Chapter 123: Kakashi's Actions
Compared to other test subjects, Kakashi possessed two inherent advantages.
The first was his super-potion, which had never failed him and had an unknown recovery limit. The second was his system, which could passively use chakra to mitigate damage when his life was threatened.
With the help of these two advantages, he could completely disregard ninety-nine percent of the viruses and damage in the ninja world. As long as it didn't exceed his personal tolerance limit, he was the ideal test subject, the perfect research material.
The only thing he needed to worry about was the potential pain involved in the experiments.
Who was the last one to treat him as research material... Oh, that guy named Shinno.
He wasn't sure if Yakushi Nonou's medical ninjutsu was stronger or Shinno's, but the one thing he was certain of was that both of them were weaker than Tsunade.
"If you manage to unearth the secrets of the First Hokage's cells, you might truly surpass Tsunade, one of the Sannin."
"Lady Tsunade's medical prowess is beyond my reach."
Taking the bottled potion Kakashi offered, the white-robed nun had no choice but to agree to his demands this time. Since joining Root, he was the first person to stir a ripple in her heart.
"Child, after the First Hokage's cells are implanted, if there isn't an immediate reaction, the survival rate is less than one percent. Do you truly understand the risks involved?"
"Mere cells," Kakashi scoffed, "they can't kill me."
"It will be very painful."
"More painful than having your heart pierced?"
…
The white-robed nun gently tapped the outside of the bottled potion, pacing back and forth, contemplating the feasibility of the plan again and again. She had fully entered research mode, yet her heart remained conflicted and anxious.
"If this potion is truly so effective that I could also use it, then it should still be me who undergoes the experiment…"
Before she could finish, the man before her, his right hand flashing with purple lightning, powerful Dragon Pulse Chakra coursing wildly.
"Then I'll just have to destroy these cells."
"Stop!"
"Have you considered it carefully?"
With a single burst, the purple lightning incinerated most of the organs cultivated from the First Hokage's cells, leaving only one intact piece.
Kakashi picked up this last container, his right hand pointing at it.
"You have three seconds to think it over. Three, two…"
"Alright, I agree, I agree! Honestly…!"
Kakashi's decisiveness made even the extremely well-mannered Nonou want to blurt out curses. But having never cursed anyone before, she could only protect this last piece of material, keeping it away from the man's clutches.
Having lost so many complete organs cultivated over many years in one go, the nun felt her research had been set back by several years.
"That's better."
Clapping his hands, the silver-haired youth couldn't care less how many First Hokage cells had been lost. Anyway, cultivating these things was simple, and he had no idea how much damage he had inflicted upon the nun's research.
"If you participate in this experiment, I can't treat you like a child anymore."
"Whatever, who asked you to treat me like a child? You're closer to being a child yourself."
"Hatake Kakashi!!! No matter how much you think you understand about it, I still have to tell you, its danger far exceeds your imagination! The agony of having two types of cells simultaneously in one's body is something an ordinary person simply cannot endure. There's a high probability of directly falling into a coma, followed by the First Hokage cells invading, nutrients being plundered, organ failure, and ultimately dying in despair. All the children Lord Orochimaru experimented on in the past died this way. Even now, I haven't come up with any good way to suppress the First Hokage cells' potency, and I don't understand the effects of your potion; whether it can suppress them is also unknown."
"I understand it more than you think."
Kakashi crossed his arms. Not only did he know the effects of Hashirama Cells, but he also knew their side effects. He certainly didn't know as many details as Yakushi Nonou, but when it came to the potential consequences the cells could cause, he completely understood.
"It seems you won't believe me until I demonstrate it."
Activating 'Second Stage Physical Activation,' Kakashi's speed far exceeded the white-robed nun's capture limit. In the blink of an eye, the last piece of material in her hand was already in his.
Using Raikiri, he cut a gash in his own hand. He scooped out the First Hokage cells, which were slightly disgusting and fishy-smelling from the unknown solution, and inserted them into his wound.
Yakushi Nonou immediately lunged forward, trying to stop what, in her eyes, was a reckless and suicidal act, just like her own earlier.
"No!"
Unfortunately, before she could even touch Kakashi, the cells had already invaded the youth's blood vessels. The wound was quickly replaced by a patch of pale skin, which slowly began to spread outwards.
The speed wasn't fast, but there was an unsettling eeriness about it.
Kakashi felt no rejection reaction in his left hand at that moment, nor any pain. As for any premonition of death, there was none.
'This isn't what I expected. Is it too soon for them to take effect?'
With his right hand, he retrieved another bottle of the Intermediate Recovery Potion he had exchanged for earlier. If anything felt off, he would immediately drink the potion. Of course, he wouldn't joke around with his own life.
Even when tempting death, one needed capital.
As the youth was contemplating, he suddenly felt a sharp pain from the wound on his left hand. He initially thought the cells were starting to take effect, but when he turned his head, he discovered that the nun was tightly biting his wound with her mouth. She was even emitting some chakra, and a strong sucking sensation emanated from his hand.
'Is this woman trying to suck the cells out?'
"Let go!"
He forcefully flicked the white-robed nun's forehead. She winced from the pain, loosening her bite slightly, and Kakashi pulled his arm free.
"Ouch."
Clutching her forehead, which was now red and swollen where he'd flicked it, the nun glared at the silver-haired youth. She was truly, truly angry. Very angry.
"Hatake Kakashi!!! What are you doing?!"
"Shouting so loudly won't help. Where's your pen? Start writing."
Taking a deep breath, and seeing that Kakashi wasn't showing any signs of pain, Yakushi Nonou calmed herself. She took off her glasses, revealing a pair of beautiful, calm eyes, and meticulously observed the speed and pattern of the First Hokage cells' spread. The conclusion greatly surprised her.
The speed seemed as if it were being suppressed by something.
Or rather, did Hatake Kakashi's body possess a resistance to the First Hokage's cells?
"No pain, slow spread… Kakashi, have you ever done anything unusual before?"
"Yes, many things."
Summoning his system interface, Kakashi saw 'Abnormal Buff Clearing' in the bottom right corner.
Next to it was a 'Cancel' button.
"Can you specify what kinds of things?"
"Too many to list, but I think I know why."
Pressing the 'Cancel' button, a searing pain surged from his left hand, and the First Hokage cells' spread accelerated several times over.
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