Chapter 237: Attempt
"Ah? Yes... it is..."
Kato Dan was stunned by the sudden question, then nodded somewhat awkwardly in admission.
Facing the legendary Second Hokage, and "meeting" in such a manner to discuss such private topics, felt exceptionally strange.
However, the other party was Tsunade's grand-uncle, so it was normal for him to care about her.
"Alright, Second Hokage, it's time to get down to business."
A figure standing to the side, shrouded in a large lab coat, spoke up.
Orochimaru pointed to the surgical bed next to Kato Dan.
A body lay quietly on the bed, covered by a thin sterile cloth, with only the head and part of the neck exposed.
It was the face of a young man, eyes closed, expression peaceful, with a healthy and ruddy complexion—completely different from the clay-like texture of Kato Dan's current Edo Tensei form, filled with vibrant vitality.
Moreover... that face was clearly Kato Dan's!
"Dan."
Orochimaru turned to Kato Dan, those snake-like pupils watching him with great interest.
"That is the body Second Hokage and I prepared for you. It's a brand-new clone grown from your cell samples, perfectly in sync with your Soul Origin."
Her tone carried the professionalism and certainty of a scientist, "You are currently in the Edo Tensei state. Try using your 'Spirit Transformation Jutsu' to see if you can fit perfectly and make this body the new, permanent home for your Soul."
Kato Dan was taken aback.
Creating a brand-new physical body through cloning technology, and then having the Soul actively "occupy" it through the Spirit Transformation Jutsu to achieve resurrection.
What an amazing idea.
But what shocked him even more was the voice itself.
Kato Dan tried to concentrate, his gaze piercing through the limitations of his Edo Tensei body to more carefully "observe" the figure shrouded in the white robe.
The oversized robe indeed covered most features, but from certain angles, it still outlined some vague curves—contours quite different from the cold, thin male Orochimaru in his memory.
He thought for a moment, and combined with that unique voice and way of speaking, an unbelievable guess surfaced in his mind.
He asked tentatively:
"Are you Orochimaru?"
Although the current Orochimaru was wearing a large white robe that covered most of her body, the fact that such "substantial" blurry outlines were still visible under such concealment... said a lot in itself.
"How did you..." Kato Dan's voice was full of confusion, "become a woman?"
The question was direct and abrupt, but in this situation, it seemed exceptionally reasonable.
"Because..."
Orochimaru appreciated Dan's expression with interest.
"This is just a temporary home I chose on the long road to seeking immortality."
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of matter-of-factness.
"Don't worry, this shell, like the one on the bed, is a soulless, blank container that I meticulously cultivated.
As for why it's female?
Simply because this body developed a bit faster."
She seemed to recall something and added, her tone carrying a bit of teasing for an old acquaintance: "You guy, your expression is exactly the same as Jiraiya's when he first heard the news."
Kato Dan: "..."
There was too much information; he felt his "Soul" needed some time to digest it.
He was resurrected via Edo Tensei, met the Second Hokage, was provided a cloned body for a formal resurrection, and learned that his former colleague Orochimaru had not only changed gender but also seemed to be researching how to truly "resurrect" people with the Second Hokage... How did the world become like this?
"Hurry up."
Seeing Kato Dan still staring blankly at Orochimaru's new image and his own clone, looking dazed as if his worldview were being reconstructed, Second Hokage Senju Tobirama frowned, his tone clearly impatient.
Time was precious, experimental data needed verification, and more importantly—
He took a step forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Kato Dan's eyes, urging him, even bringing out his trump card:
"Try it quickly! My baby Tsunade is still waiting for you!"
"Do you want her to see you in this cold, living-dead state, or do you want her to see a living, flesh-and-blood version of you?"
These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly clearing the chaotic thoughts in Kato Dan's mind.
Tsunade... that woman with a bright smile, heavy fists, and terrible luck at gambling, yet the one who haunted his dreams.
She was still waiting for him.
No matter how much time had passed or what had happened, this realization instantly outweighed all the shock and confusion about the current situation.
Yeah, what was he now?
A Puppet pulled back from the Pure Land by a Forbidden Jutsu?
To go see Tsunade in this state?
He couldn't imagine what her expression would be when she saw him—surprise? Sadness?
Or... fear and alienation toward this non-human shell?
No, he didn't want that.
He wanted to go back, as a complete human being, to her side.
"Oh, right."
Kato Dan snapped back to his senses, his gaze instantly becoming firm.
He stopped all irrelevant thoughts; it was only when he took a deep breath that he realized he didn't need to breathe at all.
But that didn't matter.
Kato Dan raised his hands and began to skillfully form hand seals.
"Spirit Transformation Jutsu!"
With a low shout, a translucent, shimmering phantom of "Kato Dan" slowly peeled away from his Edo Tensei shell.
The phantom's outline was clear and its expression focused; it was the appearance of his Soul's Main Body.
The Edo Tensei body seemed to lose its support, its eyes instantly dimming and its movements ceasing.
Kato Dan in his Soul state floated in the air, briefly adapting to this light, incorporeal feeling, and then without hesitation turned toward the cloned body with his face lying quietly on the surgical bed.
The spiritual body slowly descended, like a water droplet merging into a sponge, silently yet perfectly seeping into the brow of that fresh body.
For a moment, a brief and absolute silence fell over the operating room.
Senju Tobirama and Orochimaru both stared intently at the clone.
A few seconds later.
The eyelashes of the previously motionless body on the bed first twitched almost imperceptibly.
The fingers curled slightly.
Finally, those eyes slowly opened.
They were no longer the lifeless eyes of an Edo Tensei summon, but the eyes of a living person.
The gaze was initially a bit vacant, but it quickly focused, regaining clarity and reason.
Kato Dan tentatively used his arms to support himself and sat up.
His movements were a bit stiff at first, as if he were adapting to a brand-new set of "equipment," but they soon became smooth and natural.
He looked down at his hands; the skin was warm and the textures clear, and he could feel the faint pulse of blood flowing beneath the skin.
He clenched his fists again; the sense of power reflected by the muscles was real and definite.
He looked up at the Second Hokage and Orochimaru, a bright smile mixing wonder, joy, and relief spreading across his face.
"I feel great; the strength of this body is even higher than when I was alive."
His voice came through this new throat, clear and full of life.
"Excellent. After entering this body, the Spirit Transformation Jutsu automatically deactivated, and my Soul's consciousness naturally took over all control."
He moved his neck and shoulders, saying with joy:
"It seems my Soul... has accepted this as my 'own' body by default.
The degree of compatibility is absolutely perfect!"
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