Chapter 221

Thinking about how to handle Black Zetsu,

Maximize Black Zetsu's utility.

Tobirama Senju had recently devoted all his energy to Wood Release,

He had long wanted to transplant Wood Release onto himself, to awaken it within himself!!

Even Madara Uchiha, whom he regarded as a corrupt member of the Uchiha clan, had successfully awakened Wood Release,

Yet he, as Hashirama Senju's own brother,

Had no reason not to awaken Wood Release!!!

Therefore,

Hashirama Senju planned to entrust this daunting task to Nara Natsuki,

He was certain Nara Natsuki would find Black Zetsu, this incredibly mysterious Yin-Yang Release creature, fascinating!

If possible,

Hashirama Senju hoped he could mass-produce Black Zetsu!!

If they could unravel the principles behind Black Zetsu's creation,

They could immediately manufacture vast numbers of Black Zetsu soldiers!

This would greatly enhance the Land of Fire's military strength,

Prevent ordinary ninja from being sent to the battlefield,

Reduce their casualties!!

In Hashirama Senju's view,

The Land of Fire's future could not rely solely on him,

If only he himself were strong, that would be far from enough.

Only when the entire Land of Fire grew strong

Could it truly be called strong!!

……

After opening Nara Natsuki's laboratory,

Hashirama Senju frowned and covered his nose.

The lab emitted a mix of various chemical solvents,

Which made him deeply uncomfortable.

And when he saw Nara Natsuki's hair strands all tangled and knotted,

He was utterly stunned.

Nara Natsuki looked as if she hadn't left the lab in months,

Her hair a mess,

Her clothes splattered with all kinds of stains,

Her eyes bloodshot.

The last time he had seen someone like this,

It was his own younger brother, Tobirama Senju.

Tobirama Senju, to complete one of his experiments,

Had not left the lab for weeks on end,

Looking exactly like Nara Natsuki does now.

But Nara Natsuki's current appearance,

Was more exaggerated by more than tenfold compared to Tobirama Senju's then!

"You're here…"

"Find any spot to sit, don't talk to me for now—don't interrupt my experiment…" 487

"Don't touch any of the equipment I placed on the table, or you'll make it harder for me to find things."

After glancing at Hashirama Senju,

Nara Natsuki returned her focus to the experiment before her!

Seeing this,

Hashirama Senju said nothing more,

Found a random spot, and sat down.

He was no stranger to Nara Natsuki's state.

He understood her condition well,

For on Hashirama Senju himself,

He had seen the same appearance.

For people like them, utterly absorbed in their experiments,

Nothing could disrupt their research!!

Yet seeing Nara Natsuki's messy hair,

Hashirama Senju couldn't help but smile faintly.

Who could have imagined,

That the delicate, impeccably dressed girl of before,

Was merely a facade created by her father Nara Saki to impress Hashirama Senju,

And that this was her true, everyday self!

Not long after,

Nara Saki let out a sudden breath of relief,

placed the equipment in her hands onto the table,

and carefully wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Phew… finally finished this stage of work."

She turned her head toward Hashirama Senju,

her face wearing a skeptical expression.

"That Uzumaki woman hasn't been following you, has she?"

"Last time she came to my lab, she nearly destroyed it—I haven't even settled the score with her yet."

"If she does this again, I won't spare her just because of you…"

Hearing this,

Hashirama Senju's face twisted into a faint bitter smile.

The last time he came to Nara Natsuki's lab,

wanting to see her research progress,

Uzumaki Mito insisted on trailing behind him.

The moment they met,

the atmosphere became strange and awkward,

Uzumaki Mito's hostility toward Nara Natsuki was no less than that toward Hyuga Haname,

even greater.

If Hashirama Senju hadn't stopped Uzumaki Mito,

the two of them would have fought in the lab.

"That woman is a dumbass with a big chest!!"

"Thinks everyone else is just as obsessed with staring at her like a fool!"

Thinking of Uzumaki Mito,

Nara Natsuki's face darkened like a blackened pot bottom.

"Enough… let's not mention Mito."

"I'm showing you something this time."

Saying this, Hashirama Senju

shrank the Black Zetsu in his hand to the size of his palm and handed it to Nara Natsuki.