Chapter 302: White Zetsu Test Subject; Yakushi Kabuto Wants to Improve! [HN]

The underground laboratory beneath Orochimaru’s facility was filled with a cold atmosphere and the smell of disinfectant.

Chiya silently appeared inside the laboratory.

His eyes immediately fell upon the specially prepared operating table.

Uchiha Aoki’s corpse lay quietly there, and his face had been treated so that it was no longer horrifying.

But the bloody hollows where his eyes had been were still shocking to look at.

Orochimaru stood beside him, holding a thick report in his hand.

His golden snake eyes gleamed with calm and rational light beneath the dim illumination.

Seeing Chiya, he lowered the report and spoke in his hoarse voice.

“Chiya-kun, you’re here.”

“What are the results?”

Chiya got straight to the point, his gaze sweeping over Aoki’s corpse.

“Very interesting, but also confusing.”

Orochimaru licked his lips and picked up the report.

“The preliminary examination of the corpse shows no significant difference from the report submitted by the ANBU.

The time of death was more than two months ago. There were no obvious toxins or traces of chakra with any specific attribute inside the body.

Apart from the violent injuries around the eye sockets, the rest of the body was intact, and there was no large-scale damage to the meridian system.”

He paused and looked at Chiya.

“In other words, from the perspective of a conventional autopsy, this was simply a clean and precise eye-removal operation with a clear objective. The killer was highly experienced and left behind no clues pointing to themselves.

It is understandable that the ANBU could not find anything.”

Chiya showed no surprise after hearing this. It was about what he had expected.

He nodded and turned to leave.

Since Orochimaru had not found any breakthrough for the time being, he needed to investigate the matter from other angles.

For example, strengthening the village’s security or tracing the Sharingan through black market channels.

“Wait, Chiya-kun.”

Orochimaru’s voice sounded again, carrying barely suppressed excitement.

“The conventional examination is indeed finished, but… I discovered something ‘unconventional.'”

Chiya stopped and turned around.

Orochimaru picked up a slender syringe from the nearby instrument table.

Inside was a viscous liquid emitting a strange pale green glow.

“This is a highly active biological stimulant I recently developed. I originally intended to use it to observe how Jugo’s cells react under extreme conditions…

But while examining this corpse, I accidentally discovered that the cellular activity in the subcutaneous tissue of his right arm…”

“When exposed to a tiny amount of a similar substance, it showed an extremely weak resonance reaction that should not have existed.”

As he spoke, he walked to the operating table and precisely inserted the needle into Aoki’s upper right arm.

He slowly injected the green liquid.

“This corpse has been dead for too long, and most of its cells have already lost their activity. Normally, there should be no reaction at all.

But if it was exposed to or even eroded by some special substance with an extremely powerful ability to assimilate or parasitize over a long period of time, then under certain stimuli, perhaps a small amount of residue could be ‘awakened’…”

Before Orochimaru could finish speaking, the skin on Aoki’s right arm suddenly began to writhe and bulge unnaturally.

The skin then violently split open under the gaze of Chiya and Orochimaru.

A viscous white substance resembling sludge quickly crawled out.

It twisted and took shape at a visible speed, and in the blink of an eye, it formed a strange humanoid creature with a completely white body and blurred facial features.

“This is…”

Chiya’s pupils suddenly contracted.

White Zetsu!

Although the White Zetsu before him was smaller, its aura was weak, and its eyes were empty without the slightest sign of intelligence, Chiya could never mistake it.

This should be one of the White Zetsu created by Uchiha Madara using the Gedo Statue and Hashirama’s cells.

Almost instinctively, the chakra inside Chiya began to circulate.

The power of the Rinnegan was almost about to surge out of his body and take control of it.

But at the moment the power was about to erupt, he forcibly stopped himself.

Because he could clearly sense that the White Zetsu that had crawled out of Aoki’s corpse was nothing more than an empty shell.

It had no self-awareness at all.

Even its basic life force was so weak that it was almost impossible to detect.

It was more like a “puppet” with some kind of preset program, or perhaps a…

Spore clone?

While Chiya’s thoughts raced, Orochimaru reacted extremely quickly.

He rapidly formed several hand seals.

Several sealing runes instantly lit up around the operating table.

A powerful restraining field, like invisible chains, firmly bound the newly formed White Zetsu to the operating table as it instinctively seemed to try to move.

“Ugh… ugh…”

White Zetsu let out meaningless, hoarse sounds and struggled helplessly against the seal.

Its eyes remained empty.

Orochimaru’s golden snake eyes were fixed on the White Zetsu on the operating table.

The fanaticism in his eyes was almost overflowing.

He stuck out his tongue and excitedly licked the corner of his mouth.

“Incredible… absolutely incredible! What kind of creature is this?

It is definitely not any known summoning beast or modified organism! Its cellular structure… is filled with vitality and an extremely powerful ability to change.

And…

I can feel it! That familiar, immense vitality inside its body… Those are the First Hokage’s cells!”

Chiya looked at the restrained White Zetsu, then at the hole in Aoki’s right arm where it had emerged.

He already understood what had happened.

Uchiha Aoki had probably not been killed and had his eyes stolen by some external killer.

He had most likely been parasitized or replaced by a White Zetsu.

The real Aoki may have been killed much earlier.

This White Zetsu had disguised itself as him and infiltrated the Uchiha Clan.

Once the time was right, it had “removed” the Sharingan and then allowed this disguised body to “disappear” and die in a way that seemed reasonable.

It was just unclear why this White Zetsu clone seemed to have encountered some kind of problem.

It had failed to completely disappear or transfer itself, leaving behind part of its “original body” inside Aoki’s corpse until it was activated by Orochimaru’s special stimulant.

Could this have happened because of what he had done to Uchiha Madara and caused his death?

“Chiya-kun!”

Orochimaru suppressed his excitement and turned toward Chiya, his eyes burning with anticipation.

“You recognize this creature, don’t you? Tell me, what exactly is it? This is crucial to my research… No, to our research!”

Chiya remained silent for a moment.

The existence of White Zetsu was connected to the core secrets of Uchiha Madara and the Eye of the Moon Plan.

But Orochimaru was currently under the control of Kotoamatsukami and was absolutely trustworthy.

Moreover, his scientific abilities might prove useful in the future.

“It is called White Zetsu.”

Chiya finally spoke in a low voice.

“It is a biological weapon mass-produced using the Gedo Statue and the First Hokage’s cells.

They possess extremely powerful transformation and infiltration abilities. They can perfectly imitate another person’s chakra and appearance, and can even move rapidly underground.”

“The First Hokage’s cells?!”

Orochimaru’s voice became distorted by extreme shock and excitement.

“Something like this was created using the First Hokage’s cells… Hahaha, wonderful!

This is the true mystery that approaches the origin of life!”

Orochimaru looked at the struggling White Zetsu on the operating table as though he were looking at the most precious treasure in the world.

“Chiya-kun, please give this specimen to me!

I have a feeling that by studying it, we can not only uncover the secrets of White Zetsu, but also make breakthroughs in the application of Hashirama’s cells, biological disguise, and anti-disguise technology!”

Chiya looked at the fanatical Orochimaru, then glanced at the empty-eyed White Zetsu.

He nodded.

“All right. But the research must be conducted under absolute secrecy and strict control. All research results must be reported to me immediately.”

“Of course! Don’t worry, Chiya-kun. My laboratory is one of the safest places in the world!”

Orochimaru eagerly assured him, his eyes already fixed on White Zetsu again. He had already begun planning where to start cutting.

Chiya took one last look and did not linger.

With a flash, he left the laboratory filled with secrets.

When he returned to the Hokage’s office, the night outside had already grown deep.

He rubbed his brow and had just sat down to organize his thoughts when someone gently knocked on the office door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a gentle figure walked inside.

It was Yakushi Nono.

She was still wearing her simple kimono, a gentle smile on her face and warmth in her clear eyes.

Behind her followed a serious-looking boy wearing round glasses.

It was Yakushi Kabuto.

“Chiya.”

Nono’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of happiness at seeing the person she loved.

“Am I disturbing your work?”

“No. I just finished dealing with a few things.”

A gentle smile appeared on Chiya’s face as he turned his gaze toward Kabuto.

“Kabuto came too.”

“Chiya-sensei.”

Kabuto respectfully bowed, his posture flawless.

Nono walked to Chiya’s side and naturally straightened a slightly messy corner of his desk before speaking softly.

“We mainly came today to talk to you about Kabuto.”

She gestured for Kabuto to step forward and continued.

“This child has been improving very quickly in medical ninjutsu and chakra control recently. Even Tsunade-sama has praised him several times.

But he has always been thinking about the orphanage. He wants to do more for everyone there and does not want to simply remain someone who receives care and education.”

Kabuto pushed up his glasses and raised his head.

His eyes were filled with determination as he looked at Chiya.

“Chiya-sensei, I know I’m still immature, and my strength is still very weak.

But I really want to contribute to Konoha and the orphanage.

I don’t want to be protected in a greenhouse forever. I want… I want to become someone who can help everyone.”

His voice carried the persistence of a young boy and a faint, almost imperceptible plea.

Chiya looked at the Kabuto before him.

In the original timeline, this was the boy whose fate had been full of hardships and who would eventually transform into a dragon.

Now, under Nono’s care and in Konoha’s relatively peaceful environment, his eyes remained clear.

They were filled with the drive to improve and a sense of belonging toward his “home.”

“What do you want to do?”

Chiya asked gently.

Kabuto took a deep breath.

He had clearly prepared himself for this.

“I hope… I can join Konoha’s Medical Corps or Intelligence Division and start with the most basic missions.

I can use my free time to study while gaining practical experience.

I believe that through actual missions and work, I can grow faster and better repay Konoha and the orphanage that took me in.”

Nono added,

“I have talked with him and evaluated his abilities and character.

I think allowing him to appropriately take part in some peripheral village missions and take on some responsibilities would indeed benefit his growth.

Of course, the final decision is up to you.”

Chiya fell into thought.

Kabuto’s talent was beyond question.

In the original timeline, whether it was medical ninjutsu or his later abilities as a spy, he had reached an exceptional level.

Allowing him to come into contact with the darker side of the world too early might not be appropriate.

But completely keeping him outside the mission system could also make him feel that he was not trusted or prevent him from truly integrating into Konoha’s system.

Kabuto’s observational skills, analytical abilities, and medical knowledge might prove unexpectedly useful in internal investigations.

“Your idea is good, Kabuto.”

Chiya finally spoke.

“Konoha needs every responsible and capable member.

Since you have made up your mind, I can give you an opportunity.”

Kabuto’s eyes instantly lit up.

He nervously waited for what would come next.

“I will arrange for you to study at Konoha Hospital. At the same time, you will study basic intelligence organization and analysis techniques with the Intelligence Analysis Division.”

Chiya looked at Kabuto, his tone becoming serious.

“Remember, whether it is medical assistance or intelligence work, both require an extremely strong sense of responsibility, patience, and confidentiality.

This is not merely a job. It is also a way to protect Konoha and the people who are important to you.”

“I understand! Chiya-sensei!

I will strictly follow the rules, study hard, and I absolutely will not betray your trust or disappoint Nono-sama’s expectations!”

Kabuto excitedly promised, his body trembling slightly from excitement.

Nono also smiled with relief.

Her gaze toward Chiya was filled with gratitude and tenderness.

“I’ll have the ANBU notify you of the specific arrangements.”

Chiya nodded at Kabuto.

“Go back and prepare for now.”

“Yes!!”

Kabuto bowed deeply once again.

Only after Nono gestured to him did he suppress his excitement and leave the office with light steps.

Only Chiya and Nono remained in the office.

Nono walked behind Chiya and extended her slender fingers, gently massaging his temples.

Her voice was like a warm spring.

“Thank you, Chiya. You gave that child hope and direction.”

Chiya relaxed against the back of his chair.

Feeling the gentle warmth and perfectly measured pressure from her fingertips, he closed his eyes and spoke.

“He earned it himself. Konoha’s future will need their generation to support it.”

“Mm.”

Nono softly responded and said nothing more.

She simply focused on easing his fatigue.

Outside the window, the moonlight was hazy, while the office remained warmly illuminated.