Chapter 7: Corpse Bone Pulse
"Hmm. My training over this period has finally paid off."
Kenichi showed a simple, honest smile. There was no way he could hide his current state from his teacher.
Besides, training could not stop now. Only by becoming stronger would he have a voice in the future. Kenichi truly wanted to one day study the Rinnegan and the bloodline of the Otsutsuki clan.
And the Divine Tree as well. That kind of existence also greatly interested him.
"I originally thought you might never reach jonin level in your entire life, but now that you are approaching chunin level, there is still some hope."
Orochimaru turned and began walking toward the laboratory, and Kenichi followed.
Orochimaru was not particularly invested in his disciple becoming a chunin. Unless Kenichi displayed genuine jonin level strength, Orochimaru would not see much value in it.
For Orochimaru, jonin was only the starting line. Becoming one simply meant you had the potential to grow strong. Above jonin were elite jonin, then the Sannin and the Kage level shinobi.
In Orochimaru's eyes burned a faint fanaticism.
Above the Kage level, there existed power that surpassed even them. At the very top stood the distant figure of the God of Shinobi.
"Teacher, I have some thoughts about that experiment."
Kenichi leaned closer and spoke in a low voice.
Orochimaru glanced around the area, then casually waved a hand.
Kenichi understood.
Even though there were not many people nearby, Orochimaru clearly had no intention of discussing their research in the open. Kenichi closed his mouth and simply trailed behind him all the way to the underground base.
"Share your thoughts."
Orochimaru sat down in his chair, holding a petri dish in one hand as he studied it, waiting for Kenichi's answer.
"Teacher, this is what I was thinking. When I was doing tests on the mice earlier, I noticed something."
Kenichi briefly laid out his "research findings," then introduced a new concept.
At first, Orochimaru listened with half his mind elsewhere. But as Kenichi continued, his interest gradually sharpened. He straightened a little in his seat.
"What you are calling rejection is very interesting."
He gave Kenichi an approving look.
His disciple did not have outstanding talent on the path of a combat ninja, but when it came to science, Kenichi had excellent instincts.
In truth, Orochimaru had already observed similar phenomena himself, especially in the immortalization methods he was currently researching. Kenichi had simply articulated the idea clearly and systematically.
"So, according to you, we can conduct rejection tests in advance to find subjects who are more compatible with the First Hokage's cells, then try to suppress the rejection in those candidates, correct?"
Orochimaru focused his gaze on Kenichi with obvious curiosity.
Kenichi nodded.
"Yes. And if we do that, teacher, it will greatly reduce how many test subjects we consume, and it will also lower the risk of drawing outside attention."
Every word was framed as a benefit for Orochimaru. Only by doing that could he increase the chances that his suggestion would be accepted.
"I will think about it."
Orochimaru did not immediately agree or refuse, but based on what Kenichi knew of him, that answer meant his interest had already been piqued.
This was probably tied to the fact that Orochimaru had not yet given up on becoming the Fourth Hokage. Once the Fourth was chosen, he would likely act with even less restraint.
"Kenichi, your suggestion this time was excellent. Is there any reward you want?"
Orochimaru asked with a slight smile, eyes filled with inquisitiveness.
He was satisfied with this disciple, who had become a great help in his research, and he was not stingy with rewards.
"Teacher, I want to study bloodline limits."
Kenichi thought for a moment, then gave his prepared answer.
He did not need to ask for ninjutsu. Orochimaru would teach him anything he wanted to learn and even share his combat experience and techniques.
As for the forbidden scroll he desired most, he knew there was almost no chance of getting near it. Hiruzen was old, but his strength had not declined much. He was still a very powerful shinobi.
For all the criticism aimed at him, the current Third Hokage was undeniably a hero of the ninja world. If he had never become Hokage, the village might have taken a very different path.
Even Orochimaru would find it difficult to deal with Hiruzen, at least until he completely perfected Impure World Reincarnation. But that was still a matter for the future.
So instead of reaching for something out of his league, Kenichi chose a more realistic reward: a bloodline limit to study.
"Oh? The Hyuga clan? Or the Uchiha clan?"
Orochimaru's smile grew a little wider. His disciple really did think very much like him.
"Neither, teacher. I heard there is a very powerful bloodline limit in the Hidden Mist, one possessed by the Kaguya clan."
Kenichi had little interest in the Sharingan or the Byakugan.
But when it came to the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku, the Dead Bone Pulse, he had many ideas.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
The bloodline limit of the Kaguya clan in the Hidden Mist? That would be Shikotsumyaku. He had heard their name and their reputation.
That power really was intriguing.
"This will have to wait."
Orochimaru did not accept immediately.
He was very interested in Shikotsumyaku research. In truth, he was interested in every ninjutsu and bloodline limit in this world.
But the Hidden Mist had its own Kage level shinobi. Capturing a suitable test subject would not be easy.
"I understand."
Kenichi knew this would take time, so he did not press the issue.
As far as he remembered, Orochimaru would eventually meet Kimimaro, but he had no idea when that would happen.
Either way, there was no rush.
Even if Orochimaru defected, Kenichi was not entirely doomed. From what he knew of Anko's experience, his teacher did not necessarily dispose of every former subordinate.
That said, Anko did not know much about the experiments.
Kenichi, on the other hand, was essentially the second in command of this laboratory. He would not be able to escape responsibility so easily.
"Then I will give you three test subjects later. You can use them to test the rejection theory you mentioned and submit a written report to me afterward."
Orochimaru's tone was calm.
Kenichi licked his lips, then smiled and nodded.
As long as he continued to follow Orochimaru, his hands would inevitably be stained with blood. There was no escaping that. He had prepared himself for it a long time ago.
"Understood, teacher."
[Author: Previous research task has been reclassified as optional. Rewards will be settled separately upon completion and will not affect the current research objective.]
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