Chapter 241 — I Guessed Right
"Looks like your body is adapting better and better to the new cells."
Ayaka Hyūga held Uchiha Kei's latest test report in hand, mentally comparing it with the data from their previous trials.
As always, the report would be destroyed once read—these records existed only for Kei to review and for Ayaka to use as a reference.
And the results were promising.
This time, the rejection response had lasted less than three days.
Compared to the week-long reaction during earlier attempts, it was a dramatic improvement.
If not for Kei's limited blood regeneration and the unstable compatibility of White Zetsu cells, Ayaka might have already considered pushing the experiments further. But their conditions imposed strict limits, and reaching even this stage was already fortunate.
For now, progress—steady though slow—was enough.
After only three trials, the cumulative gains were already significant.
Especially in this third experiment: Kei's chakra output had surged higher than ever before.
By his own estimate, his chakra reserves were nearly double what they had been during the war just a year ago. Of course, some of that was simply natural growth from age and physical development—but even so, it wasn't a small leap.
"Not bad," Kei said lightly, burning the report with a flicker of flame. "Chakra output's growing, rejection periods are shortening. We're moving in the right direction."
"By the way," Ayaka asked while tidying the desk, her tone casual but curious, "last time you said you wanted to 'visit' someone. Who was it? Someone connected to our research?"
"Orochimaru," Kei answered without hesitation. "I've already gone to 'visit' him once with Imai Kenta. Let's just say that meeting wasn't exactly friendly."
Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "Orochimaru? Then this time probably won't be friendly either. Still… impressive you two walked away alive. Not everyone can say that after facing one of the Sannin."
Her words carried no sarcasm. Orochimaru was practically a living legend, and surviving an encounter with him was no small feat.
But Kei only smirked faintly.
Orochimaru was powerful, yes. Dangerous, without question. But terrifying? Not in Kei's eyes. Not anymore.
"Never overestimate the enemy or underestimate yourself," Kei said calmly. "That's the quickest way to lose before the battle begins."
"Maybe you're right," Ayaka admitted after a pause. "Perhaps he's been mythologized too much." She shifted the subject smoothly. "So what exactly did you find in that little 'visit' with Kenta that you still haven't let go of?"
"Human experimentation." Kei's smile turned thin, his gaze sharp.
"I handed Kenta a list—an authentic one. One of the experiments had direct ties to his clan's ancestors."
"Kenta…?" Ayaka frowned slightly. "That one's always been a little strange. But you recruited him only because of his 'commoner shinobi' identity, didn't you?"
She gave Kei a pointed look. She hadn't forgotten the way he'd courted Kenta right in front of her—the move had reeked of ulterior motives. Still, it was long past now, and she wasn't the type to cling to old grievances.
Ayaka had long since learned to look forward, not back.
Her partnership with Kei had begun from mutual distrust and necessity. Once, Kei had even considered killing her outright to keep his secrets buried. If not for Aoba's intervention that night, she likely wouldn't be standing here.
Yet when she had later approached him with her proposal for cooperation, she had backed it with a wager of immense value—so much so that Kei couldn't refuse.
Now, things had shifted. She had proven her worth, proven she wasn't just baggage but an indispensable partner. So much so that Kei was forced to shield her—for her death would also cripple his plans.
Fortunately, he was now strong enough to do exactly that. Between his formal authority as Head of the Police Force and his hidden ties with the Fourth Hokage, Ayaka had perhaps the strongest protection anyone could ask for.
She was intelligent enough to recognize this. And she conducted herself accordingly—reliable, pragmatic, never arrogant despite holding leverage over Kei.
Their past enmity was buried beneath a working truce, unspoken but firm. Both knew better than to dredge it back up.
"He's no mere 'commoner,'" Kei said dismissively. "His family's background is more complicated than that. Still, his public identity works in our favor. He plays the role well enough. Speaking of which—how's Iori doing?"
Ayaka nodded. "She's progressing steadily. I'm thinking of letting her handle some basic cell extraction soon."
"Teach her properly. What should be said, say. What shouldn't be said—don't," Kei replied, his voice even but carrying weight.
"Also, something amusing—turns out Kenta's real surname might be Senju. And he's asked to meet me."
"Senju…" Ayaka's eyes widened for just a moment before narrowing again in composure.
Her mind raced. Senju lineage, White Zetsu cells, Kei's interest in Orochimaru, and Kenta's peculiar behavior—it all began to fit together.
The thought that Kenta might be tied to the once-mighty Senju clan startled her. But their disappearance from public records… perhaps that too had been no accident.
Ayaka didn't know exactly how powerful the First Hokage truly was, nor did she care to speculate on the greatness of the Senju clan.
What mattered to her was the research. Orochimaru's experiments, the "Senju ancestor" Uchiha Kei had mentioned—whoever that was, their status clearly wasn't low.
The more she thought about it, the more one possibility came to mind. The First Hokage himself.
After all, the man was famed for his Wood Release—a technique Ayaka had never seen, one that was said to be long lost.
It wasn't hard to understand why the Third and his council would want to revive such a bloodline technique. But for that kind of research, materials would be essential.
And what better material than the remains of the First Hokage himself?
"…So Kenta-kun approached you because he wants deeper cooperation, didn't he?" Ayaka asked with a faint smile.
"Most likely." Kei rose to his feet, his tone calm. "He's a smart one. But it depends—if he brings me something I truly want, then maybe. Otherwise, I don't waste time on the useless."
He glanced at her. "Want to come along? We'll treat it like a little team gathering."
"Gladly." Ayaka's lips curved slightly, but her eyes narrowed. "…By the way, about Orochimaru. Those materials of yours—did they come from him as well?"
"Yes." Kei hesitated, then decided to admit it.
"But not directly. I found them in the Land of Grass. I don't know how that bastard got hold of such things, but I saw him—half his body was made of it. And…" Kei's eyes darkened. "…he had eyes like mine."
He hadn't planned on sharing so much. But once asked, he offered a glimpse beneath the veil.
Ayaka pieced it together quickly. Kei's real partner in these experiments wasn't Fugaku. Kei had never shared reports with his clan head. The white cells in particular were locked away so tightly they never left his possession except for trials.
This wasn't the clan's research. This was Kei's. His alone.
It was obvious he didn't trust Fugaku. But that wasn't Ayaka's concern. She was his collaborator, not his rival.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder: If Kei wasn't following Fugaku's lead… where had this obsession begun?
She let the thought slide. But Kei, perhaps deliberately, spun a simple story—a rough sketch mixed with truth and invention, enough to plant a new version of events.
"Eyes like yours? And white cells?" Ayaka frowned. "The Kirigakure battle, wasn't it? You got your inspiration there. Those cells—you took them after defeating him?"
"Yes," Kei replied with an easy shrug. "Strange fellow, but I won."
Won, yes—but the cells hadn't truly been his spoils. Kei chose not to clarify.
"I kept wondering why he was like that. So I started experimenting. First with the eyes of Uchiha Shuu and Uchiha Yuu… and then I added more."
He paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"And as it turns out…"
"I guessed right."