Chapter 121 - Chapter 120: Orochimaru's Experiment, Naruto and Hashirama's Cells!

Uchiha Sasuke didn't even have time to react—his eyes had already gone dull, his consciousness slipping away as if seized in an instant."Is this... an illusion?"Orochimaru narrowed his eyes sharply. He realized that Uzumaki Naruto had just cast a Genjutsu powerful enough to render Sasuke unconscious without even laying a finger on him."What a terrifying Genjutsu," Orochimaru murmured to himself. "It's not inferior to the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. If this brat really possesses the Rinnegan... then…"A chill ran down Orochimaru's spine just imagining the possibility. But the greater the danger, the more exhilarated he felt. His heart, twisted as it was, found joy in the unknown, in the chaos, in the power that danced just out of reach.Naruto simply shrugged, unaffected by Orochimaru's shock or suspicions.He had devised this Genjutsu after observing Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi firsthand. A technique that didn't require hand seals, only eye contact—simple, efficient, and devastatingly effective.Unfortunately, Naruto didn't possess the Sharingan. That meant while it was easy to subdue someone like Sasuke, applying the same Genjutsu to a Kage-level opponent would be much more challenging.Naruto looked down at Sasuke, who lay bloodied and beaten from Kimimaro's earlier assault."Well, that saves me the trouble," Naruto muttered. "Don't waste this blood."He carefully collected Sasuke's blood, handing the vial over to Orochimaru. Then, with a touch of chakra, he performed a healing technique and mended most of Sasuke's injuries.Once Sasuke was stabilized, Naruto resealed him into the large cylindrical container."There are some things Sasuke is better off not knowing... for now."---Elsewhere…Sasuke stirred slightly, unconscious but visibly restless."That Naruto bastard… what does he take me for?" he muttered in his dazed state.Meanwhile, others across different dimensions or observation points watched the scene unfold.Deidara snorted. "Hey, Uchiha RBQ! Looks like someone's not that important after all!"Hatake Kakashi frowned as he watched Naruto's actions."That guy… he's ruthless," Kakashi said quietly. "Even though he claims Sasuke is one of his own, he didn't hesitate to take him down."Yuhi Kurenai added, "Honestly, I suspect that if Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan already, Naruto might've gone as far as to take his eyes!"Naruto, meanwhile, was pondering exactly that."Huh? I wonder... if I could take Sasuke's eyes, could I use them myself?"He glanced at the Nine Tails sealed within him."Kurama, if I had the Sharingan, would you be more obedient?"The Nine Tails growled. "Idiot! You don't even have the ability to wield the Sharingan! Besides, those weak eyes of that Uchiha brat are worthless to me!"Naruto blinked. "Ah… so that's how it is."Kakashi's tone sharpened. "Hey, Naruto. You're not thinking of doing what that Naruto did in the other timeline, are you?"Naruto laughed awkwardly. "Haha, of course not, Kakashi-sensei. Sasuke is my best friend. I wouldn't do anything to hurt him."Kakashi gave him a serious look. "You'd better not be thinking about it. Even that Naruto didn't dare try such a thing recklessly. Transplanting a Sharingan might sound easy, but it's far from it. If the cells aren't compatible, you'll end up like me—unable to even close one eye properly. Worse, it'll weaken your own strength."He added, "You already have the Nine Tails' power. You don't need the Sharingan."Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "I understand, Kakashi-sensei."---Sasuke, who had regained consciousness inside the container, heard part of their conversation echoing in his mind.Good grief…So you were eyeing my Sharingan, huh?Just wait, Naruto.There will be a time when I take the Nine Tails from you. Just wait.---Back in Orochimaru's lair, the experiment was about to begin."I can extract Sasuke's cells from this blood sample," Orochimaru said calmly. "Naruto, it seems you understand clearly that only through cell fusion experiments can we determine whether the Uchiha clan's Sharingan can coexist with the physical body of the Uzumaki clan."He continued, "The same logic applies to the First Hokage's Wood Style. Fortunately, I've already obtained a large quantity of Senju Hashirama's cells, so there's no need to trouble you for that."Orochimaru observed Naruto quietly. The boy's resolve, the decisiveness with which he had subdued Sasuke, had impressed even him."He's serious," Orochimaru thought. "He's actually aiming for the power of both the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara…"Still, the snake-like shinobi issued a stern warning."However, Naruto, I must remind you: I've conducted countless experiments before this. I even obtained the blood of other Uzumaki descendants. But without exception—they all failed.""So you must be prepared. This could end in failure."Naruto nodded calmly. He was already aware of the risks.But time was of the essence. Through the power of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, he saw a faster, more direct path to greatness.A path that could lead him to the realm of the Sage of Six Paths."Let's begin," Naruto said. "Use my cells along with those of Uchiha Sasuke and the First Hokage. Let's see how compatible they really are."Orochimaru paused, then grinned—a thin, hungry smile."This kid… really is something special."---He also knew—this would not be easy.Even if cell compatibility was proven in the lab, applying it in reality was another story entirely.If things were so simple, Orochimaru would have succeeded long ago in obtaining Uchiha Sasuke's body.After all, the power of the Sharingan could only be fully awakened in a true Uchiha vessel.Similarly, the fearsome power of the Wood Style was only brought to its full potential when wielded by the Sage Body of Senju Hashirama.Still…Orochimaru's long tongue slithered from his mouth, licking the corner with an expression of pure thrill."This experiment… is too fascinating!"If it worked, he mused, Naruto might become strong enough to wipe out the Akatsuki once and for all.And then—Naruto could take the Rinnegan from Pain and finally obtain Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan.A perfect trade.From Orochimaru's perspective, he stood to gain everything—and lose nothing."Alright then, Naruto. Let's begin the experiment."---They proceeded into the underground laboratory.Yakushi Kabuto was already waiting, calm and collected. Kimimaro had already briefed him on everything that had happened, so Naruto's appearance didn't shock him.As soon as Orochimaru entered, his demeanor shifted.Gone was the weak, pale figure.Now he was fully alert, his eyes gleaming with purpose.There was nothing in this world that made Orochimaru feel more alive than the thrill of scientific discovery."During the coming days, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru said in an unusually polite tone, "feel free to explore my base."He took Naruto's blood sample with great care.Seeing the sincerity and professionalism in Orochimaru's eyes, Naruto felt reassured."Well, I am curious about the kind of creepy and twisted things he's hiding in this place…" Naruto thought to himself with a smirk.---Time passed.No one knew exactly how long. The laboratory lights glowed dimly, casting long shadows on the walls.Orochimaru's eyes were bloodshot. His face was pale from exhaustion, but his hands didn't stop. The scalpel glinted, the cells separated, the fusion process began again and again.Finally, he looked up, eyes wide with disbelief."Naruto's cells… they fused perfectly with the cells of Senju Hashirama!"He gasped in awe. "This is incredible! Even the cells from that woman, Tsunade, couldn't achieve this level of compatibility!"He stared at the fusion matrix, his fingers trembling with anticipation."Could it be… is Naruto related by blood to Senju Hashirama? Or is his Uzumaki lineage stronger than we thought?"Orochimaru's voice trembled.If this succeeded… then Naruto was not just a container of the Nine Tails.He was something far more dangerous.He could very well be… the successor of both Senju and Uchiha.And the next god of the Shinobi world.---To Be Continued...