"My temperature, heart rate, and cellular activity are all abnormal..."
"His temperature has risen three degrees since before. The area around his flank has even reached forty-one degrees..."
"His heartbeat and breathing rates have risen significantly, reaching 140% and 165% of their previous levels, respectively..."
"Cellular activity in the flank has increased thirteenfold, and shows signs of spreading to the surrounding area..."
Yakushi Kabuto paused. "Additionally, an abnormal chakra has appeared inside Shinsuke Uchiha's body. It has already invaded his brain."
Suppressing the urge to turn and check the readings on the instruments, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
He hadn't expected this First Hokage Cells transplant experiment to face failure so soon, with the test subject at risk of dying.
The changes in his other vital signs were beyond his expectations, but if Orochimaru steeled himself, he could still bring them under control.
The sudden appearance of chakra was more troublesome. It had been mixed with Shinsuke Uchiha's chakra from the start, leaving no opening to perform Fūinjutsu.
"Ah... whimper..."
Shinsuke Uchiha had stopped struggling on the operating table, and no longer let out screams.
Instead, his expression had turned blank, his eyes unfocused, and drool ran from the corner of his mouth into the nutrient solution.
He seemed to have lost his will entirely.
Orochimaru remained unmoved by the sight.
He had a complete record of Yamato's First Hokage Cells transplant, and knew that though the situation was dire, it was still far from a failure.
For one thing, the First Hokage Cells hadn't run wild yet. The growths on Shinsuke Uchiha's flank were still a twisted jungle of flesh, not completely transformed into wood.
There was still time before a tree-man emerged from Shinsuke Uchiha. Orochimaru still had options.
Only once Shinsuke became half a tree-man would Orochimaru abandon