Chapter 57: The Transaction
Orochimaru didn't mind Tsunade's explosive temper in the slightest. He looked up and smiled. "I had heard about this genius before, but I didn't expect him to have talent in this area as well."
Tsunade said faintly, "What, you want to take him as your disciple?"
"You're too late. He is now Sakumo-senpai's disciple."
Orochimaru smiled and said nothing. Of course, he wasn't so uninformed as to not know this. Konoha's White Fang was so famous that even if he didn't take on a disciple with great fanfare, the news would still spread throughout the village. Not to mention Genichi's outstanding performance in the Chunin Exams. It was just that Genichi himself had a low-key personality, usually either out on missions, training by himself, or at the Konoha Hospital.
Although Tsunade's attitude was not good, she still answered many of Orochimaru's questions.
Orochimaru said, as if inadvertently, "If we had taken this step back then, perhaps so many people wouldn't have had to die."
Tsunade's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. She naturally knew that Orochimaru was talking about the Hashirama Cell experiment project. At that time, a large number of Konoha ninja had voluntarily participated, but all of them had died tragically after receiving the cell transplants. The losses were too great, so Hiruzen had permanently sealed the project and classified it as top secret.
At that time, there was no such thing as tissue typing; it was just a brute force approach using human wave tactics. Even now, with Orochimaru and Danzō's collaboration, they still didn't have this step of tissue typing, though their methods had improved a lot since the beginning. They chose young children and used more advanced anti-rejection technology. Even so, the experiments failed time and time again.
"Are you thinking of restarting that project?"
"Or do you want me to participate?" Tsunade sneered.
The success rate of matching between close relatives was the highest, but it wasn't absolute. But Tsunade had no such intention.
Seeing Tsunade's attitude, Orochimaru knew it was impossible and didn't say any more.
However, just as he was preparing to leave, Genichi appeared at the door.
Tsunade and Orochimaru both sensed him and turned their heads at the same time.
"Lady Tsunade!" Genichi was very polite, bowing in greeting. He then looked at Orochimaru. "This must be Orochimaru-senpai, right?"
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes held a hint of a smile. "Hehe, I don't believe we've met!"
Genichi smiled. "If I didn't know of you, I'm afraid I wouldn't be worthy of being a ninja of Konoha."
After speaking, he said to Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, I'll come back a little later."
Tsunade waved her hand. "No need. This guy is leaving right now."
Orochimaru looked at Genichi. "Genichi-kun, how about we have a chat?"
Genichi didn't agree immediately, instead looking at Tsunade.
Tsunade turned her head away. "Do as you please."
And so, Genichi and Orochimaru left the Konoha Hospital together.
On a rooftop, the wind blew, sending their hair flying. Since practicing Jiraiya's Needle Jizo (Hari Jizō) technique, Genichi hadn't cut his hair. It had now grown quite long, down to his shoulders. Orochimaru, of course, had a full head of sleek, long hair. The nickname "The Serpent" was well-deserved.
"Genichi-kun, I used the cells of the Ice Release user. You don't mind, do you?" Orochimaru said with a smile.
Genichi quickly replied, "Senpai, you jest. Of course, it's no problem." It wasn't like he had any say in the matter.
Of course, this was just an opening for their conversation. So Genichi also asked directly, "I wonder if senpai has had any success?"
Orochimaru looked at Genichi, a slightly strange look in his eyes. So direct?
But very good.
Orochimaru smiled. "I have indeed had some success. I have you to thank for the tissue-typing technique."
Genichi shook his head. "Although I was the one who proposed tissue typing, the technique was actually developed by Lady Tsunade and her team." This was the truth. His previous medical knowledge base was not enough to develop it. He had only succeeded with Tsunade's help.
"Has senpai already completed the transplant of the Ice Release cells?" Genichi asked, already knowing the answer. Even if the typing was successful, Orochimaru would not directly transplant the cells of an Ice Release user. His ambitions were greater than that. Or rather, his techniques were not so simple and crude. Looking back on Orochimaru's life, he had never simply transplanted someone else's cells directly.
"No, that is not the best choice," Orochimaru said breezily. "Compared to directly transplanting cells, I prefer to study the hidden mysteries within."
Genichi listened and, after a moment of contemplation, nodded. "You are right, senpai. To know the 'how' but not the 'why' is to have but a superficial understanding."
Orochimaru nodded in appreciation. But Genichi was actually thinking, it doesn't hurt to know the 'how' first, and then figure out the 'why' later. He didn't have Orochimaru's resources. If he could, he would of course transplant the cells first, obtain the kekkei genkai, and then go deeper into its study later.
"Genichi-kun, are you interested in participating in my research?" Orochimaru invited. He truly appreciated Genichi and felt he was a talent who could be brought under his wing. As for his status as Sakumo's disciple, so what? It didn't affect anything. After all, he wasn't asking to take Genichi as his own disciple. Most importantly, Genichi had that ambition. Although he looked harmless on the surface, Orochimaru could sense the huge ambition hidden beneath his exterior.
"To be held in such high regard by you, senpai, is my honor."
"However, for the time being, I don't have the energy to devote to research," Genichi said with an apologetic expression. But then, to Orochimaru's slight surprise, his tone changed. "I had some special gains from my last mission. Perhaps senpai will be interested."
Orochimaru's eyebrow raised. "Interesting."
"What special thing?"
Genichi said, "The cells of a Magnet Release (Jiton) Kekkei Genkai user!"
Orochimaru's smile deepened. "A Cloud ninja?" There were not many people in the shinobi world who possessed Magnet Release (Jiton). The possibility of it being from the Sand Village was very small, so it must be from the Cloud.
Genichi nodded. "Yes, a Magnet Release user from the Village Hidden in the Cloud."
Orochimaru nodded. "I am indeed interested. What do you want?"
Genichi didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Senpai, I want to increase my chakra capacity. Do you know of any good solutions?"
Orochimaru began to laugh. "You're very smart!"
Genichi quickly gave a foolish grin. "Just small cleverness." He actually already had a target in mind, such as the Eight-Tails' horn, but he couldn't say it. This was not information he was supposed to know. And the cells of a Magnet Release user were not valuable enough to trade for that anyway. So, he could only play some small tricks.
Orochimaru, however, saw at a glance that Genichi's ambitions were huge, but he was not offended. He liked ambitious people.
And so, after thinking for a moment, Orochimaru said with a wide smile, "To increase your chakra capacity... I do know of one method."
"Human Body Modification."
"The key to chakra capacity lies in the physical body. By modifying the human body to a certain extent, you can make it stronger, and you can also get some other benefits along the way."
"Coincidentally, I have some experience with human body modification."
Genichi immediately bowed. "Thank you, senpai. I am willing to trade the cells of the Magnet Release user for a copy of your data on human body modification."
Hearing this, Orochimaru couldn't help but let out a "hehe" laugh. His long tongue snaked out and licked his lips. "Very good."
"Are you interested in taking a tour of my research base?"
Genichi quickly replied, "It would be my honor!"
(End of Chapter)
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