Turning Point

As night fell, an uninvited guest arrived. With his familiar appearance, cold temperament, purple eyeshadow, and pupils like those of a snake, he radiated a unique personal charisma and an aura of danger.

He spoke in a raspy voice, "Nawaki, looking at you like this, you won't be able to be a ninja in the future."

"The life and body of a ninja are so fragile."

Seeing Orochimaru dressed in a purple kimono, Li Yu almost blurted out "Uncle Snake," but caught himself and changed it to, "Teacher, you... you've come to see me."

Seeing Orochimaru and thinking of his various research projects—body dissections and all sorts of forbidden jutsu studies—a sense of oppression and chill filled his heart.

Orochimaru reached out to examine Li Yu. "Nawaki, has Tsunade already been here to treat you today? Why do you still look like you're half-dead?"

"Teacher, my sister did treat me. The burns all over my body have healed, but unfortunately, my left hand and foot were injured too severely. My sister has no way to fix them for now."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and replied with a smile, "Oh, it's a miracle you survived at all."

Seeing that expression on Orochimaru, Li Yu felt a shiver run through him, the kind that makes a man shudder when he finishes urinating. Damn, Orochimaru can actually smile? That smile is terrifying.

Suddenly, Orochimaru's smile faded, and he asked abruptly, "Nawaki, why do I feel like you're different from before?"

"Could it be that this brush with death has made you realize something?"

Li Yu's heart skipped a beat. Uncle Snake's observation skills are truly sharp. A few sentences and he's already sensed something is wrong. I wasn't discovered when I saw Tsunade, but perhaps she was just too worried to notice.

Nawaki now possessed the soul of a twenty-five-year-old Li Yu, so he immediately steadied himself and feigned sadness. "Teacher, my body is no longer fit to be a ninja."

"Seeing things on the battlefield this time, I realized that humans are truly fragile things."

"Although being Hokage was once my dream, if I die, I lose everything."

He used his familiarity with the plot, knowing what Orochimaru had said in the original story, to resonate with him.

Hearing these words, Orochimaru couldn't help but show excitement, his face tinged with a hint of fanaticism. "I didn't expect a single war to give you such profound insights."

"Nawaki, come and help me. I happen to be short of hands. Life is so fragile and fleeting; why not use this short time to seek a new path?"

This was exactly what Li Yu had been waiting for. Even though he was crippled, he was at least a member of the Senju Clan; Orochimaru would surely be interested in his body for research.

In the past, because he was the younger brother of the Sannin Tsunade and the only pure-blooded male of the Senju Clan, Orochimaru hadn't dared to go too far. Now, seeing that he was willing and prepared to engage in research, Orochimaru couldn't resist extending the invitation.

This was a spur-of-the-moment idea Li Yu had when he saw Orochimaru visiting.

His acting had to be on point. Li Yu immediately shifted his gaze from sorrow to a look filled with hope for the future, his eyes shining.

"Teacher, if that is the case, then take me with you. I will not let you down."

Seeing his disciple make such a firm choice, Orochimaru didn't waste any more words and prepared to sneak Nawaki out.

"Teacher, wait a moment." Li Yu took the necklace from his chest and placed it solemnly on the pillow. It was the First Hokage's necklace, which Tsunade had given to Nawaki herself.

Seeing this, the corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled into a faint smile. It seems my disciple has let go and made up his mind. How interesting.

After taking off the necklace and carefully placing it on the nightstand, he pretended to adjust the quilt, secretly sliding a letter he had hidden under his body beneath the pillow.

Li Yu climbed out of bed and said to Orochimaru, "Teacher, let's go."

Orochimaru didn't hesitate; he hoisted Li Yu up and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave Konoha Hospital. During the process, he didn't alert the Senju clansmen at the door or the patrolling Anbu, easily spiriting him away to his secret laboratory.

The next day, Tsunade discovered that Nawaki was missing from the hospital. She was furious at the guards from the Senju Clan and mobilized the village's ninjas to search everywhere, but to no avail. After searching for a while without results, she eventually left the village just as the original plot dictated.

Having the advantage of knowing the plot, Li Yu had anticipated Orochimaru's personality; as long as he arranged things reasonably, he was certain of his own success.

Once at the laboratory, Li Yu began his research, demonstrating his significant talent in cell rejection and his deep understanding of human genetics from his past life.

With Nawaki's addition, the pace of Orochimaru's various research projects accelerated significantly.

Observing the changes in Li Yu over this period, Orochimaru remarked, "Nawaki-kun, your research talent is truly high. You were practically born for this. How did I never notice this aptitude in you before?"

"Looking at you now, you're becoming more and more like me."

"I have a new research topic I want to entrust to you."

Li Yu's heart stirred; he knew it was finally time to start the real work. Is it finally time to study Hashirama's cells? I've been waiting for this for a long time.

He had worked hard to complete Orochimaru's research to make him believe in his talent, ensuring that Orochimaru would need his strength to accelerate the study of the Hashirama cells.

"I have been researching a unique type of cell, but its corrosive nature is extremely powerful. It turns every test subject into wood; it is simply impossible to control."

As he spoke, he led Li Yu to a secret laboratory filled with various containers, where strange things were soaking in unknown liquids.

Orochimaru stared into Li Yu's eyes, watching his expression. "Nawaki-kun, these are the cells of the First Hokage. Can you unlock the secret to their powerful life force and Wood Release?"

Orochimaru's gaze seemed capable of piercing through the human heart. A chill ran down Li Yu's spine; this was a test.

Li Yu was startled, but he tightened his focus and immediately put on an expression of astonishment. "Is this true, Teacher?"

His eyes shifted instantly from surprise to excitement and fanaticism. His whole body trembled, fully immersed in his role, as he continued, "Although I don't know where you obtained these, Teacher, I have wanted to study them for a long time."

"Which member of the Senju Clan wouldn't want to know the secret of the First Hokage's Wood Release?"

"It's just a pity that the clan has declined, and no one had the energy to research it."

Orochimaru was satisfied with Li Yu's reaction. As long as the reaction wasn't too extreme, it was fine; he still needed Li Yu's talent to help him with his research.

"Then let us begin our research together, Nawaki."

In the blink of an eye, two months passed while immersed in focused research, and the cleanup work for the Second Shinobi World War in Konoha was nearly complete.

The next day.

"Are you certain you want to use yourself as the test subject?"

Orochimaru looked at Li Yu, who was leaning on a crutch with his left hand. His gaze was firm, and a strange expression flickered in his eyes. He truly did not want to let the other party undergo the test without absolute certainty, given such courage, persistence, and talent that even he found astonishing.

"We have already conducted numerous experiments and collected plenty of data."

"Teacher, I believe in our results. I am of the Senju Clan; no one is more suitable than I am. Besides, I am already crippled."

During the times when Orochimaru was away on various missions and frequently absent from the laboratory, Li Yu had secretly conducted other research, concocting a gene fusion serum and performing special modifications on his own genetic level.

Before preparing to get on the operating table himself, he had injected himself with a dose of the gene fusion serum in advance. Given the limitations of Orochimaru's knowledge regarding genetics, it would be difficult for him to discern the specific situation.

Li Yu once again feigned the appearance of a fanatical scientist and said excitedly, "Teacher, I have made up my mind. I can sacrifice everything for this research, even my life."

Seeing his eldest disciple speak this way, Orochimaru saw no point in trying to persuade him further.

"If that is the case, then don't blame me if you die." It would be a pity to lose such a talented disciple.

Closing his eyes, an endless darkness washed over him, and he lost all sensation in his body.

Following the previously established plan, Orochimaru injected Li Yu with drugs multiple times and proceeded to transplant the prepared pair of Sharingan—one with a single tomoe and one with two—into Li Yu.

Waking up the next night, the first thing he felt was an intense pain in his eyes. Everything before him was pitch black, so he reached out his hands to grope around his surroundings.

Seeing Li Yu wake up, Orochimaru said with pleasant surprise, "Nawaki, I didn't expect you to wake up. How do your body and eyes feel?"

Although Li Yu could not see, he felt that as long as he focused his mental energy, powerful chakra flowed throughout his body. A cool sensation washed over his eyes, and the pain vanished instantly.

Li Yu casually removed the bandages from his head and examined his entire body.

"I have never felt better."

His vision, chakra control, and chakra reserves had all increased significantly.

"Heh, with this body brimming with vitality, your future is limitless."

"I will have to trouble you to look after me in the future, Teacher."

Glancing at Li Yu's blood-red eyes, where one single-tomoe and one double-tomoe were spinning, Orochimaru's eyes were filled with envy before he turned and left.

Seeing Orochimaru depart, Li Yu immediately jumped off the operating table and stretched his entire body, quickly forming a few hand seals to perform the Transformation Jutsu and the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Compared to his former self, it was incredibly effortless; he felt the chakra he had expended recovering at a rapid speed, with absolute ease.

It was a pity he did not know Wood Release ninjutsu, so he could not test if he possessed it.

Feeling his eyes again, he found he could toggle the Sharingan on and off at will.

He guessed that he likely possessed the Sage Body, Wood Release, and the Sharingan. It seemed his gamble had paid off.

He had gambled for a bicycle and ended up with a motorcycle—no, it should be a rocket.