Chapter 72: Orochimaru’s Experiment
Danzo had thought that Orochimaru came to hold him accountable, and he had even prepared arguments to deal with Orochimaru.
Everything was for Konoha, and Danzo had no choice but to do it.
Unexpectedly, Orochimaru did not mention Nawaki’s death, and there was even an unexpected surprise.
Nawaki’s death stimulated Orochimaru, and Orochimaru became interested in life research.
Danzo’s voice was hoarse, unable to hide his excitement:
“Orochimaru, you are my most promising junior.
You have enough talent, enough temperament, enough effort, however, your civilian physique without a bloodline limit restricts your potential.
In the face of bloodline limits, effort is worthless.
I trained Wind Release for forty years, and then what? In front of true bloodline limit powerhouses, I was no match.
You trained Earth Release and Summoning Jutsu, and then what?
You haven’t seen Lord Hashirama and Uchiha Madara’s prowess on the battlefield; that is what a strong individual should look like.
Like you, I am also troubled by physique limitations.
Giving up is not our ninja way; physique problems are not insurmountable.
Teacher Tobirama had some ideas that have not yet been put into practice, but I believe they have great potential.
As long as you are willing to conduct ninja life physique research for the village, I am willing to provide all support.
Teacher Tobirama’s research notes on transplants, physique, and bloodline limits, I will give to you tonight.
During the war, all prisoners from enemy villages will be your test subjects.
After the war ends, you can also recruit volunteers from Anbu; Anbu ninjas undergo long-term training, and their resolve is very high.
Even, after the experiment achieves phased results, I am willing to become your test subject.
I have some materials for transplants, but I lack mature transplant technology.”
Orochimaru thought to himself that what Danzo wanted to transplant must be the top materials in the ninja world. He said, “I hope to start research tonight.”
A rare smile appeared on Danzo’s face:
“Tonight, I will prepare experimental instruments for you and send all the camp’s prisoners to your tent.
Oonoki killed Senju young clan head Nawaki, and Konoha will surely launch retaliation.
I will order Anbu to capture Stone Ninjas alive and send all live bodies to you.
During the war, your test subjects will be endless; do not skimp on test subjects, research progress is more important.
However, I hope to specify the initial research direction.”
“Oh? What direction?”
Orochimaru became interested, wondering exactly what Danzo wanted to transplant.
Danzo said, “I hope you first conduct eye transplants.”
Orochimaru understood in his heart.
Danzo’s teammate Uchiha Kagami had no remains left after death.
It seemed Uchiha Kagami’s Sharingan was in Danzo’s hands.
Whether it was entrusted at death or seized and the corpse destroyed, that was unknown.
“Orochimaru, from today onward, you are the person in charge of the Root Laboratory, code name, Armor.”
Orochimaru asked, “Why not Konoha Anbu, but Root?”
Danzo said:
“Hiruzen is unwilling to bear infamy, even the infamy from Anbu secretly completing missions.
From now on, all the village’s infamy will be borne by me and Root.
To protect Hiruzen’s honor, we changed Root’s duties; not only to train new recruits for Anbu, but also to secretly complete tasks that even Anbu cannot conveniently handle.
Rest assured, Hiruzen will soon know and agree to you joining Root.”
Orochimaru turned and left the tent.
Seeing that Fox Squad was guarding outside the tent, Danzo shouted, “Fox, come in!”
Yoru received a mission to send all the prisoners inside the camp to Orochimaru’s tent.
At the same time, Danzo informed him that Orochimaru was now a Root member, the person in charge of the Root Laboratory, with captain-level authority.
After arriving at the enclosure holding the prisoners, Yoru had the three team members tie up the five Stone Ninja prisoners with rope and take them away.
These prisoners had been drugged during interrogation and could not extract chakra or resist.
One prisoner asked in terror, “Where are you taking us? Is our village exchanging prisoners?”
Yoru thought for a moment and said, “If I am not mistaken, the era of prisoner exchanges is over. From today, Konoha will no longer exchange prisoners with any village.”
“Wh… why? Why is Konoha so cruel?”
Yoru shook his head, thinking to himself, who told you not to commit suicide.
When arriving outside Orochimaru’s tent with the prisoners, Yoru saw a young boy already waiting at the entrance.
The tent curtain opened, and Orochimaru walked out, first looking at the prisoners.
Through the curtain gap, Yoru saw two large tables inside, with crude scalpels, scissors, tweezers, awls, and such placed on them.
That young boy shouted excitedly:
“Teacher Orochimaru! Please accept my condolences!
Nawaki unfortunately sacrificed himself; I will train even harder and make up for Nawaki’s share of regret twofold!
Please formally take me as your disciple! I absolutely will not disappoint your expectations!”
Orochimaru seemed dissatisfied with the look of the prisoners; he withdrew his gaze and looked at the young boy.
“Did you come to find me? Does your clan head Danzo know?”
“No, I haven’t seen the clan head; Patriarch might still be in the village.”
This Shimura Clan young boy didn’t even know if Danzo had come to the front line.
He had taken a spot in Nawaki’s squad; now seeing Nawaki dead, he thought his opportunity had come.
Orochimaru let out a strange laugh and said, “Good, then you go in first.”
Orochimaru turned to Yoru:
“Send the prisoners into the tent; don’t leave, wait outside, and handle the corpses tomorrow.”
“Yes, Lord Orochimaru.”
A miserable scream came from inside the tent; Orochimaru found it noisy, and the screams abruptly stopped.
The entire night, the tent was filled with muffled cries of pain, making one’s scalp tingle.
The next morning, Orochimaru walked out of the tent.
Sunshine shone on Orochimaru’s pale face, and Orochimaru showed a bit of enjoyment, unsure if it was from the experiment or the sunshine.
He waved his hand, signaling Fox Squad to go in and handle the corpses.
The six corpses were unrecognizable.
Wait, weren’t there five prisoners? Why was there an extra corpse?
The Shimura Clan young boy was actually dissected by Orochimaru?
Did Danzo know about this? Should he report it?
After thinking, Yoru decided to report it.
Orochimaru was not his superior, but Danzo was his superior’s superior’s superior.
The prisoners’ corpses were directly dragged outside the camp to be burned; the Shimura Clan young boy’s corpse was kept first.
Yoru hurried to Danzo’s tent and reported the matter of the Shimura Clan young boy being dissected to Danzo.
Danzo was stunned for a moment, then said, “I understand.”
Danzo thought to himself that to transplant eyes for himself, some cost must be borne.
His own clansmen were most similar to him; Orochimaru wasn’t acting recklessly, but in the future, the numbers must be controlled, not dissecting too many Shimura Clan people.
Yoru thought to himself, that’s it?
He quickly withdrew and no longer inquired about the matter.
That Shimura Clan young boy’s corpse was directly burned.
Watching the corpse slowly shrink in the flames, Yoru sighed that Danzo was truly ruthless.
Ruthless to others, ruthless to his own people too.
This kid too, for no reason creating a ‘next Nawaki’ persona; died so miserably.
Especially the pitch-black eye sockets; the eyeballs were nowhere to be found.
Kurozaru Squad Leader’s injuries recovered remarkably, returning to the team early and rushing from the village to the front line.
“Long time no see, Fox.”
“Long time no see, Squad Leader.”
Yoru looked down; Kurozaru’s broken leg was a circle thinner than the good leg.
Poor Kurozaru, not only lost an arm, but his leg was also not agile.
Kurozaru said:
“In the coming time, we need to capture at least 3 Stone Ninjas alive, the stronger the better.
Fox, your squad is the strongest in the mid-team; from now on, you will be the main force.
I won’t let you work for nothing; I just applied for an Earth Release Ninjutsu Scroll for you; you can pick one ninjutsu from it.”
Yoru was very excited upon hearing this.
He had completed many Anbu missions and could finally redeem a ninjutsu.
Anbu had no standards; after how many B-rank missions what level of ninjutsu reward, after how many A-rank missions higher level ninjutsu reward.
Rewards, besides assessing mission records, also depended on whether the Will of Fire was firm.
Whether the Will of Fire was firm was entirely up to the superior’s subjective judgment.
Kurozaru thought Fox’s Will of Fire was like steel; with another superior, maybe not.
Yoru took the Earth Release Ninjutsu Scroll and glanced at the table of contents.
Yoru currently mastered three elemental ninjutsu: Earth Style: Fish in Water Reflection Jutsu, Earth Clone, Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu.
Infiltration, substitution, defense; still lacking an attack-type ninjutsu.
Yoru saw a familiar name: Earth Style: Earth Spear.
During the reconnaissance in the Ushi-ga Mountain battle, he had seen a Stone Ninja Jonin use this ninjutsu.
Chakra injected into the ground, sharp stone spears suddenly thrusting out from the ground, instantly piercing the enemy.
The attack angle was tricky; could ambush the enemy from behind; a good attack-type Earth Release Ninjutsu.
“Captain, I choose this B-rank ninjutsu.”
Kurozaru glanced at the name, still having lingering fear:
“My leg was shattered in battle with this jutsu; it’s a good ninjutsu.”
He opened the scroll to the corresponding position and let Yoru copy the ninjutsu once.
After Yoru finished copying, Kurozaru said, “We leave the main camp tomorrow night to catch Stone Ninjas; learn this ninjutsu as soon as possible.”
Yoru did not sleep and went to the camp’s training ground to practice the ninjutsu.
The reason for choosing this ninjutsu was that it only had one hand seal.
Just one Rooster seal, and the jutsu could be completed.
In his previous life, seeing a news clip where a general said, “Aim what aim, just raise the gun and fire; first to fire wins!”
Battles between ninjas were the same; a one-seal ninjutsu was stronger than a three-seal ninjutsu.
As long as he used the ninjutsu first, the enemy had to dodge, and the battle entered his rhythm.
“Earth Style: Earth Spear!”
One earth spear thrust out from the ground, hitting the opposite tree stump.
Unfortunately, the earth spear’s hardness was too low, slightly harder than soil; it shattered upon hitting the tree stump.
Practicing ninjutsu himself was more laborious than the system giving ninjutsu.
Yoru trained repeatedly, slowly increasing the chakra intensity of the Earth Spear.
Ten at a time, rest after a set, then continue.
When the sun shone on the training ground, the Earth Spear could already pierce the tree stump.
Looking at the pierced hole in the tree stump, Yoru nodded repeatedly; this power could be used in actual combat.
Next was drip kung fu, making this jutsu faster and stronger.
Ninjutsu is about refinement, not quantity.
Kakashi, who boasted mastering over a thousand ninjutsu, commonly used only those three or five.
At night, Kurozaru Squad set out to complete the capture mission.
Leaving the forest at the Land of Fire border, they entered the endless grasslands of the Land of Grass.
Leaf Ninjas were accustomed to moving in forests; suddenly seeing a plain felt like running naked without clothes, extremely uncomfortable all over.
Kurozaru instructed the three squad leaders:
“Advisor Mito Mon’en negotiated good results in Hidden Cloud Village; Hidden Cloud Village decided to attack the Land of Waterfalls while Hidden Stone Village is weak and declare war on Hidden Stone Village.
The Stone Ninjas in the Land of Grass direction may retreat.
We must act fast, or we won’t catch any prisoners.”
The Ushi-ga Mountain battle became the turning point of the war between Konoha Village and Hidden Stone Village; Konoha switched from defense to offense.
Aries used Byakugan to find traces of enemies for the mid-team and soon found a Stone Ninja squad by the river.
Aries said, “Four-person Stone Ninja squad, just fetched water from the small river, heading toward the 2 o’clock direction.”
Kurozaru said, “Good! While they haven’t discovered us, Aries Squad and I charge straight in; Fox Squad and Yagura Squad flank from both sides to surround them!”
Kiiroinu Captain had specifically come to assess Kurozaru’s recovery; Kurozaru must prove with actions that he could complete Anbu missions.
Yoru led the squad to the small river and jumped.
In mid-air, Yoru suddenly felt slight discomfort in his nostrils.
After gaining the Senju of the Forest bloodline limit, Yoru’s physique strengthened, making him sensitive to all stimulations.
It seemed something bad had just entered his nose.
The smell came from the water surface.
But at a glance, the river water looked normal.
Seeing the distant Yagura Squad moving fast, Yoru did not slow down and continued forward.
Strange, why did the river water emit a stimulating smell?
Suppressing the unease in his heart, Yoru prepared to complete the mission first.
The four Stone Ninjas quickly discovered three Konoha Anbu squads appearing from the surrounding three directions!
The Stone Ninja squad hurriedly broke out.
This Stone Ninja squad was very strong; even the weakest were at chunin level, very fast.
Yoru channeled chakra into his arm and threw a kunai with full power.
After physique reinforcement, his taijutsu and ninja tool throwing level had overall improved a grade.
The kunai was extremely fast, skimming the grass, hitting the last Stone Ninja’s calf.
The Stone Ninja let out a miserable scream and rolled on the ground.
The other Stone Ninjas ignored him and continued sprinting forward.
Kurozaru couldn’t help praising, “Fox! Well done!”
After some time apart, Fox’s strength had grown again.
Purple Cat immediately acted, using Mind Body Switch Technique to control the fallen Stone Ninja; then Ling poured poison into the Stone Ninja.
The Stone Ninja lost resistance and became Fox Squad’s prisoner.
Next was a dull pursuit battle; two team members of the Stone Ninja squad took turns covering the rear, buying time for their captain.
Kurozaru Squad’s mission was to capture prisoners; capturing live ones was much more troublesome than killing the rearguard Stone Ninjas, taking quite some time.
The Stone Ninja squad leader made a large arc and ran back toward the small river.
Aries suddenly shouted, “No! Ambush!”
Kurozaru Squad had chased for half an hour, moving far from the small river, beyond Byakugan’s observation limit; the enemy had set an ambush by the small river.
Over thirty ninjas jumped out from the small river; their signature anti-poison masks proved they were Rain Ninjas.
After Konoha and Cloud Ninjas decided to join forces against Stone Ninjas, Hidden Stone Village somehow ceded interests and convinced Hidden Rain Village’s Hanzo; Hidden Stone Village and Hidden Rain Village allied!
Rain Ninjas entered the Land of Grass, sticking their hand in.
Yoru suddenly remembered the faint pungent smell when crossing the small river; could that be Rain Ninja poison?
“Careful! Poison!”
