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  Orochimaru's Lab. (Approx. 4 pm)

  Sweat was slowly rolling down Shizune's face as she did her best to stabilize her teacher's vitals. Her hands glowed green as she was stantly monit Tsunade's dition and p healing chakra into her sensei's body. And to add pressure, Orochimaru was watg her every move.

  The young medic looked at her bloeacher with fear as she sensed what was happening within Tsunade's body. 'Her cells are beiroyed and created rapidly. Her fever is spiking again. The Leukocytes are treating the ied serum as fn invaders and attag them but the serum is fighting back trying to override the cells and DNA structure. It's as if the serum has a mind of its own. I never khe blood of the first Hokage was so powerful. It's already been several hours. I don't know how much longer she hold on if it keeps going like this.'

  As Shizune feared the worst, to the side Orochimaru was also every ge taking p Tsunade's body. 'I was right. The serum is with Tsunade's cells and DNA, altering them to incorporate the traits of Wood Style. Hashirama Senju's blood is activating and suppressing specifies reted to awakening Wood Style abilities.'

  Orochimaru drew a feles of Tsunade's blood and exami. A smile slowly grew on his lips aurned his attention to his former teammate lying unscious oable.

  'My hypothesis was correct. Tsunade has markers in her blood that would make it possible for her to awaken wood style but they were suppressed by the more dominant genes. Now that an outside trigger has been introduced into her system, her cells are starting to adapt and evolve. This will give her the ability to create and manipute wood-based jutsu… But first I'll have to see if she survive till the st stage.'

  BEEP BEEP BEEP

  Suddenly the arms on the maes monit Tsunade's vitals started going off.

  Shizune quickly pced her palms atop Tsunade's heart and examined her. "Her heart rate is elevated and blood pressure is increasing agaiemperature is going up. She won't st long. You have to do something." Shizuurned her head and pleaded with Orochimaru.

  The snake Sannin had a calm look as he came near his test subject. "Calm down. It's the side effects of the serum. Her body is adapting to the fn cells so this is within my expectations. Over time, her blood might stabilize, but it would tio carry the infused Wood Style chakra."

  "Might!?" Shizune looked at the man with fear.

  Orochimaru's gaze settled on Shizune and she saw hy from those orbs. "Yes. I modified the serum as much as I could to reduce the possibility of a fatality but there is a ce Tsunade will die. And should that happen, you will die along with your teacher. So you best make sure that doesn't happen." He spoke with a cold chilling tone.

  "You.." The young medic gritted her teeth in anger and fear but she could do nothing at the moment but do her best to keep her teacher alive.

  Orochimaru turned his attention back to the unscious Tsunade and crossed his arms. 'I know the ges in your body are painful and life threatening. Now we'll see if your luck holds out. Will your body adapt to the serum or will you succumb to the side effects and die?'

  —-

  Fire Capital. 8:00 pm.

  Daichi's shadow e was in plete stealth as it made its way to the pace of the Third prince. He was using Mana skills to pletely erase his presence from anyone's senses.

  As Daichi slowly moved forward in the darkness, he still remembered the meeting he had with the man right after healing Jin. Daichi also remembered the words the third prince spoke at the end of their meeting. 'Damn it. He warned me. Why didn't I take better precautions?'

  Daichi was angry with himself for not doing anything more about the warning he received.

  If you need any help with Orochimaru, e find me.

  Those were the words Katsuya Hinoo whispered to him just before he left.

  'His warning was too vague. I thought he meant that Orochimaru might e after me or even Sasuke or the Leaf vilge. I just didn't expect that so go after Tsuill, how did that man know? He must have some ways to track that snake. He's the best ce I have at finding Tsunade sensei and Shizune before anything goes wrong.'

  The shadow e let out a small sigh and trated on his task. He bypassed the guards stationed in the pad quickly located the position of the prind made his way to his target.

  'I don't want to reveal too mas. If I enter without him sensing my presence he'll be even more vigint iure.'

  Before reag he room where the young prince was, Daichi slowly let go of his defenses a out a minute amount of chakra. He khe prince had excellent sensing skills and would sense him quickly.

  Daichi slowly made his way to the rge door of the room and knocked.

  "e in." Came the voice from inside.

  Daichi ehe room a a calm face as he saw the young prince of the Fire try seemingly waiting for him. "You're te." The room was a rge study with various books and scrolls filling the shelves.

  "You were waiting for me?" Daichi asked as he closed the door behind him.

  "Of course. The ret otions have drawention of many." Katsuya spoke with a smile.

  "Then you know why I'm here." Daichi looked at the man with slightly narrowed eyes. 'I half expected this.'

  Katsuya nodded. "Yes… I have to admit though. I thought Orochimaru would be after you. Based on what I uand about him, he's always had a fasation towards talented and powerful people. An atta Prisunade was not something even I anticipated… Sit." The prince said, pointing to a chair near him.

  "How did you know Orochimaru nning an attack?" Daichi asked as he sat down opposite the man.

  "I have my methods and resources."

  Daichi couldn't help but frown as he looked at the powerful man. 'He's not my enemy but at the same time he's not my ally. I o approach this as a iation if I want to get the information I need.'

  "What do you want… yhness?" Daichi leaned ba his chair and got straight to the point.

  "Aww no forepy? Just straight to the nitty gritty. You're no fun." Katsuya had a small chuckle as he looked at the Genin. But seeing Daichi's serious stony gaze he decided to get serious as well.

  "Do you remember the versation we had the st time we were here?" The prince asked Daichi.

  Daiodded his head as he recalled that day. "You wao form an alliah me."

  "Yes. You and I are simir. Our talents surpass our peers and our ambitions are much greater than theirs. If we're able to form a successful partnership then my resources will be at your disposal."

  "You old me what your ambition is." Daichi spoke as he looked at the man.

  Katsuya smiled as he looked at the boy. Theold the Genin part of what he wanted and Daichi's eyes widened in shock as he heard the man's goals.

  Daichi immediately used his Chakra and Mana seo see if anyone ying on them. Seeing that it was just the two he let out a breath of relief. "Do you realize what you're saying?" He asked the man in a cold tone.

  Katsuya became serious. "I do. Like I said, I'm recruiting talented people from all fields and gathering resources to implement my pns."

  The gamer ninja was silent as he looked at the man in front of him. 'This guy… If anyone ever finds out his true iions he'll be killed along with anyone who's helping him. Do I really want to take such a risk?'

  Daichi was silent for several moments before he spoke again. "You're highness, if people find out about this not even your father will be able to protect you. You uand that right?"

  Katsuya's eyes narrowed as he looked at the Genin. "Do not insult my intelligence Daichi. I'm well aware of the sequences should my pns be exposed prematurely."

  Daichi looked at the man and sighed. "Hoeople know?"

  "Including you… 3." The prince replied and Daichi was surprised.

  "You trust me that much even though this is only just our sed iion."

  Katsuya Hinoo nodded. "Let's just say I'm willing to take a gamble. A powerful ally is always a good thing. Your ambition is to bee the stro in the world. You were bold enough to say that straight to my face. I have a feeling you'll succeed. So Daichi, what do you say?"

  Daichi leaned ba his luxurious chair and thought about the pros and s of the allianbsp;'I'll be able to do a lot of things much easier with his help. But if it ever es to light what his goals are before I'm strong enough then I'll have to pay the price. I just say no and leave but something tells me he'll have some sort of tingeo deal with me. He wouldn't have revealed his iions otherwise… Nht now all that doesn't matter. My priority is to save Tsunade and Shizune. I'll deal with everything else after saving them.'

  Daichi let out a sigh and looked at the man in front of him. 'If the real me were here, he would make the same decision.'

  "I'm ied." Daichi gave a short reply and it brought a smile to Katsuya's face.

  "What made you decide to join me? Is it just the matter with Tsuhe third prince of the Fire try asked.

  The gamer ninja shook his head. "It's not just that. What you pn to do… If you… No. If we succeed, it will ge this era forever. I want to see for myself whether that ge would be for the better or worse. I want to be a part of it."

  Katsuya nodded and smiled. "Good. What do you want to know about Orochimaru?"

  "Where is he?" Daichi asked.

  "I've been keeping an eye on Daimyo's of all great nations. Several months ago I noticed unusual activities in the Land of Stone. I assigned a couple of assets and soon learhat a minister in that try had a visitor and sooionable shipments including high end medical equipmeransported through highly secure routes. My people 't be certain who the visitor was but I'm sure it was Orochimaru." Katsuya got up from his spot and quickly took a folder from the et.

  He hahe dots to Daichi and tinued. "The transportation els used and distributiohods had Orochimaru's fingerprints. It's not easy to spot his work but that snake isn't as clever as he thinks. I don't know what kind of deal that minister made with Orochimaru but he must be getting somethiremely valuable for the risks he's taking."

  Daichi quickly went through every page and itted the information to memory. 'He's right. If the Daimyo of that try or Tsuchikage finds out that a minister colborated with a known criminal from a hostile nation it would be a death sentence… Based on this info, the materials brought in... Orochimaru was building a b. But these dots don't point to any specific locations. Searg aire try while avoiding their patrol squads will take a lot of time and effort. There must be an easier way.'

  "Do you have any more information, yhness?" Daichi asked

  "I'm afraid not." Katsuya replied without missing a beat.

  Daichi k was a btant lie and he looked at the man with narrowed eyes.

  "I've given you enough information to narrow your field and start your searow, whether you find Prisunade or not will be up to you." Katsuya spoke looking at the Genin.

  "And here I thought we had formed a deal."

  The third prinarrowed his eyes and looked at the Genin. "You take this as a test of your abilities. If you fail to save her, then that means you're not as talented as either of us thought."

  Daichi was slightly angry hearing that respo he quickly calmed down. 'I should have expected it. He wants to see what methods I'd use. He wants to gain more information on my powers and wants to know what kind of strategies I'd employ. I 't take this guy lightly.'

  Daichi sighed as he stood from his chair. "Thank you for the information, yhness. I'll take my leave. I'll visit you after this i is resolved."

  The prince gave a small nod. "I do wish you the best of luck."

  Daichi disappeared and quickly left the pace without alerting anyone. Soon he reached the outskirts of the capital and quickly sed the area for any unwanted listeners. After firming he was alone, e Daichi created and dispelled another shadow e inf his inal of the events that took pd his pns moving forward.

  The shadow e Daichi then looked at the dots in his hand and made a decision. 'It's a bit too early to implement that pn but circumstances have ged. I suppose now is as good a time as any.'

  The shadow e took out a scroll and quickly put on the new outfit. After disguising himself in a tire he used the transformation jutsu to ge his appearance. Once all the preparations were pleted he disappeared from his spot.

  His destination - Land of Stone.

  Author's Note:

  For anyone w about the events of this chapter regarding the third prince pls reread chapter 242.

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