Cycle of Life and Death (1)

Konoha Hidden Village had an underground complex a hundred meters deep, its passages winding and labyrinthine.

This was both Root's base and Konoha's new shelter.

However, Root's shelter had never been used. While Danzo was in charge, he would only have Root Shinobi take refuge there; he would never allow civilians inside.

By the time Chen became the Fourth Mizukage, Konoha's villagers no longer needed to seek shelter.

At that moment, Chen lay on an operating table in the deepest laboratory of Root. Orochimaru and Hiruko bustled about at his side.

With war about to begin, there was no need for Hiruko to continue serving as a spy in the Akatsuki Organization. After all, even after three years, then another three years, he still would not become their leader.

Besides, Uncle Snake needed such a valuable researcher.

So Hiruko returned to Konoha's embrace and became a research grunt once more. Naturally, he took part in this operation as well.

The operation itself was simple. They only needed to transplant Madara's cells into Chen's body, thereby obtaining Indra's Chakra.

There was not much technical difficulty involved. Madara's cells were unlike the First Hokage's Cells; the latter possessed powerful assimilative properties, while the former did not.

Though the entire procedure was simple, it was an essential step toward obtaining the Rinnegan.

It was not as though any Uchiha Clan member could awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, transplant the First Hokage's Cells, and obtain the Rinnegan.

Because the powers of Indra and Asura were both indispensable!

In the original timeline, Obito had not only the First Hokage's Cells but also the Mangekyo Sharingan. He had even come close to death while absorbing the Ten-Tails... One could say he had gone through everything Madara and Sasuke had.

Yet Obito still failed to awaken the Rinnegan.