Chapter 117: First Hokage's Cells!

Uzumaki Raiden's coma from poisoning weighed heavily on the hearts of many. Beyond Tsunade, who was already en route to Konoha, the Third Hokage had also summoned Orochimaru back to the village.

While Tsunade was Konoha's most skilled medical ninja, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that Orochimaru's expertise in poison rivaled, and in some areas even surpassed, hers. The importance of Raiden to Konoha was undeniable, and the Third Hokage could not afford even the slightest mistake in his treatment.

Four days after Raiden's return to Konoha, both Tsunade and Orochimaru finally arrived.

At Konoha Hospital, Kushina, who had been wracked with worry, saw Tsunade as her final hope. As soon as Tsunade entered, Kushina rushed to her side, gripping her hand tightly and leading her toward Raiden's private ward.

"Sister Tsunade, I'm begging you—please save Raiden. He's my only brother," Kushina said, her tears flowing freely after days of restraint. To her, Tsunade was more than just a mentor figure; she was family, especially after the passing of Uzumaki Mito.

"Kushina, don't worry," Tsunade said, embracing her gently. "During the Second Ninja War, I countered all of Sand Shinobi Chiyo's poisons. I'll handle this too."

Tsunade walked toward Raiden's ward with confidence, her presence calming Kushina's turmoil. Orochimaru followed silently, his expression unreadable, though he raised an eyebrow at Kushina's tears before resuming his neutral demeanor.

Raiden's ward was heavily secured, with four ANBU standing guard outside. As Tsunade and Orochimaru approached, the guards immediately opened the doors.

Inside, Raiden lay unconscious on a bed surrounded by sealing runes. Several doctors busily monitored instruments beside him, stepping aside to bow as Tsunade and Orochimaru entered.

Tsunade's eyes fell on Raiden. His pale complexion and faint purple hue caused her to frown deeply. This poisoning was unlike anything she had seen during the war—likely a new creation of Chiyo's.

"How are his vitals?" Tsunade asked curtly.

"Lady Tsunade," one doctor began, "his vital signs are stable, and his surface injuries have healed. However, his chakra continues to weaken. If it depletes completely, we fear he may…"

The doctor trailed off, and Tsunade's frown deepened. Poison that sapped chakra continuously? It didn't sound like Chiyo's usual methods.

Orochimaru, observing Raiden intently, suddenly smirked. "This isn't poison," he said softly, breaking the silence. "Not in the traditional sense."

"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked sharply.

"It's an insect," Orochimaru said, his tone certain.

"Insect?" One of the doctors looked incredulous. "We've tested his blood thoroughly and found no such thing!"

"Oh?" Orochimaru's smile widened, his gaze making the doctor visibly uneasy. "Are you suggesting I'm mistaken?"

Under Orochimaru's piercing stare, the doctor lowered his head, retreating into silence.

"Orochimaru, what do you know? Can he be saved?" Tsunade demanded.

"Yes, but it will take time," Orochimaru replied calmly. "The insects in his body are the result of deliberate genetic mutation. To create an antidote, we'll need to retrieve one of these insects intact. For that, I'll require the assistance of the Aburame clan."

Unbeknownst to the others, Orochimaru withheld a critical detail: he already had access to the original strain of this insect. It was the same type he had previously tested on Raiden. Ironically, Raiden's survival was partially due to his body having built a slight resistance during that earlier encounter. Without it, Raiden would likely already be dead.

"We'll need to move him to my lab," Orochimaru said, heading for the door. "It's better equipped for this kind of work."

Without hesitation, Tsunade lifted Raiden from the bed and followed Orochimaru. The ANBU guards hesitated to leave their post but were quickly ordered to report to the Third Hokage instead.

Orochimaru's laboratory was well-known to some but shrouded in secrecy for most, including Tsunade. After escorting Raiden inside, Orochimaru shut the door behind them, leaving Kushina and the ANBU outside, anxiously awaiting news.

Inside the lab, Orochimaru gently placed Raiden on an examination table. His mind, however, was preoccupied with a far more ambitious goal.

"If his body can withstand it," Orochimaru thought, "this could be my chance to test the compatibility of Uzumaki physiology with the cells of the First Hokage."

Orochimaru retrieved a vial from a hidden compartment and injected its contents into Raiden's vein. As the liquid disappeared into his bloodstream, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Let's see… will this work?" he whispered.

To his delight, the experiment did not result in an immediate rejection or fatal reaction. Instead, the purple hue on Raiden's skin began to fade, signaling the toxin's suppression.

Raiden groaned softly, his eyelids fluttering open. His gaze darted around the unfamiliar room before settling on Orochimaru.

"Isn't this Konoha Hospital?" Raiden muttered, sitting up cautiously. Spotting Orochimaru, his expression turned to surprise. "Brother Orochimaru? Why are you here?"

Raiden instinctively patted himself down, checking for any signs of tampering. When his hand brushed his crotch, he sighed in relief.

"As long as the important bits are intact, I guess I'm fine," he muttered, earning an amused chuckle from Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's sharp eyes studied Raiden carefully. Despite his outward recovery, Orochimaru noticed no significant increase in chakra levels or other observable changes.

"What's wrong, Brother Orochimaru? You've been staring at me like that for a while now," Raiden said, waving a hand in front of Orochimaru's face.

"It's nothing," Orochimaru replied smoothly. "Tell me, do you feel stronger? Perhaps an overwhelming urge to release that strength?"

Raiden froze, his face slightly flushing. "I'm still young, Brother Orochimaru," he said awkwardly. "I don't feel… anything like that."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, but his mind raced with calculations. While Raiden's condition seemed stable, the lack of immediate results from the injection left him puzzled. Still, Orochimaru wasn't one to abandon a promising experiment so easily.

(End of this chapter)