The Uzumaki Arrive in Konoha: Choosing a Study Partner

After proposing that theory, both Chiri and Toji became more proactive.

Chiri had been affected mentally, while Toji simply wanted to share this power with his own people.

They kept at it until midnight before Chiri's mind finally settled. Toji took the opportunity to tell her that Ichikishimahime would soon come to the Zenin Grounds to guide his Sage Mode training.

Chiri was no possessive, obsessive Uchiha. Besides, Ichikishimahime was coming on serious business. Chiri showed no particular reaction and fell into a deep sleep.

Through the exchange of bodily fluids, Toji had transferred his Natural Energy into Chiri. As she slept, it subtly affected her body. Whether that influence could awaken a Sage Transformation constitution in her later in life was something only time could tell.

The next day.

Toji went to the Root Research Institute and handed Orochimaru a test tube containing his blood.

A bad feeling rose in Orochimaru's chest, and his shoulders suddenly felt heavy. "What's this?" he asked.

"My blood," Toji said. "I visited Ryūchi Cave yesterday, and my body underwent a peculiar change while I was there."

"Some simple tests suggest that my blood might let others skip Sage Mode training and gain traits similar to Sage Mode. There's a very good chance it'll work."

"So I need you to make this a new research direction and put together a dedicated team to pursue it."

"...Yes." Orochimaru stared at the test tube in his hand. After a brief silence, an approach occurred to him. "I'll try using Curse Marks for this research."

As expected of a clever man, one hint was enough for him to grasp Toji's thinking.

Toji nodded in satisfaction and left the Laboratory.

Once he was gone, Orochimaru drifted into memory.

Curse Marks were an extremely complex technology, and he had