A short while later, at the Uchiha Clan's training ground, Uchiha Shinsuke was still enthusiastically practicing Wood Release techniques, even though the test was technically over.
Fugaku frowned slightly, his voice filled with doubt.
"Isn't this power... a bit weak?"
If the legendary First Hokage could summon massive wooden constructs with a mere clap of his hands, then Shinsuke's Wood Release could barely sprout saplings—more useful for landscaping than fighting.
Compared to Yamato's Wood Release, which at least could build structures, Shinsuke's seemed even weaker.
"Have you misunderstood something?"
Orochimaru glanced at Fugaku and spoke slowly.
"Wood Release was only a side-effect of this body enhancement procedure. It's a bonus, not the main goal."
The logic was sound, and though Fugaku nodded in agreement, he couldn't completely hide his disappointment.
After all, Wood Release was the bloodline limit of the First Hokage, a symbol of Konoha's legacy.
And given the long, complicated history between the Uchiha and Senju clans, having a Wood Release user within the Uchiha Clan would have been deeply satisfying.
"Don't worry," Orochimaru continued, licking his lips with a hint of a smile.
"This is just a basic, incomplete version. A more perfected body enhancement procedure will be possible in the future."
"That's truly something to look forward to," Fugaku said, his expression finally relaxing into a smile.
---
Three days later, the second Uchiha jonin underwent the 'body enhancement procedure'—but this time, the operation failed.
If Orochimaru hadn't acted quickly to remove large sections of flesh, including parts of the intestines, liver, and lower abdomen, the man's organs would have been completely overtaken by wood, costing him his life.
---
In the first-floor medical room, Fugaku gripped his teacup tightly, his face dark and tense.
"Orochimaru-sama, will his body recover?"
"After resecting the intestine, it won't regenerate on its own. He'll probably have digestive issues in the future," Orochimaru said lightly, his tongue flicking out to wet his lips.
"But the rest will heal with time and care. Compared to dying, a few inconveniences are minor, don't you think?"
He smiled coldly.
"I warned you from the beginning—there's a risk of failure. So, Fugaku-dono, do you still wish to continue?
And will your clansmen still volunteer after seeing a failure?"
Fugaku hesitated for a moment.
But then he clenched his fists and said firmly, "We'll continue."
In truth, among the remaining three Uchiha jonin, none had backed out.
Fugaku's hesitation wasn't for himself, but because he bore the responsibility of leading the clan.
Orochimaru's smile widened.
"Good."
---
A few days later, the third body enhancement surgery was performed—and this time, it was successful.
The Uchiha jonin walked out of the underground operating room on his own two feet.
However, unlike Shinsuke, this jonin could not use Wood Release.
The reason was simple:
To prioritize survival and gather specific experimental data, Orochimaru had deliberately reduced the strength of the transplant even further.
The focus of this round was not on granting Wood Release, but on observing the interaction between Sharingan pupil strength and the chakra of the First Hokage's cells.
These targeted experiments provided Orochimaru with valuable information.
Fugaku didn't know the specifics.
He was simply relieved to see another successful operation and eagerly tried to arrange another surgery.
But this time, Orochimaru refused.
"The current data is sufficient for now. We need to refine the operation process to improve success rates before proceeding," he said before leaving the Uchiha compound after finalizing some arrangements.
Hearing this, Fugaku had no choice but to suppress his impatience and wait.
With the addition of two more Jōnin whose strength and potential had greatly increased, the Uchiha clan was more than satisfied — it was a gain they could accept.
Hokage Building, Meeting Room.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, smoking his pipe with an expressionless face. Beside him sat the two Hokage advisors, both wearing grim looks.
Moments earlier, under their questioning, Shisui had reported Orochimaru's recent actions and the physical enhancement surgeries performed on several Uchiha Jōnin.
Despite their efforts to keep it quiet, the failure of one operation had drawn enough attention that it couldn't escape notice. Shisui thought to himself that even if he hadn't reported it, the Third Hokage would have found out soon enough. At least this way, the situation might be handled better.
"Hiruzen," Koharu Utatane spoke sternly, slamming her hand on the desk, "you heard it yourself. Orochimaru is conducting human experiments openly! How long do you intend to tolerate this? Have you even considered what would happen if one of those Uchiha Jōnin had died during the procedure?"
Homura Mitokado, too, fixed his eyes on Hiruzen, waiting for his response.
Half-kneeling on the floor, Shisui raised his head and insisted firmly, "Elders, this was not a human experiment — it was a physical enhancement surgery."
Even Shisui, who wasn't particularly adept at politics, understood how sensitive the issue of human experimentation was, especially on fellow Konoha villagers. He couldn't allow the elders to distort the truth. The Jōnin had accepted the procedure willingly, partly due to their trust in him.
"What Shisui said is not without merit," Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly. "It may not necessarily qualify as human experimentation. I have heard that the two Uchiha Jōnin who succeeded in the surgery have shown significant improvement."
"Hiruzen, even now you're protecting your disciple?" Koharu snapped, her anger boiling over. "You know as well as we do that it wasn't just 'physical enhancement.' It's the same cell transplant operation used to create that 'Wood Release boy.' Are you pretending we don't know?"
"Danzo already told us everything," she added sharply.
Hiruzen took a long drag on his pipe, exhaling several slow puffs of smoke without replying.
The two advisors pressed on. Homura leaned forward, speaking gravely, "Even if you kept the matter of the Wood Release boy hidden, we all understand how dangerous it is to meddle with the First Hokage's cells. Orochimaru's reckless experiments — and worse, giving that power to..."
He caught himself mid-sentence, realizing he had almost said something inappropriate in front of Shisui.
Koharu, however, showed no such restraint. "Homura is right. I propose we immediately ban Orochimaru's experiments and demand that he destroy all experimental materials."
"I second that," Homura agreed immediately.
"You both make valid points," Hiruzen finally said, putting down his pipe and fixing them with a firm gaze. "But don't forget — the peace talks with Kumogakure are still ongoing. Are you truly willing to provoke Orochimaru at such a critical time?"
The two advisors hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances.
At that moment, a voice rang from outside the Hokage room door.
Danzo Shimura walked in, leaning heavily on his cane.
"Hiruzen is correct," Danzo said. "Direct confrontation would be unwise. Even if Orochimaru claimed to have destroyed his data and ceased the experiments, would you truly believe him?"
The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes. "Danzo, what are you doing here?"
Danzo responded calmly, "This is a high-level meeting of the village. Surely I'm still qualified to attend?"
He closed his eyes briefly before continuing. "Demanding the destruction of the experimental data is pointless. It should be confiscated — and placed in the village's hands."
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