As night fell, an unwelcome guest arrived. The familiar appearance, stern demeanor, purple eyeshadow, and pupils like a snake's gave him an extraordinary charisma and an air of danger.
In his hoarse voice, he said, "Nawaki, looking at you now, you won't be able to become a ninja in the future."
"A ninja's life and body are so fragile."
Seeing Orochimaru in his purple kimono, Nawaki almost blurted out "Orochimaru" before changing his words. "Teacher, you... you came to see me."
Seeing Orochimaru, and thinking of all his research—from dissecting bodies to studying various jutsu—Li Yu felt an oppressive chill.
Orochimaru reached out and examined Li Yu. "Nawaki, did Tsunade 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 my left hand and left leg were too badly injured. My sister can't do anything about them for now."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Oh? You're lucky just to be alive."
Li Yu shuddered at Orochimaru's expression, like a man trying to pee. Damn, Orochimaru can smile? His smile is terrifying.
Orochimaru's smile suddenly faded, and he asked, "Nawaki, why do I feel like you're different from before?"
"Did surviving this time make you realize something?"
Li Yu's heart skipped a beat. Orochimaru really was observant. After only a few words, he'd noticed something was off. Tsunade hadn't realized it when she saw him. Maybe concern had distracted her.
Nawaki now had Li Yu's twenty-five-year-old soul, after all. He quickly calmed down and pretended to be sad.
"Teacher, my body is no longer fit for me to be a ninja."
"Seeing the battlefield this time made me realize how fragile human beings are."
"Becoming Hokage used to be my dream, but if I die, I'll lose everything."
Drawing on his familiarity with the story, Li Yu repeated the words Orochimaru had said in the original, striking a chord with him.
Hearing Nawaki say this, Orochimaru's face lit up with excitement, a touch of fervor in his eyes. "I never expected one war to make you reflect so deeply."
"Nawaki, come help me. I'm short-handed, and life is so fragile and brief. Why not use that limited time to search for a new path?"
That was exactly what Li Yu had been waiting to hear. Although he was crippled, he was still a member of the Senju Clan. Orochimaru would surely be interested in researching his body.
Before, Orochimaru hadn't dared go too far because Nawaki was Tsunade's younger brother, one of the Sannin, and the Senju Clan's only pure-blooded male descendant. But now that Li Yu had shown interest in working with Orochimaru and being studied, Orochimaru surely wouldn't be able to resist inviting him.
That was the idea Li Yu had come up with on the spur of the moment when Orochimaru visited.
His acting had to be convincing. Li Yu immediately shifted his expression from sorrow to hope, his eyes shining with promise for the future.
"Teacher, if that's the case, take me with you. I won't let you down."
Seeing his disciple make such a firm choice, Orochimaru said no more and prepared to sneak Nawaki out.
"Teacher, wait a moment." Nawaki took off the necklace from his chest and solemnly placed it on the pillow. It was the First's necklace, given to Nawaki by Tsunade herself.
Seeing this, Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile. It seems my disciple has let go of the past and made up his mind. How interesting.
After removing the necklace, Nawaki carefully put it on the bedside table. Then, pretending to straighten the blanket, he secretly pushed a letter from beneath him under the pillow.
Li Yu climbed out of bed and said to Orochimaru, "Teacher, let's go."
Orochimaru said nothing. He hoisted Li Yu over his shoulder and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave Konoha Hospital. They didn't alert the Senju Clan guards or the Anbu Ninja on patrol outside the ward. He carried Li Yu away without a hitch and returned to his secret laboratory.
The next day, when Tsunade discovered that Nawaki had disappeared from the hospital, she furiously reprimanded the Senju Clan guards. She also mobilized the village's ninjas to search everywhere, but they couldn't find him. After searching for some time without success, she still left the village, just as she had in the original story.
Thanks to his advantage of knowing the story and Orochimaru's personality in advance, Li Yu was confident he could handle things as long as he planned carefully.
After arriving at Orochimaru's laboratory, Li Yu immediately began his research, demonstrating the remarkable talent for identifying cellular rejection that he'd developed in his previous life, as well as his deep understanding of human genetics.
With Nawaki's help, the progress of Orochimaru's various research projects accelerated considerably.
Seeing how much Li Yu had changed over this period, Orochimaru said to him, "Nawaki, you have a real talent for research. It's as if you were born for it. How did I never notice this side of you before?"
"You're looking more and more like me."
"I have a new research project for you."
Li Yu's heart stirred. At last, they were going to study Hashirama's cells. He'd been waiting a long time for this.
He'd worked hard on so many of Orochimaru's projects to make him recognize his ability, until Orochimaru had no choice but to rely on him and work with him to accelerate the research on Hashirama Cells.
"I've been studying a unique type of cell, but it's extremely invasive. It turns every test subject into wood, and it's impossible to control."
As he spoke, Orochimaru led Li Yu to a secret laboratory. It was filled with containers holding strange objects immersed in unidentified liquids.
Orochimaru stared at Li Yu's eyes and expression. "Nawaki, these are the First's cells. Do you think we can unlock the secret to his powerful vitality and Wood Release?"
Orochimaru's gaze seemed able to see right through a person. A chill shot up Li Yu's spine. This was a test.
Li Yu's heart jolted, but he steadied himself and immediately put on a surprised expression. "Really, teacher?"
His surprise quickly shifted to excitement and fervor. He trembled all over, fully embracing his role, and continued, "I don't know where you got them, teacher, but I've wanted to study them for ages."
"Which member of the Senju Clan wouldn't want to learn the secret of the First's Wood Release?"
"Unfortunately, the clan has fallen into decline, and no one has the time or energy to study it."
Orochimaru seemed satisfied with Li Yu's reaction. As long as he didn't react too strongly, things would be fine. He still needed Li Yu's talents to help with the research.
"Then let's begin studying them together, Nawaki."
In the blink of an eye, more than two months passed as they worked intently on their research, and the Second Shinobi World War was nearly over.
The following day
"Are you sure you want to use yourself as the test subject?"
Orochimaru watched Li Yu, who stood leaning on a cane, his eyes resolute. A complicated look flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. He didn't want Li Yu to undergo the test before they were completely certain—not with his courage, determination, and astonishing talent.
"We've already conducted many experiments and gathered plenty of data."
"Teacher, I believe in our results. I'm a member of the Senju Clan, so no one is more suitable than me. Besides, I'm already crippled."
While Orochimaru was often away from the laboratory on various missions, Li Yu had secretly conducted other research and prepared a dose of gene-fusion serum. He had even made special modifications to his own genes.
Before climbing onto the operating table, Li Yu secretly injected himself with a dose of the gene-fusion serum. Given how little Orochimaru knew about genetics, it would be difficult for him to figure out exactly what was happening.
Li Yu once again acted like a fanatical scientist, speaking excitedly. "Teacher, I've made up my mind. I'm willing to give everything for this research, even my life."
Seeing his disciple speak so resolutely, Orochimaru saw no point in trying to dissuade him.
"Very well. If you die, don't blame me." It's a shame to lose a talented disciple like him.
Li Yu closed his eyes, and endless darkness swept over him. His whole body lost all sensation.
Following the plan they had made, Orochimaru injected Li Yu with medicine several times. He also transplanted a pair of Sharingan into him: one with a single Tomoe and the other with two.
When he awoke the following night, the first thing he felt was a sharp pain in his eyes. Everything before him was pitch-black. He reached out with both hands and gently felt around.
Seeing Li Yu wake up, Orochimaru said in surprise, "Nawaki, I didn't expect you to wake up. How do your body and eyes feel?"
Li Yu couldn't see, but he felt that when he concentrated, powerful chakra flowed through his body. A cool sensation came from his eyes, and the pain vanished in an instant.
Li Yu removed the bandages from his head and looked over his body.
"I've never felt this good."
His eyesight, chakra control, and chakra reserves had all increased dramatically.
"Heh. With a body brimming with vitality, your future is limitless."
"I'll be counting on you to look after me in the future, teacher."
Orochimaru glanced at Li Yu's blood-red eyes, each with a different number of Tomoe spinning within. Envy filled his gaze, and then he turned and left.
Once Orochimaru was gone, Li Yu immediately jumped off the operating table and tested his whole body. He quickly formed a few hand seals and used the Transformation Technique and Clone Technique.
Compared to his old self, everything felt incredibly easy. The chakra he used recovered at astonishing speed, and he barely felt any strain.
It was a shame he didn't know any Wood Release jutsu, so he couldn't test whether he could use Wood Release.
He checked his eyes again and found he could activate and deactivate the Sharingan at will.
He guessed he might have gained a Sage Body, Wood Release, and the Sharingan. It seemed taking that gamble had paid off.
Risk a little, gain a lot—no, he'd upgraded from a bicycle to a rocket.