Sealing Jutsu

"Kato, perhaps sometimes we need to gamble with our lives in order to survive. Don't you agree?"

Before Orochimaru and Kato Osamu stood rows of green glass containers. The emerald liquid seemed brimming with life as it nourished the test subjects within.

Two years had passed. This was the first time Kato Osamu had truly come into contact with the core of the experiments.

"The fusion of Hashirama Cells and the inducement experiment for Wood Release..."

Kato Osamu leaned lightly against a glass container, staring blankly at it as his fists involuntarily clenched.

"Lord Orochimaru..."

He could not quite bear it. Such a fate seemed far too cruel for these test subjects.

"Has Kato developed sympathy... How kind of you..."

"There is no meaning in mourning the dead. If death has any meaning, it exists only when it can be put to use."

"Humans truly are hypocritical creatures. As long as there is a passable reason, they can even deceive themselves."

"Kato never acted like this when dealing with those criminals before..."

A drop of sweat fell onto the smooth black floor, silently shattering into eight droplets.

"But these... are still children..."

"How interesting... Kato, you remind me of someone—someone just as naive as you..."

"You should have heard his name as well. A fool called Jiraiya..."

"Like you, he took pity on three children and even taught them for three years..."

"How foolish..."

Orochimaru's cold Snake Eyes fixed upon Kato Osamu, and an intense killing intent swept over him.

"But compared to that fool, it seems Kato has forgotten his own identity—and forgotten life in Root..."

Kato Osamu clenched his fists and dropped to one knee. The air throughout the laboratory seemed to freeze, becoming tangible, bone-chilling icicles that pierced his entire body in an instant and nailed him firmly to the ground.

He knew he should not reveal too many other emotions. Rich emotions were the greatest enemy of tools like shinobi.

"Now, Kato should know what to do..."

With work this secretive, he could imagine the consequences if it were exposed. He could no longer entertain any thoughts of withdrawing. Rather than pitying others, he was better off pitying himself first.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru! Kato Osamu will do everything in his power..."

"To let them live as well..."

"Hahaha, Kato, it seems you have great confidence in yourself..."

Orochimaru's gaze was dark and distant, yet he did not immediately put him to work. He merely led him casually through this even more secret experimental base, one completely hidden in the deepest part of Root.

"All one hundred test subjects in the experimental base are using fusion fluid prepared by Kato."

"I wonder whether the deaths caused by incompatibility with the fusion fluid should be counted against Kato..."

"I will prepare fusion fluid separately for every test subject..."

Kato Osamu lowered his head. For no reason, he felt as though he were sinking deeper and deeper, as if he had unknowingly become an accomplice to certain people.

But he only wanted to live properly...

"Kato truly has a kind heart..."

Orochimaru's somewhat gloomy gaze swept lightly over the test subjects, and he said nothing more.

"Then the growth records of these test subjects will be entrusted to Kato... I hope to see good results..."

Orochimaru's back gradually vanished into the shadows. Watching him leave, Kato Osamu could not help shouting.

"Lord Orochimaru! Was this... Elder Danzo's order?"

"If Kato needs to pin all evil upon a single target to put your mind more at ease, Elder Danzo is indeed a fine choice."

Orochimaru did not mind Kato Osamu's question. He merely smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the laboratory before settling once again on Kato Osamu.

"Kato, you should try to understand the truth of this world. The path toward immortality is destined to be cruel and bloody. Without such resolve, you truly are far too naive..."

"Has this alone already shaken your will..."

"If you possess enough strength, you can rule this world according to any desire you have. Don't you agree, Kato..."

Half of Orochimaru's body remained hidden in darkness. He resembled a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike, making Kato Osamu feel a chill and gloominess.

Snakes truly were cold-blooded creatures. Kato Osamu had never encountered anyone so fickle. During this time, he had often sensed Orochimaru's killing intent, as if Orochimaru himself stood at a critical point of inner conflict.

"Lord Orochimaru, I will live. I will live forever..."

Kato Osamu suddenly raised his head and stared into Orochimaru's eyes.

"Hahaha, I look forward to the day you change this world—if such a day is possible... Kato..."

Orochimaru tossed a scroll to Kato Osamu. He said nothing more, merely smiling faintly with a cold, cruel expression.

"However, it seems Kato should first deal with the trouble before you..."

"The third of three methods for resolving the Cursed Seal, and the one Kato is most likely to accomplish: use Sealing Jutsu to seal the Cursed Seal, preventing it from sensing any external Chakra."

"I look forward to seeing what Kato does after resolving the Cursed Seal..."

As though amused by some malicious joke, or as though teasing a small animal with keen interest, Orochimaru vanished into the laboratory at the deepest point of Root.

Kato Osamu grabbed the scroll in one motion and silently watched Orochimaru disappear into the shadows. The laboratory's deep green light reflected in his eyes, flickering with an indescribable gleam.

"Sealing Jutsu..."

The scroll recorded the most basic knowledge of Sealing Jutsu. It was something Kato Osamu had never encountered before, yet it was also what he needed most right now.

Kato Osamu silently tucked the scroll containing Sealing Jutsu into his clothes, then activated the cell analyzer in the laboratory and placed the cells from test subject Number 001 inside.

Preparing individual fusion fluid for every test subject was an arduous task, even though he now understood every detail and property of the fusion fluid perfectly.

"Chakra analysis indicates that the maximum Chakra density in individual cells has increased to 50% above its original level..."

Kato Osamu breathed a slight sigh of relief. At this level, it should barely meet the body's minimum limit for transplantation.

He slowly walked over to test subject Number 001. Separated by a massive glass chamber, he could clearly see the child's face.

"Partial Spirit Transformation!"

He pressed a finger against the glass chamber. A faint fluorescent glow extended from his fingertip, as though entering another space. Without affecting any physical matter, it entered the test subject's brow.

"Found mental fluctuations..."

"The mental energy seems to be continuously increasing..."

"But it is still far from enough..."

Based on his understanding of Hashirama Cells, their suppression of the mind was even more terrifying than the body's ability to accept them.

These Hashirama Cells could endlessly self-proliferate, and the fundamental reason they could maintain this violation of biological principles was that the cells' instinct stimulated Chakra.

He still did not know where the mental energy used by these cells to synthesize Chakra came from. This was also the greatest secret of Hashirama Cells.

Orochimaru seemed to know something, but he apparently had no intention of telling him.

Kato Osamu felt somewhat dejected. If this was the fundamental cause of fusion, there was nothing he could do. He could only rely on the growth of mental energy brought about by these children's own desire to survive.

"I need to know this secret to save them..."

Given the degree of erosion by the Hashirama Cells, their growing mental strength would not be able to suppress the cells for long. In the near future, the Hashirama Cells would erupt all at once, and even the benefits provided by the fusion fluid would be useless.

Kato Osamu recorded every test subject's physical condition and range of mental energy, then prepared the most suitable fusion fluid ratios according to their constitutions.

Three months passed...

The first failed case erupted soon after...