Ch.372 I’d Rather Choose Death!

It took only a few minutes for Uchiha Shinji to complete all the preparations for the surgery and activate the refrigeration canister, retrieving a small cluster of the First's cellular tissue from within.

This small cluster of the First's cellular tissue was something Shinji had secretly obtained through Yakumo.

After the First's passing, the Second, using the most advanced technological means, preserved a large amount of the First's cellular tissue. This particular sample was one of those preserved by the Second at the time.

Since it was directly extracted from the First's body rather than cultivated in a laboratory, this small cluster of the First's cellular tissue possessed extremely high vitality. The strength of the Yang Release chakra contained within was also the closest to what the First had in life.

Of course.

This wasn't what Shinji valued most. What he truly cared about was the chakra of Ōtsutsuki Asura that lingered within this cluster of cellular tissue directly taken from the First's body.

Following the successful example of Uchiha Madara.

A small piece of flesh and blood directly taken from the First's body, containing Ōtsutsuki Asura's chakra, could achieve the union of Yin and Yang, activating a sufficient amount of the 'All Creation Power' to awaken the Rinnegan.

After all, what was truly required to awaken the Rinnegan was the collision of high-quality Yin Release chakra and Yang Release chakra, producing the 'All Creation Power.'

Quality was the key!

Shinji raised the scalpel: "It's time to begin!"

"Mm!"

Karin nodded.

"Remember, you must use your dojutsu to neutralize the Yang Release chakra in the First's cells. Your Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan is the key to this surgery's success or failure!"

With one final instruction, Shinji said no more. He directly created a new transplant site on Karin's arm.

Implanting the First's cellular tissue.

Suturing the transplant site.

Injecting the fusion agent.

The first half of the surgery was completed in one fluid motion, taking just over fifty seconds!

After finishing this, he didn't rush into the second half of the surgery. Instead, he used the Byakugan's penetrative vision, controlled by 'Susanoo Tomoshibi,' to closely observe Karin's body.

Transplanting the First's cells into Karin wasn't for the purpose of granting her 'Wood Release,' nor was it to heal deficiencies, as was the case with Yakumo.

His goal had always been singular!

To do everything in his power to help Karin acquire stronger, high-quality Yang Release chakra capable of pushing toward the Rinnegan.

Thus, he optimized the surgical process and held back the suppressant in his hand, refraining from injecting it.

Because once the suppressant was injected, while the surgery's success rate would significantly increase, the vitality of the First's cells would also diminish, leading to insufficient enhancement from the surgery.

This was the experience Shinji had summarized after studying Orochimaru's surgery on Yamato, as well as the surgeries on Yakumo and the Sand Hidden volunteers.

A surgery without suppressants yielded the best results!

However, even with suppressants, those who could survive the First's cell transplant surgery were few and far between. Without suppressants, the difficulty of surviving the surgery was unimaginable.

Suddenly, a pained expression appeared on Karin's face.

Her forehead, cheeks, and neck instantly broke out in a profuse sweat.

In Shinji's Byakugan vision, the First's cellular tissue implanted in Karin's body had already begun to absorb nutrients from her body, proliferating rapidly.

The Yang Release chakra within the cellular tissue also began its conquest, aggressively attacking Karin's body.

Yet even so, Karin clenched her teeth tightly, not letting a single sound escape her lips!

Shinji looked at Karin, his gaze calm to the point of being almost cold.

He was well aware of the terrifying pain Karin was enduring at this moment and couldn't help but feel astonished by her endurance deep within: "Why? Why is she holding it in, not crying out?"

Clearly.

Shinji was unaware of how much strength his gaze was giving Karin.

Time ticked by slowly, and the fusion process progressed steadily.

Because no suppressant was injected, the cluster of the First's cells implanted in Karin's body was almost equivalent to the chakra level of the First in his normal state.

Only Karin could withstand this.

If it were anyone else, they would have exploded and died the moment the cells were implanted. Even Yakumo, with her Koryugan, couldn't have endured this long without the aid of suppressants.

Karin could be said to be the person with the highest success rate for transplanting the First's cells in the shinobi world since Uchiha Madara.

First, as someone who inherited the Sage Body of both the Uzumaki and Senju clans, her constitution was extraordinarily robust.

Once the 'Wood Release' chakra in her body went out of control, it would be certain death for other shinobi. But for her, as long as her internal organs weren't completely overtaken, she wouldn't die easily.

Furthermore, having previously had White Zetsu cells transplanted, she had already mastered 'Wood Release,' and her body had an extremely high compatibility with 'Wood Release' chakra.

Finally, just like Uchiha Madara, her Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was her greatest weapon in subduing the First's cells.

Although she lacked the Ōtsutsuki Indra chakra that Madara possessed back then, she had a pair of intact Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, whereas Madara only had one!

At that moment, Shinji's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Because he noticed that within the transplant site on Karin's arm, another massive burst of high-quality Yang Release chakra had erupted.

And the quality of this Yang Release chakra seemed even stronger than the previous waves!

"This is the First's cells without suppressant suppression…"

Shinji's heart sank, and the hand clutching the suppressant trembled slightly.

The previous waves of Yang Release chakra had been barely neutralized by Karin using the dojutsu of her Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

But this time, it was clearly stronger than the previous waves.

Shinji even faintly suspected that this hidden surge of Yang Release chakra might be the Ōtsutsuki Asura chakra contained within the First's body!

Thud.

In the brief moment Shinji was distracted, a vine sprouted from the transplant site on Karin's arm, piercing through her skin.

In the blink of an eye, the vine rapidly expanded, growing to the size of a small tree.

And as the 'Wood Release' went out of control, Karin's arm instantly became drenched in blood.

"As expected, it's still not enough…"

Shinji let out a soft sigh, raising his hand to prepare to inject the suppressant into Karin's body.

He couldn't truly stand by and watch Karin die, so although it wouldn't achieve the optimal surgical outcome, in this life-or-death moment, he had no choice but to make a compromise.

But just as he was about to inject the suppressant into Karin's body, Karin used her other arm to grab Shinji's hand holding the syringe.

Shinji froze: "You…"

Karin said with effort, "Leader, I don't want to disappoint you!"

Shinji shook his head: "'Wood Release' has already gone out of control in your body. You should know the consequences. If we don't inject the suppressant now, you'll die!"

Karin said in a frail voice, "If I must choose between disappointing you and death, I'd rather choose death!"