It was obvious that Orochimaru's "small amount" didn't really mean small. Of course, by his standards, perhaps it did.
Experiments were always wasteful. Maybe this was why Orochimaru had strayed from the usual path—without materials, one would be tempted to take what wasn't theirs. Some might call it ambition; others, madness.
The pain from the syringe was real, yet Hayashi grinned at Orochimaru. Clearly, the teacher hadn't planned to spare him any discomfort.
It seemed the rhythm was always one of voluntary blood donation—though a proper transfusion cost much more than effort.
Then Orochimaru shocked Hayashi further. After preserving the blood, he casually removed his white coat… and his jacket.
"Teacher, you're not asking for… body compensation, right?" Hayashi asked hesitantly. Some rumors about Orochimaru's darker tendencies crossed his mind.
Orochimaru sighed quietly. His disciple was capable, but his thoughts sometimes jumped to odd conclusions.
"Come, spar with me," Orochimaru said.
Hayashi blinked. Was this necessary? He had always assumed Jiraiya was the more aggressive one in such matters, but rumors were unreliable.
Seeing Hayashi's puzzled expression, Orochimaru shook his head.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm testing the effect of my softening joints. I don't have another suitable opponent, so I'll use you. Fighting is the best way to observe the body—it may even inspire my research."
Hayashi thought it over. Orochimaru's so-called softening joint experiment seemed like the early prototype of what would later become soft body modification. Whether Orochimaru foresaw that far ahead or not, the Third Hokage's oversight had limited his experiments.
Hayashi knew forbidden techniques like that required living subjects. For the future Orochimaru, experimentation was as natural as eating or drinking—but for now, it remained a dangerous temptation.
Following Orochimaru, they moved to a small training area at the back of the lab.
"This is mainly for recording Taijutsu data. While Sharingan may be used, genjutsu and high-destruction moves are prohibited," Orochimaru warned.
"Of course, I'll only use Taijutsu," Hayashi replied.
Orochimaru produced a kunai from his belt, regarding Hayashi with a calculating gaze.
"Show me what you've learned recently," Orochimaru said, positioning himself. Two shadow clones flanked the arena, silently recording the combat for data.
Hayashi inhaled deeply. The blood-red tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.
In an instant, he became a blur, almost stretching into a long shadow as he surged forward. Dust and smoke trailed behind him, his figure nearly invisible.
Even without lightning chakra stimulating his body, his speed rivaled what he had achieved on the battlefield in the Land of Rain. Months of training had borne fruit.
Clash!
Metallic sounds erupted as their weapons met, sending shockwaves through the air. Orochimaru had not used ninjutsu, so Hayashi held back from lightning-enhanced strikes, relying on pure skill.
Their kunai collided dozens of times, until finally Orochimaru's left-hand kunai shattered.
Orochimaru's eyelids twitched. Hayashi's Taijutsu was reminiscent of Tsunade's: tremendous strength paired with incredible agility.
Unlike Tsunade, however, Hayashi combined speed and power perfectly. The comparison in Orochimaru's mind drifted briefly to the Third Raikage.
Orochimaru tossed the broken kunai aside, aiming a precise punch at Hayashi's ribs.
Hayashi evaded slightly, then readied a counter, only to be met by a rapid two-hit palm strike aimed at his chin.
Hayashi intercepted with his kunai, not holding back. Orochimaru's strength now approached Quasi-Kage level; restraint was pointless.
The teacher leapt instantly, striking at Hayashi from a seemingly impossible angle.
Hayashi tilted his head, grabbing Orochimaru's wrist midair, halting the momentum.
With a step forward, Hayashi drove a knee toward Orochimaru's abdomen.
Yet Orochimaru, using the wrist as leverage, twisted his body ninety degrees, dodging the attack in an unnerving posture.
Hayashi hurled another kunai—but Orochimaru bent and contorted unnaturally, dodging with impossible flexibility.
The movement mirrored the infamous Japanese head-tilting girl Hayashi had seen on the Internet in a previous life.