Yuka felt sore and weak all over, looking at Fox with resentment: "Why do I feel like you suddenly got stronger! Why are you so strong!"
Yōkō said: "Yuka, you need to train properly. I still miss the you who could match me blow for blow back in the day!"
Yuka burrowed into Yōkō's embrace, letting out a series of whimpers.
She really did train very hard, but Fox's strength increased too quickly.
Yōkō reached down to check, and Yuka trembled, trying to avoid him.
Yōkō thought to himself that Yuka was truly overwhelmed tonight. He said:
"Let's talk business, Yuka. You need to go to the Land of Grass.
A Shimura clan member named Lynx stole my chance for promotion to T&I Deputy Commander.
Whether for personal grudges or clan hatred, Lynx must die.
Help me find him, then wait for me to find an opportunity to kill him."
Uzumaki Yuka nodded repeatedly, saying: "Okay!"
Then her face flushed red, and she formed hand seals to use a simple medical ninjutsu.
Yōkō asked, puzzled: "Huh? What are you doing?"
"Reducing the swelling!"
Yōkō felt a surge of joy inwardly. Shinobi are so great, really convenient.
The second time, Yōkō was merciful and didn't use Localized Copper Light, achieving an exchange ratio of 1 to 2.
Late at night, Yōkō returned to the izakaya, satisfied.
The izakaya had just closed. Kyōi was waiting for him.
"I thought you were on a mission and wouldn't come back today." Kyōi leaned on Yōkō's shoulder, whispering shyly:
"The baby is over four months now... I think it's okay..."
Yōkō's body shuddered.
Thankfully, I obtained the Pure Grade Senju of the Forest Bloodline today, otherwise I'd have to rely on the Akimichi clan's blue secret medicine again.
After the intimate and lingering session, Yōkō sat by the bedside and found he felt no fatigue, still having energy to spare.
Not bad, not bad. So this is the Pure Grade Senju of the Forest Bloodline? Beastly, truly different from ordinary people.
The next day, Yōkō went to T&I.
Yellow Dog and Lynx had made arrangements for the rogue ninja investigation missions.
After Lynx became Deputy Commander, the Lynx Squad got a new squad leader, another Shimura clan shinobi, codename Wildcat.
Based on Yōkō's previous impressions, Wildcat's strength was relatively weak, the weakest among the four squad leaders.
Making Wildcat a squad leader was somewhat like forcing a plant to grow.
Lynx said he would lead the Wildcat Squad into the Land of Grass and, as Deputy Commander, personally complete the mission to investigate Sarutobi Kanenosuke.
Yellow Dog then asked for Fox's opinion.
Yōkō said: "I will go see the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Kane, to see what kind of team the Uchiha clan will send into the Land of Rain.
Uchiha Madara puts a lot of pressure on me; I must prepare properly.
Give me at least five more days. In five days, I should be ready."
Lynx, however, said: "That's too slow. Three days at most. The Wildcat Squad and I will depart in three days."
"Then I wish Lord Lynx immediate success."
Yōkō's physique had improved tremendously, and he still needed to obtain Wood Release. He felt pressed for time; how could he leave so early?
Yellow Dog glanced at Lynx, thinking, Why are you targeting Fox now? Fox has his own plans. He said:
"Uchiha Madara is more dangerous than the suspected Sarutobi Kanenosuke. Fox, prepare well. Five days it is."
Yōkō left T&I, entered the Uchiha compound, and used Body Flicker to land in Uchiha Kane's courtyard.
Uchiha Kane suddenly felt he was somewhat slow; he hadn't immediately caught Squad Leader Fox's figure.
Yōkō discussed with Uchiha Kane and roughly learned about his arrangements.
Uchiha Kane would personally lead the team, consisting of Uchiha Tōka and two other jōnin, plus Uchiha Mahiru and eight other Special Jōnin with Three Tomoe, forming an elite platoon.
Yōkō was very satisfied with the Uchiha clan's commitment.
He looked towards Uchiha Fugaku to the side and said: "Isn't the Young Clan Head going to broaden his horizons?"
Uchiha Kane smiled wryly and said:
"For a strong shinobi like you, Squad Leader Fox, this mission isn't necessarily fatal. But we have witnessed or heard of Uchiha Madara's great feats.
Fugaku cannot go. Uchiha Madara is too dangerous."
Yōkō nodded and said: "I will notify the reconnaissance squad. In five days, we will assemble at the village's main gate."
After leaving the Uchiha compound, Yōkō handled all miscellaneous matters and entered the Root laboratory.
The Shadow Clone had been monitoring the lab using the Ephemeral Technique. Orochimaru hadn't brought any strange items or poisoned anything.
Orochimaru had cleared the lab early, specifically waiting for Fox's arrival.
Apart from several Orochimarus, there was no one else in the lab.
The reason for several Orochimarus was that he had used Shadow Clones to perform certain operations.
For critical operations, Orochimaru trusted Shadow Clones more than assistants.
Orochimaru's main body said: "Fox, everything is ready. Just lie down on this operating table."
As Yōkō walked towards the operating table, he removed his mask and took off his iron vest. He said:
"I thought you, who values Wood Release research so much, would invite Danzo and others to observe."
"Of course I wouldn't invite Danzo," Orochimaru said. "Only I will know the transplant experimental data. Otherwise, why would Danzo let me see the Scroll of Seals?"
Yōkō even took off his face covering, wearing only shorts, and lay down on the cold operating table.
Orochimaru said: "Let me explain the transplant procedure.
Based on my previous experimental summaries, the transplant is divided into three rounds.
First round: Intravenous injection of diluted Hashirama Cell culture fluid.
Second round: Intramuscular injection of high-concentration Hashirama Cell culture fluid.
Third round: Spinal Puncture Injection of original Hashirama Cells.
The process might be a little painful. For someone like you, Fox, you probably won't make a sound, right?"
Yōkō thought to himself that with this multi-round transplant, if he discovered any of Orochimaru's hidden tricks, he could interrupt and stop it at any time.
With his physique, even if he got injured, he could heal himself.
He wondered if Orochimaru, for the sake of the Scroll of Seals, would properly complete this experiment.
Yōkō said: "For such an extreme experiment, if I can still make a sound, it means the experiment is proceeding relatively smoothly."
Orochimaru's biological experiments were full of the style of Ryūchi Cave.
The inheritance of Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode involved the Great White Snake Sage biting you, injecting sage chakra through its fangs. If you withstand it, you become a Ryūchi Cave Sage; if you don't, you become Ryūchi Cave food rich in sage chakra.
Orochimaru's experiments were the same: inject directly, and if you die, too bad.
His optimization was constantly adjusting the injection sequence and dosage to achieve a transplant plan with the highest success rate.
Four Orochimaru Shadow Clones stepped forward, found veins in Yōkō's limbs, and began the injections.
The IV bags contained a milky white liquid – the diluted Hashirama Cell culture fluid.
As soon as the Hashirama Cells entered his body, Yōkō immediately smelled a fishy, earthy odor of roots.
His nostrils flared instantly.
Orochimaru came to Yōkō's side and began recording the transplant experimental data:
"The body is stimulated by the Hashirama Cells, beginning to undergo lignification.
Hair, including head hair, nose hair, body hair, etc., resembles the fine rootlets of tree roots.
The fine rootlets immediately revert to their normal hair appearance. The effect of lignification is almost negligible. Overall performance is excellent.
First round implantation has never shown such perfect performance before!"
***
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