Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe

As a former ninja of Kirigakure, Zabuza was well-versed in the internal affairs of the village. Though Suigetsu Hozuki wasn't as renowned as his older brother Mangetsu Hozuki, he was still considered a prodigy in Kirigakure. What's more, his lineage from the Hozuki clan warranted Zabuza's attention.

Mangetsu Hozuki, Suigetsu Hozuki, Ameyuri Ringo, and Chojuro were all prodigies of Kirigakure, having gained significant power in their early teens.

Kirigakure had always been a strong village, filled with bloodline limit clans and many young geniuses. However, under Madara Uchiha's manipulation, the village experienced a large-scale civil war, leading to the nickname "Village of the Bloody Mist" and the loss of numerous bloodline limit clans and talented youths.

Considering how Obito, under Madara's orders, infiltrated Kirigakure to rescue Rin, it's safe to assume that after the battle at the Valley of the End, Madara set up his operations within Kirigakure.

Aside from the civil war, another major factor that contributed to the shortage of powerful individuals in Kirigakure was the unfortunate demise of many prodigies. Both Mangetsu Hozuki and Ameyuri Ringo died young due to illness.

Their deaths were incredibly tragic. Had they lived in Konoha, they likely wouldn't have succumbed to their ailments at such a young age.

It's important to remember that even ninjas can fall ill. Although they can refine chakra, ninjas are still mortal, and thus prone to sickness. This applies even in worlds like One Piece, where the characters possess immense physical strength but still remain susceptible to illness. Even the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, eventually succumbed to disease.

"Hey, old man, your sword looks nice. Let me borrow it for a few days," Suigetsu said, reaching for the Decapitating Carving Knife on Zabuza's back. His nonchalant attitude immediately angered Zabuza.

To the members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, their swords were incredibly important. There was no official rule about passing the swords to others, but they were highly protective of their weapons. No one would dare covet their swords while they were alive.

"Brat, are you looking to die?" Zabuza sidestepped Suigetsu's grab and threw a punch at his chest. His fist passed through Suigetsu's body, which turned to water thanks to the *Hydration Technique*.

"Why be so stingy?" Suigetsu, using his liquefied form, reached again for Zabuza's sword.

The *Hydration Technique* made Suigetsu nearly invulnerable to physical attacks and, in Kirigakure, it was especially potent since most Kirigakure ninjas specialized in water-style techniques. Physical and water-based attacks were ineffective against the Hozuki clan, which was why they had been instrumental in Kirigakure's success during the Great Ninja Wars.

In the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Edo Tensei-revived Seven Swordsmen of the Mist were all quickly sealed, except for Mangetsu Hozuki, who managed to persist due to his *Hydration Technique*.

Realizing his attacks were futile against Suigetsu, Zabuza retreated, but Suigetsu pursued him, ready to grab the sword again. Before he could, his legs were suddenly frozen in place.

Seeing Zabuza in trouble, Haku had intervened. The *Ice Release* of the Yuki clan was a natural counter to the *Hydration Technique*.

"Yuki clan... just my luck," Suigetsu muttered, frustrated as he shattered the ice binding his legs. Now both Sasuke's lightning-style techniques and Haku's ice-style techniques could nullify his powers.

"Hey, you don't have any techniques that can counter me, do you?" Suigetsu, still frustrated, turned to Karin, fearing she might also have a power that could neutralize his.

"She actually does," Daniel interjected with a laugh. Karin, as a member of the Uzumaki clan, could easily deal with Suigetsu's *Hydration Technique* using the *Adamantine Sealing Chains*. The technique disrupted chakra, and since the *Hydration Technique* relied on chakra to liquefy the body, Karin's chains would be an effective counter.

In the original series, Karin used this ability twice—once to stop Suigetsu from escaping, and another time against White Zetsu's clone, Tobi.

"Don't worry, Suigetsu. Many of the Seven Ninja Swords are still out there. If you want one, you can always find another," Daniel said, trying to lift Suigetsu's spirits.

"Really? You better help me find one!" Suigetsu responded, eager for the challenge.

"I can't guarantee that. You'll have to figure it out yourself," Daniel replied. He had no interest in the Seven Ninja Swords, but for someone like Suigetsu, who hailed from Kirigakure, wielding one of these swords was a matter of pride.

"Jugo, come out!" Daniel called after sorting out Suigetsu's issues. It was time to deal with the last member of the Snake Squad, Jugo.

"Don't come in!" Jugo's voice echoed from within his steel cell as Daniel opened the heavy iron door.

*Boom.*

The moment the door opened, Jugo's enormous fist flew toward Daniel's face. Daniel calmly placed his left hand on Jugo's fist, then gently deflected it, causing Jugo to crash into the wall behind him. Daniel had used the principles of *Taijiquan*, employing soft power to neutralize Jugo's brute force.

"Where's Kimimaro?" Jugo asked as he slid down the wall, regaining his composure.

"His illness has worsened. He's bedridden," Daniel replied. "Come out, I might be able to help you with your condition."

"Not right now," Jugo said, his voice strained.

"You're about to lose control again, aren't you? It's fine. You won't hurt me," Daniel said as he flicked his finger, shattering the iron ball attached to Jugo's ankle.

"I said no!" Jugo roared as he lunged at Daniel again. This time, Daniel restrained him with two thick, green vines that shot out of the ground, wrapping tightly around his limbs.

Daniel had been inspired by Orochimaru's *Hidden Shadow Snake Hands* technique and had developed his own version using Wood Release. Instead of snakes, he used vines to bind his enemies. It worked just as well, if not better.

There were other techniques he could adapt as well, like Orochimaru's *Ten Thousand Snakes Wave*. Daniel could create a similar move using vines—perhaps a *Ten Thousand Vines Formation*. In fact, Konoha's *Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees* involved similar concepts, where large wooden hands emerged from the ground to attack enemies.

While Hashirama Senju's *Wood Release* was powerful, it was more important to make it one's own.

"Let me go! I'll kill you!" Jugo screamed, struggling violently against the vines, but there was no escaping Daniel's binding.

"Such strange cells... They can heal others through mere contact. So, this is the secret behind the cursed seal. As expected, Orochimaru really does hold the key to cutting-edge technology," Daniel mused.

The cursed seal was dangerous but could temporarily grant a ninja the strength of a jonin. While there were significant side effects, the fact that it allowed even a chunin to wield jonin-level power was impressive.

Of course, the cursed seal wasn't for everyone. Only a few of those subjected to it survived, like the Sound Four, who were selected from hundreds of candidates.

The power granted by the cursed seal was derived from natural energy—though it was a diluted form of it. 

"It seems I'll need to visit Ryuchi Cave," Daniel said. Orochimaru had never fully mastered Sage Mode because his body wasn't suitable for it. The cursed seal was the result of his experimentation with Jugo's unique ability to absorb natural energy.

"I'm going with you," Sasuke declared after hearing that Daniel planned to visit Ryuchi Cave. He had already learned from Daniel about the Three Great Sage Regions and knew that Naruto had signed a contract with Mount Myoboku.

Though Sasuke often claimed he didn't care, the truth was that he did—especially when it came to Naruto, his first real friend. He couldn't help but feel competitive.

"So, the formation of the new Sannin seems inevitable. But with Sasuke's current strength, he's more than ready to sign a contract with Ryuchi Cave," Daniel thought. Over the past few months, Sasuke's power had grown significantly, putting him on par with an ordinary jonin.

The combination of Uchiha blood and Hashirama's cells was an unparalleled advantage. No wonder Obito, once a weakling, had gained the strength to fight the Fourth Hokage after a relatively short period of training.

For ninjas, the age between twelve and fifteen was often the most critical time for growth. All the young prodigies achieved jonin-level strength around this age.

Even younger prodigies, like Kakashi (who became a chunin at age six) and Minato (who saved Kushina from being kidnapped by the Cloud Village when they were both still in the Academy), displayed extraordinary talent at a very young age.

"Naruto, you'd better catch up soon, or the gap between you and Sasuke will only keep growing," Daniel mused. With Sasuke's current progress, if he were to train for another three years like in the original timeline, he could very well surpass even Kage-level shinobi.

"Alright," Daniel finally agreed, after considering the situation. "You can come with me to Ryuchi Cave."

The Three Great Sage Regions, where the legendary sage animals lived, were located in separate dimensions linked to the physical world by portals. Most ninjas relied on reverse summoning techniques to access them, but these regions also had physical portals hidden in remote areas.

The Ryuchi Cave's portal wasn't located in the Land of Fire like Mount Myoboku or Shikkotsu Forest. It lay far to the east, in a mountainous area. However, finding the portal was no guarantee of entry. Whether a person could pass through depended on the will of the cave's inhabitants.

While Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest might reject someone who lacked the proper connection or affinity, Ryuchi Cave operated differently. The cave welcomed all who found it, not out of hospitality, but to test their worth—and sometimes devour them.

"These thick fogs are troublesome," Daniel muttered as they made their way through the mist-covered mountains toward Ryuchi Cave. The fog was no ordinary mist—it was an artificial creation meant to confuse and disorient trespassers.

"It feels like we've been walking in circles," Sasuke noted after a while, realizing they seemed to be retracing their steps.

"You just noticed?" Daniel chuckled. "I already know they're watching us. I'm just waiting for them to show themselves." Then, Daniel suddenly raised his voice and called out, "I know you're there. We wish to meet with the White Snake Sage. One of us is here to make a contract."

When no one appeared, Daniel sighed. "Alright then. Let's cut the pleasantries." He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with as much air as possible, and performed a series of hand signs.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful gust of wind surged from Daniel's mouth, ripping through the dense fog and clearing the surroundings in an instant. The force of the wind even managed to sweep up something—or rather, someone—hidden in the mist.

"Ahh!" A startled voice cried out as a figure was thrown into the air by the gale. Daniel smirked, knowing he had flushed out one of the watchers.

"You've got guts, causing such a ruckus in Ryuchi Cave," came an irritated voice. A green-scaled, snake-like figure appeared in front of Daniel and Sasuke, floating in midair. She had the body of a woman, but her face and lower half were entirely serpentine.

Before Daniel or Sasuke could respond, two more figures, also resembling snake-women, appeared beside her.

"Why are you here?" one of them asked the first. "This is an important guest."

The green-scaled woman turned her gaze toward the others in confusion. "Guest? What are you talking about?"

The smaller, more childlike snake-woman spoke up. "The White Snake Sage wishes to see these two. Follow us."

"This is Ryuchi Cave?" Sasuke murmured as they followed the snake-women. Before long, they arrived at a massive, temple-like structure. Stone serpents adorned the entrance, giving the place an eerie, otherworldly feel.

"Yes, this is Ryuchi Cave. The White Snake Sage is waiting for you inside," the childlike snake-woman said.

"An honored guest from a foreign land," a calm, elderly voice greeted them as they entered the inner courtyard. Seated within a gazebo was the White Snake Sage, appearing as a frail old woman, despite her immense power.

Though she looked harmless, Daniel knew better than to underestimate her. As one of the legendary sages, her strength rivaled that of the other great sages from Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest. Moreover, the three young snake-women who had accompanied them were likely powerful in their own right—perhaps even strong enough to challenge a Kage-level shinobi.

"It seems I can't hide anything from you," Daniel said with a small smile. He wasn't surprised. After all, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku had the ability to see the future, so it stood to reason that the White Snake Sage could also sense the arrival of significant individuals.

"Let's not waste time. What is it that you seek here?" the White Snake Sage asked, her eyes narrowing as she sized them up.

"We've come for the Ryuchi Cave's senjutsu, as well as to form a contract with the snakes of this place," Daniel replied without hesitation.

"Ah, senjutsu," the White Snake Sage muttered, her interest clearly piqued. "Very well. You shall be tested. But know this, not everyone can survive the trials of Ryuchi Cave. If you fail, you'll become food for the others."

Daniel nodded. He knew what they were in for. Unlike Mount Myoboku or Shikkotsu Forest, Ryuchi Cave did not tolerate weakness. To survive here, one had to prove their worth or be consumed.

"Let the trial begin."

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