutsu, with only some shortcomings in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu.
Spending billions to get an elite Jonin, whether it's a loss or gain, depends on the person.
Anyway, Uchiha Takashi felt it was worth it.
Having an elite Jonin as a close friend was definitely worth the expense, and without considering additional costs, the materials alone cost less than a billion ryo.
Training an elite Jonin is much harder than killing one.
No matter which ninja village it is, they would rather spend billions to train an elite Jonin, even though the black market bounty is only in the tens of millions.
"Next, quickly complete missions to get promoted to Jonin, and then find a way to exchange for the 'Eight Gates Release Formation'!"
Uchiha Takashi instructed Yamakawa Koji.
As a commander, assigning tasks is his right, so giving Yamakawa Koji missions wouldn't be an issue.
Completing more missions makes promotion normal.
The key is that the contribution from completing missions can be exchanged for the Eight Gates Release Formation, known as the strongest A-rank Taijutsu in the ninja world.
This Taijutsu doesn't require talent, just iron will.
It's absolutely the most suitable Taijutsu for Yamakawa Koji.
Because Uchiha Takashi had witnessed his willpower, he planned this route for him.
By the way, although the Eight Gates Release Formation is an A-rank forbidden technique, it's easier to exchange for than those more heaven-defying forbidden techniques, so it's worth considering. If it were the Flying Thunder God or Edo Tensei, no matter how much contribution you have, don't even think about exchanging for it.
"Got it!"
Yamakawa Koji nodded, having no objections to the path Uchiha Takashi planned for him.
Because he knew the other would choose the most suitable path for him.
"Abandon the mission if you encounter danger!"
Uchiha Takashi reminded him.
He didn't want to see his close friend die for a mission.
Note that mission failure is common for ninjas.
Cases like White Fang's are because his '100% mission completion rate' was a hallmark of Konoha, attracting many to commission Konoha, and coupled with some hype, it had a big impact.
Ordinary mission failures are just failures.
But under the brainwashing of the Will of Fire, many ninjas would rather die than abandon a mission, so Uchiha Takashi had to remind him.
He was afraid his close friend would be too stubborn! "...I understand!"
Yamakawa Koji nodded slowly.
After spending time with Uchiha Takashi, he had a new understanding of the 'Will of Fire,' and naturally wasn't as stubborn as before.
If not for this, would he really have pledged loyalty to Uchiha Takashi for no reason?
After sending off his close friend, Uchiha Takashi, sitting in the commander's 'office,' began thinking about how to handle his 'side business.'
Being a commander is work, making money is life! But before he could come up with a plan, Hyuga Aotsuki rushed in after reporting.
Something had happened! Judging by her expression, it wasn't a small matter; otherwise, she wouldn't look so serious.
Sure enough, she delivered bad news.
"The Sand Ninja are secretly gathering…!"
And there was only one possibility for what they would do after gathering.
Attack Kikyo Mountain! Once they capture this fortress, they would be in an advantageous position of 'attack when advancing, defend when retreating,' so they had no other choice.
(End of chapter)