Researching Yin-Yang Release

Inside Orochimaru's laboratory, all manner of precision instruments and culture dishes were neatly arranged, filling the space with a cold, mysterious atmosphere.

At the very center of the laboratory, a pale corpse lay silently on the operating table, the focal point of the entire room.

Orochimaru carefully placed a sliced-off piece of tissue beneath a microscope for close observation.

His pupils contracted slightly, and his voice trembled faintly with excitement. "This is truly unbelievable... incredible... It has no organs, no blood, not even chakra pathways or acupoints, yet it can carry chakra. And... this cellular activity... how similar it is to Hashirama Cells!"

"Just like... just like..." Orochimaru wanted to use a word to describe this creature, but perhaps he was too excited to find the right one for the moment.

"A plant," Menma said calmly from across the operating table.

"Yes!" Orochimaru suddenly understood, a feverish gleam like that of a man discovering a new continent flashing in his trembling pupils. "Just like a plant!"

This novel thing he had never seen before greatly ignited Orochimaru's desire for research and curiosity. He could not wait to conduct more in-depth studies and uncover its secrets.

"So, what exactly is this?" Orochimaru set down the instrument in his hand and raised his head, his golden snake-like eyes fixed on Menma as he tried to glean more information from the mysterious "Asura."

He had lived for over forty years and traveled through most of the Shinobi World, yet he had never seen or even heard of such a nonhuman creature.

"Do you want to know?" A soft snort came from Asura's mask.

Of course Orochimaru wanted to know!

"This is White Zetsu—ancient humans whose chakra was drained dry by the God Tree. They have completely become plant-like beings. They possess asexual reproduction, extremely strong compatibility, and chakra of every attribute. They are excellent experimental material." Menma briefly explained White Zetsu's origins.

"The God Tree?" Orochimaru sharply caught the key term in Asura's words.

But Menma stopped there and did not continue the topic. He had only told Orochimaru about White Zetsu's origins so that he could conduct better experiments on them.

"Use them sparingly. These things aren't easy to catch," Menma reminded him.

Orochimaru fell into thought. "It seems I really need to speed up the development of cloning technology..."

White Zetsu cells had powerful compatibility and chakra of every attribute. They were practically equivalent to a Chunin-grade experimental subject!

If he could mass-clone White Zetsu for use as test subjects, many of Orochimaru's experiments would no longer be limited by material shortages!

"In one year, I'll come collect ten pairs of Sharingan, along with the research results on White Zetsu and the Iburi Clan." With those words, Menma turned and left the laboratory.

Although Orochimaru was somewhat displeased by that commanding tone, whether it was "future intelligence" or experimental material with such overwhelming compatibility, neither was something that old man Danzo could compare with.

They called it cooperation, but Orochimaru had merely become Asura's employee.

Having fought him before, Orochimaru clearly knew that Asura's strength was likely close to that of the "God of Shinobi." He had no right to refuse.

"Oh, right." As he reached the door, Menma suddenly stopped. His white Three-Eyed Fox Mask tilted slightly. "You'd better draw a clear line between yourself and Danzo."

Menma did not want Danzo getting his hands on the results of the White Zetsu research, so he issued a warning.

After Menma left, Orochimaru sank into thought and once again considered the information surrounding Asura.

In the bounty issued by Kumogakure at the Bounty Station, Asura had used the name "Danzo." It seemed that sewer rat had provoked someone he should not have.

"Does this have something to do with you, Fourth Hokage...?" Orochimaru vaguely felt that Asura must have countless ties to the Fourth Hokage. He had even briefly suspected that the Fourth Hokage himself had faked his death and escaped.

But looking over Namikaze Minato's entire life, there was no reason for him to do so.

The clues were too vague. In the end, Orochimaru shook his head and returned to researching White Zetsu.

Meanwhile, within Konoha.

One of Menma's clones was practicing chakra fusion in a training room.

He blended Yin-nature chakra and Yang-nature chakra in different proportions. One dark and one bright stream of chakra reflected each other in his palm as they gradually merged, while Menma focused entirely on controlling the amount and ratio of chakra being infused.

Boom!

With an explosion, the small sphere formed from fused Yin-nature and Yang-nature chakra abruptly dispersed.

The experiment had failed once again.

"The ratio still isn't right..." Menma frowned slightly, recalling the steps he had just taken. He walked over to a nearby table, picked up a pen, and recorded the chakra ratio used in this fusion attempt.

The notebook was densely filled with all sorts of ratios and data on testing times.

As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Menma was born with Yang-nature chakra, as well as the five common chakra natures of fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water.

His experience in the Limited Tsukuyomi World had also given him Yin-nature chakra, making him a shinobi with every attribute.

Through researching and fusing Yin-nature chakra with Yang-nature chakra, Menma had developed Dark Chakra and Spiraling Ring.

But Menma, who knew the ultimate secret of the entire Naruto world, understood that he had only grasped the threshold of Yin-Yang Unification. He had only gained the qualification to touch upon Yin-Yang Release and the Power of All Creation.

Yin-Yang Release was an advanced ability formed by combining Yin Release and Yang Release. It created form from the formless and infused that form with life force.

For example, after Naruto gained the Sage of Six Paths' power, he had used Yin-Yang Release to save Guy's life and create an eye for Kakashi.

The Power of All Creation, meanwhile, was the manifestation of the mutual generation and restraint of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements.

For example, Nagato's Black Receivers belonged to Yin-Yang Release.

Six Paths Madara's Truth-Seeking Orbs, on the other hand, belonged to the Power of All Creation.

Beyond the Power of All Creation was the Kekkei Mōra possessed by Otsutsuki Kaguya.

"Although I created the Nine Masked Fox Cub using Dark Kurama's chakra and Yin-Yang chakra, it ultimately isn't orthodox Yin-Yang Release." Menma began to ponder.

When the Sage of Six Paths divided the Ten-Tails, he should have used Yin-Yang Release as well to create the nine great Tailed Beasts.

One portion of chakra for the One-Tail, two portions for the Two-Tails, three portions for the Three-Tails... As for the Nine-Tails, forget it—just give it all the rest.

When he had used Dark Kurama's chakra to create the Nine Masked Fox Cub, it had gone too smoothly. As a result, his understanding of Yin-Yang Release was not deep enough for him to fully master it.

And although the Nine Masked Fox Cub possessed the strength of an Elite Jonin, it could not speak and lacked independent consciousness. It could only fight according to Menma's instructions, making it more like a puppet.

To turn the Nine Masked Fox Cub completely into a life-form that could speak and think independently, he would inevitably need a profound mastery of Yin-Yang Release.

At that time, the Nine Masked Fox Cub's combat power would also rise drastically. It might even be able to leave Menma's side and act independently, becoming an even more powerful aid.