I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 667 Even his love is expressed clumsily and awkwardly; this is what a father is like.

"I'll say it again! Everything in this lab except me is consumable, including you all. If you make any more mistakes, don't blame me for treating you like waste!"

Inside a laboratory at the Wood Release Experimentation Site, Orochimaru spoke with murderous intent, causing the children inside to tremble in fear.

Just as Orochimaru was about to say something, he suddenly frowned, glanced towards the door, and then, trying to soften his tone, said:

"Now, clean the lab, take a shower, and then do it again when you get back, understand?"

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"

The little ones in the lab answered loudly, their voices trembling with tears. Orochimaru nodded, turned, and left the lab.

Walking up to another laboratory, Orochimaru pushed open the door and asked immediately, "Has the money arrived?"

"Um."

Tatsuma nodded, put down Orochimaru's experiment log, and was about to speak when Orochimaru said, "Thank you for your trouble. If there's nothing else, I need to continue my experiments."

"Something came up."

Tatsuma, who was interrupted, said with some resentment, "I remember Orochimaru didn't have this attitude before the money arrived. How come he changed his mind in just one day?"

Orochimaru paused for a moment, then asked, "What is it?"

"The medical department needs some space and equipment. I've asked Nono to choose them. Please coordinate with them to avoid any conflicts between the two sides."

"Okay, I understand. As long as they don't choose the labs I need."

"Which ones are essential for you?"

"all."

"Lord Orochimaru, is this how you treat your sugar daddy?"

When Tatsuma saw the mockery on Orochimaru's face, he immediately understood that Orochimaru was taking revenge for how he had "manipulated" him in the days leading up to the arrival of the funds.

Orochimaru did not intend to monopolize the laboratory. After all, he was already stretched thin, and the people he had chosen were not yet ready to participate in the actual project. There was plenty of spare space and equipment.

He was unhappy with Tatsuma's attitude a few days ago, and he was also angry today, so he deliberately acted as if he wanted to make things difficult for Tatsuma.

"Is there anything else?"

Seeing Tatsuma's frustrated expression, Orochimaru felt much better. Tatsuma sighed and asked, "How's the Wood Release experiment going?"

"It's difficult to solve. The only option is to conduct in vivo experiments on the experimental subject that is not affected by the intercolumnar cells."

The blood sample was too small, and the newly cultured cells didn't have that characteristic. It seemed to be a unique talent of that experimental subject, not replicable. The human body has too many secrets that can't be studied with current methods.

If you can bring me the test subject, I might be able to decipher it.

Hearing Orochimaru repeatedly mention that special experimental subject, Tatsuma sighed and said, "What other methods are there? There's also Obito; the Hashirama cells in his body are quite stable."

"What was implanted in Obito's body was not Hashirama cells, but more like a derivative of Hashirama cells. It was a form that was cultivated and synthesized from Hashirama cells, and it just happened to be humanoid."

If you had just looked at two more pages, you would have seen that I analyzed and determined that those were interstitial cells, the result of cultivation by combining them with a certain plant.

This is a remarkable achievement, but after searching through all the available information, I couldn't find a matching plant species. Your Wood Release creations do share some similar characteristics, but not entirely."

After Orochimaru finished speaking, Tatsuma frowned. He suddenly thought of the origin of White Zetsu. In fact, White Zetsu can be divided into two main categories.

Some of them are forms that evolved from humans after Kaguya used the Divine Tree to descend to the world of gods a thousand years ago, and humans were subjected to the Infinite Tsukuyomi by the Divine Tree. These are the most primitive White Zetsu.

The other part is the "human" created by Madara Uchiha using Hashirama cells to cultivate this material.

This part of the White Zetsu has plant-like characteristics, so it does not need to eat like animals. At the same time, it also has some of the characteristics of Wood Release, such as being able to use Wood Release techniques to split or merge into the earth or trees.

The cells on Obito's body were not Hashirama's cells, but rather a part of the body of a "White Zetsu".

This conjecture made Tatsuma frown, because it meant that Obito's "Hashirama cells" were not replicable unless he could find more "White Zetsu".

However, White Zetsu, which are used as raw materials, cannot be easily found, because according to Orochimaru's analysis, they are actually "plants", and may even be inactive plants.

Finding them is not something that can be done with the power of perception.

As for the living White Zetsu, those White Zetsu that were given life by Madara Uchiha using the Gedo Mazo are even harder to find. When they merge into the ground or trees, they completely lose their "self".

Even if it's hidden under Tatsuma's feet, Tatsuma won't be able to clearly sense it.

The similarity between White Zetsu and Tatsuma's Wood Release creations is largely due to the connection between Wood Release and the technique "Adventure of the Divine Tree World." As for the differences...

Aside from the "human" element, the main difference is that Wood Release is a ninjutsu from the ninja world, while God Tree Advent is a "divine technique" of the Otsutsuki clan. These are different systems, so while their creations may have similarities, they won't be too many.

Having finally found two paths, only to discover that both were dead ends, Tatsuma's mood soured. He asked, "Can't we cultivate those plant cells using only Obito's cell samples?"

"Unless you provide me with a parent sample for research."

Orochimaru shrugged and said, "But I think Madara Uchiha probably took those materials with him as well. That must be asking you to do something you can't handle, right?"

Tatsuma nodded, and Orochimaru pressed on, saying, "Then why don't you give me another special experimental subject? Perhaps I can find the secret within it?"

"Let me think about it some more."

Tatsuma shook his head. He had always been against telling Orochimaru about Yamato, the "experimental subject," because Yamato was still too young.

If Yamato is already an adult, or even if he is a minor but has full cognitive abilities, Tatsuma will ask Yamato if he is willing to participate in the experiment. If Yamato is willing, Tatsuma will not mind handing him over to Orochimaru.

But not now. Although Yamato would definitely agree immediately if he asked, that's precisely why he can't do it, because it's not Yamato's decision, but an external one.

Seeing Tatsuma's attitude, Orochimaru frowned. He became even more curious about who this test subject was and wanted to know who could make Tatsuma so hesitant.

But he didn't press the issue further. Instead, he said, "Then think about it some more. Don't bother me while I'm conducting my experiment. If you're bored, go and guide those kids in their experiments."

"Forget it, teaching and nurturing students isn't for me."

Tatsuma shook his head, stood up, and left the lab. Orochimaru didn't bother to see him off, since the funding had already arrived and he didn't need to fawn over Tatsuma, his sugar daddy, for the time being.

In the rest area, the children who had just finished tidying up the lab were chatting in twos and threes. When they saw Chenma arrive, they all stood up and bowed excitedly.

After Tatsuma responded, he noticed that Kabuto and Yamato were both there. He waved to the two of them and walked to a secluded spot.

"Fourth Hokage, is there something you need from us?"

Upon approaching, Kabuto asked with some anticipation, hoping that Tatsuma would say something like, "I have high hopes for you guys, so I have a task for you to complete."

Tatsuma didn't answer, but instead asked with a smile, "Are you settling in well here? Is it interfering with your studies?"

"Yes, I'm only here to study on weekends now, so it won't affect my studies. It's just that the training time has been moved from daytime to evening."

Dou shook his head, then adjusted his glasses, which had been shaken around. He really liked his current life.

He studied during the day, trained at night, and researched the information about Kikyo Castle before going to bed, even though he knew that just looking at this information wouldn't be of much help in finding out about his origins.

The chances of finding out about one's origins through this are slim, but having a thought is not bad. Compared to the children in the orphanage who have lost their parents, Dou feels both fortunate and pathetic.

Because he doesn't experience the same grief as others, nor does he secretly weep at night missing his parents, since he has lost that part of his memory, which is fortunate for him.

But sadly, he couldn't even remember them. Dou felt this was very unfair to his parents, whose child had never even done something as simple as missing them.

This emotion inexplicably surged during this period, which is why he began to search for information related to his background.

As for Yamato, who had a similar experience, just like what Lord Orochimaru said back then, he didn't even know what sadness was. It seemed that he had let go of that past, which must have been very painful. Kabuto didn't want it to be like that.

Dou hopes that one day he can find complete clues, or regain his memories, so that he can also miss his parents and not let them disappear without a trace.

What kind of people are his parents?

Thinking about it, Kabuto suddenly remembered something embarrassing yet funny: he had mistaken the Dean and the Fourth Hokage for his mother and father. Thinking back on it, Kabuto still felt ashamed and embarrassed.

What if the Fourth Generation Lord and Dean Nonou were really my parents?

I know who I should miss now, and I can give the love in my heart to others.

Tatsuma was unaware of the myriad thoughts swirling in Kabuto's mind in that short moment. He smiled and said, "It would be best if you could adapt. If you can't, be sure to say so right away. Don't force yourself, understand?"

"Um."

Kabuto's voice suddenly became heavy with nasal congestion. Seeing the unnatural, gentle smile squeezed out of Tatsuma's serious face, Kabuto thought, "This is probably what a father is like."

Even expressing love is clumsy and awkward; isn't that what a father is like?

(End of this chapter)