"This…" Renzou stepped further into the laboratory, his eyes widening at the sight before him. It was a vast, densely packed chamber filled with large transparent vessels. Within the nutrient solutions, various creatures floated, suspended in a silent, still dance. Lions, tigers, snakes, insects, rats, even ants – all seemingly lifeless, eyes tightly shut. Renzou even spotted a human form amongst them!
"Hehehe, don't misunderstand, Renzou-kun. That was a Sand Shinobi spy who infiltrated Konoha. The interrogation department wrung him dry, and he was deemed… surplus. I found him useful for some… interesting experiments." Orochimaru followed Renzou's gaze, a thin smile playing on his lips as he offered the explanation.
"Ah, I see. Hahaha, gave me quite a start," Renzou said, forcing a dry laugh and looking away, though a thoughtful frown creased his brow.
At this point, Orochimaru shouldn't have delved too deeply into human experimentation. This should still be the surface level. His true obsession with human subjects likely began after the Third Ninja War, fueled by his collaboration with Danzo. That partnership accelerated his research, leading him down a dark path. Ultimately, his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, discovered his transgressions, and Anbu attempted to apprehend him in his lab. But Hiruzen's lingering sentiment for his former student allowed Orochimaru to escape, a mistake that paved the way for the 'Konoha Crush' and Hiruzen's tragic death at Orochimaru's hands – a pair of arms exchanged for the life of the 'strongest Hokage'.
"This is my largest biological research facility. Did you encounter any difficulties finding your way here today, Renzou-kun? Feel free to share."
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama. My interruption today is to seek your wisdom on some questions regarding science and cultivation," Renzou said, bowing slightly to express his gratitude and state his purpose.
"No problem at all, come with me, Renzou-kun." Orochimaru paused briefly after hearing Renzou's request, then turned and led the way, Renzou following closely. They navigated past the rows of suspended specimens, reaching the far end of the chamber. A door, roughly two meters high and one meter wide, stood against the wall. Orochimaru pushed it open, and Renzou stepped through, closing it behind him before surveying the new room.
To the left, two rows of bookshelves lined the wall, filled with research tomes on chemistry and biology. To the right, two tiers of large wooden shelves held an assortment of reagents on the upper level and various pieces of laboratory equipment, large and small, on the lower. In the center stood a steel examination table, its surface gleaming under the artificial light. Scalpels, tweezers, surgical scissors, and a collection of smaller, unidentifiable instruments shone with a cold, clinical light. Upon the table lay a partially dissected python, its black scales stark against the metallic surface, a long incision running from head to tail. It seemed Orochimaru's experiment had been interrupted by Renzou's arrival.
"Well then, let's address your scientific inquiries first. Take your time and speak clearly," Orochimaru said, his demeanor resembling that of a patient teacher as he regarded Renzou, awaiting his first question.
"Right. Animal cells don't contain chloroplasts, but do all plant cells contain chloroplasts?"
"Not all plant cells contain chloroplasts. They are primarily found in mesophyll cells. Some young stem cells also contain them, but root cells and leaf epidermal cells do not. Chloroplasts exist only in certain higher plants and some algae," Orochimaru answered quickly after a moment's thought, then looked expectantly at Renzou. "Next question?"
"Are the elemental compositions of starch and glycogen the same?"
"Yes. Starch is the primary energy storage for plants, and glycogen serves a similar role in animals. They are both carbohydrates."
"Question…"
A quarter of an hour later…
"Orochimaru-sama, I've finished my questions. Your insights have been very helpful. Thank you for your time." As Renzou expressed his gratitude, he was also secretly impressed. Orochimaru's vast scientific knowledge truly lived up to his reputation as the foremost scientist in the ninja world.
"You're welcome, Renzou-kun. Now that your scientific curiosity is satisfied, let's discuss your cultivation concerns." Orochimaru waved a dismissive hand, a hint of surprise in his eyes. These weren't questions a non-specialist could easily answer. Even experts might stumble on one or two. If not for my own rigorous studies, Orochimaru mused, it would be rather embarrassing to be stumped by a mere academy student.
"It's like this. I wish to explore chakra with new attributes, but I'm unsure how to proceed. That's why I came to you."
"Hmm?" Orochimaru stared at Renzou, a flicker of surprise in his golden eyes, before a brief silence. "What are your current chakra affinities, Renzou-kun?"
Renzou answered honestly. "Water, fire, wind, and lightning."
"The four basic elements. Quite commendable," Orochimaru nodded, then, surprisingly, didn't immediately offer to teach Renzou new attributes. Instead, he planned to begin with the fundamentals: Nature Transformation and Shape Manipulation.
"Nature Transformation and Shape Manipulation?" Renzou was slightly taken aback. I came here to learn how to develop new chakra attributes, and he's talking about the basics of what I already use?
Sensing Renzou's confusion, Orochimaru elaborated. "Most ninjas are born with at least one affinity for Nature Transformation. However, developing it fully depends on training and their own comprehension. The average Jōnin can master more than two Nature Transformations. Many ninjas, especially those focused on taijutsu, don't deliberately train in or understand Chakra Nature Transformation." Orochimaru paused, then delved deeper. "Furthermore, even ninjas who master multiple Nature Transformations typically have primary and secondary affinities. Of course, there are exceptions, such as my teacher, the Third Hokage, who mastered the Nature Transformation and Shape Manipulation of all five basic chakra types. But with your current level, now is not the time to pursue new attributes. What you need is a solid foundation, rather than rushing to acquire more and destabilizing what you already possess. However, Orochimaru added, his gaze steady on Renzou, "If you insist on learning, I have no objection to teaching you."
Hearing Orochimaru's words, a sudden chill ran down Renzou's spine, and a cold sweat prickled his back. He's right! I've been too ambitious, trying to learn everything at once, spreading my focus too thin, and leaving my foundation shaky. I'm trying to build a skyscraper without even laying the groundwork. Since defeating Kakashi, I've become complacent, thinking I know it all. Blind self-confidence… that's not self-confidence at all; it's arrogance! Venturing into the ninja world with this mindset would be a grave mistake, potentially costing me dearly, even my life!
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End of Chapter 32