The dim basement was filled with various ninja tools and research equipment.
Sealed glass jars containing samples stood against the wall, and attribute sensors and precision needles were neatly arranged on the shelves.
Standing at the experimental table, Aoki Yoru was using Chakra needles to pierce the limbs of White Zetsu, exploring its body structure.
He discovered this place while training in the Forest of Death.
When he first entered the basement, it was covered in dust, with scattered glass jars thrown randomly on the floor, looking as if it had been abandoned for a long time.
In all of Konoha, the only person who would have such an abandoned underground base was Orochimaru.
Aoki Yoru subsequently made this his experimental base and covered the surrounding area with seals and explosive tags; if the seals were triggered, even if someone tried to break them, it would blow up the entire laboratory.
During the past year, while executing missions at the border, he sent out shadow clones to purchase experimental equipment.
It must be said that experimental equipment in the Ninja World is truly expensive, almost exhausting all the money he had seized from Gato.
Every time he entered the basement, Aoki Yoru would create a shadow clone, having it spread Natural Energy throughout the laboratory as a warning system; he dared not underestimate the infiltration capabilities of White Zetsu.
"The physical matrix is composed of God Tree cells, based on Yin-Yang Release, and compatible with all-attribute Chakra..."
Aoki Yoru muttered to himself, his gaze falling on the Chakra sensor, which showed constantly changing values.
"There is no attribute rejection; it can simulate, absorb, and assimilate any form of Chakra."
With a flick of his finger, a piece of Chakra test paper drifted onto the surface of White Zetsu, and instantly, changes corresponding to the five attributes of Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water appeared simultaneously.
"As expected, it possesses all attributes. Coupled with the fact that it is a Yin-Yang creation itself and emits immense vitality at the cellular level, it is no wonder it is called a panacea; it is simply compatible with any living organism."
Looking at the experimental report, Aoki Yoru could not help but marvel at the miraculous nature of White Zetsu.
However, he would not transplant White Zetsu cells; no matter how miraculous they were, they were ultimately creations of the God Tree, and who knew if there were deeper traps or mental imprints.
Although the original work didn't mention it, what if there were? The Ninja World had old schemers like the Six Paths Sage, and who knew what methods had been developed over the millennia.
Not to mention that the Ōtsutsuki Clan had methods to control the God Tree, and White Zetsu were merely creations of the God Tree.
He would not put himself in a situation beyond his own control.
What he wanted to do was to thoroughly dissect the existence of White Zetsu from three levels: the essence of life, the Root of Chakra, and the logic of Yin-Yang Release.
Once he had researched everything thoroughly, he would be able to use White Zetsu for his own purposes, and perhaps even create his own White Zetsu.
"Hmm! It is indeed miraculous; it should be closer to the essence than Hashirama cells." Aoki Yoru exclaimed more than once, "It is a pity that my knowledge regarding biological cells is still lacking."
Then, with a thoughtful gaze, he thought of Orochimaru, the number one biologist in the Ninja World.
"If I hit a bottleneck, I will go find that guy and make a trade." Afterward, he devoted himself to the experiment.
Three days later, Aoki Yoru re-sealed everything into a scroll, placed it on his person, and let out a long sigh of relief.
The prolonged experimentation had kept his mind highly tense, but he had also gained something.
Aoki Yoru brushed the dust off his body, pushed open the hidden door concealed at the base of a giant tree, and walked outside.
Not long after walking, an open and flat training ground appeared ahead—it was exactly Konoha's Fifth Training Ground.
This place was close to the Forest of Death, and few people came here on regular days; the environment was quiet and very suitable for training.
But at this moment, the center of the training ground was exceptionally lively.
He saw two people, one big and one small, wearing green bodysuits and bowl cuts, running in circles while doing handstands.
"Youth—burn bright!!" The two spoke in unison, full of energy.
Those who didn't know would have thought they were father and son.
Beside them, two people wearing Chinese-style clothing were watching them with speechless expressions.
"Might Guy-sensei, these three are the students you are leading?" Aoki Yoru walked over to greet him, as he had provided him with a lot of guidance in Taijutsu.
Seeing Aoki Yoru approaching, Might Guy pushed hard with his hands, flipped over, and stood up. "It's Yoru, yes, they are my lovely disciples now."
He then introduced the three of them to him one by one; this counted as an introduction, and perhaps they would fight side by side in the future.
At this moment, Hyuga Neji stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Aoki Yoru-senpai, we originally wanted to participate in the Chunin Exams, but Might Guy-sensei said our accumulation was not enough, and he even used you as an example. I would like to witness your strength; would you be willing to spar with me?"
Looking at Neji, who looked completely unconvinced, Aoki Yoru looked at Might Guy in confusion.
"Neji and the others' strength is still far from what yours was at that time; the Chunin Exams are still too early for them." Might Guy looked at him with a serious expression.
Hearing this, he nodded and agreed to the spar.
The veins around Hyuga Neji's eyes bulged, and he assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist.
He was unconvinced by Might Guy-sensei's statement. He had been called a genius since childhood and had even graduated as the top student; how could he accept being inferior to a commoner who had mediocre grades at the Ninja Academy?
"You attack first." Aoki Yoru beckoned him with his finger.
Feeling provoked, Neji suddenly lunged forward, Chakra gathering at his fingertips as he struck toward him.
Aoki Yoru dodged sideways; for him now, this speed was too slow—in his eyes, it was practically slow motion.
Neji gradually accelerated the speed of his Gentle Fist strikes; every move and stance was extremely standard, showing how hard he trained usually.
Unfortunately, he couldn't even touch the corner of Aoki Yoru's clothes.
Looking at Neji in front of him, Aoki Yoru said coldly, "Is this all the level you have?"
"Don't be too arrogant; now I will let you see the true strength of the Hyuga Clan."
"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"
Neji's white eyes shone brightly, and the Chakra around his body spread out like a dense rain of needles. He precisely stepped on the Eight Trigrams positions, and his hands struck out in rapid succession at a speed invisible to the naked eye!
"Oh! This move is decent."
The dense strikes hit his body, but Aoki Yoru didn't even frown; it felt like he was being scratched.
"Thirty-Two Palms!"
As the final palm landed, Neji stumbled backward, his hands trembling. He looked at the completely unharmed Aoki Yoru before him, his white eyes filled with disbelief.
"The speed is decent, but unfortunately, the penetration is lacking." Aoki Yoru's body was wrapped in Lightning Release Armor, which had blocked all of Neji's Gentle Fist strikes.
After speaking, he vanished from before his eyes and appeared behind him. Even though Neji possessed the Byakugan and could see his body, he couldn't react in time, and a single hand chop knocked him unconscious.
At this moment, Tenten and Rock Lee outside the field were filled with disbelief; Neji, who was so strong, had actually been completely powerless to fight back.
He carried the unconscious Neji to Might Guy and said, "Sorry, Might Guy-sensei, I was a bit too heavy-handed."
Might Guy took Neji and smiled, his big white teeth shining in the sunlight. "No, I should thank you for letting him recognize the gap; surely Neji will become stronger after this."
He then turned his head and said, "Lee, did you see that? This is the gap between you and a Chunin; you must train even harder."
"Yosh! Might Guy-sensei, I will definitely train ten times, a hundred times harder; I will never let you down."
Watching the two of them crying and hugging, Aoki Yoru had black lines on his forehead; he still wasn't used to their way of interacting.
After saying goodbye to Might Guy and the others, he walked toward the Memorial Stone; he hadn't visited his parents in over a year, and he missed them a little.
Moreover, Kakashi had previously sent news that a drastic change had occurred on the front lines of the Land of Lightning, and they might have to go to the battlefield; he didn't know when the war would end.