c119: Seduction and Death
The next morning, Uchiha Gen made his way to one of Orochimaru's frequently used research bases. Given Orochimaru's unpredictable movements and near-total absence from any personal residence, it was more practical to locate him at a laboratory nestled deep beneath the surface of Ryūchi Cave's secondary network one of his lesser-known facilities used for taboo research far from prying eyes.
Gen arrived unimpeded. The base's defensive seals, attuned to his chakra signature, allowed him entry. Within, he found Orochimaru bent over an examination slab, surgically dissecting a humanoid body, its skin pale and bark-textured, unmistakably infused with Mokuton chakra traces.
"Orochimaru-sensei, how are your findings?" Gen asked, eyeing the grotesque cadaver.
Without looking up, Orochimaru responded with a hoarse chuckle. "Fascinating. As I suspected, there are definitive remnants of Hashirama Senju's genetic framework. The body exhibits preliminary signs of successful Mokuton infusion and yet, the cellular compatibility remains unstable."
Gen's eye twitched. That wasn't quite the answer he had in mind.
"I meant, have the materials I requested arrived?"
"Ah… those," Orochimaru replied lazily. "Six in total. Two are sealed in summoning scrolls and stored in the lounge."
"Then I won't disturb your work, Sensei. I'll begin my phase of testing."
Orochimaru offered nothing more than a faint nod before turning back to his experiment.
Gen entered the lounge, retrieved the scrolls from a compartment camouflaged within a bookshelf, and slipped them into his pouch before vanishing from the base with practiced speed.
Rather than return to the village, Gen exited Konoha's western barrier through a secret Anbu route only accessible to captains. Ever since being assigned leadership of Team Nine a covert ops squad modeled after the Root framework but loyal to the Hokage he had received near-unrestricted travel clearance.
Once in the uninhabited outskirts near Tanzaku Forest, Gen halted and activated his Shin no Kansatsu a sensory ability derived from his modified soul structure. He scanned the area meticulously, ensuring no chakra signatures, sensor-nin, or natural creatures like summoned crows or spy insects from the Aburame clan were nearby. After all, the shinobi world was rife with surveillance.
Satisfied, he retrieved the scrolls, unsealed them, and with a burst of white smoke Fūin Kai! two lifeless White Zetsu bodies appeared. Their forms were identical: pale skin, spiral-patterned heads, and chakra systems similar to plant hybrids.
Raising his right hand, Gen summoned forth a ball of white spiritual light a Soul Core, birthed from the Soru Soru no Mi's power that now resided in the depths of his soul, beyond even the scope of chakra nature transformation.
Due to his transmigration into this world, Gen's Soul-Soul abilities resided not in his heart but in a metaphysical nucleus. Only by splitting a fragment of this core not just any soul fragment could he bestow powers of soul manipulation.
He imbued one of the glowing spheres with a shard of his core essence, compressing it with spiritual haki-like willpower before pressing it against the forehead of the first White Zetsu.
The results were immediate.
The Zetsu's closed eyes shot open, now gleaming with unnatural clarity, and it sprang upright with impeccable muscle control. Then, it knelt.
"Awaiting orders, Master," it declared in a tone devoid of emotion but rich in obedience.
Gen allowed himself a brief smile. Success.
Though his inner thoughts were elated he could now create pseudo-Homies using White Zetsu his expression remained calm and calculated. "Rise."
"Yes, Master."
Repeating the process, he awakened the second Zetsu and graced it with an identical soul core injection. It, too, knelt immediately.
"Your names are Bai Yichang and Bai Erchang," Gen declared, invoking the legendary guardians of the afterlife Bai Wuchang from Chinese folklore, befitting their spectral servitude.
"You are the first in what will become a series. Future subjects will be named numerically."
"Thank you for the name, Master."
Gen clasped his hands behind his back, shifting into command mode. "Your orders are as follows: you will roam the world collecting life force and souls on my behalf. Each time I summon you, you will offer two-thirds of the gathered soul energy. The rest you may keep your longevity depends on your labor."
Through the Shintenshin Kai technique a derivative of the Yamanaka clan's spiritual possession jutsu enhanced with Soul-Soul energy Gen could inhabit any Homie imbued with his soul fragment, allowing him near-omnipresent surveillance.
He had no intention of granting them boundless life, however. Only through diligent harvest would they survive. White Zetsu were biologically immortal due to Hashirama's cells, but their soul-hosting capacity had limits and he held the reins.
"Understood, Master," they replied in unison.
"You will only target villains criminals, deserters, or rogue samurai. Those who are already condemned. Do not draw unnecessary attention. If you're discovered, flee. Survival is paramount."
"Yes, Master!"
Gen smirked. These two were no ordinary Zetsu. Their responsiveness and learning ability were clearly higher perhaps they came from the original batch Kabuto modified with Yamato's DNA during the Fourth War timeline, making them ideal vessels.
"I'll teach you ninjutsu suitable to your affinity Earth and Water Release. And genjutsu, for seduction and deception."
Gen formed a precise hand seal: Shintenshin Kai: Dual Projection!
Half his soul emerged from his chest, splitting once more into dual phantoms before diving into each Homie's consciousness. Inside the shared spiritual plane, he directly instructed them. His knowledge, garnered from years of battlefield observation and Sharingan replication just as Kakashi copied over a thousand techniques now passed to them.
Even without matching chakra nature, his teaching method ensured they could still replicate the jutsu albeit with reduced power due to sheer precision of chakra molding.
After intensive instruction and controlled body simulations, he withdrew his soul fragments.
"Train frequently," he instructed.
"Yes, Master," they responded, visibly energized by their new power.
"Your first mission begins now."
"Split up. Infiltrate the death row prisons in the northern Land of Fire Kaede Fortress, Gensō Peak, and the secret ward beneath Tonika Village. Drain only condemned souls. If you're discovered, erase traces and flee."
"Yes, Master!"
With that, they sank into the ground the classic White Zetsu Mayfly Technique — and darted northward.
According to the Book of Formations, White Zetsu's Henge no Jutsu (Transformation Technique) is the most refined in all of shinobi history, surpassing even that of the Inuzuka and Yakushi clans. Even elite sensory-types like Inoichi or Ao might not discern a Zetsu impersonation without direct physical contact or specialized dojutsu.
No need for disguises Zetsu could mimic chakra signatures, clothing fibers, even blood scent.
Thankfully, they weren't perverts. If they were, Konoha would collapse from scandal...
As for the southern territories, Gen would handle them personally. The Mangekyō Sharingan he desired required a magnitude of soul force and guilt that only mass-scale sacrificial catalysts could produce.
If all the souls from death row in the Land of Fire couldn't awaken it, then he'd simply go border to border all five Great Nations would become his hunting grounds.
He must awaken it.
And soon.
---
30+ advanced chapter on patreon....Visit patreon now to read my exclusive content... posting 5 chapters per day, Our collection is now available on PATREON
visit patreon.com/Elbertovic to view 30+ advanced chapters
Please subscribe guys