Chapter 24: First Lord, Are You Leaving...

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Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

Three test tubes began to crack as they neared Hashirama, the First Hokage.

The pressure on the test tubes was immense!

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes were filled with surprise. If he hadn't been gripping them tightly, the three test tubes might have shattered against Hashirama's face!

How terrifying!

Orochimaru had been studying Hashirama's cells for years and had never encountered anything like this before.

Unbelievable!

Of course!

Hashirama's cells were inherently extraordinary!

Though the First Hokage Senju Hashirama had been dead for decades, his cells remained alive and exhibited extremely strong vitality.

Any organism cultivated with Hashirama's cells would eventually take on his appearance.

To Orochimaru, who was dedicated to scientific research, this phenomenon was utterly baffling and difficult to comprehend.

He could only attribute it to the extraordinary vitality of the cells.

At this moment.

The cells of Hashirama were like magnets, continuously flying toward the body of the First Hokage, like swallows returning to their nest.

How amazing!

Even Orochimaru couldn't help but marvel.

After all, the First Hokage standing before him was not the real First Hokage but a reanimated body.

The actual body was one of their Otogakure ninjas, Kin.

Even so.

The First Lord still attracted Hashirama's cells so strongly.

As expected of the God of Shinobi!

Boom!

While Orochimaru was still in shock, the three test tubes could no longer withstand the pressure from Hashirama's cells and shattered instantly.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Drops of green liquid, like bullets, shot directly toward Hashirama's body.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Hashirama's body trembled involuntarily as the green liquid hit him, and an indescribable sensation surged through him.

In an instant.

Hashirama felt waves of immense vitality enveloping his body.

His previously lifeless, paper-like body suddenly felt rejuvenated.

An unprecedented feeling of comfort washed over him.

Then...

It vanished.

The entire process lasted only a moment.

"Whimper~"

The Ying Ying monster immediately flew over, flapping its wings. It held a phone in its hand, its large eyes fixed on the screen.

"Host!"

"Congratulations on acquiring 3% of Hashirama's cells!"

"Your body now contains 26% of Hashirama's cells!"

The Ying Ying monster announced Hashirama's current state and quickly marked the task as complete.

Afterward.

The Ying Ying monster sensed that the system had gained more energy after the host acquired Hashirama's cells.

Time to reboot!

The Ying Ying monster immediately pressed the power button on the phone, and its fairy-like figure vanished instantly.

In the moment before it disappeared, the Ying Ying monster suddenly realized it had forgotten to remind the host to collect the mission rewards!

Hashirama was engrossed in sensing the changes in his body.

Now that over a quarter of his body was composed of Hashirama's cells, the most noticeable sensation was...

More moisture!

Yes!

More moisture!

When Hashirama first emerged from the Reanimation Jutsu, he distinctly felt dry, as if his entire body were covered in paper.

No matter what movements he made, he felt nothing!

He didn't feel like a real person at all, more like a paper doll!

But now...

After being nourished twice by the life-rich Hashirama cells, his whole being seemed revitalized!

This feeling was incredibly strong, and even though he was still in a reanimated body, his skin now felt smooth, elastic, and glossy.

Hashirama had a strong sense that if he scraped off some of the reanimated soil from his body, he could almost squeeze out some water.

That was the most significant change!

They say humans are made of water!

But a reanimated body is made of soil!

Hashirama felt he was becoming more human-like, a significant breakthrough.

As a result.

Hashirama found that controlling his chakra had become easier, a seamless experience with no obstruction.

"Excellent!"

Hashirama gave Orochimaru an approving look and glanced at the 15 remaining test tubes, calculating silently.

Earlier, the 3 test tubes contained 3% of Hashirama's cells.

So the remaining 15 should contain 15% of Hashirama's cells!

Every three months, he could gain an additional 5%.

At this rate...

It's hard to calculate!

In any case, it would take a long time!

Hashirama immediately realized that this pace was too slow; he couldn't rely entirely on Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, Kabuto, continue cultivating Hashirama cells here. I will return every three months to collect more."

Hashirama's gaze first landed on Orochimaru, then shifted to Kabuto, his eyes filled with authority.

"First Lord, are you leaving..."

Orochimaru said with apparent reluctance, trying hard not to let a smile break through.

This is a significant step forward!

As long as the First Lord leaves!

Everything will be easier afterward!

If they truly couldn't complete the cultivation of Hashirama cells within three months, they could always hide.

Kabuto held his breath, eyes fixed on Hashirama, growing increasingly tense.

"Will you starve to death in the lab for three months?"

Hashirama suddenly asked a rather philosophical question. He didn't know the specifics of Orochimaru's physiology or if he could survive while sequestered in the lab.

"…"

Kabuto was speechless. That question was too bizarre to answer. Who could survive without eating?

However…

Kabuto glanced at Orochimaru—this one just might!

"Lord First, you needn't worry about us. I have developed special nutrient pills; one is enough to sustain us for a week."

Orochimaru declared confidently, eager to assure the Lord First and see him off quickly.

"Indeed!"

Kabuto suddenly remembered the not-so-pleasant taste of the Ration pills, but this wasn't the time to complain about the flavor. He quickly nodded in agreement.

"That puts my mind at ease."

With that, Hashirama clasped his hands together, intertwining his fingers, and his chakra surged.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant.

The entire lab trembled.

The sudden upheaval left Orochimaru and Kabuto bewildered, unsure of what was happening.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the next moment.

Wooden pillars sprang from the ground, rising and aligning from all directions, densely covering the lab.

Almost instantly.

The walls of the lab transformed into wooden barriers, covering the ceiling and floor.

"First Lord…"

Orochimaru's eyelid twitched; he felt like he was being imprisoned.

Whoosh!

Just as Orochimaru finished speaking, a tree sprouted from the ceiling, its branches and leaves hanging down like a chandelier.

(End of this chapter)