Waiting was always the hardest part.
At first, the five of them spoke now and then, but one by one they fell silent. None of them was particularly talkative.
Besides, Nobihi's condition had taken an unexpected turn.
Seven hours and forty-three minutes after the fusion began.
Shinji, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them open.
The silver-gray Mangekyo Sharingan in his eyes, like a star-filled sky, activated at once. He stared at the bubbling nutrient chamber. "It's starting!"
Everyone rose to their feet.
They watched Nobihi's body, their faces tense.
Orochimaru stared at what was happening, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Yes... According to our original projections, energy generation, rapid growth, accumulation, and release should take place between the eighth and twentieth hour. After that, the dormant cells would awaken and become active..."
"The first to activate will be..."
Madara Uchiha's gaze sharpened as he fixed his eyes on the nutrient chamber. "Hashirama Cells!"
Madara cut Orochimaru off.
As everyone watched tensely,
the chamber underwent a drastic change!
"Argh—!"
Nobihi's eyes flew open. His pupils were now solid crimson, with no trace of his original Mangekyo Sharingan pattern or the Sharingan's Tomoe.
But...
His eyes were not the first thing to change.
It was his body!
Disgusting, horny ridges like the bark of an ancient tree appeared across his skin, soon covering his entire body.
Tiny buds kept pushing up beneath his skin, threatening to form branches and burst through!
Shinji's eyes widened as he tracked every trace of energy flowing through Nobihi's body.
He did not dare let his attention slip for an instant.
Hashirama Senju looked astonished. "I had no idea my cells were so... violent."
Madara glanced at him without comment.
Your own little brother knows that best.
"Argh—!"
Inside the nutrient chamber,