Secret Laboratory

"Ugh..."

"Snake Auntie, can you please try to control your art style a little?" Qiuyang frowned and complained.

Orochimaru's eyes were wide and round, filled with terrifying bloodshot veins like those of a chronic insomniac, as if he wanted to swallow Qiuyang alive.

There was no other emotion in his eyes, only an endless, overwhelming craving for the Sharingan.

"What magnificent ocular power! If only my hands weren't... Damn it, that damned old Third Hokage."

Otherwise, he could have used force to see if he could seize the Uchiha body before him right now.

What's the matter, you still want to fight?

Qiuyang rolled his eyes, but suddenly noticed that the cell solution in the glass tube contained more than just one type of chakra energy...

There seemed to be a very faint, lingering energy within it.

If not for the Sharingan's extreme sensitivity to chakra, this minute difference would never have been detected.

Qiuyang was startled. Recalling how Snake Auntie was always coveting his body, he felt certain that something had been added to the mix.

He couldn't help but ask in a deep voice:

"Orochimaru, I've told you before, none of your techniques have any effect on these eyes of mine!"

"Heh... you have already obtained these Hashirama Cells, have you not? I have never played any tricks, Qiuyang-kun."

"I have already discovered the tampering you did within the Hashirama Cells. I advise you to come clean, otherwise, I can use genjutsu on your favorite subordinate to make him spill the truth..."

Qiuyang walked over to Yakushi Kabuto, who was still in a state of spatial stasis, and threatened Snake Auntie that he would use genjutsu on him.

Orochimaru hurriedly spoke up to stop him, explaining that if Yakushi Kabuto were hit by a genjutsu, he would die instantly; it was a safety mechanism he had specifically installed to ensure the loyalty of his trusted subordinates.

The methods were not much different from Root.

Orochimaru did not want to lose Yakushi Kabuto, a subordinate who was so handy to have around, just yet.

"Besides, the Hashirama Cells in your hand were created by this child under my guidance."

This Mangekyo is truly formidable; to be able to detect something so minute.

Orochimaru was incredibly excited. After pondering for a moment, and banking on the fact that Qiuyang didn't understand the underlying principles, he continued to explain:

"The cells of the First Hokage naturally exhibit these traits. I could only reduce their proliferative nature so that they might successfully fuse with your own cells."

Hearing this explanation, Qiuyang stared suspiciously into Orochimaru's eyes for a long while.

However, he had no knowledge of microscopic cellular biology, and that old fox Snake Auntie maintained a faint, sinister smile the entire time, revealing nothing unusual.

He had no choice but to let it go for now.

Regardless, after obtaining the Hashirama Cells, Qiuyang wouldn't use them directly; he would test them in an experiment first.

"If I discover anything amiss, hmph..."

Considering he still needed to cooperate with Snake Auntie regarding the sealing of the Tailed Beast fragments, Qiuyang had no intention of reneging on the trade he had already promised.

He pulled a pre-prepared scroll from his robe and quickly performed hand seals to release the White Zetsu he had captured in the Uchiha Ruins.

It wasn't just Orochimaru; Qiuyang had his own selfish motives.

For instance, as a veteran fan of the series, he knew that when Yamato-style improved cells were added to this kind of White Zetsu, it would make the White Zetsu even closer to the First Hokage.

But for Snake Auntie... he certainly wouldn't give him anything that good. Who knew if Snake Auntie might end up researching something even more terrifying than Sage Kabuto.

"Eh, this thing is... Zetsu?

Qiuyang-kun, how did you manage to capture him from the Akatsuki?"

Orochimaru had spent some time in the Akatsuki, so he naturally recognized this as the white half of the Akatsuki member Zetsu, and his expression shifted from confusion to sheer horror.

There was a Rinnegan user within the Akatsuki; what method could Qiuyang possibly have used to capture Zetsu?

"That's right, it's him. Keep this safe; you'll thank me after you've studied it."

As Qiuyang was speaking, Snake Auntie's body suddenly writhed, and several long snakes emerged from beneath him, slithering toward the White Zetsu and binding it tightly.

Qiuyang hurriedly stepped aside, feeling a wave of disgust. Snakes appearing from under Snake Auntie's body was just like...

Like they were being hatched on the spot...

Can't you use normal methods?

Even if you can't use your hands, you could... hmm?? It seems Orochimaru can only use his feet.

"I am very pleased with this trade."

He could try to see if he could obtain some intelligence regarding the Rinnegan.

With this, the first transaction between the two parties was considered complete.

As Qiuyang put away the Hashirama Cells and prepared to leave, Orochimaru suddenly spoke up:

"Qiuyang-kun, you still haven't released my subordinate."

"Oh, just wait here for half an hour, and he and the White Zetsu will recover on their own."

Orochimaru: "You definitely have a way to do it sooner..."

"There is a way, but if I don't teach you a lesson, you'll think I'm easy to push around. You never cooperate properly unless I force your hand."

The implication was clear: You think I'm a pushover? Then sit there and wait for half an hour!

Orochimaru was left speechless by Uchiha Qiu Yang's retort. His expression shifted rapidly, but in the end, he had no choice but to accept it, sitting in silence to wait for the space imprisoning Yakushi Kabuto to thaw.

Uchiha Qiu Yang shrugged to indicate that this was his own fault, then left the area.

He was in quite a hurry now, intending to set up a secret laboratory to specifically study whether the Hashirama Cells in his possession were truly compatible with his own cells.

40 minutes later...

The ocular power imprisoning Yakushi Kabuto finally dissipated, and his consciousness returned. The first thing he did upon waking was look around for Uchiha Qiu Yang:

"Lord Orochimaru, what just happened? Where is Uchiha Qiu Yang? Where did he run off to? Damn it."

"He has already left. Yakushi Kabuto, take the White Zetsu on the ground and let's return to the base laboratory immediately..."

He ran? How could that be?

Seeing Orochimaru's gloomy expression, Yakushi Kabuto had to suppress his doubts, pick up the White Zetsu that had appeared on the ground at some point, and return to the base with Orochimaru.

It was only after returning to the base that he slowly began to piece things together. He must have been hit by some technique and lost consciousness right after that Fire Release jutsu.

A genjutsu?

He gritted his teeth, swearing to himself: Uchiha Qiu Yang, don't let me run into you again, or else...

Setting aside the surprise Snake Auntie felt upon discovering that the White Zetsu was actually a Wood Release construct, Uchiha Qiu Yang had already used Earth Release ninjutsu to carve out a simple underground laboratory in the outskirts, some distance away from Konoha.

He then went around buying various pieces of experimental equipment. Moving them into the lab caused his bulging wallet to deflate by more than half, which pained him deeply.

And this was just for a simplified version of a laboratory!

If he wanted to build a sophisticated lab like the one Snake Auntie had in the anime, the money Uchiha Qiu Yang had wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket.

For the first time, he realized just how expensive scientific research was; it was something that could not be sustained without the resources of an entire village.