Chapter 45: The Reborn Hyuga Aozuki!
Chapter 45: The Reborn Hyuga Aozuki!
Swish!
Inside the life pod, the nutrient solution that had lost its effectiveness was slowly draining out from the bottom.
Hyuga Aozuki's body, now deprived of the nutrient solution, slumped softly within the pod.
Compared to before, there was something different about her now.
Legs!
The missing segment of her right leg had been fully restored.
However, being a newly regrown limb, it was still in a different state from her left leg and would need time to fully match.
To regenerate this leg, they had already used the second canister of nutrient solution.
That's twenty million ryo!
If you add in various auxiliary materials like seaweed and special lizards, the total cost of this experiment was at least fifty million ryo.
It was even more expensive than Asuma.
And this didn't even include the costs of laboratory equipment and technical fees.
If you were to calculate everything, it would be an astronomical sum.
Such a massive expenditure could have been used to eliminate several high-ranking shinobi.
But it had all been spent just to regenerate a leg.
True Golden Leg!
Even a leg made of solid gold would be far less valuable than Aozuki's right leg.
But for some people, money was no object as long as they could see results.
"Did we really succeed?"
Uchiha Shizuka muttered to herself, still hardly daring to believe it.
"We really did!"
Dou Hei nodded subconsciously as he glanced at Aozuki's exposed body.
However, he was quickly blocked by Uchiha Mei, and he turned his head away guiltily.
Her perceptual techniques were even more impressive than having good eyesight!
Perceptual jutsu really were that powerful?
While Dou Hei was lost in thought, the breathing mask on Aozuki's face detached, allowing her to stop inhaling the anesthetic gas and begin to wake up.
An ordinary person would not wake up so quickly, but as a shinobi, she was different and could regain consciousness rapidly.
"...I..."
The long-lasting effects of the anesthetic clouded her thoughts.
Soon, Aozuki realized something and her gaze shifted to her right leg.
Since her body was still under the influence of the anesthetic, she could only judge by sight.
When her eyes fell on the smooth, perfectly formed right leg, the joy in her eyes became impossible to hide.
"Ah..."
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Aozuki had thought that after experiencing those hellish days, she would never cry again.
But this resolve was shattered by the sight of her newly restored leg.
She was overcome with joy and tears.
Dou Hei and the others could see her emotional state and did not stop her.
They were also not worried about her condition.
She was still lying in the life pod due to the lingering effects of the anesthetic, but she would be able to stand up on her own in a short time.
They also needed to test the new right leg immediately to ensure there were no issues.
Only after confirming everything would they begin treating the major benefactor.
Time was of the essence!
Even though Uchiha Mei had perceptual jutsu that allowed her to move normally, she was still anxious.
The resources for the experiment were not delayed at all, and they were willing to raise more funds if necessary, which already showed her urgency.
Only those who have experienced light cannot tolerate darkness.
It was her strong will and the hope given to her by Dou Hei that kept her from going insane, as evidenced by her previous state of despondency.
Without this hope, she might have already taken her own life.
In the original timeline, she had no recorded history, likely because her suicide brought shame to her family, so they never mentioned her.
"Alright, try to stand up first. We can talk about the rest later!"
Uchiha Shizuka urged her.
If she had to be the bad guy to get Uchiha Mei back on her feet quickly, she didn't mind.
Dou Hei did not object.
Aozuki's body was not so fragile that it required a long period of rest before testing.
The life pod and nutrient solution had saved a lot of recovery time.
Otherwise, without these instruments, the recovery process would have been much slower.
Understanding the reason she had been given this precious opportunity—to serve as a 'test subject'—Hyuga Aozuki began to try standing up within the life pod.
Snap!
She collapsed back into the pod, but her face was not one of frustration. Instead, a smile spread across her lips.
I can feel it!
For years, her right leg had been nothing but an empty void, but now she could sense a faint, almost imperceptible presence.
Even if the sensation was extremely weak, Hyuga Aotsuki was certain that her right leg was truly regenerating.
"Truly, I never expected this..."
Uchiha Shizuka muttered to herself, watching as Hyuga Aotsuki, leaning against the glass wall, slowly stood up using her right leg.
As an elite jonin, she had seen countless high-pressure situations. But a scene like this, one that could be called a 'miracle,' was something she had never witnessed.
Ninja were never afraid of death, but they feared injury and disability.
Now, with this limb regeneration technique, even if it couldn't be widely used, it would ensure that their own people no longer had to worry.
"Yae, it's your turn to prepare!"
Seeing Hyuga Aotsuki's performance, Douhei knew he had fully mastered the technique. The medical knowledge he had access to had been invaluable in achieving this level of success.
While he could have relied on brute force to achieve results, it wouldn't have been as precise or effective.
Medical ninjutsu is amazing!
"Okay!"
Uchiha Yae nodded, trying to maintain her composure. The hope of regaining her sight was so close, and even she couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Preparation for the procedure!
This involved adjusting the body to its optimal state and isolating it from external influences. Of course, this was only necessary for important individuals.
For others, the procedure would start immediately, without the need for such extensive preparation.
The glass wall of the life-support pod lowered, allowing Hyuga Aotsuki to step out.
However, Uchiha Shizuka's eyes suddenly transformed into the three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Wait!"
Douhei sidestepped to block her.
"What are you doing?" Uchiha Shizuka demanded, her face stern. "Do you know the consequences if this leaks out?"
If word got out that Douhei had mastered limb regeneration, not only the Uchiha clan and the village, but the other major ninja villages would stop at nothing to get their hands on him.
Therefore, she was prepared to eliminate the risk.
Even though genjutsu could ensure that the information wouldn't be leaked, it wasn't foolproof.
"I know!" Douhei said firmly. "But she will never betray me!"
She had been reshaped entirely in his image, and she wouldn't hesitate to die for him. How could she possibly betray him?
Moreover, he planned to grant her the Rinnegan, eliminating any future concerns.
But Uchiha Shizuka didn't know this.
So she decided to take drastic measures, even if it meant incurring Douhei's displeasure.
"Aunt Shizuka!"
Uchiha Yae's voice broke the tense standoff. Clearly, she chose to trust Douhei and share the risk with him.
"Hmph!"
Uchiha Shizuka huffed in dissatisfaction but didn't persist. She stepped back instead.
Seeing her retreat, Douhei turned to Hyuga Aotsuki and instructed her:
"Put on your prosthetic as before, and find a way to get those 'things.'"
If he could obtain the Hyuga clan's blood, he could extract the necessary genes to complete her genetic makeup.
Experience from countless other travelers had shown that completing the Hyuga genes would grant the Rinnegan. Even if it didn't, her power would still increase dramatically. And once he obtained the 'Lunar' genes, success was guaranteed.
The risk of gene completion was high, as there was a chance of genetic collapse. However, his blood would ensure that the fusion process went smoothly.
It was practically divine!
Douhei had directly addressed the greatest risk.
That's why he believed she was the one with the most potential among his followers.
Because her power could be rapidly realized.
Hyuga Aotsuki, carefully placing her regenerating right leg into the leather hollow prosthetic, nodded gratefully.
"Understood!"
She could see the risks he had taken for her and made a decision.
Even if it cost her life, she would not betray this secret.
Next, they would prepare for the next procedure.
With this success, the next step would no longer be an experiment, but a surgery.
(End of Chapter)
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