Are you feeling overheated or irritable?

"Body temperature, heart rate, and cellular activity are all in abnormal states..."

"Body temperature has risen three degrees compared to before, with the proximal abdominal area reaching as high as forty-one degrees..."

"Heart rate and respiratory rate have increased significantly, by 140% and 165% respectively..."

"Cellular activity in the lateral abdominal region has increased thirteenfold, and is showing signs of spreading to surrounding areas..."

Kabuto paused at this point. "Additionally, an abnormal chakra has appeared within Jin Uchiha's body and has already invaded the cerebral region."

Suppressing the urge to turn and check the data on the monitor, Orochimaru’s gaze sharpened.

He hadn’t expected that this first-generation cell transplantation experiment would face failure so quickly, and even pose a risk to the subject’s life.

The other changes in vital signs, though beyond his expectations, could still be controlled if he were resolute enough.

The sudden emergence of that chakra was more troublesome. It had blended with Jin Uchiha’s own chakra from the outset, leaving no opening to perform any sealing technique.

“Ah… ugh…”

On the operating table, Jin Uchiha had ceased struggling, his screams now silenced.

Instead, his expression had become vacant, his eyes unfocused, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth into the nutrient solution.

He seemed to have lost all personal will.

Orochimaru remained unmoved by this sight.

With Yamato’s complete records of the first-generation cell transplantation at hand, Orochimaru knew the situation was dire, but not yet beyond salvation.

For one, the first-generation cells had not yet run wild; the granulation on Jin Uchiha’s side was still a twisted mass of flesh, not fully transformed into wood.

Until the semi-wooden transformation appeared, he could still wait—there were measures left to take.

Only when the half-tree transformation emerged would Orochimaru abandon the experiment, forcibly severing the parasitic first-generation cells.

At that point, the unknown chakra would become a source without roots, and with his sealing arts, he could split off part of Jin Uchiha’s chakra along with the foreign chakra, still ensuring his survival.

“You’re thinking too simply. In this operation, it’s either success or failure—no in-between.”

The voice of the Djinn echoed in his ear, and in the next instant, the scene before Orochimaru’s eyes changed.

Within the solution, two colors—red and green—now surged inside Jin Uchiha’s body. The green erupted from his side like flourishing vegetation, spreading across his body and squeezing out the territory of the red.

Orochimaru’s eyes widened in doubt and suspicion. “What is this?”

“Chakra—the chakra of the first-generation cells.”

The Djinn leaned out from behind Orochimaru, only his upper body visible. “It’s not a rootless source. It’s acting on instinct, devouring Jin Uchiha’s chakra. From the beginning, there were only two outcomes for Jin Uchiha: success, or being consumed.”

The Djinn’s voice reverberated in his mind. Orochimaru licked his lips, his gaze darkening.

A mere artificially cultivated piece of flesh was now devouring its host’s chakra to grow—utterly inconceivable.

The surgical plan had focused solely on restricting the replication and proliferation of the first-generation cells, approaching the problem from the perspective of physical properties. The Wood Release chakra was considered a byproduct of first-generation cells running amok.

But now, it seemed the situation was reversed.

It was the first-generation chakra that devoured the subject’s chakra, enabling the cells’ terrifying invasiveness.

Yet why, even in nutrient solution, could the first-generation cells proliferate so rapidly? Could it be that their growth drew on more than one method—devouring both material and energy?

Truly indiscriminate, with a terrifying adaptability to the environment.

Even as Jin Uchiha faced a life-or-death crisis, Orochimaru couldn’t help but marvel at the discovery.

Having recognized the situation, there was little more he could do.

In fact, the objective of this surgery—no, this human experiment—had already shifted.

No longer was it simply about successfully transplanting first-generation cells into Jin Uchiha, but about observing and recording a failed experiment.

If he could unravel the properties of first-generation chakra, the gains from this operation would still be considerable—worth the risk and fallout of Jin Uchiha’s death.

“It’s not yet time to give up completely.”

The Djinn glanced at Orochimaru. “Though Jin Uchiha’s chakra is far inferior in quality to the first generation’s, he isn’t just any ordinary shinobi. Look at his eyes.”

Orochimaru paused, peering carefully at Jin Uchiha’s Sharingan. Though unfocused, they still retained a certain brightness.

Indeed, Jin Uchiha’s physique was unremarkable, but the chakra produced by these bloodline eyes—call it ocular power—might be able to contend with the first-generation chakra.

After all, this was Jin Uchiha’s home ground, and the first-generation chakra was not refined by the original himself, but merely the unconscious instinct of cells.

The key, then, was how to stimulate the Sharingan to produce more potent ocular power.

After a moment’s thought, an idea formed in Orochimaru’s mind. He signaled with his eyes to the bespectacled youth monitoring the instruments.

At first, Kabuto didn’t understand. But when Orochimaru pointed at Jin Uchiha, then toward the washroom, Kabuto immediately caught on.

Clearing his throat, Kabuto raised his voice with a calm yet faintly mocking tone.

“Jin Uchiha, has your bladder control regressed to that of a three-year-old? Don’t think you can sneak a leak just because you’re floating in nutrient solution.”

Jin Uchiha’s eyelids twitched ever so slightly.

Kabuto feigned a sigh. “Ah… Lord Orochimaru has already emptied your stomach and intestines with medication for the sake of your kidneys. Shouldn’t you consider his needs as well? He’ll have to work on you in a moment.”

On the monitors, the chakra fluctuation curve shifted noticeably.

“Don’t think I’m bluffing—true, the nutrient solution is green, but your urine isn’t exactly transparent either.”

Kabuto continued, voice tinged with accusation and complaint. “Are you overheated? The color is so dark. Looks like I’ll need to have a word with the Uchiha clan leader—before the next round of surgery, the candidates will need a few days to cool off.”

Jin Uchiha’s pupils contracted sharply, his gaze snapping into focus as the three black tomoe in his crimson eyes spun rapidly.

In the Djinn’s vision, the red representing Jin Uchiha’s chakra halted its decline and began to stand its ground against the green.

Although it had yet to overwhelm the green, that was merely a matter of time—for the first-generation cells, driven by instinct, their explosive force would not last.

Orochimaru pressed his lips together, half amused and half exasperated.

It had long been proven that a shinobi’s emotions were directly linked to the strength of their chakra. This outcome was entirely within expectations.

Yet, that such a significant experiment would hinge on something so crude and embarrassing—bodily functions—was almost beyond belief.

Would they have to resort to this tactic when transplanting into the next Uchiha as well?

Wasn’t it a bit undignified?

Though Orochimaru was never one to be particular about methods, even he hesitated now.