Half a month had passed since Obito woke from his suspended animation. For Maoyue Xiyang and the others, the days dragged on like years.
"It's been two weeks... I wonder how Obito is doing now," Maoyue Xiyang murmured, absently popping a peanut into her mouth.
Nearby, Tobi sat silently on a stone bench. Usually chatty, he had become noticeably quieter during this time.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
"An earthquake?" Xiyang gasped.
Tobi's gaze shifted toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. A moment later, a White Zetsu figure rose from the ground.
"Hey! There's movement over there!" the White Zetsu exclaimed.
Tobi immediately got up and started walking away.
"Wait for me!" Xiyang quickly followed.
Inside the corridor, Obito walked calmly, dressed in a loose white robe and wooden clogs. Orochimaru trailed beside him.
"No need to panic, you two," Orochimaru said to the arriving Tobi and Xiyang. "We're heading for some tests."
In the equipment room, lights flickered on. A Hashirama artificial body, used earlier for perfect cell extraction, rested in the corner like a sacred relic.
Orochimaru donned a lab coat and activated a device. Obito seated himself in the chair, with Tobi and Xiyang observing.
"What's this device for?" Obito asked.
Orochimaru replied, "It's a fluoroscopic scanner I developed years ago. I studied the Byakugan and created this based on its iris imaging principles. It helps detect internal abnormalities—particularly important after a major cell transplant."
Obito silently thought, So Orochimaru invented the Naruto world's version of an X-ray machine...
Orochimaru activated the scanner. A white light cast over Obito's body, and an internal imaging projection appeared on a nearby monitor.
"No signs of lesion or residual instability. It looks like the cell transplant was a complete success," Orochimaru said with a nod.
Xiyang finally let out a breath of relief. Whether Obito had grown stronger didn't matter to her nearly as much as his health.
"Then... was it assimilation or fusion?" Tobi asked.
"Let's find out," Orochimaru said with a grin as he attached several magnetized sensors to Obito's chakra points.
He flipped a switch. The scanner above Obito's head retracted, and Orochimaru said, "Take off your mask."
"Sure." Obito removed his mask.
Xiyang's eyes widened—his face was more flawless and refined than before.
A set of electrodes lowered onto Obito's head.
"Mr. Obito, this will pass some electric current to sync your body's bioelectric field and calculate your cell energy levels. There may be a slight tingling."
"I'll just pretend it's an electronic massage," Obito joked and closed his eyes.
The screen lit up with rising numbers.
"What do these numbers mean?" Xiyang asked.
"Let me explain," Orochimaru said. "The body contains about 14 billion cells. Each holds energy. The sum of that energy forms what we call 'body energy.' Combined with spiritual energy, this becomes chakra."
As he spoke, the number exceeded 300,000 and kept rising.
"I created this energy detector to quantify body energy. For reference, I use the average newborn's body energy as a base unit of 1. Adults are around 10."
"A trained ninja far exceeds that," Orochimaru continued. "A genin averages 100, a chunin 200, a jonin 500. An elite jonin reaches 1,000. Kage-level shinobi hover around 3,000—and those with special bloodlines or unique physiques may even reach 10,000."
"People without Hashirama's cells, of course," he clarified.
"So what about those who have them?" Xiyang asked, intrigued.
"That's the turning point. Even a small dose of Hashirama's cells causes a leap. Take ordinary White Zetsu clones—their body energy clocks around 15,000."
"But they're weak in battle!" Xiyang said in surprise.
"Body energy doesn't equal combat ability," Orochimaru said with a knowing smile. "Combat includes tactics, technique, experience."
"Before his full fusion, half of Obito's body was made from White Zetsu. Combined, his physical energy reached around 50,000. For reference, Danzo was measured at 42,000."
Orochimaru turned to Tobi, his gaze sharp. "A Fei, you're a unique case. Though untested formally, I estimate your body energy surpasses 500,000."
Xiyang gasped. Even Obito opened his eyes in disbelief.
Tobi's hollow gaze met Orochimaru's. "I underestimated you, Orochimaru."
Meanwhile, the numbers on the device had crossed 1 million.
Orochimaru pointed toward the Hashirama clone in the corner. "That artificial replica registers at 1.36 million."
"Is that how strong the real First Hokage was?" Xiyang asked.
"No. The clone lacks consciousness, combat experience, and Sage Mode. The real Hashirama likely surpassed 2 million—beyond my machine's range."
"If Obito achieved only assimilation," Orochimaru explained, "his energy should stabilize between 800,000 and 1.2 million. If it's fusion, it should land between 1.5 and 1.8 million."
Everyone stared at the screen.
1.1 million… 1.2… 1.3… 1.4… 1.5 million… and rising.
"It's confirmed—it's fusion! Obito, you've achieved full fusion with Hashirama's cells!" Orochimaru exclaimed.
Obito's lips curled into a subtle smile.
The numbers continued to rise.
1.6… 1.7… 1.8 million.
Then…
1.85… 1.9… 1.95… 1.98… 1.99…
2 million.
The green digits turned red.
Didi-didi-didi!
The alarm blared.
Orochimaru gasped, his voice tight: "Unmeasurable… the data can't be calculated!?"
BOOM!
The machine exploded.
Dozens of minutes later, the group ascended to the surface.
The barren battlefield where Obito had once clashed with the Third Hokage stretched around them.
Obito emerged in a new black cloak, his steps steady and deliberate. Orochimaru, Tobi, Xiyang, and a swarm of White Zetsus stood at the entrance, silently watching.
There was a jutsu Obito couldn't wait to try.
A White Zetsu rose beside him, offering a pair of black combat gloves.
Obito took them and slipped them on like sacred armor.
The Zetsu then vanished underground, reappearing among the ranks of its kin.
Obito brought his hands together in a seal.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!
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