A burning sensation surged through his entire body. Ryujin Kenichi gritted his teeth and gripped the edge of the table tightly. It was happening again.
Every time he unlocked a new research ability, his body reacted violently, but this time, the pain was particularly excruciating. It felt as if every cell in his body was being forcibly reconstructed, a sensation akin to being dissected alive.
When the sharp pain finally subsided, Kenichi was drenched in sweat. He lay weakly on his bed, staring up at the dimly lit ceiling, a faint smile creeping onto his lips. Something had changed.
The chakra coursing through his body felt entirely different. The amount he had once painstakingly extracted over an entire day could now be gathered in mere moments. The gap between an ordinary shinobi and a genius had never felt more apparent. It was the difference between himself—an orphan of Konoha's Ryujin clan—and Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.
Kenichi sat up slowly, his breath still uneven but filled with excitement. His hypothesis had been correct. The legendary Sage Body of Hashirama Senju not only granted unparalleled vitality and stamina but also an innate talent for chakra control and enhancement. Talent was a real thing.
He and Kakashi Hatake were of similar age, yet Kakashi had already reached Jonin, while he remained a mere Genin. If nothing had changed, he might not have made Chunin until his late twenties or thirties. But now, Kenichi had grasped the key to rapid growth.
"But it doesn't seem like I've awakened Wood Release…" he muttered, sensing his chakra carefully before clicking his tongue in mild disappointment.
If he had gained the legendary Wood Release, things would become much more complicated. No one in Konoha, aside from Hashirama Senju and the experimental subjects of Orochimaru's illicit research, had ever wielded such a power. If he displayed even a trace of it, the village's higher-ups—especially Danzo—would have him locked away in an instant.
As much as Kenichi desired power, he had no intention of becoming a living test subject for Konoha's shadowy factions.
[Current Research Task Completed] [Elective Task List Updated]
Kenichi pinched the bridge of his nose as a system notification flickered in his vision. His so-called "golden finger"—the mysterious research-based ability he had awakened—offered elective tasks akin to a university curriculum. The tasks were often bizarre, but their rewards were invaluable.
Last time, he had received a high-powered microscope.
This time, the updated list read:
[1. Obtain Uzumaki Kushina's body tissue and isolate the unique gene chain of the Uzumaki clan] [2. Establish a personal research laboratory]
Good news: just like last time, there were two options. Bad news: both were incredibly difficult.
"Uzumaki Kushina's body tissue? A single strand of hair might suffice, but for proper genetic analysis, a blood sample would be far more useful…" Kenichi murmured, furrowing his brows.
The first task wasn't just about acquiring the sample—it was about deciphering the genetic structure behind the Uzumaki clan's legendary vitality and chakra reserves. Bloodline limits and inherited traits had always fascinated Kenichi. To him, they were nothing more than genetic sequences passed down through generations, yet their manifestations were nothing short of supernatural.
If he could unravel the mysteries of bloodline inheritance, the potential for advancement would be limitless. But first, he had to figure out how to complete this task without drawing unwanted attention.
Just like how the Sharingan was an exclusive kekkei genkai of the Uchiha clan, someone who did not possess Uchiha lineage could not awaken it naturally. If that were not the case, Danzo would not have gone to such lengths to harvest Sharingan from fallen Uchiha members and transplant them into himself.
The Uzumaki clan was similar in its uniqueness. Ryujin Kenichi only needed to pinpoint the specific genetic markers that set the Uzumaki apart from ordinary people in order to complete his task.
As for extracting genetic sequences and implanting them into others…
With the current scientific advancements of the ninja world, such a feat was still highly challenging. However, Ryujin Kenichi had an advantage—his mentor was none other than Orochimaru, a man who had already made strides in this type of research.
"The second task seems simple enough, but funding is an issue," Kenichi muttered with a sigh. As expected, to gain something, one had to make sacrifices.
"It looks like I need to secure an escape route soon." Kenichi's gaze lingered on the framed photo on his bedside table—an image of Orochimaru clad in a white coat, with Kenichi himself standing beside him, smiling.
Orochimaru was a good teacher.
The next morning, Kenichi rose early, prepared a simple breakfast, and began his daily physical conditioning routine. He was not alone in his training—his closest training partner was a boy whose father had given his life for the village, an act that inadvertently forced Konoha's higher-ups to acknowledge the power of taijutsu. That boy, who would one day leave an indelible mark on history, was none other than Might Guy.
"Good morning, Kenichi! Today is another day to burn with the flames of youth!"
The moment he stepped outside, Kenichi was greeted by that unmistakably enthusiastic voice and an even more dazzling white-toothed smile.
"Good morning, Guy." Kenichi responded with a small smile of his own. His association with Guy was deliberate—his goal was the Eight Gates Released Formation, one of Konoha's most powerful taijutsu techniques.
However, the Eight Gates were strictly classified, their techniques sealed away in Konoha's forbidden scrolls. Moreover, Guy had never spoken to him about them, likely due to explicit orders from the village's higher-ups.
Kenichi wasn't in a hurry. These things couldn't be rushed. As long as he maintained a strong bond with Guy, there would eventually be an opportunity to learn the Eight Gates.
"Kenichi! How about we do frog jumps around the entire village for a week straight?" Guy asked, eyes brimming with anticipation.
Kenichi nodded noncommittally. If this had been right after he first arrived in this world, he wouldn't have even lasted two hundred meters. But through consistent training, his body had strengthened significantly.
Frog jumps for a week would be exhausting, but not impossible.
"Oh oh oh! This is the essence of youth!" Guy shouted, full of passion.
Kenichi followed along. Despite Guy's overwhelming enthusiasm, he found him to be a genuinely good friend. While most shinobi relied on talent and bloodline to grow stronger, Guy's power stemmed from sheer effort and determination. It was easy to get along with someone like that.
After wrapping up their morning training, Kenichi waved goodbye to Guy and set off. He had research to conduct, and his teacher was waiting for him.
As he emerged from the forest, he caught sight of Orochimaru leaning against a tree trunk, casually eating a skewer of tri-colored dango.
"Teacher!" Kenichi approached quickly, a look of enthusiasm on his face.
No matter what plans he had for the future, maintaining a strong relationship with Orochimaru was a necessity for now.
"The chakra in your body has grown stronger," Orochimaru remarked, his golden eyes gleaming with interest. "It seems becoming a Chunin is only a matter of time."
A small smile crept onto Kenichi's lips. Under Orochimaru's tutelage, his path to power was only just beginning.