As they climbed the spiral staircase step by step, besides the echoes of their footsteps, they occasionally heard a faint scream or two. Presumably, Orochimaru was far from the only person conducting human experimentation in this research base. Over the years, he must have found quite a few "like-minded" research partners.
"Naoki-kun, Tsunade and Shizune are conducting the final experiment on the sixth floor. You can lend them a hand." Orochimaru walked leisurely behind them, offering a reminder.
Orochimaru's words undoubtedly confirmed Naoki Senju's guess. They had indeed made a crucial breakthrough in cell division, but how could he help? His most unique asset was his Wood Release chakra, but what did Wood Release have to do with cell division?
Naoki Senju had plenty of questions, but fortunately, they could all be answered once he saw Tsunade. Without realizing it, he quickened his pace, even tightening his grip on Guren's hand.
Only after Orochimaru's introduction did Naoki Senju learn the general layout of the research base: the first floor was a prison for holding "test subjects," the second through fourth floors housed various material storage rooms, the fifth contained several small laboratories, and the sixth was one entire large-scale biological laboratory!
After they changed into isolation suits remarkably close to modern ones in the disinfection room, Orochimaru took out a scroll and released the seal on the door.
"Please come in, Naoki-kun." Orochimaru stepped aside to invite him in, his courtesy almost abnormal.
Naoki Senju paid it no mind. Orochimaru was the sort to stab you with a smile, so there was no need to dwell on his attitude. Walking into the laboratory with some excitement, Naoki Senju immediately spotted Tsunade and Shizune busy at a lab bench.
"Sister Tsunade! Sister Shizune!"
Hearing him, Tsunade and Shizune immediately looked up and saw Naoki Senju striding toward them.
"Naoki!"
Although they had only spent one night apart, Tsunade had desperately wanted to abandon the experiment's current progress and return to see Naoki Senju, regardless of everything else.
At that moment, Tsunade could no longer suppress the longing in her heart and ran toward Naoki Senju. Even the bulky isolation suit could not conceal her lovely figure as she ran. Had the suit been of slightly poorer quality, it might have split.
Tsunade threw herself into Naoki's arms, and Naoki Senju hugged her tightly. The soft sensation against his chest was astonishing, making him even more reluctant to let go.
Although Naoki Senju and Tsunade each had their own thoughts, to Guren and Orochimaru, this scene was a display of "deep affection between siblings." Although Orochimaru detected a hint of something different, he could not be certain.
After a while, Tsunade reluctantly pushed Naoki Senju away, still wanting more. She had caught a pleasant scent on him, the fresh scent of someone who had just bathed.
Naoki Senju also knew this was no time for intimacy, so he changed the subject and asked:
"Sister Tsunade, what important matter did you need me for?"
"Oh, right!"
Taking Naoki by the hand, Tsunade walked to the lab bench and selected a few Petri dishes from a pile. They were numbered 14, 31, and 47.
"Remember the lobsters you mentioned last time? Orochimaru and I accelerated their cell division, only to discover that there was no upper limit at all! Naoki, do you know what that means?"
Naturally, Naoki Senju did not give the answer. Instead, like a competent straight man, he played along:
"What?"
Very pleased with Naoki's reaction, Tsunade answered:
"An organism's ultimate lifespan is limited by the number of times its cells can divide. Once its cells stop dividing, the organism will inevitably face death. Of course, most organisms never reach their theoretical lifespan, but even so, a lobster's theoretical lifespan is nearly infinite!"
Orochimaru's cold, serpentine eyes swept over Guren. Seeing her standing with her head lowered, using chakra to block her hearing, he nodded in satisfaction.
Tsunade was so excited that her face was slightly flushed. After taking a deep breath, she pushed the three Petri dishes in front of Naoki Senju and explained:
"These three Petri dishes contain lobster cells, the First's cells, and Katsuyu's cells, respectively."
When she mentioned the Hashirama cells, Tsunade shot Orochimaru a sharp glare. Orochimaru, usually so arrogant, actually averted his gaze for once.
Naoki Senju took the three Petri dishes. Even without reading their labels, he could accurately identify Hashirama Senju's cells, because the cells in that dish actually shared a strange connection with him!
"Naoki-kun, inject your Wood Release chakra into these three Petri dishes. Don't be surprised, no matter what happens."
Somewhat excited, Orochimaru walked over to Naoki Senju. He instinctively wanted to extend his long, scarlet tongue, but abandoned the idea after Tsunade glared at him.
Naturally, Naoki Senju had no reason to refuse. Whether for himself or for Tsunade, he had to overcome this hurdle.
With a thought, he injected Wood Release chakra containing a unique vitality into the three Petri dishes. As the amount of chakra increased, changes gradually appeared in all three.
Petri dish number 14, containing the lobster cells, changed first. The originally colorless cells gradually joined together, then actually sprouted tender red buds of flesh resembling a pile of minced meat. But before even a second had passed, they were severely eroded by the Wood Release chakra and showed signs of turning woody.
Petri dish number 31, containing the Hashirama cells, began dividing furiously after receiving a large amount of Wood Release chakra. Orochimaru seemed to have anticipated this result and showed no surprise whatsoever.
As the number of Hashirama cells increased, surging vitality spilled out. Orochimaru fetched a grass seed, which completed a plant's life cycle almost instantly, sprouting and growing before even surpassing the growth limit of grass and continuing to shoot upward.
With practiced ease, Orochimaru stepped back, moving a certain distance away from the Hashirama cells. Deprived of vitality, the overgrown grass withered instantly, then crumbled into a handful of dry, yellow clippings.
"Although Hashirama cells cannot divide indefinitely, with enough nutrients, one original portion of Hashirama cells can divide into three hundred portions. Any further divisions produce ordinary cells. However, Wood Release chakra seems capable of breaking through this limit..."
Orochimaru looked at Naoki Senju with intense eagerness. If he could secure Naoki-kun's help, his research into Hashirama cells and Wood Release would absolutely advance by leaps and bounds!
Crack~
The crisp sound of cracking knuckles carried an undisguised threat. Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade's delicate fist with considerable apprehension. Once, to help Jiraiya play the hero rescuing a damsel in distress, he had played a bandit robbing Tsunade...
The outcome went without saying. He had spent three full months laid up in Konoha Hospital, during which Jiraiya, that shameless bastard, had even come to mock him.
Recalling those humiliating events, Orochimaru gave an awkward chuckle and very "obediently" withdrew his gaze. Princess Tsunade of Superhuman Strength-he could not afford to cross her, absolutely not.