A Bountiful Harvest

Half a month later, Orochimaru had used up all the test subjects.

Looking at the experimental data in his hands, he wore a grim expression.

The experiment had been far too rushed. He had gathered too little new data, and if he used it on Sen Chisato as things stood, he had no confidence at all.

But when he saw Sen Chisato in the corner, looking weak and on the verge of passing out, Orochimaru finally made up his mind.

"Forget it. If I do nothing, Chisato won't survive anyway."

Even if Sen Chisato died, he should at least make the most of his value!

And so, Sen Chisato was placed on the operating table.

The fourth Wood Release experiment on him began.

Orochimaru had no expectations. He only wanted to gather as much experimental data as he could before Sen Chisato died.

But gradually, he sensed something was wrong.

"Hm?"

Orochimaru stopped what he was doing and stared at the instruments connected to Sen Chisato.

Sen Chisato's body had clearly been on the verge of collapse. Even injecting Hashirama Cells hadn't helped... It shouldn't have helped in the first place. Under these circumstances, injecting more Hashirama Cells would only hasten his death.

But something strange was happening!

Sen Chisato had actually survived!

His failing body had stabilized, and even the Hashirama Cells had stopped eroding it, leaving them right at the brink of his body's collapse.

"This is..."

Orochimaru looked at Sen Chisato, his eyes burning with excitement.

"It worked! Was it because of his powerful will to survive? It seems this body has adapted to the erosion caused by the Hashirama Cells."

"Chisato... Just as I thought, you're my most precious test subject!" He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

In Sen Chisato's current state, Orochimaru wouldn't take any rash action, lest he upset the fragile balance within his body.

But he had gained more data and developed new theories, and he could hardly wait to turn them into results.

But...

Looking at the pile of corpses beside him, Orochimaru's expression darkened further.

He had used up all the test subjects!

Unless he went out and captured people himself, he would have to wait for Danzo to send more.

Orochimaru's expression shifted as he considered what to do next.

He couldn't just sit around waiting.

"Mm..."

A young voice broke into Orochimaru's thoughts.

He looked toward the operating table and met Sen Chisato's clear gaze.

"Lord Orochimaru, looks like I'm still alive." Sen Chisato managed a faint smile.

"Yes. You were lucky—you got your life back." Seeing Sen Chisato lifted Orochimaru's spirits a little.

"There's nothing else to do for now. Get some rest."

He gave the casual instruction, but got no response. Looking over at Sen Chisato, he found him staring blankly at the pile of corpses.

There he went again, the little brat.

Orochimaru shook his head helplessly. "Do whatever you want. Just remember, don't use Wood Release."

"Yes. Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!"

Sen Chisato dragged himself off the operating table and slowly left the laboratory. By the time he pushed the cart back into the lab, Orochimaru had already disappeared.

After looking around, Sen Chisato closed his eyes and pressed a finger to the ground.

He activated the Perception Technique, extending his senses throughout the underground laboratory, but couldn't detect Orochimaru anywhere.

"He really did leave."

Sen Chisato lifted his finger and opened his eyes. A smile tugged at his lips. The moment he stood up, he was no longer the least bit weak.

He loaded all the corpses onto the cart, then left the laboratory under cover of night and headed deep into the forest.

He had dug a deep pit over the past half month. He buried all the bodies, then waited quietly, his heart full of anticipation.

Before long, a system notification rang in his mind.

[System Notification]: [You buried nine special shinobi (Hashirama Cells) and obtained incomplete Wood Release power. The Wood Release Fruit has reached 100% maturity. You have obtained complete Wood Release.]

A familiar sensation welled up inside him, but this time it was completely different from before!

Sen Chisato didn't feel the slightest discomfort. His body and this power fit together perfectly.

Even the Hashirama Cells that had been injected into him several times were completely absorbed by his body, ultimately becoming part of him.

Boom!

A powerful chakra surged out of him. His chakra began to grow continuously, multiplying several times in the blink of an eye.

He glanced at his status panel. His chakra reserves had now reached a full 10 cards!

That wasn't all. The system notifications kept refreshing.

[System Notification]: [You have obtained Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique (Uses chakra to activate tree seeds and turn them into a massive Wood Dragon. It possesses tremendous restraining power and, when attacking or constricting an enemy, absorbs their chakra and repairs damage to itself.)]

[System Notification]: [You have obtained Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique (Uses chakra to make trees grow rapidly into a giant wooden golem. Its size depends on the amount of chakra released, and it possesses powerful offensive capabilities.)]

[System Notification]: [You have obtained Wood Release: Wood Clone (Creates a Wood Release clone identical to yourself. It is harder to distinguish from the original than a Shadow Clone, and when dispelled, it can instantly transform into branches that ensnare or attack enemies.)]

[System Notification]: [You have awakened the trait—Seal-less Healing (Your cells' vitality has greatly increased. When you are injured, your cells rapidly divide and repair the wound. Your body is brimming with vitality, and your lifespan has been greatly extended.)]

[System Notification]: [You have awakened the trait—Asura Chakra (This is a peculiar chakra that does not dissipate upon death. Its possessor has a chance of awakening a Sage Body.)]

As the system notifications continued to fill his mind, Sen Chisato's mouth slowly fell open. Immense joy welled up inside him, and he was so excited he could hardly stop himself from jumping for joy.

The system hadn't let him down.

This moment made all five years of planning worthwhile—and then some. It had even surpassed his expectations by far.

Along with complete Wood Release, he had gained an entire set of Wood Release techniques once used by Senju Hashirama!

Aside from techniques that required Senjutsu, he had obtained every one of them, including the Seal-less Healing trait!

He had even received Asura Chakra, laying the groundwork for awakening a complete Sage Body.

At that moment, all Sen Chisato wanted to say was, "The system is awesome!"

"Stay calm, stay calm."

After a long while, Sen Chisato finally calmed down.

He couldn't let Orochimaru know he had fully awakened Wood Release. Not yet, at least.

"Whatever happens, I need to trick... persuade Lord Orochimaru onto the battlefield first."

Otherwise, what if Orochimaru stopped leaving the village?

And besides...

"Where did this Asura Chakra come from? Did the system create it, or did it fish it out of some place in the Shinobi World and stick it in me? Now that Asura Chakra is inside me, will some old schemer be keeping an eye on me?"

"If it's the same chakra that was originally in Hashirama... Tch! Did I just erase Naruto from existence?"

"Forget it. Who cares?"

After thinking it over for a long time, Sen Chisato decided not to dwell on it. He put on the look of someone close to death again and slowly headed back to the laboratory.

Now, it was time to plan Lord Orochimaru's posthumous affairs... his way out.

Orochimaru had "raised" him so well. He had to repay him properly.

In the gap between the Shinobi World and the Pure Land, an old man who had watched the Shinobi World for over a thousand years suddenly turned toward a certain direction.

"Hmm? Why has Asura's chakra appeared now? Indra's chakra is still reincarnating... What went wrong?"

"No, that's not right. Asura's chakra is reincarnating too... Then where did this chakra of Asura's come from?"

Staring at the chakra of Asura that had appeared out of nowhere, the old man fell into deep thought.

He decided...

To keep watching.