Just now they were fighting for their lives, now they're exchanging ideas like teammates.
This change in atmosphere is truly bizarre.
But Orochimaru doesn't see anything wrong with it.
Kabuto walks out of the base and is surprised to see Orochimaru with two Uchiha.
Out of trust for Orochimaru, Kabuto doesn't ask any questions.
Orochimaru explains nonchalantly, "They've come to work with me. Go prepare the medical lab."
Medical lab?! Kabuto, a former medical ninja, is naturally familiar with this.
Typically, it's used for biological research.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama! What's the research this time? I'll immediately prepare the test subjects."
Orochimaru glances at Itachi, his tongue circling his lips, "Researching the Uchiha, the subject is Itachi."
Kabuto: "... "
Ultimately, Itachi only provides some blood, skin, and bone marrow samples.
"Kawasaki-senpai said Itachi's body is already showing problems. If it's not treated, it'll worsen quickly."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru takes Itachi's cell sample for examination.
He picks up the documentation specially prepared by Kawasaki.
Orochimaru flips through the pages, the document filled with text.
His eyes shift from initial casualness to focused, and a hint of fervor appears on his face.
"Remarkable, remarkable, I've never had these thoughts. How did Kawasaki know?"
【On the Negative Impact of Soul Separation on the Mind】
【Basic Analysis of Yin Release and Yang Release Chakra】
【Evolution and Speculation of the Sharingan】
【Relationship Between the Byakugan, Sage Body, Sage Blood, and Kekkei Genkai】
【Sage Art Speculation and Curse Mark Correlation】
The paper is densely packed with Kawasaki's knowledge reserves and reasonable speculations.
Kawasaki had instructed, if the Kotoamatsukami was successful, to directly inform Orochimaru that he could foresee the future.
Orochimaru is shocked to learn that the Mangekyo Sharingan could predict the future, and he places even more importance on these documents.
"Beep... Beep..."
The analyzer completes the analysis of Itachi's cells.
Orochimaru receives the report and frowns.
"This is?"
He discovers that Itachi's cell activity is abnormal. Some cells are undergoing pathological transformation, and it's a change at the cellular level.
If Kawasaki was present, he would recognize that this is a symptom of leukemia.
Although Orochimaru doesn't know the name of the disease.
This doesn't affect his medical skill.
He quickly discovers that the root of Itachi's illness lies in the erosion of his body by Yin Release Chakra during frequent use of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
As long as Itachi temporarily stops using the Mangekyo, Orochimaru can control the diseased cells.
When Itachi grows older, or his physique strengthens, he will be able to resist the Yin Release erosion of the Mangekyo, and the illness will naturally heal.
"That's great, Itachi!"
Shisui also breathes a sigh of relief.
When he heard that Itachi could only live to be twenty, he couldn't sleep at night.
Fortunately, Kawasaki-senpai's plan was correct. Shisui touches his eyes, these two eyes can't use Kotoamatsukami again for a while.
Thankfully, the two previous times were effective.
"Don't get too happy."
Orochimaru's words bring Shisui back to reality.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan of the Uchiha clan is not stable."
"Overuse can not only lead to vision loss and even blindness, but it can also trigger unknown physical mutations."
Orochimaru flips through 【Evolution and Speculation of the Sharingan】.
He then compares it to 【On the Byakugan, Sage Body, Sage Blood, and Kekkei Genkai】 and another volume of documentation.
In the second volume, he finds an introduction to the Otsutsuki clan.
And the impact of the Otsutsuki bloodline on various Kekkei Genkai in the shinobi world...
"Kekkei Genkai is both a gift from heaven and a curse you can't escape."
Orochimaru says with a sigh.
"The next experiment requires your full cooperation."
For stabilizing the Mangekyo Sharingan, Kawasaki also put forward his own ideas. Even if Itachi could achieve it by transplanting the Mangekyo Sharingan of his relatives.
But Shisui is now an orphan, he has no blood relatives, so he has to consider the second option - implanting Hashirama cells.
But Orochimaru has other plans. He wants to try directly injecting Yang Release Chakra to see what changes it will bring to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
However, injecting chakra into it has never been tried before.
There are only two living test subjects available, Orochimaru needs to replan how to proceed.
His previous arrangements and research topics have all been overturned.
His pursuit of power is no longer solely focused on obtaining the Sharingan.
His ambitions are growing even greater.
Orochimaru quickly gets busy, throwing all the affairs of Otogakure onto Kabuto's shoulders.
Kabuto often helps Orochimaru with experiments, leaving him with little time to spare.
After all, research is a delicate task, shadow clone technique is useless.
Once the shadow clone dissipates, the vast amount of medical data can cause the brain to shut down instantly, and it takes several days to recover.
The Uchiha members brought by Itachi and Shisui quickly solve the problem of Otogakure's manpower shortage.
Third Elder Takuya quickly takes over Kabuto's administrative work in Otogakure, allowing Kabuto to assist Orochimaru for a long time.
Third Elder Uchiha Takuya finally fulfills his long-held desire.
Although Otogakure is not big now, it's enough for him to experience the thrill of power.
Kabuto has no interest in power. His purpose in Otogakure is to assist Orochimaru.
To him, Orochimaru is a superior, a brother, a family member.
As long as he can help Orochimaru-sama, he's willing to do anything.
Itachi and Shisui, on the other hand, work with Orochimaru every day, treating themselves as experimental materials.
If they didn't have absolute confidence in the Kotoamatsukami, Itachi and Shisui would really be afraid of being dissected by Orochimaru.
...
The new Uchiha settlement.
"Sir, the ninja cat has brought news."
Kimi enters with the message.
Kimi's brother, Akatsuki, also has a ninja cat as a summon.
Through summoning, Akatsuki, who is tracking Itachi, can quickly relay information to Kimi.
Kawasaki unfolds the scroll and sees that Orochimaru has started researching Itachi's body.
Itachi's body should be stable.
The next step is development.
【Ding! Congratulations, Host, for significantly altering Kabuto Yakushi's life trajectory.】
Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Palm Sage Art X1
Kawasaki raises an eyebrow, not Sage Mode?
"Kawasaki-sama!"
At this moment, another Uchiha member enters.
"The Third has news."
What's going on with the Third Hokage?
Kawasaki opens it with confusion, and then bursts out laughing.
Danzo, this guy is really restless. He was a pariah in Konoha after digging out Shisui's eyes.
He can only stay at home or in Root, not even daring to step into the Hokage's office.
But he's still scheming, and now he's got his eyes on the Uchiha again.