Chapter 564: Flesh Is Weak, Machinery Ascends
"What exactly is going on with the Otsutsuki Clan's level of technology?"
Kenichi stared at the turtle-shaped object in front of him and fell into deep thought.
He had practically locked himself inside the laboratory for an entire week while studying it.
Of course, he still occasionally went outside to train Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata, and he also looked after Hikari along the way.
But most of his time was spent here.
After all, this timeline was unusual.
And this strange turtle, which seemed to possess the ability to travel through time, was extremely important to Kenichi.
In fact, it was even more important than Isshiki, who was still hiding somewhere in this world.
Kenichi had already spent quite a long time in this timeline.
Time was not standing still.
If time continued flowing normally here, then his original world should also still be progressing.
That meant Kenichi needed to understand this machine as quickly as possible and find a way to return to the exact moment when it had struck him.
Only then could he avoid unnecessary complications.
His original world was something he had painstakingly managed and developed for a very long time.
If he returned only to discover that everything had fallen apart in his absence, he would be finished.
Kenichi did not want to return home and immediately have to figure out how to deal with Isshiki while simultaneously cleaning up an enormous mess.
So his current priority was simple.
Crack the mystery of this time machine.
Or, at the very least, find some way to use it to send himself back.
"The problem is... this thing refuses to activate no matter what I do."
Kenichi rubbed his forehead.
"It really does behave like an oversized turtle."
After studying it for some time, he had discovered something extremely strange.
The turtle looked alive.
However, there were clearly secrets hidden beneath its shell.
Kenichi had used his analytical abilities to examine its composition and discovered that its body was made from a combination of biological tissue and machinery.
Flesh is weak.
Machinery ascends.
That phrase immediately appeared in Kenichi's mind.
More importantly, this discovery gave him an entirely new understanding of the Otsutsuki Clan's technological capabilities.
The Otsutsuki were definitely hiding far more than what had appeared in the original Naruto story.
If something as absurd as a time machine could exist, then the existence of other advanced technologies would hardly be surprising.
As for what those technologies might actually be...
Kenichi had no idea.
That would depend entirely on whatever insanity Boruto had introduced.
Thinking about Boruto made Kenichi's expression subtly change.
During the past week, he had experimented with using genjutsu on himself to dig through his old memories.
The method really worked.
Memories he had believed were long forgotten resurfaced with astonishing clarity.
Novels he had read as a child.
Anime episodes he had watched years ago.
Even individual lines of text and punctuation marks buried deep in his memory could be reconstructed under the stimulation of genjutsu.
Unfortunately, Kenichi had never properly watched Boruto.
After Naruto ended, he had seen Boruto begin by putting Naruto into such a miserable situation that he had immediately lost interest.
He had found the entire premise irritating enough that he never bothered following the series seriously.
Everything he knew came from short clips, edits, discussions, and commentary videos that occasionally appeared while he was scrolling online.
That meant Kenichi could only piece together information from scattered fragments.
Still, he had recovered several useful clues.
One particularly important memory involved an adult Sasuke traveling through time with Boruto.
The two had apparently returned to the era of the original Naruto story and encountered several familiar characters.
There were also things involving clones.
Kenichi had also recovered information about Kara, the organization associated with Isshiki.
And more importantly, he remembered discussions about absurdly powerful Otsutsuki beings, individuals so overwhelming that they were practically described as gods.
Kenichi remembered complaining about those plot developments when he originally saw them.
"Even though I've analyzed part of this turtle's structure, understanding the structure doesn't mean I can reproduce it."
Kenichi scratched his head.
Some of the internal components were far beyond anything he properly understood.
One thing, however, was certain.
This time turtle required some kind of energy source to perform time-space travel.
The problem was that Kenichi could not locate that energy source.
And he did not dare dismantle the machine.
If he took it apart and then discovered that he could not put it back together...
He would be trapped in this world.
Then he would have to go through everything all over again.
So Kenichi could only study the machine carefully and slowly.
Still, he already had one possible theory.
Since the object was connected to the Otsutsuki Clan, perhaps activating it required something related to Otsutsuki blood or genetics.
And at this point, Kenichi had already completed most of the process of refining and compressing his chakra.
If the process were represented as a download bar, he would currently be at roughly eighty-eight percent.
During this period, aside from refining and compressing chakra, Kenichi had done very little else.
There was no reason to rush.
Konoha was currently experiencing a period of peace.
Aside from his teacher Orochimaru, who was still thinking about causing trouble somewhere, the village should remain peaceful for quite some time.
That peace would likely last until the Akatsuki truly entered its active phase.
And by the time that happened...
Even if Nagato appeared before Kenichi at full strength, Kenichi was confident he could beat him down.
Especially because he had recently noticed something strange happening to his eyes.
They had begun feeling dry.
Itchy.
Slightly uncomfortable.
Kenichi had examined himself carefully and discovered that some strange power was gradually condensing within his eyes.
That power appeared to be influencing his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Kenichi suspected this was a sign that his Rinnegan was beginning to awaken.
If he succeeded, he would gain both the Rinnegan and Six Paths Mode.
At that point, across the entire Shinobi World, Kenichi would unquestionably belong among the highest tier of powerhouses.
"Brother Kenichi."
A clear voice came from outside.
Kenichi immediately recognized it.
He left the laboratory and looked outside.
Sure enough, Hikari was standing there.
The moment she saw him, she happily waved.
Kenichi's expression became slightly complicated as he looked at her.
By now, he had already remembered Hikari's actual identity.
Through the memories recovered with genjutsu, Kenichi had rediscovered information about her.
Hikari was apparently a character from one of the Naruto games.
More importantly, her story was connected to Boruto.
Boruto would supposedly travel through time to save Hikari.
Eventually, Boruto would return to his own era, while Hikari remained behind to live her own life, continuing to remember him afterward.
But in Kenichi's original world, and now in this timeline as well, Boruto's role had somehow been replaced by Kenichi himself.
Kenichi had taken Boruto's place in Hikari's story.
Of course, if Naruto still ended up with Hinata, Boruto might eventually be born in the future.
But even that was uncertain.
When it came to childbirth, something as small as conception happening a day earlier or later could result in an entirely different child.
So whether the exact same Boruto would ever exist in this world remained an open question.
"Hikari, what's wrong?"
Kenichi smiled.
He had already explained his true circumstances to her that day.
Kenichi saw no reason to hide something like that.
He was nearly invincible in this world anyway.
Aside from Isshiki and Madara, there was currently almost no one he truly feared.
And once he awakened the Rinnegan and mastered Six Paths Mode, Isshiki would likely become the only person remaining who could genuinely qualify as his opponent.
"Brother Kenichi, look!"
Hikari happily raised her hands.
"I made three-color dango!"
Kenichi accepted one and took a bite.
It actually tasted pretty good.
Looking at Hikari, Kenichi chuckled.
His mood improved.
Although this world differed from his original timeline, at least many of the people here were still familiar to him.
The Third Hokage had not died by his hand.
Tsunade and Jiraiya were both still alive.
And his teacher was here as well.
Thinking about Orochimaru suddenly gave Kenichi another idea.
Maybe he did not need to research the time machine entirely by himself.
He could ask Orochimaru for help.
And Amado as well.
Both possessed genuine scientific talent.
If they could join the research project, Kenichi's progress would naturally accelerate.
Between the two, Amado would probably be easier to control.
Kenichi knew very clearly what Amado wanted.
Orochimaru, however...
That gave Kenichi a headache.
The Orochimaru in this timeline was still the original version who had followed the normal path of the Naruto story.
The version planning to carry out the Konoha Crush.
Kenichi had lived in the Shinobi World for many years.
The person he understood best was not Naruto.
Nor Sasuke.
It was Orochimaru.
The teacher who had almost placed him on an operating table when they first met.
Orochimaru was an extremely complicated person.
After spending so many years with him, Kenichi understood that beneath his cold exterior, Orochimaru was actually very sensitive.
He was also incredibly stubborn.
Just look at Sasuke.
For the sake of obtaining Sasuke, Orochimaru had done an absurd number of things.
He had even been willing to carry out the Konoha Crush.
In Kenichi's original timeline, however, his presence had already changed Orochimaru significantly.
At the very least, Orochimaru no longer carried the same level of resentment.
He had also stopped caring so much about failing to become Hokage.
But this timeline's Orochimaru had never had Kenichi beside him.
Kenichi had already asked Hiruzen about Orochimaru's disciples.
Orochimaru had no real student beside him except Anko Mitarashi.
Thinking of that junior disciple of his made Kenichi's expression somewhat complicated.
But the Anko in this world did not know him.
So Kenichi had never gone out of his way to meet her.
Now, however, Kenichi was trying to study something as ridiculous as a time machine.
He needed more talented researchers.
Orochimaru and Amado were unquestionably the best candidates available to him.
"Teacher..."
Kenichi scratched his head.
Convincing Orochimaru to cooperate would not be easy.
Still, Kenichi was not completely without leverage.
When he killed Danzo, he had removed every Sharingan from Danzo's body.
That included the eye suspected of containing Kotoamatsukami.
Before Infinite Tsukuyomi appeared, Kotoamatsukami had often been described as the strongest genjutsu.
Kenichi remained skeptical of that claim.
After all, Kotoamatsukami had very few actual combat feats.
He also had no idea whether it could genuinely affect someone like Orochimaru.
But unless Kenichi could guarantee that Orochimaru remained under control, he did not dare allow his teacher anywhere near the time machine.
Who knew what Orochimaru might do with something like this?
After thinking about it for a while, Kenichi ultimately abandoned the idea of allowing Orochimaru to participate.
Amado was safer.
Kenichi planned to post a request through the underground Bounty Stations and search for information about him.
As long as he could locate Amado's current whereabouts, that would be enough.
Kenichi had once encountered Amado in the Land of Snow.
By now, Amado had probably relocated somewhere else.
When it came to something as dangerous as a time machine, Kenichi could not afford to be careless.
He had no intention of repeating the path he had already walked in his original world.
"Is it good?"
Hikari looked at Kenichi nervously.
Her feelings toward him were complicated.
The entire situation still sounded unbelievable.
Yet the gloves Kenichi possessed had been made in a style only she would recognize.
He also knew her preferences incredibly well, even down to the foods she liked.
That convinced Hikari that Kenichi truly did know her.
Just not this version of her.
He knew another Hikari from another timeline.
At first, Hikari had approached Kenichi mostly because of that strange connection.
But now, after spending more time with him, genuine trust and affection had begun to develop.
"It's delicious."
Kenichi smiled.
"Hikari, you're pretty good at this."
The three-color dango genuinely tasted quite good.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to Kenichi.
His expression stiffened.
No...
Surely not.
Before he could say anything, Hikari happily pulled out an enormous pile of three-color dango.
There had to be hundreds.
Kenichi's mouth twitched.
As expected of Hikari.
This personality really had not changed much at all.
Looking at the mountain of dango in front of him, Kenichi felt that he probably would not need to eat anything else for the rest of the day.
"Brother Kenichi..."
A soft, sweet voice came from nearby.
The voice was so gentle that Kenichi knew exactly who it belonged to before turning around.
Hinata.
Sure enough, she stood nearby, nervously playing with her fingers.
Her face was bright red.
"Yo, Hinata."
Kenichi smiled pleasantly.
"Looking for Naruto?"
When it came to Naruto's future girlfriend, Kenichi had no intention of interfering too much.
Still, under Kenichi's influence, Naruto had become less obsessed with romance in general.
At the very least, he was no longer constantly chasing after Sakura.
There had always been plenty of arguments online about who Naruto should have ended up marrying.
But personally, Kenichi thought Hinata was far more suitable for Naruto than Sakura.
Sakura's heart had always been completely focused on Sasuke.
She had even been willing to turn against her friends because of him.
She was the very definition of someone blinded by love.
Unless Kenichi used Kotoamatsukami to forcibly alter Sakura's feelings, he doubted she would ever truly fall for Naruto.
And thanks to Kenichi's interference, Sakura was no longer even a member of Team 7.
She still occasionally sent Sasuke gifts, but her presence around Naruto had become much smaller.
Hinata was the opposite.
Her thoughts had always revolved around Naruto.
If Naruto ended up with Hinata, then at least he would be with someone who genuinely cared deeply about him.
Their married life in the original future might have seemed somewhat complicated at times, but Hinata's feelings for Naruto had always remained sincere.
In Kenichi's previous life, most of the people he knew dated people they personally liked.
But when those relationships failed to lead to marriage, many ordinary people eventually chose partners who loved them instead.
Still, Kenichi hoped Naruto and Hinata's relationship would develop naturally.
He was willing to observe and occasionally give things a gentle push, but he wanted to see whether Naruto himself would genuinely develop feelings for Hinata.
After all, the two already spent a great deal of time together.
As for the Hyuga Clan...
Heh.
Ever since Kenichi had visited them for a friendly little "heart-to-heart conversation," the Hyuga had completely stopped interfering with Hinata.
"Um..."
Hinata lightly bit her lip.
Then she nodded shyly.
....
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