Boom, boom, boom.
In a deep, ancient forest in the Land of Fire, two figures clashed fiercely amidst the dense trees.
Unusually, the smaller figure was the aggressor, not only dominating the battle but also displaying astonishing might. A casual punch from her could topple a towering tree!
No doubt about it.
The two locked in combat were none other than Shinji and Chino of the Blood Pool Clan!
Having been injected with "Blue Spider Lily No. 1," Chino had spent the past month adapting to its effects. Her body had fully absorbed the drug, granting her extraordinary physical strength far beyond the norm.
Through years of rigorous training, Shinji's taijutsu had long since reached new heights. Combined with the dynamic vision of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, the aid of his "killing intent perception," and the stamina boost from his "Breathing Technique," the twelve-year-old's taijutsu surpassed that of many Jonin.
In the previous test, it was this razor-sharp taijutsu that allowed him to swiftly dispatch the Root shinobi who ambushed him.
Yet even so, when facing Chino's ferocious onslaught, he remained cautious and somewhat hesitant.
Chino's physical strength was simply too overwhelming. If he were to be hit by even a single punch, even if it didn't kill him, it would peel a layer off his skin.
Boom, boom, boom.
After another flurry of rapid taijutsu exchanges, Shinji leaped back, raising a hand. "Let's take a break!"
"Huff, huff." Breathing heavily, Chino immediately stopped and looked at Shinji. "Shinji-sama, how did I do?"
"Hm, better than I expected," Shinji said, rubbing his sore arms.
To truly gauge the extent of Chino's enhanced physical strength, he had just gone toe-to-toe with her in a direct clash. As a result, his arms and legs were now covered in bruises.
As a member of the Uchiha clan, Shinji lacked the Sage Body and hadn't undergone the First Hokage's cell transplant. His physical constitution was no different from an ordinary shinobi's.
Chino glanced down at her hands. "I also feel like I've changed a lot!"
Taking advantage of the break, Shinji used medical ninjutsu to heal the bruises on his arms and legs, then spoke slowly. "Blue Spider Lily No. 1 allows you to tap into the power at the cellular level. Your current performance is still far from its peak!"
Chino looked puzzled. "I can still get stronger?"
"Indeed!" Shinji nodded.
Blue Spider Lily No. 1 not only strengthened Chino's body but also granted her the ability to deeply unlock her physical potential.
A shinobi's chakra capacity is determined by their physical and mental strength. Thus, a significant boost in physical power could, to some extent, increase total chakra reserves.
Therefore, Blue Spider Lily No. 1 couldn't be seen merely as a drug to enhance physical strength—its effects on a shinobi were far more comprehensive and multifaceted.
After bringing Chino back to the hideout, Shinji conducted a physical examination using specialized equipment, meticulously recording the data.
While Shinji logged the results, Chino propped her chin on her hands, watching curiously.
A moment later, she asked, "Shinji-sama, once you're done recording, will you leave? When will you come find me again?"
Shinji didn't look up. "What's on your mind?"
"I found wild boar tracks in the forest. Next time you come, I can prepare a wild boar feast for you!" Chino said, her face lighting up with anticipation as she looked at Shinji.
Having finished his notes, Shinji closed the notebook and glanced at her, meeting her hopeful gaze.
Shinji knew Chino was simply feeling lonely.
After a moment of thought, he said, "If you're feeling lonely, I can find you a companion!"
Chino's eyes sparkled. "A kitten? Or a puppy?"
Shinji replied dryly, "A person!"
"Who is it?" Chino's voice rose in excitement. She hadn't expected, as an experimental subject, to have the chance to interact with others.
Shinji said calmly, "Someone like you!"
Chino pointed at herself. "Like me?"
Shinji casually explained, "Another girl, also with a Bloodline Limit, and also injected with Blue Spider Lily No. 1!"
Even if Chino weren't lonely, Shinji had already planned to introduce her to Ryuzetsu.
He didn't have the time to constantly monitor Chino or Ryuzetsu, and both were still young, lacking the systematic shinobi training of a major village. Their ability to control their powers was limited, and training alone would make progress slow.
But if the two could live together, sparring and discussing daily, they might master the effects of Blue Spider Lily No. 1 more quickly and effectively.
A spark of anticipation appeared in Chino's eyes. "There's someone else in this world like me?"
After bidding farewell to Chino, Shinji arrived at Ryuzetsu's hideout.
Since Ryuzetsu had only agreed to the Blue Spider Lily No. 1 human trial through Karin's mediation, Shinji made a point to swap his Akatsuki red-cloud cloak for an ordinary black one before meeting her.
"You're here?" Ryuzetsu greeted him, her tone polite but tinged with distance and wariness.
Shinji ignored her guarded demeanor and asked, "How have you been feeling lately? Any abnormalities in your body?"
"There's definitely something off!" Ryuzetsu nodded quickly.
Shinji's heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?"
"For the past month, my strength and speed have kept increasing, like… like there's no limit. I'm worried something might be wrong."
Ryuzetsu's face was etched with concern.
As a shinobi of the Hidden Grass Village, her experience and perspective, while not on par with those from the Five Great Villages, far surpassed Chino's. She was keenly aware of how unnatural her body's changes were.
Shinji smiled. "If that's the abnormality you're talking about, there's no need to worry. That's the drug's normal effect."
Ryuzetsu seemed skeptical. "Such a powerful drug, and the only side effect is losing a few years of lifespan?"
"So far, that's the only side effect we've found," Shinji said, pausing before adding, "There might be other hidden side effects—no one can guarantee otherwise. That's why I need to monitor your condition to confirm if there are any others. Now, let's do a physical."
After conducting Ryuzetsu's examination, Shinji began recording her data.
From the results, Ryuzetsu's physical stats were slightly higher than Chino's, likely due to her unique Yang Release constitution.
Once the data was logged, Shinji said to Ryuzetsu, "There's another test subject nearby who's also been injected with Blue Spider Lily No. 1. If you're willing, you can move in with her and live together!"