In a room in the Laboratory, an experiment on Chakra Poison was underway. Hyuga Mio used her Byakugan to observe the physical changes of a Shadow Clone that had been poisoned with Chakra Poison.
However, Orochimaru, who should have been concentrating on the experiment, was distracted by other thoughts.
Jinchuriki, the Jinchuriki I can access in this era, Bunbuku the monk, imprisoned in the Hidden Sand Village of the Land of Wind, is the Jinchuriki I can ultimately access, the Jinchuriki of Ichibi Shukaku.
Bunbuku, who believes there's no difference between Tailed Beasts and humans, is highly likely to agree to my request... But now is not the time, at least not until I've learned Sealing Technique. Facing a Tailed Beast with my current strength, wouldn't that be seeking death?
Bang—!
Under the torment of the Chakra Poison, the Shadow Clone dissipated into smoke. Orochimaru's body paused slightly, and the sensation of being poisoned with Chakra Poison returned to her main body as the Shadow Clone disappeared.
"Orochimaru, are you alright?"
Hyuga Mio looked at Orochimaru, who was clearly thinking about other things. She was slightly displeased by her distraction during an important experiment but didn't know what to say.
"Apologies, Mio, some things are troubling me."
Orochimaru said apologetically. It was an experiment she had prepared for a long time, but it wasn't perfect due to her distraction. Fortunately, the experimental subject was her own Shadow Clone, and the sensation of being poisoned with Chakra Poison still lingered on her body.
"The research direction for Chakra Poison seems to have a problem; this isn't the Chakra Poison I want."
Orochimaru looked at the remaining Chakra Poison in the test tube. The current Chakra Poison attacks the entire body's cells and meridians of the poisoned person, thereby making them unable to refine Chakra and completely crippling them.
This effect is equivalent to being hit by Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, the difference being that Chakra Poison does not paralyze the poisoned person.
As a poison that permanently deprives the poisoned person of their abilities as a Ninja, Chakra Poison is undoubtedly an extremely malicious poison. Furthermore, if the antidote is not obtained shortly after being poisoned, the victim will lose all their Chakra in unimaginable agony.
Imu respectfully asked, "Orochimaru-sama, shall we proceed with the next experiment?"
"No, today's experiment ends here. You've all worked hard."
Orochimaru's expression was cold, without a trace of frustration or anger over the failed experiment, as if this failure was within her expectations.
The research direction for Chakra Poison was wrong; continuing to research it would be pointless. This poison would have no effect on the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Over three years, Orochimaru had researched countless poisons, and the Chakra Poison she had finally developed was not quite what she had envisioned.
Life is never smooth sailing, and Orochimaru had never expected to succeed on her first try.
Since the research direction was wrong, she would simply change direction and continue researching. She believed she would eventually succeed.
All of Orochimaru's research achievements were developed slowly, by learning from countless failures.
In terms of patience, Orochimaru believed few could surpass her, but in some matters, her patience was incredibly poor.
Walking down the Laboratory corridor, Hyuga Mio looked at Orochimaru, who was walking ahead, hesitant to speak, unsure whether she should ask.
As Orochimaru's first Laboratory, this underground Laboratory had expanded several times in size, with more animals in cultivation tanks, including some extremely dangerous rare and exotic beasts.
Below the Laboratory, insects with Flying Thunder God Technique formulas, cultivated through Kikaichu, were being bred.
Orochimaru, who still couldn't effectively use the Flying Thunder God Technique in combat, came up with a rather clever method: using Kikaichu that obey her commands. In battle with enemies, she would have the Kikaichu position themselves in advance, allowing her to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to move.
Over three years, she had used this method to ambush and kill countless Ninjas who came to assassinate her, a consistently effective and insidious tactic.
The number of B-rank and A-rank missions completed on the Ninja registration list soared.
Throughout history, no Ninja at her age had completed so many B-rank and A-rank missions.
Fortunately, no remuneration had to be paid; otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi's already receding hairline would recede even faster.
Orochimaru admitted her methods were insidious, but the most insidious was Senju Tobirama, who developed the Flying Thunder God Technique, such a shameless space-time Ninjutsu, a truly awesome individual.
One couldn't exactly call him insidious, considering he developed the Flying Thunder God Technique to counter the Sharingan, the Shadow Clone Technique was also to counter the Sharingan, and Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags were even prepared for Izanagi.
Perhaps Edo Tensei was also prepared for clashing with the Uchiha.
It was evident that all of Senju Tobirama's Forbidden Technique and Water Release were developed for the Uchiha.
Such deep love and even deeper hatred!
They say the Uchiha are the clan that values emotions the most, but Senju Tobirama, the second-in-command of the Senju Clan, wasn't far off.
"Mio, what do you want to say?"
Orochimaru noticed Hyuga Mio's hesitant expression.
Hyuga Mio paused, looked at Orochimaru, and after a moment of hesitation, said, "Orochimaru, what are you anxious about lately? What has made you like this? You're not like the Orochimaru I know at all."
"Anxious, huh..."
Orochimaru was not surprised that Hyuga Mio could perceive her emotions. "That's something I can't talk about yet. Perhaps... you'll know later."
No matter what happens in the future, just do your best. Nothing is always smooth sailing, and nothing always goes as planned.
Island, Laboratory Base.
Although the research on Chakra explosives had slowed down, it had not stopped. People at the Laboratory Base were still conducting research on Chakra explosives, and the number of detonation experiments had changed from once a day to once every three or four days, or even once a week, to test the power of Chakra explosives.
The elderly Uchiha Madara walked through the Laboratory Base. The people in the Laboratory Base did not stop him from moving around. He was still dressed in his black robe with a katana on his back, looking at Shi, whose appearance had not changed at all compared to three years ago.
"It's been over three years. Are you still conducting that boring research?"
"Old geezer, you're not dead yet! Living in such a dangerous place and still surviving this long, you've got some tricks up your sleeve."
Shi glanced at Uchiha Madara, whom she hadn't seen in many days, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She slowly swirled the beaker in her hand, the liquid inside gradually turning into powder.
"Those weak beasts can't harm me."
Uchiha Madara's aged voice carried his unique arrogance. Even though he was old and frail, he was still Uchiha Madara; how could he be harmed by those beasts?
"Then, I, a young person, will wait for the day I collect your corpse."
Shi's attention returned to the beaker in her hand.
"For two years, the power of the explosives you developed hasn't increased much. Your current research is a waste of time and resources."
Uchiha Madara stood with his arms crossed, looking at the unfamiliar items on the experimental table. However, from the explosive power of the detonation experiments over the past few years, he could tell that the explosives being researched at this Laboratory Base had reached a bottleneck.
"You old fossil who knows nothing, stop lecturing me! Do you know what science is? Do you know what materials the gunpowder in my hand is refined from? Do you know why I allow you to wander freely in the Laboratory Base?"
Shi seemed provoked by Uchiha Madara's words, asking a series of questions.
"Why?"
Uchiha Madara indeed didn't know why Shi would allow him, an outsider, to move around in the Laboratory Base.
"Because you're an old fool who knows nothing!"
Shi said unceremoniously, giving Uchiha Madara the middle finger.
If this old geezer wasn't still useful, she would have long ago installed Chakra explosives in his hiding place, letting him burn brightly in his old age. The kind that explodes.
"..."
Uchiha Madara was so rebuffed he couldn't speak. He truly didn't recognize any of the materials on the table, except for the glass items like beakers and test tubes used as experimental apparatus.
"What? Can't speak? Technology is the primary productive force! A caveman who hasn't even watched TV and is out of touch with society! I bet you haven't even seen the Warring States Period filmed by the Uchiha Clan, yet you dare to lecture me. What do you have besides your age? Are you worthy?!"
Shi's barrage of words was like a machine gun, leaving Uchiha Madara unable to retort, but he still heard important information in her words.
"The Warring States Period filmed by the Uchiha Clan? What is that?"
Uchiha Madara could understand every word Shi said, but when those words formed a sentence, he couldn't understand it.
Could it be... I've truly been out of touch with the Ninja World for too long?
Uchiha Madara couldn't help but wonder.
"It's a movie filmed by the Uchiha Clan, seemingly to commemorate the past years of fighting the Senju Clan in chaotic times. It's a highly acclaimed movie that has been shown in cinemas in many countries."
What is a movie?
What is filming a movie?
What is she talking about? I don't understand a single word.
Uchiha Madara was completely bewildered, feeling as if he had inexplicably arrived in another world.
He often went out to buy food and daily necessities, so why did he feel as if he hadn't had contact with the outside world for many years?
"I knew you old fossil hadn't seen it. Sigh, I said useless nonsense again."
The powder in Shi's beaker suddenly burst into a dazzling light. With a 'poof,' a large amount of smoke emerged from the beaker, forming a miniature mushroom cloud, and the beaker immediately turned from transparent to black.
Uchiha Madara saw this scene and let out a hearty laugh of extreme satisfaction. After enduring so much frustration, he finally let out a breath.
"This is a TV, old man. If you want to watch, watch. If not, go home and stay there. Don't disturb my research, okay? I'm very busy."
Eisei impatiently pushed Madara into the entertainment room and turned on the TV for him.
This is... are they members of the Uchiha Clan?
Madara was immediately attracted by the handsome men and beautiful women chatting and laughing on the TV. From the gunbai crest on their clothes, he recognized them as members of the Uchiha Clan.
What are they doing?
Madara squinted his eyes, greatly shocked by the advertisement filmed by the Uchiha Clan. His old face under the mask was a little twisted, as if he had seen something beyond his comprehension.
What exactly happened to the Uchiha Clan in the years I've been away from them?
What exactly happened to this world?
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