Ch.284 It Begins!

Though everyone was worried about Yakumo's surgery, as shinobi, they possessed the most basic resolve. So the gathering didn't devolve into excessive fussing. After eating heartily and happily, they each said their goodbyes. 

Yakumo admired the village's night scenery while walking toward the hospital. 

The surgery was scheduled for tomorrow! 

At that moment, Ido, within her mental world, suddenly spoke up, "Tomorrow's really going to be fine? If you accidentally die, we're all done for." 

"I trust the lord!" 

Yakumo's answer was firm and resolute. 

Ido said slowly, "But there's always the chance of an accident…" 

Yakumo smiled, "So you're this afraid of dying? Someone who's always shouting about becoming a shinobi can't be this scared of death!" 

"Tch," Ido spat lightly before saying, "Once the surgery's over, we're going to beat up all those geniuses at the shinobi academy and show them how strong we are!" 

"You got it!" 

Yakumo's steps grew noticeably lighter. 

The next day… 

It was another calm and peaceful day. The villagers of Hidden Leaf went about their usual routines—shops opened as normal, students attended classes as usual, everything utterly ordinary. 

Yet many didn't know that on this unremarkable day, a groundbreaking cell transplant surgery was taking place in the underground operating room of Hidden Leaf Hospital. 

The Kurama Clan, along with Yakumo's closer peers who were in the know, were all silently praying for her. 

The village's higher-ups, including Danzo, were also quietly keeping tabs on the surgery, awaiting its outcome. 

What this surgery meant, the higher-ups all understood perfectly. 

If the First's cell transplant surgery could become routine, it would mean Hidden Leaf had gained the ability to mass-produce 'Wood Release' shinobi. 

Even if the result was only Wood Release users on Yamato's level, it would be enough to reshape the shinobi world's balance of power, restoring Hidden Leaf to the transcendent status it held when the First was alive. 

To be safe, Shinji took the day off. 

Fortunately, he often took leave to visit the medical team or train at the practice field, so the shinobi academy teachers were used to it and didn't suspect a thing. Before Yakumo's surgery began, he had already made all his preparations in his apartment. 

In the operating room… 

Tsunade, equally prepared, looked at Yakumo and said, "Don't be nervous!" 

Yakumo nodded lightly. 

Shizune, the surgical assistant at her side, began explaining the various situations that might arise during the procedure, concluding with, "Once the First's cells are implanted in your body, you'll feel an overwhelming surge of Yang Release chakra. Whether you can withstand this Yang Release chakra is the key to this surgery's success or failure!" 

"I understand." 

Yakumo gave a slight nod. 

She remembered the leader telling her that to increase the surgery's success rate, she'd need peak Yin Release chakra to neutralize this Yang Release chakra. 

That was why the leader had transplanted the Koryugan into her. 

Seeing Yakumo's calm demeanor, Tsunade grew even more satisfied. She smiled and said, "Don't worry too much. During the process, I'll inject you with suppressants and a fusion agent to reduce the corrosiveness of this Yang Release chakra and help you complete the integration." 

The suppressants and fusion agent Tsunade had prepared were her improved versions, far superior to what the village had formulated back in the day or what Orochimaru had concocted in private! 

And as the shinobi who had established Hidden Leaf's medical system, Tsunade wasn't clueless about the key points of transplanting the First's cells. 

After all, even Danzo knew to use a mass of Sharingan to balance the First's cells. Naturally, she understood that powerful Yin Release chakra could boost the surgery's success rate. 

The improved suppressants and fusion agent, combined with the potent Yin Release chakra Yakumo already possessed—these two factors gave her the confidence to carry out this First's cell transplant surgery. 

With everything ready, the surgery began. 

Since Yakumo needed to refine her own Yin Release chakra to neutralize the Yang Release chakra in the First's cells, Tsunade didn't anesthetize her. Instead, the surgery started with Yakumo fully conscious. 

Basic skin test… 

First's cell drug activation… 

One surgical step after another proceeded methodically. 

"Blood pressure normal… Heart rate normal… Cell nerve response normal… All data completely normal…" 

Shizune, monitoring the various instruments, continuously reported Yakumo's bodily metrics to Tsunade. 

Tsunade took a deep breath, then made a palm-length incision on Yakumo's arm. 

This was her designated transplant site! 

Like Shinji, she had chosen the arm for the transplant, with the intent that if an emergency occurred, they could sever the limb to survive. 

"Yakumo, stay sharp!" 

With only a brief instruction, Tsunade implanted a mass of activated First's cells into the transplant site on Yakumo's arm. 

"Ah!" 

In an instant, Yakumo let out a scream that could tear heart and lungs apart! 

Even though she'd imagined every possibility and considered every consequence, it wasn't until the First's cells were implanted that she understood why even someone like Tsunade spoke of this surgery with such dread. 

This didn't feel like a lump of flesh being implanted—it was more like a ball of fire! 

And then, before Yakumo could even catch her breath, the terrifying Yang Release chakra from the First's cells—far surpassing White Zetsu cells—came crashing in, surging through her entire body in an instant. 

All her earlier thoughts of refining Yin Release chakra to neutralize the Yang Release chakra? At this moment, they were completely forgotten. 

This ferocious onslaught of Yang Release chakra pushed her spirit and will to the brink of collapse, leaving her mind no room to think. 

Watching Yakumo convulse, tears and saliva streaming as she seemed to lose control of her body, Tsunade quickly ordered Shizune, "Quick, inject the suppressant!" 

Shizune, already prepared, followed Tsunade's command and immediately injected the suppressant into Yakumo's body. 

With the suppressant's injection, Yakumo's convulsions eased significantly, though her consciousness remained hazy. 

Tsunade's expression darkened. 

She had assumed that after the suppressant was injected, Yakumo would briefly regain consciousness and mobilize the dojutsu power of her Koryugan to counter the First's cells. 

But she hadn't expected the suppressant to fail at helping Yakumo recover her awareness. 

In an instant, Tsunade made a decision, "Inject the fusion agent!" 

Shizune hesitated, hurriedly asking, "Lady Tsunade, if we inject the fusion agent now, what about the cell integration process later?" 

Tsunade snapped, "If she can't even get past this stage, there won't be any cell integration!" 

To address the immediate crisis, Shizune had no choice but to follow Tsunade's orders, injecting the prepared fusion agent into Yakumo's body. 

"Aaahhh!" 

Once the fusion agent was administered, Yakumo's consciousness finally returned. Roaring, she activated her Koryugan, recklessly refining Yin Release chakra to combat the relentless assault of Yang Release chakra pouring from the First's cells…