I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 279 Some seemingly outlandish stories are actually true history.

"Absolutely stunning, truly absolutely stunning."

A small tree appeared on the stainless steel workbench. The tree's roots pierced through the glass shards and the stainless steel workbench, and the force of the burst was unimaginable.

This is not a power that a tree can unleash; the only explanation is the power of Wood Release.

After admiring it for a while, Orochimaru suddenly found a pen and paper and started scribbling rapidly on it, muttering to himself, "3 ml of whole blood, about 700 billion cells. Mice are predicted to have 2 to 2.5 trillion cells, which means..."

3%! Three percent of the Divine Tree's cells are enough to express Wood Release, even if it's uncontrollable. But Tatsuma, you have the talent for Wood Release!

Orochimaru was excited, but Tatsuma was very serious. He said, "In other words, the time I have to find a way to control the Divine Tree cells is not the thirty years it would take for the Divine Tree cells to completely devour my other cells, but a much shorter time."

As soon as Tatsuma finished speaking, Orochimaru instantly suppressed his excitement, and his expression gradually became serious.

The two remained silent for a long time. After a while, Tatsuma finally asked, "Lord Orochimaru, have you found a way to suppress the activity of the Divine Tree cells?"

Orochimaru shook his head and said, "No, neither physically nor chemically. The Divine Tree cells are just too stubborn. The only things that can suppress them are sealing techniques and cursed seal techniques."

However, the Divine Tree cells in your body have already spread to all organs. Your blood, muscles, internal organs, and skin all contain Divine Tree cells. Although the proportion is not high, unless your entire body is sealed away, there is no way to stop their proliferation.

It's true that Wood Release is powerful, but Tatsuma's worries outweighed his hopes at this moment, after all, he had watched as the mouse injected with his blood exploded and turned into a small tree.

Furthermore, in the original work, there is also Danzo who turned into a tree due to the uncontrolled Hashirama cells. If Shimura Danzo had not acted decisively and cut off a part of his body, he might have ended up like this mouse.

"By the way, Lord Orochimaru, don't tell anyone about what happened today, especially my teacher."

Tatsuma said earnestly, and Orochimaru nodded. He gripped the syringe in his hand tightly and said, "We should study these blood cells that have been completely devoured and replaced by the Divine Tree cells. Perhaps there's a solution?"

Even so, Orochimaru and Tatsuma knew that the chances were slim. However, they still needed to study the Divine Tree cells that had devoured so many cells to see if there were any changes in their genetic information.

While Tatsuma analyzed the blood samples, he cleaned the lab. Afterwards, Orochimaru suddenly said, "Divine Tree cells... this Divine Tree, is that the name you used for the tree the Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest?"

Tatsuma nodded, and Orochimaru licked his lips and said, "The three holy lands have been passed down for thousands of years, and can even be traced back to the ancient times before chakra existed."

I suspect that the divine tree is related to the birth of chakra.

Orochimaru's guess made Tatsuma's heart skip a beat. After all, he knew that the so-called Divine Tree was the origin of chakra. He pursed his lips and quickly calmed down.

Fortunately, Orochimaru was engrossed in his own thoughts and didn't notice Tatsuma's unusual behavior. Tatsuma cautiously asked, "Lord Orochimaru, why do you have this idea?"

"It's a storybook I read when I was a child. Before the ninja groups took over the ninja world, there were many clans in the ninja world that could use chakra. And tracing back to their origins, they all came from the Ninja Clan."

There are very few records or even rumors about the Ninja Cult. I only heard some news by chance later, which included a tree with a magical power, and even rumors about the Sage of Six Paths and the tree.

I never believed in the existence of the Sage of Six Paths before, nor did I think he would be the originator of ninjas. But if such a miraculous thing as the Divine Tree exists, then it doesn't seem hard to understand how it could give birth to a Sage of Six Paths.

If we take the existence of the Sage of Six Paths as a premise, then many of his stories are worth savoring. For example, he has two white eyes, or some say two purple eyes and one red eye.

Legendary ninja tools have also been passed down, and it's said that they exist in the Land of Lightning, previously possessed by the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers who killed the Second Hokage.

Orochimaru muttered to himself, then, as if remembering something, said, "Back in Ryuchi Cave, I overheard some snakes disparaging Mount Myōboku, saying that the toads only survived because they helped a 'person' back then; otherwise, Mount Myōboku would have been destroyed in a cataclysmic disaster long ago."

After saying that, Orochimaru shook his head again and looked at Tatsuma, who was so surprised that his mouth was agape, and said, "It's just some rumors. You don't have to take it too seriously. Maybe it's just a coincidence."

However, I could find some time to go to Ryuchi Cave to inquire about the Divine Tree, and also Jiraiya. At such a crucial time, I wonder where he's gone. Otherwise, I could ask him about Mount Myōboku.

Tatsuma nodded blankly and closed his mouth. Of course, he wasn't surprised by the story Orochimaru told him.

What surprised him was that Orochimaru knew these stories, but considering Orochimaru's pursuit of ninjutsu and his tracing of the origins of ninjutsu and even ninjas, it was understandable.

After a while, the new test report came out. Looking at the contents of the report, Orochimaru said, "After consuming a sufficient amount of cells, the Divine Tree cells have indeed undergone some changes."

Although it's becoming increasingly similar to interstitial cells, there are still differences. I'll find time to compare them carefully and further narrow down the possibilities, but..."

Orochimaru put down the documents and picked up the scribbled-on paper next to him.

"Rip~"

Orochimaru tore the paper to shreds and said, "This calculation is too imprecise and has no reference value whatsoever. The proportion of Divine Tree cells in mice is indeed only about 3%."

However, these 3% of the Divine Tree cells are self-rewritten Divine Tree cells, different from the Divine Tree cells in your body. Fortunately, there are still a few blood samples available.

Orochimaru looked at the few tubes of blood that hadn't been used yet and said, "I will take the time to conduct a series of experiments based on the different proportions of the Divine Tree cells phagocytizing their own cells, to see if we can determine a more precise range of variation."

Tatsuma also realized what had happened. Both of them had been so shocked by the sight of the mouse turning into a sapling that they had overlooked too many variables. Looking back now, Tatsuma felt a little ashamed, but also relieved.

Looking at Orochimaru, Tatsuma felt somewhat guilty, as he seemed to have made Orochimaru incredibly busy.

First came the research on the Corpse Bone Vein and Boiling Escape, then the comparison of genetic information, and now there are new mouse experiments. Chenma has only one thought in mind right now.

Fortunately, he didn't give Orochimaru any money, otherwise he would have become a heartless boss.

"Tsk!"

Orochimaru suddenly tapped his head, startling Tatsuma, who thought Orochimaru had realized he was being exploited.

Unexpectedly, Orochimaru looked around and said, "This place is still too rudimentary. If we could use the Wood Release research institute and send me some more researchers, the progress would definitely be accelerated."

Unfortunately, the Wood Release research lab is unavailable, so I'll have to purchase some equipment myself. Looks like I'll have to complete a few missions to earn some money.

Watching Orochimaru's absorbed monologue, Tatsuma's lips twitched. How many people does this Orochimaru have? He'd even pay out of his own pocket to help him with his research.

Thinking back to the misunderstandings he had about Orochimaru in previous years when he didn't know him well enough, Tatsuma wanted to slap himself twice. Was he even human? How could he reject the beautiful and kind-hearted Snake Aunt and Uncle?

After sending several vials of blood from Tatsuma into the cold storage, Orochimaru looked at Tatsuma and said somewhat apologetically, "Tatsuma, it seems the experiment will have to be delayed for a while, but I will finish the mission as soon as possible and get the money to purchase the necessary equipment."

"Well, Lord Orochimaru, I still have quite a bit of money here. Although the Anbu doesn't settle the number of missions, the mission rewards will still be paid out."

"No need. You are now responsible for the clan's expenses, so you should keep some money on you to deal with possible emergencies, such as Tsunade possibly mortgaging the land deed."

Orochimaru shook his head. Tatsuma sighed, realizing that his teacher's longtime teammate truly understood him, but he still spoke up for his teacher:

"The teacher hasn't been to a casino for a long time; maybe she's planning to quit gambling."

"Given her fragile self-control, she's only lacking a ridiculous excuse to fall into the trap of gambling again."

Orochimaru didn't believe Tsunade would quit gambling, just as he didn't believe Jiraiya, that loser, would quit lust.

"Achoo!"

"Achoo!"

Inside Konoha Hospital and a hot spring inn in the Land of Fire, Tsunade, who was giving a lecture, and Jiraiya, who was collecting folk songs, sneezed at the same time.

Tatsuma gave an awkward smile, unsure how to save face for his teacher, or rather, even he himself didn't quite believe that Tsunade would quit gambling.

As for why Tsunade hasn't been to the casino for several months, it's simply because everything has been going smoothly. Although Tatsuma was injured along the way, this incident was actually turned from danger to safety, or rather, from misfortune to fortune.

If something were to happen to Tatsuma, he could easily imagine his teacher getting completely drunk and then once again going to the casino to do charity work.

Seeing that Tatsuma stopped arguing, Orochimaru was somewhat satisfied. Tatsuma had argued once because he was Tsunade's student and had to argue.

If Chenma wants to fight a second or even more times, then he would be foolish.

Orochimaru glanced at the cleaned-up laboratory and said, "I'm going to the Hokage Building. You can do as you please."

"Well, I need to pay some bills and buy some things, so I won't stay here any longer."

Tatsuma nodded and left the lab with Orochimaru. They then went their separate ways. Tatsuma first went to the bank to pay off the water, electricity, and gas bills that were overdue from the previous quarter, and then prepaid the water, electricity, and gas bills for the following quarter.

Afterwards, I withdrew some money from the bank and went to a clothing store that had been cooperating with Senju for many years to discuss the customization of summer clothing. I paid a deposit and then went to purchase the things needed for the Obon festival the next day, as well as gifts for the Umino family's first meal in a few days.

Tatsuma was thankful that Orochimaru had declined his offer of financial assistance, otherwise he would have been penniless again.

"Tatsuma?! Is that a gift? How did you know my birthday is the day after tomorrow? I haven't even sent out the invitations yet!"

Tatsuma, who was about to seal away the prepared gifts from the First Feast, suddenly heard a familiar voice. He turned around and saw Uchiha Tenka, who was on duty, staring at him with bright eyes.

Tatsuma's lips twitched, and he could only nod, saying, "Of course, you are my friend."

"Hahaha~ Hahaha~ That bastard Chito is infuriating! He had his birthday last week, and neither you nor Minato went. He even said you and Minato were busy. Looks like some people were just being delusional."

Upon hearing this, Chenma felt a wave of dizziness. It seemed that he not only had to buy Tianfeng's birthday present, but also had to make up for Qiandou's birthday present.

Does money have a grudge against you? Why does it want to leave you so badly?

(End of this chapter)