Uchiha Shinichi's casually tossed-out question, "Who's the next lucky one?" was like a lit fuse, instantly detonating the eerie atmosphere of fear and greed in the Laboratory.
Everyone's eyes instinctively converged on the "micro forest" Senju Nawaki had created.
Nawaki had already risen from the floor. Somewhat clumsily, he lifted his hand and watched a tender green shoot break through his palm, his eyes filled with bewilderment, awe, and indescribable ecstasy.
Was this the power of a "god"?
Even the tiniest glimpse of it was enough to transform a mortal completely.
At that moment, the five-percent risk of the "Protein Solution" seemed utterly insignificant.
"I'll go."
A clear, steady voice broke the brief silence.
Minato Namikaze stepped forward.
He had neither Nawaki's burning need to prove himself nor the almost overflowing desire in the other Jonin's eyes.
He simply walked calmly up to Orochimaru, his azure eyes as clear as the sky after rain.
"Oh?" Orochimaru regarded Minato with growing interest.
If Nawaki was the "chosen one" by bloodline, the ideal "hardware" test subject,
then Minato Namikaze, a civilian genius with no Kekkei Genkai who had come this far through talent and hard work alone,
was undoubtedly the perfect material... for testing "software" compatibility.
"Thought this through, kid?" Shinichi lazily lifted his eyelids.
"You don't have the First's bloodline to fall back on. If you hit a bug and blue-screen, don't expect me to fix you."
"Teacher, during my assessment, you said that sometimes the biggest vulnerability lies in the place we think is safest."
Minato smiled faintly, but his gaze was unwavering.
"Conversely, without the constraints of a bloodline, perhaps the 'path' I can take will offer more freedom."
"Interesting." An almost imperceptible smile curved Shinichi's lips.
Orochimaru said no more. With something approaching an artist's reverence, he picked