After finding a new direction, Yuzuru went straight to Orochimaru's research base.
Rather than seeking out Orochimaru, he went directly to Katasuke Tōno.
According to his memories, Katasuke had a disciple who had pledged himself to Merz.
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Research Base.
Scientific Ninja Tool Division.
Office.
Katasuke sat at his desk, carefully studying the materials on Scientific Ninja Tools that Amado Sanzu had brought from Kara.
In that field, Amado's technology was far more advanced than Konoha's.
More often than not, the information he brought back gave Katasuke considerable inspiration.
Besides Katasuke, there was another man in the room. He had shoulder-length hair and a meek, submissive appearance.
The man kept his head lowered as he looked at the documents on the desk, but his eyes seemed somewhat vacant.
After reading for a while, Katasuke felt his head begin to throb. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and straightened up.
Glancing at the man beside him, Katasuke asked, "Teshikuse, have you understood all the material I told you to study?"
Teshikuse snapped back to his senses and immediately stood up. Nervously, he said, "Master, these materials are very profound. I-I-I may need a little more time to study them..."
Katasuke sighed. "Teshikuse, you are not naturally gifted in research, so you need to work harder than everyone else."
"I only accepted you as my disciple because you were honest and well-behaved. But your performance now has truly disappointed me."
"At this rate, you will never achieve anything in scientific research!"
As Katasuke continued speaking, he noticed that Teshikuse had nearly buried his head in his chest and finally stopped.
"Forget it. Just pay more attention from now on."
"If you cannot demonstrate your value, then even as my disciple, you will not be able to remain here."
"And one more thing... stay calm when something happens. You should be able to keep a calm face even when thunder rumbles in your heart. What is this timid, groveling behavior supposed to be?"
Teshikuse replied quietly, "Understood, Master."
When Katasuke did not respond for a long time, Teshikuse slowly sat back down.
After stacking the documents in front of himself to block Katasuke's view, the meekness in Teshikuse's eyes immediately turned gloomy.
"Damn it. How dare he look down on me."
"If it were not for your suppression, how could I have ended up like this?"
"Just wait. I will soon be free of your control!"
With a dark expression, Teshikuse clenched the pen in his hand and violently scribbled across a sheet of paper bearing Katasuke's name.
Suddenly, a slightly teasing voice rang out behind him.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"It seems you really hate your teacher."
Upon hearing the voice, Katasuke and Teshikuse immediately looked up.
The moment Katasuke saw Yuzuru, he hurriedly rose to his feet in alarm. "Lord Yuzuru, when did you arrive?"
Yuzuru's gaze rested on Teshikuse as he smiled faintly. "A while ago."
At those words, Teshikuse froze completely.
He wanted to bow. He wanted to tear up the paper on the desk.
But he could not control his body at all.
"Let me see what you have been thinking about."
Seeing Teshikuse's guilty expression, Yuzuru placed a hand on his head and directly used a Memory Probe Technique.
Very quickly, he found the answer he wanted.
Teshikuse had already made contact with Merz. The two had agreed to meet at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire one week later.
After searching through Teshikuse's memories, a gray bone spike appeared in Yuzuru's palm and instantly pierced Teshikuse's body.
In the next moment, Teshikuse's body rapidly crumbled into ashes, scattering across the room.
At the sight, Katasuke dropped to his knees in terror.
He had never expected Yuzuru to kill Teshikuse outright.
As Teshikuse's teacher, and without knowing why Yuzuru had killed him, Katasuke felt as though he could barely hold back his urine.
Within moments, large beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead. He pressed his head tightly against the floor.
"L-Lord Yuzuru, Teshikuse, he..."
Yuzuru snorted. "Did you know there was a traitor among your people?"
"What?"
"Teshikuse planned to flee with classified documents related to Scientific Ninja Tools."
"I-I-I did not know!"
Seeing Katasuke trembling from head to toe, Yuzuru said coldly, "I discovered it in advance this time, so I will not hold you responsible."
"But if there is a next time, this will be your fate."
Glancing at the ashes on the floor, Katasuke kowtowed repeatedly. "Lord Yuzuru, I will be more careful from now on."
"Good. As long as you fulfill your duties properly from now on, I will ensure that you live a life of wealth and safety."
Katasuke's eyes reddened as he cried out excitedly, "Thank you, Lord Yuzuru!"
Yuzuru gave him one last look before silently vanishing from the room.
Although this matter had nothing to do with Katasuke, Yuzuru did not mind using it to give him a warning.
After all, in the events of Boruto, Katasuke had been someone with an extremely strong will of his own.
Even though he knew the Hokage prohibited the use of Scientific Ninja Tools during the Chunin Exams, he had still chosen to lure Boruto into using them.
He had even planned to carry filming equipment and broadcast the performance of Scientific Ninja Tools to the entire shinobi world if Boruto won.
Yuzuru had no intention of killing someone as talented as Katasuke in scientific research, so giving him a proper warning was still necessary.
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One week later.
Yuzuru arrived at the place where Teshikuse and Merz had agreed to meet.
Since the two had not set a specific time, Yuzuru waited until late at night before he finally saw a tall man whose eyes were tightly wrapped in strips of cloth covered in sealing marks.
"You are late."
Yuzuru spoke softly.
The man chuckled somewhat frivolously and replied calmly, "Because I have many things to do every day."
"You may not have properly assessed just how difficult it is to destroy the Divine Nation."
Yuzuru raised an eyebrow. "Since the Divine Nation was established, the shinobi world has become far better than before. Why do you still want to destroy it?"
The man smiled again and slowly said, "Reality will never satisfy everyone. Just like how you had a respectable job, yet still chose to defect and follow me."
After saying that, the man took the initiative to extend his right hand.
"Nice to meet you. Merz, leader of Organization Zero."
Looking at Merz's outstretched arm, Yuzuru also smiled.
"Nice to meet you. Yuzuru Uchiha, Emperor of the Divine Nation."