Hashirama Cells

"Another failure."

Inside the laboratory at Otogakure, Orochimaru leaned back against his chair, exhausted.

"This time, I fused your cells with Yamato's beforehand. Although your cells weren't immediately devoured by the Hashirama Cells during the final steps, the two acted as if they held a deep-seated grudge, constantly consuming each other throughout the prolonged fusion process until nothing remained."

During this period, in order to strengthen the cells of Shisui Uchiha and increase the success rate of the fusion, Orochimaru had attempted a variety of methods.

These included using nutrient solutions to increase the activity of Shisui's cells and pre-fusing Yamato's cells to improve the adaptability of Shisui's cells to the Hashirama Cells, yet all had failed.

"To some extent, the difficulty of fusing your cells is even greater than that of an average person."

The long, high-intensity experiments had even caused this research fanatic, Orochimaru, to show signs of fatigue.

Are my cells truly incompatible with the Hashirama Cells? But then, how did Uchiha Madara manage it... Shisui pondered inwardly.

Is it because I lack the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan? Shisui could not be certain.

Is there truly no other way? Even if I cannot fuse with the Hashirama Cells, as long as it can help me restore my ocular power, that would suffice. Since a perfect fusion with the Hashirama Cells was temporarily impossible, it was better to change his approach; as long as he could restore his right Mangekyō Sharingan and replenish the daily consumption of his ocular power, it would be enough.

"You mean to extract a portion of the life force within the Hashirama Cells and use it as a one-time consumable?" Orochimaru, who had been stuck in a mental rut, suddenly realized that Shisui's line of thinking had provided him with a new direction for research.

"If that can be achieved, not only would it satisfy your needs, but the finished product could even be mass-produced to strengthen other ordinary ninjas."

As a research expert, drawing inferences about other cases from one instance was a simple matter for Orochimaru.

"If the research succeeds, I will possess an army of tireless ninjas." At the thought of this, a fanatical light appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.

Beyond immortality, what Orochimaru wanted most was to take revenge on Konoha, the village that had once treated him with such great injustice.

"As it happens, from that creature you provided called White Zetsu, I have discovered the possibility of this hypothesis."

In reality, the current White Zetsu were created by Uchiha Madara using the Hashirama Cells.

"I am truly grateful to you, Shisui-kun. As a reward, I can agree to another request of yours, provided it is not too excessive." Having found a new direction, Orochimaru swept away his previous dejection and looked at Shisui with burning eyes.

Shisui did not stand on ceremony with Orochimaru and directly stated his request: "I thank Lord Orochimaru for your generosity. In that case, why not hand Kidomaru and the others over to me?"

The orphans selected by Orochimaru's discerning eye naturally possessed their own unique talents and potential.

Furthermore, Kidomaru and the others were still young and had not yet grown into their power, so they were not highly valued by Orochimaru.

At the same time, for Shisui, this stage was when the "Sound Four" had the greatest plasticity; Shisui was confident he could train them to be even more powerful than they were in his previous life.

Moreover, in the original plot, the loyalty of the "Sound Four" was beyond doubt.

Who would refuse such loyal and potential-filled subordinates?

"Shisui-kun has a good eye. Although the talents of Kidomaru and the others cannot compare to your Uchiha clan, they can each hold their own after being trained. They were all carefully selected by me from a group of orphans."

Although Orochimaru's snake-like eyes were fixed tightly on Shisui, Shisui knew that Orochimaru would not refuse him because of this.

"However, since I have promised you, Shisui-kun, I will give them to you." Orochimaru was also a person of decisive character; Kidomaru and the others were merely an impulsive investment for him. Now, there were simply too many research projects requiring his time and energy, so losing them was of no consequence to him.

Having received Orochimaru's affirmative reply, Shisui did not show the joy in his heart.

For Shisui, who had never expected Orochimaru to complete the experimental goal in the short term, this trip to Otogakure had already earned him more than enough.

"Then, let us begin the new experiment." A fully revitalized Orochimaru began preparing for the new experimental direction, and Shisui cooperated by once again providing his own blood and cells.

[Detected that the host has changed the fate of Kidomaru, Tayuya, Sakon, Ukon, and Jirobo. System reward: Ninjutsu: Four Violet Flames Formation, Telepathy Technique]

[Telepathy Technique: By attaching chakra to one's own mental energy, one can establish a mental link with others to complete silent communication. Chakra consumption doubles with each additional person linked. The maximum effective distance is one hundred meters.]

Shisui discovered that this system reward was practically tailor-made for the "Sound Four."

"The Telepathy Technique is indeed a useful auxiliary ninjutsu. If used by Kidomaru and the others, it can achieve twice the result with half the effort." Shisui had already begun designing tactical directions for them in his mind.

As for the "Ninjutsu: Four Violet Flames Formation," it was also an excellent technique; the formation cast by Kidomaru and the others could not be broken even by Kage-level powerhouses in a short time.

Just as Orochimaru and Shisui were busy with their new research direction, Uchiha Madara, who knew his time was running out, was not idle either.

"Lord Madara, do you think that Shisui Uchiha is reliable?"

Inside another hidden base of Uchiha Madara, a half-black, half-white pitcher-plant-like creature was saying something beside him.

"I saw his ambition in Shisui's eyes. In a way, we are the same kind of person, but he is more excellent and harder to control than I was at his age." In Uchiha Madara's eyes, Shisui was like a younger version of himself.

"There is just one thing I still don't understand. Having inherited the will of Kagami Uchiha, he should have been as desolate as that decaying clan. Why have his recent changes been so drastic? It is as if he is two different people."

Judging by Shisui Uchiha's recent actions, the current Uchiha clan simply lacked such courage.

"Could it be that the awakening of his Mangekyō Sharingan caused such a change in temperament?" the half-black, half-white creature speculated from the side.

"Therefore, your task will be heavy in the future, Black Zetsu."

Uchiha Madara looked at this extension of his own will and instructed: "Nagato still needs more guidance from you. If necessary, you can activate the technique I left in his body to control him and complete the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique."

The reason Madara transplanted his Rinnegan to Nagato was to use the other's hands to resurrect himself.

"I will, Lord Madara. Your will is the direction of my actions."

Looking at Black Zetsu, who was completely submissive to him, Madara nodded with satisfaction. Little did he know that from the moment he trusted Black Zetsu, his end was destined to be a tragedy.