In the dim underground palace, iron cages lined up in rows, stretching into the darkness.
At that moment, footsteps echoed through the chamber, and two shadowy figures walked side by side, approaching the cages.
One figure, with a low voice, asked, "Orochimaru, these are the ones?"
"Indeed."
Orochimaru nodded with a smile.
The other figure, leaning on a cane, stepped closer to the cages, his gaze settling on a frail, huddled form in one of them.
Each cage held a prisoner—some were middle-aged, around thirty or forty, others were teenagers, all emaciated and far from what he had expected.
After inspecting them, the figure expressed dissatisfaction. "This is your so-called success? Orochimaru, you know the price of deceiving me!"
Thud.
He slammed his cane against the ground, the heavy impact reverberating through the palace.
Undoubtedly, the figure accompanying Orochimaru was none other than Danzō, a member of the Hidden Leaf's Advisory Elder Council.
Danzō's outburst didn't faze Orochimaru.
He chuckled lightly. "No need to rush. The experiment is about to begin!"
With a clap of his hands, Kabuto Yakushi emerged from the shadows, bowing to Orochimaru and Danzō before moving to a mechanism and activating it.
Gurgle, gurgle.
As the mechanism engaged, the sound of liquid flowing through pipes connected to the cages filled the air, followed by a chorus of agonized screams.
Despite the horrific scene, Danzō showed no discomfort. Instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement as he observed the results.
"Arghhh!"
"Kill me! Someone, please kill me!"
"It hurts!"
"Let me go! I'll kill you all, you bastards!"
Screams, wails, and curses intertwined, transforming the once-silent palace into a cacophony. To Orochimaru and Danzō, however, the noise was like a beautiful melody, curling their lips into smiles.
Boom.
Suddenly, a blood-red explosion erupted from one cage.
Danzō looked over, seeing a mess inside—the test subject had detonated.
Boom, boom, boom.
The first explosion was just the start. One after another, cages erupted in bursts of blood, filling the palace with a mist of gore and a pungent stench.
Danzō finally frowned. "Orochimaru, what's going on?"
Orochimaru remained unfazed. "Not everyone can withstand the 'Transformation Serum.' In prior cell cultivation tests, only three percent of subjects could endure it and gain the 'Upper Rank Power'!"
"Three percent? Hmm, not bad."
Danzō nodded slightly.
To him, the ninety-seven percent who perished in bloody explosions weren't living beings but mere numbers on a page.
Soon, the explosions subsided.
The once-chaotic palace fell silent again, save for faint, gasping moans.
Kabuto approached Orochimaru, adjusting his glasses. "Lord Orochimaru, seven test subjects survived."
Danzō ordered, "Bring one over for me to see!"
Kabuto glanced at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru nodded with a smile.
Kabuto soon brought a middle-aged man, drenched in sweat, face flushed, chest heaving with labored breaths.
Danzō inspected him, then abruptly swung his cane, its sharp end slicing the man's throat.
"You!?"
Having survived the Transformation Serum, the man had thought he'd live, never expecting the sinister elder to strike so suddenly. Unprepared, he clutched his throat, blood gushing from his mouth.
Danzō continued observing.
The man's wound was healing, but far slower than the bleeding. After struggling, he collapsed, despair etched on his terrified face.
Danzō snorted, dissatisfied. "This is your so-called 'Upper Rank Power'?"
He had witnessed the recovery abilities of Upper Rank demons firsthand. A wound like that would heal in a breath or two for them, but the man on the ground clearly fell short.
Orochimaru, prepared, smiled. "That's the effect of the Transformation Serum. It greatly enhances blood and flesh power, but there's still a gap compared to true Upper Ranks."
Danzō frowned. "That's not what you promised me!"
Orochimaru continued, "However, a body transformed by it won't become a monster unable to roam in daylight, like the Upper Ranks."
"Oh?"
Danzō's furrowed brow eased slightly.
The strengths and weaknesses of Upper Rank demons were well-studied by the major ninja villages. Their immense vitality and bizarre Blood Demon Arts were coveted, but their inability to withstand sunlight and uncontrollable bloodlust were flaws ninjas couldn't tolerate.
If Orochimaru's Transformation Serum could eliminate those flaws, a slightly weaker blood and flesh power was acceptable.
With a shift in thought, Danzō said, "Hand over the original serum."
At Orochimaru's signal, Kabuto fetched a case and handed it to Danzō.
Taking it, Danzō said, "Haven't you always had your eye on Sasuke Uchiha? The ninja academy's end-of-term exams might be your chance."
Orochimaru's smile faded. "The academy exams?"
"Sasuke Uchiha is likely part of the Akatsuki. I don't want him growing up alive. If you're truly interested in him, seize this opportunity! That kid's growing fast. In a few years, he could be another Itachi Uchiha!"
Stirred by Danzō's words, Orochimaru's expression darkened, and he gave a sinister chuckle. "I'll take a look."
Danzō nodded, glancing at the surviving test subjects in the cages.
Aside from the one he'd just killed, six remained, many of them eleven- or twelve-year-old children.
But he had no interest in them. No matter how talented, they weren't his loyalists. He wanted the original serum to cultivate his own trusted forces.
As for the innocent lives sacrificed in the process, that was beyond his concern.