March 24: Early Morning.
Inside the sealed treatment chamber, Tsunade lay unmoving, her pale skin slowly regaining color under the delicate flow of medical chakra. The room was calm and humming with life-preserving seals. At her side, Shizune focused intently, guiding her chakra into her teacher's system with practiced ease.
'Please hold steady, my lady. Just a little bit longer.'
Shizune's hands glowed a calm, steady green as she guided the flow of chakra over Tsunade's sternum. Beside her, Daichi's shadow clone mirrored the motion in quiet sync. He constantly dampened flares, sutured torn chakra channels, and removed the small jagged wooden spikes created by the invasive Yang chakra.
"This waveform's stabilizing," Shizune murmured, eyes on the chakra-meter. "Her conduction is still erratic in the right atrium, but it's improving."
"Maintain the modulation for forty-five more seconds," the clone said softly. "Then switch to low-frequency Yin to soothe the lymphoid tissues. I'll keep suppressing the micro-ruptures in the splenic capsule."
They adjusted the flow of their chakra every few seconds.
"She's stable for now," Shizune said quietly.
"You can take some rest, senpai. I'll keep the circulation balanced. Her vitals need to remain undisturbed while the internal tissue regenerates," the clone replied.
"Thank you, Daichi." The medic replied with a small smile. "I'll make a report of the adjustments we've made and take it to your lab."
The clone nodded as he kept the healing field tight, precise, and mercilessly consistent. 'Good. It's holding.'
Meanwhile —-
With the Real Daichi – Laboratory
On a different floor in the Hokage Tower, in a sealed lab, Daichi stood in front of a long table under a high intensity light.
Test tubes hissed as they were heated, lights blinked in coded intervals on several machines, and across the vast table, numerous samples of blood, marrow, and DNA strands were suspended in chakra-stabilized cylinders.
Daichi's eyes were focused on the glass columns that were bubbling with chakra filtered nutrient media. A row of chakra-sensitive microscopes projected ghostly overlays—gene structures, pulsating in time with faint, color-coded resonance frequencies.
Daichi stood still in front of the chakra microscope, his eyes scanning the readouts. Beside him, the computer monitor displayed overlapping spectral patterns—one red and vigorous, the other golden and volatile.
To his left, a sealed cold case held original Hashirama samples; to his right, a tray of diluted serum marked: "Orochimaru—Modified."
'Hashirama Senju's blood. Such unrelenting Yang chakra. It has so much vitality even long after his death… When it's introduced into a foreign body in its raw state, it burns through everything. It's like forcing the sun to try to live inside the moon. I can't believe Madara was able to just attach a piece of this flesh into his body without dying… Then again he is Indra's reincarnation… I suppose that's expected. His body was unlike the others.'
He turned toward the other sample. Orochimaru's modified serum. Stable to a point, but… limited.
'This version was neutered. Reduced lethality… but also effectiveness. He was afraid her body wouldn't be able to handle its original strength… He modified it and then used it to trigger a mutation in Tsunade's DNA. It's a catalyst and a graft.'
Genma sat on a stool near the door, one foot bouncing, a senbon between his teeth and another twirling in his fingers. He watched in silence as Daichi's eyes studied the cell structures and took notes.
"So, what's the verdict? You've been studying the First Hokage's blood samples for a while now. Find anything helpful?" Genma asked finally. He was unable to hide the curiosity about the legendary man who created the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Even after death, his cells show dominant Yang chakra… How do I put this… His cells refuses to be a simple tenant in a new building." The Genin began answering without looking up from his notes.
"And by new building, you're referring to-"
"The new body his blood is introduced to!"
"Got it." Genma nodded his head.
"Once the cells enter the new body they quickly dominate and become the new landlord and ultimately demolish the whole building."
"So what's the plan?" Genma asked the boy.
"I need to either make the building stronger or make the landlord of the building capable of defeating or assimilating the invading intruders."
Daichi studied the blood samples and soon created a shadow clone. He quickly set up a few bags filled with energy and booster shots and attached them to Daichi's arm.
"Is that…?" Genma's eyes narrowed. "Aren't those the same you gave to lady Tsunade?"
"Yes. It's my energy shot." The clone replied for the original.
"Why do you need them? Are you tired?"
"It's my special jutsu. My brain will need high levels of energy for that jutsu to be kept active for long periods of time." Daichi didn't say anything else and Genma chose to refrain from asking any more questions.
[Parallel Processing skill – Active]
Daichi activated his special skill and the world slowed down for Daichi. His mind quickly began analyzing the various information he studied on the cells in front of him.
With his brain functions at levels beyond normal, he was able to quickly map the chakra genetic markers between Tsunade and Hashirama using chakra-frequency resonance spectroscopy.
Daichi had studied the research notes conducted by Orochimaru and the Root when he was at home. He recalled all the knowledge he had learned and began simulating various integration permutations. He quickly analyzed the adaptability thresholds and calculated how much Tsunade's cells could be pushed before deformity risks or worse arose.
In his mind a resonance chakra map of Tsunade appeared beside Hashirama. 'Her frequency is refined. Balanced between Yin and Yang. His is a tsunami of pure Yang. It's too aggressive. Overwrites instead of coexisting in almost any body… Almost...'
Daichi's hand reached for the next sample. Shin 'Uchiha's' tissue. They were among the items Daichi took when the team rescued the Slug Sannin.
'I can't believe Orochimaru kept this with him… He must have wanted to use these tissues to test on Tsunade's new completed cells.'
Daichi's mind raced. He immediately initiated several cellular integration tests.
'These cells… They didn't reject Hashirama's blood. They accepted it, and changed alongside it. Adapted.'
The simulations from his inner mind showed promise.
'The protein in Shin's cells… They're producing an enzyme that rewrites the cell's compatibility algorithm…'
A theory clicked into place. He sat down and began scribbling rapidly in his notebook.
"Adaptive Integration Protein – X. / A.I.P. -X."
Time quickly passed by. Daichi stayed in the lab and conducted his experiments. He used his Parallel processing skill to quickly run simulations on hundreds of integration ratios and analysis.
Later That Night
Genma lounged near the door, arms crossed, his usual easy-going nature subdued. 'I'm just sitting here and I'm already tired. I can't imagine how he's feeling right now.'
"You've been at this all day. I think it's time for some rest," he called out.
Daichi didn't look up. "Not yet. I'm so close…"
Genma narrowed his eyes slightly. "You figure it out?"
"No. But I found the key." Daichi stood. He picked up the vial containing Shin's cell culture. "These cells hold the answer. I just have to study them a bit more…"
He suspended the AIP-X enzyme solution in Yin-chakra-infused fluid, watching the proteins stabilize. Already, the enzymes were beginning to behave predictably. They weren't attacking. They were learning.
—-
March 25 – Morning.
Jiraiya appeared in the lab doorway, a scroll sealed with thick toad wax tucked under his arm.
"Yo. I brought your groceries," he said, setting the scroll on the lab bench. "Grown in places you don't want to wander without a toad guide."
Daichi looked up and his eyes lit. "You got them from Mount Myōboku?"
"Yeah. I got your mushrooms," Jiraiya announced with a small smile. " Took some convincing. Those things grow under a specific tree in a sacred zone, so I had to do some sweet-talking."
He handed over the scroll.
Daichi opened it, revealing sealed samples of deep purple mushrooms embedded in thick coating. A cool, earthy aroma bloomed around them.
'Mycelium... This entire structure is naturally chakra-reactive. No wonder it was cataloged as a medicinal ingredient.'
He extracted the inner gel and ran it through a chakra-excitation test. As predicted, the substance reacted to chakra by changing its molecular bonds—but only temporarily.
'This gel might be the puzzle piece… It molds itself for a short time to whatever it touches. If I modify it correctly… it can help A.I.P. X protein to serve as a biological scaffold between two incompatible bloodlines.'
Daichi's eyes widened and he was excited. 'This was what Orochimaru was missing. Now that I have this… the possibilities are near limitless…'
"They're perfect," Daichi said. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it kid." Jiraiya stood back and watched him work, the movements precise, spare, faster than they should have been while somehow never feeling rushed.
"Shizune says you're not leaving the tower," Jiraiya said. "You even sleep?"
"Power naps. I only need a few hours of sleep." Daichi replied, not looking up. "I've optimized the dosing schedule around the clones' stamina and my own cognitive cycle."
Jiraiya huffed. "Ugh! You sound like if Shikaku and Tsunade had a baby."
Daichi paused his work as a shudder ran through his body. He looked at the Toad sage with a dead pan expression.
"Please don't ever say that again," Daichi said flatly, and Jiraiya barked a laugh in spite of himself.
The Genin got back to work and the Sannin began quietly chatting with Genma. Several minutes later when Daichi had a minute of free time, he spoke to Jiraiya.
"How's your hunt for Orochimaru's people going? Find any other bases?"
Jiraiya was silent for a moment but then ultimately decided to answer. 'Well, I don't need to keep this a secret from him.'
"Yeah. We raided his labs in the Land of the Rice Paddies. He was creating a new village called the Hidden Sound village. But the thing is… Someone got there before us."
Daichi paused and turned his head to look at the white haired man. His eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. The someone is Dragon."
"Yeah. I don't know how he found out about it but I'm not too surprised. He seems like someone with incredible resources." Jiraiya replied and fell into deep thoughts. He and Genma failed to see the hidden calculations in Daichi's eyes.
'Not as incredible as you might think.'
"Is he our enemy?" Daichi asked in a nonchalant tone while seemingly keeping his eyes on the tests running before him.
"Well, for now, we've declared him an S Rank enemy ninja hostile to the Hidden Leaf Village. Orders have been sent out to kill or capture. But I know that it's not going to be easy." Jiraiya replied.
Daichi was silent and didn't show any outward reactions. 'So that's what they've decided to do huh… Well, I can't blame them… Dragon did torture a member of a Royal court of a rival nation. If the Leaf associates with him, that'll just bring the village unwanted headaches… Quite pragmatic of the Hokage.'
Daichi didn't say anything else and the Sannin left the boy to his work.
March 26 – 27
Every morning, he renewed his Parallel Processing skill and focused on testing thousands of serum combinations. The wall behind him became plastered with complex genetic diagrams, chakra resonance graphs, and integration success/failure metrics.
He programmed Hashirama's cell samples with Tsunade's chakra rhythm patterns using micro-chakra pulses.
Every test pushed him closer. Each failed combination was a lesson.
He cultivated new batches of AIP-X infused Shin cells and suspended them in a Yin-rich nutrient bath. The cells took on a unique glow, slowly stabilizing.
By the late night of March 27, he looked at the vial of the latest serum sample. Daichi exhaled deeply. "This is it…"
He ran the final tests.
'Success. No rejections. No mutations. No cellular degradation.'
"Is that it?" Genma slid off his stool. "That the one?"
"This is the one." Daichi set the vial in a suspension rack, sealed it, and logged the formula with a code-name: A.C.E.S. – Bridge 3.7. "It's the bridge she needs."
Daichi glanced at the clock. "Let's update the Hokage."
Late Night – Hokage Tower
Hiruzen lit his pipe as Daichi entered the office. "Please tell me you have good news," the old Hokage said.
"I have great news." The Genin said with a smile and it gave the Hokage new strength. He immediately straightened in his chair and focused on the boy.
"I believe I have the solution. A cure that will help her heal."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Completely safe?"
"Yes."
"Explain." Hiruzen wanted the exact details of what Daichi was going to do.
Daichi began and Hiruzen listened without interruption. His fingers steepled as Daichi laid out the protocol with clinical clarity. "My serum bridges her and her grandfather's bloodline using adaptive enzymes."
"Usually, when the First Hokage's blood is introduced into a subject, they undergo violent rejection leading to death. That's because the subject can't adapt to the foreign cell."
"Yes. I'm all too clear about that." Hiruzen replied. That was not new knowledge to him.
"Yeah. In simpler terms, you can consider the two DNA as two pieces of a puzzle with different edges that don't match. The First Hokage's puzzle piece will try to fit with the edge of the subject, but when it sees that it can't, it completely shreds the opposite puzzle piece with overwhelming force."
"Hence the death of the subject." Hiruzen nodded with the analogy.
"Yes. But here Orochimaru modified the blood and created a serum with less strength and with a more adaptable nature… It still shreds Tsunade sensei's cells but sensei's 'puzzle pieces' are recovering and slowly changing to match the edges of the First Hokage's puzzle pieces. Even though this is less dangerous, it could still have unforeseen complications."
Hiruzen nodded in understanding. "And what's the solution?"
"Orochimaru had samples of a subject with the ability to adapt to any new foreign cells."
The Third Hokage's eyes widened as he quickly understood the implications. "Someone like that…"
"Yes. I've been studying and understanding his cells. He's the key." Daichi continued. "I was able to extract a protein from his cells. This protein… A spiral-folded catalytic core with mutable binding pockets. It writes its own rules when exposed to a new cellular environment. I'm calling it A.I.P.-X. Adaptive Integration Protein, subtype X."
Genma whistled, low. "Catchy."
"Thanks. What truly helped bring it together was the mushroom Master Jiraiya brought me. I knew it would play a role but even I didn't anticipate it being so useful."
"Hmm… So if I'm understanding this right, then this protein is a bridge between the two different puzzle pieces."
"Yes. I created a third piece that can mold to fit both. Hormonal chakra regulators are used to prevent chakra rejection. The core is bound in Yin to keep control primary, healing above growth. The foreign protein is absorbed into her body over days—slow enough to avoid overload, fast enough to prevent lingering instability. I've modified it so that instead of merging two different cells, sensei's cells will be able to assimilate all the foreign cells and heal herself."
Hiruzen's eyes softened as he recalled one of the last few conversations he had with Danzo. "You know… Danzo once told me he could feel the First's face breathing through his arm. That he feared sleeping because he might wake up as someone else." He exhaled through his nose. "It won't happen to Tsunade, right?"
"No. She'll be Tsunade," Daichi said. "But stronger where she was always meant to be strong. Increased chakra reserves, better stamina and regenerative capacity. She also has the potential to use Wood Style jutsu. It's hers. Not a parasite's. I studied her blood extensively. It already had markers that corresponded to the awakening of Wood Style ability. But it was suppressed by the more dominant genes of the Uzumaki clan."
"I see…" The Hokage looked into Daichi's eyes. "You're certain?"
"I've tested it across thousands of simulations, live cell tests, chakra-stability runs. It works."
Hiruzen closed his eyes for a heartbeat. "Good."
Genma kept it practical. "So, what's the immediate plan?" He glanced at the Genin.
"Final round of tests tomorrow, live micro-dose simulation with sensei's tissues to check for any rejection, then I start first thing by noon," Daichi said.
He tapped his pipe gently. "You've done well, Daichi. Go home. Rest."
Daichi blinked. "There are still a few—"
"You've worked non-stop for days. Even the best medic-nin can collapse from exhaustion. Sleep in a real bed. I want you at full capacity for this. We can begin treatment tomorrow."
Daichi let out a small breath of air. "Understood."
"Genma," Hiruzen added, "See that no one enters the lab or the treatment suite. I don't care whose signature they carry."
The Special Jonin nodded. "You got it, Lord Third."
On the way out, Daichi paused. "Shizune?"
"She's with your clone," Hiruzen said. "She's fine. She'll be there when you start. Good night, Daichi."
"Good night, Lord Third."
—-
It was very late into the night. The corridors of the tower were quiet at that hour. Daichi neared the ward where his clone worked with Shizune; he didn't go in. He didn't need to. The chakra signature on the far side of the wall told him everything he needed—stable, calmer, alive.
"Will she be alright for tonight?" The real Daichi asked his clone through the communication array jutsu.
"Yeah. We don't need to worry."
"Alright. Then inform Shizune and dispel yourself. I'm going home tonight. I need to get some rest."
"Wait! Then that means… Is it completed?"
"Yes."
Several seconds after that reply, Daichi had a new influx of memories. He sorted them out and soon left the tower.
His destination: Home.
—-