Sealing Jutsu

"Kato, perhaps sometimes we need to wager our lives in order to survive. Wouldn't you agree?"

Before Orochimaru and Kato Xu stood rows upon rows of green glass containers. The emerald solution within seemed brimming with life, sustaining the experimental subjects inside.

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

"Hashirama Cell fusion and Wood Release induction experiments..."

Kato Xu leaned lightly against one of the glass containers and stared blankly at it, unable to stop himself from clenching his fists.

"Lord Orochimaru..."

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

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

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

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

"When Kato dealt with those criminals in the past, you were never like this..."

A bead of sweat fell onto the smooth black floor, silently splattering into eight droplets.

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

"How interesting... Kato, you remind me of someone—a person just as naïve as you..."

"You must have heard his name as well. A fool named Jiraiya..."

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

"How foolish..."

Orochimaru's cold, serpent-like eyes fixed on Kato Xu, and an intense killing intent swept over him.

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

Kato Xu clenched his fists and dropped to one knee. The air throughout the laboratory seemed to freeze, as though solid, bone-piercing icicles had pierced his entire body in an instant and nailed him firmly to the ground.

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

"Now, Kato should know what to do, shouldn't you..."

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

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru! Kato Xu will do everything in my power..."

"To let them live as well..."

"Hahaha, Kato, it seems you are quite confident in yourself..."

Orochimaru's gaze was dark and distant, yet he did not immediately put him to work. Instead, he simply led him through this even more secret experimental base, a base entirely concealed in the deepest reaches of Root.

"All one hundred experimental subjects in this base are using fusion solutions prepared by Kato."

"I wonder whether their deaths, should they result from incompatible fusion solutions, ought to be counted against Kato..."

"I will formulate a separate fusion solution for every experimental subject..."

Kato Xu lowered his head. For some 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 does possess a kind heart..."

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

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

Orochimaru's back slowly disappeared into the shadows. Watching him leave, Kato Xu could not help shouting.

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

"If Kato needs to place all evil upon a single target in order to feel more at ease, then Elder Danzo is indeed a good target."

Orochimaru paid no mind to Kato Xu's words. He merely smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the laboratory before finally settling on Kato Xu again.

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

"Has merely this much already shaken your will..."

"If you possess enough strength, you can rule this world according to any of your desires. What do you think, Kato..."

Half of Orochimaru's body was hidden in darkness. He resembled a venomous snake lying in wait amid the shadows, making Kato Xu feel a chill, sinister coldness.

Snakes truly were cold-blooded animals. Kato Xu had never sensed anyone so fickle and unpredictable. During this time, he had often felt Orochimaru's killing intent, as though Orochimaru himself stood at a critical point of indecision.

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

Kato Xu 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 Xu. He said nothing more, merely smiling faintly with a cold and 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 capable of accomplishing: use Sealing Jutsu to seal the Cursed Seal, preventing it from sensing any external chakra."

"I am very interested to see what Kato will do after resolving the Cursed Seal..."

With what seemed like a touch of malicious amusement, as though teasing a small animal, Orochimaru vanished into the laboratory in the deepest reaches of Root.

Kato Xu caught the scroll in one hand and silently watched Orochimaru vanish into the shadows. The deep green light spreading through the laboratory 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 Xu had never encountered before, yet it was also what he needed most right now.

Kato Xu silently tucked the scroll containing the Sealing Jutsu into his clothes. Then he activated the laboratory's cell analyzer and placed cells from experimental subject Number 001 inside.

Formulating a separate fusion solution for each experimental subject was an arduous undertaking, even though he now understood every detail and property of the fusion solution perfectly.

"Chakra analysis indicates that the maximum chakra density in individual cells has risen to 50% of the original..."

Kato Xu relaxed slightly. At this level, it should barely meet the body's minimum limit for transplantation.

He slowly walked before experimental 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 and, as though entering another space, passed through without affecting any physical matter before entering the experimental subject's brow.

"Located mental fluctuations..."

"Mental energy appears to be continuously increasing..."

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

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

These Hashirama Cells could continuously self-replicate, and the fundamental reason they could sustain such a violation of biological principles was that the cells' instinct stimulated chakra.

Although it was still unknown where these cells obtained the mental energy used to synthesize chakra, that was also the greatest secret of the Hashirama Cells.

Orochimaru seemed to know something, but he did not appear to have any intention of telling him.

Kato Xu felt somewhat dejected. If this was the fundamental reason behind 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 in order to save them..."

Given the degree to which the Hashirama Cells were eroding them, their growing mental strength would not be able to suppress the cells for long. The Hashirama Cells would erupt abruptly in the near future, and even the benefits brought by the fusion solution would be useless.

Kato Xu recorded every experimental subject's physical condition and level of mental energy, then prepared the most suitable fusion solution ratios according to their constitutions.

Three months passed...

The first failed case erupted soon after...