"These are Blood Silkworms. The silk they produce can autonomously absorb natural energy from the outside world!" Tatsuya explained, his eyes shining with excitement as he showed the cage in his hand to Jizo.
"They can absorb natural energy? You actually found them!" Jizo looked pleasantly surprised upon hearing this. However, his expression quickly turned serious. He glanced at the two large cultivation tanks in the lab. "But right now, we don't have a single qualified test subject. How do you plan to verify if your hypothesis is suitable?"
"Isn't there one right here?" Tatsuya gestured towards one of the tanks with his chin.
"You want to use that for the experiment? Isn't that too risky?" Jizo followed Tatsuya's gaze and asked, slightly alarmed. Tatsuya was pointing at the one-eyed clone specimen.
"Our clone project still requires a large number of successful clones; we can't let this one continue occupying this cultivation tank indefinitely," Tatsuya reasoned. "While the way its three-tomoe Sharingan formed is unique, it doesn't have much practical significance. Using it for the transplant experiment saves time and allows for further testing. Why not? As for the danger, with you here watching constantly, no accidents should occur."
Hearing Tatsuya's explanation, Jizo nodded silently. He then asked, "Why don't you choose to expand or build a new laboratory? With me here handling things, you should be able to free up time for such matters."
Tatsuya looked up, meeting Jizo's gaze. They stared at each other silently for a moment.
"My clone project has always been based solely on the bio-chip's analytical results," Tatsuya finally said in a low voice. "There's no precedent for it in the shinobi world. The final outcome, how it all turns out, still depends entirely on the experimental results."
"Are you worried about me?" Jizo asked, realization dawning on his face.
"Yes," Tatsuya nodded. "There are too many unknown forces in the shinobi world. Even someone as powerful as Uchiha Madara ultimately became just a pawn in another's hands, didn't he? I must be doubly cautious."
Since Jizo had taken form, as time passed, Tatsuya could clearly feel a divergence growing between his own thoughts and those of his clone. The difference wasn't significant, merely slight deviations in analyzing certain matters. But who could guarantee that such deviations wouldn't eventually evolve into something else entirely? Something like Black Zetsu! As the clone project progressed step by step, Tatsuya felt he absolutely needed to exercise extreme caution.
"Your concerns are valid," Jizo conceded thoughtfully after pondering for a moment. "To prevent such a situation from occurring, perhaps we should perform periodic assimilation resets from now on."
"Alright," Tatsuya agreed slowly, his gaze still fixed intently on Jizo.
For the next few days, Tatsuya remained sequestered in the laboratory.
What Jizo called an "assimilation reset" essentially involved Tatsuya's main body actively dispelling the shadow clone sealed within Jizo's body, and then sealing a fresh one in its place. This way, the "original" Jizo would cease to exist, and the newly generated Jizo would effectively be a "different person." If a clone body were to develop significant deviations in thought from the original, or harbor other intentions, it would absolutely resist such a procedure. This method essentially eliminated the possibility of the clone developing true autonomy or independent motives.
Resetting the clone didn't take much time, completed in just half a day. What truly consumed Tatsuya's energy was the Blood Silk transplant surgery.
Because Tatsuya's own body had extremely low sensitivity to natural energy, his only current method for using senjutsu was through his summoning animal, Seiryu. This approach had significant limitations and couldn't unleash the full potential of Sage Techniques.
Therefore, after much contemplation, Tatsuya had devised a feasible alternative: performing transplant modifications on certain parts of his body. This wasn't a novel idea; there were precedents in the shinobi world. Orochimaru's extensive body modifications were a prime example. However, Tatsuya had no desire to transform himself into something like Danzo. He only wanted power that was truly and completely under his own control.
Tatsuya's plan was to modify specific areas of the body, using these points to enhance the body's overall sensitivity to natural energy, thereby achieving the goal of completely mastering senjutsu. Such transplant modifications would undoubtedly require a lengthy adaptation period, and Tatsuya was prepared for a long-term effort.
Inside the laboratory, the one-eyed clone lay on the operating table, its body covered in restrictive seals. Jizo, having activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, held a surgical scalpel, meticulously transplanting the Blood Silk threads one by one onto the clone's body. This was extremely delicate work requiring immense precision. Jizo needed to transplant hundreds of threads; the slightest error could ruin everything. Beside him, Tatsuya watched the entire process intently.
"Whew! Finally finished!" Several hours later, as Jizo successfully transplanted the last thread of Blood Silk onto the one-eyed clone, both Tatsuya and Jizo let out deep breaths simultaneously.
"Now we just have to see how the body adapts and integrates the silk," Tatsuya said softly, looking at the clone now covered in a network of fine red lines. "You'll need to keep a close eye on it recently."
"Mm. Don't worry, I'll monitor its condition constantly," Jizo nodded in affirmation.
As they spoke, neither Tatsuya nor Jizo noticed the single three-tomoe Sharingan eye of the clone lying on the operating table swivel slightly, observing the two of them with a strange, unsettling glint.
Uchiha Clan Compound, Shisui's Home.
On the veranda of the small courtyard, Shisui and Itachi sat side-by-side on the wooden floor. In the center of the courtyard, Sasuke, now around four years old, toddled about happily, his little face flushed, clearly delighted. In Sasuke's small world, simply having his older brother nearby was cause for great joy.
"Itachi, you're graduating from the Academy soon. What are your plans for the future?" Shisui asked, a gentle smile on his face as he watched the carefree Sasuke.
"After graduating, I'll be assigned to a genin team. I plan to gain some experience with the team for a while first," Itachi replied softly.
"Mm. Getting more mission experience with a team is good," Shisui nodded. "After another couple of years, you should come join my Third Division."
Itachi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Shisui-nii san, I want to join ANBU eventually."
"Join ANBU?" Shisui's expression flickered with a hint of wistfulness.
"Yes. I want to be like you were back then, Shisui-nii san," Itachi confirmed with a firm nod.
Shisui smiled bitterly. "But I failed!"
"Shisui-nii san, that wasn't failure," Itachi reassured him. "The timing just wasn't right! Didn't you say Tatsuya-nii san has already thought of a way to resolve the current situation? I believe things will get better then."
"You seem to have a lot of faith in him," Shisui remarked with a wry smile.
"Don't you also trust Tatsuya-nii san?" Itachi tilted his head, looking at Shisui as he asked softly.
Shisui fell silent once more.
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