Chapter 2 : The Seed Takes Root
"From the current data, Qingguang has already endured the worst phase. Teacher Sarutobi—let us witness the miracle reborn together."
Orochimaru turned to the monitor bank, eyes fixed on Qingguang, unwilling to miss a single second. He wanted to see the fruit of his replication with his own eyes.
Releasing the golden-banded staff, the massive rod transformed into a two-meter-tall white-furred ape.
"Hiruzen… we're too late."
With a long sigh, Sarutobi Hiruzen kept his back to Danzō, voice terrifyingly calm. "Danzō, effective immediately, you are stripped of the title of Hokage Assistant."
"You'd better pray this boy comes out unscathed."
From childhood to now, Hiruzen had been Qingguang's nominal guardian, carving out time every month to visit. The boy never disappointed—displaying staggering talent.
In strength and in mind, he was at least a future Hokage candidate, a peer to Hiruzen's own three disciples.
He was also the only leash keeping the Uchiha tethered to Konoha.
Hiruzen had assumed Danzō would show some respect for Mirror's memory—let Qingguang glimpse the village's shadows to temper his heart.
Instead, Danzō seduced the boy, dangled the Wood Release project, and tricked him into becoming the test subject!
He had been far too lenient with Danzō all these years.
Only now—too late—did he realize the gravity.
Danzō gnashed his teeth at the command. "I have no regrets. Everything I've done is for Konoha!"
"From the moment we began trying to recreate Wood Release, there was no turning back. I've lost count of how many of Lord Hashirama's and Teacher Tobirama's descendants died. If we stop now, what were their sacrifices for?"
"You're the Hokage—lacking the guts? Then I will bear the burden! You don't dare—does that mean the young shouldn't dare either? You sent Qingguang to my side—wasn't it to forge broader shoulders in him?"
Three sentences left Hiruzen speechless.
All he offered was silence.
On the operating table, eyes still shut, Qingguang stared at the system panel in his mind.
[New Kekkei Genkai Acquired: Wood Release] Wood Release: 1145 / 10000 [+1145 freely allocatable points] [First-time kekkei genkai points may be freely assigned or converted]
Exactly as I predicted!
Without hesitation, Qingguang acted.
Wood Release? Sorry—not my style. I'm Uchiha. I'll stick with Sharingan.
[Sharingan: 1001 → 2145 / 10000]
One injection of Hashirama cells instantly outweighed a decade of grinding Great Fireball.
This was the system's true purpose.
As Wood Release points drained to 1, the bodily agony vanished—though he felt a faint increase in physical resilience.
Qingguang lifted his head. "Senior Orochimaru, can you remove these restraints?"
"Lord Hokage… how did you get here?"
He's alive!?
"Quick, Orochimaru—release him!" Hiruzen rushed forward. After the metal rings clicked open, Orochimaru stepped back.
A serpentine tongue flicked across his lips. "Qingguang-kun, do you feel the new power within?"
Hiruzen, too, watched anxiously, awaiting confirmation.
Qingguang pressed his palms together, fingers interlaced. Chakra surged.
A tiny sapling sprouted from his right palm.
"This… is Wood Release?"
Danzō's sudden interjection dripped with disappointment.
The First could clap and summon forests. Qingguang? A single seedling?
How was this supposed to subdue the Nine-Tails for him?
Hiruzen felt the same, but survival alone satisfied him.
"I always said it wasn't Wood Release that was strong—it was the First. None of that matters now."
"You're safe, Qingguang. That's enough."
He patted the boy's shoulder, consoling the dejected look.
But Orochimaru stared at the sapling, lips curling. "Teacher Sarutobi, this procedure used the minimum dose of Wood Release cells. The fact he can manifest it at all proves his body can tolerate the power."
"Future injections—or training—can raise the ceiling."
"Whether to continue… is up to you and Qingguang."
Danzō's dormant ambition flared anew.
There's still hope!
Hiruzen fell silent. Orochimaru's words confirmed feasibility.
But even the smallest dose had nearly killed the boy. The risk was astronomical.
Seeing Hiruzen waver, Qingguang looked up, eyes resolute. "Lord Hokage—if I survived the first, I'll survive the rest. Everything is hardest at the start. For the village, I won't fail."
Hiruzen's gaze softened, as if seeing an old friend's ghost.
"Fine. You're grown. You have your convictions—I won't stop you."
"But from now on, every procedure must be reported to me first. Understood, Orochimaru?"
"No problem, Teacher Sarutobi."
Orochimaru nodded without protest.
To him, reporting was trivial. What mattered was proof—hypothesis made flesh.
Hiruzen then led Qingguang out of Root.
Watching them leave, Danzō's hunger for the Hokage seat burned hotter. He turned to Orochimaru.
"Your theory is proven. Can you give me Wood Release now?"
Qingguang was a prized junior—and a crucial pawn.
But only a pawn.
Once he became Hokage, Root might even pass to Qingguang.
Orochimaru's gaze slid to the bandaged right eye, lips twisting in mockery. "If Qingguang-kun learned what's sealed beneath those bandages—his clansmen's Sharingan—would he still be so loyal?"
"No need for threats. You think I don't have dirt on you?"
"Don't pretend I'm unaware of your private forbidden jutsu research."
"Pleasure doing business, Lord Danzō." Orochimaru's smile turned warm, sincere.
You think I only know it's a Sharingan?
If Qingguang-kun knew it was his father—Mirror's eye—would he still serve you?