Rengoku didn't expect that just from a passing mention earlier, Orochimaru would already have put things into motion.
His original plan was to first complete the genes, then advance the Eternal Eye project.
Then use the Power of All Things to infuse it, now Orochimaru had reversed the order a bit.
After a brief perception Rengoku said, "But Karin's Yang-release cells shouldn't be as good as Hashirama's."
Orochimaru nodded slightly, "That's natural. After all, there's only ever been one Hashirama in a thousand years."
"Still, you underestimate Karin; her potential is also pretty good."
"You think she's inferior to Hashirama only because she's too young and hasn't grown into it yet."
"Another reason is that this is the cell-invasion that comes with Karin's healing ability."
"That's not the same as fusing the cellular solution."
Rengoku pondered, "What are you planning to do next?"
Orochimaru rolled his tongue once, "This time is only an experiment; you still need to complete your genes first."
"What you're installing is high-strength; the container material must be qualified."
Orochimaru meant Rengoku's Sharingan.
"You, Fugaku, Itachi, I extracted cells from all three of your eyes for study."
"There are changes in some of those genes."
"And your sister's eyes haven't opened the Mangekyo; if you want to become Eternal Eyes like that, it'll be difficult."
Orochimaru warned.
Rengoku said, "If there are enough Mangekyo Sharingan pupil powers, what if we do a reverse induction on him?"
Orochimaru blinked: "Reverse induction? But without mutated cellular genes, how would a Mangekyo Sharingan pupil power perfectly matching him be born?"
Rengoku pointed to his eyes, "So we must first fuse the genes."
Orochimaru still shook his head, "You're still lacking in pupil power fusion."
Rengoku smiled, "We already have the Power of All Things now, isn't that enough?"
Orochimaru couldn't help but chuckle, "You actually forgot."
"When do you plan to start?"
Rengoku thought for a moment. Kaori already had a three-tomoe Sharingan; his pupil power had also improved these past two years.
He planned to take it all the way in one step.
"Kaori already has three tomoe; Ryuri's body is almost qualified; I'll find the chance next."
Although Rengoku's words sounded a bit disjointed, Orochimaru, who collaborated with him, naturally understood.
After all, with the Uchiha clan, one must create a little pain to reap greater gains.
"Then you can give Itachi and Shion a surprise," Orochimaru suggested.
Rengoku's gaze looked toward one direction in the lab, "He's been dead so many years, can he be brought back?"
Orochimaru gave a triumphant laugh, "It seems your understanding of the Water of Life is shallow."
"With such a strong life-force thing, how could it not handle such basic matters?"
Rengoku exhaled, "Then step by step."
———
Sasuke's consciousness slowly came back.
He opened his eyes slowly and felt intense pain across his body.
"Cough! Cough…"
Even a simple cough tugged at the pain.
Sasuke could only inhale slowly.
His eyes gradually focused; he realized it was already evening.
A campfire burned before him, and a familiar figure was cooking.
Sasuke's heart instantly calmed. A mix of joy, grievance, and a bit of shame.
"Ni…niisan…"
Itachi turned his head, his face expressionless.
He only said lightly, "As a ninja, what's the first thing you do when you wake up?"
Sasuke struggled to sit up, "Check… check our statuses, myself and teammates."
His abdomen twitched painfully; speaking made him leak breath.
Itachi gave a short "hmm," then turned back and didn't look at Sasuke again.
Sasuke lifted his clothing and saw a clear bruise on his abdomen; his chest up to his neck was all bruised purple.
'No wonder it hurts so much.'
He glanced around and immediately found Naruto sleeping soundly beside him.
Sasuke went over to check and found Naruto truly just asleep.
He patted Naruto's face.
"Huh? Who…?"
"Sasuke?", Naruto only now realized they were on a mission.
"Where's Gaara?"
Naruto bounced up instantly.
Sasuke was astonished to see Naruto so full of energy.
"Naruto, are you alright?"
Naruto, belatedly aware, touched himself, "Huh? It doesn't hurt anymore?"
He wasn't a fool. He knew how badly he'd been hurt before; how could one nap make it all fine?
"You have the Nine-Tails on you, of course you've recovered," Itachi spoke then; Naruto noticed him.
"Ah! Itachi-sensei! How did you get here?"
"Did you see Gaara? Gaara's tailed beast was—"
"I saw," Itachi cut off Naruto.
"Dead."
Sasuke and Naruto were struck as if by thunderbolt.
Their faces went blank, "Dead?"
"Gaara's dead?", Naruto couldn't accept it.
"Impossible! How could Gaara die?"
Itachi coldly said, "Hasn't Kyuji told you what happens to a jinchuriki when the tailed beast is extracted?"
Naruto sat on the ground, distraught, "Gaara…"
Sasuke's expression was also dazed. Though his bond with Gaara wasn't as deep as Naruto's, he was still a teammate.
This being their first mission and someone dying, Sasuke couldn't accept it.
"Niisan, did you see Kuromu, the client for this mission?"
Itachi expressionless, "An ordinary person who fell off a cliff, can they live?"
Sasuke asked in surprise, "Niisan, how do you know he fell off a cliff?"
Itachi didn't answer immediately. He stirred the pot a bit, then slowly said, "Senpai kept following you. He brought Gaara back and rescued him."
Naruto nearly cried, he thought he'd heard good news.
Sasuke both surprised and relieved, "So Gaara didn't die?"
Itachi shook his head, "He did die, but this kind of death for Gaara might still be saved."
"Then Itachi-sensei, let's hurry back!", Naruto was eager to know Gaara's fate.
"Sit," As the team's lead, Itachi naturally had authority.
The two felt a chill and obeyed, sitting down.
Itachi ladled the porridge from the pot and said, "Whether you go back or not won't change Gaara's fate. This small delay won't matter."
Sasuke and Naruto were stunned, then realized, both growing a little heavy-hearted.
"Eat first, then set off. Make it quick."
Itachi divided two bowls and served Naruto and Sasuke each one.
There was rice, chunks of meat, and some vegetables. Not bad for an outdoor meal.
"Do you know why this mission failed?", Itachi handed them the bowls.
Sasuke and Naruto had been unconscious a long time and were starving; they began eating the meat porridge.
"Huff huff…", Sasuke blew on his bowl twice, "Because the enemy was too strong."
Itachi nodded slightly, "The enemy was too strong, and the enemy's target was Gaara's tailed beast."
"When you sensed a huge gap in strength, you should have retreated immediately."
"So you abandoned the mission?", Naruto asked from the side.
Itachi looked at Naruto, "If you hadn't given up, could you have changed the outcome?"
Naruto glanced at the empty cliff wall. Their client had fallen from there.
"It's no big deal for the mission client to die."
"If Senpai hadn't been near you, you'd all be dead here too."
Itachi patted Sasuke's shoulder, "Being alive is the most important thing."
Sasuke and Naruto silently thought, 'I hope Gaara is okay.'
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