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

Chapter 553 Giving Naruto and Sasuke a power-up

The two followed Sato Sayun away from Training Ground No. 9.

Led by Zuo Yun, the three of them quickly arrived at the experimental area.

Located east of the Youhe River in Star City, adjacent to the administrative and military districts, this place is one of Star City's most important research bases.

"Wow, I've never been here before." Naruto looked left and right, filled with curiosity about everything.

Sasuke followed silently behind Zuoyun, carefully observing the surrounding environment.

The surrounding area is relatively quiet, with many tall buildings, but few people on the streets, and many building entrances have professional security personnel.

Along the way, Sasuke saw a large number of police forces, especially Byakugan ninjas and Uchiha clan ninjas, with guards almost every three steps and sentries every five steps.

Sasuke also noticed that there were cameras everywhere on the streets, and even some scientific ninja tools that flew by from time to time.

"Is this the experimental area?" Sasuke muttered to himself.

He had heard his mother and the three siblings, Airo and I, mention this place.

It can be said that all the science and technology and scientific ninja tools of the Land of Stars are inseparable from this experimental zone.

Moreover, it is said that it contains the secret to making ordinary people stronger.

The secrets of bloodline limit transplantation.

Sasuke's heart began to pound.

Soon, the two followed Zuo Yun to a completely white building at the deepest part of the experimental area.

The building has a simple and modern appearance, and is entirely white, standing like a giant white pillar in the center of the experimental area.

"Wow, it's so high!" Naruto looked up and squinted as the reflected sunlight stung his eyes.

"Let's go." Zuo Yun swiped a card at the security checkpoint at the entrance, making a soft "beep" sound, and then waved to the two of them.

Naruto and Sasuke then stepped forward.

The two became increasingly familiar with this security check process. They first walked through the security gate, then opened their arms and allowed the police officers to scan their bodies with a scanner.

After confirming that it was safe, the two followed Zuo Yun's footsteps and quickly arrived at an elevator entrance.

After boarding the elevator, Zuo Yun pressed the button for the eighteenth basement level.

The elevator descended rapidly, and a feeling of weightlessness washed over me.

Ding-dong—

A dozen seconds later, the elevator doors opened, and a completely white corridor appeared before them.

The walls and ceiling of the corridor were pure white, the floor was covered with light gray non-slip flooring, and the overhead lights emitted a soft and bright glow, illuminating the entire corridor as if it were daytime.

"Let's go." Zuo Yun led the way, introducing the place to the curious Naruto and Sasuke.

"Since you have the strength to come here, some of the intelligence here can be made public to you. From now on, you are not allowed to divulge any of the words I say." As he spoke, Zuo Yun turned his head slightly, his bangs falling down to reveal a three-tomoe Sharingan.

Guru

Naruto's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Sasuke nodded seriously.

Zuo Yun turned around and continued walking, saying, "This is the most important experimental zone in the Star Kingdom, without exception."

"Major scientific research projects, including the development of scientific ninja tools, the transplantation of bloodline limits, and research in life sciences, are all carried out here."

"The underground laboratory in this building mainly provides gene modification surgery."

"You may not have heard of this concept, so let me give you a brief introduction."

"The chakra of the ninja world can be traced back to Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra a thousand years ago, and the Sage of Six Paths, the founder of the Ninja Cult. Our bloodline can also be traced back to this period."

"Although it sounds like a bloodline theory, the cruelest truth in the ninja world is that the closer a ninja's bloodline is to their ancestors, the more their potential can be unleashed, resulting in a huge increase in strength."

"Therefore, the gene modification project is a way to allow everyone to activate and strengthen dormant ancient genes within their bodies through a specific transplant surgery, thereby activating the power dormant in their bloodline."

"Because we share a common ancestor, theoretically speaking, all humans who possess chakra have the same genes. It's just that different levels of these genes can activate different bloodline powers."

Naruto and Sasuke listened intently, completely absorbed.

This knowledge was a completely new field for them, as if a door to a new world had been opened.

"So, this is why other ninjas from the Land of Stars can transplant Sharingan and Byakugan?" Sasuke couldn't help but ask.

He recalled the Star Ninjas he had encountered who possessed transplanted bloodline limits: Otsutsuki Toneri, Kaguya Kimimaro, Chiyo Chizuru, and Sato Sagumo standing before them.

These are just the ninjas he knows who have had their Byakugan and Sharingan transplanted; there are countless others he doesn't know about!

"Correct answer," Zuo Yun praised.

He then continued, "Therefore, the bloodline limits possessed by those ninja clans in the ninja world that have been passed down for hundreds of years can all be acquired through learning."

"Lord Menma broke the barrier that bloodline limits could only be passed down through bloodlines, allowing everyone to possess bloodline limits, thus achieving equality in a certain sense." Zuo Yun's words were full of admiration for Menma.

"Alright, we've arrived." Zuo Yun stopped in front of a large, silver-white door.

Naruto and Sasuke also stopped and looked over.

The door slid open silently, revealing a bustling, bright laboratory with various advanced instruments and equipment neatly arranged.

Two operating tables were set up on the high platform in the center, with shadowless lamps hanging above them. All around were researchers dressed in white dustproof suits, wrapped up tightly, who were busy preparing various equipment and medicines.

One of the researchers saw the door open and walked over.

He took off his mask and hat, revealing a delicate, boyish face, and said in a hoarse, languid voice, "Yo, you're here. It's been a long time, Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun."

Sasuke and Naruto stared intently, only to see that the man had long, flowing black hair and pale skin that looked somewhat sickly under the operating lights, but he didn't appear to be more than a few years older than them.

It was Orochimaru in a new body.

"Orochimaru?!" Sasuke tensed up and instinctively took a half step back.

Although Orochimaru in this timeline did not covet Sasuke's body, the battle during the Chunin Exams in which Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage still left a deep impression on Sasuke.

That figure laughing wildly in the firelight, that ninja who used the Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage, that mad scientist known as one of the "Three Legendary Sannin".

Although Orochimaru no longer coveted Sasuke's body, he was still very interested in Sasuke.

It wasn't just because he had suffered at Itachi's hands before, but also because he knew that the Sharingan could evolve into the Rinnegan, the Sage's Eye.

Sasuke is likely the Uchiha clan member, besides Hikaru Uchiha, who is most likely to evolve the Rinnegan.

That's the Sage's Eye, which even Shisui and Itachi couldn't reach!

"Alright, Orochimaru, stop scaring them." A voice that sounded incredibly familiar to Naruto and Sasuke came through the phone.

Menma's figure appeared at the door on the other side of the laboratory.

"Menma-kun!" Naruto waved excitedly at Menma.

Sasuke's eyes lit up, and he relaxed.

Mianma slowly walked over.

"Lord Menma!" Zuo Yun also bowed slightly to Menma.

"Oh ho ho, I'm just a little interested in investigating them." Orochimaru slurped his long tongue and let out a soft laugh.

He had long been aware of Naruto and Sasuke's special status; one was the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, and the other was Itachi Uchiha's younger brother.

However, in this timeline, Orochimaru has already found the method for immortality and the exploration of the truth of this world through Menma.

He not only had White Zetsu and Hashirama cells for his research, but also the corpses of the Otsutsuki clan for his study; therefore, he no longer coveted Sasuke and Naruto.

Orochimaru stood with one hand on his hip, scrutinizing Menma with great interest. Actually, it was quite simple to tell if Menma was a shadow clone.

Most of Menma's shadow clones are keeping up with the research progress in various scientific research projects, and they wear professional dustproof suits, so they look no different from most scientific researchers.

Menma's true form is usually dressed in a black hooded tracksuit, and his behavior is quite casual.

"Alright, everything needed for the surgery is ready." Orochimaru walked towards the research table, letting out a series of pleasant hums, clearly looking forward to the upcoming surgery.

Menma looked at Naruto and Sasuke, crossed his arms, and said, "Zaun should have told you about the general situation before we came, right?"

Naruto and Sasuke's expressions also turned serious.

Naruto clenched his fists and said, "Yeah, Senior Sagumo said it's a gene enhancement surgery that can make you stronger."

Sasuke was more direct, asking, "Can you awaken my Mangekyou Sharingan?"

Menma first said to Naruto, "I hope to truly revive my father and mother from their Edo Tensei state before the war, so we need to transfer the Yin Nine-Tails sealed within my father. Therefore, the special training over the past month has strengthened your physical abilities. Combined with your Uzumaki clan's physique, you should be able to withstand several gene enhancement surgeries."

In this timeline, Naruto had grown tremendously under Menma's intentional or unintentional training. After returning from the Land of Waves, he had already mastered the Rasengan, almost catching up with his growth during the three years he spent traveling with Jiraiya.

After arriving in the Land of Stars, Menma subjected Naruto to a month of grueling training, dragging Kurama out and beating him every day. Naruto was able to activate all five tails on his own without going berserk, and he was getting closer and closer to the complete Nine-Tails Mode.

Then, Menma said to Sasuke, "Well, how should I put it? Awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan is the ultimate manifestation of emotion. Gene enhancement surgery only improves your physical abilities, like laying the foundation for a tall building. The stronger the foundation, the higher the building can be."

"But whether you can awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan depends on yourself."

"7

Sasuke listened attentively, understanding that the conditions for awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan were extremely demanding, but the stronger his body became, the greater the chance of successfully awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan would be.

Menma raised his right hand, held up one index finger, and instructed, "Before we begin the surgery, you need to determine an anchor point."

"Anchor point?" Naruto and Sasuke looked puzzled.

"Hmm." Menma nodded and said solemnly, "Based on the various experimental data and successful cases of 'gene enhancement surgery,' after the injection of 'gene enhancement fluid,' the subject will enter a period of deep sleep, undergoing a complete physical transformation, while their mind will also enter a state of deep slumber."

"The stronger a person's conviction, the more they can maintain their inner strength while asleep, and even strengthen their mental fortitude, and awaken earlier."

"Therefore, we also call this belief an anchor point," to give you a coordinate system of belief so that you don't lose yourself in your slumber.

With Menma's explanation, Naruto and Sasuke gradually understood the definition of "anchor point".

That is belief!

"My belief?" Naruto declared with a bright smile, "I want to become a ninja as strong as my father and brother, protect those around me, and then contribute to the peace of the ninja world! And protect that peace!"

During his time in the Land of Stars, Naruto received the teachings of the Will of the Stars.

Unlike the Will of Fire, which is narrowly focused on the interests of a single village, the Will of the Stars is broader, aiming to liberate all suffering humanity in the ninja world and create a better future together.

Even the purpose of the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War and the Star Country's war intentions are explained very clearly.

Therefore, Naruto's beliefs were also elevated.

From that vague concept of peace at the beginning to a clear goal now.

Naruto's change was within Menma's expectations. He smiled slightly and then looked at Sasuke beside him: "What about you, Sasuke?"

.

Sasuke looked down at the back of his hand, where there was a band-aid that Mikoto had put on him.

Sasuke slowly said, "My belief is to kill that man and then take my mother back to the Uchiha clan. If the clan members can accept my mother, that would be best. If not, I will raise her well!"

Menma nodded with relief; at least Sasuke was no longer the boy consumed by hatred.

He had a clear goal and a happy attachment.

"Alright, go change your clothes." Menma waved his hand.

In the corner, two assistants had already prepared sky-blue surgical gowns and curtains.

Soon after, Naruto and Sasuke changed into their surgical gowns and lay down on the operating table.

The two lay side by side, looking at the soft glow of the operating lights on the ceiling, feeling both nervous and expectant.

Orochimaru put on a mask and surgical cap, and slowly walked to the two of them. He personally injected the "gene modification fluid" into the IV drip, then adjusted the speed of the IV tube, and slowly injected the liquid into their bodies through the IV tube.

"Relax, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru gently reassured the two, his golden snake eyes filled with anticipation.

With the injection of the "gene enhancement fluid" and anesthetic, Naruto and Sasuke felt their eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

The lights in front of me became blurry, and the surrounding sounds gradually faded away.

They felt as if their bodies were sinking, sinking into a warm ocean.

Gradually, both of them fell into a deep sleep.

Orochimaru adjusted the IV drip rate and glanced at the two with his golden snake eyes.

He licked his lips and said softly, "I'm really looking forward to it—what kind of surprise will you bring—hehe—"