Naruto: The Mist Within-Chapter 113 - 112: Game Changer!

The days had intertwined like threads in the fabric of time, and the lake, with its barely rippling surface, seemed to be the only witness to Ren's silent struggles. The boy was there every morning, his steady breathing blending with the rhythm of the waves. Yet today, something felt different.

Ren knelt on the damp ground, his body as still as a statue, but within him, the chakra flowed symmetrically. His hands moved with the precision of an artisan carving a complex masterpiece, weaving seals with an almost sacred delicacy.

The world held its breath.

An explosion.

White smoke disturbed the silence. When the mist cleared, an identical image of Ren stood before him.

Ren was speechless, his eyes wide with astonishment. He rose slowly, almost afraid that this fragile miracle would vanish at the slightest movement. "I did it," he whispered, his voice tinged with wonder. "Finally..."

The clone stood motionless, staring back at him.

Ren circled it, observing it as if it were a puzzle finally solved after countless attempts.

The perfection of that creation captivated him: every detail was identical—every breath, every glance. It was like looking at himself from another perspective.

"Move," he commanded, and the clone obeyed, taking a defensive stance.

Ren wasted no time. A step forward, a swift punch, a direct kick. But every blow was blocked with pinpoint precision. The clone reacted as if it were reading his thoughts.

The fight intensified.

Ren's strikes met perfect resistance, the clone's defenses transforming into attacks that he countered with equal skill. It was a fluid dance, a haunting symbiosis.

We're synchronized, Ren thought, his heart pounding. There's no better opponent for me... because no one knows me better.

When they stopped, both panting, a satisfied smile lit Ren's face. But there was no time for complacency. Soon, he would test the true potential of this technique.

"Go," he told the clone firmly. "Return home and handle the lab. I'll stay here to train."

The clone nodded and headed toward the village. Alone, Ren sat by the lake, watching his reflection ripple on the water. His thoughts swirled. Now I can finally divide my tasks, explore my limits, and multiply my progress.

Meanwhile, the clone made its way through the village paths, moving confidently among the crowd—confidence Ren had honed through years of practice. Reaching the weapon shop, Yuki greeted him with a sweet smile.

"You're back early," she noted, curious. "Weren't you at the lake?"

"I forgot something," the clone replied, its voice calm but carrying Ren's characteristic intensity.

Yuki observed him knowingly—who better to understand her son? "Help me with this delivery before you go," she said.

The clone immersed itself in the shop's activities, working fluidly amidst small exchanges with Yuki. Once everything was in order, it headed to the laboratory. There, amidst flasks and scrolls, experiments on poisons awaited. The clone studied the materials Ren had left unfinished, noting observations and adjusting proportions.

Then it happened. A drop of poison escaped control, hitting its hand. Pain seared through it like lightning, and the clone dissolved in a puff of smoke.

Back at the lake, Ren stiffened. A surge of images, sounds, and sensations flooded his mind like a raging river. He could see everything: the shop, the interactions with his mother, the fatal experiment. The clone's memories overwhelmed him, leaving him breathless.

The weight of that information was unbearable. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping. "It's too much..." he groaned, his head feeling as if it might explode. The images kept flashing, a chaotic blend of reality and memory.

After long moments, the flow stabilized, and Ren found himself lying on the ground, his body drained but his mind clear. I need to be more cautious, he thought, rising slowly.

He gazed at the lake, its tranquil surface mirroring the sky above. In that stillness, Ren found the determination he needed. He stood, his body still trembling, and began walking toward home.

Yet I don't recall Naruto receiving such a backlash from clones. Perhaps he got used to it?

I need more practice until I can handle this without breaking down.

The clone's memories continued to haunt Ren as he made his way home. The laboratory was his refuge—the only place where he could sort through the chaotic flood of thoughts and responses. The poison... just a single drop had been enough to dissolve the clone. It was crucial to understand the technique's limits and, simultaneously, uncover more about the substance that had such devastating effects.

Ren entered the laboratory and ensured the area was well-ventilated. He donned a mask and gloves reinforced with a thin layer of chakra, a precaution he had devised by combining his medical and ninja knowledge. Approaching the workbench, where an array of instruments—pipettes, flasks, and microsection blades—were neatly arranged, he focused on the vial containing the poison that had dissolved the clone.

"The reaction was immediate," he muttered, frowning. "But a simple burn shouldn't be enough to cause complete chakra disintegration. What makes this poison so effective?"

Using a pipette, he extracted a small amount of the liquid and deposited it on a glass slide. With the aid of a microscope, he began analyzing its chemical composition. His eyes lit up as he identified some of the main components.

"Alkaloid toxins... of course, these act quickly on the nervous system, disrupting signal flow," he murmured, jotting down notes. "But there's something else... a catalytic agent that seems to react directly with chakra."

He spent an hour testing how the poison interacted with small amounts of chakra channeled through a water-based solution. The result was startling: the poison "absorbed" the chakra, destabilizing it rapidly.

"It's as if it was designed for this purpose," Ren thought. "This isn't just a physical poison; it's also a weapon against chakra itself."

But if this poison was so dangerous, perhaps there was a way to neutralize it or, better yet, reverse its effects.

Ren leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "If the poison works by disrupting the chakra flow, maybe I can find a way to stabilize it."

And it can be useful against Zetsu. He thoughts.

His thoughts drifted back to his past medical studies. He knew the basics of pharmacology: every poison has its antidote. Some work by binding directly to toxins, neutralizing them, while others stimulate the immune system to fight the invader.

He picked up another vial from his workstation, containing a plant extract derived from the forests near the village. "Glycina Nebula," he read the label. "An herb known for its regenerative properties. If I can modify it to work at a cellular level..."

He poured a drop of the poison onto a prepared cell culture. The cells disintegrated rapidly, as expected. Then he added a small amount of the plant extract. Under the microscope, he observed the result: the surviving cells began to multiply at an accelerated rate.

"Interesting... the herb not only protects the cells but also stimulates accelerated regeneration," he thought. "If I refine this, I could create an antidote that not only neutralizes the poison but strengthens the body to resist future damage."

The idea struck him like lightning. He didn't need to stop at the concept of an antidote. There was a greater potential: enhancing the cells themselves. If he could develop a compound capable of stimulating cellular metabolism, he could accelerate healing and increase the body's resistance on a systemic level.

"Something that works opposite to the poison," he reflected. "The poison destroys cells and disrupts chakra flow. A positive catalyst, on the other hand, could stimulate cells to regenerate and increase the body's capacity to sustain chakra. A theoretical foundation, similar to what Tsunade does with her Byakugō no In."

He stood abruptly, sketching diagrams and formulas in his notebook.

"A compound that acts as a bridge between the circulatory system and chakra flow, supplying the cells with supplementary energy. But how does this integrate with chakra depletion?"

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He thought of mitochondria, the "powerhouses" of cells.

"If I could develop a system that uses chakra to directly enhance mitochondria, the body could gain an extraordinary energy reserve. But I'd need samples of cells to see how they react to continuous chakra flow."

Ren set his pen down, his gaze intense. "This is just the beginning. If I can master this principle..."

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