บท 100: Chapter 100: Who Should I Clone

Orochimaru had been puzzled before. Why was the first technology he unlocked a basic gene enhancement solution instead of something simpler and more basic, like a gene repair solution?

Now it all made sense.

The system worked in a way that catered to his desires. Whatever technology he needed, the system would place that technology or a prerequisite for it alongside his current one. The moment he unlocked the existing technology, the next would naturally follow.

This process was driven by what Orochimaru needed most at the time.

For instance, when he sought to obtain the *body of an immortal*, the system's first response was to give him the basic gene enhancement fluid. Why? Because the primary enhancement was the foundation required to obtain that level of physical ability.

Now, Orochimaru wanted to create an advanced genetic enhancement fluid, so after mastering the intermediate enhancement fluid, his current task of genetic modification was the key to unlocking the next stage an even more potent enhancement formula.

Why was he so focused on this?

The answer lay in the First Hokage's cells he had recently fused with. Without a body enhanced to a high level, the full power of the First Hokage's Wood Release couldn't be accessed. All Orochimaru could manage right now were weaker versions of the legendary jutsu.

This was the problem Orochimaru encountered after merging with the First Hokage's DNA. And as a researcher, how could he leave such an issue unresolved? Naturally, he needed to move forward and unlock the advanced genetic enhancement fluid to push his body to its limits and fully unleash the First Hokage's abilities.

However, the next step required cloning technology to be completed first. And this is where Orochimaru encountered a slight annoyance.

Cloning was a straightforward process copying someone exactly as they were, down to the smallest detail. But the system required him to clone a person for the experiment to be deemed successful. It didn't matter who he chose to clone, but it had to be a person.

Cloning, as everyone knew, was about replicating the original person. Physically, the clone would be identical to the original, with the only differences being in memories or skills that weren't inherently physical.

The challenge now was: Who would Orochimaru clone?

Logically, when creating a clone, it would take as long for the clone to mature as it did for the original to grow. For instance, if the original subject was 15 years old, the clone would need 15 years to grow as well.

But Orochimaru knew that this was just theoretical. Any competent researcher could accelerate the growth of a clone through scientific manipulation, and he was certainly no exception.

Orochimaru planned to use the immense vitality contained within the First Hokage's cells to speed up the growth process. However, the First Hokage's cells were incredibly potent, so to ensure the clone grew stably, he would need to suppress their power and carefully control the growth rate. Based on his calculations, it would take about half a year to grow a stable clone using the First Hokage's cells, and even then, success wasn't guaranteed.

And of course, there was the issue of memory manipulation for the clone something that would require additional work.

Considering all the effort, it would be a real waste if the process only produced a single failure.

Therefore, Orochimaru needed to choose the perfect candidate for cloning.

"Clone myself?" he thought. Absolutely not.

Although he met all the criteria physically, Orochimaru's ambition and vision went far beyond being a mere mass-produced version of himself. As a true scientist and leader, he aimed to be the mastermind pulling the strings, not the subject of replication.

So, the candidate for cloning had to be someone else. Someone who wouldn't disrupt his plans or feel too personal.

"Imagine seeing multiple clones of Jiraiya walking around…" Orochimaru grimaced at the thought. That would be the stuff of nightmares.

But who would make the perfect clone? Orochimaru pondered the question for a long time. He couldn't come up with anyone immediately, so he decided to return to Konoha first and think it over.

But before that, he crushed the transformed rats he had experimented on, making sure Danzo never learned of the full extent of his progress.

***

Konoha, a place Orochimaru knew too well, felt almost mundane as he wandered through the streets.

Despite the fact that he, Tsunade, and Jiraiya had made quite a name for themselves during their Chunin exams, half a year had passed, and it seemed people had already forgotten about them. The three young shinobi weren't ones for excessive public attention, especially Orochimaru, who kept a low profile.

Walking through the village, Orochimaru continued to mull over who would make the best subject for his cloning experiment. If worse came to worst, he could always pick someone at random.

With his current level of skill, even an ordinary Genin could be turned into a formidable force. Strengthen their genes, fuse them with superior traits, and clone the enhanced version it would be a simple process, really.

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed.

"Orochimaru, how is the experiment progressing?"

The moment he entered the headquarters of Root, Danzo's voice greeted him. There was a sharp edge to it, almost desperate. Wood Release was too important to Danzo, and he couldn't afford to be patient.

Orochimaru responded casually, "Cell cultivation takes time. I've hit a bit of a bottleneck, so I thought I'd go for a walk and maybe get some inspiration."

"You think walking around will bring you inspiration here?" Danzo asked, his tone calm but clearly skeptical.

Orochimaru shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? Sometimes stretching your legs helps clear the mind."

Danzo gave him a steady look, as if weighing Orochimaru's words. He knew Orochimaru wasn't someone to openly disrespect him, but at the same time, the younger shinobi never showed the kind of subservience Danzo expected from his subordinates. That imbalance in their relationship always grated on him, but what choice did he have? Too much of his current plan hinged on Orochimaru's success.

"Are you looking for a sparring match?" Danzo asked, catching on to Orochimaru's vague request.

"Something like that," Orochimaru replied, his voice still light. "I've been here for a while, and I haven't had the chance to test the strength of your subordinates."

Danzo nodded slightly. "Very well. Let's see if your skills have deteriorated."

He led Orochimaru deeper into the Root headquarters. They entered the training room, where forty to fifty masked operatives were training.

Danzo gestured toward the group. "Pick anyone you'd like as your opponent."

Orochimaru glanced around the room quickly, then pointed to three individuals. "You, you, and… you—hm?"

His eyes stopped on a small girl with brown hair and glasses. "Why is there a little girl here?" he asked curiously.

"She's my latest recruit," Danzo said, his tone still measured. "Just completed her basic training."

"Is that so?" Orochimaru asked, his interest piqued. He looked the girl over, something about her standing out in his mind. "What's her name?"

"Nono," Danzo replied.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly as something clicked in his mind. "So, this is where it starts…" he thought, already piecing together how this girl could be useful in the future.