In the special isolation chamber on the third underground level of Konoha Hospital, the smell of disinfectant mingled with a faint herbal scent.
Tsunade pressed the last sealing talisman onto the surface of the glass container. The clump of extracted White Tissue slowly squirmed in the pale green liquid like a living creature. She straightened up and rubbed her slightly sore shoulders, a few strands of blonde hair at her forehead damp with sweat.
"It's sealed for now." She looked at Hyuga Xiao beside her. "But this thing is far more active than I imagined. It will last three days at most."
Xiao nodded, his gaze falling on the container. Through the glass, he could see fine veins pulsing slowly across the White Tissue's surface. Every pulse carried an unsettling rhythm. These were no ordinary cells; they were more like some life-form endowed with will.
"Three days is enough." Xiao's voice was calm. "Enough for us to find the source."
Tsunade did not respond immediately. She walked to the sink and turned on the faucet, water flowing over her slender fingers. The sound of running water was especially clear in the quiet isolation chamber. She washed slowly, as though pondering something.
Xiao remained where he was. He could feel Tsunade's gaze occasionally sweep over him. That scrutinizing look carried the particular sharpness of a medical ninja, as well as the vigilance expected of one of the Three Legendary Ninja.
The water stopped.
Tsunade dried her hands with a towel and turned around, leaning against the sink. Her eyes sharpened.
"Hyuga Xiao."
She called him by his full name. The professionalism and gentleness from when she had been treating Ling were gone, replaced by a blunt interrogation.
"The purity of your chakra, and your knowledge of forbidden experiments, are far beyond