"Devouring people…"
That wasn't something one could casually do. Killing was one thing, but eating someone—especially without hatred or conflict—was something Shigure simply couldn't bring himself to do.
[Great Sage: It is not strictly necessary for the Host to devour the target. When a target willingly dedicates everything to the Host, they will be marked by Gluttony and become part of the Host's food chain. The Host may devour them at any time afterward.]
"So as long as someone becomes a link in my food chain, I can grant them power?"
[Great Sage: Correct.]
"And I can grant the same ability more than once?"
[Great Sage: Yes.]
Perfect.
This was exactly what Shigure needed. The ability to grant the same Kekkei Genkai repeatedly was beyond valuable.
A wild idea began to take shape in his mind.
Hidden Mist currently had strong individual shinobi—but the village itself lacked a solid foundation.
The real cause was simple: during the Bloody Mist era, countless clans fled or were wiped out. Two major Kekkei Genkai families were exterminated outright. The result was a village full of elite fighters but with no generational support.
Look at Konoha.
The Hyūga Clan remained powerful. Even though not many clans possessed Kekkei Genkai, Konoha had a wide array of family-based shinobi:
Nara Clan
Akimichi Clan
Yamanaka Clan
Aburame Clan
Inuzuka Clan
… and many others.
It was these clans that kept Konoha stable and thriving.
In the modern shinobi world, before the age of Scientific Ninja Tools, the strength of a Hidden Village depended heavily on its clans.
Sunagakure and Kirigakure declined for the same reason:
They lacked families strong enough to support the village long-term.
Sunagakure, despite its weakness in numbers, produced shinobi with extremely high individual combat quality—born from surviving harsh desert conditions.
Kirigakure was similar. Their ninja were forged in bloodshed and internal strife; their fundamentals were excellent. What they lacked was a stable middle layer of reliable clan power.
If Shigure used his Food Chain ability properly…
He could rebuild Kirigakure from the ground up.
He could revive entire Bloodline clans.
Counting the Kekkei Genkai and abilities he currently possessed:
Invisibility Release
Boil Release
Ice Release
Cloud Release (his own fusion of Boil + Ice)
Magnet Release (analyzed from Shukaku's chakra)
Wood Release
Shikotsumyaku (Kaguya Clan's corpse bone ability)
Storm Release
Light Release
Any single one of these was enough to build an entire clan around.
Kirigakure once persecuted Kekkei Genkai users.
Even now, under Terumī Mei's leadership, traces of prejudice remained.
Then Shigure would simply change the numbers.
If Kekkei Genkai users became the majority, then the ones without Kekkei Genkai would become the minority—and thus, the ones facing pressure.
A reversal of the Bloody Mist era.
Kimimaro's death had always weighed heavily on Shigure.
But now?
It no longer had to be a tragedy.
Even if Kimimaro was gone…
Shigure could rebuild the Kaguya Clan itself.
He could revive Shikotsumyaku and reforge the strength of Kirigakure—creating a village overflowing with Bloodline power.
The plan had begun.
Shigure planned to test this new ability as soon as he returned to the village.
As for Fū, the former Jinchūriki of Takigakure—she had already been stripped of the Seven-Tails and could no longer be considered a Jinchūriki.
After arriving back in Kirigakure, Shigure simply handed her over to the village for safekeeping, not even removing the sealing restraints. Her usefulness would come later.
When Shigure stepped into Terumī Mei's office, he had only been gone for a few hours. Mei didn't seem surprised by his return; she merely cast him a brief, cool glance.
"Find a few Kirigakure shinobi you trust absolutely," Shigure said. "I want to conduct a small experiment."
Using people? Conducting an experiment?
The implications made Mei's expression tighten immediately.
"What exactly are you planning? Human experimentation?" she asked bluntly.
Shigure shook his head.
"Nothing like that. I won't be using any forbidden jutsu or harming them. On the contrary—this will benefit them."
"And as for the details… you'll see soon enough."
His vague reassurance did little to calm Mei's unease.
"How many people do you need?"
"Doesn't matter. Two or three will do."
Seeing Shigure's composed expression, Mei reluctantly judged that he wasn't planning anything cruel.
"…Fine. I'll send them right away."
"Good. Have them meet me at the house. I'll be waiting in the backyard."
With a flicker of movement, Shigure vanished.
Mei blinked in mild frustration. She had more questions, but Shigure was already gone. She could only sigh, finish the Mizukage paperwork before her, and plan to confront him afterward.
Kirigakure – Mizukage Residence
The residence wasn't extravagant, but it was spacious and designed for function over luxury. The expansive backyard even held a small forest—ideal for training.
Shigure sat beneath a large tree, resting on a stone while waiting.
He didn't wait long. Soon, three Kirigakure shinobi arrived.
"Lord Shigure!"
"We have come at the Mizukage's command!"
"Please instruct us!"
Shigure looked up calmly. "I didn't call you here to have you do errands for me. I'm here to give you something."
"Something that will increase your strength."
The three exchanged excited glances, unable to hide their anticipation.
"But there is a condition," Shigure continued. "You must willingly become my people—devoting everything, including your lives, to me."
The three stiffened, surprise flashing across their faces. Then they looked at one another and bowed deeply.
"Lord Mizukage ordered us to obey you without reservation. If you require our lives, we offer them willingly!"
Shigure nodded.
He lifted his hand—and Gluttony activated.
A mark took shape inside each of their bodies.
In the next instant, their chakra erupted.
Their chakra pools doubled—some even tripled—on the spot.
The leader's chakra surged almost fivefold.
Shigure blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
What's happening?
[Great Sage: A gift from the Host. As the apex entity of the food chain, the Host grants additional blessings to those under him.]
So it could even increase their chakra?
That was better than he had expected.
A moment ago, these men were only elite Chūnin at best. Now, their chakra volume alone pushed them toward jōnin-tier strength.
"Thank you, Lord Shigure!"
The three dropped to their knees, trembling with excitement. They didn't understand what he had done, but the explosive chakra swelling inside them was unmistakably real.
"Don't thank me yet," Shigure said calmly. "What I truly intend to give you hasn't even begun."
I bestow upon you the power of Shikotsumyaku…
The moment the words left him, all three men stiffened—
Crack—!
A sharp, piercing sound split the air.
A bone spike burst forth…
...
TN:
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