[Orochimaru hurried forward and examined the culture medium.]
"Orochimaru-sama, replace it with a new batch."
"I understand."
Without delay, Orochimaru switched to a fresh tube.
The green culture medium rapidly began to fade again.
One tube after another…
By the time roughly five tubes had been replaced, the rate at which Hinata's cells absorbed nutrients finally slowed and stabilized.
Nagi extracted a small portion of Hinata's cells. Orochimaru simultaneously took a small portion of Hashirama's Cells. They placed both samples onto a growth medium and activated the high-density electron microscope.
Both men fixed their eyes on the monitor.
On screen, Hinata's cells gradually expanded until they collided with Hashirama's Cells.
But this time—
Hashirama's Cells did not immediately devour Hinata's.
Instead, the two began to mutually consume one another.
"How is this possible?!"
Orochimaru was visibly shaken.
[Tsunade: Great-Grandfather's cells… actually…!]
[MEidara Uchiha: Impossible! Hashirama's Cells are on equal footing with that little girl's cells?!]
[Hashirama Senju: Huh? Really? Hahaha, this Hinata girl is impressive!]
[Tobirama Senju: Brother, do you not grasp the gravity of this?]
[Orochimaru: This means that in two and a half years, that girl Hinata's raw power could rival Hashirama's.
Nagi… is that what you're implying?]
[Shiranui Nagi: Yes. But that's only part of it.]
[Onoki: Are you joking?! She's only sixteen or seventeen in that scene! Her raw power rivals Lord Hashirama?!]
[Rasa: Impossible. During the Chūnin Exams her performance was merely solid. Was she hiding her strength?]
[Mei Terumi: It doesn't seem that way…]
Across the Shinobi World, leaders began frantically searching for information on this girl named Hinata.
[Academy Classroom]
The students stared in shock at Hinata, who sat frozen, utterly bewildered.
"Was she really hiding her strength?"
"Doesn't look like it…"
"How dare you doubt Sage Nagi's research!"
…
[Hyūga Clan Compound]
Hiashi Hyūga was equally stunned.
My daughter… that powerful? How would I not know?
[Karui: Honestly, what's so shocking about this?]
[Cee: Did you notice something, Karui?]
[Karui: What are you all surprised about? Our captain's future kid surpassed the First Hokage at our age. Compared to that, what's the big deal?]
[…]
MEidara: …
Onoki: …
Tsunade: …
A (Fourth Raikage): …
Fair point. No rebuttal possible.
Recalling Nagi's future children, the Shinobi World's shock lessened considerably.
"Orochimaru: Nagi… what is this? Is this Ōtsutsuki clan blood?"
Orochimaru's curiosity deepened. The only thing he could imagine capable of contending with Hashirama's Cells was the Ōtsutsuki Clan Nagi had once mentioned.
Nagi sighed.
"You could say it is… and you could say it isn't. What a pity."
Just as I suspected…
Hinata Hyūga—the purest bloodline within the Hyūga Clan. The one closest to Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
What a waste…
[Minato Namikaze: Hamura Ōtsutsuki?!]
[Onoki: That's the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother! And you're saying her bloodline is closest to him?!]
[Shiranui Kūshina Uzumaki: Eh? My future daughter-in-law is that amazing?!]
[Hiashi Hyūga: Th-This isn't a joke, right?!]
His mind reeled.
You're telling me my daughter's bloodline approaches that of the Sage's brother?!
[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki: Brother… is this true?]
[Hamura Ōtsutsuki: Yes, Brother. Nagi speaks correctly. I have observed the girl as well. Her bloodline indeed closely approaches mine.]
[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki: Her ByaShiranui Kūgan is rather refined.]
(Toneri Ōtsutsuki began to type something… then deleted it.)
[Onoki: If the Sage confirms it, then it must be true. But…]
[Mei Terumi: But Hinata doesn't seem particularly extraordinary…]
[Shiranui Nagi: Her bloodline has not awakened.
Heaven opened a door for the Hyūga Clan—yet they chose to seal it shut.]
[…]
Hiashi Hyūga: …
Hizashi Hyūga: …
Hyūga elders: …
Silence.
[Nagi sensed the chakra within Hinata's cultured cells.]
"As expected… within Hinata resides Yang Release chakra equal in quality to Hashirama's.
And her Yin Release chakra likely rivals MEidara Uchiha's.
If she had been properly nurtured from childhood, her potential might not fall short of Naruto and Sasuke.
After all… it would be embarrassing for an uncle to lose to his nephews."
[MEidara Uchiha: What?! That girl possesses Yin–Yang Release chakra on par with Hashirama and me?!]
[Onoki: This is absurdly exaggerated!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: What's more frightening is that she possesses both.]
[MEidara Uchiha: Then that means…?!]
[Minato Namikaze: And you say Naruto and Sasuke will surpass the First Hokage as well?!]
[Shiranui Kūshina Uzumaki: And what do you mean by 'uncle' and 'nephews,' Nagi?]
[Shiranui Nagi: Aunt Shiranui Kūshina, perhaps the Sage of Six Paths should answer that.]
[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki: Ahem… Nagi truly is perceptive. There is no longer any need to conceal this.
As I have said before, I had two sons—Indra and Asura.
For a thousand years, their conflict has continued through chakra reincarnation.
In the previous era, their reincarnations were MEidara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
In this era, they are Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.]
[Hashirama Senju: Hahaha! Hear that, MEidara? We were brothers!]
[MEidara Uchiha: …]
[Tobirama Senju: Brother, be quiet!]
[Butsuma Senju: You foolish boy, what nonsense are you saying?!]
[Izuna Uchiha: Hashirama! I am my brother's only brother!]
[Minato Namikaze: What?! My son is the reincarnation of the Sage's child?!]
[Shiranui Kūshina Uzumaki: This…]
[Mikoto Uchiha: Sasuke…]
[Jiraiya: I see. So that means Naruto or Sasuke must be the Child of Prophecy.]
[Shiranui Nagi: Hagoromo-sama, please remember this—
Naruto is Naruto. Sasuke is Sasuke.
They are my friends.
They are the children Aunt Shiranui Kūshina and Aunt Mikoto carried for ten long months and brought into this world with their own strength.
They are not reincarnations of your sons.
And Jiraiya-sama, do not force your "Child of Prophecy" onto Naruto or Sasuke.
They are my friends—not tools for you to pursue peace.]
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
complete fic (all chapters ) are already up on Patreon → patreon.com/Chakraflow789
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Chakraflow789