Starting with the Uchiha clan, they began cultivating demonic arts.

Chapter 93 Hashirama Cells and the Uchiha

Upon hearing Uchiha Tou's words, Orochimaru's expression changed slightly, and he spoke in a low, hoarse voice:

"How do you know about this kind of thing?! Did Danzo tell you?"

Research on Hashirama cells and Wood Release is a taboo topic in Konoha; apart from a few high-ranking officials, almost everyone else knows nothing about it.

After all, the so-called Hashirama cells were left behind by the founder of Konoha, the First Hokage. Studying the corpse of an ancestor is obviously not a good thing.

Moreover, the number of ninjas and test subjects who died during the Wood Release experiments was definitely over three digits, causing a great uproar in Konoha and making the research on Hashirama's cells a top secret.

Even now, in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, apart from the test subjects and researchers, it is estimated that only Danzo and the Third Hokage know that the research on Hashirama's cells has not been stopped.

Orochimaru knew his teacher, the Third Hokage, very well. Even if the Third Hokage knew about the research on Hashirama's cells, he would definitely pretend not to know and would not leak it. So the only person who could have leaked the secret was Danzo.

"How I know this isn't important. What's important is that the teacher should have interstitial cells, right? If you just give me a sample of interstitial cells, I'm willing to complete this task!"

After Uchiha Touyu finished speaking, Orochimaru's expression changed. After a moment, he smiled slightly and nodded.

"Alright, if you're willing to complete this task, I'll provide you with Hashirama cells!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Touyu was slightly taken aback. The saying goes, "ask for the sky, then bargain when it comes down." When he first made this request, Uchiha Touyu never expected to get Hashirama's cells so easily.

"Could it be that my cheap teacher values ​​this operation highly? That makes sense; right now, the only one left who can rival him for the Hokage title is Minato Namikaze."

"In the previous battle against the Cloud Ninja, Konoha was completely wiped out, and Minato Namikaze, as the commander, was naturally to blame. Under these circumstances, Orochimaru's chances of taking over the position naturally increased significantly."

Although Minato Namikaze's failure was actually more due to the overwhelming strength of the Cloud Ninja, any Kage-level ninja from Konoha who was in command would certainly not have fared well.

But no matter what, failure is failure, and after such a defeat, the Golden Flash's prestige naturally dropped significantly.

Aside from the Yellow Flash, the only people who could rival Orochimaru for the Hokage position were Tsunade and Jiraiya. However, neither of them cared about the Hokage position at all, and they even avoided it like the plague.

It's safe to say that if Orochimaru wins this war, the Hokage position will be his for the taking, barring any unforeseen circumstances. No wonder he's going to such lengths.

...No, he considered Hashirama cells a huge investment, but in reality, these cells can multiply. For Orochimaru, Hashirama cells were just a big secret, and giving away a little bit of them wouldn't be a loss at all.

Orochimaru's reluctance to let Hashirama's cells leak out was more about secrecy than about how precious the materials were.

It is probably because of these two points that Uchiha Touya obtained Hashirama's cells so easily.

"In that case, it's a deal. Give me the mission information!"

In fact, after mastering the Kusanagi Sword into the Demon-Slaying Blade, Uchiha Touyu was no longer so opposed to this mission. Now, not only could he obtain two ninjutsu techniques, but he could also get something as valuable as Hashirama cells, so Uchiha Touyu naturally agreed without hesitation.

Orochimaru was also decisive. He didn't even wait for Uchiha Hiyu to go on the mission before sending over the mission rewards, which included his two original ninjutsu and a small vial of Hashirama cells.

However, as Orochimaru handed over the Hashirama cells, he looked at Uchiha Tou and spoke softly:

"I have been studying Hashirama cells for quite some time, but so far, I have not been able to integrate Hashirama cells into the human body without any side effects, and I haven't even had a successful Wood Release test subject."

"In my research on Hashirama's cells, I also discovered a characteristic: Hashirama's cells represent the ultimate Yang Release chakra. If there is Yin Release chakra that has also reached its ultimate level to neutralize it, it might be able to counteract its terrible backlash."

Having said that, Orochimaru stopped talking and just stared at Uchiha Tou with great interest.

Uchiha Touyu picked up the Hashirama cells and chuckled softly:

"At the Nakagawa Shrine, where the Uchiha clan often holds grand meetings, there is a secret underground chamber. Inside the chamber is a stone tablet that records some secrets about the Sharingan..."

"One of the sayings is: 'Two mutually exclusive forces, when combined, become one, and thus all things in the universe can be obtained!'"

Seeing that his cheap disciple wanted Hashirama's cells, Orochimaru clearly guessed something, which is why he asked to test the waters. Uchiha Hiyu simply told him the answer directly.

"Two mutually exclusive forces, when combined, become one, and thus all things in the universe can be obtained..."

Orochimaru pondered the words several times, then a look of sudden realization appeared on his face:

"So my guess was right after all. To control the power of Hashirama's cells, what is needed is not powerful Yang Release chakra, but rather the ultimate Yin Release chakra."

"So when the Senju clan ninjas conducted Hashirama cell experiments, almost all of them turned into giant trees due to cell rampage. This was because the Senju clan was only proficient in Yang Release and not in Yin Release!"

"It seems the best test subjects for conducting Wood Release experiments are actually from the Uchiha clan!"

However, when this was mentioned, Orochimaru shook his head. The Uchiha clan was quite powerful, and they even formed their own system in Konoha. Even if he became Hokage, he would probably have a hard time getting Uchiha test subjects.

Having not experienced the Nine-Tails' rampage, Konoha's attitude towards the Uchiha clan was merely somewhat indifferent; it hadn't yet reached the point of being wary or treating them as a hypothetical enemy.

Under these circumstances, Orochimaru didn't want to offend the Uchiha clan.

As Orochimaru pondered this, his gaze fell upon Uchiha Tou, but Uchiha Tou seemed to have already seen through his cheap teacher's thoughts, and upon seeing his gaze, he simply shook his head.

"Don't bother me. I have my own way of digesting interstitial cells. I don't want to be your guinea pig!"

"That's such a pity..."

Orochimaru's face showed a visible look of regret, which made Uchiha Touu speechless. His cheap teacher did have some research skills, but unfortunately, his moral character was inversely proportional to his research skills.

If Uchiha Touyu really dared to let Orochimaru modify his Hashirama cells, who knows what this mad scientist would do.

(End of this chapter)