Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

West Sea.

The Kingdom of Orte.

All important matters have been arranged.

Chiba lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the cold, sinister figure at the head of the left.

Orochimaru.

"How is the research on Devil Fruits progressing?"

Orochimaru took a step forward.

He exuded a fervent scientific aura.

On his pale face, his long tongue licked his lips.

"His Majesty."

"The products of this sea are truly fascinating creations."

Orochimaru summoned a huge black sealing scroll with a backhand.

A muffled thud.

The white smoke dissipated.

On the stone slab in the center of the main hall, fifteen strangely shaped fruits were neatly arranged.

Some are covered with spiral patterns.

Some resemble bananas but are covered in sharp thorns.

Its multicolored surface seems to contain some kind of violent life rule.

These are all spoils of war plundered by the imperial army from the treasuries of various kingdoms, the black market, and the hands of pirates.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the fruits.

The hall was completely silent.

Orochimaru's hoarse voice echoed in the empty hall.

"My subordinates interrogated the captured high-ranking naval officers and obtained the 'Devil Fruit Encyclopedia'."

"These fifteen fruits have all been identified."

"Nine of them are animal-type, and six are superhuman-type."

Orochimaru picked up a dark red fruit covered with circular patterns.

"This one is a Zoan-type Ox-Ox Fruit in its Bison form."

"According to the encyclopedia, those who consume it will experience an extremely exaggerated increase in physical strength, and may even possess the regenerative abilities of a bison."

"This is very similar to the Jugo clan in our ninja world, or the Sage Transformation."

"But it doesn't change chakra; it directly alters the genetic sequence of a living organism."

Orochimaru then picked up a strange purple fruit.

"This is the Paramecia-type Cut-Cut Fruit."

"The consumer can turn any part of their body into a sharp blade."

"It doesn't require hand seals or chakra nature transformation; it completely defies the physics of the ninja world."

Orochimaru put the fruit back in its original place and looked up at Chiba on the throne with burning eyes.

"His Majesty."

"The time was too short."

"I haven't yet deciphered the underlying logic of Devil Fruits."

"But I discovered an extremely interesting phenomenon."

"All Zoan-type Devil Fruits contain a very similar violent consciousness within them, like the sealed soul of some kind of beast."

"And all Paramecia-type Devil Fruits have a single fragment of a rule engraved inside them."

Orochimaru's breathing became somewhat rapid.

"His Majesty."

"Under such circumstances."

"I only need to keep one Zoan type and one Paramecia type as long-term slice research samples."

"but……"

"On this vast ocean, there is also a rare type of Logia-type Devil Fruit."

"Your subordinate earnestly hopes that the Imperial Army can bring back a natural fruit for the Research Department."

"As long as we collect samples from all three major systems."

"The research department is confident that it can mass-produce this gene-altering drug within a year!"

These words were spoken.

The breathing of all the family patriarchs in the main hall became heavy.

Mass production?

Without relying on chakra, directly granting ordinary people abilities similar to bloodline limits?

Every clan leader in the empire is a shrewd and calculating individual.

They are all too aware of the strategic value of this thing.

Chiba rested his chin on one hand, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of the throne.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

The crisp tapping sound seemed to strike everyone's internal organs.

"Granted."

Chiba's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable divine quality.

Orochimaru left behind two samples.

"The remaining thirteen Devil Fruits shall all be handed over to the Administration Department."

Chiba's gaze shifted to Nara Shikaku.

"Shikaku."

"List all thirteen of these fruits on the Imperial Merit Exchange List."

"Prices are clearly marked."

"As long as you have enough merit points, anyone can exchange for it."

Nara Shikaku immediately straightened his back and loudly obeyed.

"As you command!"

Chiba slowly stood up.

Its towering form blocked the light from the dome.

Orochimaru.

"Natural fruits will soon fill your laboratory."

"The premise is that your research speed can keep up with the pace of the empire's conquest and expansion."

Chiba ignored everyone and turned to walk towards the passage at the back of the main hall.

Meeting adjourned.

Until Chiba's figure completely disappeared into the shadows.

The suffocating pressure inside the main hall gradually dissipated.

next second.

The entire palace hall was in an uproar.

Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Akimichi Choza, Aburame Shiki...

Even the governors of the four major provinces surrounded Nara Shikaku like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey.

"Shikaku!"

Raikage A has the worst temper, and he grabbed Nara Shikaku by the collar.

"That Ox-Ox Fruit must be reserved for our Thunder Province!"

"If our Kumogakure's ninjutsu were combined with this kind of ultimate physical enhancement, we could absolutely sweep across the Grand Line!"

"Name your price!"

Fugaku Uchiha snorted coldly, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning wildly.

"Governor Ai."

"According to the rules of the empire, merit speaks for itself."

"Our Uchiha clan has killed the most pirates in the West Blue, and our merit points are the highest in the entire village."

"That Slash-Slash Fruit is practically tailor-made for our Uchiha taijutsu; no one can take it from us!"

Hiashi Hyuga showed no sign of backing down, his entire body surging with chakra.

"Our Hyuga clan's Byakugan, combined with a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, is the perfect defense and reconnaissance!"

In a short time.

The usually aloof and powerful figures argued fiercely over these unknown abilities.

Under the imperial system.

Power represents status and the glory of the family.

Nara Shikaku had a splitting headache from the noise.

He suddenly unleashed a burst of Kage-level chakra, forcefully pushing those around him back half a step.

"Calm down, everyone!"

Nara Shikaku straightened his disheveled collar and glanced at the pack of crazed tigers and wolves.

"Want a Devil Fruit?"

"Can."

"But you'd better figure out the side effects of this stuff first."

"Based on intelligence obtained from the interrogation of the Vice Admiral."

"Those who eat the Devil Fruit will be rejected by the sea."

"Once half of your body is submerged in seawater, you will feel completely powerless and unable to move even a finger."

"Even the sea stone, a specialty of this sea, can have the same restraining effect."

These words were spoken.

The once bustling hall fell into a deathly silence in an instant.

Fugaku Uchiha frowned.

"Afraid of water?"

Onoki's expression also changed drastically.

"This is a fatal flaw!"

"Ninjas can attach chakra to the soles of their feet and walk on water."

"But in the extremely harsh sea conditions of the Grand Line, who can guarantee they'll never fall into the sea?"

Lei Ying Ai scratched his hair in frustration.

"Once it falls into the water, it becomes useless!"

"This kind of weakness is fatal in a life-or-death battle!"

The Devil Fruit, which was just a treasure, has suddenly become a hot potato.

The ninjas of the empire value having no weaknesses.

To gain an external ability and create a fatal weakness out of thin air is a bad deal no matter how you look at it.

Just as everyone was hesitating.

Orochimaru let out a harsh, cold laugh.

"Hehehehe..."

All eyes turned to him.

"Minister Shikaku is right."

"The curse of the sea does indeed exist."

"But have you all forgotten that this is the Imperial Research Department?"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a maniacal confidence.

"These past few days."

"I have already conducted preliminary chakra reaction tests on the Devil Fruit."

"The so-called curse is essentially a kind of energy repulsion reaction."

"It's like the petrification that occurs when natural energy and chakra don't fuse perfectly."

Orochimaru tossed the Ox-Ox Fruit into the air and caught it steadily.

Give me enough time.

"I will use the technique of the curse seal, or the method of gene stripping, to cut off the gene chain that makes the fruit afraid of water."

"I can even directly integrate the power of the Devil Fruit into my chakra, creating a completely new bloodline limit!"

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.

Everyone's breathing became heavy again.

A Devil Fruit without side effects?

It could even become a bloodline limit and be passed on to future generations?

Fugaku Uchiha's organs pounded wildly, and he took a sudden step forward.

"Lord Orochimaru, is this true?"

Orochimaru gave him a cold look.

"Science never lies."

"However, research into eliminating side effects requires a large amount of experimental data and valuable materials."

"At that time, the price of merit points to exchange for a perfect Devil Fruit will probably be more than ten times higher."

ten times?

Even if it's a hundred times the price, it's worth it!

The eyes of all the clan leaders turned completely red.

No nonsense.

Everyone turned around instantly, transforming into streaks of afterimages as they rushed out of the main hall.

They must immediately return to their respective settlements and gather all their people.

Three days.

His Majesty only gave us three days to finish.

Three days later, the conquest of the Grand Line will be a frenzied battle for merit!

Whoever kills the most enemies and occupies the most islands will be able to obtain the perfect version of the Devil Fruit, allowing their family's strength to leap forward!