Revolution in the Ninja World

If Habara knew Earth Release, then given the current level of security here, he might actually have been able to pull off an escape plan. However, having Earth-style chakra didn't mean he could use Earth Release techniques.

Unfortunately, this half-baked ninja couldn't even use a single jutsu.

However, after this period of research, Habara had gained a deeper understanding of his own "Magnet Release."

Unlike the Magnet Release of this world, which often only (or at least, was habitually used to) controlled one specific type of metal, Habara's "Magnet Release" worked on all metals. Moreover, he could do quite a lot with it, including, but not limited to, changing a metal's shape, hardness, ductility, and temperature, easily making it vibrate, levitate, and move in various states… So, this was a "Magnet Release" that was more in line with the concept, more macroscopic, and broader in meaning.

One could only say that "flying on a sword" was no longer a dream, which was truly moving. And given that this unexplained "secret technique" was much more powerful than Habara had previously imagined, he had privately given it a very fitting name: "Mendeleev's Woe."

It was powerful, yes, but the problem was "scale." Imagine, if Habara had a staggering amount of chakra, even if he didn't know any ninjutsu, he could become a powerhouse just with this secret technique. However, also unfortunately, according to Orochimaru, his chakra level was only that of an average Chunin.

So, now another question needed to be addressed… Thinking this, Habara raised his arm.

Theoretically, he was now a "modified human." The question was the extent and results of his modification.

Habara had undergone the "assimilation experiment" with Jugo's Sage Transformation factor, a process that was a near-death experience. But this clearly wasn't the actual Cursed Seal experiment, but rather a necessary prerequisite for it. So, in the end, aside from feeling more energetic, his biggest gain was that he could now sense natural energy.

Or perhaps Habara should be more realistic – the biggest gain was that he hadn't been killed outright.

And no matter how positive Habara's thoughts were, it couldn't change the fact that he was extremely passive in reality. But this passivity wasn't entirely a bad thing… Soon, he wouldn't have to think about escaping or not escaping at all.

Lying flat might seem like waiting for death, but sometimes it could actually lead to a smoother survival.

A significant change occurred one day when Habara's cellmate, the child who had been constantly restrained in the iron cage, was taken away.

Afterward, Habara heard some noises from behind one of the walls.

The innermost wall of the cell had a row of ventilation holes, each about the width of a hand. Behind these holes was the "arena" where Habara had previously fought a ninja. Through these holes, he could just barely see what was happening below… The child who had been taken away was there.

Was it that child's turn to fight now?

But when Habara saw the child's opponent, he was stunned… It was the female ninja, Hotaru, who had disappeared for several days.

One was a child, the other was clearly a support-type female ninja. They were forced to fight to the death. One could only say that this was a truly crazy world… In this situation, Habara could only watch. He was powerless to prevent anything from happening.

Good and evil, conscience, were completely irrelevant. Those in that situation had only two choices: kill or be killed, that was all. In fact, even though Habara had held back in his previous fight and inquired about his opponent's fate afterward, he hadn't thought about the possible consequences that person might face since then… When one was struggling to survive, there wasn't much mental space to care about or sympathize with others.

As had happened dozens, perhaps hundreds, of times before, the fight began.

As the fight started, Habara understood the child's identity.

As the child formed hand seals, the barren and flat ground of the arena became uneven. Then, something sprouted, twisting and turning like a flexible snake, constricting and strangling Hotaru…

It was Wood Release.

As the child had said, he was Orochimaru's test subject, without a name or other identity. Perhaps he had a code name now, "Koh" (A), but he would be called "Tenzo" or "Yamato" much later.

"Koh" was a Wood Release ninja who had been implanted with the power of the First Hokage. Relatively speaking, the female ninja Hotaru wasn't even a combat-type ninja, so…

The blood that splattered on the twisting, growing wooden branches was exceptionally bright red.

Someone wanted to live, and someone else died because of it.

And so, the fight ended.

Habara turned around. He leaned his back against the wall and slowly slid down, sitting down and closing his eyes.

Such an unequal fight couldn't possibly be for any experiment, nor to test the strength of the experimental subject.

Hotaru was destined to die.

But wasn't she Orochimaru's subordinate? Why would Orochimaru kill her?

Habara instantly thought of the note hidden on his person. There must be some connection, but now wasn't the time to read it.

After the fight ended, "Koh" didn't return to the cell. Instead, he disappeared completely.

Several days passed, and Habara finally noticed something was wrong. It was as if the dungeon, aside from the imprisoned criminals or test subjects, had been emptied.

Had Orochimaru abandoned this place?

"Freedom" came so suddenly that Habara almost starved to death.

If this place was indeed unmanaged, then Habara could finally carry out his escape plan. The iron cell door was no problem for him. The only issue was Orochimaru, and now Orochimaru had left this nest.

However, just as Habara was about to take action, clear footsteps echoed from the corridor outside again. This time, the footsteps were more chaotic, indicating that there was more than one person.

Then, someone opened the cell door and came before Habara. It was a man in his late twenties. More noteworthy than his appearance was the Konoha forehead protector he wore.

Habara realized what was happening. The controller of this dungeon had very likely changed from Orochimaru to the official Konoha authorities.

"Habara? Please follow me." The man first smiled kindly, then spoke.

Since he could directly call out Habara's name, it meant that Konoha's acquisition of this dungeon was likely not a surprise raid, but a peaceful handover.

"Yes."

Now, Habara also understood why "Koh" hadn't returned.

"A successful case of Hashirama's cell implantation" – such an identity was extremely valuable. Compared to that, what was someone like Habara, who had survived some bizarre experiment, worth? Nothing.

When Habara left the cell, he saw many Konoha ninjas identifying the people imprisoned in the dungeon.

So, what fate awaited him next?

What was Konoha's attitude towards people like them?

Everything was unknown.