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The quiet hum of his hidden laboratory in the Forest of Death was punctuated only by the occasional crackle of chakra flowing through a sealing array. Hundreds of scrolls and jars filled the room: Sharingan eyes suspended in chakra-preserving liquid, Hashirama cells vibrating faintly with life, and layers upon layers of notes copied from Orochimaru's forbidden experiments. Kirito moved between them, his hands gloved and adorned with delicate fuinjutsu tags that stabilized the samples and prevented any rogue energy from spilling into the room.
Three nights had passed since he had retrieved the data from the Sound village, and each night had been spent pouring over scrolls, conducting micro-experiments, and recording chakra signatures. His clones helped him manage the work—analyzing the DNA samples, tracing the flow of chakra in Cursed Seals, and even attempting controlled sensory experiments. Every experiment, every observation was cataloged and sealed with meticulous care.
Yet, the more he studied, the more cautious he became.
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The DNA Dilemma
Kirito examined a sample of Hashirama cells, the genetic miracle that had made the First Hokage a legend. He then compared it to a Sharingan sample. The thought of combining them—implanting DNA, forcing chakra systems to merge—was intoxicating. The possibilities were endless: a shinobi capable of wielding Kekkei Genkai alongside Senjutsu or even his own chakra core amplified beyond imagination.
But the risks were impossible to ignore.
The bodies might reject it… or worse, he thought, tracing the delicate chakra flows on a diagram. Even if I survive the process, the host could die instantly. Or the DNA could corrupt, leaving the body unstable… an unpredictable, ticking weapon.
He rubbed his eyes, focusing on the patterns in the Sharingan's chakra lattice. Each eye, each genetic imprint, responded differently to chakra infusion. The Cursed Seal data only reinforced his caution. Orochimaru's experiments had failed countless times before succeeding—painful failures, bodies lost, energy wasted. Even the genius of the Sannin had limits, and Kirito realized that pushing past them without control could destroy him.
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Fuinjutsu as a Containment Strategy
The thought of failure made him tighten his grip on his fuinjutsu scrolls. If DNA implantation was too risky, perhaps the answer lay in chakra sealing and augmentation instead of direct genetic manipulation. He began sketching new sealing arrays on parchment, linking them to his chakra core.
These arrays could:
Temporarily replicate Kekkei Genkai abilities in a host without genetic alteration.
Safely stabilize Cursed Seal power, controlling it remotely.
Suppress dangerous fluctuations when experimenting with Sharingan techniques.
He imagined a network of arrays: miniature, portable seals integrated into a shinobi's gear, or even embedded directly in the body. The Sharingan could be enhanced, its powers channeled without risking the host's life.
Kirito's mind raced, testing possibilities. If I can bind the chakra signature of the Sharingan to a sealed core, then I can experiment freely… without destroying myself.
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Lessons from Orochimaru
As he studied further, Kirito made a crucial observation: Orochimaru's genius was in his adaptability, not his morality. The Sannin had always sought ways to circumvent natural limits, but every method came with a cost. Each failure had been violent, bloody, and often permanent. Kirito's own work with the chakra core had taught him a similar lesson: patience and precise control were more powerful than reckless ambition.
He reviewed notes on the Living Corpse Reincarnation and Body Replacement Techniques, comparing the chakra requirements and body strain against the DNA implantation risks. Even if he tried to mimic Orochimaru, the margin for error was microscopic.
He shook his head. No, there has to be another way. Something that doesn't gamble life with every experiment.
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New Possibilities
Kirito sat cross-legged, eyes closed, letting his chakra core pulse steadily. His clones continued in the background, running simulations and logging every result. He imagined alternate methods:
1. Sealed Core Integration: Infusing Kekkei Genkai chakra into specially prepared cores or containers, which could be linked temporarily to a user, granting abilities without permanent genetic changes.
2. Elemental Fusion Arrays: Creating fuinjutsu that simulated the effect of Kekkei Genkai through precise elemental layering, like fusing fire and wind for a Vanishing Rasengan-style attack.
3. Chakra Signature Mimicry: Training the body to mimic a genetic signature through pure chakra manipulation and sealing, allowing a shinobi to "copy" abilities safely without altering DNA.
Kirito scribbled diagrams furiously, connecting each idea with complex fuinjutsu formulas. His handwriting was precise, almost artistic, and every line of ink was itself bound with a stabilizing seal to prevent leakage of residual chakra energy.
He leaned back, running a hand across his face. The possibilities were endless, yet every solution required time, patience, and absolute precision. And that was a price he was willing to pay.
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A New Direction
By sunrise, the decision was clear. DNA implantation was too volatile, too lethal. Even with the power of his chakra core, mistakes could destroy him, destroy a test subject, or worse, alert enemies. Instead, he would focus on fuinjutsu and chakra-based augmentation—controlled, precise, and infinitely safer.
The Sharingan would remain intact, its secrets meticulously copied. The Hashirama cells would be stored and preserved, waiting for a future method that might not risk life. His lab was quiet once more, the only sound the faint hum of stabilized chakra cores and the ticking of fuinjutsu arrays.
Kirito opened his eyes, icy blue and unreadable. "There is always another way," he whispered. "I will find it. Patience is the true power."
He stood, walking among the rows of jars and scrolls, his shadow clones quietly bowing in acknowledgment of their master's decision. Each piece of knowledge was a tool, a step forward, and a shield against failure. For now, experimentation would continue—not reckless, but measured, deliberate, and under his perfect control.
The Shadow Hunter was patient. And patience, he knew, would one day be more dangerous than raw power.
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