"Teacher, may I study this?" Ryujin Kenichi's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he examined the preserved specimen before him. He had been searching for a way to develop unique ninjutsu, something entirely his own, and in his mind, manipulating the rapid proliferation of cells—especially malignant ones—presented a fascinating avenue of research.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a knowing smile as he observed his pupil's enthusiasm. Kenichi reminded him of himself—an insatiable thirst for knowledge, an appreciation for the darker intricacies of science that most would shy away from. "Of course," he responded smoothly, pressing a button to release the airtight seal of the glass container. An acrid, chemical-laced scent filled the room.
Kenichi leaned in, his gaze locking onto the figure suspended in the nutrient solution. "Sensei, which part of his body is affected?" he asked eagerly. Cancerous cells typically thrived within the body, hidden from plain sight. From the outside, this individual bore no signs of epidermal affliction.
"The brain," Orochimaru replied, gesturing toward the figure's pale, lifeless face. "And it has also impacted his optic nerves."
Kenichi's eyes flickered toward the subject's Byakugan. Now that he looked closer, he could see the unnatural tissue growth clouding the normally pristine, pale irises. Before, the distortion had been obscured by the suspension fluid, but up close, the irregular cellular formations were apparent.
"Sensei, may I take a biopsy?" Kenichi's fingers twitched in anticipation. The chance to study active cancer cells—especially those affecting a dōjutsu—was an opportunity too valuable to ignore.
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable before he gestured nonchalantly. "Go ahead."
Kenichi hesitated for a brief moment, noting the faint amusement in his teacher's tone, but ultimately dismissed it. He selected a scalpel and leaned in, carefully bringing the blade to the subject's eye. The sharp edge had barely grazed the tissue when the body convulsed violently.
Kenichi froze.
"He's alive?" he murmured in mild surprise.
"Of course." Orochimaru's voice was laced with amusement. "If he were dead, he wouldn't be nearly as useful."
Kenichi fell silent. Right. This was Orochimaru—the man who had been a feared figure throughout the early years of Konoha's history, his experiments pushing ethical boundaries far beyond what was considered humane. Though rumors persisted of his eventual redemption, there was no doubt that, at this point, he remained a ruthless scientist.
Kenichi steadied his grip. "Sensei is right." Without further hesitation, he resumed his task, methodically excising the abnormal tissue directly from the subject's cornea.
The man's screams filled the dimly lit laboratory, his body straining against the restraints, but Kenichi remained impassive. His focus was on the samples now resting in his petri dish, gleaming under the sterile light.
Cancer cells, he mused, were paradoxical. Within a living body, they were near unstoppable, endlessly proliferating at the expense of their host. But outside their controlled environment? Vulnerable. Fragile. Left unchecked, bacteria, viruses, or even simple changes in conditions could halt their growth entirely.
Kenichi hurried to his microscope, carefully placing a sample on the slide and adjusting the focus. He observed the cellular formations, noting the irregular nuclei and rampant mitotic activity. He couldn't be certain if this was truly a standard carcinoma or something altered by the subject's dōjutsu, but the aggressive replication was undeniable.
Experimentally, he channeled chakra into the specimen. The cells responded immediately, their activity fluctuating in response. Kenichi narrowed his eyes. "Cancer cells are still just cells. They require nutrients to grow." He frowned as he watched the cells deteriorate under the influence of his chakra. "I have Fire and Lightning affinities… neither of those are suited for this."
He exhaled sharply, thinking back to his training. Beyond elemental chakra, there was Yin and Yang Release—concepts that delved into the essence of life itself. Hashirama Senju's famed Wood Release was a product of his unparalleled Yang chakra, granting him unparalleled regenerative abilities. The Senju and Uzumaki clans were naturally gifted with abundant life force. Kenichi himself, having inherited a variant of the First Hokage's Sage Body, had also felt an unusual presence in his chakra—something distinct from elemental affinities.
If he could harness that energy… perhaps he could manipulate cellular growth on a fundamental level. Not just accelerate it, but control it.
Behind him, Orochimaru watched with quiet satisfaction. Yes… Kenichi was indeed walking a path similar to his own. And that made him all the more promising.
"What are you studying?" Orochimaru asked, his golden, snake-like eyes fixed on his disciple. The Hyūga clan member had already been placed back into the culture tank, suspended in the eerie green fluid.
Ryujin Kenichi rubbed his hands together excitedly, his expression filled with anticipation. "Sensei, these cells are already necrotic. Can I examine the Hyūga again?"
Orochimaru studied his disciple, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Yes, but don't kill him."
Kenichi nodded immediately. This was a rare and valuable experimental subject—far too precious to waste. At least until he obtained the results he sought, the Hyūga couldn't die.
Under Orochimaru's watchful gaze, Kenichi once again approached the unconscious clan member. This time, however, he did not reach for a scalpel to scrape away the fibrotic growths forming around the subject's Byakugan. Instead, he stood still, occasionally pressing his palm against the Hyūga's face, his fingers lightly brushing over the subject's skin.
Orochimaru, ever the experienced shinobi, quickly took notice of the chakra fluctuations emanating from Kenichi's hand. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Have you learned the Mystical Palm Technique?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Kenichi hesitated for a brief moment before offering a sheepish smile. "Not exactly, Sensei. I was just… experimenting."
The Mystical Palm Technique was a high-level medical ninjutsu—A-rank, no less. Kenichi had never received formal training in it.
His goal had been simple: to channel Yang-natured chakra directly into the cancer cells within the Hyūga's body and observe how they reacted. However, he quickly realized just how naïve his approach had been.
Manipulating isolated cells outside the body was one thing. But injecting chakra into a living host, precisely targeting individual cancerous cells amidst healthy tissue? That was an entirely different level of difficulty.
It was like comparing iron to diamond.
This realization, however, didn't deter him. If he could refine this technique, he might create something unprecedented—his own unique medical-ninjutsu hybrid.
Unfortunately, for now, it was beyond his ability.
He clenched his fist. He needed more time. More practice.
And more test subjects.