Pale skin, peculiar eye shadow, and snake-like pupils. The figure possessing such an appearance was currently looking with great astonishment at the red-haired little girl who had appeared before her, not even paying attention to the visibly displeased Danzo standing to the side.
[It's actually Uncle Snake! The number one scientific pioneer in the Ninja world, the man who treats Sasuke like his own father!]
Amane felt somewhat excited.
Although he was a villain, compared to Nagato, Obito, or Madara, Amane undoubtedly preferred Orochimaru.
This character possessed a unique, irresistible charm.
"Heh heh heh heh... One grows under the sun yet is treated with indifference by the world, another lives in the shadows with life and death as constant companions every day. Konoha's attitude towards its heroes is truly considerate~"
Orochimaru's sinister voice sounded so pleasant to Amane's ears.
If she hadn't been suppressing it with all her might, Amane would have really wanted to shout 'Well said!' on instinct! If you can speak, say more!
At this moment, the slight fondness Amane already had for Orochimaru instantly rose another notch.
"Orochimaru, I called you here for serious business."
Danzo's tone was not friendly. While he might not necessarily have been provoked by Orochimaru's taunt, his mood was clearly soured.
"Hehe... Judging from this child's complexion, you haven't spared the drugs during her training."
Saying this, Orochimaru approached Amane and, with a complete lack of boundaries, took her small hand to examine it closely.
"Moreover, although she looks unharmed on the outside, I can tell many areas of her skin appear very 'tender'. This is a symptom of recent injury. Lord Danzo, you truly are impatient."
After detailing Amane's physical condition, Orochimaru looked into Amane's eyes with an extremely gentle gaze, the smile at the corner of his mouth becoming soft and amiable.
Amane recalled Orochimaru's persuasion of Kimimaro in her mind.
If she remembered correctly, Kimimaro's starting point was quite similar to her own now. Both were confined and trained in a place. Then one day, he attacked the Hidden Mist Village with his clan, and everyone except Kimimaro died.
It was at that time Uncle Snake appeared before Kimimaro, who had lost his purpose in life, and told him: Living has no meaning, but as long as you live, you might find something interesting, just as you found this flower and I have now found you.
Wow, it really is kind of similar now.
If she hadn't spent these four years in the Root, and if it were the Amane from her previous life, she definitely wouldn't be able to hold back right now.
Shouldn't she at least put on a little act?
Immediately, Amane tilted her head at Orochimaru, seemingly appearing very confused.
"Orochimaru!"
Danzo's voice involuntarily rose several decibels.
"Heh heh, then let's begin. Although the standard procedure should be to examine this child, I presume Lord Danzo has already prepared everything necessary."
Saying this, Danzo took out a scroll from his robes. From the corner of her eye, Amane saw it was marked with many medical symbols.
Orochimaru took it and began reading it in detail. Meanwhile, under the direction of several assistants, Amane was led onto the operating table and restrained with specialized Ninja Chakra locks.
This lock was also an application of Sealing Jutsu. Amane could tell at a glance that she could make one herself.
[This body's learning ability is really good; a new brain is just so useful. Pity, just as Orochimaru said, there hasn't been a single day without injury.]
Lying on the bed, Amane thought about these things very quietly, even with a slight, faint smile on her lips.
She knew that later, she would have to walk through the gates of hell. The only reason Danzo could contact Orochimaru at this time for her must be to transplant that miraculous Hashirama cell.
Was she afraid?
Amane asked herself. She really wasn't particularly scared.
There was no escaping. At this moment, she had no choice. Just like when she was an infant, knowing the plot yet powerless to change it.
Since that was the case, she would accept it with a smile.
[I mustn't be impatient, I mustn't be impatient... The current situation is much better than when I first arrived here. As long as I don't die from this, I'll have more capital.]
It was a cheat with significant influence even in the late stages of the Ninja world. If a freebie like this came, as long as she could catch it, it would be hers.
"You're actually smiling. Have you sensed your fate and feel you can finally be liberated? Or do you simply find the current situation interesting?"
Suddenly, Orochimaru's voice sounded beside her. It seemed he had finished reading Amane's information completely.
[A slip-up, he saw it. But it should be fine with Orochimaru. After all, he and Danzo are not on the same side at all.]
However, at this moment, only she, Orochimaru, and several assistants were in the operating room, so there was still risk.
So it was better to continue muddling through with an innocent expression here.
So, Amane tilted her head at Orochimaru again.
"An interesting child. I hope you can survive this operation."
After saying this, Orochimaru injected the syringe filled with Hashirama cells into Amane's body.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Beyond imagination! She had intended to grit her teeth and endure, but the pain instantly broke her defenses! Now she only felt the injection site hurt as if being sliced by a thousand cuts! And this sensation was continuously spreading and expanding throughout her body! And wherever the pain invaded, she immediately felt something trying to break through her skin and burrow out!
At this moment, Amane had only one feeling: the pain made you more awake than ever before, forcing you to completely imprint this sensation of stepping towards death as despair in your heart.
Was this the price of touching the Sage Body?
Amane had no time to think about this. Her only task now was to refine her Chakra as much as possible to resist this invasive force within her body, only then could she feel a tiny bit of relief!
And so, the Uzumaki Clan's tenacious vitality began to exert itself!
This cellular war happening inside her body thus commenced. It was predictable that the tilt of the victory scale depended on how long Amane could hold out, whether she could last until her own power adapted and fused with the profound essence within the cells of the First God of Shinobi.
"Quickly, administer the nutrient solution to her! It must not stop!"
Orochimaru, watching the various data transmitted on the computer, began to get excited and hastily gave the order.
[A contest of strength! In previous subjects, this situation would already be a death sentence. The Uzumaki Clan is indeed extraordinary, actually able to hold on, and with considerable strength to spare.]
Orochimaru analyzed the data on the screen with extreme seriousness.
Judging purely from physical parameters, the Hashirama cells were actually not very compatible. Simply put, since Wood Release requires both Water and Earth natures, Uzumaki Amane's body did not possess Earth-natured Chakra.
Danzo knew this, but he still chose to have Amane undergo the transplant, gambling on the Uzumaki Clan's vitality.
[Too reckless. But the Uzumaki Clan is basically extinct. Even if this fails, excellent experimental data can be obtained. Minato, I wonder what expression you'd have seeing this from the heavens.]
Orochimaru watched the progress of this experiment with great anticipation, casually extracting Amane's cells and blood.
Three days later, Amane's wails stopped, and all her vital signs were normal.
One month later, Amane awoke and regained her bodily functions.
The experiment was a success.