"What do you mean?"
Kawaki didn't receive an answer from Tsunade, so he shifted his gaze to Orochimaru.
"It's a simple explanation. He manipulated Wood Release using his life force."
"And then died from being drained dry."
Orochimaru answered while placing his hand on the experimental subject. A little chatting didn't interfere with his work.
But that didn't mean just anyone could question him mid-experiment.
"Isn't this Wood Release a bit too weak?"
In Kawaki's memory, Yamato was the weakest user of Wood Release, but at least he could grow plants and construct buildings. Moreover, Yamato could comprehensively use various Wood Release techniques—even if their power was somewhat reduced.
But what was this experimental subject?
He barely managed to sprout two branches from his hands before dying on the spot?
This is Wood Release? You've gotta be kidding me.
At this level, Kawaki would rather not have it at all.
"First, he's just an ordinary person who never learned ninjutsu."
"Second, this is a fusion experiment combining your and Hashirama's cells. Naturally, it's inferior to the original cells."
"Third, if you don't understand, just watch more and speak less."
Tsunade blushed slightly. She was the expert here, yet her husband was practically clueless.
"Alright, I'll keep quiet."
Kawaki held back his doubts for now, planning to ask questions after they finished their work.
"Internal organs are normal."
"No rejection symptoms."
Orochimaru removed his hand and gave his examination results.
"It matches characteristics of natural death."
Tsunade also completed her check-up.
Both of their assessments confirmed that the experimental subject hadn't undergone any mutations.
The experimental results had fully met the desired criteria.
That meant they could proceed with transplanting Hashirama's cells into Kawaki.
Orochimaru roughly tossed the corpse back into the tank. It still held some research value.
"Let's go. We'll talk outside."
After saying that, Tsunade walked toward the exit first.
Kawaki felt completely confused. That's it?
It was so different from what he had imagined—like them dissecting with surgical instruments or something.
If he hadn't known about Tsunade and Orochimaru's strength, he'd have thought they were total charlatans.
They dragged him out early in the morning, and that's all?
Seeing Orochimaru heading outward as well, Kawaki could only follow.
Halfway through, he still turned back for a glance at the corpse inside the tank, seemingly lost in thought.
After exiting the hidden room, Tsunade began recording the experimental results without delay.
Orochimaru took out the cultivated Tailed Beast cells to examine—this was part of his daily routine.
Seeing the smile curling his lips, Kawaki guessed the cultivation of Tailed Beast cells was going fairly smoothly.
Once they were done, Tsunade gave Kawaki a chance to speak.
"Ask whatever's on your mind."
She stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the file cabinet, radiating undeniable charm.
"Did the results actually meet your expectations?"
Kawaki remembered clearly what Tsunade had told him last time. As long as the experimental results met expectations, he could receive Hashirama cell transplantation.
"Even though the subject died, we did meet our expectations."
Tsunade answered the question he cared about most without hesitation.
While feeling relieved in his heart, Kawaki generated new questions.
"If the subjects die either way, why does this one count as meeting expectations?"
He didn't get it. All the test subjects ended up the same, so why did the results change?
"I'll explain."
Seeing Tsunade roll her eyes and look impatient, Orochimaru took over.
"Actually, ever since your finger fused with Hashirama's cells at the beginning, we could technically proceed with cell transplantation."
Orochimaru paused briefly.
Seeing Kawaki's growing confusion, he gave a soft chuckle and continued.
"But to ensure your safety, Lady Tsunade decided to keep running experiments."
"She needed to verify if your fused cells would trigger additional mutations in the human body."
"After long-term refinement and observation, we finally have the results."
"The test subjects essentially died of natural causes, with no mutations occurring inside their bodies."
"In other words, the risk of transplanting Hashirama's original cells into you has dropped to a minimum."
Calmly and clearly, Orochimaru explained everything at his usual pace, and Tsunade gave a gentle nod as well.
This saved her quite a bit of breath.
"Haha~ My wife still loves me the most!"
Kawaki fully understood after Orochimaru's explanation. He realized how much effort Tsunade had put in for his sake.
Joyfully, he rushed over and kissed Tsunade on the cheek.
"Stay away from me. It's just about the scientific integrity of the experiment."
Tsunade pushed Kawaki away, wiping her face with the back of her hand like she was disgusted.
"C'mon, at least pretend—don't smile like that."
Orochimaru found it amusing watching Tsunade act that way—a classic case of 'say one thing, mean another.'
"Exactly, admitting it was for me wouldn't be embarrassing."
Kawaki got even more excited when Orochimaru ganged up on Tsunade.
"You're joking, right? For *you*? That's such an inflated ego."
Tsunade stubbornly refused to admit anything, though her tsundere attitude was undeniably charming.
"Fine then. We'll settle this properly tonight."
Kawaki shot Tsunade a threatening glare, but she simply ignored him.
"Oh, by the way, does this experimental subject prove that my fused cells with Grandfather can now be used on others?"
Changing the topic, Kawaki tried to save face while having a sudden realization.
After fusing his own cells with Hashirama's original ones, could they potentially grant Fugaku eternal Mangekyou Sharingan without ever going blind?
As for the minor Wood Release abilities, those weren't particularly impressive anyway.
Tsunade probably wouldn't mind either.
"Just admit it was for me!"
Kawaki egged her on further after seeing Orochimaru tease her.
"Wishful thinking! Like I'd ever do something like that for you?"
Tsunade kept pretending not to care, though her adorable stubbornness made their hearts skip a beat.
"Whatever. We'll settle this later tonight."
Kawaki gave her a fierce glare in mock-warning, which she easily dismissed.
"That's right. This test subject does prove that possibility."
"But even so, the risk factor remains unknown."
"Although combining your cells has made Grandfather's cells somewhat milder."
"But you've seen the results yourself—no subject has survived so far."
"Even powerful ninja can't guarantee success with the transplantation."
Returning to professional mode, Tsunade quickly regained her serious demeanor.
She considered the matter carefully before answering. In truth, Kawaki had touched upon her next research direction.
Leaving Wood Release aside, even the regeneration ability alone could save countless lives.
That could benefit the entire Leaf Village.
"Tsunade's right—you're the exception."
"As long as there's no rejection symptoms, your chance of failure is nearly zero."
"Because this is an experiment successfully combining your cells with those originally from Hashirama."
"These two situations can't even be compared."
"Besides, every case is different. Decide who gets the transplant first, then extract some cells and run tests before making any moves."
After Tsunade spoke, Orochimaru spoke next, seemingly guessing Kawaki's thoughts.
He even offered a solution in that final line.
But such in-vivo experiments would require an immense amount of resources and funding.
Who exactly could qualify to participate? Everyone present had their own yardstick to judge it.
Even Orochimaru wouldn't have believed himself if he claimed not to be envious—and Tsunade felt the same deep down.
The next subjects after Kawaki would probably be themselves.
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