What were Hashirama Cells?
Put simply, they were Sage Body cells.
Superpowered genetic cells brimming with vitality, regenerative ability, and an affinity for nature.
They were the "cure-all" of the Ninja World!
Once mastered, they could greatly improve a ninja's physical abilities, granting strength one or several times greater than normal!
And that was only true for ordinary ninjas.
For Uchiha ninjas with the Kekkei Genkai known as the Sharingan,
transplanting Hashirama Cells could greatly reduce the side effects of using the Sharingan.
Obito was a perfect example. After transplanting Hashirama Cells, he could use his own Mangekyō Sharingan almost without limit.
After all, when you got right down to it,
the power of both the Sharingan and Hashirama Cells came from the Sage of Six Paths. The two powers shared the same origin.
So it was no surprise that Hashirama Cells could perfectly control the Sharingan and eliminate its side effects.
And that was exactly what Natsume had been pursuing!
"Are you sure you're ready?"
"Of course. Although I accompanied Lord Natsume on a trip these past two days, my clone remained in the laboratory, fine-tuning the experimental injection."
"Everything is ready now."
"We need only go to the laboratory, and we can begin."
Orochimaru spoke respectfully.
But the slight tremble in his fingertips alone was enough to show how excited and expectant he was.
"Good. Let's go!"
Natsume was just as eager. After leaving a Shadow Clone behind,
he followed Orochimaru out of the village to the underground experimental base in Otogakure.
Soon, the two of them entered the laboratory prepared for the transplant.
A young boy with white hair was standing inside.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Kimimaro respectfully greeted Orochimaru.
"Oh! This is Kimimaro, one of my assistants."
"I know. He's the holder of the Kaguya Clan's Kekkei Genkai, Shikotsumyaku, right?" Natsume said calmly, his expression unchanged.
Orochimaru was secretly startled.
He never expected that Natsume would see through Kimimaro's background at a glance.
Or had the boy planted a spy among his people? Did he already know everything about this place?
Impossible!
"Hahaha! You have a sharp eye, Natsume. The boy is indeed a remnant of the Kaguya Clan."
"By coincidence, he's just turned ten, about your age."
"I was actually planning to introduce him to you sooner..."
At that moment, Natsume had no energy to concern himself with anything else.
He replied directly:
"Have him leave. He doesn't need to know what happens next!"
"Very well. Kimimaro, you may go."
Orochimaru waved a hand, motioning for Kimimaro to leave.
"Understood!"
The white-haired boy soon withdrew.
Though he couldn't understand why the Lord Orochimaru he so admired was treating a boy his own age with such warmth and respect,
he knew perfectly well that if he wasn't meant to know something, he shouldn't ask about it!
"Can we begin?"
"Of course!"
"However, Natsume, you'll first need to choose the degree of the transplant!"
"?"
"Hashirama Cells are so active that they're extremely invasive! If the transplant fails, you'll most likely die..."
"Even if it succeeds, it'll cause some 'abnormalities.'"
"Things like pale skin, horns growing from your head, or a face appearing on your chest..."
"If you were like Danzo and were transplanting part of a body, I could use an experimental subject to help reduce the risk and confine the abnormalities to the transplanted area."
"But this isn't a limb transplant. We can only use injections."
"So I've prepared four doses of cell injections: low, medium, high, and extremely high. The amount of Hashirama Cells increases with each dose."
"The higher the cell count, the better the results, but the greater the risk. The extremely high dose also gives you a chance of mastering Wood Release!"
"So, which one will you choose?"
Natsume frowned and asked, displeased,
"What are the odds of mutation?"
"Ten, thirty, fifty, and one hundred percent..."
"Which dose can guarantee that I'll be able to control the Sharingan perfectly?"
"Either the [high] or [extremely high] dose should guarantee it!"
"I'll take the 'high dose'!"
Natsume made his decision.
Not everyone in this world could obtain power as easily as he could through the system.
Orochimaru's experiments might be terrifying, but they were also a kind of talent in their own right.
How many people in the Ninja World longed for power?
They wouldn't just risk a little. Countless people would gladly pay with their lives for it, eagerly chasing after it.
Of course,
Natsume wasn't one of those countless people.
He wasn't going to inject the [extremely high] dose, which carried a one hundred percent chance of mutation.
The fifty-percent chance, though, was worth gambling on.
After all, gaining a Mangekyō Sharingan with unlimited stamina was important.
But Natsume didn't want to have his appearance drastically changed for it.
He was only a little over ten years old, and he was pretty handsome. He had plenty of time ahead of him to "corrupt" all the beautiful kunoichi waiting for him...
Ahem... to pursue them!
If he really did mutate and had to go out with a "White Zetsu face," wouldn't he scare everyone half to death?
In short, he wanted the Sage Body power Hashirama Cells could bring.
But he wasn't about to give up his handsome face!
If worse came to worst,
he could always spend a fortune to redeem the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan in the System Shop.
"Good!"
"Lie down on the operating table, Natsume! Leave the rest to me!"
Orochimaru pointed to the operating table in the center of the laboratory, urging him on excitedly.
His reddened eyes, his nostrils flaring with every breath—
Snake Auntie at that moment was practically indistinguishable from the mad scientists in the movies.
Just looking at him was enough to make one's scalp tingle and heart shudder.
Naturally, Natsume didn't lie down on the operating table right away.
Instead, he first performed the Shadow Clone Technique again,
creating a clone.
He handed the divine Kunwu Blade at his waist to the clone,
and had it remain on guard the whole time.
It was also a signal: if his real body was in danger, the clone could immediately go on a killing spree!
And this was only the first layer of protection.
Seeing Natsume's clone holding the divine weapon, Orochimaru's eye twitched.
He felt a little apprehensive.
But soon, he realized that the boy had far more precautions than that!
The next moment,
after Natsume's real body lay down on the operating table,
he suddenly performed another jutsu without a word.
"[Spirit Transformation Technique]—Open!"
In an instant,
a translucent spiritual shadow shot out of Natsume's body.
It floated silently in midair, watching Orochimaru.
This unbelievable sight
startled Orochimaru once again.
"A soul jutsu! And a very high-level one!"
"Lord Natsume, what a move!"
"Do you really distrust me that much?"
Orochimaru clicked his tongue in amazement.
Deep wariness rose in his eyes.
He wasn't afraid of any physical attack anymore. Even if his body was torn to pieces, he wouldn't die.
But he was afraid of rare soul jutsu like this!
After all, his soul couldn't shed its skin and be reborn.
If it were erased, it would truly be gone!
So he had never expected
that Natsume would have mastered a soul-based jutsu that countered him so perfectly!
He really had kept his talents hidden!
It seemed he'd have to set aside his own little schemes for now.
"Don't even think about trying anything funny!"
"Get started!"
Natsume's clone urged him on from the side.
In fact, Natsume had redeemed this rare S-rank soul jutsu from the very beginning
not only to use it against Obito-bro,
but also to guard against Orochimaru at a time like this!
After all, no one understood better than he did how obsessed Snake Auntie was with the Sharingan.
If he didn't take any precautions
and simply lay down and let Orochimaru experiment on him,
he was sure the man would find a hundred ways to quietly kill him!
But now, he had two layers of protection in place.
One of them was a soul jutsu capable of threatening Orochimaru's life!
That should be enough to make him put those wicked thoughts away.
No matter what, Natsume would never be foolish enough to place his life entirely in someone else's hands.
In short,
you can do whatever you want to my body.
My soul is right here watching you!
If you mess up my body, you won't survive either!
You'll die with me!
That was the safeguard Natsume had put in place.
So, were you scared or not?
"Fine, fine!"
"I'll begin now."
Orochimaru wiped the cold sweat from his brow and put all his ulterior motives aside.
He quickly got down to business, dutifully beginning the transplant operation on Natsume.
Before you continue