This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 143 Orochimaru Comes to Seek Cooperation (Please Subscribe)

Hong can temporarily take over the task of helping Yin adapt to her body.

So Ryuji didn't rush to become a support mechanical puppet, but went back to his room to sleep.

He slept for less than two hours last night, and with the long journey to Konoha, he was exhausted.

He felt that if he didn't sleep soon, he would suddenly die.

……

Silent all night.

When Ryuji woke up, it was already the morning of the next day.

Hong seemed to have a telepathic connection with him, or perhaps she had been waiting outside all along, because the moment he woke up, she brought in hot water and toiletries.

"Master, please give me a wash!"

Hong placed the washbasin on the tatami mat next to her and handed her a toothbrush with toothpaste already squeezed out.

"Um!"

Long Er had just woken up and was still groggy.

He took the toothbrush and cup and sat on the bed to rinse his mouth. Hong held the empty basin to catch the water he spat out while rinsing.

After rinsing his mouth, he wrung out a hot towel and washed his owner's face clean.

Immediately, he felt refreshed.

"It's so good to have you by my side!" Ryuji couldn't help but exclaim.

"You flatter me, Master. Serving you is my duty," Hong said gently with a smile. "Please get dressed, Master. I'll go get you breakfast."

"Go ahead and do your work, I can handle this myself."

"Um!"

Red Dot nodded, picked up the washbasin and toiletries, and left the house.

Long Er looked on with a sigh.

Professional maid skills and considerate, gentle service.

He really wanted to live such a comfortable life forever.

However, this is just wishful thinking.

Gentle Township, Hero Tomb.

In this world of constant war, indulging in the pleasures of love will only lead to tragedy.

Long Er let out a long sigh of relief and got up to get dressed. Just then, Hong arrived in the room with breakfast.

Because the weather is getting colder, this time breakfast wasn't sausages or bread, but rather hot eight-treasure porridge and meat buns.

Long Er ate a steamed bun and a porridge at the same time, feeling quite pleased with himself.

"Lady Ayaki, Orochimaru has come to visit."

I had just finished eating when I heard the guard's voice outside the door.

"Take him to the meeting room."

"Yes."

The footsteps outside the door faded away.

Ryuji looked at Kurenai and said, "I'll go see Orochimaru first. Please help me tidy up the room."

"Don't worry, Master, I'll take care of everything."

"Um!"

Long Er nodded and left the bedroom.

……

Reception room.

The two sat facing each other at a low table, looking at each other and sizing each other up.

After a moment, Orochimaru spoke: "Ayaki-kun, it's been half a year. How have you been?"

"???"

Long Er looked puzzled.

If I remember correctly, we almost got into a fight last time.

Why are you greeting me like this, an old friend?

Have you no shame?

However, one cannot hit a smiling face. Since Orochimaru came with sincerity, he could not possibly put on a stern face.

Ryuji pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "...It's alright, it's alright. Orochimaru, I heard you came to see me yesterday, is there something you need?"

"Ayaki-kun is still as straightforward as ever!"

Orochimaru said meaningfully.

Last time, he was in charge of receiving the Sunagakure delegation and gave them a hard time.

As a result, Ryuji Ayaki didn't consider the consequences at all and directly released his murderous aura on the street to confront him, leaving a deep impression on him as if he was ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

At the time, many of Konoha's high-ranking officials, including him, thought Ryuji was a reckless person, but after learning about his subsequent deeds, they changed their minds.

That wasn't recklessness on their part; it was confidence. They saw through your show of force and knew you wouldn't dare to actually make a move, which is why they were so assertive.

but.

Although his opinion of him as reckless has changed, his decisive and straightforward approach to purging former high-ranking officials of Sunagakure during a time of internal and external troubles still leaves an impression of him as decisive, straightforward, and easygoing.

"Just state your purpose!"

Ryuji's tone became slightly impatient.

He hates dealing with people who are slow and indecisive.

If he needed something from someone, he would naturally suppress his impatience, but now it was Orochimaru who needed to ask him for something, not the other way around.

Say it or not, it's up to you.

This is his current mindset.

Perhaps sensing Ryuji's feelings, Orochimaru stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly: "I've come for cooperation."

"Cooperation?" Ryuji blinked, and after confirming he hadn't misheard, he couldn't help but laugh. "What kind of cooperation do you want with me?"

Cooperation can only take place when both parties are on equal footing.

But what qualifications does Orochimaru have?

In terms of status and power, although he is one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, he is currently only Danzo's subordinate.

On scientific knowledge, research findings...

Although he was a rare scientist in the ninja world, even by the end of the original story, he had not made any research that surpassed his own achievements. Ryuji did not know what Orochimaru had to offer in order to cooperate with him.

Ryuji's contempt was not hidden and could be seen at a glance.

Orochimaru seemed to have anticipated this situation and was not angry. Instead, he smiled gently and said, "Don't let my appearance fool you, I also have something to offer that will make your heart flutter."

"Oh~"

This piqued Ryuji's curiosity, and he quickly asked, "What is it?"

Intercolumnar cells.

Orochimaru's lips curled slightly upward as he spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he believed his offer would definitely tempt the other party and lead them to cooperate with him.

However, Ryuji was greatly disappointed.

Hashirama cells are indeed a rare treasure... no, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Hashirama cells are the number one treasure in the ninja world.

If one could successfully harness Hashirama's cells, they could counteract the side effects of the Mangekyou Sharingan, significantly enhance cellular vitality, greatly increase a person's chakra, grant the person Wood Release, enhance the power of ordinary ninjutsu, greatly strengthen the power of White Zetsu, extend a person's lifespan, possibly shorten the cooldown of Kotoamatsukami, and possibly reduce the conditions for using Izanagi...

This is still the known effect.

If research continues, interstitial cells with these functions will surely be able to do many other things that are otherwise difficult to do.

But no matter how much you talk about it, Ryuji has already thoroughly studied the interstitial cells.

Although he didn't have any Hashirama cells at all, through Yamato's cell research, he had come to understand the powerful nature of Hashirama cells.

Hashirama's body was simply characterized by its strong vitality; there was nothing special about it.

What is truly special is the power of the divine tree.

If someone possesses the power to withstand the Divine Tree and then receives that power, their cells can also become Hashirama cells.

The Nightfall he created possessed a Sage Body and had been enhanced by Hashirama's chakra. Although its upper limit could not reach the level of Hashirama Senju, it could definitely reach the level of Yamato, who was enhanced by Zetsu Uzumaki.

Once he grows up and uses the Wood Dummy Technique, he will be able to fight the Five Kage single-handedly without any problem.

If he can obtain the power of the Divine Tree in the future and strengthen him again, it is not impossible for him to reach or even surpass Hashirama Senju.

In other words, it is the power of the Divine Tree that is strong, not the Hashirama cells.

Although the cells of Hashirama contain the power of the Divine Tree, the power of the Divine Tree cannot be cultivated and strengthened like cell division.

The more a cell divides, the more dispersed and weakened the power of the divine tree within it becomes.

Now that Hashirama Senju has died, the active cells he left behind have probably been used up long ago. What remains now are likely products that have multiplied through countless hands.

How much of the Divine Tree's power can remain in these Hashirama cells?

Ryuji's calculations show that it will definitely not exceed Yamato's.

Orochimaru, under Danzo's instructions, continued his research on Hashirama's cells in secret... And now, there are still about five years until the end of the Third Shinobi World War. If we calculate the time, even if the experiment is not finished yet, it is probably still in progress.

As the survivor of this experiment, the strength of the Divine Tree power within Yamato represents the strength of the Divine Tree power contained in the Hashirama cells currently in Konoha's possession.

Even if there is a difference, it won't be significant.

In other words.

The Hashirama cells that Konoha currently possesses are almost identical in function to the Yamato cells, but they are not as effective as Yoru's cells, which have been enhanced by Hashirama's chakra.

What does Ryuji need this thing for?

It would be much better if we had the initial sample.

But Orochimaru didn't know any of this.

Seeing Ryuji's disappointed expression after hearing his offer, he assumed Ryuji didn't understand the power of Hashirama's cells and quickly explained, "Kimi-kun, don't underestimate Hashirama's cells. As the former God of Shinobi, the First Hokage's power was beyond everyone's imagination. Even though he is dead, the part left behind in his body is still extraordinary."

It is priceless to us researchers.

"Maybe that's true, but I'm not interested."

Because of their differing positions, Ryuji couldn't explain these things to Orochimaru, nor did he bother to, and simply stated that he had no interest.

Orochimaru, however, believed that Ryuji was deliberately trying to lower the price and gain an advantage in the subsequent negotiations, so he kept haggling with him over the Hashirama cells.

He kept exaggerating how amazing the interstitial cells were, but deliberately concealed the prerequisites.

Annoyed by the constant chatter, Ryuji asked bluntly, "If Hashirama cells are so amazing, why don't we see Konoha using them to create anything?"

"..."

Orochimaru opened his mouth, but was speechless.

Although he really wanted to say that Konoha had now created a successful case of obtaining the power of the First Hokage, how could he possibly tell such a secret to people from other villages? So he obediently kept his mouth shut.

His mind raced, and after a moment's thought, he continued, "The questions Ayaki-kun asked are all village secrets, so I naturally can't show them to Ayaki-kun, but Hashirama cells are definitely a worthwhile bargaining chip."

"Alright, alright, tell me what you want to collaborate on first!"

Seeing Ryuji's impatient look, Orochimaru's lips curled up slightly.

Still pretending?

First they belittle my bargaining chips to nothing, then when I make my demands, they ask me to raise the price. What an old trick! Do you think it will work?

Young people are capable, but they still lack experience!

"I hope to work with Ayaki-kun to develop the art of immortality."

(End of this chapter)