Time continued to flow.
Two years passed in Uzushiogakure, deep within its research facilities. Inside one of the laboratories, Shanks stood silently before a massive green tube. Within it floated preserved flesh-like tissue, suspended and pulsing faintly under the artificial light. The low hum of machines filled the room as streams of data scrolled across the computer screen in front of him. Shanks studied the numbers carefully, his expression calm but focused.
Finally, he issued a command in his mind. "Raphael, run simulations based on these results. Determine whether this serum can be safely injected without causing harm to the human body. Confirm whether it is suitable for the ninjas of Uzushiogakure."
"Starting simulations…"
Raphael immediately began processing. Calculations raced forward, projections stacking upon one another. Moments passed in tense silence before the results finalized.
"Simulation complete," Raphael responded. "Current success probability has reached ninety-eight percent. There should be no mishaps, provided you are present during the injection of the serum into the Uzushiogakure ninjas—or any other subjects."
A faint smile appeared on Shanks's face. For a long time, he had been researching the ninja infected with White Zetsu cells—the one who had come into his hands. After studying that subject, the dead body itself—or, to be precise, after dissecting and analyzing the White Zetsu cells within—it became clear to him what needed to be done. Shanks wanted to create a serum, one that could drastically increase the strength of his ninjas without destroying their bodies in the process.
And now, after two full years of research and countless simulations run by Raphael, that serum had finally taken shape. It was precisely because of Raphael that Shanks never had to resort to extreme measures or reckless human experimentation. Every variable, every potential failure point, could be tested in advance. Raphael could simulate how the serum would interact with the human body, how it would affect DNA, whether it would stabilize or collapse, and whether it would succeed or fail long before it was ever injected into a living person.
In that sense, Raphael had been an invaluable aid. With its guidance, Shanks had succeeded—he had truly created the serum he envisioned. With this, he could now form a powerful group of ninjas, their strength elevated far beyond ordinary limits.
Shanks opened a chamber; he retrieved a sealed tube. Inside it, a vivid green liquid swirled gently, faintly luminous, as if alive.
He held the tube up and studied the final product in silence. Then he spoke softly, "Now I should give this serum a name."
A thought surfaced in his mind, clear and immediate. This serum, in its function and purpose, reminded him of the Super Soldier Serum that had once been injected into Captain America. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips as he said, "This serum will also be known as the Super Soldier Serum."
Shanks continued to look at the Super Soldier Serum, his expression thoughtful. He understood its limits as clearly as its potential. This serum would be most effective on those who did not possess powerful bloodlines yet still had decent innate potential. For such people, it would work exactly as intended. But for individuals like himself—or the Uzumaki siblings, whose latent potential was already extremely high—the serum would show little effect, or perhaps none at all. In a sense, their natural ceiling was already too high for the Super Soldier Serum to push any further.
For the ordinary ninjas of Uzushiogakure, however, this serum could become nothing short of a boon. Those whose life potential would normally peak at the level of a Chunin could now, at the very least, reach the level of a special Jonin, and in some cases even a full Jonin. Of course, that outcome would still depend on how well their bodies adapted, their intelligence, and a variety of other factors. According to Shanks's research and the results he had gathered so far, the Super Soldier Serum would not react uniformly. Its effects would vary from person to person.
For some, it might amplify their potential by five times or even more. For others, the increase might be only three times, or two times—no higher than that. But even in the worst case, they would still become far, far stronger than before. At the very least, they would be able to stand just below the level of the Uzumaki siblings. After all, aside from the Uzumaki siblings themselves, Uzushiogakure currently did not possess truly powerful ninjas—none that could be considered S-rank or above.
The truth of that strength was known only to Shanks and the Uzumaki siblings. Their overwhelming power did not come solely from talent or training, but from the template system. In effect, that system pushed their Uzumaki bloodline potential to its absolute maximum. Because of that, they had become terrifyingly strong.
In contrast, the non-noble families—anyone outside the Uzumaki clan—had no such advantage. They possessed no comparable system, no hidden mechanism to elevate their bloodline potential. For them, the Super Soldier Serum was the only path forward.
And currently within the Uzumaki clan, as new children continued to be born, the future only grew brighter. Shanks's own children—Shamrock and Uta—were proof of that. When they grew up and their potential fully awakened, they would undoubtedly stand at the level of Kage from the various villages. Recently, Erza had also given birth to her son. She and Guy were now married and had a child of their own. The same was true for Antares and Makima; they, too, had married and welcomed a child. Mereoleona and Gildarts had also tied the knot and were raising a child together.
At present, only Benimaru and Todoroki remained unmarried and without children. It wasn't something that particularly worried Shanks, but as their elder brother—and as the clan head of the Uzumaki clan—he naturally wanted both of them to settle down and have families of their own, preferably with at least two children each. In his mind, this was a simple matter of the clan's future. At least two children from every Uzumaki sibling, he thought, and our numbers will multiply quickly enough.
Shanks took a deep breath and slowly released it, pushing those thoughts aside. "Let's leave the future to Benimaru and Todoroki," he murmured to himself. "They'll decide what to do with their lives. I can't force them into anything."
After that, Shanks reached for the telephone and dialled a number. A voice answered on the other end, and Shanks gave his command without hesitation. "Send White Tiger over. Also, inform my brothers and sisters to gather in the research lab." He placed the receiver down, and within moments, movement spread through the area. One by one, the Uzumaki siblings began to arrive. White Tiger soon followed.
White Tiger was one of the captains of the Shadow Guard, a man who answered only to Shanks or the Uzumaki siblings. Standing before Shanks, he bowed respectfully. "Lord Uzukage," he said, then straightened, waiting silently for his orders.
Shanks looked directly at White Tiger and spoke in a calm, steady voice. "You remember when I told you—when I told all the Shadow Guards—that one day I would present you with a chance to become far more powerful than you are right now. That chance is finally ready." He paused briefly before continuing. "According to my calculations and all the data I have gathered, I am confident you will be fine. Still, there is a two percent chance that, in the process of gaining this power, you might die."
The room grew quiet.
"So tell me," Shanks said evenly, "would you like to become stronger—pushing your potential even further—or not?"
The Uzumaki siblings also turned their attention to White Tiger, watching him closely as they waited for his response.
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