The laboratory was clean and tidy, with various experimental equipment neatly arranged. Each container had a label, but what Amado remembered most fondly was the atmosphere of the lab – quiet!
Aside from the hum of machinery and the clinking of glass rods, not a single word could be heard.
Amado's initial impression of Orochimaru was good. At least he was someone with genuine skill. If the lab had been filled with restless chatter, Amado would have immediately refused to work with Orochimaru.
"I am Amado Sanzu, and you must be Orochimaru. My boss sent me to cooperate with you on the cloning experiment for the Rinnegan."
Orochimaru didn't acknowledge Amado, continuing to mix the concoction. Amado was patient, and his admiration for Orochimaru grew slightly.
Amado had his reasons for speaking during Orochimaru's experiment rather than waiting until he was finished to state his purpose.
Firstly, Orochimaru seemed to be preparing a drug that stimulated dopamine secretion, not exactly a serious experiment.
Secondly, Amado wanted to observe Orochimaru's micro-expressions. When a stranger entered his lab and proposed joint research, the implication was: the boss doesn't fully trust you, and I am more capable!
Unfortunately, Amado couldn't discern any expression from Orochimaru, who remained cold, not even lifting his eyes.
A few minutes later, Orochimaru removed his sterile gloves and, without looking up at Amado, asked Lin Yu, "What's this person's background?"
"A genius scientist."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. On the path of science, Orochimaru yielded to no one. He cast an imposing gaze at Amado, but the latter remained calm and composed.
"Here is the data for cloning the Rinnegan. You have one hour."
Without further ado, Orochimaru signaled Kabuto, who immediately placed a stack of documents in front of Amado.
Practice is the sole criterion for testing true ability.
Amado reached up to adjust his glasses and quickly scanned the documents on the desk. While cloning experiments were his forte, it was clear the other party's objective was not merely cloning.
Indeed, as he flipped through the documents, he saw Kekkai Genkai, Sharingan, Mangekyo, Rinnegan, Otsutsuki cell cultivation...
Amado's expression grew more excited, his eyes blazing, as if he had found something he had yearned for. His body trembled uncontrollably.
These were all fields he had never encountered before. Deciding to work here was indeed a good choice.
An hour passed quickly. Orochimaru squinted and asked, "Well? Do you have any viable solutions?"
Amado closed the documents, organizing all the information in his mind. However, in just one hour, even the most gifted person couldn't completely digest such material, especially since he had no prior exposure. Some things could only be definitively concluded after conducting experiments oneself.
Yet, if it was just about solutions, specifically for cloning experiments, Amado was very confident.
"Have you ever tried letting the clone spontaneously awaken the Rinnegan?"
"Spontaneously awaken?"
Orochimaru stroked his chin. He had always focused on cultivating Sharingan in clones and had never actually attempted to have a clone operate spontaneously. It wasn't that he hadn't considered it, but Orochimaru feared the clone might bring him unimaginable disaster.
Every brick in the Akatsuki organization was expensive, and Orochimaru struggled for funds for his experiments; he couldn't afford to lose any.
Amado said, "I understand your concerns. Clones with independent consciousness are difficult to control. However, if you only implant a segment of thought for awakening the Rinnegan into the clone, it will become your most loyal worker."
"Furthermore, if it's just the Rinnegan, I recommend using a clone that combines the cells of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, as mentioned in the data. The results might be even better."
Orochimaru was slightly surprised. "What do you mean?"
"It's closer to humans, more suitable for humans, and easier to integrate with humans."
Orochimaru chuckled and began to clap softly. "Young people nowadays are truly becoming more unfathomable."
Amado didn't become smug from the praise and continued, "However, simply doing this is still not enough to succeed. While I've understood the principles of the Rinnegan, there are still some areas that cannot be explained by scientific evidence. For instance, where is the energy to awaken the Rinnegan obtained?"
"This question is up to our benefactor."
Orochimaru looked at Lin Yu, who smiled helplessly. It seemed he would have to go "beg" Kaguya for snacks again.
With Amado's addition, it was believed that experimental results would be achieved soon. Although Amado's current scientific research technology was not yet as advanced as Orochimaru's, he excelled in his youth and had ample time to learn and explore. Orochimaru, in turn, could acquire research techniques from Amado that he himself hadn't mastered.
The future of this combination of two mad scientists was simply unimaginable.
After leaving the laboratory, Lin Yu suddenly remembered that he seemed to have forgotten certain people and wondered how they had been doing these past few days.
Lin Yu chuckled, but his laughter quickly stopped, and he vanished from the spot.
My little Hinata!
...
Mount Myōboku.
"Let me out! I want to go home! I don't want to stay here for another second!"
Several voices, hoarse with desperation, echoed from a certain valley, enough to stir emotion and bring tears to anyone who heard them.
Beside the stagnant toad oil pond, a small table was laden with brightly colored insects for lunch, a nutritious meal prepared by Grandma Shima for the diligently training youngsters!
"No, I can't take it anymore. I want to go back to the village!" Kiba Inuzuka slumped onto the table, his expression one of utter despair.
"Kiba, you can't leave. Besides, it takes a month and a half to travel back to the village from Mount Myōboku." Shikamaru, though also wanting to return, knew it was impossible.
Kiba wailed, "I haven't learned Sage Mode, and I have to eat this kind of food every day. It's truly... truly... sob sob sob!"
"Kiba, get out of the way! I'm eating!"
Naruto shoved Kiba aside and devoured the protein-rich lunch with gusto, seemingly swallowing it without even chewing, his eyes alight with fervent excitement.
Shikamaru scratched his head. He couldn't help it; Naruto was the first among them to touch the threshold of Sage Mode. Because of this, Naruto had been showing off for quite some time, especially in front of Sasuke.
Therefore, Naruto was replenishing his energy with all his might. To the current Naruto, this purple long worm ramen might even be more delicious than Ichiraku Ramen!
"Oh gods, spare me!" Kiba wailed loudly. Already considering Naruto a rival, seeing Naruto successfully enter Sage Mode was more painful than if Naruto had defeated him.
Meanwhile, Sasuke frowned. He too had discovered that Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode seemed unsuitable for him. Although he was making progress, it was agonizingly slow. Who knew how long it would take to master it completely.
Watching Naruto devour insects and train with all his might, Sasuke made a decision in his heart: he absolutely could not be surpassed by this guy Naruto. He had to go all out!
Sasuke leaped to the table, closed his eyes, grabbed the protein from the plate, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Neji and Rock Lee shared the same sentiment, possessing unyielding spirits. They put aside their qualms and began eating heartily.
The girls in the distance watched Naruto and the others with pale faces, their sense of dread growing infinitely.
From now on, they must stay far away from them. They were terrifying when they became ruthless, not even sparing themselves!