pdf-ebookys Chapter 129 Danzo's Suspicion, and Orochimaru's Invitation!
Chapter 129 Danzo's Suspicion, and Orochimaru's Invitation!
Chapter 129 Danzo's Suspicion, and Orochimaru's Invitation!
Leaves, underground roots.
Beneath the dim dome, Danzo stood with his hands behind his back on the high observation platform, looking down at the busy testing team below.
His bandaged face was hidden in the shadows, with only his left eye showing.
He was like a beast lurking in the darkness, coldly watching everything below.
The testing room was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the darkness where Danzo was located.
Several inspectors in white coats were gathered around the stone platform, carefully handling the various fragments collected from the land of rivers.
Fragmented bones, dried tissue samples, solidified culture medium residue, and rubbings of seals eroded by sand and gravel.
The instrument emitted a slight hum, and chakra fluctuations echoed in the testing chamber, each beat tugging at Danzo's nerves.
There is only one reason why Danzo was so concerned and even personally came to oversee the event.
That was the report handed to him, which clearly stated: suspected interstitial cells!
The moment Danzo saw the report, a shadowy look appeared in his single eye.
He didn't speak, but just snorted and placed the report on the table.
The sudden increase in atmospheric pressure caused the Root ninja who delivered the intelligence to tremble slightly.
Even though cold sweat was sliding down the edge of the mask from his forehead, he didn't dare to reach out and wipe it away.
Danzo is standing here now, waiting for the latest test results.
It is an indisputable fact that something that could be "Hashira cells" has appeared in the enemy's base.
Although it was only a suspicion, seeing the experimental remains that resembled trees with his own eyes was enough to confirm the answer. So, the remaining question was: how did the other party obtain this thing?
The answer seems obvious.
Aside from Danzo, who possessed Hashirama's cells, only Orochimaru, who collaborated with him, had them.
Orochimaru has now begun to frequently leave Konoha, searching for experimental subjects and various materials for research.
However, Danzo was well aware that Orochimaru had never stopped researching Hashirama cells in his underground laboratory all these years.
However—what Danzo didn't quite understand was when Orochimaru came into contact with Izumi Taketori?
And why would you give the precious "Hashiro cells" to the other party?
He knew Orochimaru's personality very well. The former genius had now completely sunk into his research and didn't care much about others.
Power, status, and villages have all lost their meaning in Orochimaru's eyes.
He was no longer one of the three legendary ninjas who craved recognition; he was now a cold-blooded snake with only knowledge and eternity in his eyes.
Orochimaru, who has no respect for life, no longer sees many constraints. In his eyes, the village is just a place where he can better conduct his research.
Would someone like that easily hand over Hashirama cells to someone else?
Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly, several possibilities flashing through his mind.
Perhaps Orochimaru and Izumi Taketori reached some kind of deal, exchanging Hashirama cells for something the other party possessed.
Alternatively, it's not impossible that the other party stole a copy when they infiltrated Konoha.
Another possibility arose in Danzo's mind: there might be some deeper level of cooperation between Orochimaru and Taketori Izumi.
If that's the case, things are more complicated than he imagined.
Orochimaru, who possesses Hashirama cells and countless forbidden techniques, and Izumi Taketori, who simultaneously possesses the Byakugan, Sharingan, and Shikotsumyaku.
It would be dangerous for the two sides to cooperate, because Orochimaru might break free from his control and develop in an uncontrollable direction.
But at the same time—
Danzo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a greedy smile.
This also means that what the other party possesses is far more abundant than the scraps he salvaged from that base.
He wanted to obtain all of these things: the reaction mechanism between Hashirama cells and the Sharingan, the combination results of Hashirama cells and Shikotsumyaku, and the improved version of the Uzumaki clan's sealing technique.
"Has the report not come out yet?" Danzo's cold voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone below.
A testing personnel looked up, holding a newly completed test report in his hands, quickly walked up to the observation platform, knelt on one knee, and presented the report with both hands.
"Lord Danzo, the preliminary test results are in." The tester's voice carried a hint of suppressed tension.
"Residual cellular features were indeed detected in the bone fragment samples brought back from the land of rivers."
"The match with existing interstitial cell samples from the root is extremely high!"
Danzo took the report and quickly scanned it with his one eye.
Those densely packed data and terms were like nothing to him; he only cared about the conclusion written at the bottom: the homology exceeded ninety percent.
"Homologousity—" Danzo repeated the word in a low voice, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
A homology of over 90% means that the cells in the other party's possession can be definitively identified as interstitial cells.
And this source is either Danzo, or ———
"Orochimaru," Danzo uttered the name, his voice eerily calm.
He closed the report, handed it to the Root ninja beside him, and turned to walk deeper into the observation platform.
Footsteps echoed through the empty underground space, each one deep and powerful.
"Go and investigate!" Danzo's voice came from ahead. "Find out the relationship between Orochimaru and Taketori Izumi."
"yes!"
A response came from behind.
Danzo stopped and looked back at the busy testing team below.
Those white figures were busy under the lights, like chess pieces on a chessboard, being placed one by one in their proper positions.
Taketori Izumi River————Orochimaru————
He silently repeated the two names in his heart, a near-mad light flashing in his single eye.
He does not allow anyone to escape his control, and all their actions and achievements must belong to him.
On the other side, in Orochimaru's laboratory.
The cold laboratory was filled with the smell of formaldehyde mixed with other chemicals.
Rows of culture tanks were neatly arranged along the wall, with various strangely shaped biological samples soaking in pale green nutrient solution.
Orochimaru stood in front of the operating table, his hands immersed in a clear solution, holding a small tissue sample in his surgical forceps, preparing to place it under a microscope for observation.
A small snake silently climbed up his wrist, its scales gleaming with a cold, eerie light.
It opened its mouth and spat out a small scroll, the surface of which was covered with the snake's unique mucus, reflecting slightly under the light.
"Um?"
Orochimaru frowned slightly, a look of doubt on his face.
He put down the surgical forceps, wiped the solution off his hands, then picked up the scroll and gently pulled it open.
A pair of snake-like eyes quickly scanned the contents, narrowing slightly before taking in all the information in a moment.
"He really is—a rather unqualified collaborator!"
His voice was deep and hoarse, with a hint of a smile, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, revealing a meaningful curve.
This information was passed to him earlier by Izumikawa in the manner agreed upon at the time.
However, Orochimaru had been engrossed in an important experiment these past few days and hadn't collected the items in time.
Now it seems that things have settled down over there, and that old dog Danzo has probably already come looking for us.
Danzo's roots should already know about the leak of Hashirama's cells by now.
Given Danzo's personality, he would inevitably suspect him.
After all, in Konoha, besides Danzo himself, only Orochimaru possessed Hashirama's cell samples.
However, Orochimaru didn't seem to care.
It's just suspicion. His relationship with Danzo has always been purely cooperative, a mutual exploitation where each gets what they need.
Danzo needed his research abilities to advance those shady projects, and Danzo also needed the resources and protection he provided to continue his research.
This relationship is both fragile and strong. As long as both sides still have value to each other, they won't easily break off relations. Moreover, Danzo still needs Danzo to advance many things.
What can be researched using only those useless roots?
In his eyes, those so-called elites were nothing more than a group of mediocre people who could only copy and imitate.
Even when some of his own works were handed over to Genbu for replication, they could not achieve the same effect.
What great use can such trash have?
"It's just that—a bottle of 'Hashirama cells' was lost back then."
Orochimaru chuckled softly, his reply to Danzo already prepared, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalant contempt.
He casually placed the roll on the operating table, picked up the tissue sample, put it back under the microscope, and continued to ponder while adjusting the focus.
Compared to Danzo's reaction, he was more concerned about the content behind the intelligence.
Another trade invitation!
His last deal with Izumi was very profitable.
Although Tsunade suffered a complete loss, the tailed beast chakra, as well as some ideas and directions, greatly accelerated his research progress.
In particular, the eight-tailed eagle fragment has grown considerably after this period of cultivation, enough for him to carry out the next experiment.
This time, Izumi invited him to the Land of Water!
Currently, Kirigakure is undergoing a brutal purge under the policies of the Fourth Mizukage.
Those families with bloodline limits were pushed into the abyss one by one; their members were killed, their bloodlines were severed, and their corpses were disposed of at will.
For Orochimaru, this was nothing short of a treasure trove with its doors wide open.
Bloodline limit ninja—that was the experimental subject he had always dreamed of.
In particular, the major clans of Kirigakure, such as the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku, the Yuki clan's Ice Release, and various other rare bloodline limits, were all objects of his desire to study.