Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

We've reached 30 power stones so an extra chapter, 296, will be included in today's release!

.....

In the dimly lit corridor, footsteps and conversations filled the entire space.

"I once thought your physique was unique, but Shin's body is even more exceptional. His body can accept any externally implanted tissue without rejection including Hashirama's cells, as well as your... cells."

A hint of fanaticism began to emerge on Orochimaru's face. Shin was his most treasured experiment, unmatched in his peculiarities.

"My cells? Did you implant my cells into his body?" Ye Zi looked at Orochimaru with a strange expression. While he was used to the utilization of Hashirama's cells and didn't find that odd, the idea of his own cells being implanted into another person still felt somewhat unsettling.

"That's right," Orochimaru replied with a cold smile.

"My cells are certainly not as valuable as Hashirama's. Why did you implant them into him?" The strange feeling didn't leave Ye Zi's mind. He knew Orochimaru had likely been secretly cultivating his cells.

Orochimaru answered calmly, "At first, I thought the same. According to the records, the First Hokage possessed a 'self-healing' ability, which was a trait of his bloodline and one of the strengths of Hashirama's cells. However, no matter how much we cultivate the cells, they can never match the original. Simply implanting them into a test subject doesn't grant the healing ability. Do you know how Nanako's lost arms grew back?"

"Is it related to my cells?" Ye Zi's eyes flashed slightly.

Orochimaru glanced at him, revealing a cold smile as he said, "Your body is very special, with highly active cells and strong vitality. It resembles the traits of the Uzumaki clan, as well as possessing a primitive version of the First Hokage's characteristics. Your injuries heal faster than normal, and by replenishing energy, you can accelerate that healing even more. In theory, instant regeneration of wounds isn't impossible."

"But the flaw is obvious too. You should be aware by now, it requires you to drain your own lifespan. If it weren't for your body's defensive mechanisms, you would have exhausted your life force long ago during your years in Root."

"When your life force is drained, your cells can devour Hashirama's cells, further enhancing themselves. Regrowing limbs is just one result of that."

After hearing Orochimaru's long explanation, Ye Zi remained indifferent and simply said, "That effect isn't worth much attention."

"Indeed, with so many clones, transplanting an arm is a minor issue."

Orochimaru didn't mind and continued, his tone suddenly growing more passionate, "However, that's not the main point I wanted to make. With so many materials at hand, I can now support my hypothesis."

His gaze passed over Ye Zi's black hair as he added, "What if we could find a balanced value by implanting your cells? Could it enhance Hashirama's cells, even bringing them closer to the strength of the original?"

Ye Zi narrowed his eyes and said, "I don't understand what you mean."

"Don't you?" Orochimaru chuckled in his raspy voice and said, "Balance means coexistence. This doesn't apply to you and Hashirama's cells, but Shin is different. He can perfectly accept both your cells and Hashirama's, creating the conditions for coexistence."

"In other words… I'm creating a 'First Hokage.'"

His cold, raspy words gradually faded away.

In the dim light, Orochimaru's terrifying expression was visible.

A madman who dissects and manipulates the mysteries of the human body.

He had already begun this experiment long ago. The unfortunate part was that the third party necessary for the coexistence of both sets of cells had to be unique. Other than Shin, he had found no other suitable host.

Furthermore, if there were anyone in this world with the potential to become a Wood Release user like the First Hokage, apart from Ye Zi, it would only be Shin.

That was Orochimaru's belief, as he was unaware of the existence of Madara Uchiha or Yamato, who survived one of Orochimaru's experiments. However, Yamato's potential couldn't compare to Ye Zi's or Shin's due to the artificially cultivated cells implanted in him.

Ye Zi retained a skeptical attitude toward Orochimaru's arrogant statements and didn't bother hiding his doubts.

Seeing that Ye Zi didn't believe him, Orochimaru casually said, "Just wait and see."

With that, he quickened his pace, heading toward the lab where Shin was being kept.

Entering the isolated laboratory, the first thing they saw was the young boy strapped to the operating table.

Orochimaru and Ye Zi walked side by side to the table, looking down at the unconscious Shin. His right arm was the same color as Ye Zi's, clearly an arm derived from Hashirama's cells.

Ye Zi still remembered that the last time he had seen Shin, the boy's right arm had four Sharingan implanted in it.

"Shin's body is quite special. After implanting Hashirama's cells, his body can endure the transplant of multiple Sharingan. The right arm I gave to Danzo, embedded with several Sharingan, was part of that deal," Orochimaru said, glancing at the unconscious Shin.

"Danzo, huh…" A trace of coldness flashed through Ye Zi's eyes.

Orochimaru shifted his gaze to Ye Zi and said casually, "Let me give you a heads-up: when you meet Danzo again, be cautious. The arm I gave him had five Sharingan. Given his methods, he won't be satisfied with just five eyes. He'll continue collecting 'three-tomoe' Sharingan. Even I don't know how many Sharingan that arm can ultimately handle."

"Understood." Ye Zi nodded slightly. The power of the Sharingan was certainly not to be underestimated, especially when combined with the monstrous arm Orochimaru had created. Even Orochimaru himself didn't know what kind of strength that arm could grant Danzo.

"That man is all about interests. As long as something benefits Konoha, there's nothing he wouldn't do. Even though we are both rogue ninjas from Konoha, working with him isn't impossible. But…" Orochimaru walked to the workbench and continued, "Given your nature, I doubt you'd cooperate with him."

Ye Zi let out a cold laugh at those words. Indeed, he found Danzo utterly repulsive, and if he had the chance, he'd love to eliminate him.

However, if a partnership benefited both sides, it wasn't out of the question as long as he didn't get the short end of the stick.

"Although Shin doesn't possess Uchiha blood, he's perfectly compatible with Sharingan. I transplanted a newly awakened 'one-tomoe' Sharingan from a young Uchiha into his eye. In less than two years, without any external stimuli, it has matured into a 'three-tomoe' Sharingan."

Orochimaru continued speaking, then picked up a syringe from the workbench.

"Let's test something. I'll need your help to restrain him afterward."

With a cold smile, Orochimaru plunged the syringe into Shin's arm and slowly injected the liquid inside.

In just a few moments, Shin, who had been unconscious, began to stir. His eyelids twitched slightly, and after a while, he suddenly opened his eyes—pitch-black pupils stared back.

When his gaze landed on Orochimaru, a drastic change occurred—hatred and fury surged in his eyes.

Though Shin had never been exposed to the outside world, Orochimaru's very presence was the most visceral external trigger.

Hiss!

His face twisted in anger, and the black pupils quickly transformed into 'three-tomoe' Sharingan.

"Orochimaru!"

With a shout full of rage, Shin's limbs jerked, and he broke free from the black restraints binding him to the table.

Orochimaru remained calm, his expression unchanged.

Ye Zi quickly formed a hand sign, and five or six thick wooden branches shot up from the ground, swiftly wrapping around Shin and binding him back to the operating table.

"Did you see?" Orochimaru let out a mysterious laugh.

Check out the patreon and get 50 chapters in advance -> SaintXI

Currently on Chapter 296 - Reincarnating Yagura