The group returned to the Uchiha compound.
From afar, one could already see the two enormous mulberry trees in the courtyard, their trunks intertwined as they reached for the sky.
A closer look revealed something peculiar—the air around the courtyard shimmered slightly, as though distorted by intense heat.
Yet once they stepped inside, instead of feeling hot, a cool and refreshing sensation surrounded them.
Of course, the phenomenon was so subtle that few would even notice it. And even if someone did, they would likely assume it was caused by some kind of barrier or sealing jutsu.
No one would guess that that effect came from the small Fusang Tree growing several meters tall atop the intertwined mulberries.
The Fusang Tree.
A creation born from Shien's blood and effort—now worthy of its name.
It absorbed most of the sunlight within its range, and the surrounding natural energy had become so concentrated that the area exuded a faint, sacred aura.
Luckily, the courtyard was large enough. Had it been smaller, the ANBU would probably have noticed the anomaly by now.
Still, the tree needed to be relocated soon—to somewhere more suitable. But that could wait.
Though only the three of them visibly entered the courtyard, in the shadows Uchiha Shota was already watching the perimeter closely.
"Do you want to rest first?" asked Uchiha Mei, turning her bandage-covered eyes toward him—her unseen gaze seemed to carry a pressure of its own.
"No need," Shien replied with a shake of his head.
"I've been lying down long enough."
He'd rested plenty these past few days. Though his mind was fatigued from constant study, his thoughts were sharp and active.
It was the perfect time to begin the experiment.
Hearing that, Mei said no more and led the way down into the basement.
The moment Shien stepped back into the lab, he could tell things had changed.
A concealed yet perfectly constructed staircase, bright lighting, well-organized design—and the interior now crowded with an array of advanced scientific instruments.
It was an upgrade in every sense—from primitive tools to modern precision.
These devices hadn't been bought yesterday; the orders had been placed long ago, but only recently delivered.
High-end lab equipment was rarely available off the shelf—it had to be custom-ordered. And without the village's backing, personal acquisition was nearly impossible.
Over two hundred million ryō—just for the basic setup. And that didn't even include the favors and strings pulled to acquire them so quickly.
As expected of the Uchiha—true aristocrats among clans.
With such equipment, Shien could now conduct his research with far greater ease.
For instance, extracting primary essence was now quick and efficient, with much higher yields.
Glug—
Bubbles rose from a tall, transparent cylinder three meters high and over a meter wide.
A life-support capsule.
Inside, a green solution bubbled continuously—nutrient fluid, specially formulated to sustain the human body.
And it was absurdly expensive.
Just this one tank alone cost over ten million ryō.
Utter madness.
But the liquid wasn't what drew the eye—it was the figure floating within it.
A slender, feminine form suspended in the green fluid, her face covered by a breathing mask.
Her body was graceful and supple, her figure alluring—even through the skintight suit she wore.
But her right leg was missing from the knee down, leaving that beautiful body incomplete.
Hyuga Aotsuki.
She had arrived at the lab early to prepare.
This time, the experiment was on an entirely different level—far beyond the crude tests Shien had once performed on prisoners.
After weeks of care and steady nutrient infusions, Hyuga Aotsuki's body had reached its peak condition—free of impurities or interference from food or environment.
Everything had been optimized for success.
"Let's begin," Shien said softly.
He tore his gaze away from her form in the tank. If the other two hadn't been present, he might have been tempted to critique her posture in the solution—but now wasn't the time for jokes.
First, he calculated the proper dosage of serum based on her biological data.
Then came the extraction of the Regeneration Serum.
Unlike other potions, this one depended critically on its vitality level—the fresher it was, the stronger its effect.
The ideal approach was to prepare it on the spot for immediate use.
A series of rare lizards were brought out—specimens used as biological material. Shien carefully extracted their fluids and tissue samples.
With the help of the new purification device, it took him less than two hours to finish.
Throughout the process, Uchiha Mei and Uchiha Shizuka didn't glance his way once.
They weren't here to learn—they were here to witness.
Shien pricked his fingertip.
Blood.
His special blood was the key to everything—the core of the experiment.
Without it, the Regeneration Serum would be useless… or outright toxic.
As a few drops of his blood mixed in, the cloudy liquid slowly turned a vivid green.
The serum was ready.
Carefully, Shien placed the vial into the automatic injector connected to the side of the capsule.
Every piece of this setup had cost a fortune—but the precision was worth every ryō.
The Regeneration Serum began to flow gently into the unconscious Hyuga Aotsuki's body.
This was Shien's new approach—refined through earlier failures and data analysis.
He had learned that pain exceeding human limits often caused fatal collapse.
So he had changed several parameters: the serum would be injected while the subject was unconscious, the activation time slowed, and the nutrient fluid would sustain the energy drain of tissue regeneration.
With these safeguards in place, he finally had the confidence to let Hyuga Aotsuki serve as his test subject.
If he wasn't sure of success, he would never risk her life.
Of course, there was no need to say that aloud.
Once the injection was complete, Shien moved to the control panel and began making delicate adjustments.
He could have left it alone after that—but doing so would lower the success rate by several degrees.
He wasn't about to take that chance.
Swish—
Using the capsule's internal instruments, Shien made an incision at the end of Aotsuki's severed leg.
No blood gushed out. Instead, tender new granulation tissue began to form, slowly weaving together.
The Regeneration Serum.
It was working.
But the process was slow. Shien had to keep adjusting parameters, maintaining balance and progress.
One day, he would perfect this technique—safe, stable, and reliable.
But he had no intention of sharing it with the world.
This research wasn't for the benefit of the Ninja World. It was for himself—and for those close to him.
The experiment lasted much longer than the previous ones.
Yet neither Uchiha Mei nor Uchiha Shizuka showed a trace of impatience.
They both understood: this was something unprecedented.
A miracle in the making.
Even with all his improvements, Shien could only extend the serum's active cycle to one full day—any longer was impossible for now.
But that was enough.
What had once been impossible was now within reach.
A day later, the interior of the capsule looked completely different.
"Now," Shien rasped, his voice low and hoarse,
"let us witness… a miracle."
With that, he pressed the button before him.
And —what followed was a miracle.
A miracle the world had never seen before.
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