What exactly are Hashirama's cells?
To put it plainly, they're the cells of the Sage of Six Paths—legendary beyond belief.
A type of super cell filled with tremendous vitality, regenerative capabilities, and natural affinity.
They're referred to as the ultimate all-purpose tool in the Ninja World—truly a "universal remedy"!
Once mastered, these cells can greatly enhance a ninja's physical abilities, giving you one or even several times more strength than usual!
And that's just for ordinary ninjas.
For Uchiha ninjas who possess the Kekkei Genkai "Sharingan,"
Transplanting Hashirama's cells can further significantly reduce the side effects of using the Sharingan.
Take Obito, for example. After transplanting Hashirama's cells, he could practically use his Mangekyō Sharingan without limit.
After all, to put it plainly,
Both the power of the Sharingan and Hashirama's cells originate from the Sage of Six Paths—they come from the same source.
That Hashirama's cells can perfectly control the Sharingan and eliminate its side effects is therefore no surprise.
This is exactly what Shimoku has been pursuing all along!
"Ready to begin?"
"Of course. I may have gone on that long trip with Lord Shimoku these past two days, but my Shadow Clone stayed behind in the lab, fine-tuning the injection formulas."
"All that's left is for you to step into the lab—we can begin at once."
Orochimaru said evenly.
But still, the slight trem in his fingertips betrayed how worked up he truly was.
"Then let's go!"
Equally excited, Shimoku wasted no time. After leaving a Shadow Clone back in the village,
He followed Orochimaru out of the village and headed straight toward Otogakure's underground experimental base.
Soon, the two walked into the laboratory prepared for the transplantation.
Inside the lab stood a young boy with white hair.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Kimimaro greeted Orochimaru respectfully.
"Oh! This is Kimimaro, one of my assistants."
"I know—he's a descendant of the Kaguya Clan, holder of the 'Shikotsumyaku' bloodline, right?" Shimoku replied calmly, expression unchanged.
Orochimaru, however, secretly felt shocked.
Never had he expected that this brat Shimoku would instantly see through Kimimaro's identity.
Or perhaps…he already had a spy inside my organization and knows everything about me?
Impossible!
"Hahaha! Lord Shimoku has excellent vision. This child indeed carries the last bloodline of the Kaguya Clan."
"What a twist—this boy is barely ten years old, about the same age as you."
"I originally wanted to introduce him to you sooner…"
At this moment, Shimoku clearly had no interest in anything else.
He directly replied:
"Have him leave. He doesn't need to be involved in what comes next!"
"Fair enough. Kimimaro, you may go."
Orochimaru waved his hand, signaling Kimimaro to step down.
"As you command!"
Very soon, this white-haired youth stepped aside.
Inside, he couldn't wrap his head around why his revered Lord Orochimaru would treat someone his own age with such warmth and respect.
But he knew very clearly that there were things he shouldn't ask about!
...
"Can we begin?"
"Of course!"
"But first, Shimoku, you need to choose the 'transplant level'!"
"?"
"The powerful vitality of Hashirama's cells makes them highly invasive! If the transplant fails, death is the most likely outcome..."
"And even if it succeeds, some 'abnormalities' may occur."
"For example, pale skin, horns growing on the head, a face appearing on the chest... and so on."
"If you were like Danzo, transplanting only part of your body, I do have test subjects available to help reduce the risks, keeping those abnormalities confined solely to the transplanted area."
"But since you aren't transplanting limbs, we can only proceed via injection."
"Therefore, I've prepared four levels of cell injections: low, medium, high, and extreme, with gradually increasing amounts of Hashirama's cells."
"Naturally, the higher the cell concentration, the better the effects—and the greater the risk. The extreme dose might even grant you Wood Release abilities!"
"So which one will you choose?"
Shimoku frowned slightly, asking with mild displeasure.
"What are the chances of mutation?"
"10%, 30%, 50%, and 100% respectively..."
"What dosage guarantees perfect control over the Sharingan?"
"Both the high and extreme dosages should ensure that!"
"Then choose high dosage!"
Shimoku made his decision.
After all, not everyone in this world could easily obtain immense power through a System like he could.
Although Orochimaru's experiments were terrifying, they still represented a form of unique talent.
Throughout the ninja world, countless people longed for power!
Risking their lives was nothing—many would willingly throw themselves at such danger.
Of course,
That "countless" didn't include himself.
He absolutely wouldn't inject himself with the extreme dosage—which comes with a 100% mutation probability.
Fifty percent was something worth gambling on.
After all, acquiring the Mangekyo Sharingan with infinite stamina was extremely important.
But he wasn't willing to risk a drastic change in appearance just for that.
He was barely ten years old, already quite handsome. There were so many beautiful kunoichi out there waiting for him to… corrupt?
Hmph… No—rather, to pursue properly!
If he really mutated and ended up walking around with a White Zetsu face, wouldn't that scare people off?
In short, he wanted the Sage's strength from Hashirama's cells.
But he couldn't let go of his good looks either.
Otherwise, that just wouldn't do.
If necessary, he'd simply spend top dollar at the System Store to exchange for an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
...
"Alright!"
"Please lie down on the table, Shimoku. Leave the rest to me!"
Orochimaru pointed to the operating table in the center of the laboratory, urging excitedly.
With reddened eyes and hot breath pouring from flaring nostrils,
At this moment, the snake lady was indistinguishable from those classic mad scientists seen in horror movies.
Just looking at her was enough to make one's scalp prickle and send chills down the spine.
Of course, Shimoku didn't immediately lie down on the operating table.
Instead, he first cast the [Shadow Clone Jutsu] once again.
Creating a shadow clone,
and handing over the divine [Dragon-Weaving Blade] at his waist to this clone.
He ordered it to remain on full alert, ready to launch ruthless counterattacks the moment his original body was in danger!
And this was merely the first layer of defense...
Seeing the Shimoku clone holding the divine weapon, even Orochimaru couldn't help but twitch the corner of his eye.
A slight chill crept into his heart.
But soon, he realized that the boy still had many more moves left in reserve!
The very next moment,
after Shimoku's original body lay down on the operating table,
without hesitation, he suddenly activated another ninjutsu.
[Spirit Transformation Technique]—Begin!
In an instant,
a semi-transparent soul-like figure sharply flew out from within Shimoku's original body.
It hovered silently in midair, staring down at Orochimaru.
This utterly mind-boggling scene
startled Orochimaru yet again.
"A soul-based jutsu! And an extremely advanced one too!"
"Lord Shimoku, truly remarkable tactics you've got there!"
"Could it be you don't trust me at all?"
Orochimaru clicked his tongue in amazement,
his eyes now brimming with deep caution.
At this point, he wasn't afraid of any physical attacks. Not even if his body was torn apart would he die.
But precisely because of that, he feared nothing more than these rare soul techniques!
After all, his soul couldn't regenerate itself through cellular regeneration like his body could.
Once destroyed, he'd truly be erased forever!
Therefore, he hadn't expected this at all—
that this little brat possessed such a technique specifically designed to counteract his own abilities!
So hidden and formidable!
Looks like those small schemes of his would have to be abandoned for now.
"Don't get any funny ideas!"
"Start already!"
The Shimoku clone beside them urged impatiently.
Truthfully, aside from preparing this rare S-rank soul-based ninjutsu to use against 'Big Bro Tu',
Shimoku had also anticipated needing it precisely for defending against Orochimaru at a time like this!
After all, no one understood better than him just how obsessed this scientific psychopath called Lady Serpent was with the Sharingan.
If he really went in unprotected,
lying here passively while Orochimaru conducted experiments,
he was absolutely certain the other man had countless ways to quietly eliminate him!
Now, however, there were two layers of defense in place,
one being a soul-based technique powerful enough to kill Orochimaru outright!
One would think he'd finally abandon those malicious intentions.
At all times, Shimoku refused to foolishly entrust his life entirely into someone else's hands.
In short—
Go ahead and mess with my body.
My soul will be hovering right above me, watching your every move!
Wreck my body and you're dead too! We'll die together!
That's the preventive mechanism Shimoku had left behind.
Who's trembling now?
"Alright, alright!"
"I'll start right away."
Wiping sweat from his brow, Orochimaru suppressed all rebellious thoughts.
Quickly beginning the transplantation operation on Shimoku with forced obedience.
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