The boy sitting at the desk was named Yamato. His Root codename was Kinoe, and he was the only living ninja in the Shinobi World who could use Wood Release.
He was about eleven years old, yet he had lived a life richer in experience than most people did in a lifetime.
His parents had died when he was young, leaving him an orphan to wander the streets. Root had chosen him as a test subject, but he had survived experiments with a near-zero survival rate. By sheer luck, he had gained the abilities of the God of Shinobi, and now, thanks to a deal, he had the good fortune to leave the Root's lightless world behind.
The Genie rubbed his chin and looked the Wood Release user up and down.
The boy had so many remarkable qualities that, by rights, he should have been the child of destiny, the protagonist of the world. Unfortunately, bloodline theories reigned supreme in the Shinobi World. Judging by the original timeline, his future potential would amount to that of an elite jonin at best. In other words, ordinary.
But now, with Orochimaru as his mentor, the boy had a chance to change his fate.
Seated behind his desk, Orochimaru casually flipped through the files, scanning each page in an instant.
There were many records of the First Hokage Cells experiments, but the researchers' limited abilities meant the data was often repetitive. It took Orochimaru less than half a day to read through everything, sort the important findings into categories, and set them aside.
The Genie leaned over to look. "From your expression, I take it you found a lot of useful information."
"That's right."
Orochimaru grinned, delight in his eyes. "With Yamato and this data, I can restart an abandoned experiment..."
After briefly describing the experiment, the two men and the Genie headed straight for the laboratory outside the village.
On the way, Yamato remained calm. Even knowing he was about to undergo another experiment, he stared ahead with dead fish eyes, his expression unchanged.
It was less a matter of resilience than numbness.
In the underground laboratory beneath the Konoha Forest, Orochimaru worked methodically.
He extracted Yamato's cells and planned to use them as a basis for redeveloping a Genetic Serum that would let people wield Wood Release.
The theory and procedure behind this experiment were already established. There were no technical challenges.
The experiment had been abandoned in the past because the First Hokage Cells used as test material would behave like cancer cells once separated from the First's body. They would absorb nutrients from the solution and multiply without limit, eventually growing into a tree.
But according to Root's experimental data, Yamato's cells—the material being used now—were much more stable than the First Hokage Cells.
Even so, Orochimaru failed six times before finally succeeding.
Orochimaru shook the container of pale green liquid. A hint of intoxication flickered in his eyes, and then he drank it in one gulp.
In the past, when faced with an experiment like this, he would have needed to go to the trouble of catching white mice, repeatedly controlling variables and conducting comparisons.
But now that he had learned a Breathing Technique, he had much finer control over his body. Even if something went wrong, Orochimaru was confident he could minimize the consequences.
"Ahhh!"
As the pale green liquid entered his body, Orochimaru collapsed to the floor. His body convulsed and spasmed, and he let out short, muffled cries of pain.
The rejection reaction was expected.
Although Yamato's cells were weaker, they still possessed the First Hokage Cells' aggressive nature. Orochimaru would have to tame them with his own Chakra and willpower.
On the other side of the laboratory, Yamato watched the changes in Orochimaru's body. Ripples stirred in his lifeless eyes, though no one could tell what he was thinking.
The experiment didn't take long.
Orochimaru got to his feet, a puzzled look on his face.
The rejection reaction had completely disappeared, but his body didn't seem to have changed in any obvious way. He hadn't gained Wood Release, either.
"No, the experiment succeeded. You gained a new ability—I saw it clearly."
The Genie poked his head out of Orochimaru's body, his tone a little odd. "It just isn't Wood Release."
He had watched the entire experiment from inside Orochimaru's body and understood every change it had undergone.
From his perspective, a new piece of information had appeared inside Orochimaru.
That piece of information was the ability he had just awakened.
Without saying more, the Genie took control of Orochimaru's hand and used a scalpel to cut a finger-length wound into his arm.
The pain interrupted Orochimaru's thoughts. He lowered his head and studied the wound, his expression shifting slightly.
It was healing. Not as well as with Medical Ninjutsu, but the wound was definitely healing on its own.
Even though he wasn't doing anything to affect it, the Chakra around the wound was being consumed.
It was as if this body had a will of its own.
"Interesting." Orochimaru licked his lips. "Could this be the First's tremendous healing ability?"
"Not quite. But you do possess a part of the Sage Body, an extremely incomplete one. Unlike ninjutsu, it works passively, so it should be called a passive skill."
The Genie sounded amazed. This was the first time he had encountered a host who had awakened a passive skill.
Orochimaru naturally had plenty of passive abilities. For one thing, he should have an excellent affinity for Chakra of every nature.
But information about these passive abilities was interwoven with the countless other details of his body. Unlike ninjutsu, which could be actively used and thus detected, it couldn't be captured by the Genie.
However, the process of Orochimaru's body gaining a passive skill just now had given the Genie some ideas. Perhaps he could use them to develop a way to sense passive skills.
The Genie told Orochimaru that he would need to go dormant for a while.
Orochimaru looked at the Genie in confusion. "These so-called passive skills—couldn't you replicate them before?"
"Of course not. Who do you think I am?"
The Genie rolled his eyes. "My abilities as a Genie are granted by my profession: making contracts, granting wishes, and collecting payment."
Only then did Orochimaru realize that abilities like replicating ninjutsu had all been developed by the Genie himself. They were unique to him.
He wasn't content to be treated as a mere tool. He had been actively developing his potential and expanding his services, with the goal of changing professions one day and becoming... a multifunctional system.
System. Another strange term, Orochimaru thought.
Still, it sounded inspiring. Even an immortal being like this was constantly striving to improve.
"Wait. If you're going to sleep, who's going to take care of the plans you set in motion?"
Orochimaru suddenly snapped out of it, his face displeased.
We agreed to each handle our own responsibilities. Why are you quitting now?
"I told you before that I could help you, but if you rely on me... you'll die very quickly."
"Now, you need to learn some shame."
The Genie spoke with perfect seriousness, pouring motivational platitudes over Orochimaru as if they cost nothing.
From the very beginning, his goal had been clear: nothing mattered more than improving himself.
Ninjutsu and knowledge were improvements in quantity. Gaining the ability to detect and extract passive skills would be an improvement in quality.
Now that he had a chance to develop a new ability, he had no time to worry about Orochimaru. Besides, given the situation in Konoha, things wouldn't fall apart.
The worst that could happen was what had happened in the original timeline: Orochimaru defecting.
It was no big deal.
The pep talk had little effect. When Orochimaru confirmed the Genie was leaving him to fend for himself and watched him head off without a care, his expression darkened.
But at the end of the day, he still had to face his own problems.
What angered Orochimaru was that the other party had gone back on his promise.
"Oh, right. You can teach Water Breathing to Yamato if you like. His potential is greater than you think."
With that parting remark, the Genie's voice fell silent.
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