Chapter 195: **Chapter 195: Progress Appears, Strange Changes!**
The conditions of the remaining three patients were milder than the first since they didn't have as many Hashirama cells in their bodies. It seemed Orochimaru had adjusted his experiments to suit different hosts.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru was still mulling over what Reiki had suggested earlier. Not only had Reiki used his unique medical ninjutsu to aid in the experiments, but his insights showed precisely the kind of imagination a researcher needed. Questions Orochimaru had never considered had come so naturally from Reiki's mouth. If he weren't so determined to recruit Reiki, Orochimaru would have rushed back to his lab to test these ideas himself.
"Reiki, what do you think?" Orochimaru asked, looking at him with eager eyes. "If you help me, I'll provide anything you need, so long as I can make it happen."
"Lord Orochimaru," Reiki replied calmly, "you and Tsunade-sensei are comrades. I think you know her well enough to understand that if she knew about this, she'd never agree. So, I can't help. Of course, if you're injured, I'd gladly treat you. And if you have questions or thoughts on these experiments, we can always discuss them informally, as friends."
"Understood," Orochimaru replied, recognizing Reiki's tact. Reiki had already encountered enough experimental subjects to guess what was happening.
"I see," Orochimaru mused. "Consider us unofficial collaborators, then. So, what would you like in return?"
"Just provide me with some of the special materials from your experiments," Reiki said slowly.
Orochimaru hesitated, wondering if Reiki somehow knew about the Hashirama cells. But it was unlikely; after all, Reiki was only nine and wouldn't have access to such secrets.
"Agreed," Orochimaru replied after a pause. "Every time you assist with a treatment, I'll provide you with a sample. If you also offer constructive suggestions, I'll give you an additional one."
Without delay, Orochimaru took five test tubes from his pouch, each containing samples of white, fleshy tissue, and handed them to Reiki, who accepted them with a steady gaze.
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru. I'll be going now; there are more injuries to tend to." Reiki turned and left, while Orochimaru took the four subjects back, eager to continue his research. He'd noticed that those treated by Reiki seemed to adapt better to the experiments, almost as if the treatment prepared them for secondary contact fusion.
---
Back in the office, Reiki found that Shizune hadn't returned yet. Locking the door, he took out the sealing scroll and activated an enchantment around the room.
"Time to test this," he murmured, taking out the Hashirama cell samples Orochimaru had given him, as well as those he'd collected from his own treatments. Placing his hand over them, he felt a powerful resonance as his chakra surged, flowing more intensely through his meridians. Soon, the Hashirama cells were exhausted, though he still hadn't unlocked Wood Release. It seemed he would need to gather more…
"Hm?" Reiki noticed something odd. Chongming's chakra had started to increase too.
"Chongming, why are you absorbing chakra from me?" Reiki called out curiously.
"I'm not absorbing it actively," Chongming replied. "This energy is naturally restoring my core. Besides, my chakra…"
Suddenly, Chongming's chakra flowed into Reiki's body, creating a chakra cloak around him.
"Tailed beast chakra?" Reiki muttered, surprised, as he saw a new value appear on his system panel:
**[Wood Release: 20%]**
This was the first time he'd seen such a value. Releasing Chongming's chakra seemed to have triggered some kind of transformation.
"Reiki, this is… unusual," Chongming murmured, taken aback. Normally, the tailed beast chakra would only activate like this once Reiki reached Jonin level. But somehow, Reiki was already able to release a chakra cloak.
"I'm fine," Reiki reassured Chongming, calming the chakra flow. It was a perplexing development. The tailed beast's core shouldn't be able to replenish itself simply with external energy, yet here it was, directly restored by the Hashirama cells.
This realization stirred a disturbing thought in Reiki's mind, though he quickly dismissed it as absurd.
At that moment, Shizune returned. Reiki deactivated the enchantment and unlocked the door.
"Senior Brother Reiki?" Shizune's face was flushed with excitement as she stood at the door. It seemed her first solo mission had gone well.
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