Chapter 284: Transplanting the First Hokage's Cells
"He's the doctor I brought in for this transplant, so there's no need to be on guard," Haneda explained from the side.
Hearing this, Itachi and Shisui exchanged puzzled and slightly skeptical glances, but their trust in Haneda outweighed their unease. They gradually relaxed their vigilance.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, stared intently at Itachi and Shisui's eyes, unconsciously licking his lips.
He had been fascinated by the Uchiha clan's eyes for years.
Those eyes, which could suppress the First Hokage's cells, might even reveal secrets of an ancient and hidden history.
While Orochimaru wasn't particularly interested in history itself, anything related to the legendary origins of ninjutsu, like the Sage of Six Paths, deeply intrigued him.
"Before transplanting the First Hokage's cells, it's best to stay relaxed and in good spirits," Orochimaru advised, his voice calm and detached.
"Although the process will be painful and lengthy, enduring it can serve as a test of your willpower."
As he spoke, Orochimaru meticulously prepared and checked the surgical instruments.
This was his first study of the interplay between the Mangekyo Sharingan and the First Hokage's cells.
Based on the legends of the Warring States Era, where Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama's powers clashed, the Mangekyo Sharingan and the First Hokage's cells seemed evenly matched.
This dynamic greatly increased the likelihood of a successful transplant.
And given Orochimaru's deep familiarity with the First Hokage's cells, he was confident in the operation's outcome.
Seeing that Orochimaru was ready, Haneda gave his instructions:
"We'll proceed one at a time. The First Hokage's cells are most dangerous during the initial rejection phase. Once past that, the process becomes relatively manageable."
"Shisui, you go first."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Orochimaru had prepared two operating tables, positioned a meter apart.
Shisui instinctively chose the table on the right.
His right eye, reclaimed by Haneda, had always felt like a source of good fortune, so he leaned toward that side.
Once Shisui lay down, Orochimaru brought out a large syringe. The needle alone was exceptionally long and thin.
Upon seeing it, Shisui couldn't help but recall past painful experiences, and a sense of dread welled up inside him.
Standing nearby, Haneda and Itachi both involuntarily swallowed.
That needle alone could terrify children to tears—and even grown adults would find it unnerving.
"These are specially treated First Hokage cells," Orochimaru explained in his cold, clinical tone.
"Their effect might be weaker than normal, but their aggression has been significantly reduced, which raises the success rate of the transplant."
"I haven't extensively studied the Mangekyo Sharingan, so I'm uncertain how effectively it can suppress the cells."
His detached, matter-of-fact explanation reminded Shisui of his collaborations with Root operatives.
Though devoid of emotion, the clear, focused approach instilled a sense of reassurance.
Haneda leaned over to comfort Shisui: "Relax. Even if the transplant fails, I'll make sure you survive."
"Even if you lose this power, it won't matter. I'll shoulder all of Uchiha's and Konoha's burdens."
Shisui stared into Haneda's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Its sun-like pattern radiated an eerie, malevolent, and dark aura—but within that darkness, Shisui felt warmth and reassurance.
In that moment, he resolved to succeed in this transplant.
He wanted to help Haneda bear the weight of his duties as Hokage and leader of the nation.
As one of the key figures tasked with eliminating remnants of the daimyo's loyalists, Shisui knew all too well about the prejudice and hostility Haneda faced from some of the new citizens of Fire Country.
He wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to correct their misconceptions.
The syringe pierced Shisui's chest, and soon, a pale face began to form at the injection site.
Unfazed, Orochimaru calmly restrained Shisui's arms and legs and inserted a secondary needle into his arm to deliver medication.
"This is a suppressive toxin I obtained in a trade with Sasori. It's highly effective at subduing the First Hokage's cells," Orochimaru remarked nonchalantly.
"I must say, Sasori's range of poisons is impressive. He always has something seemingly useless but unexpectedly valuable."
What Orochimaru didn't mention was that he had specially modified the toxin. In any case, Haneda and the others wouldn't understand the specifics.
As the toxin coursed through Shisui's veins, the pale face on his chest began to fade, and the discolored area around it started to recede.
Shisui's expression of pain eased noticeably.
Orochimaru monitored the data on his instruments and meticulously recorded his observations.
According to his earlier research, transplanting the First Hokage's cells was more likely to succeed in younger individuals.
In Shisui's case, the success of the integration depended entirely on the suppressive power of his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Suddenly, the relatively stable heart rate began to fluctuate violently, signaling the peak of the rejection phase.
Orochimaru's expression grew tense as he closely monitored the changes.
From his past experiments, he knew that stability over time indicated lower rejection levels and higher success rates.
But Shisui's wild fluctuations were alarming. Without the Mangekyo Sharingan, Orochimaru would've already declared this case hopeless.
Noticing Orochimaru's serious expression and Shisui's increasing pain, Haneda and Itachi realized how dire the situation had become.
The transplant was teetering on the brink of failure.
Sweat began to bead on Itachi's palms. He was deeply worried about Shisui but didn't dare make a sound, fearing it might disrupt Shisui's concentration.
Haneda placed his trust in Orochimaru's judgment. Only when Orochimaru officially declared the experiment a failure would he intervene with his Rinnegan power.
As the heart rate spikes grew more intense, Orochimaru raised his right hand—a prearranged signal with Haneda.
If the hand came down, it would mean the transplant had failed, and Haneda would need to act immediately.
At that moment, the situation seemed all but lost.
But then, a sudden turnaround occurred!
Shisui's erratic heart rate began to stabilize, and the fluctuations rapidly diminished.
Haneda watched as Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly, and within the eyes, he glimpsed an unyielding determination.
He didn't understand why Shisui's ocular power had suddenly surged to an unprecedented level, but he was thrilled by the development.
Orochimaru, however, understood. Based on Tobirama Senju's research, Uchiha's ocular power was tied to their emotions.
When their emotions reached an intense peak, their brains produced a unique chakra—ocular power.
This power came with loss and obsession.
For someone like Shisui, who was neither doomed nor at risk of death, what thoughts could have sparked this surge?
Orochimaru's scientific curiosity burned brighter than ever.
As the heart rate continued to stabilize, Orochimaru finally declared, "The procedure is more than halfway complete. As long as no unexpected complications arise, Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan will suppress the First Hokage's cells and gradually integrate with them."
Haneda nodded, his Rinnegan allowing him to clearly see the energy of creation taking root within Shisui's body.
He understood that over time, the First Hokage's cells would fully merge with Shisui.
Of course, whether or not a face would remain on his chest depended on Shisui's own will.
Not everyone was like Madara, keeping Hashirama in their hearts at all times.