NOVEL NEXT Chapter 413 Evolution and Intelligence
The evolution of microorganisms occurred much faster than that of plants and animals.
The simpler the life form, the quicker it adapted to the environment.
The more complex the organism, the slower it adapted to the environment.
During the process of evolution, an extraordinary species emerged—they possessed intelligence, and instead of adapting to the environment, they chose to alter nature to make the environment adapt to them.
In Sakura's observations, the Underground Fungal Brain Collective she had constructed herself, served as the "natural environment" in encounters with bacteria. After inhabiting the fungal brain mushrooms, her own spiritual power was enhanced and could even be projected externally, influencing the mycelium and the various bacteria attached to it.
The bacteria multiplied and evolved at an extremely rapid pace, and at one moment, they even developed their own thoughts!
"Who am I?"
"Where did I come from?"
"What am I to do?"
They, devoid of any brains, had actually begun to think?!
This was an utterly impossible occurrence!
But!
Under the radiance of spiritual energy dispersed by the Sakuras, the bacteria gained thoughts, acquiring cognitive abilities and intelligence!
Some of the bacteria still focused on how to better consume the nutrients in the mycelium, while others discovered that placing certain substances on the mycelium caused it to absorb them and then sprout small tentacles, with tips bearing black fruits that were more delicious, tastier, and nutrient-rich.
Thus, the various bacteria broadly divided into two factions.
One continued to think of breaking into the mycelium to access endless food; the other developed a primitive worship, treating the mycelium that nurtured them as a divine gift, and began "slash-and-burn" agriculture.
Beyond the bacteria, inside the mycelium, some fungal cells also developed a sense of self under the spiritual radiation from the Sakuras. Living within the mycelium itself, they were more capable of sensing the presence of the Sakuras and regarded them as gods who had bestowed them life.
The Sakuras also discovered their presence and gathered them, preparing to cultivate them to see what they would become in the future...
...
Outside.
Sakura, through her spiritual power, sensed all of this and reflected calmly, "In just a mere three hours, so much evolution had occurred; both bacteria and mycelial cells have developed self-awareness."
Humans pride themselves on being advanced, but how can they match the evolutionary speed of these tiny bacteria?
They only lacked the right conditions.
And the Underground Fungal Brain Collective, with the omnipresent spiritual radiation released by her avatars, provided the environment for the bacteria and fungal cells to develop intelligence!
Especially the fungal cells, who were directly affected by the Sakuras' spiritual radiation and could be directly controlled by the Sakuras, becoming the perfect tools.
"From the perspective of observing the development of civilization, such a situation may yield significant insights for you," Sun Wukong said calmly, "Also, have you forgotten why you created this Underground Fungal Brain Collective in the first place?"
"Right!" Sakura remembered her purpose and immediately used her spiritual power to scan the entire Konoha, eventually uncovering several secret laboratories and pinpointing Danzo's location.
"That Danzo Shimura, though he covers his right eye, I can sense within it a chakra wave similar to that of the Uchiha clan, the so-called dōjutsu, perhaps?" Sakura, using three hundred thousand brains, searched for all traces within Konoha and reconstructed the scene of Danzo acquiring the Sharingan.
"You killed a fellow villager?"
"Is this what you call loving Konoha? Is this merely being a bit radical?"
"Damn it!"
Upon learning the dark side of Konoha, Sakura's expression grew somber, "The Third Hokage knew about this, but because Danzo was his partner and there supposedly was no solid evidence, he chose to cover it up... If I were the Third, I might also have been swayed by old ties..."
She didn't completely deny the Third's actions but instead put herself in the Third's shoes, questioning, how would she make a choice if it were Naruto, Ino, and others who erred?
For a moment, Sakura felt lost.
Then, she hardened her gaze, "Then, I should just prevent them from making such substantial mistakes!"
She could only try to solve the problem from its root, ensuring that Naruto, Ino, and the others wouldn't even think of making mistakes, thereby avoiding turning into the person she currently despised.
As for the Third Hokage...
As her master had said, he might have had his biases, but his love for Konoha was genuine.
No one is perfect, who can be faultless?
Be objective about it.
Thinking this, Sakura also discovered who was cloning her.
Orochimaru.
He was Konoha's S-class rogue ninja, not present in the village, and it was Danzo Shimura who had obtained her cells from the Konoha Hospital and sent them to Orochimaru through Summoning Jutsu.
Danzo, that guy, needed to trade with Orochimaru periodically to obtain something crucial that could suppress the Sharingan—Hashirama Cells.
That is, the First Hokage's cells. Content presented by MV|LEMP|YR.
Although Konoha also had Hashirama Cells, due to the uproar of human experimentation, they had been strongly forbidden by the Third Hokage. Although Danzo continued his research secretly, he himself did not understand these matters, and others couldn't match Orochimaru's scientific capability, thus necessitating the trade.
Moreover, Sakura discovered another important piece of information.
That was that the bandaged right arm of Danzo stemmed from Orochimaru's experimental research, and it was from a renegade ninja named Uchiha Shin.
Uchiha Shin was not actually a member of the Uchiha clan but had changed his surname to Uchiha because of his admiration for the clan and voluntarily became a test subject for Orochimaru.
The reason Danzo transplanted this arm was because Uchiha Shin was a relatively successful case of Hashirama cell transplantation.
With this arm, Danzo's strength increased significantly.
Moreover, this arm could host even more Sharingans!
Danzo originally planned to take advantage of the Uchiha clan's coup to hope the village could take the opportunity to wipe out the Uchiha, then he could collect a large number of Sharingans to implant in his arm and thus gain more of the Uchiha clan's power.
However, unexpectedly, due to Sarutobi Hiruzen's policies, the Uchiha clan diverted their issues towards the Akatsuki Organization...
But Sakura knew the truth, that the change in the Uchiha clan was key to Uchiha Itachi, and his change was because she had once impersonated Kakashi, intending to leave quickly and casually mentioned a group named "Red Organization", not expecting Uchiha Itachi to actually believe it.
Furthermore, he really included Kakashi, Might Guy, and others as members of the Red Organization...