Chapter 98: Hashirama Cells and Reactions Across the World

Chapter 98: Hashirama Cells and Reactions Across the World

"Kid, get ready for a whole new life."

As Izayoi stepped out of the Hokage's Office, he couldn't help but startle at the scene before him.

Crowds swarmed the building's exterior, buzzing with excitement. The moment Izayoi and his companions emerged, murmurs rippled through the masses.

"Look! That black-haired heartthrob must be Izayoi!"

"He's so tall! I heard he graduated top of his class from the Ninja Academy, same as my son's generation."

"His hair color matches the First Hokage's—no wonder he's a Senju clan descendant."

"I saw his fight during the Chūnin Exams! He can fly and has a Ninjutsu so powerful it's terrifying!"

"Great! Now our Hidden Leaf Village has a Wood Release ninja again—no one will dare threaten us!"

"And... that incident won't happen again either!"

"...".

The clamor of voices reached Izayoi's ears, the villagers' gazes burning with fervor. Some looked ready to charge forward and mob him.

Izayoi reacted instantly, grabbing Sasuke Uchiha and Karin before soaring above the Central Street.

Below, cheers erupted as the crowd watched him vanish.

In this moment, Izayoi experienced the same hero's welcome Naruto Uzumaki once received in the Hidden Leaf. He now understood the symbolic weight of Wood Release for the village.

While Sasuke, last scion of the Uchiha Clan, might draw paying crowds eager to glimpse the Sharingan, Wood Release stirred something deeper—a village-wide euphoria that revitalized morale beyond even pre-war levels.

Villagers now walked with renewed confidence, unafraid of another Nine-Tails' Rampage or sudden invasion. The legend of the Sage of Six Paths might be household knowledge, but Wood Release's historical feats—quelling chaos, taming Tailed Beasts, and single-handedly defending nations—held tangible power no mythical Dōjutsu could rival.

Even the sprawling forest of colossal trees at the village's edge served as daily proof of this strength. Wood Release wasn't just a kekkei genkai—it was the Hidden Leaf's very pillar.

"Looks like your peace is over", Sasuke quipped, dangling under Izayoi's arm. "Imagine trying to date Hinata Hyuga now—everyone'll watch like it's a circus act... Ah!"

Before he could finish, Izayoi released his grip. Sasuke plummeted, his face paling as the ground rushed up—until a wooden vine snapped around his waist, leaving him dangling beneath Izayoi like a marionette.

Glaring up at Izayoi's smirking face, Sasuke roared, "I'll kill you for this!"

"You really don't get it, do you?" Izayoi replied, yanking the vine to send Sasuke swinging like a pendulum—up, down, spinning wildly.

When finally set down, Sasuke's face was purpled with rage and nausea. Leaning against a wall, he heaved, "I... I'll definitely kill you..."

But Izayoi cut through his threats with a single question: "Still want your gift?"

"...Fine." Sasuke's shoulders slumped instantly, his expression morphing into reluctant obedience.

Karin, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, quickly busied herself cooking to hide her amusement.

Izayoi soon returned with a palm-sized red scroll. As smoke cleared from its unsealing, a metallic security case materialized before Sasuke's wide eyes. Inside, two rows of green-liquid-filled test tubes glimmered.

"Hashirama Cells", Izayoi announced.

Sasuke stiffened. "The First Hokage's cells? How does the village even have these?"

"Good question. Better one: why did the village conduct Wood Release experiments?" Izayoi grinned.

Sasuke's face darkened. "So that's why you mentioned that risky power-up method before..."

"Sharp today", Izayoi teased. "Your Sharingan evolves beyond the tomoe pattern—there's another stage."

"Mangekyō Sharingan!" Sasuke interrupted, eyes flashing. "Itachi's eyes—the 'Kaleidoscope' stage!"

Izayoi rolled his eyes. "Yes, but using its techniques drains your Dōjutsu power. Overuse means blindness."

Sasuke leaned in, intrigued. "And the solutions?"

"Two options", Izayoi said, holding up two fingers. "First—transplant a close relative's Mangekyō for 'eternal' vision."

Sasuke froze. His face contorted through shock, realization, fury, and something dangerously close to madness—all without Izayoi even mentioning the final, forbidden truth.

Sasuke Uchiha’s eyes uncontrollably transformed into Tomoe Sharingan, spinning wildly with furious intensity.

His brain secreted Yin Release chakra nonstop, and his negative emotions surged exponentially.

“Hmph…”

Sasuke suddenly scoffed, his teeth clenched as he spat, “Now I understand why he spared only me and spouted such cryptic nonsense—telling me to seek revenge once I obtained the same eyes as him! That bastard… he was using me as a backup set of eyes!”

In this moment, Sasuke finally unraveled his lingering doubts, his hatred for Itachi Uchiha intensifying into something far darker and purer.

Izayoi didn’t reveal the truth. Instead, he pulled out a test tube and lied, “The second method is transplanting Hashirama Cells. This is the village’s research result.”

“Scientific studies show Hashirama Cells can balance the power of the Sharingan. If an outsider possesses a Sharingan, transplanting these cells minimizes side effects. For Mangekyō Sharingan users, the cells reduce chakra consumption from dōjutsu techniques and automatically restore lost ocular power.”

Izayoi deliberately omitted one crucial detail.

If Sasuke Uchiha underwent the transplant, his dōjutsu power would skyrocket. The Hashirama Cells would awaken Indra’s chakra within him, rapidly accelerating the potential of his Sage’s Eye (Red).

“However, just like how Hidden Leaf’s Wood Release experiments never produced a second user, a failed transplant would result in… death.”

After emphasizing the final word, Izayoi stared at Sasuke’s face and teased, “So? Want to proceed?”

“Yes.” Sasuke didn’t hesitate.

“You’re really not afraid to die?” Izayoi tilted his head, surprised.

“Not until I’ve avenged myself on Itachi Uchiha.” Sasuke smirked confidently. “But I know you won’t let me die.”

“I’ll just help bury you.” Izayoi rolled his Byakugan and put the test tube back into the secure case.

Seeing this, Sasuke frowned in confusion. “Aren’t you going to perform the transplant?”

“I’m neither a doctor nor a scientist.”

Izayoi stood up, stretched, and said, “Let’s eat first. Tomorrow we’ll clear the Uchiha Clan Grounds and the forest near the Naka River. In a couple days, I’ll take you to someone for the injection.”

“Fine.” Though curious about this mysterious figure, Sasuke obediently agreed.

---

Just as the Uchiha Clan’s annihilation and Hidden Leaf’s near-collapse couldn’t stay secret, news of the village’s Wood Release ninja spread instantly.

By dawn, the entire Fire Country knew. Within two days, the rumor reached every corner of the Ninja World.

Izayoi’s photo and intelligence reports rapidly circulated among the elite of rival nations.

This speed wasn’t accidental—it was orchestrated by Hidden Leaf itself.

A genius still growing might need protection, but Izayoi was different. A recent genin graduate who’d mastered five nature transformations, invented multiple hand-seal-less jutsu, and possessed flight abilities, he was already a top-tier combat asset.

Even without Wood Release, he posed a threat to Kage-level opponents. His aerial advantage made him untouchable except by Ōnoki among the Five Kage.

Revealing him publicly was strategic.

Hidden Leaf had just lost the Third Hokage, an elder, and Danzō’s Root division—forces comparable to Anbu. Even with Tsunade succeeding as Fifth Hokage, the village’s weakened state was undeniable. Declining strength would invite client suspicion, rival villages’ aggression, and rebellion from smaller hidden villages.

Here, Wood Release became the perfect antidote.

When the world learned Hidden Leaf had produced a Wood Release ninja for the first time in decades, clients would prioritize them for missions. Even ancient, powerful villages would hesitate to provoke Hidden Leaf, fearing its strategic deterrent—superior even to Tailed Beasts.

After all, the First Hokage had used Wood Release to capture and distribute the Tailed Beasts across the world.

---

In Iwagakure, Ōnoki stared at Izayoi’s photo, his expression distant.

“Hidden Leaf… truly blessed with fortune.”

His voice carried echoes of the past, when he’d held a photo of a golden-haired youth, jealousy burning in his eyes. “Whenever they face ruin, brilliant young talents rise. Is it merely because Fire Country hoards the best resources?”

His tone shifted to concern. “At this age, he still has decades before reaching his prime. Now is the perfect time to eliminate him.”

“But… I can’t afford to gamble. Iwagakure can’t either!”

Suddenly, his eyes gleamed.

He might hesitate—but others wouldn’t.

Moving to the window, he gazed toward Rain Country. “The Anbu squad vanished without a trace. Could the Six Paths Sage myth be real?”

“If he truly possesses Sage’s Eye… could it counter Wood Release?”

---

In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage scoffed at the report.

“Bluffing. Even if it’s the legendary Wood Release, what power can a child wield?”

“They’re desperate, exposing him now. Hidden Leaf’s talent pool must be empty.”

He grumbled, “If not for owing Tsunade-hime a favor over the Kira incident, I’d have crushed your Hidden Leaf long ago.”

---

In Sunagakure, acting Kazekage Chiyo sighed, studying the report.

“A brilliant move…”

By erasing the Senju name and fully integrating the lineage into Hidden Leaf, they bridged the gap between shinobi clans and commoners—and secured a lifeline for both the Senju and the village.

“First Hokage… Second Hokage… you foresaw this moment long ago.”

She glanced at Gaara, recently redeemed and slowly softening under familial bonds. “Gaara, when you become Kazekage, never oppose Hidden Leaf. Leverage our alliance wisely…”

She left her final thought unspoken, fearing it might burden him.

Wood Release was the ultimate counter to Tailed Beasts.

Gaara blinked, puzzled but obediently nodded.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end