Reiki had long wondered why the Wood Release ability he'd gained hadn't activated. Now, with the influx of Hashirama's cells from the injured patient, everything was beginning to make sense.
As he focused on the energy pulsing through him, he noticed his chakra expanding, adapting to this foreign energy. Slowly, a small sprout emerged from the nearby wooden stool, soon unfurling into a vibrant leaf.
"So, it really is Hashirama's cells," Reiki muttered. Orochimaru's involvement was evident, yet why Mito Homura would be tangled in this was less clear. Given the power plays among Konoha's elders, it seemed Homura might have unknowingly stepped into the intrigue spun by Danzo and Orochimaru.
Reiki watched as the patient's bloated body gradually returned to a stable state, his wounds beginning to heal under the gentle flow of Reiki's chakra. Carefully, Reiki left just enough Hashirama cells to maintain a slight imbalance, making it appear as though he had only transferred the most excessive energy.
Minutes later, Shizune woke up, blinking groggily as she took in the scene. Reiki gestured to her to finish the treatment, giving her a reassuring nod. "All yours, Shizune. Handle the debridement and bandaging."
After Shizune completed her work, she turned to Reiki, beaming. "It's done! I can't believe we just finished an S-level mission!"
Reiki smiled back, feeling a deep satisfaction. "Let's report back."
Outside, an ANBU operative awaited. "The patient's condition has been stabilized. He will require follow-up sessions weekly for the next three weeks to clear out any residual energy. By then, I believe the symptoms should subside," Reiki explained.
The ANBU nodded. "Thank you, Roy Medical Ninja. We will follow your instructions." With that, he took the patient and disappeared in a blur.
Watching them go, Reiki's thoughts darkened. *Orochimaru, trying to lure me into your experiments…*
Reiki returned to his office, closing the door to meditate on his own body. Despite the strong energy he'd absorbed, his Wood Release still wasn't active. *I need more Hashirama cells to truly awaken this ability,* he realized, but accessing more would mean dealing with Orochimaru and Danzo, an extremely risky proposition given his current limitations.
---
Elsewhere, in the Root headquarters, Danzo examined the patient on a cot, his eyes narrowing.
"Did you discover how he stabilized the Hashirama cells, Orochimaru?" he demanded.
"It appears he transferred some of the excess energy out," Orochimaru replied, disappointment lacing his words. "A crude method at best, and one I can replicate easily. I was hoping for a more sophisticated solution."
Danzo grunted, his frustration evident. "Do we continue testing him, then? If this is all he has to offer, we may as well move on."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with dark curiosity. "Patience, Danzo. I'll send him more complex cases. He can't hide his true skills forever." He didn't believe for a moment that Reiki's potential was limited to what he'd seen so far. There was something elusive about him, something Orochimaru was determined to uncover.
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Up to Chapter 290 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
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