The Devil of Konoha: Starting as a Medical Ninja

After giving Yakushi Kabuto a simple treatment, Hiroji took out a syringe, drew some of Yakushi Kabuto's blood, and then took out a sample of Hashirama stem cells from the scroll.

Using a chakra scalpel, Hiroji cut off a portion of Hashirama's stem cells and placed them in a test tube containing Kabuto Yakushi's blood, thus beginning his research.

About five minutes later, a sapling appeared in the test tube, proving that Kabuto's own blood and cells did not have the ability to absorb the stem cells from the stalk.

Hiroji casually tossed the sapling onto the passageway outside the laboratory and continued his experiments. Since Kabuto Yakushi was no different from the others, it meant he could only conduct ordinary experiments.

That is, to use various methods to treat interstitial stem cells in an effort to find a way that will not cause the interstitial stem cells to cause backlash, which is of course the most ideal situation.

If the backlash from interstitial stem cells can be controlled within a relatively safe range, then the experiment will have been successful.

This was Hongzhi's idea, but it was destined to require many experiments.

Finally, to test whether there is any backlash after the treatment of Hashirama stem cells, we need Kabuto's blood. If this is successful, it will inevitably require a large amount of Kabuto's blood.

The experiment proceeded smoothly, and Kabuto could only sense that there were people around him, but he knew nothing else.

The shadow clones on the other side won't cause any problems at Konoha Hospital; they'll just need to undergo some relatively simple surgeries.

Because of the Shadow Clone Technique, proficiency in most medical ninjutsu will gradually increase.

As night fell, the Palm Healing Technique, which was originally able to break through its limits again yesterday, was delayed for a while due to Shibata Rie's death.

But when the shadow clone dissipated, a prompt appeared directly in front of Hongzhi.

[Palm Healing Technique; Limit Break +3 (2.6%), Rapid Healing +5, Fusion +1]

The newly discovered feature delighted Hongzhi. The Palm Immortal Technique was designed for healing various wounds, and rapid healing undoubtedly took this aspect to the extreme.

Fusion, on the other hand, works after the transplant surgery. With the help of the Palm Immortal Technique, the rejection reaction after the transplant surgery will be reduced to a minimum. The emergence of this characteristic undoubtedly brings Hongzhi one step closer to his original goal.

However, it still cannot affect the Hashirama stem cells. Fusion also requires the help of the Palm Healing Technique, which takes time to perform.

The current stem cells don't give that much time at all. They start to erode the original cells as soon as they come into contact with them. The time is just too short. Even using the Palm Healing Technique might not be enough to stabilize them.

However, the emergence of this characteristic also gave Hiroji a clearer goal: to reduce the invasive ability of the interstitial stem cells, and if necessary, to give up some of the characteristics of the interstitial stem cells.

With a clear goal in mind, Hiroji continued his research. For the next two weeks, Hiroji sent his shadow clones to Konoha Hospital while he stayed in the laboratory.

To make it easier for him to rest, Hiroji also built a treehouse outside the laboratory. After all, the saplings that had transformed from the stem cells of the failed Hashirama plant were growing too fast, and the original laboratory passageway was almost completely filled with these saplings.

Fortunately, there is a limit to this, otherwise Hongzhi would have become a lumberjack.

After half a month of experimentation, Hongzhi's experiment achieved initial success. The erosion of the interstitial stem cells, after special treatment, has reached a corresponding limit.

If we want to further reduce the scale, we will have to make certain trade-offs.

If such Hashirama cells are further processed with lightning-style chakra, Hashirama's stem cells will lose the Wood Release that made Hashirama famous.

In other words, under such circumstances, transplanting Hashirama stem cells will only result in an increase in physical constitution and Yang-attribute chakra, but will not grant the Wood Release that most researchers of Hashirama cells seek.

Another approach would be to reduce the boost to physical constitution and chakra, but still guarantee the acquisition of the Wood Release bloodline limit.

This is a crossroads. The former is safer, but the benefits are relatively less, while the latter is more dangerous because the source of the erosion is the so-called Wood Release, but the benefits will be much greater.

This matter put Hongzhi in a dilemma. If he could obtain Wood Release, he would eventually be able to reach the level of Hashirama Senju by breaking through his limits time and time again.

Faced with this choice, Hongzhi became conflicted.

Chapter 34 Never Forget the Original Intention

The fact that they reached this point in just half a month is due not only to Hiroji's own genius, but also to the efforts of Yakushi Kabuto.

Thanks to the special nutrient solution from Hongzhi, Kabuto Yakushi is doing well recently, although he has been moved from the operating table to a wooden house by Hongzhi.

After taking one last look at the laboratory, Hongzhi prepared to leave. Now that he had achieved the corresponding results, there was no need to stay here and continue conducting experiments.

The final crossroads still require some time to consider. Although the Wood Release he just acquired might be like that of a real estate developer in Konoha, with the help of the system, becoming stronger is certain.

Thinking about it this way, becoming stronger is a given, and the increase in chakra and physical strength is also very important for Hongzhi.

The more chakra you have, the more shadow clones you can create. Combined with this system, becoming stronger is quite simple.

Both options were tempting, like having your cake and eating it too, but as most people would have, even Hongzhi couldn't have both.

So Hongzhi decided to go out for a walk, hoping to find the answer he was looking for.

Since his shadow clone was still in Konoha Hospital, Hiroji transformed into Kabuto Yakushi and returned to Konoha openly.

"Stop right there, you bastard!"

As soon as he stepped onto the street, Hongzhi heard a somewhat familiar voice. Turning his head, he saw a figure leaping and bounding about, while the person in the picture was a ninja in a flustered state.

"Naruto Uzumaki, and Iruka."

Seeing this, Hongzhi immediately understood that before Iruka healed him, Naruto Uzumaki had always been a troublemaker, and this was probably not the first time something like this had happened.

As for how Hiroji made that determination, it was because he clearly saw Iruka apologizing to people with remarkable skill.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

A few noisy sounds came over, and just as Hongzhi came to his senses, he saw Naruto Uzumaki carrying a bucket of paint rushing towards him.

Perhaps because he was disliked by others, or perhaps because no one wanted to be splashed with paint, Naruto Uzumaki had virtually no obstacles along the way.

Of course, this excludes Hongzhi, who stood still without any reaction.

"This is absolutely ridiculous."

Seeing that Naruto was about to charge at him, Hongzhi narrowed his eyes, then used a Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Naruto and lift him up.

"You've caused so much trouble for so many people because you think they don't hate you enough, or because you're really that stupid?"

After lifting Naruto Uzumaki up, Hiroji asked calmly.

"Let me go, you..."

Naruto, who was still struggling, suddenly stopped. Although he wasn't very smart, he could still hear what was being said clearly.

"I'm so sorry to have troubled you."

Before Naruto could answer, Iruka, who was following behind him, walked over.

As soon as he arrived at Hongzhi's place, he apologized immediately. Although he hadn't seen this bespectacled guy before, the headband he was wearing was from Konoha, which was enough to prove his identity.

"Did you hear that? Although I don't know the specifics of your relationship, no one wants to keep apologizing to someone else. Don't you ever think about the consequences of your actions?"

Ignoring Iruka's arrival, Hiroji continued to carry Naruto Uzumaki, not for any other reason than that Hiroji felt that Naruto Uzumaki was indeed causing some trouble.

If I hadn't dodged, I would most likely have been splattered with paint by this guy. Even though he was using Kabuto's form, it still felt really annoying.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for not keeping a good eye on Naruto."

Naruto Uzumaki remained silent, but Iruka, standing to the side, began apologizing again, clearly not wanting Naruto to be hurt as a result.

"Did you hear that? Even now, he's still paying the price for your mistakes. Think about it carefully. If you become a ninja like this, in battle, it will be your comrades who pay the price..."

After saying his last words, Hongzhi simply left Naruto Uzumaki aside and walked away on his own. Since he was using the identity of Kabuto Yakushi, Hongzhi felt there was no problem.

Say whatever you want, because in the end, Kabuto Yakushi will always be the one to take the blame.

After Hiroji walked away, Iruka helped Naruto Uzumaki, who was slumped on the ground and seemed a little unwell, to his feet.

There seemed to be something else in Naruto's eyes. Iruka, who was standing next to him, looked at Naruto, who seemed a little off, and felt a bit strange, but in the end he didn't say anything.

In the end, he still went door-to-door apologizing to Naruto Uzumaki and then dealt with the trouble he had caused.

Is he telling the truth?

As the sun set, Naruto Uzumaki, having finished everything, looked at Iruka in front of him and asked with some curiosity, "Does what he's doing really only cause trouble for others?"

"You'll understand this once you become a ninja."

Seeing Naruto asking this question, Iruka reached out and rubbed his head, tears welling up in his eyes.

Back when he was still at the ninja academy, he did a lot of ridiculous things to get attention, but after becoming a ninja and thinking about it carefully, he realized that it was actually quite stupid.

However, he didn't say this explicitly, because saying it would only make Naruto Uzumaki feel uncomfortable for a while, and wouldn't have any special effect. When Naruto truly understands, he will naturally understand.

Hongzhi returned to the laboratory and, upon seeing Naruto Uzumaki, suddenly understood how to make a decision.

It wasn't because Naruto Uzumaki had anything special about him, but because seeing Naruto reminded Hiroji of the time he watched Naruto in his previous life.

Naruto Uzumaki's initial goal was to become Hokage, so he eventually became Hokage. Although this was a script that someone had arranged, none of that mattered to Hiroji.

His goal was to become Hokage, so he kept moving towards that goal. So what was Hongzhi's initial goal?

If the goal is to obtain the Rinnegan to avoid being controlled by the Infinite Tsukuyomi, then the original desire to have both fish and bear's paw becomes meaningless.

Although Wood Release is very powerful, it doesn't have much effect on Hongzhi, as all beings are equal under the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Upon closer examination, the first method of processing Hashirama stem cells would be preferable, as it increases physical constitution and thus chakra.

With more chakra, one can use more shadow clones to conduct experiments, shortening what would otherwise be a lengthy process, and thus obtaining a body capable of supporting the Rinnegan in a faster time.

This is to achieve the original goal and avoid becoming an ant unable to struggle in the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Chapter 35 Initial Integration Success

After a chance encounter with Naruto Uzumaki disguised as Kabuto, Hiroji made a decision.

Pale blue lightning arcs danced in the test tube. Fortunately, Hongzhi's chakra control was high enough. If it were anyone else, the lightning release would have completely destroyed the rare Hashirama stem cells in the test tube.

According to previous experiments, after being treated with a mild lightning technique for five minutes, the Hashirama stem cells would not turn into saplings even if the original cells were eroded in subsequent experiments.

This is undoubtedly a result that Hiroji cares about. It means that even if the rate of erosion of Hiroji's cells is different from that in the experiment after such Hashirama stem cells are transplanted into his body, Hiroji will not be in danger. He will have plenty of time to use the Palm Healing Technique to fuse the two types of cells.

Five minutes later, under the influence of the electric arc, several bubbles emerged from the test tube, and a sample of intercolumnar stem cells was processed.

Seeing this, Hongzhi's lips curled up slightly. He had already conducted further experiments using Yakushi Kabuto's blood, and now all that was needed was to use his own blood for the experiments.

If the experimental data is good, the cells obtained after the experiment can be directly transplanted into the body and allowed to proliferate slowly to replace all the cells in the body.

This is a long process, and there is no way to speed it up. The only way is to transplant the cells step by step until the cells in the body undergo a complete transformation.

This prolonged process meant that Hongzhi was unlikely to undergo two transplants, thus failing to improve his physical abilities and acquire Wood Release at the same time.

Of course, this is also possible. After transplanting Hashirama stem cells, the amount of chakra will increase in two stages.

The former is a slow process of improvement, while the latter will result in a qualitative change in chakra quantity after all cells have completed their transformation.

A tube of blood was drawn from Hongzhi's arm and then placed directly into the previously prepared test tube.

The pale green palm magic was activated, and Hongzhi waited patiently. After about five minutes, he took out a drop of the mixed liquid and observed it under a microscope. Upon closer inspection, he found that only one type of cell remained, and it was completely different from the cells he had observed before.