The moment the metal door slowly closed behind him, Kakuzu suddenly had the illusion that he had walked into some strange place.
The dark green culture fluid was swaying slightly in the glass tank, and the various "experimental subjects" soaked in it made him, a veteran rebel ninja who was used to seeing blood and had lived for more than ninety years, feel his scalp numb.
The air was filled with the smell of formalin and some unexplainable medicine, mixed with a faint smell of blood.
This... isn't really the lair of some dark organization?
"Young Master Chen!"
A voice full of surprise came from deep in the laboratory.
Kakuzu raised his head and saw two figures walking out of the shadows. But the "tail" that combined metal and flesh behind them made Kakuzu's pupils shrink suddenly.
Is that... body modification?
"Xuanyuan Gari, Aying." Senju Chen smiled and nodded, "Looks like he's recovering well."
"Thanks to Mr. Amado and Lord Orochimaru." Xuanyuan Gari said with unconcealed excitement in his voice, "The new 'tail' is much better than the previous one! Not only is it more stable, but Chakra's conversion efficiency has increased by at least 30%!"
"And..." Aying took over, with a rare smile on his cold face, "I no longer have the feeling of exploding at any moment."
Senju Chen nodded with satisfaction.
It seems that these two people worked together and managed things beautifully.
"Okay, you can continue to adapt to the new equipment. Once you are done adapting, go back and replace the other brothers with updated equipment." Senju Chen waved his hand, "I still have something to talk to my teacher about."
"Yes!"
Xuanyuan Gari and Aying respectfully stepped aside, but the moment they turned around, their eyes fell on Kakuzu.
To be precise, it fell on the faintly visible black line under Kakuzu's tattered coat.
That look...
Kakuzu shuddered.
It was a look of "sympathizing with each other", with a hint of... pity?
Wait, why do you have mercy on me?
"Teacher, I'm back." Senju Chen's voice echoed in the empty laboratory.
"Haha...Little Chen."
A hoarse and magnetic voice came from behind the experimental table. Immediately afterwards, a slender figure slowly stood up, with a pair of golden vertical pupils glowing with a strange luster in the dim light.
Orochimaru.
His eyes swept over Senju Chen, and then fell on Kakuzu.
At that moment, Kakuzu felt like he was being stared at by something cold and sticky. He was like a prey targeted by a poisonous snake, and all the hairs on his body stood up.
"Is this the... old antique you are talking about who has lived for more than ninety years?" Orochimaru licked his lips, with a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Old antique?
Kakuzu's brows jumped.
It is true that he has lived for more than ninety years, but this is the first time someone has said this to his face.
"Yes, that's him." Senju Chen walked to the side and sat down on a chair, crossed his legs, and spoke in a relaxed tone as if he was introducing a newly purchased piece of furniture, "Kakuzu, the rebellious ninja of Takigakure, masters a secret technique called 'Earth Grudge Fear'."
At this moment, another voice came from deeper in the laboratory.
"Earth Grudge Fear? What is that?"
Amado pushed up his goggles and stood up from behind a pile of drawings and equipment. His eyes fell on Kakuzu. To be precise, they fell on the faintly visible black lines under Kakuzu's tattered coat.
"A secret technique that can extend lifespan by stealing the heart of others and gain the other party's Chakra attributes." Senju Chen simply explained, "He now has five heart locations in his body, and he can use five Chakra attributes at the same time."
"Five hearts?" Amado's eyes lit up instantly, "Forced fusion of biological tissues? Organ transplant? Or some kind of special Chakra structure?"
"Both." Senju Chen smiled, "You can study the details yourself."
The words just fell.
Two scorching gazes fell on Kakuzu at the same time.
That feeling...
Kakuzu felt like the prey being targeted by two hungry wolves.
No, more terrifying than a hungry wolf.
It was a pure desire for "experimental material".
"Interesting..." Orochimaru walked forward slowly and walked around Kakuzu, "Very interesting..."
"This suture method..." Amado also walked over, squatted down, and carefully observed the faint black lines on Kakuzu's abdomen, "It is not a simple surgical operation, but some kind of special Chakra structure."
"And..." He raised his head and looked at Orochimaru, "The material of these lines should be extremely tough and malleable, and can even exist independently of the host."
"That's right." Orochimaru nodded, his golden vertical pupils flashing with excitement, "If this structure can be combined with the Tailed Beast cell culture medium I studied before..."
"What effect will it have?" Amado took over, with the same crazy light shining in his eyes.
The two looked at each other.
There seemed to be something quietly fermenting in the air.
Kakuzu stood there, not daring to move.
Wait.
This script...
Why is it getting worse and worse?
"Well..." he said dryly, with a hint of trembling in his voice, "What... do you want to do?"
"What are you doing?" Orochimaru turned his head with a "kind" smile on his face, "Of course I'm studying you."
"Study... study me?"
"That's right." Senju Chen said leisurely from the side, with a hint of matter-of-factness in his tone, "Don't you only have one heart left? My teacher and Mr. Amado can help you add a few. By the way... study your Earth Grudge Fear."
By the way?
Kakuzu's heart skipped a beat.
Why does this "by the way" sound so wrong?
"Don't worry, I won't kill you." Orochimaru stepped forward, staring directly at Kakuzu with his golden vertical pupils, "I just want to see what the principle of your secret technique is. After all... it can make people live for more than ninety years and can replace their hearts at will. This is quite valuable research material."
"That's right." Amado also walked over and pushed up his goggles, "From a bioengineering point of view, your body structure has completely exceeded the scope of ordinary humans. Those black lines should be some kind of special Chakra condensate, right?"
Kakuzu began to sweat coldly on his forehead.
The look in these two guys' eyes...
This horse-riding guy...
Isn't this some sort of organ trafficking organization?
"Um..." Kakuzu swallowed, his voice trembling a little, "Can I refuse?"
"What do you think?" Senju Chen asked with a smile, with a hint of bad fun in his tone.
"..."