Chapter 428: Strange Hobbies Are Not Necessarily Good
"Fungi. This really is interesting."
Amamiya Kenichi looked at the experiment log in his hand with curiosity.
"I didn't expect the source of the infection to be a fungus, and it's hidden in the spinal cord. No wonder nothing was found in the blood before. But if that's the case, what is its transmission route?"
Generally speaking, diseases were mostly spread through bacteria, viruses, fungi, or hereditary factors. However, hereditary diseases were much more troublesome to study, so Kenichi had never seriously considered systemic hereditary diseases.
After all, although hereditary diseases were more hidden and insidious, they took far too long to develop. Weapons based on that principle usually focused on genetic diseases, specifically targeting people with certain genes in order to achieve large-scale extermination.
It was extremely cruel, and the difficulty of researching it was also extremely high. If research of that level succeeded, it basically meant walking toward a world war.
Among conventional diseases, bacterial and viral infections were relatively common, while fungal infections were less frequent. However, precisely because they were uncommon, fungal infections were fine if they did not flare up. Once they did, they could become rather troublesome.
Kenichi remembered seeing similar cases in the news in his previous life. There had been a man who liked smelling his socks every day after taking them off. Over time, that habit caused a fungal infection in his lungs, leading to pneumonia.
So, it was not strange for humans to have unusual hobbies.
As long as those hobbies did not affect others, having something a little odd about one's preferences was not necessarily a problem. Even so, it was best to avoid some of the worse ones.
For example, that unlucky fellow who gave himself fungal pneumonia by smelling his own stinky socks.
Although Kenichi could not quite understand why someone would enjoy smelling their own stinky socks, a hospital visit could cost quite a lot of money.
In addition, Kenichi also knew that some people liked smelling other people's socks. There were even more perverse individuals who liked smelling other people's intimate clothing.
Those habits could also lead to fungal infections.
"If it's a fungus, then shouldn't the usual mode of transmission involve spores?" Kenichi looked at the test tube in his hand, falling into thought.
Inside the test tube was the fungus extracted by his Shadow Clone.
Kenichi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and carefully observed the liquid before him.
Soon, a large number of scattered constituent elements appeared in his vision, then gradually transformed into different substances.
Proteins, water, some trace elements, and then...
A strangely shaped object appeared before Kenichi's eyes.
It looked somewhat like a robot dog, angular and distinct. When Kenichi discovered it, the little thing was using tentacle-like or arm-like appendages to bind a cell. Then the cell rapidly dried out.
"No. Rather than dehydration, it's more like the cell was injected with some kind of special substance, and even its nucleus and other internal components started breaking down."
Kenichi looked at the tiny thing inside the tube.
Now he understood.
This fungus's method of feeding was somewhat similar to that of certain spiders.
Both injected venom, or something similar, before digesting the nutrients inside their prey and absorbing them. In the end, only a shriveled shell was left behind.
That also explained why people infected with this disease often ended up dying from dehydration.
"Since it's a fungus, is its transmission method really through spores? If it can spread through spores, then the destructive power of this thing may exceed my imagination."
Kenichi licked his lips.
Fungal spores were extremely small and could spread through the air under certain conditions. But so far, this peculiar Nano Disease had not shown any obvious large-scale transmission route.
Kenichi's current infection method was to directly introduce infected blood into ordinary people to trigger infection.
However, that method was troublesome and not very suitable for weapon development.
Judging from the disease progression in the Hyuga clan patient, this special fungus did not seem to have the ability to spread its spores into the air on its own.
"So, the next research direction is to study this fungus's transmission method and see whether its spores exist in the blood. This thing is very likely related to spore transmission."
Kenichi quickly determined his next research direction.
Fungi were extremely small. Without a high-powered microscope, it was very difficult to find them, let alone fungal spores, which were even smaller.
Kenichi believed that the main reason those patients had been infected was that the injected blood contained fungal spores or similar reproductive structures, which then triggered the rapid spread and reproduction of the fungus inside their bodies.
However, normally speaking, fungi did not reproduce this quickly.
That only proved how strange the ninja world truly was.
This was also Kenichi's first time seeing a fungus that looked like a robot dog.
He had once heard from a friend that some bacteriophages looked like tiny robots. Now, even robot dogs had appeared.
However, if bacteriophages were used properly, they could have very good effects in treating certain diseases.
As for this robot dog, if it were used properly, it was estimated that there would not be many living people left in the ninja world.
What Kenichi was doing now was researching how this robot dog operated, what its original transmission method was, and whether its spores could travel through the air and infect people through inhalation.
If that was possible, then this weapon's power would be immense.
Although the probability was not very high, he could still try to study it. Even if that direction failed, he could still collect enough fungal spores and use them as a weapon through other means.
"I also need to study its stability. Fungi usually have good stability and a low chance of mutation. But this is a world where chakra exists, so who knows..."
Kenichi mused quietly.
Speaking of which, this fungus still did not have a name.
Kenichi suddenly felt that he might as well name the little thing.
After hesitating for a moment, he decided to call it Pandora Fungus.
The meaning was simple.
Even he did not know what kind of monsters would be released once Pandora's box was opened.
"I hope it doesn't mutate. Otherwise, I really wouldn't dare use this thing."
Kenichi wiped his hands.
Although the fungus was sealed inside a glass test tube and could not be seen with the naked eye, he still subconsciously wiped his hands and thoroughly disinfected them.
After witnessing this thing's power, Kenichi's mysophobia was starting to emerge.
No wonder most professionals involved in virus or disease research seemed like germophobes.
How could they not be?
Ordinary people could not see bacteria and other tiny pathogens. They needed professional equipment to observe them. Who knew whether they might accidentally carry some strain after an experiment?
That was why they had to disinfect themselves over and over again.
The strict and tedious disinfection procedures in laboratories had been summarized through the lives and lessons of countless scientists.
Kenichi split off a Shadow Clone and had it take the experiment log into the laboratory.
As for his main body, he went to the prison in the capital of the Land of Water. He planned to bring out a few prisoners and send them to his Shadow Clone as test subjects.
When he arrived at the prison, Kenichi saw several ninja wearing forehead protectors escorting some Kirigakure ninja inside.
Kenichi did not mind.
In fact, most enemy ninja would be imprisoned first, then injected with insect eggs, turning them into Kenichi's most loyal dogs.
However, after the incident with Suigetsu Hōzuki, every ninja who was successfully injected now needed to be monitored for a period of time. Only after confirming that the parasite's control was perfect would they be granted freedom and allowed to loyally serve the country.
After obtaining the subjects he needed, Kenichi hurriedly left the prison and returned to the laboratory with them.
He still had many things to do.
While the ninja world was still in chaos, he had to push his research forward as quickly as possible.
—-
"Black Zetsu, why do you seem so preoccupied lately?"
On a treetop, Uchiha Obito stood above the canopy, gazing into the distance while asking in a seemingly casual tone.
Black Zetsu's behavior had been very strange recently.
Obito had specifically told Black Zetsu about forming an army of the dead.
They had already obtained Edo Tensei. With this Ninjutsu, they could build a very powerful army under their command.
Because of that, Black Zetsu had been running all over the ninja world collecting the corpses of powerful individuals.
As for how to revive those people, Obito had already prepared a method. They could completely use White Zetsu as sacrifices for the revival.
"It's nothing," Black Zetsu said, shaking his head.
But Obito clearly did not fully believe him.
Black Zetsu also knew that if he did not say something, Obito would definitely grow suspicious.
The problem was that what he had discovered earlier was difficult to explain, and he could not tell anyone about it.
He could only wait until his mother was resurrected and then find another way.
"I was just thinking. Amamiya Kenichi has been very quiet lately. What exactly is he doing?" Black Zetsu knew how to divert Obito's attention.
The answer was simple.
Mention Amamiya Kenichi.
Clearly, his idea worked.
The moment Amamiya Kenichi was mentioned, Obito's expression darkened slightly.
"That guy's attack method last time was truly terrifying," Obito said, his expression ugly.
Although he had Kamui and had avoided the most violent part of the explosion, the shockwave and the lingering radiation afterward had still made Obito suffer greatly.
That was also the main reason Obito had not continued searching for opportunities there.
"Hehe. With such a terrifying attack method, it will probably be difficult for the four great ninja villages to join forces against Amamiya Kenichi," Black Zetsu said playfully as he looked at Obito.
Obito had been chosen by Madara as his successor, but compared to Uchiha Madara, his strength was still somewhat unsatisfactory.
That was not to say Black Zetsu thought Obito was weak.
If Obito were weak, he would not have caused the Nine-Tails' attack and controlled the Three-Tails' jinchūriki, Yagura.
However, compared to Uchiha Madara, Obito's strength was still clearly inferior.
Although Amamiya Kenichi's attack was terrifying, in Black Zetsu's opinion, it was still missing something.
Obito frowned.
He turned his head and glanced behind him.
There was a carefully cultivated White Zetsu there. If it was used as a sacrifice, it should allow Uchiha Madara to display considerable strength.
But using Edo Tensei on Uchiha Madara was not an easy task.
They were still researching how to improve the effect of Edo Tensei. The version they had obtained so far only allowed the reincarnated subject to be used as a humanoid walking bomb. It did not allow the dead to display much true strength.
Therefore, it still needed time for improvement.
But Obito did not know how much time he had left.
After thinking it over, Obito thought of someone.
Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was Amamiya Kenichi's teacher, and he definitely knew how to use Edo Tensei.
If they could obtain some of Orochimaru's research results, that would be a major step forward.
Black Zetsu looked at the contemplative Obito, then squatted down and tore apart a leaf in his hand. His mood was also somewhat complicated.
"Back then... were there other Ōtsutsuki who came to this world?"
Black Zetsu recalled the underground facility he had accidentally discovered while collecting the corpses of powerful individuals from each ninja village.
Curious, he had sneaked inside to take a look, only to unexpectedly discover a shocking secret.
In this world, there were actually other members of the Ōtsutsuki clan still alive?
When Black Zetsu learned this news, he was so shocked that he almost failed to maintain his physical stability.
To avoid being discovered by that person, Black Zetsu had quickly fled.
The only thing he could confirm now was that no other Ōtsutsuki clan members had come to this place back then.
Otherwise, his mother would have been discovered long ago.
It was even more impossible for the Six Paths brothers to leave behind such pure-blooded descendants.
So who exactly was that mysterious Ōtsutsuki?
This left Black Zetsu deeply restless.
"I'm going out for a bit," Obito said.
Then he left.
Black Zetsu was not surprised.
He knew Obito's little habit.
Whenever Obito became agitated, he liked to go to Konoha's cemetery, look at Rin Nohara's grave, look at his own grave, and listen to Kakashi talk to himself.
This was also one of Obito's common ways of relaxing.
"That guy... who exactly is he?" Black Zetsu's expression darkened.
The other party was an Ōtsutsuki.
But what exactly did he want by hiding until now?
Had he discovered Black Zetsu?
Although Black Zetsu was very confident in his concealment abilities, the other party was still an Ōtsutsuki. He could not be fully certain that he had not been noticed.
Black Zetsu sighed.
He was still uneasy.
But if he did not confirm it himself, he probably would not be able to rest properly.
So Black Zetsu also left.
Meanwhile, Obito sprinted toward Konoha.
He missed Rin.
And he also wanted to see his friend, Kakashi.
.....
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