Showcasing Your Value

Shinichi Hyuga carefully folded his coat, preserving the ribbon his daughter had tied around the cuff.

He began to wash one hand, preparing for the experiment.

Soon, the preparations were complete, and Shinichi Hyuga donned a protective suit.

His demeanor shifted, transforming into that of a meticulous researcher.

He approached the laboratory bench, observing the data to ensure everything was normal and ready for the experiment.

Orochimaru watched every move Shinichi Hyuga made with great interest.

From the very beginning, it was this rigorous preparation that convinced Orochimaru that Shinichi Hyuga was a brilliant researcher.

Such procedural preparation for an experiment was already etched into his bones.

"The First Hokage cells—I am indeed very interested. Shall we try?"

Shinichi Hyuga raised both hands, making a request Orochimaru would not refuse.

"What do you need? I can provide First Hokage Wood Release cells that have been weakened through three generations of cultivation." Orochimaru was also eager to see what Shinichi Hyuga was worth.

He asked with a questioning tone, though his hands never stopped moving.

He pressed a red button, and a test subject appeared.

On another small platform sat a mass of white Wood Release cells, still writhing!

This was the experimental material he had intended to use, but now he was giving the opportunity to Shinichi Hyuga.

A folder appeared below, containing the specific details of the test subject.

[Amegakure Chunin, innate attributes: Water, Earth...]

Shinichi Hyuga merely glanced at it, skimming the subject's profile; it was just a common ninja, whose chakra attributes barely touched upon Wood Release.

"It seems your preparation is quite inadequate. You haven't even done a proper background check!" Shinichi Hyuga scanned the newly added test subjects with a smile.

Just as before, the test subjects here were labeled with their bloodlines and chakra attributes.

To accommodate the First Hokage cells, a test subject needed more than just Water and Earth chakra attributes.

They also required the bloodline of the Sage of Six Paths; the stronger the bloodline, the easier it was to fuse with the First Hokage cells.

In this laboratory, there were no Kekkei Genkai ninjas, nor were there any from Konoha.

Orochimaru had not yet glimpsed the truth, nor had he begun using members of the Senju clan to complete his experiments.

Perhaps, in Orochimaru's eyes, this body was a decent enough material!

"What?"

Orochimaru exclaimed in surprise. Shinichi Hyuga's words revealed a piece of information: he seemed to possess deeper intelligence regarding the First Hokage cells.

Shinichi Hyuga had already begun; light from his chakra appeared on his remaining hand, and the veins around his eyes bulged as he activated his Byakugan, beginning to probe every detail of the test subject.

"I don't claim to have a perfect understanding of things like Kekkei Genkai, but I do have my own insights.

They can be roughly divided into several types.

The first type is formed by the fusion of several chakra natures. For example, Roshi, the jinchuriki of the Four-Tails whom we have fought, possesses Lava Release, which is a fusion of Earth and Fire—likely inspired by the Four-Tails.

Then there is Dust Release, known as a Kekkei Tōta, which is a fusion of Wind, Earth, and Fire chakra nature transformations.

The second type is inherited from the physical body of the Sage of Six Paths, such as my Byakugan, the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, or the bones of the Kaguya clan—special abilities manifested in a specific organ of the body.

These possess the Sage Body, which carries the attributes of the Sage.

The Senju clan and the Uzumaki clan happen to possess a hidden Sage Body; even ordinary ninjas from these clans have impressive self-healing capabilities.

The two clans have even intermarried!

The third type is a combination of the first two, a special existence, and exactly what we are researching now—Wood Release!

Wood Release is a Kekkei Genkai formed by the fusion and transformation of Earth, Water, and Yang chakra, combined with the Sage Body of the Senju clan—and perhaps the Sage Body of the Uzumaki clan as well.

This is the specific reason why the power of Wood Release is so immense!

There are other types of Kekkei Genkai that are simply mutations! For example, a natural constitution for synthesizing Sage chakra or a body capable of communicating with all things; these do not serve as good points of reference."

Shinichi Hyuga did not stop his work while speaking, probing the details of the test subject until he was finally somewhat disappointed; the subject only possessed Earth and Water chakra, with no other special traits.

His words struck Orochimaru's mind like a hammer.

Orochimaru stood frozen in place, lost in deep thought.

With just a few sentences, his mind was sent into a whirlwind, as if he had touched upon a mysterious forbidden zone; he had found the key.

But to push open the door, he needed more accumulation—the kind of accumulation that comes from understanding the superstitions surrounding ninjas.

In this moment, he had found the truth of ninja bloodlines, yet he was still missing a final piece.

In his eyes, Shinichi Hyuga now radiated a mysterious light.

As Shinichi Hyuga's voice ceased, Orochimaru regained his senses, his eyes glowing with a fanaticism for uncovering the truth.

His long, forked tongue flicked out in inquiry; this was the thing he truly desired.

It was far more than the position of Hokage, which was merely a tool to be manipulated.

He felt fortunate for his decision.

"Shinichi Hyuga, your knowledge exceeds my imagination. You truly are a man full of secrets!"

Orochimaru walked toward the laboratory bench, intending to act as an assistant to Shinichi Hyuga so he could observe him at close range.

"That is only a glimpse of what you have seen. If I told you I had replicated Wood Release, would you believe me, my partner?"

Shinichi Hyuga did not refuse Orochimaru's assistance, speaking in a joking tone, though he emphasized the final words with particular weight.

He then enveloped the test subject on the bench within his chakra.

A chakra scalpel appeared, carving into the chest to extract the heart.

He placed a speck of First Hokage Wood Release cells directly onto the heart.

The heart, originally bright red, began to be overtaken by a spreading whiteness; at this rate, it would soon turn into a mass of Wood Release cells.

Orochimaru stood to the side, having been carefully observing Shinichi Hyuga's movements.

Upon suddenly hearing the news that Shinichi Hyuga had replicated Wood Release, his heart was filled with doubt.

In an instant, he recalled what Shinichi Hyuga had said at the beginning; his understanding of Wood Release was so meticulous that it seemed this possibility might actually exist.

However, the subsequent operation that fell into Orochimaru's eyes shattered his thoughts.

Shinichi Hyuga's technique was far too crude, lacking even the support of any medicinal agents—how could it possibly succeed!

Such a fusion was far too childish; he even suspected Shinichi Hyuga was toying with him, as such an operation was inferior even to his own assistants.

Shinichi Hyuga noticed the change in Orochimaru.

"Don't be so impatient!"

The chakra-attribute blade in his hand plunged directly into the heart, injecting his own chakra.

He controlled the ratio of chakra attributes within the heart.

The transformation of the heart was actually suppressed, returning to a fresh, vibrant red.

"How is this possible! You can actually suppress the devouring effect of Wood Release cells?"

Orochimaru's pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks; Shinichi Hyuga had actually done it!

That left only one possibility: Shinichi Hyuga was intimately familiar with the composition of Wood Release, and what he had said just moments ago was the truth!