Zetsu and Orochimaru

Land of Rice Fields, Otogakure.

In the laboratory, a young Genin was undergoing unbearable torment. Black markings covered his entire body, fleshy tumors seemed to be growing inside him, and his whole body was faintly swelling as he screamed again and again.

Orochimaru stood to one side, observing coldly, a trace of gravity in his eyes. He said icily, "Immediately extract physical energy and spiritual energy, then fuse them with Natural Energy!"

Hearing Orochimaru's voice, the Genin gritted his teeth and, through sheer willpower, extracted physical and spiritual energy. But the moment they merged with Natural Energy, chaos erupted among the three. The Natural Energy ran wild and blew his right hand apart.

"Another failure."

Orochimaru sighed softly.

After obtaining from Houka a method to replenish Mangekyou ocular power, Orochimaru's imagination had run wild, and he planned to further develop the Heaven and Earth Cursed Seals.

Unfortunately, several human experiments had all ended in failure.

Put simply, the Heaven and Earth Cursed Seals used Jugo's cells within the curse marks to devour Natural Energy and gain immense power for a short time. Orochimaru, however, wanted to convert that absorbed Natural Energy into Sage Art Chakra. That was asking far too much.

The Natural Energy devoured through the curse marks was already violent, causing enormous changes to the body's skin and appearance—like Uchiha Sasuke growing fleshy wings shaped like hands. Forcing physical and spiritual energy to fuse under such circumstances was no different from throwing logs and sand into a raging flood. It would only make the flood increasingly destructive!

"Lord Orochimaru, why not let me try?"

Kimimaro came up behind Orochimaru and made the request with a calm expression.

Already afflicted with Kekkei Genkai Disease, he did not have long to live. He had long since accepted life and death,