Chapter 69

Naruto walked through the pristine halls of the laboratory, his hands in his pockets and his expression calm but observant. The air was sterile, carrying the faint scent of chemicals and the hum of machines working tirelessly. Large monitors lined the walls, displaying streams of data in an incomprehensible blur to those unfamiliar with the advanced experiments being conducted here.

It had been over a month since the research teams had begun their work, combining old knowledge with new breakthroughs. The Shinobi world had already come far in genetic manipulation—far enough to push the boundaries of what was once deemed impossible. Enhancing chakra reserves, increasing chakra control, accelerating the movement of chakra within the body, and even granting regenerative abilities were no longer just theories.

There had been successes in fusing and mutating genetics to create new beings—some humanoid, others completely monstrous. The infamous shark-men of Kirigakure were only a primitive glimpse into what was now achievable. Cloning had been perfected long ago, and chakra-enhanced armors and weapons had already seen practical use in battle. The only problem was sustainability. Many of these technological marvels, though powerful, deteriorated too quickly under stress.

For this reason, Naruto had ensured that two teams were working under his direct supervision. One, led by Orochimaru, focused on biological enhancements. The other, under Ashiya Douman, was dedicated to advancing weapons and materials. The latter was of particular interest, as the previous chakra armor—though powerful enough to support even someone like Killer Bee—had ultimately failed during the battle against Toneri. The material had been too weak to withstand prolonged combat, and improvements were necessary.

Naruto wasn't about to let anyone conduct reckless experiments. He had made it clear—there would be no sacrifices. Everything was done under his oversight because he was the only one who could endure the risks without permanent consequences.

As he entered Orochimaru's section of the lab, the first thing that caught his eye was a small, white rabbit sitting on a metallic examination table. Its fur was impossibly soft, its ears perked up attentively, and its ruby-red eyes gleamed with intelligence.

Orochimaru, standing beside the creature, smiled—his sharp features curving into an amused grin. He had been expecting Naruto's arrival.

"What do you think?" Orochimaru asked, his tone laced with humor as he observed the slight twitch of irritation in Naruto's expression.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, recognizing the subtle jab. The red eyes, the pristine white fur—this wasn't just any rabbit. Orochimaru had chosen it specifically as a reminder of Kaguya.

Ignoring the provocation, Naruto focused on the creature itself. He extended a hand, channeling his chakra as he carefully analyzed its structure. Beneath the innocent exterior, this was no ordinary rabbit.

"We have transformed this creature from a harmless pet into a weapon of destruction," Orochimaru began, his voice filled with pride. "It possesses the physical strength to lift one thousand tonnes and can move at speeds reaching Mach 10. Its skin is impervious to all forms of conventional trauma, and its regenerative abilities allow it to recover from almost any wound in seconds."

Naruto's sharp eyes scanned the rabbit's body, his mind processing everything at an incredible speed. He could see the underlying skeletal and muscular modifications, the enhanced density of its tissues, the reinforced cellular structures—everything pointed to a flawless execution.

"And the source of these enhancements?" Naruto asked.

Orochimaru's grin widened. "We fused its genetic structure with that of King Kong."

Naruto raised an eyebrow but didn't deny the results. The fusion had been done seamlessly, without any noticeable instability. It was an impressive feat.

Still, analysis was one thing—practicality was another.

"I want to see it fight," Naruto stated, his tone firm.

Orochimaru chuckled. "Of course. Should I do it?"

"No, I'll handle it myself."

With a flicker, Naruto teleported away, taking the enhanced rabbit with him. They appeared in a vast forest, the dense trees swaying under the sudden shift in air pressure.

The rabbit twitched its nose, its red eyes locking onto Naruto as an overwhelming sense of danger filled the space. Naruto didn't hesitate—he released his bloodlust.

The reaction was immediate. The rabbit, despite its size, moved with terrifying speed, lunging at him with enough force to shatter mountains. Its claws slashed through the air, its attacks precise and calculated. But Naruto didn't move. He allowed it to strike, analyzing every motion, every impact.

The enhanced beast was powerful, that much was clear. But was it flawless?

He countered. His palm struck its reinforced skull with a force that would have obliterated any normal creature. Yet, the rabbit barely staggered. It recovered instantly, its regenerative abilities kicking in before any damage could settle.

Naruto spent the next few minutes testing it further—adjusting his attacks, gauging its reflexes, and observing its durability.

By the time he was finished, the rabbit was still standing, unbroken.

Satisfied, Naruto placed a hand on the creature and teleported back to the lab.

Orochimaru was waiting, a knowing look on his face.

Naruto set the rabbit down. "No structural flaws," he admitted. "You've done well."

Orochimaru's smirk widened. "Why, thank you, Naruto-kun. Now, shall we move on to human trials?"

Naruto's gaze hardened.

"Before that, show me the result of the bloodline experiment." The genetic fusion was one task, the other task was to combine all bloodlines in one body and even mutate those bloodlines to strengthen them.

Naruto's gaze remained firm as he crossed his arms, watching the lifeless Zetsu husk on the table with barely concealed distaste. The sight of it made his skin crawl, but he forced himself to remain composed. This was necessary. If they wanted to push the limits of what was possible, they had to explore every option—no matter how unsettling.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, was grinning like a child in a candy store. His excitement was barely contained, the kind of thrill only a true scientist could feel in the face of groundbreaking discoveries.

"I thought you had forgotten about this project," Orochimaru remarked, his voice laced with amusement.

Naruto shook his head. "No, I just didn't expect much progress in a month."

Orochimaru clutched his chest dramatically. "You wound me, Naruto boy. We have made great strides toward our goal."

He gestured to his assistants, who promptly wheeled in the experimental subject—a Zetsu husk, devoid of consciousness. Unlike the original Zetsu, which had been sentient and capable of developing its own personality, this was nothing more than an empty shell. A biological puppet designed solely for testing.

Zetsu were unnatural creatures, born from humans who had been trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi and fused with plant matter. Had Kaguya succeeded in her plans, this fate would have befallen the entire world. Even now, Naruto could feel an involuntary shudder run down his spine at the thought.

That was why he had set strict rules—experiments on living Zetsu were forbidden. No matter their origins, they had once been human. He wouldn't allow them to be dissected like lab rats.

Orochimaru, ever the pragmatic scientist, had found a loophole. He had created artificial clones of Zetsu, removing any trace of higher cognitive function. These husks were incapable of thought, feeling, or developing a will of their own. In essence, they were nothing more than blank slates, allowing him to tinker freely with different bloodline fusions.

Naruto understood the logic behind it, but it didn't make him feel any better. He stared at the featureless husk with a sick feeling in his gut, as if something deep within him was protesting against its very existence.

"Tell me this is the only one," he muttered, his voice low.

Orochimaru raised a brow, amused by Naruto's visible discomfort. He was tempted to joke, but the sharp glint in Naruto's eyes made him reconsider. The boy was on edge, and pushing him further wouldn't be wise.

"There were a few that perished in the process," Orochimaru admitted with a nonchalant shrug. "Do you wish for us to discontinue the use of these clones?"

His tone was calm, but internally, he was annoyed. He had already complied with Naruto's ridiculous restrictions against using living beings, and now even these artificial bodies were being questioned?

'This boy is making things so difficult,' Orochimaru thought bitterly. 'At this rate, the research will take decades.'

Naruto exhaled slowly, pushing down his disgust. He didn't like it, but he couldn't deny that this was the fastest way forward. There was no point in stalling the inevitable.

"You can stop working with the clones," he said, his voice unwavering. "Just use me instead."

Silence.

For a moment, Orochimaru simply stared at him. Then, a slow, wicked smile spread across his lips.

"Oh?" The gleam in his snake-like eyes was practically shining with glee. "Now that is unexpected."

Naruto met his gaze without hesitation. "You heard me. If this experiment is to move forward, it'll be done directly on me."

Orochimaru couldn't stop the grin that stretched across his face. This was beyond thrilling. A live test subject—one who possessed the sheer resilience to survive even the most dangerous experiments—was offering himself up willingly.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No, more than that—this was centuries worth of research that could be completed in mere years.

"Are you sure?" Orochimaru asked, barely restraining his excitement. "I believe many would be against such an idea."

"There is no problem. I trust you… I forgive you for what you have done." Naruto looked him in the eyes for the first time since he started working on the project.

Orochimaru observed Naruto with newfound curiosity, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the young man's expression. There was no hesitation in his gaze—only unwavering belief, a faith so resolute that it almost felt absurd.

'He really believes in this nonsense,' Orochimaru mused, yet he could not deny the peculiar warmth that spread through his chest. It was rare for anyone to speak to him this way. Even among those who tolerated him, there was always a lingering sense of distrust, a shadow of past sins that could never be erased.

But Naruto?

Naruto had seen all of it. He knew Orochimaru's crimes, his betrayals, his twisted experiments—and yet, he had forgiven him.

For a moment, Orochimaru saw a ghost from his past. Hiruzen. His old teacher had once looked at him with a similar gaze, with hope, with understanding, even when he no longer deserved it. It was a sight that made his stomach churn.

'Were his eyes always like this?'

Naruto's words echoed in his mind, carrying a weight that could not be ignored. Orochimaru had spent his life rejecting such sentiments. Concepts like morality, redemption, and forgiveness were meaningless in the grand scheme of things. He had believed them to be nothing more than shackles, useless ideals meant to restrain those with the ambition to reach beyond the ordinary.

And yet…

There was something unsettling about being forgiven. He had never asked for it. He didn't believe he needed it. But standing here, in front of this boy—this man who had transcended the limits of Shinobi, who had defied fate itself—Orochimaru felt something stir within him.

Respect.

"Thank you for trusting me." His voice was smooth, but the usual amusement was absent. "However, I don't think I did anything wrong. I was wrong according to you, not to me. I simply did what was necessary."

Orochimaru was not a man who operated under the illusion of morality. He saw the world for what it was—brutal, unforgiving, ruled by strength and knowledge. Morality was a construct of the weak, a means to maintain the fragile balance of society. Had Konoha abandoned its naive principles, it would have created the ultimate warrior decades ago.

Naruto nodded, as if he had expected that answer.

"I know what you think, and you know what I think," he said calmly. "And we will continue to differ on these values. But don't let your bias keep you from seeing the truth. Morality isn't about weakness. It's the only thing keeping the world from falling apart. Without it, we're just animals, driven by greed, by power, by selfish desire."

His eyes bore into Orochimaru's with quiet intensity.

"If everyone followed only their desires, there would be no society," he continued. "Think about it. It's because of these values—the ones you call foolish—that you're still alive. That you've been given another chance. I didn't have to trust you. I chose to."

Orochimaru remained silent, his expression unreadable. He wasn't sure what was more frustrating—the fact that Naruto genuinely believed in these ideals, or the fact that, somewhere deep down, a part of him agreed.

'I've lived long enough to see the cycle repeat,' he thought. 'To see hatred breed hatred. But he… he's different. He isn't bound by the past.'

He closed his eyes briefly before releasing a soft chuckle. "I appreciate your advice," he admitted, his tone lighter now. "Though, I doubt my answer will change."

Naruto didn't seem disappointed. Instead, he simply smiled. "That's fine. As long as you think about it, that's enough for now."

Orochimaru shook his head, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. "You're persistent, Naruto boy. But enough of this—there are more important things to discuss. Please, examine the results of our work."

He turned toward the massive water tank, where a pale, clay-like humanoid floated in suspended animation. The culmination of their experiments.

Naruto's eyes lingered on Orochimaru for a moment longer before shifting to the tank. He had felt it—however brief, however faint, his words had reached Orochimaru. And that was enough.

People could change.

And he would make sure of it.