Chapter 279: Only One Minute?
"Hm?"
As Orochimaru explained how it worked, Shiromo suddenly thought of something, "Orochimaru, this thing isn't made exclusively for Hanabi, right? Other people could use it too?"
"In theory, yes. But at the moment, aside from the freshly extracted Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki cells, the only other usable culture sample we have is that of the First Hokage."
Orochimaru directly ignored Hanabi's portion.
After all, Hanabi's sample was purely meant to neutralize and guide the power of the Ōtsutsuki clan. By itself, it had no practical application.
"If anyone can use it, then isn't this basically the same as those scientific ninja tools Shiromo mentioned from the future?"
Senju Tobirama frowned.
He recalled Shiromo saying that, twenty years later, many scientific ninja tools would appear.
Among them, the most distinctive and revolutionary was a device capable of temporarily storing ninjutsu. When needed, a specially designed launcher could activate a scroll containing the sealed technique.
With such tools, even a genin could "use" techniques they were incapable of mastering themselves, even secret arts from other clans.
According to Shiromo, that Uzumaki Boruto once used such a device to cheat during a Chūnin Exam where the use of the equipment had been strictly forbidden.
In Tobirama's view, scientific ninja tools were useful, but they must never be abused.
The current ninja world was still manageable. At least, under Shiromo's influence, the Five Great Nations and numerous smaller countries had undergone reforms.
But in the original world, if such tools were misused, then even without the Ōtsutsuki, the ninja world would have fallen into ruin.
If scientific ninja tools were abused, powerful ninja would eventually become nothing more than "weapons manufacturers."
In the past, the daimyō had been able to suppress ninja villages despite lacking personal strength. With scientific ninja tools, they would only need to spend the wealth they squeezed from their citizens to purchase large quantities of tools and ninjutsu scrolls.
Moreover, with the existence of ninjutsu scrolls, the vast majority of ninja would lose their drive to improve. They would abandon progress and stop developing new techniques.
After all, from their perspective, rather than wasting time developing something like Great Fire Annihilation, it would be better to store more Great Fireball Technique scrolls and release them all at once when needed.
"Second Hokage, I know what you're worried about. But there's no need to concern yourself. This is only theoretically usable."
"Even though I've added Shin's cells for regulation, the power of the First Hokage's cells is not something an ordinary person can withstand."
"Perhaps if we added Uchiha clan power into another culture capsule, it might be possible to suppress it."
"But the problem is that the Uchiha clan's power is concentrated in their eyes, not in their cells. That makes things difficult. Simply inserting an unmodified eyeball wouldn't work."
"And as for the Sharingan, research hasn't even begun yet. That field is completely blank."
Orochimaru spoke frankly, openly admitting what he could not yet accomplish and what he did not know.
In his view, since his future self had been capable of modifying genes and allowing his descendants to become perfect vessels for Sage Mode, then if he thoroughly researched the Sharingan, perhaps the seemingly random lottery-like nature of the Mangekyō Sharingan could be turned into a fixed, selectable outcome.
"Mm…"
"Emmm…"
Hanabi listened as the adults discussed a pile of things she didn't understand. The excitement and anticipation on her face gradually gave way to drowsiness.
"Alright. Let's begin," Orochimaru suddenly said.
"Huh? Begin? We can start already?"
Hanabi held the activation device to her chest, "Wait. Shouldn't we go to the training grounds outside the village? What if this power goes out of control?"
"There's no possibility of losing control. This is a White Kāma. It contains only power, not the soul or will of the Ōtsutsuki."
"To generate massive energy from such a small amount of power would require borrowing the principles of Baryon Mode."
Orochimaru shook his head.
Even if this were a Black Kāma, unless Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki burned his own life to grant Hanabi Baryon Mode, there would be no way to trigger any large-scale outburst.
The power contained within the culture capsule was limited and entirely within controllable parameters. The base amount was simply too small.
"And your case is different from others. Even if others could withstand it, they would merely be borrowing the power itself."
"For example, if someone borrowed the First Hokage's power, they would only be able to use Wood Release."
"But although you are borrowing Ōtsutsuki power, you are meant to fuse it with your own to create an entirely new power."
"That means as long as you can control yourself, you can stop at any time."
"…Alright, alright, stop talking. My head's getting big."
Hanabi pulled a miserable face. If she had known that asking one question would result in such a long explanation, she wouldn't have asked at all.
"Begin. Once you insert them, use chakra to create resonance."
"Okay."
Hanabi raised the activation device again.
Hm?
Suddenly, the motion felt strangely familiar. Her eyes lit up.
As everyone knew, the Land of Snow's film studio was mass-producing scripts written by Shiromo.
For example, the story of Black Zetsu splitting the moon to save her mother, inspired by The Lotus Lantern.
Or the tale based on Kakarot and Kal-El, where the alien Kaguya saves the ninja world and "righteously destroys her kin."
And then there was another.
Inspired by Belial and Geed: "Although my relatives are cruel and merciless, although my power comes from the evil Ōtsutsuki clan and the Divine Tree Ten-Tails, though it is darkness itself, I will turn this power into gentle arms to protect light and peace." The story of Kaguya.
For a child, this kind of transformation was truly dazzling.
"Ahem."
Hanabi inserted the two capsules into the device and struck an opening pose.
"U Go (Fusion)!"
"I Go!"
"Here We Go!"
Don't ask why there was English in the ninja world. Japanese was already full of loanwords to begin with. It had even produced the famous line "Nice Naruto" earning Sakura the nickname "Nice-type player."
Hanabi shouted her slogans with great enthusiasm, her movements bold and exaggerated.
But after shouting, she stood there without moving, her expression gradually turning awkward.
"Th-this transformation device doesn't have a button?"
Holding it up, she looked at Orochimaru sheepishly.
"What button? Didn't I say to use chakra resonance?"
Orochimaru asked in confusion.
"Ah? Is that how it works?"
Hanabi felt so embarrassed her toes could dig out an entire apartment. She hurriedly poured chakra into the device.
A massive surge of chakra suddenly erupted from her body, forming something similar to a Tailed Beast cloak, except its color was a bluish green.
"Wow, that's so cool… huh? Why does something feel off?"
Hanabi glanced at herself in a mirror, shouting excitedly at first, then stiffening. She turned toward Orochimaru, "Don't tell me this form only lasts three minutes?"
"No."
Orochimaru shook his head. "With your current chakra reserves, it will only last one minute."
"…Can't you just increase the dosage?"
"I can. However, it would affect bodily growth and morphological development, as well as the maturation of organ system functions…"
"What does that mean?"
Hanabi asked blankly.
"Simply put, it would affect your development." Shiromo translated helpfully.
"Then forget it. This is fine."
Startled, Hanabi hurriedly waved her hands in refusal.
(End of this chapter)