Gin removed his clothes and lay down on the brand-new lab table.
He could feel the cold surface against his back.
Perhaps this experience would allow him to empathize with the future test subjects who lay on this same table.
Maybe he'd be a little more gentle with them next time.
This was the first time he had used this lab table.
As always, the first test subject was himself.
It felt terrible.
Despite the lab being newly built, it lacked no essential equipment.
Thanks to Orochimaru's generosity.
All of this equipment had been given to him by Orochimaru.
Of course, its source was Danzō's Root laboratory.
As for Danzō, there was no need to thank him.
After all, there was bad blood between the two.
On the day Danzō dies, Gin would definitely send him a bouquet of flowers.
A little token of gratitude for the equipment.
Shadow Clone #1 began moving the life-support machines closer to Gin.
He inserted tubes with needles into Gin's neck, heart, and head—critical areas.
These tubes were meant to prevent any accidents during the experiment.
They would be able to save his life in time, just in case.
Even though the techniques derived from the simulations were reliable, you could never be too cautious.
As the needles entered, the machines began displaying various data:
Life signs, cognitive activity, chakra levels, sealing parameters.
Some of these instruments would have been considered cutting-edge black technology in Gin's previous life.
Yet here, they were common.
The strange technology in the world of Naruto was truly baffling.
The pain from the needles didn't faze Gin in the slightest.
After all, a ninja's tolerance for pain was incredibly high.
Shadow Clone #2 then took out a piece of flesh and injected all of Hashirama's cells into it.
The flesh soon turned completely into wood—this was the same problem that had stumped Orochimaru.
Once the cells caused the flesh to become wood, the data read as though it were just ordinary wood.
However, if you reused the wood, you'd still get the effects of Hashirama's cells, just not as strongly.
Yet even the weakened Hashirama cells were unbearable for most people.
The cells could be gradually weakened.
After nine steps of weakening, the cells would no longer have their corrosive effect.
This was something Gin and Orochimaru could never figure out.
Gin had deduced that Hashirama's cells could bear the power of a tailed beast, which is why they could propagate nine times.
Each step represented the strength of one tailed beast, and originally, the cells could handle the power of all the tailed beasts combined.
It felt like Hashirama was born to handle the tailed beasts, not to battle his brothers.
It was simply astonishing.
The purpose of Shadow Clone #2 was to weaken the power of Hashirama's cells step by step. Even the fully weakened cells could still be fatal to most.
Orochimaru's research had reached this point, but no further progress could be made.
Only when a special ninja, like Uchiha Shin, appeared later would they go beyond this.
As Shadow Clone #2 weakened the cells nine times, the wood produced was mixed with various materials.
The result was a liquid that was stored in a syringe.
A special syringe for Hashirama's cells.
Complete.
This syringe could be injected into any Uchiha who had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan.
It contained not just medical compounds but a certain proportion of chakra infused within.
In the end, all of it turned into chakra created by Hashirama's cells.
This chakra was the true secret to the cells' overwhelming power.
Orochimaru had never reached this understanding; Gin only discovered it through simulations.
Of course, there was another who knew the truth.
That person was Madara, hidden in the shadows of the ninja world.
After all, Gin's knowledge of Hashirama's cells had come from Madara.
That old man had been researching Hashirama's cells for who knew how many years.
Shadow Clone #2 walked over to Gin's bedside.
"Well, you better enjoy this, boss." Shadow Clone #2 smirked mischievously.
Gin felt a vein throb in his forehead.
"You're still my clone, aren't you? If I suffer, you suffer too."
"Not quite," Shadow Clone #2 shook his head. "We feel your pain, but you won't feel ours."
"You little—"
"Insulting us is the same as insulting yourself."
The clone's comment silenced Gin.
Was he really that much of a jerk?
Enjoying watching others suffer?
Was it that fun!!?
Okay, maybe just a little.
But Gin was definitely not that kind of person who enjoyed such things.
Who could possibly enjoy watching themselves suffer with glee?
It's absurd!!
Clone #2 didn't care and immediately jabbed the syringe into Gin's carotid artery.
As the liquid was injected, wooden markings began to spread from Gin's neck, slowly extending outward.
Gin quickly activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, barely slowing the spread, but it was still creeping forward.
"Tenma Technique!"
Gin's chakra began constructing the Tenma sealing technique within his body.
It created a massive pull on all chakra, including the chakra created by Hashirama's cells, forcing it into the seal.
Despite the small amount of serum, it continued to generate chakra, gradually spreading within the seal.
At the same time, Gin's body began turning to wood at a rapid pace.
"This is normal, this is normal..."
Gin muttered to himself, trying to boost his confidence.
According to the simulations, this was indeed a normal occurrence.
Soon, his entire body started to transform into wood. Gin just stared at the ceiling, allowing the process to unfold while continuously reassuring himself.
Eventually, his body fully turned into wood.
Shadow Clones #1 and #2 looked at Shadow Clone #3, who was operating the machines.
Without looking up, Clone #3 responded:
"All readings are normal."
"Life signs are at their minimum but haven't disappeared completely."
"Cognitive activity is highly active."
"Chakra levels are increasing rapidly."
The other two clones breathed a sigh of relief. Even though the simulation predicted this outcome, seeing it happen in reality was still terrifying.
After all, Gin may have a carefree attitude, but he valued his life.
Shadow Clones #1 and #2 joined Clone #3, staring intently at the data.
The previously low life signs gradually increased, surpassing normal levels and reaching new heights.
Chakra levels were skyrocketing, though cognitive activity remained stable.
The next moment.
Crack.
A clear sound echoed.
All three clones turned toward the body.
The wooden shell surrounding Gin's body began to crack, with fractures spreading rapidly.
Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack.
The cracking sound continued.
A pristine, white hand stretched out from the wooden shell.
(End of Chapter)