Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 340 Black Zetsu Seeks Cooperation

In another Naruto world, in the center of the ruins of the ancient city of Loulan.

The once towering city of a thousand towers is now nothing but ruins.

The eruption of dragon vein energy a minute ago was like a giant beast turning over underground.

Where the purple energy shot into the sky, it blasted out a huge crater with a diameter of over two hundred meters, its bottom unseen, with sand and gravel still sliding down its edges.

The air was thick with the smell of burning and dust, and the scorching sun beat down on the ruins, making even the wind feel hot.

"Be careful, Sai."

In mid-air, a giant bird drawn with ink spread its wings and circled.

Sakura clung tightly to Sai's shoulders on the bird's back, looking down at the terrifying sinkhole below.

"Understood." Sai nodded expressionlessly, controlling the "Super Beast Imitation Painting - Bird in the Clouds" beneath him to slowly descend.

His gaze swept sharply across the ruins below, alert to any potential danger.

Just now, the Sand Village rogue ninja Centipede broke the seal on the Dragon Vein, and the violent purple energy engulfed Captain Yamato and Naruto.

The purple light of the dragon vein had just dissipated when the two of them couldn't wait to go down and check on Captain Yamato and Naruto's condition.

“Descend,” Sakura said in a deep voice.

Sai controlled the black bird to dive down and fly towards the bottom of the sinkhole.

In the center of the pit, a broken circular altar and two figures lying on the ground can be vaguely seen.

"It's Yamato-sensei and Naruto!"

Sakura's eyes lit up, and before the black bird had fully landed, she had already leaped down from a height of more than ten meters!

Boom!
She landed firmly on her feet, kicking up a little dust, and then quickly rushed towards the two figures.

Yamato lay on his back on the edge of the altar, covered with a thin layer of sand, his eyes closed.

Naruto lay on his side not far away, one hand still outstretched forward, as if trying to grab something.

"Yamato-sensei! Naruto!"

Sakura crouched down, placing both hands on their chests simultaneously. Pale green chakra surged from her palms as she quickly checked their physical condition.

My heartbeat is normal, my breathing is steady, and although my chakra flow is somewhat disordered, it is not seriously damaged... It's more of a mental drain and shock.

“They’re just unconscious…” Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and was about to use more sophisticated medical ninjutsu to wake them up.

"Well……"

Yamato's eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were initially somewhat dazed, as if he had just woken from a deep dream, with the sky above the ruins of Loulan reflected in his pupils, before finally focusing on Xiaoying's face.

"...Sakura?" Yamato's voice was a little hoarse. He struggled to sit up, supporting his forehead with his hand, his brows furrowed. "I'm...back?"

"Yamato-sensei, are you alright?" Sakura asked with concern, reaching out to support him.

Yamato didn't answer immediately. He looked around at the ruins that had just been ravaged by the disaster, then looked up at the blinding sunlight in the sky, his brows furrowed, as if he were confirming something.

He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "How long...have we been gone?"

"Leave?" Sakura was taken aback by the question, her face full of confusion: "What are you talking about, Yamato-sensei? From the time that bastard Centipede detonated the Dragon Vein Seal and the purple light engulfed you, until now... less than five minutes have passed, right? Sai and I saw the pillar of light disappear and quickly came down to look for you."

At this moment, Sai also controlled the black bird to land beside him. He jumped off the bird's back and walked to the group, still with that expressionless look: "Captain Yamato, Naruto, is there anything wrong with your body?"

“Sai…” Yamato glanced at his teammate, who always had no expression, and shook his head: “He’s physically fine, it’s just… his experiences are a bit complicated.”

His gaze shifted to Naruto, who was still unconscious, and his eyes became deep.

In another timeline, he encountered his younger self, Kakashi. Together, they observed the situation outside Loulan City and witnessed the earth-shattering battle that took place there… The black-haired boy Kakashi referred to as “Menma,” the towering black Susanoo, and Minato Namikaze…

"Yamato-sensei?" Sakura noticed Yamato's distraction and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "What are you thinking about? What did you mean when you said 'we're back'? Where did you go?"

Yamato didn't answer immediately, but instead looked at Naruto, who had just slowly woken up.

Naruto rubbed his head and sat up, his eyes also looking somewhat dazed.

He first looked at the familiar ruins around him, then looked down at his own hands, as if confirming something.

Then, he reached into his ninja tool pouch and carefully pulled out an object from it.

It was a specially made kunai, slightly different in shape from ordinary kunai, with a narrower blade and intricate magical runes engraved on the handle, gleaming with a faint metallic luster in the sunlight.

Flying Thunder God Kunai.

Naruto looked at the kunai in his hand with a complicated expression.

There was warmth, reluctance, relief, and a touch of envy.

“Naruto?” Sakura noticed Naruto’s unusual behavior, especially the kunai he had never seen before in his hand.

"That is……?"

Naruto looked up at Sakura and Sai, a bright yet somewhat complicated smile on his face.

"Sakura, Sai... I'm alright."

His voice was soft, yet carried an unprecedented calmness.

The feeling was like someone returning from a long journey, with many things they hadn't seen before.

Yamato looked at Naruto and asked softly, "It seems you... interacted with them a lot over there."

Naruto nodded, his fingers gently stroking the handle of the Flying Thunder God kunai, as if he could still feel the lingering chakra energy on it.

"Yes... I met two... friends who are like family."

When he said the word "family," his voice trembled slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, and his smile became even brighter.

Sakura and Sai looked at each other, completely unable to understand Naruto and Yamato's conversation.

For Sakura and Sai, only a few minutes had passed since the centipede broke the seal on the dragon vein, engulfing the three of them in a purple beam of light.

Judging from Yamato and Naruto's reactions, it was as if a very long time had passed.

"Hey, Naruto, Yamato-sensei, what are you talking about? What do you mean by 'the other side'? Aren't we dealing with Centipede all along?" Sakura couldn't help but ask, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.

Naruto smiled at Sakura and Sai's confused looks and offered no further explanation.

Some experiences can only be understood by those who have gone through them firsthand.

Naruto carefully kept the Flying Thunder God kunai, which contained special spacetime coordinates, close to his body, as if it were an incomparably precious treasure.

Then, he stood up, dusted himself off, and his face regained its sunny and energetic smile, as if he had instantly transformed back into the familiar Naruto Uzumaki: "Alright! That Centipede guy is completely finished! Our mission was a complete success! Let's go back to Konoha, I want to eat Ichiraku Ramen! Ten bowls!!"

Seeing Naruto instantly return to normal, Sakura, though full of doubts, temporarily suppressed her curiosity and sighed helplessly, "Seriously... that scared me to death! I thought you'd hit your head! It's good that the mission is accomplished! You have to treat us when we get back!"

"No problem! Hahaha!" Naruto put his hands on his hips and laughed heartily, but deep in his eyes, there was a light that he had never seen before, a light called "hope" and "determination".

………………

Another Naruto world.

The moment Menma opened her eyes, she felt the scorching sunlight and dry air.

He stood amidst a sea of ​​yellow sand, surrounded by the familiar ruins of Loulan. But this was not the "Land of a Thousand Towers" he had just left; it was Loulan from his original world, an ancient relic long since turned to dust in history.

Broken walls, weathered stone pillars, and building foundations buried under yellow sand—this was the Loulan he remembered.

"He's back."

Menma muttered to himself. He first sensed the chakra within his body and confirmed that the power of the dragon vein had stabilized.

Then, he sensed the Flying Thunder God Mark and Shadow Clones he had left behind throughout the ninja world.

“Time has passed… about five minutes.” Menma quickly determined the passage of time.

It seems that the flow of time in the two timelines is indeed different.

He stayed there for almost half a year, while only five minutes had passed here.

As Mianma was pondering, his brows suddenly furrowed slightly.

Kagura's Mind's Eye, open!

In the vision of the divine eye, the surrounding view becomes transparent, and the flow of chakra is clearly visible.

About 300 meters away from him, behind a partially collapsed wall, he "saw" several unusual life forms.

That was neither a human nor a desert animal.

Their chakra flow is peculiar, like a mixture of plants and animals, and their vitality is extremely strong, yet they do not exhibit much emotional fluctuation.

Bai Jue.

"How did these guys end up here?" Menma wondered.

The ruins of Loulan are desolate, located deep in the desert. Apart from the occasional desert nomadic tribe passing by, no one ever comes here.

Black Zetsu and Obito should also go to various ninja villages or important strategic locations to gather intelligence.

unless……

"Did you follow me here?"

Mianma's eyes turned cold.

His figure vanished from his spot in an instant, and when he reappeared, he was already standing in front of the half-collapsed wall.

His right hand shot out like lightning, his five fingers forming a claw, and plunged directly into the wall!

"Wow--!"

A strange cry came from the wall.

With a numb expression, he used his strength to pull a white humanoid creature out of the wall.

Its entire body was deathly white, its surface smooth, and it had no normal facial features, only a wide-open mouth and a single eye with a yellow pupil. At that moment, it was struggling in terror.

"Let go of me!" Bai Jue cried out sharply.

Mianma ignored it, simply staring coldly at it: "Stalking me?"

"Yes, our boss wants to talk to you!" Bai Jue hurriedly shouted, "Lord Shura! Don't kill me! We're not enemies!"

"Boss?" Mianma raised an eyebrow.

He loosened his grip slightly, allowing Bai Jue to catch his breath.

Menma's powerful senses swept across the entire ruins area in an instant, only discovering five other White Zetsu lurking in different locations, but failing to detect Black Zetsu's unique and subtle chakra aura.

'As expected, he's very cautious... This old mudfish has been hiding for a long time.' He sneered inwardly.

Bai Jue landed on the sand, panting heavily, his voice carrying a fawning tone.

"Our boss sent us to find you. Once we find you, he'll tell you... he wants to cooperate with you to deal with the Otsutsuki clan."

Mianma's eyes narrowed slightly.

Sure enough, after witnessing his battle with Otsutsuki Isshiki, the schemer who had been hiding in the shadows for thousands of years finally couldn't sit still any longer.

"Cooperation?" Menma's tone was filled with undisguised sarcasm: "A rat that can only hide in the shadows, a coward who doesn't even dare to show his true form, dares to talk to me about cooperation?"

White Zetsu was intimidated by Menma's imposing aura and trembled, but still gritted his teeth and continued according to the script Black Zetsu had instructed him to say: "Our boss thinks you are stronger than Uchiha Madara and those Akatsuki guys, and more suitable to cooperate! But with your current strength, you have not yet reached the level of the Sage of Six Paths! Whether you want to unify the ninja world or obtain the power of the Sage of Six Paths, you cannot get around the Tailed Beasts!"

It secretly glanced at Menma's face, and seeing that the other party didn't seem to intend to make a move immediately, it mustered its courage and continued to entice him: "Only by collecting the nine tailed beasts, fusing them together, creating the final ten-tailed beast, and then becoming the ten-tailed beast's jinchūriki, can you obtain the power of the Sage of Six Paths! That is a realm beyond mortals, the power of true gods!"

White Zetsu's words were incredibly seductive.

If the person on the other end were Obito Uchiha, or the original Nagato, or even Madara Uchiha himself, they would probably be tempted by these words.

The Sage of Six Paths is a legend in the ninja world and the founder of the Ninja Clan. His power is the ultimate goal for any ninja who pursues power.

And the tailed beasts are indeed related to the Sage of Six Paths.

Now, Black Zetsu, through White Zetsu, states that fusing the nine tailed beasts, creating the Ten-Tails, and becoming its jinchūriki is the path to the power of the Six Paths, and this logic is correct.

Unfortunately, standing in front of it was Mianma.

He knew Black Zetsu's background and ultimate goal all too well.

All that talk about fighting against the Otsutsuki, helping him become a god, and unifying the ninja world is utter bullshit!
Black Zetsu's true goal has always been the same.

He resurrected his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki!

His so-called collaborators were nothing more than pawns he had carefully chosen to collect the tailed beasts and ultimately become vessels for Kaguya's resurrection!

"Oh?" Menma's tone remained calm: "So that guy means he wants to help me collect the Tailed Beasts, become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and obtain the power of the Sage of Six Paths?"

"That's right!" White Zetsu said quickly upon seeing Ma's apparent interest, "Our stealth capabilities are the strongest in the ninja world! Apart from powerful ninjas of your caliber, other ninjas simply cannot detect us! We can gather intelligence on all the major ninja villages for you, monitor the movements of the tailed beasts and jinchūriki, and help you unify the ninja world!"

"Hmph, all talk and no action." Menma sneered, "Fight the Otsutsuki? Do you think you cowards, hiding your heads and not even daring to fight head-on, are worthy?"

Bai Jue was speechless, choked by the words.

Menma changed the subject, seemingly casually saying, "As for unifying the ninja world? Collecting the tailed beasts? Do I need your help with those things? If your so-called 'sincerity' is only this... then I have absolutely no interest in this cooperation."

Bai Jue gritted his teeth, sensing the undisguised killing intent emanating from Menma, and knew that without offering something substantial, he would likely find it difficult to escape today.

It asked in a trembling voice, "Then... what do you want? Anything we can do..."

Mianma stretched out his right hand, his five fingers spread.

The next second, five dazzling golden chains shot out from behind him!

Crash-!
The chains, like giant, living pythons, drew five golden streaks in the air, instantly shooting towards five different directions in the ruins!
"Ah—!" "What is this?!"

"let me go!"

Screams came from all directions.

The Vajra Lock accurately struck five other White Zetsu lurking nearby, dragging them out of their hiding place, binding them tightly, and bringing them to Menma.

The five white Zetsu were bound together like dumplings by golden chains, struggling and writhing on the ground, but they couldn't break free at all.

Menma didn't even glance at them, only staring at the White Zetsu that was delivering the message: "If you want to cooperate, show some sincerity. Give me a thousand of these 'materials' first."

"One, a thousand?!" Bai Jue's voice changed.

Although "manufacturing" White Zetsu is not difficult—as long as there is Gedo Mazo and enough chakra, Black Zetsu can be mass-produced—a thousand is still a considerable number.

More importantly, Menma explicitly mentioned "materials," meaning that they were to be used as experimental subjects!
Although the White Zetsu don't have strong emotions, being used as experimental subjects is not a pleasant experience.

"What, you can't do it?" Menma's tone was tinged with mockery. "If you don't even have this much sincerity, what kind of cooperation are you talking about?"

He raised his hand, and a jet-black chakra rod condensed in his palm.

"Or rather... do you think I'm easy to fool?"

"No, no!" Bai Jue hurriedly shouted, "I'll go back and tell the boss right away! Please, please wait a moment!"

It looked at its five companions, bound by the Vajra Lock and howling in agony, and then at the black stick in Mianma's hand that exuded a dangerous aura. It dared not linger any longer and its body instantly merged into the sand and disappeared.

Menma looked in the direction where White Zetsu had disappeared and let out a soft snort.

Has Black Zetsu, that old slippery eel, finally started to get restless and set his sights on me?

That's good, we can use him to obtain more experimental materials for the White Zetsu.

As for who is the pawn and who is the player... well, that depends on their own abilities.

…………

Thousands of miles away, in a dark underground space.

Black, silt-like creatures seeped from the rock wall and coalesced into a blurry human figure.

It was Black Zetsu who obtained information about White Zetsu.

“Shura… is indeed not someone who is so easily swayed.” Black Zetsu’s voice was deep and hoarse, like two stones rubbing together: “However… he is interested in the Tailed Beasts, and this is an opportunity.”

Behind it, the enormous body of the Outer Path Golem stood silently, its nine eyes tightly closed, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

Further away, countless white Zetsu stood like statues, their numbers stretching as far as the eye could see.

“A thousand White Zetsu…that’s quite an appetite.” Black Zetsu sneered. “But as long as it gets him onto the path of collecting the Tailed Beasts…this price is worth it!”

It was clear that Shura's strength had surpassed that of Madara Uchiha at his peak, and he might even be the ninja who had come closest to the Sage of Six Paths in a thousand years.

If such people could be encouraged to collect the tailed beasts and create the Ten-Tails, the possibility of Kaguya's mother being resurrected would greatly increase.

As for whether Shura will suffer a backlash after becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki...

Black Zetsu had already planned this all along.

For thousands of years, it has manipulated countless pieces, from Indra to Madara Uchiha; no one has been able to escape its control.

No matter how strong Shura is, he can't be stronger than Mother.

“Give him five hundred White Zetsu as a token of ‘sincerity’ first,” Black Zetsu decided. “At the same time, give him information about the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails…”

In the darkness, Black Zetsu's figure slowly sank.

Only a whisper remained, echoing in the empty underground space:
"Mother... please wait a little longer..."

"This time... I will definitely be able to bring you back to this world..."

…………

The Star Kingdom, a deep underground biological laboratory.

This space, hidden deep underground, is filled with a cold and precise futuristic technology.

Soft, cool white light shone evenly from the ceiling, illuminating the main passageway, which was wide enough to accommodate several carriages side by side.

On both sides of the passage are thick, transparent observation walls made of special alloys and reinforced glass, behind which are various laboratory units with different functions.

The air was filled with the scent of disinfectant, culture medium, and ozone, a faint energy field, creating a unique and calming atmosphere.

Only a few days had passed since Menma left.

However, the vast machine of the entire Star Kingdom continues to operate efficiently and smoothly.

Each department performs its duties in an orderly manner, from military defense to people's livelihood construction, from intelligence gathering to cutting-edge scientific research.

This is thanks to the well-established system and core team that Mianma has cultivated over the years.

Even though his supreme leader is temporarily absent, this emerging nation, like a tightly wound clock, continues to move forward through its own inertia and internal coordination.

This is the solid foundation that Shura laid for this country: a powerful system that does not depend on a single individual, but is built on institutions, technology, and collective will.

At this moment, inside the core laboratory of the biological experimental area, the atmosphere is completely different from the calm and orderly outside, filled with tension and anticipation.

In the center of the laboratory, a spotless circular metal platform rises above the ground.

The platform is surrounded by various sophisticated instruments and equipment, and complex data flows like a waterfall on the screen.

Several flexible energy pipes and liquid delivery tubes, like living tentacles, connect to the specially designed ergonomic experimental recliner in the center of the platform.

Hikaru Uchiha lay quietly on the laboratory chair.

She wore a white lab coat designed for monitoring vital signs, which accentuated the girl's slender and supple figure.

Her eyes were lightly closed, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows in the cold light, and her cool and delicate face was expressionless.

Only the slight rise and fall of her chest indicated that she was in a state of deep meditation and physical adjustment.

Two figures were busy at work beside the lab bench.

One was Hiruko, who wore a loose white research coat, had long hair casually draped over his shoulders, and a pale face but a fervent thirst for knowledge.

He was carefully using special tweezers to remove a small, slightly pulsating, eerily pinkish-white, translucent tissue from a temperature-controlled, sealed container next to him.

The tissue seemed to have its own life, slightly contracting and expanding at the tip of the tweezers, with tiny, hyphae-like tentacles even extending from the edges, attempting to entangle the tweezers.

This is a new type of fused cell sample that has been improved countless times, combining the vitality of Hashirama cells with the inclusiveness of White Zetsu cells, and stabilized with the Oni-Garara Technique as its core.

"Tsk tsk... truly astonishing activity and stability." Another soft, magnetic voice rang out, belonging to Orochimaru, who was wearing a similar research suit and had long, casually styled black hair.

He was standing in front of the monitor screen, his golden snake eyes flashing with undisguised admiration and curiosity.

He extended his slender finger and gently tapped the cellular energy fluctuation graph displayed on the screen: "Hiruko, I must admit, your expertise in the field of cell fusion is truly unique. Using the White Zetsu, this peculiar 'natural energy mimicry' cell, as a buffer matrix greatly reduces the domineering corrosiveness of the Hashirama cells. This improvement to the Oni-Garra Technique is a masterpiece."

Upon hearing this, Hiruko's lips curled into a smile that was a mixture of smugness and arrogance. He carefully placed the sample into a petri dish containing a pale green nutrient solution, and without raising his head, he coldly snorted, "Hmph, that's natural. This technology system has even been personally experienced and recognized by Lord Shura. Its value is far beyond that of ordinary forbidden techniques."

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes shifted slightly, his gaze returning to the seemingly asleep Uchiha Hikaru on the experimental chair. His tone carried a barely perceptible hint of probing and amusement: "Shura's physical attributes and chakra control have long surpassed those of ordinary ninjas, even comparable to Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju in their prime. His success story certainly has reference value, but its universality..."

“Miss Hikari, although you are exceptionally talented, if you feel unable to withstand the impact of this power, please remember not to force it. You can stop the experiment at any time. After all, a perfect experimental subject… cough.”

His words took a subtle turn at a crucial moment, as if he were concealing something.

Uchiha Hikaru, sitting on the experimental chair, slowly opened his eyes.

What a pair of eyes those are!

Against a crimson background, the Mangekyou Sharingan pattern slowly rotates, a symbol of the power of the Uchiha clan!

However, unlike the madness, hatred, or sorrow of a typical kaleidoscope, these eyes contain a kind of indifference and alienation.

Her gaze swept calmly over Orochimaru, without any emotional fluctuation, yet even the experienced Orochimaru felt a slight chill run down his spine, as if he had been instantly transported back to the terrifying memory of being completely crushed by a boy named Uchiha Itachi with a single glance in the Akatsuki organization many years ago!

Orochimaru subconsciously looked away, his throat bobbing involuntarily, before letting out his low, husky chuckle: "Heh... Sorry, I was overthinking it. I almost forgot, you are one of the most unique and powerful beings in the history of this era... no, perhaps the history of the Uchiha clan."

“If even you can’t withstand the power of ‘New Oni-Garara,’ then this project will really have to be put on hold for the time being.”

Hiruko ignored the subtle atmosphere between the two.

He walked to the control panel and began the final preparations.

This "New Oni-Garara Technique," conceived by Menma and perfected by him and Orochimaru, is now vastly different from what it once was.

It is no longer a forbidden technique fraught with risk and a very low success rate, but rather a relatively safe and controllable bio-enhancement technology that has been formed after countless iterations, screenings, and optimizations.

Its core lies in a triple balance: using specially treated, highly inert White Zetsu cells as a "buffer" and "universal adhesive" to weaken the ferocious and erosive nature of Hashirama cells, which are like prehistoric beasts; and using refined and improved Oni-Garaku cells as a "catalyst" and "stabilizer" to guide the three cellular forces to achieve a delicate symbiosis and balance.

After thousands of painful failures and data accumulation on clones and death row inmates, the success rate of the "New Ghost Sprout" technique has now been greatly improved, and the side effects have been controlled within an acceptable range.

Mianma has a longer-term plan for this.

He once suggested to two scientists that the ultimate goal was not to create a small number of super soldiers, but to make "genetic modification" widespread.

Considering the physical limits and mental strength of ordinary ninjas, a "step-by-step" enhancement scheme can be designed.

The entire transformation process is divided into multiple stages, such as twelve stages, starting with the initial formula with the weakest rejection reaction and the gentlest energy, allowing the subjects' bodies to gradually adapt.

Each stage requires a period of consolidation and observation. Only after confirming that there are no adverse reactions can the next stage, with a stronger formula, be injected.

Through this gradual process, qualified ninjas eventually complete all genetic optimization, becoming "new era gene ninjas" with greater potential, longer lifespans, and even the possibility of awakening special bloodline limits.

This is undoubtedly an ambitious and grand plan that could change the entire ninja system.

"All preliminary checks are complete. Vital signs are stable, and mental fluctuations are within the preset safety threshold," Hiruko announced in a deep voice, looking at the flashing green indicator light on the control panel.

He picked up a precision syringe that had been prepared beforehand and contained a small amount of bright green neutralizing solution, and walked to the laboratory chair.

The syringe needle is connected to a thin, long tubing, the other end of which is connected to a dripping bottle suspended on a support.

The liquid inside the IV drip was clear and transparent, and was swaying slightly.

"Then, let's begin." Hiruko's voice was devoid of any emotion, as if he were reading out an experimental report.

He skillfully inserted the syringe tip into the pre-drilled injection hole above the IV bag and slowly pushed the piston.

The cluster of pinkish-white, slightly pulsating neonatal bud cells was injected into the neutralizing solution in the IV drip.

The next moment, the originally clear liquid, after being incorporated into the cell tissue, instantly transformed into a liquid that shimmered with pink, white, and green light like the aurora borealis!
The liquid seemed to contain countless tiny stars that were twinkling and colliding, emitting an indescribable fluctuation of life energy.

tick tock...tick tock...

The liquid mixed with the new type of Oni-Garaku cells began to be injected into the vein of Uchiha Hikaru's arm at an extremely slow and steady rate through a tube and needle.

The laboratory fell into a deathly silence, with only the faint hum of the instruments and the soft tapping of dripping liquid, like a gentle knock on the heart.

Orochimaru and Hiruko's gazes were fixed on Uchiha Hikaru and all the surveillance screens around them.

Heart rate, blood pressure, chakra flow, cell activity, nerve reflexes...

Every tiny change in the data affects them deeply.

At first, Uchiha Hikaru showed no reaction and remained lying calmly, as if he had only been given ordinary saline solution.

However, as the fluorescent liquid dripped into the blood vessels, changes began to occur quietly.

First, beneath her fair skin, there seemed to be a faint, intermittent glow flowing within.

Immediately afterwards, the fingers of her hands, which were placed at her sides, began to curl and tremble uncontrollably.

Her smooth, long black hair moved on its own without wind, the ends of which seemed to be gently swaying as if they were affected by static electricity.

The most obvious change occurred around those closed eyes.

Under the skin at the corner of the eye, tiny blood vessels began to stand out, spreading out in a faint bluish-purple hue like a spider web.

Her breathing became slightly rapid, and her full chest heaved more.

A fine layer of cold sweat seeped from his smooth forehead.

“Cellular activity is beginning to increase… Chakra flow is accelerating by 30%… Slight abnormal discharges are occurring in the nerve bundles…” Hiruko stared intently at the screen, rapidly reporting the data, her voice tinged with tension.

Orochimaru, however, was more concerned about Uchiha Hikari's condition. He said in a low voice, "Her body is starting to have a rejection reaction... no, not entirely rejection, more like a... intense process of fusion and adaptation."

"Her Mangekyou Sharingan's power is increasing..."

As if to confirm Orochimaru's words—

hum! ! !
A powerful and chaotic surge of chakra suddenly erupted from Uchiha Hikaru's body!
The air around the lab chair was subtly distorted!
Uchiha Hikaru suddenly opened his eyes!
At this moment, the kaleidoscope pattern in her scarlet pupils was spinning wildly at an unprecedented speed!

The edges of the pattern became blurred, as if new lines were being generated, or as if it was about to collapse and dissipate!

A faint purple halo even appeared around the pupils!

"Uh...ah..." An uncontrollable groan, mixed with pain and a strange sense of excitement, escaped from Uchiha Hikaru's clenched teeth.

Her body began to tremble violently, and the laboratory chair creaked under the strain.

The flexible energy restraints binding her wrists and ankles instantly lit up, emitting a warning red light, indicating that she was enduring a tremendous force impact!
The Mangekyou Sharingan, these eyes that house immense power and profound curses, entered an extremely unstable "fetal movement" stage under the intense stimulation of this foreign life energy!
It instinctively resists, yet greedily absorbs, attempting to incorporate this power into its own system, or be completely transformed by it!

"Blood pressure has risen sharply! Chakra fluctuations have exceeded the safety threshold! Warning! Abnormal cell division rate!" The monitoring equipment emitted a piercing alarm!
"Light! Calm your mind! Guide it! Use your eye power to control it!" Orochimaru shouted sharply, his golden snake eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity.

He knew that the most crucial stage had arrived.

Whether you successfully merge and gain power beyond your limits, or are devoured by this violent power, suffer mental collapse, or even have your body disintegrate, depends on this one move!
Hikaru Uchiha did not answer, or rather, she was no longer able to answer with words.

Her wildly spinning Mangekyou Sharingan stared intently at the pure white ceiling of the laboratory, as if trying to see through it, to see the end of the universe, to see the essence of that power.

Her consciousness was immersed in a fierce and extremely dangerous battle.

(End of this chapter)