Located deep within an enormous forest that stretched dozens of kilometers in every direction—completely uninhabited.
"Wood Release... truly is powerful!"
After spending several hours experimenting with the Wood Release, Kei Yamanaka sighed deeply.
The Wood Release was indeed powerful.
Especially when wielded by Hashirama Senju himself—who possessed Sage Transformation, had mastered Sage Mode, and carried Asura's chakra.
The Wood Release's power surpassed even the limits of Kekkei Genkai.
But what Kei meant by "strong" wasn't just the strength amplified by the user's own abilities.
It was Hashirama's near-complete mastery and application of the Wood Release!
Whether facing armies of ninja, giant summoned beasts, tailed beasts, Jinchuriki, or even Perfect Susanoo—
as long as there was enough chakra, Wood Release had a way to counter them all.
Unparalleled destructive power combined with absolute versatility.
Even if the user wasn't the Hashirama Senju,
the Wood Release still held power far beyond most other Kekkei Genkai!
With one exception—Yamato.
"How could I have forgotten about Yamato!"
Kei smacked his forehead.
Just over two months ago, he had even asked Shikaku Nara to secretly investigate the files sealed inside the Hokage Tower—those regarding the experimental records of Hashirama Senju's cell implants.
But due to Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi's sudden interference,
he ended up spending over a month in Kumogakure.
When he returned, Kushina had given him copies of the documents transcribed by Shikaku Nara.
Yet events like joining Root, taking control of Danzo, and seizing authority over Root itself forced him to push the matter to the back of his mind.
And now, so much time had passed that it was already this moment.
"I should go there soon. If I delay any further, I might completely miss my chance with 'Greenery Captain.'"
Kei muttered to himself.
Remembering the name of the research facility from Shikaku Nara's notes,
he cross-referenced it with the location of the abandoned lab buried within Danzo's memories.
Then, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and teleported to a dense forest less than a hundred kilometers outside Konoha.
After confirming his bearings, he summoned Bi Diao, the eagle-falcon.
Circling above the thick woods more than ten kilometers to the west, Kei finally located the hidden entrance—an old research facility concealed beneath a rocky hill.
Using Root's unique sealing release technique, he moved aside the massive stone blocking the entrance.
Pushing open the slightly rusted metal door, a foul, decaying stench mixed with thick dust hit his face head-on.
[Wind Release: Gust Blast.]
He performed hand seals and unleashed a basic Wind Release technique, channeling powerful gusts through the corridor behind the entrance.
Whoosh—Whoosh—Whoosh—
Suddenly, thick clouds of foul-smelling gas erupted from exhaust vents scattered throughout the facility.
Birds scattered in alarm, animals fled in panic.
"Not bad... It's held up surprisingly well despite how long it's been abandoned."
Kei glanced at several of the vents.
Standing at the entrance, he used Wind Release several more times before stepping forward into the pitch-black tunnel.
Tap—tap—tap—
Inside the silent corridor,
the soft echo of ninja shoes tapping against the floor echoed clearly.
Kei Yamanaka released his sensory perception and pressed the light switch as soon as he found it.
After a moment of resistance, the old starter finally kicked in. The jet-black darkness of the research facility was finally cut through by lines of light.
————————
The deepest laboratory within the research base.
Sixty glass growth chambers, each over two meters tall, stood neatly aligned.
Five years had passed.
Of the original sixty operational growth chambers, only the two at the center were still functioning.
Inside them, two small figures—one male, one female—floated motionless with their eyes closed.
Glowing green nutrient fluid surrounded their small bodies. Black tubes descended from above, coiling around their small frames to supply the energy necessary for survival.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed into the boy's ears, growing closer.
Inside the nutrient solution, he abruptly turned his head toward the entrance of the lab.
The sound came from there!
Opposite him, a frail little girl who looked far worse than he did also stirred from her feigned sleep.
She pressed her palms against the glass dome, looking at him with dazed confusion.
As if asking, "What was that sound? Was it you calling me?"
Faced with the girl's puzzled gaze,
The boy—who had personally watched countless growth chambers shatter and seen child after child, just like himself, die—
Was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming urge to weep.
He knew that the last 'light' keeping him company was about to go out.
All the other lights had faded just like this—after showing the same helpless expression.
He wouldn't let that happen!
No way!
Never again!
Not now!
THUD… THUD… THUD!
The boy pounded violently against the glass dome covering his chamber.
He didn't understand why he did it, nor what he longed or hoped for.
But his instincts told him only by doing this would the 'light' remain.
Whoosh~ Creak!
A sharp, shrill sound shattered the silence.
With a forceful pull, Kei Yamanaka yanked the sealed, restricted lab door open.
Blinding white light poured into the chamber.
The boy froze mid-motion within his growth chamber. Facing the astonished and puzzled expression on the girl's face, he unconsciously broke into a radiant smile.
He didn't understand why he smiled.
Yet instinct told him, maybe… maybe…
The light wouldn't disappear after all.
Whoosh!
"Two?!"
Kei Yamanaka appeared between the two opposing growth chambers [Body Flicker Technique].
...
Name: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Traits: Wood Release Test Subject (Purple), Compatibility (Blue), Survival Instinct (Green), Vigilance (Green), Naivety (White)
...
Name: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Traits: Wood Release Test Subject (Purple), Vigorous (Blue), Naivety (White), Weakness (Gray)
...
Wood Release Test Subject (Purple): After surviving cellular erosion, rejection, and assimilation following the implantation of Hashirama Senju's cells, this subject has acquired the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. It can learn and use Wood Release Ninjutsu; the speed, power, and effects of Wood, Water, and Earth Releases are significantly enhanced; its affinity toward Water and Earth Releases is slightly improved; physical enhancements are significantly reduced.
"An inferior version of [Wood Release Inheritor]?"
Kei Yamanaka glanced at the two test subjects' trait interfaces — the answer was clear.
Although both had gained Wood Release abilities and were labeled as Purple-Tier traits, theirs were obtained through cell transplantation and still required continuous learning and improvement.
Unlike the original, these lacked enhancements for refining, improving, and creating Wood, Water, and Earth techniques. Their physical enhancements were significantly reduced.
They also lost the increased affinity to vitality and natural energy.
The difference between them was probably...
Like father and son?
Or more like grandfather and grandson.
Among these two children, the boy was undoubtedly Yamato, while the girl...
Kei recalled the original storyline.
This little girl must have died when her nutrient tank shattered before Danzo could arrive.
She wasn't even given a name.
Looking again at Yamato's [Compatibility] and the girl's [Vigorous], Kei began to understand the reason behind her early death.
Yamato's [Compatibility] allowed him to smoothly absorb and fuse Hashirama's cells, whereas the girl had endured the process purely by relying on the life force provided by [Vigorous].
After surviving initial fusion,
As her body continued developing,
Her baseline energy requirements would naturally be much higher than Yamato's. The energy provided by the growth chamber simply couldn't meet her demands, hence acquiring the negative trait [Weakness].
And when the energy required for cultivation exceeded the threshold set by the chamber's program,
It would automatically judge that the girl had been consumed by the Wood Release cells — her fate was sealed.
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