Cell Fusion Potion Formula

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained the Uzumaki Clan Cell Fusion Potion Formula. (Note: Master core technology and reach the peak of life.)"

When the notification ended, a set of potion formula data appeared in Orochimaru's mind.

"This solves the urgent problem with my current research perfectly!"

He did not keep examining it in detail. For now, handling the matter before him was more important.

With that thought, Orochimaru used Sonido and crossed past the two people ahead. The two were still chatting and laughing, not noticing anything unusual at all.

By the time Orochimaru appeared again, he had already entered the building. The Sealing Jutsu around the perimeter and the Explosive Tags used as alarms had not been triggered.

What entered Orochimaru's sight was row after row of bookshelves, packed densely with neatly arranged books. Some shelves were specially used to hold ninjutsu scrolls and certain ninja tools.

Orochimaru lit a candle. With his current Night Vision Ability, that faint bit of candlelight was more than enough for him to see.

He first found the shelf where the ninjutsu scrolls were stored. Though his main objective this time was to find the Second Hokage's human experimentation research materials, he would not let these Forbidden Jutsu slip by either.

The Scroll of Seals contained quite a few powerful ninjutsu, but unfinished Forbidden Jutsu like Impure World Reincarnation would only be stored here.

Sure enough, as he flipped through the scrolls, Orochimaru smoothly found that Forbidden Jutsu.

Not only that, there were also the Uzumaki Clan's Reaper Death Seal, Adamantine Chains, Eight Trigrams Seal, Four Symbols Seal, and so on.

These were exactly what Orochimaru wanted as well. Half the reason he had planned to come here in advance was to obtain the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu.

Although the Land of Whirlpools was only a small country, the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu was extremely powerful.

How powerful? Put it this way: because the Five Great Nations feared the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu, aside from Konoha standing by and doing nothing, the other four great nations joined forces to wipe out the country.

Even among the few surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan, which one of them was not outstanding? Nagato, Kushina, and Karin would all stir up quite a storm in the future.

As for why Konoha had the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu, that required mentioning two Jinchuriki.

Mito Uzumaki and Uzumaki Kushina.

As Hashirama's wife and Tsunade's grandmother, Mito Uzumaki had probably taught Konoha quite a few of her clan's Sealing Jutsu over the years.

For example, the Reaper Death Seal and Four Symbols Seal all came from the Uzumaki Clan, so Orochimaru did not find it strange.

Relying on his Photographic Memory, Orochimaru quickly recorded these ninjutsu. He did not demand that he understand them immediately. He would memorize them first; there would be plenty of time to study them in the future.

It could be said that whatever the Scroll of Seals had, this place also had. What the Scroll of Seals did not have, this place still had.

Many were even detailed versions, explaining the theories and research origins of these Forbidden Jutsu.

This was also what Orochimaru wanted. Even some incomplete Forbidden Jutsu gave Orochimaru considerable inspiration.

Orochimaru placed Shiro at the entrance to keep watch and was not afraid that anyone would suddenly come in. He continued until a rooster's crow came from the distance!

Orochimaru happened to finish reading a ninjutsu scroll as well. He put everything back in place, and Shiro crawled back at just the right time.

With a flash, he disappeared, likewise without alerting the ninja guarding the forbidden grounds.

In the following days, Orochimaru repeated the same method, running to the forbidden ninjutsu grounds whenever he had time.

He did not go too frequently. For one, he was worried someone would notice. For another, he could not stay up every single night grinding knowledge, either. Even if his body could take it, his mind could not.

Research by day, staying up late to memorize books at night—working himself half to death, all for the village!

As for the Uzumaki Clan Cell Fusion Potion Formula he had obtained from the system, he also began studying it carefully.

What surprised him somewhat was that the formula also required Hyuga Clan cells to be prepared and neutralized before it could be used.

This could not help but make Orochimaru think of Boruto in the future, the child born to Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga. Looking at it that way, it really did seem to fit.

"Hashirama Cells and the Sharingan, Uzumaki Clan cells and the Byakugan... can it be guessed that way?"

Orochimaru sighed inwardly, but scientific research had to be rigorous. The specifics still required further study.

With the formula, Orochimaru's research had a clear goal. As long as he overcame a few difficulties, it would no longer be a problem.

The research on the Hashirama Cells had not stopped either. Referring to the principles of this formula, he likewise proposed several research directions.

Without exception, Uchiha cellular tissue was involved in all of this research. At first, this new line of thinking left the other researchers in the laboratory completely baffled.

However, after experiments showed that it could indeed suppress the Hashirama Cells, these researchers instead felt that Orochimaru was worthy of being their team leader. In this area, he truly far surpassed them.

That day, at dusk.

As usual, Orochimaru dragged his utterly exhausted body back to Tsunade's house.

"Uncle Snake, you're back!"

Hearing movement, Shizune ran out from the kitchen. Both her sleeves were rolled up, and there were still some droplets of water on her hands. Clearly, she had been busy with something.

"Heh... Shizune, huh? Why don't I see your sister Tsunade?"

Orochimaru patted her little head. Usually at this time, Tsunade would already be sitting there waiting for food, but today, strangely, she was nowhere to be seen at mealtime.

"She went out when I got back from school. She said she was going to play cards and would be back in a bit."

Shizune's voice grew softer and softer, as if she had done something wrong.

"Forget it. Don't worry about her!"

Shizune was still too innocent. Could anyone believe nonsense from adults like "I'll be back in a bit," "I'll pay you back in a couple of days," and "I'm only gambling a little"?

With Orochimaru's intervention, Tsunade was no longer as unrestrained with her drinking, but when it came to gambling, she had not changed at all.

This habit had been ingrained in her since childhood; if she went a while without gambling, she felt uncomfortable all over. Orochimaru could do nothing about her. It was not as if he could follow her around every waking moment, could he?

"No. Even if I can't stop her, I can't let her spend all the money."

Orochimaru did not know how many assets the Senju Clan had, or how much inheritance her two Hokage grandfathers had left her, but over the years, her mission pay had certainly been no less than his.

How could he just let that wastrel woman squander the family fortune? This was the perfect chance to make her teach him for the food expenses.

As he thought that, his hands did not stop moving. He stir-fried the greens in the wok while still remembering to guide Shizune through the things she needed to watch out for when cooking.

"I know, Uncle Snake. You've said it eight hundred times already. My ears are getting calluses."

Seeing Shizune cover her ears, Orochimaru could only smile helplessly.

"I almost forgot you're nearly seven already. A few years have gone by just like that, with all this nagging."

At first, Shizune had only been curious and come into the kitchen to see how Orochimaru could make such delicious food, and Orochimaru had patiently explained everything to her.

Over time, it became a habit, and Shizune went from watching on the side to helping out. In the blink of an eye, two or three years had passed.