Perfect fusion with Hashirama cells

Kumogakure.

Fourth Raikage A was sparring with Darui.

Suddenly, his assistant, Mabui, brought over some emergency intelligence she had just received and called a halt to Fourth Raikage A's fight.

"Hmm? What is it?"

A appeared rough and quick-tempered, but he was actually meticulous.

Otherwise, Mabui would not have brought it over during his training.

Seeing that Mabui had urgent intelligence, Darui stopped as well.

"What a pain. Why not ask Lord Killer B...?" Darui scratched his head.

A opened the letter, read it, and burst into laughter.

"Konoha still loves its infighting as much as ever. Let them fight among themselves, then!"

Sunagakure.

Rasa sat in the office that symbolized the Kazekage's authority.

He had just received word that the ninja he had sent to assassinate Gaara had been killed by Gaara.

Just as he was preparing to send another team,

intelligence from the Anbu arrived.

After reading it, Rasa's political instincts told him that something was off.

But Rasa did not care much. He wished Konoha would engage in more infighting, giving his Sunagakure a greater opportunity to secure more benefits.

The four great hidden villages were remarkably alike in their thinking.

They all hoped Konoha would remain mired in internal strife so that they could reap greater benefits.

Amegakure.

A dim basement.

Amid the shadows filled with experimental equipment,

Orochimaru was excitedly studying Hashirama cells. The quivering mass made him lick his face with his tongue.

Kabuto slowly approached from the shadows, stopping less than three meters from Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's aura turned cold as he pursued the truth.

"Kabuto, I believe I told you that what I hate most is being disturbed during my experiments..."

"Lord Orochimaru, I'm terribly sorry, but this is urgent news from Konoha!"

Kabuto had expected this.

Having followed Orochimaru for some time, he understood his habits, so he had deliberately kept a safe distance.

"Oh? What intelligence?"

The moment Orochimaru heard that the intelligence concerned Konoha, his interest was piqued.

"It concerns Shimura Danzō launching a coup and ultimately being killed by the Third Hokage."

Seeing Orochimaru's interest, Kabuto relaxed a little from his tense state of readiness to flee at any moment.

The moment Orochimaru heard that Danzo had launched a coup, he found it unbelievable. Then he felt that something was very wrong!

From what Orochimaru knew of Danzo, that old bastard could not possibly have acted impulsively!

So Orochimaru concluded that something was definitely fishy!

"Lord Orochimaru, this is the spy's letter!"

Noticing Orochimaru's doubts, Kabuto took out the letter and handed it to him.

Orochimaru opened the letter, skimmed through it, and suddenly let out a sinister chuckle.

"Heh heh. The conflict between the higher-ups and the Uchiha probably erupted."

"Danzo... must have become the sacrifice..."

A presence suddenly reached them.

"Who's there!"

Orochimaru looked to the side, his expression blank.

Kabuto Yakushi also broke into a cold sweat.

When?!

A pair of blood-red eyes emerged from the shadows.

Feng Yao slowly stepped out.

He wore a long, dark-blue Uchiha robe, his long hair falling to his shoulders, a black sword hanging at his waist, and the Uchiha Gunbai slung diagonally across his back.

Feng Yao wore a smile.

He greatly admired Orochimaru.

Not only did Orochimaru possess terrifying scientific research abilities, but he also had an exceptionally clever mind.

Moreover, he was very powerful himself, firmly at Kage level.

He had originally come to work with Orochimaru and, along the way, use Shisui's Kotoamatsukami to make Orochimaru pledge allegiance to him.

After all, the Mangekyō Sharingan had its flaws. Aside from exceptional cases, anyone who wanted to avoid blindness could only choose Hashirama cells.

The benefit of Hashirama cells was that they could restore and enhance a Mangekyo wielder's ocular power and chakra.

They could be considered a lesser version of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Obito was proof enough. He could use his Kamui as much as he pleased.

But unexpectedly, just as he arrived at Orochimaru's Otogakure base, the system's notification sounded.

[Ding! Arrival at Orochimaru's experimental base detected. Would you like to check in?]

Naturally, Feng Yao chose to check in.

The system was just that arbitrary. You never knew when a check-in would become available.

Fortunately, the system was not stingy either. The check-in rewards were all good things.

With the combination of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Double Kamui, there really was no opponent in the Shinobi World he feared for the time being.

[Congratulations, host! Reward obtained: perfect fusion with Hashirama cells!]

His objective on this trip had been Hashirama cells. He had not expected to obtain them directly through a check-in, let alone with perfect fusion!

The presence that had leaked out just now had come from fusing with Hashirama cells.

What did perfect fusion with Hashirama cells mean?

It was equivalent to his constitution becoming a lesser version of a Sage Body!

It also meant that he had perfectly acquired Wood Release!

And he had gained powerful self-healing abilities and tremendous vitality, while the upper limits of his chakra and ocular power had once again increased enormously!

It would be wrong to think Hashirama cells were useless to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. On the contrary, they were extremely useful!

And lest he forget, Hashirama cells contained Asura chakra!

That was a prerequisite for awakening the Rinnegan!

And of the three conditions for awakening the Rinnegan, he, Feng Yao, already possessed two!

He looked at Orochimaru.

"As expected of Orochimaru, one of the renowned Sannin!"

Orochimaru looked slightly surprised, showing no alarm whatsoever at Feng Yao's sudden appearance in his base.

"You're... an Uchiha?"

"That's right. My name is Uchiha Fengyao, and I am the current clan head of the Uchiha Clan!"

"Oh? What happened to Fugaku?"

"Nothing happened. He was simply too incompetent to lead the Uchiha Clan to survival, so I replaced him."

Feng Yao spoke casually.

"Oh, I see."

Orochimaru knew a little about Fugaku's personality as well.

Orochimaru's assessment of Fugaku was that he was indecisive and wavering, with passable abilities but inadequate political skill.

Orochimaru was not particularly surprised that Fugaku had stepped down as clan head.

Compared with Fugaku, Orochimaru valued and took an interest in his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, more.

He simply had not expected Fugaku to be outdone by an Uchiha who looked so young...

"Feng Yao, what brings you to see me? I'll help with anything I can."

Orochimaru smiled amiably, but only he knew what he was thinking.

"Oh, here's the thing. I want you to pledge allegiance to me..."

Quite naturally, Feng Yao spoke words that made Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi freeze instantly.

Kabuto Yakushi could not believe it. This Uchiha actually wanted Lord Orochimaru to pledge allegiance to him.

Where did he get the nerve!

"Heh heh... I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you..."

Upon hearing that the other man had come to recruit him, Orochimaru felt disdain.

He admitted that this Uchiha was probably very powerful, given that he had appeared in his base without a sound.

But did he really think everyone was Pain?

The atmosphere froze at that instant.

Gulp...

Kabuto Yakushi swallowed with difficulty.

The auras of Orochimaru and that mysterious Uchiha, auras belonging to top-tier powerhouses, pressed down on him until he could barely breathe.