"Hang in there, Nawaki!"
Nawaki gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as beads of sweat covered it. His low groans rumbled like muffled thunder through the oppressive laboratory.
Even so, the readings on the screen remained within controllable limits.
Watching Nawaki grit his teeth and endure the pain, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly rose from his seat.
He stood before the transparent wall, his deep eyes fixed on Nawaki.
As everyone watched with anticipation, the readings on the screen gradually leveled out, and the searing pain no longer gripped Nawaki's heart.
He opened his mouth, releasing all his pain and sobs as he gulped down fresh air.
Seeing this, Orochimaru took off his lab coat and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He walked over to Xuanhui and asked him to pull up all the data from start to finish.
"Did it work?"
"There were a few complications along the way, but he made it."
"We made it."
Orochimaru and Xuanhui bumped fists.
Witnessing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally felt the heavy weight lift from his heart.
Xuanhui walked up to Nawaki and held his hand.
Nawaki weakly lifted his eyelids and asked in a trembling voice.
"I... survived?"
"Yes. You've been reborn."
Orochimaru opened the door. All the senior officials were waiting for him to speak.
"As you all saw, we did restore the vitality of the Hashirama Cells.
But they're far too active. Ordinary shinobi simply cannot suppress the Hashirama Cells.
Of all our test subjects, only the First's grandson-Senju Nawaki-successfully adapted to them.
And that was because of their blood relationship."
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over to Orochimaru and patted his shoulder.
"Let's end this experiment here. It's too dangerous.
Having Nawaki as a single successful exception is enough to count this as a success."
Orochimaru nodded.
"I'll make