Simu, who had not seen a computer in a long time, immediately began his research. This was clearly a research-oriented computer, so things like games were non-existent. Instead, it was filled with information regarding test subjects and research data.
There were 127 test subjects in total, covering multiple research projects. These included titles such as Artificial Alteration of Chakra Nature?, Fusion of Chakra Natures and Implementation of Kekkei Genkai, and Research on the Feasibility of Kekkei Genkai Transplantation.
However, the project that interested Simu the most was one titled Feasibility Study of Artificial Sage Mode.
Artificial Sage Mode?
Simu pondered while reviewing the documents recorded on the computer. He was very interested in the history of the Shinobi World prior to the Warring States Period. According to the limited records of the Jashin Religion, before chakra appeared, this world likely belonged to an era of various deities.
Many of those deities were referred to as Sages. Furthermore, there was the later Sage of Six Paths. Simply put, anything related to a "Sage" was never simple. Could this so-called Sage Mode be related to those ancient gods?
Clearly, Orochimaru had conducted significant research in this area. As Simu delved deeper into the data, the interest in his eyes grew more intense.
"Subject No. 0: Possesses the special constitution of the Uzumaki Clan. Compared to ordinary people, she can withstand the erosion of Natural Energy for a longer duration and at a higher intensity."
"Artificial Sage Body Project: By applying the [Natural Energy Perception Potion], the subject absorbs Natural Energy. Observe the subject's state and analyze methods to enhance control over Natural Energy."
Simu's gaze flickered across the computer screen, his eyes gradually becoming heated.
Uzumaki Clan... Natural Energy... Sage Mode...
I am very interested indeed.
After copying all the data from the computer and transmitting it back to his main body, he adjusted his glasses. He turned around and walked toward a test tube located at the deepest part of the laboratory.
Every test tube here had its own unique identification number. The number on this specific tube was...
Zero.
Simu's gaze passed through the emerald-green liquid, landing on the teenage girl inside. She had long, vibrant red hair. Her fair, slender arms were wrapped around her jade-like legs, her head buried between her knees. She was curled up, suspended within the massive test tube.
"So this is Experimental Subject Zero?"
Simu studied the girl closely. Suddenly, the pipes connected to the test tube moved, and the green liquid drained away rapidly. Subject Zero was successfully exposed to the open air.
"Dammit."
Simu looked back. Sure enough, Hidan's finger had just left a certain button. He looked at Simu with an awkward smile on his face.
"Uh, I've never seen this thing before. I thought it looked fun..."
Before Hidan could finish his explanation, the red-haired girl opened her eyes. Without the barrier of the special nutrient solution, all the Natural Energy in the surrounding air—and even from the forest above—began to rush frantically into her body!
Almost instantly, the girl's skin turned ash-gray and became covered in a layer of hard keratin. Her appearance began to drift toward that of a monster. Her beautiful, gem-like eyes turned a deep, blood-red. Her mouth, now filled with sharp fangs, opened wide, letting out a ear-piercing scream that shattered the glass of the test tube.
A red shadow flashed instantly, slamming into Simu. The air was compressed into a terrifying sonic boom. Simu was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing a large hole into the wall.
"You damn brat!"
Hidan wasn't about to stand by. He snatched up his three-bladed blood scythe and launched a frenzied attack on the monster.
The three-bladed blood scythe blurred into afterimages, dancing rapidly and shattering many of the surrounding test tubes. However, the girl's movements grew faster and faster, and her strength was ridiculously high. A fierce punch slammed into the three-bladed blood scythe, actually forcing Hidan back two steps.
It was important to note that Hidan was now a Taijutsu master. The fact that a single punch could knock him back showed just how great the monster's current strength was. Nevertheless, Hidan's core ability was not Taijutsu.
During the heated battle, Hidan easily managed to cut a wound into the shoulder of the monster, which had completely lost its sanity. In exchange, Hidan sacrificed an arm. Such an injury meant nothing to him; he could simply use his Parasitic Spider to pull the limb back and reattach it.
A true "detachable limb."
But for the monster, it was more than just a small wound. Hidan immediately drew the Jashin symbol, extended his tongue to lick the blade intoxicatedly, and entered the Death-Controlling Blood state!
"Jajajajajaja! Accept the judgment of Lord Jashin!"
Hidan pulled a spear from his pouch, only to have it knocked away by a flying black feather.
"I still have a use for this one."
Simu had crawled out from the rubble at some point. That violent strike earlier had actually cracked his Koukaku. Such terrifying power was truly rare.
However, this only made Simu more interested in the so-called Natural Energy. From the data on No. 0, Simu knew that this girl was previously just an ordinary member of the Uzumaki Clan. She had received no special training, yet she gained such horrific power simply by absorbing Natural Energy. It was incredible.
"Hooo..."
The girl turned her head and hissed at Simu. In the next second, the ground beneath her feet shattered. A dark-red Bikaku erupted from the earth, coiling around her tightly like a centipede.
"Aaaah!!"
She let out another shrill, sonic-wave scream. The surrounding test tubes all shattered simultaneously.
"That's enough."
Simu's Bikaku showed no sign of loosening. Countless Black Beetles swarmed from all directions, covering the woman like a tide. Then, a skin-crawling crunching sound erupted as the Black Beetles began frantically devouring the keratin on the woman's skin.
The woman's screams lasted for nearly ten minutes. Simu then raised his palm, and a cluster of Black Beetles crawled through the mouthpart in his palm back into his body.
Is this Natural Energy?
He could feel a special kind of energy being exhaled by the Black Beetles. This energy was powerful, but it was violent and almost unconstrained. Simu frowned. Before he could sense it in detail, his palm began to petrify rapidly.
Because it cannot be controlled, I am being assimilated by the Natural Energy and becoming part of nature?
He swung his Rinkaku without hesitation, severing the petrified hand. His face showed no pain from the loss of his limb; instead, it was flushed with the excitement of discovering something new.
"Natural Energy... how interesting."