In Orochimaru's laboratory, various precision instruments and experimental culture dishes were neatly arranged, filling the space with a cold and mysterious atmosphere.
At the center of the lab, on the operating table, lay a pale corpse, serving as the focal point of the entire room.
Orochimaru carefully placed a dissected cell sample under a microscope for observation.
His pupils contracted slightly, his voice trembling with excitement: "This is truly unbelievable... absolutely incredible... No organs, no blood, not even Chakra Pathway, yet it can still carry Chakra. And... this level of cell activity... it's remarkably similar to Hashirama's cells!"
"It's like... like..." Orochimaru searched for the right word to describe this creature, but perhaps due to his overwhelming excitement, he couldn't find the right term for a moment.
"Plants." Menma, standing across the operating table, said calmly.
"Yes!" Orochimaru's eyes lit up with the fervor of discovering a new world, his golden snake pupils gleaming with obsession: "Exactly like plants!"
This entirely new, unprecedented subject had ignited Orochimaru's research passion and curiosity to the extreme. He couldn't wait to delve deeper and uncover its mysteries.
"So, what exactly is this?" Orochimaru set down the tool in his hand and raised his head, his golden snake eyes fixed intently on Menma, hoping to extract more information from this enigmatic Shura.
Having lived for over forty years and traveled across most of the Ninja World, Orochimaru had never seen, or even heard of, such a non-human creature before.
"Do you want to know?" A faint scoff came from behind Shura's mask.
Of course, Orochimaru wanted to know!
"This is White Zetsu, ancient humans drained of their chakra by the God Tree, reduced to mere plant-like beings. They possess traits like asexual reproduction, extreme compatibility, and affinity for all Chakra Attributes, making them excellent experimental material." Menma briefly explained the origins of the White Zetsu.
"God Tree?" Orochimaru keenly picked up on the keyword in Shura's words.
But Menma stopped there, refusing to elaborate further. He had only mentioned the White Zetsu's background to help Orochimaru conduct better experiments.
"Use them sparingly… these things aren't easy to capture," Menma warned.
Orochimaru mused to himself: "It seems that I'll have to accelerate the development of cloning technology..."
White Zetsu's cells had incredible compatibility and could adapt to all Chakra Attributes… essentially making them equivalent to a Chunin-level experimental subject!
If he could mass-produce these White Zetsu as test subjects, many of Orochimaru's experiments would no longer be hindered by material shortages!
"In a year, I'll come to collect ten pairs of Sharingan, along with the research results on the White Zetsu and the Iburi Clan." After leaving these words, Menma turned and left the laboratory.
Though the slightly commanding tone irked Orochimaru, what Shura provided, whether it was 'future intelligence' or this highly compatible experimental material, was far beyond what that old fool Danzo could offer.
While their relationship was framed as cooperation, Orochimaru had essentially become Shura's subordinate.
Having fought him before, Orochimaru knew full well that Shura's power was likely approaching that of the [God of Ninja]. He had no room to refuse.
"Oh, one more thing…" Just as he reached the door, Menma suddenly paused, his white three-eyed fox mask tilting slightly: "You'd better draw a clear line with Danzo."
Menma didn't want the White Zetsu research falling into Danzo's hands, so he issued the warning.
After Menma left, Orochimaru fell into deep thought, once again pondering the information about Shura.
'According to the bounty posted by Kumogakure at the exchange center, Shura had used the name, 'Danzo'. It seemed that old rat lurking in the shadows had provoked someone he shouldn't have.'
'Is this connected to you... Fourth Hokage?' Orochimaru faintly sensed that Shura must have some intricate ties to the Fourth Hokage… even suspecting that it might be the man himself, having faked his death to escape.
But looking at Minato's life, there was no reason for him to do such a thing.
The clues were too vague. In the end, Orochimaru shook his head and returned to his research on the White Zetsu.
…
At the same time, in Konoha Village.
One of Menma's shadow clones was in the training room, practicing Chakra Fusion.
He carefully adjusted the ratio between Yin Chakra and Yang Chakra, his palms glowing with opposing energies, one dark, one bright, as they gradually merged. Menma focused intently, controlling the precise amounts and proportions.
Boom!
With an explosion, the small orb of fused Yin and Yang Chakra suddenly.
Another failed experiment.
"The ratio still isn't right..." Menma frowned slightly, replaying the steps in his mind before walking over to a nearby desk. He picked up a pen and recorded the Chakra proportions used in this attempt.
The notebook was already filled with dense rows of data… ratios, timings, and results from countless previous trials.
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Menma was naturally gifted with Yang Chakra, along with the Five Basic Chakra Attributes: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water.
And through his experience in the Limited Tsukuyomi World, he had gained additional affinity of Yin Chakra, making him an all-elemental Ninja.
Through his research into fusing Yin and Yang Chakra, Menma had developed techniques like [Dark Chakra] and [Spiralling Ring].
But Menma, who knew the ultimate secrets of the Ninja World, knew clearly that he had only just stepped onto the threshold of [Yin and Yang Fusion], barely qualifying to grasp the principles of Yin-Yang Release and the Creation of All Things.
Yin-Yang Release was an advanced ability combining Yin and Yang, allowing the user to create form from nothingness and breathe life into it.
For example, after receiving the Sage of Six Paths' power, Naruto had once used Yin-Yang Release to save Might Guy's life and even created a new eye for Kakashi.
Meanwhile, the Creation of All Things was the manifestation of the interplay between Yin-Yang and the Five Elements.
For example, Pain's black receivers belongs to the Yin-Yang Release, while Six Paths Madara's Truth-Seeking Balls belongs to the Creation of All Things.
And beyond that lay Kaguya's Kekkei Mora… the pinnacle of Chakra Manipulation.
'Although the [Nine Masked Beasts] was created by relying on the Black Nine-Tails' Chakra and Yin-Yang Chakra, it's still not true Yin-Yang Release.' Menma mused.
When the Sage of Six Paths divided the Ten-Tails, he must have used Yin-Yang Release to create the nine Tailed Beasts… distributing their Chakra proportionally.
One part to Shukaku, two to Matatabi, three to Isobu... and then dumping the rest into Kurama.
But when Menma created the Nine Masked Beasts using the Black Nine-Tails' Chakra, the process had been too smooth… so much so that his understanding of Yin-Yang Release remained shallow, preventing him from fully mastering it.
Though the Nine Masked Beasts possessed Elite Jonin-level strength, it couldn't speak, lacked independent thought, and could only fight based on Menma's commands… They're more like a puppet than a living being.
If Menma wanted to evolve the Nine Masked Beasts into fully sentient, self-aware entities, he would need true mastery of Yin-Yang Release.
Only then could the Nine Masked Beasts reach its full potential… becoming not just a stronger combat asset, but even operating independently away from Menma's side.