Cherreads

Chapter 4 - Cellular Regeneration and Blood Shadow

Less than ten minutes after Rin consumed the crude, unrefined ephedrine extract, the side effects began.

A twisting pain tore through his abdomen, sharp and relentless.

But he didn't move.

Teeth clenched, body trembling, he endured.

Another thirty minutes passed.

His mind began to waver.

The drug's potency gripped his thoughts like a vice, dragging his awareness into fevered delirium.

"For the glory of the Uchiha…"

Rin murmured, voice tight with strain.

His mind frayed at the edges, perception flickering like a candle in wind.

Hallucinations warped his vision—colors twisted, shadows moved, time stuttered.

And yet, he felt no fear.

Because with it came power.

The Sharingan's awakening surged like fire through his nerves.

Strength flooded his limbs—amplifying his senses, sharpening his chakra.

Even as his stomach howled and his vision blurred, a message blinked across the system's interface:

"Congratulations: Genetic Evolution Completed."

"Current Evolution Level: 1 — You now generate 1 Evolution Point per day."

"You have received a random evolution reward: Gene Ring – Cellular Regeneration [Purple – Rare]."

"Gene Library Unlocked."

"Gene Ring stored. Equip now?"

"Equipped. New innate ability acquired: Cellular Regeneration (Lv1) – Your stem cells can rapidly repair physical damage, regenerate limbs, and restore organs by consuming 50 chakra points. (50/50) Evolution to Lv2 requires 10 Evolution Points."

Rin didn't even notice the notification.

The drug's hallucinogenic effects swallowed his focus—but the system had already auto-equipped the skill.

Ephedrine's stimulation continued.

Adrenaline surged again.

The single tomoe in Rin's eye began to blur—

Then split.

A second tomoe bloomed in his eye like a drop of ink in water.

As the drug's chemical storm slowly faded, Rin's mind steadied, his thoughts clearing.

The Sharingan stabilized, strengthening his mental defenses, pushing back against the remaining haze.

The hallucinations dissolved.

The adrenaline tapered off.

And Rin, once blind, now stared out at the forest with eyes of red.

His pupils had evolved—

From blank… to single tomoe…

Now, double tomoe Sharingan.

Two awakenings.

Two evolutionary leaps.

All thanks to a single crude stimulant.

The Sharingan responded to it.

The method worked.

But the price was steep.

Ephedrine had devastating side effects.

Addictive. Toxic. Damaging to the organs.

Rin knew prolonged use could lead to organ failure—

But he didn't care.

Not now.

Not while the clan stood on the brink.

As his newly evolved eyes adjusted, another notification appeared:

"Evolution Level increased to 2."

"New Gene Ring Unlocked: Blood Shadow [Green – Uncommon]."

"Blood Shadow: Manipulate your own or another's blood to form blades, arrows, or shields. (Equippable. Can be upgraded with Evolution Points.)"

"Current Evolution Level: 2 – Max Gene Rings: 2 – Evolution Point Gain per Day: 2."

"Equip Blood Shadow?"

"Equipped."

"Blood Shadow (Lv1) – Upgrade Cost: 1 Evolution Point."

Rin socketed both Gene Rings into his chain.

The pain was immediate—overwhelming.

His body ignited from within.

Fever surged, skin searing like molten metal.

His temperature soared, nearing forty degrees Celsius.

His heart pounded like a war drum.

Blood raced through his veins, chakra blazing in his coils.

And then…

The abilities took hold.

As if they had always been a part of him.

"Cellular Regeneration!"

He activated it with a thought.

No seals.

No effort.

Just will.

Chakra drained rapidly from his core.

Stem cells divided, accelerated, flooded his damaged tissues.

At the stump of his left arm, blood gushed like a geyser—

Then molded itself, swirling, shaping into muscle and bone.

Simultaneously, Blood Shadow activated.

First the blood cells.

Then the veins.

A lattice of arteries and capillaries twisted together, forming a grotesque, crimson limb.

The new arm shimmered wetly—entirely composed of vascular tissue.

Blue veins coiled tight like ropes.

Capillaries pulsed beneath the surface.

Then came the bone, then flesh, then skin—layer by layer.

Three hours passed.

At last, a complete left arm.

Rin flexed his fingers.

The texture felt real.

The function—near perfect.

"Feels… solid. Almost like the real thing. Maybe just a bit… delicate," he muttered.

The regeneration had drained him.

His chakra was nearly gone.

Barely enough left to cling to life.

"Damn… only fifty chakra points in total?"

He now had a baseline measurement of his capabilities.

And with it, a plan.

Cross-legged, he meditated.

Breathing deep, drawing natural energy inward.

Slowly—steadily—his chakra returned.

When he felt strong enough, he tested his new limb.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

He formed hand seals with both hands.

The regenerated arm was slower, stiffer—

But the jutsu launched cleanly.

No drop in power.

Then he focused.

"Blood Shield!"

A crimson shield, solidified from his blood, snapped into existence before him.

It withstood the searing fireball for several seconds without faltering.

An instantaneous defense.

The technique functioned like a reflexive jutsu.

Efficient, powerful—

Though heavily dependent on blood.

Cumbersome, but promising.

Rin poured one Evolution Point into it.

"Upgrade Successful."

"Blood Shadow (Lv2 – 0/2). Upgrade to Lv5 to unlock derivative abilities."

To reach Lv3: 2 points.

Lv4: 3 points.

Lv5: 4 points.

A total of 12 Evolution Points.

He earned two per day now.

Within a week, Blood Shadow would be Lv5.

And that meant: new abilities.

But what if he evolved the Sharingan to its third stage?

It would accelerate everything.

From the moment he left Konoha to now, five days had passed.

He needed power before returning.

There was only one path—

More drugs.

More evolution.

The side effects were irrelevant.

The time was short.

Rin ignored the other alkaloid toxins mixed in with the crude extract.

He kept refining, kept consuming—

Stimulating his mind.

Feeding the Sharingan.

Shisui, now recovered enough to walk, traveled beside him.

As they made their way back toward the village, Rin continued the process.

Extract. Consume. Awaken.

The Sharingan resisted the drug's mental effects.

But if the dose was increased—ten times the original—

The results were clear.

Immediate.

Undeniable.

More Chapters