After reviving Neji, Uchiha Shinji thoroughly explained the usage and precautions for the half biological exoskeleton.
Still somewhat exhausted, Neji listened attentively while beginning to experiment.
He soon discovered that by activating the exoskeleton on his chest with his chakra, the scar-like device would continuously channel chakra into his body.
"This is incredible…"
Neji's face was filled with astonishment.
The high-quality Yang Release chakra within the exoskeleton surpassed his own by more than just a tier.
Even though this chakra was externally supplied rather than refined through cellular fusion, its benefits to him were immense.
Shinji added a final warning, "Normally, it will slowly absorb your chakra for sealed storage, which may affect you slightly. But you can treat this as a form of chakra-weighted training. If you adapt, it'll improve your chakra refinement efficiency."
"I understand!"
Neji, brimming with curiosity, nodded repeatedly.
He was already immersed in the exoskeleton's various abilities, almost unable to tear himself away. He realized it not only provided high-quality chakra but also amplified his physical strength.
Shinji briefly mentioned the exoskeleton's liberation mode.
He'd considered concealing it, but as Neji's mastery of the exoskeleton grew, he'd inevitably discover the mode.
Rather than letting Neji fumble and bypass the seal, Shinji chose to disclose it upfront, urging him not to use it recklessly.
As Shinji turned to leave, Neji hurriedly called out, "Lord, what about the Ōtsutsuki branch family? Are you just ignoring them?"
Shinji replied, "Dealing with them requires long-term planning. Don't worry—they're unlikely to act against the shinobi world lightly for now."
Through his recent efforts, Shinji's forces had begun to take shape.
Notably, Karin, with her Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and progress toward the Rinnegan, and Yakumo, wielding both the Koryugan and Wood Release, were formidable.
But this strength wasn't enough to confront the Ōtsutsuki branch family head-on.
The Giant Tenseigan on the moon alone could suppress any non-Byakugan shinobi below Six Paths level.
Despite Karin and Yakumo's current power, facing the Ōtsutsuki branch family—who could wield the Giant Tenseigan—would result in them being effortlessly defeated, just as Naruto was in the original timeline after the Fourth Great Ninja War, drained of chakra with a single move.
As long as the Giant Tenseigan remained on the moon, directly challenging the Ōtsutsuki branch family was a reckless, even foolish, endeavor.
As for their retaliation, Shinji wasn't overly concerned.
Based on the original timeline, where the Ōtsutsuki branch family was reduced to just Toneri Ōtsutsuki seven years later, the clan likely had very few members left at this point.
In such a state, they might lack the resolve to confront the shinobi world directly, especially since Toneri, their great hope, hadn't yet fully matured.
Even if the Ōtsutsuki branch family were foolish enough to attack the Hyuga clan in the Hidden Leaf, Shinji would be delighted.
While they hid on the moon, guarded by the Giant Tenseigan, he had few options. But if they dared to act in the shinobi world, he'd have a chance to ambush them.
Back at his apartment, Shinji cleared his mind of distractions and began the final test.
He activated Jikibi, connecting to Kimimaro and Neji, whom he'd previously marked. Taking a deep breath, he injected more dojutsu power to strengthen the Jikibi link.
Soon, through Jikibi, he sensed the biological exoskeletons implanted in Kimimaro and Neji.
This was possible because he'd used his own cellular tissue as the exoskeleton's core, allowing him to store a small amount of dojutsu power within it as a coordinate.
This trace of dojutsu power enabled Jikibi to link to the exoskeletons via Kimimaro's and Neji's spiritual bodies.
"It's done!"
Shinji's heart settled with confidence.
With this test complete, his biological exoskeleton plan was officially a success.
As long as Jikibi could connect to the exoskeletons, his Wazunagi could extract the chakra stored within them.
In his design, one half of the exoskeleton resided in Kimimaro, slowly assimilating his cellular tissue and chakra through a safe, gradual process, storing it in the exoskeleton's core. The other half, in Neji, did the same with his tissue and chakra.
Ultimately, these two halves would cultivate chakra potent enough to awaken the Tenseigan.
This was a fallback plan born of necessity.
Neji couldn't fuse with Kimimaro's cells, which were heavily eroded by the Shikotsumyaku, and Neji, marked with the Caged Bird seal, couldn't transplant his Byakugan to Kimimaro. Even if a Byakugan were transplanted, it wouldn't suffice to awaken the Tenseigan.
But by using the biological exoskeleton as a culture vessel and storage unit, with Jikibi and Wazunagi as transmission channels, Shinji could maximize Kimimaro's and Neji's potential.
As for whether the exoskeleton could handle Kimimaro's eroded cells, Shinji was confident.
Unlike Neji, his cellular tissue and Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan dojutsu power should be sufficient to suppress Kimimaro's compromised cells.
"Phew…" Exhaling a breath, Shinji thought, "Now, I just wait for the results to bloom!"
Orochimaru's Secret Base.
Returning from dealing with Danzo, Orochimaru noticed the cleaned laboratory.
His instincts told him 'A' had accomplished something in his lab, so he immediately summoned Kabuto.
Kabuto, looking helpless, said, "Lord Orochimaru, 'A' did use the lab. But before doing so, he ambushed me with genjutsu and destroyed the surveillance equipment. I don't know what he did inside!"
Orochimaru's expression darkened. "Quickly, check on Kimimaro's condition!"
Kabuto asked, "Are you worried…?"
Orochimaru scanned the lab, saying, "I have a hunch he may have already completed the biological exoskeleton!"