In Senju Nawaki's mind, the functions of three electromagnetic stoves appeared: spend chakra to strip an enemy of a bloodline and complete his own.
Given enough experimental material, his bloodline might even surpass that of the Sage of Six Paths.
Memories from his past life surfaced, along with a saying he had once scoffed at: "Only those who endure the greatest hardship can rise above others? Hardship won't make you superior. Only eating people will."
He began examining his status panel. For a Genin, it was practically luxurious.
It had a few flaws, but now that he had the Bloodline Completion System, he could fix them.
His body was missing only Yin Release Chakra to have all the chakra natures.
Once he had all of them, combined with his body's talent, he should see unexpected results.
Yamanaka Shuichi had entered his Soul Space of his own accord, delivering himself right to Nawaki's door.
This was a godsend.
Delight flashed in Nawaki's eyes as red light began emanating from Yamanaka Shuichi.
"Beep beep beep~"
He pressed the switch on the electromagnetic stove in his soul. It was as if Senju Nawaki had returned to the laboratory, and his Scientific Keenness passive kicked in.
"What kind of genjutsu is this?" Yamanaka Shuichi cried in confusion as the Soul Space turned into a gigantic sealing apparatus.
Senju Nawaki narrowed his eyes, watching everything unfold.
The entire Soul Space had become a sealed chamber containing a PCR machine.
Yamanaka Shuichi's soul became experimental material, subjected to intense heat.
"Ahhh!!!"
The soul before him shrieked again and again, melting under some unseen force until it became a mass of black fluid.
"Phew..."
Senju Nawaki let out a long breath. The crisis before him had finally passed.
Beep beep beep...
The homemade PCR machine was still running. The second electromagnetic stove began processing the black fluid.
It became purer, more suitable for Senju Nawaki to absorb.
Senju Nawaki stepped into the range of the third electromagnetic stove. Its temperature was extremely comfortable.
Pure energy flowed into his soul and body, completing the chakra natures that had been missing from his body.
His chakra had been missing only Yin Release Chakra.
Yamanaka Shuichi's soul had happened to possess Yin Release Chakra.
After absorbing this pure energy, he now had all seven chakra natures.
A wave of bliss washed over him.
His soul returned to his body.
He felt the changes in his body. The pain faded, and the wound on his leg, injured by the explosion, had already scabbed over.
"Beginner Sage Body? Beginner Wood Release?"
He focused on his status panel. It had cost him more than three hundred chakra.
With all seven chakra natures complete, his previously incomplete Sage Body had become a Beginner Sage Body.
It had shown such powerful regenerative ability, and it was only a Beginner Sage Body?
It hadn't reached the point of regenerating flesh yet, but he believed he could do so if he continued to undergo bloodline evolution.
His Kekkei Genkai had also awakened into Beginner Wood Release.
The reference books made Wood Release look like a combination of Water and Earth Release, but Yin and Yang Release played an indispensable role in harmonizing them. Yin Release could create form from nothing, while Yang Release could give life to that form.
Senju Hashirama's Wood Release likely also required his fearsome Sage Body. In Senju Nawaki's estimation, Senju Hashirama's Sage Body was at least high-tier.
Those heights no longer seemed out of reach. As long as he kept devouring other people's bloodlines, he would surely surpass Senju Hashirama.
With Wood Release's legendary status in the Senju Clan, he now had an even better chance of taking control of the clan.
Thud...
Not far away, Yamanaka Shuichi's corpse fell from a tree.
"Haha..."
Senju Nawaki glanced at the corpse, a sharp glint in his eyes as laughter spilled from his lips.
In this life, he didn't want to be oppressed by anyone ever again.
Since he had accepted the identity of Senju Nawaki, he would use it to reach the top of this world.
If he had the chance, he also wanted to return to his original world and let that old bastard who had oppressed him experience what it was like to be oppressed.
He searched himself for the distress flare.
When he found it, he raised it toward the sky and twisted it, but nothing happened.
Someone had tampered with his flare.
"Heh... Nice work, Senju Tobirama!"
Senju Nawaki gave another bitter laugh, already forming a plan.
He had to be even more vigilant. Being Senju Nawaki gave him advantages, but it also brought danger.
Dragging his crippled body, he made his way over to Yamanaka Shuichi.
Inside the Jonin's flak jacket, he found two flares identical to the one in Senju Nawaki's hand.
They were probably meant to replace the broken flare on him, just as his memories had been altered to make everything look like an accident.
Whoosh... Bang...
A red firework blossomed in the sky, marked with the Senju Clan's crest.
"Have traitors appeared even within the Senju Clan?"
A thoughtful look came over Senju Nawaki. Such a special signal could only have been made by the Senju Clan.
Was it a long-planned scheme? An internal traitor? Or both?
His gaze shifted to Yamanaka Shuichi's corpse. It wasn't time to turn against anyone yet.
For now, he needed a safe place to build his strength and take control of the Senju Clan's forces.
That safe place was wherever Tsunade was.
He would have to lie low for a few more days. Senju Tobirama had dug a very deep pit for him.
He sensed a certain change in his Soul Space since the Bloodline Completion System had appeared.
He pressed a hand to Yamanaka Shuichi's head.
The next moment, the corpse disappeared and appeared inside Senju Nawaki's altered Soul Space.
The Bloodline Completion System showed that there was new experimental material.
Unfortunately, he didn't have much chakra left, so he couldn't continue fusing and evolving.
He looked around at the devastated ground. The other Ino-Shika-Cho corpses had been reduced to fragments; otherwise, they could have become experimental material too.
"No rush. I'll take my time."
Senju Nawaki exhaled a breath of stale air. The old schemers of this world would pay for what they had done.
Anyone who plotted against him would pay the price.
But first, he had to stay alive.
An hour later.
Senju Nawaki was huddled in a dirt pit, leaving only a tiny hole for air.
His consciousness was growing hazy.
Hiss...
The sound of snakes came from all around him.
Memories of his time with Orochimaru surfaced in his mind.
"Has Orochimaru arrived?"
Senju Nawaki dropped his disguise and emerged from the dirt pit.
[Before Nawaki died, he probably hadn't formally become Orochimaru's student; they had only discussed the possibility. This is shown in chapter 160 of the manga, when Orochimaru spoke after Nawaki's death. His name also wasn't on the Ryūchi Cave summoning scroll.]
Either way, he was safe for now.
Whoosh~
Orochimaru's sparse eyebrows knitted together as he asked coldly, his eyes full of confusion, "Nawaki, what happened here?"
Senju Nawaki managed a smile. He didn't answer, but spoke hoarsely instead. "Orochimaru, don't let me out of your sight."
At a time like this, he could at least be sure that Orochimaru was someone he could trust.
After speaking, Senju Nawaki's consciousness sank into darkness.
A day later, in the infirmary at Konoha's temporary base.
Senju Nawaki slowly opened his eyes.
"Phew..."
He looked around.
An IV line was inserted into his hand, with several bags of medicine hanging from it.
They warmed his body and replenished his energy.
Orochimaru leaned against the wall, resting with his eyes closed.
"Nawaki? What exactly happened?" Orochimaru noticed Senju Nawaki had woken and walked over to ask. A trace of weariness showed on his face.
He had spent the entire day by Senju Nawaki's side and had also noticed something was wrong with the camp.
All the high-level fighters had been pulled away to raid a Sunagakure outpost.
That made no strategic sense. They had already been preparing for peace talks.
"I accidentally stepped into a trap and was ambushed." Senju Nawaki pondered for a moment before speaking. "Where's my sister?"
He didn't have enough power on his side yet. Even though Orochimaru was trustworthy, he didn't dare speak carelessly.
He would wait until he had inherited the remnants of the Senju Clan's forces. Only then could he protect himself.
"An accident?"
Orochimaru shook his head, studying him.
He sensed wariness in Senju Nawaki's words.
The old Nawaki had been hot-blooded, foolish, and careless.
Now, Nawaki was like a frightened bird: cautious and guarded, with an air of mystery that had no business being there.
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