The experint still didn't end after that. It dragged on for days.
Natsuki, Hashirama, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji started rotating shifts, keeping constant watch over Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. Even if Orochimaru and Santu Amado fell asleep, the guards couldn't.
Still, Isshiki's decline was visible to the naked eye. His life was clearly running out.
Maybe because he could sense he was done for, Isshiki showed no reaction the whole ti. He seed to be quietly waiting for death.
The good news was that Orochimaru and Santu Amado were making fast progress. They'd already moved into the cell-injection phase.
They injected the extracted cells into White Zetsu bodies, then observed the White Zetsu's reactions. But it was obvious that [?] Isshiki's cellular activity still far exceeded expectations.
Every White Zetsu used for the experint turned to stone. Not a single one survived.
Orochimaru felt like he had two headaches at once, like he'd been dragged back to his old Hashirama-cell days. He truly had no answer.
Thankfully, Santu Amado was also well-versed in this area. With the two of them trading ideas, they gained quite a few new angles. It was just that the things they were discussing weren't anything Natsuki and the others could understand.
During that ti, Minato and Tobirama would occasionally use Flying Thunder God to deliver notes.
The investigation into Kara was going smoothly. Not only did they turn Kara's main base inside out, they also used the montum to dig up the smaller outposts planted across the shinobi world. They'd already identified [?] of them, and lately the Allied Shinobi Forces had been discussing how to assign squads to wipe them out.
In addition, Kara's mbers were behaving. Even that cocky clown Deepa from the beginning.
After repeated interrogations, they really did extract a lot of intel on Kara.
Including how the organization was founded, the full roster of Inner and Outer mbers, the intelligence they'd collected, and most importantly, the list of candidates for "vessels."
That vessel list was a thick stack. The number of victims was clearly enormous.
So many people had been used for Karma-mark experints, and not one had succeeded. [?] It was enough to make people feel sick with helpless anger.
Kara didn't care what kind of person a "vessel" was. If soone seed suitable, they'd be kidnapped in secret and tested without restraint. Who knew how many innocents were caught up in it. Even worse, many of them were children. The cruelty was beyond words.
While the investigation was underway, every investigator wore murder on their face, as if they wanted to tear Kara's people limb from limb.
Natsuki read through it all. Even though he'd expected it, he still couldn't stop the anger rising in his chest.
At least Kara had been destroyed now. Not only were all its mbers captured, but even its leader, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, was about to die. Maybe that counted as avenging the innocent dead.
Once they dug deeper, if they confird certain mbers' cris were truly unforgivable, then they'd be executed without hesitation.
Natsuki didn't interfere. Soone was already handling it.
By then, the experint had reached a special stage.
Orochimaru controlled a White Zetsu, then carefully perford an eye-transplant. He successfully implanted Isshiki's black eye into the White Zetsu.
The next second, the White Zetsu visibly shriveled up.
But it didn't die imdiately.
Orochimaru hurriedly examined it and reached a conclusion. "This black eye is probably like the Rinnegan or Sharingan. It needs special bloodline support. Without the corresponding bloodline, the black eye will drain massive amounts of chakra to sustain itself."
Everyone had an instant realization.
Just like the Sharingan and Rinnegan: they relied on Uchiha blood to support them.
When Kakashi, who didn't have Uchiha blood, had a Sharingan installed, he was constantly wiped out because the Sharingan consud too much chakra. And when Nagato, who didn't have Uchiha blood, had the Rinnegan installed, he beca thin and frail too. Even as an Uzumaki descendant, he didn't have that overflowing vitality, because the Rinnegan's chakra drain was absurd.
And now this black eye ca from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. [?] It was the original, authentic black eye.
Who knew how much chakra it would take to keep it fed.
But what Natsuki worried about most was the real issue. "Could Ōtsutsuki Isshiki use this to reincarnate?"
Orochimaru and Santu Amado checked the White Zetsu's condition and both shook their heads. "Ōtsutsuki Isshiki is on the verge of death. If he could reincarnate through this, he'd definitely be using every last ounce of strength. But there's no sign at all that he's attempting to reincarnate. So it's probably not possible."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it," Natsuki said.
But his concern wasn't baseless. "After all, Orochimaru, you died back then, and you still revived through your Curse Mark, [?] so I think it can't hurt to stay cautious."
Orochimaru understood. "Fair point. I'll be even more careful."
No one else spoke, clearly sharing Natsuki's worry.
An Ōtsutsuki was an invading powerhouse. Strong as hell, and any number of reincarnation or revival thods might exist. They couldn't afford not to guard against it. If they let him slip away by accident, he'd beco a massive future threat to the shinobi world. They had to prevent that at all costs.
It was Santu Amado who offered a new idea.
"Orochimaru-san, I think it might not be just about bloodline."
Orochimaru froze. "What do you an?" [014703005飞卢064192580]
Santu Amado explained, "Special eyes might all need to absorb chakra. Whether you have the matching bloodline isn't an absolute requirent. An eye has to maintain its own life, so of course it needs nourishnt. It's just that nourishnt from the corresponding bloodline is more comfortable, so the eye is more compliant. But if nourishnt cos from a different bloodline, maybe it's insufficient, or maybe it doesn't suit its tastes. So the eye gets angry, and that's why it starts plundering."
"Hey, hey, hey! You're making it sound like the eye is alive!" Naruto yelled dramatically.
"The eye is alive," Santu Amado said flatly. "An eye is an organ ford through cellular differentiation. Cells have activity. So naturally, the eye has activity too. Special eyes have even stronger activity. That ans they're alive."
Even Orochimaru agreed. "Maybe you're right. These special eyes really might be alive, like a mischievous little kid. It only likes Mom's cooking. If it eats Mom's food, it stays quiet. But if it eats soone else's food, it won't behave."
Natsuki and the others looked at each other, all feeling like the two scientists were getting a little unhinged.
The more they explained, the less reliable it sounded.
And yet they didn't know how to refute it, because they were outsiders. They didn't even know what angle to challenge the experts from.
At that mont, Orochimaru chuckled and looked at Natsuki. "Natsuki-kun, have you ever considered installing a black eye in yourself?"
Natsuki went a little blank. [?] He pointed at his own nose. "[?] ? Install a black eye? Are you kidding?"
"I'm serious," Orochimaru said.
He wasn't joking at all. "This kind of eye might be like a bratty kid. Ordinary people can't ta it. Only soone exceptional can make it behave. With your physical strength and vitality, I think you could make the black eye obedient. And if we're being precise, Natsuki-kun, you also have Senju blood. That makes you an Ōtsutsuki descendant too. I think it's worth a try."
(End of Chapter)
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