Chapter 386: Research Results
Two months quickly passed.
Naruto appearing as "Menma" at [Ember] organization's base prepared to inspect Orochimaru's promised "results," seeing what exactly Orochimaru could produce in limited time.
Incidentally, regarding Orochimaru's former subordinates' disposal, Uchiha Shisui had long ago already removed and controlled key figures under Orochimaru's command one by one.
Yakushi Kabuto—in the plan's early stage Shisui secretly captured him, keeping him under strict confinement all along.
While Kaguya Kimimaro, after being intercepted and captured by Shisui, Naruto spent considerable effort finally successfully curing the Kekkei Genkai disease plaguing him for years, saving his life.
As for the Sound Four, besides Kidomaru being killed by Kakuzu, the remaining four also long ago were caught in one net by Shisui in passing, together with Kabuto and Kimimaro becoming [Ember]'s long-term prisoners.
Orochimaru's strongest subordinate forces before Shisui were almost instantly resolved. No helping it—ability disparity proved truly too vast.
Currently, after Orochimaru was unsealed, regaining certain freedom, he first thing held conversations with these former subordinates.
Kimimaro's reaction proved relatively simple and pure. Being able to live, and again seeing Orochimaru-sama, even learning sama still "needed" him, made him feel supreme happiness and satisfaction.
Though regarding Orochimaru clearly expressing no longer needing his body, Kimimaro felt some disappointment inside.
But he quickly adjusted his mindset, dedicating his strength to Orochimaru... however currently in departed status, saying he wanted to bring over one friend.
While Yakushi Kabuto's circumstances proved far more complex and tortuous.
Orochimaru did one unexpected thing—he recovered Kabuto's deliberately buried past, returning that identity to him.
At this moment, before Menma stood one gentle-countenanced, somewhat nervous mature woman. She had a head of yellow long hair, body wearing simple nun's habit. However, her skin throughout bore minute porcelain-crack-like traces, proclaiming she wasn't truly flesh and blood.
Yakushi Nono. Konoha Orphanage's former director, simultaneously Root's senior spy—"Walking Shrine Maiden."
"So, before displaying 'results,' may I trouble you, Menma-kun?"
Orochimaru's voice sounded beside him. "Edo Tensei form for daily activities and research ultimately proves quite inconvenient. I think you perhaps have methods to make her... more 'complete.'"
Menma's gaze fell on Yakushi Nono, heart quite surprised.
"You're serving as... Orochimaru's assistant?"
Orochimaru surprisingly knew he had ability transforming "dead objects" or "non-living bodies" into genuine life forms?
"Don't misunderstand, Menma-kun."
Orochimaru saw through his doubt, proactively explaining.
"Through that technique, I only 'saw' this world's before-and-after dual truths, didn't peek at your private memories."
"I deduced based on... Kushina's circumstances."
"...If back then your life-saving methods weren't so numerous." Menma's tone ice-cold slowly spoke. "I probably would unhesitatingly kill you on the spot."
"Mm, I understand." Orochimaru calmly accepted. "Therefore, I'm very grateful for the 'opportunity' you granted. Believe me, you won't regret this decision."
Menma redirected attention toward Yakushi Nono. She deeply inhaled, answering Menma's earlier question.
"Yes, Menma-sama. I currently temporarily serve as Orochimaru-sama's assistant, helping handle some affairs."
"However, Orochimaru-sama said this is merely transitional work... my current primary task is striving to compensate that child, seeking his forgiveness..."
Her mentioned "that child" naturally referred to Yakushi Kabuto.
For Kabuto, this sudden upheaval proved no different from a devastating spiritual earthquake. The person once most important in his life, viewed as lighthouse and refuge, surprisingly died then revived.
Moreover thoroughly understanding the conspiracy causing their tragedy back then—Danzo's schemes. Her assassination target was actually himself, while the person ultimately killing her was also himself.
When Yakushi Nono in prison reunited with Kabuto, sorrowfully recounting everything, repenting for failing to recognize him after growing up, even nearly personally killing him...
Kabuto's long-supported worldview and self-cognition completely collapsed.
These years imprisoned, though Kabuto lost freedom, he never gave up. He habitually observed, analyzed, attempting to find escape methods.
However, conversations with the revived director directly pushed him into spiritual collapse's abyss.
Nono thought what Kabuto couldn't forgive was "herself failing to recognize him" plus "once wanting to kill him" these two matters. Therefore daily she merely silently within her permitted scope cared for him, accompanied him, using actions to pray for forgiveness.
But she perhaps didn't fully understand Kabuto's innermost deepest wound.
As a war orphan who lost all memory, "identity" and "self-cognition" were Kabuto's lifelong two major pillars.
Back then, compared to "most beloved director wanting to kill himself" this cruel fact, what made him more unable to accept, even despair, was—the director didn't recognize him. This meant his "identity" established during orphanage life, his existence proof as "Kabuto" being remembered and cared for by the director, completely vanished into smoke.
Precisely this "identity's" complete obliteration pushed him into void and darkness, ultimately accepting "Orochimaru's subordinate" this new, utilization-colored identity.
But now? This old identity he'd long considered "didn't exist," even personally "abandoned," together with the person carrying this identity, suddenly intact returned before him?
While granting him new identity, making him serve and find new existence meaning—Orochimaru—currently clearly expressed no longer needing him conducting those dark intelligence work...
Then, everything he'd done these years, behaviors making himself unrecognizable—exactly for what?
Where lay his value? More importantly, he couldn't understand—clearly he personally killed the director, why was she currently adopting a posture owing him, seeking forgiveness?
This intense dislocation and guilt made him feel fundamentally unworthy of possessing again "Yakushi Kabuto" this identity, also unworthy of accepting the director's repentance.
Various contradictions, pain, self-denial and confused emotions interweaving together ultimately crushed Yakushi Kabuto's spirit.
Years of imprisonment didn't break him down the slightest. But now he fell into deep autism and despondency, nearly numb toward the outside world, presenting a thoroughly "giving up" status.
---
After successfully transforming Yakushi Nono's Edo Tensei form into genuine, life-vitality-filled flesh and blood, Menma followed Orochimaru to his temporarily allocated experimental laboratory within the base.
The laboratory interior presented an orderly scene. The central cultivation platform displayed Orochimaru's two-month research results.
"Before conducting main projects, I must report to you."
Orochimaru pointed toward several sealed petri dishes beside—tissue pulsing slightly in nutrient solution. "I utilized part of the tissue repository's 'Hashirama Cells' samples—undoubtedly from Shimura Danzo's legacy inheritance."
"Cell activity and rejection reactions proved more troublesome than anticipated, but through repeated adjustments and suppression, ultimately still successfully stabilized them, investing as key materials into application."
His core achievement wasn't any world-shocking forbidden technique or monster, but a gene-editing plant with wildly imaginative concept.
"Through highly diluted, multiple safety-lock processed Hashirama Cell gene fragments, directionally chimeric editing with selected target plants."
Orochimaru explained, looking at the central cultivation platform's several apparently quite ordinary green plants. What they bore weren't common vegetables and fruits, but clusters of densely arranged, finely small, light-yellow seeds—like some special grain.
"Experimental subjects themselves are herbaceous plants. Using them for gene-level operations... can't count as creating new 'sins,' right?"
"Diluted countless times—finally successfully cultivated stable offspring samples. From seed germination to maturity, the plants' form basically remains stable, genetic traits can inherit."
"I haven't had time naming it... honestly, submitting this achievement, I'm somewhat apprehensive. After all, two months' time for such a project proved still too rushed."
Orochimaru thoroughly detailed this new crop's characteristics.
Appearance and composition—seeds small like millet, main component high-density starch. Nutritional value and calorie supply capacity through calculation proved equivalent to potatoes, usable as quality staple food source.
Core breakthrough growth cycle and adaptability. Orochimaru's research focus didn't place on enhancing nutrition, but devoted all his painstaking efforts and research to shortening growth cycle and strengthening environmental adaptability.
This crop from sowing to mature harvest required merely one short week. Its root system developed extensively, able to penetrate deep underground several meters. No need for artificial irrigation—merely relying on absorbing soil deep-layer moisture and minerals could sustain growth.
More critically, it inherited Senju Hashirama Cells' magnificent vitality and adaptability gene fragments, able to tenaciously survive and complete growth cycle in barren, drought, salinized and other most harsh environments.
"Currently, I already convinced the organization's... mm, that finance manager extremely sensitive to money."
Orochimaru spoke finally.
"He funded trial planting on several lands under our control. Soon—you'll personally witness first batch harvest's physical objects. At that time, you'll understand—what I stated today absolutely isn't empty boasting."
Orochimaru's serpent pupils sparked no longer with past greed or calculation, but with anticipation belonging to a desire for verification and proof.
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