Chapter 279: Itachi, Lie Down on the Operating Table!
The trial hero's debut proved extremely successful.
Within one hour after the performance ended, the registration point received over a hundred registration forms.
Similarly, with Shizune's endorsement, the clans finally believed the village had indeed mastered Wood Release cell fusion technology again.
As for the "minor risks from insufficiently mature technology" Shizune had mentioned in passing, the clans immediately cast them aside.
That was Wood Release! One hundred percent fusion success would actually be suspicious!
What's wrong with some risk?
Bloodline limits could be inherited through bloodlines.
If their clan bloodlines could possess Wood Release genes, paying some additional price was acceptable!
Thus, the clans officially entered the fray.
Through personal connections, they directly inserted some clan members into the "trial" teams—and moved their positions forward.
Yasushi naturally had no objections. Going with the flow, he gave them all green lights, helping them achieve their wishes.
Thus, groups of new "trial heroes" were sent into the "trial chamber," toyed with together by Yasushi and Shizune.
Thus, the "trial chamber" again echoed with various trial participants' miserable screams.
However, this time differently, accompanying the screams came voices loudly shouting slogans: "Where Konoha's leaves dance, fire burns eternally!"
But regrettably, the "Will of Fire" they believed in seemingly couldn't bless them to smoothly pass the "trial."
Originally only one person could undergo "trial" at once. After Shizune joined, it became two people simultaneously undergoing "trials."
The death rate—ah no, the "trial" speed—immediately doubled.
Yet the success rate didn't improve. Still only one person passed the "Hero Trial," becoming a Wood Release ninja.
But this didn't disappoint the clans at all. Instead, they grew even more fanatical.
Because this at least proved Oda-kun's previous success wasn't an isolated case. The village truly, genuinely possessed Wood Release cell fusion technology.
In following days, "trials" continued daily. But success rates proved quite unstable. Sometimes two or three successful examples occurred at once. More often, not a single person successfully passed the "trial."
Then worse situations emerged. The clans discovered these people passing "trials" had uneven strength levels.
Some could release "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees" like Oda-kun. Others could only produce a tree stump.
How could this be acceptable?
Thus everyone again sought out Shizune and Divine Doctor Jakuen to inquire.
"Ah, this mainly results from the quantity of Wood Release cells the trial participants themselves fused." Yasushi spoke nonsense.
"With the same Wood Release cells, some people can fuse more. Naturally the feedback and amplification they receive is greater. Conversely, amplification is less."
"We're attempting to overcome this technical obstacle. Currently our rough judgment suggests it's related to the trial participants' mental willpower."
"We estimate—the more firmly someone believes in the Will of Fire, the longer they persist during trials, theoretically the more Wood Release cells they'll fuse."
"Will of Fire, hmm..." The clan members wore thoughtful expressions, deeply believing this without doubt.
It must be said—the "Will of Fire" truly deeply penetrated Konoha Village hearts.
Whenever unable to find reasons, simply forcing it to fit would always work.
After obtaining answers, the group hastily returned home to intensively train new "trial participants" in Will of Fire, conducting repeated mental brainwashing.
Meanwhile, Itachi finally couldn't sit still. He again sought out Mizuki, demanding to participate in the "Hero Trial."
After repeated attempts to dissuade him for ages all failed, Mizuki had no choice but to agree to Itachi's request.
The next day, under Mizuki's guidance, Itachi jumped the queue and directly entered the "trial chamber."
"Oh, Itachi-kun. I've long admired your reputation."
"Sora Jakuen" wore a smile across his face, looking at Itachi benevolently—like viewing a little white mouse delivering itself to the chopping block.
"Lord Mizuki told me Itachi-kun is the village's important force. This trial must only succeed—failure is unacceptable."
"For this, I specifically entrusted all other people's trial work to Lady Shizune, personally preparing this independent trial chamber specifically to serve Itachi-kun."
Yasushi hid his malicious intent well. Itachi detected nothing, still politely bowing respectfully.
"I'm troubling you."
"No trouble at all." "Sora Jakuen" smiled while waving his hand, pointing at the operating table. "Lie down!"
Itachi removed his clothing, lying down on the operating table, allowing those assistants to connect instrument equipment to him before injecting anesthetic.
While making these preparations, "Sora Jakuen" smiled while reminding Itachi:
"Itachi, once the trial begins, various illusions will appear before you."
"These are all fake—none are real. Please firmly remember this."
"You must maintain your true heart with the Will of Fire, not be swayed by illusions, to smoothly pass the trial."
"Understood?"
"I understand." Itachi nodded solemnly. "Rest assured. No illusions can affect an Uchiha."
"Excellent." "Sora Jakuen" smiled while nodding with satisfaction.
Under the medication's effects, Itachi's consciousness gradually sank into darkness bit by bit.
In a hazy state, he seemed to see "Sora Jakuen" before him suddenly transform amid white smoke—becoming Uchiha Yasushi's appearance.
"Uchiha Yasushi!"
Itachi's heart startled. Just about to struggle, he suddenly remembered "Sora Jakuen's" earlier words. He immediately relaxed, lying down peacefully again.
"Everything is illusion. No illusions can deceive an Uchiha."
Indeed, as his mindset relaxed, his vision darkened. Uchiha Yasushi disappeared.
Itachi lost consciousness.
"Hahaha..." Yasushi laughed wildly. "Itachi, you've fallen into my hands again!"
He first retrieved a culture dish, carefully removed both of Itachi's eyes, then replaced them with an ordinary person's eyes.
Then he rapidly formed hand seals, arranging various ninjutsu barriers around this "trial chamber's" exterior, preventing anyone from disturbing his entertainment time.
Finally, Yasushi again used Summoning Jutsu, summoning the Uchiha clan's Edo Tensei bodies out.
"Fellow clansmen, look who's lying on the bed before you?"
"Now everyone can play with him however you want. Ultimately he'll only think this was all illusion anyway."
After speaking, Yasushi first picked up a medical hammer, striking Itachi's leg bone with tremendous force, smashing his thigh to powder.
"Excellent!"
The numerous Uchiha immediately grew delighted, surrounding the operating table in a circle. Each person selected a medical instrument, beginning to smilingly perform "surgery" on Itachi.