Chapter 434: Orochimaru's Laboratory! Whispers in the Dark Night?
Konoha, Root's base.
While Fujiwara Tetsuya was leisurely traveling with Uchiha Mikoto, slowly making their way towards Konoha.
Danzo also appeared in Orochimaru's laboratory... With Danzo's support, the resources Orochimaru could mobilize for research, and the experimental subjects he gathered, were far more abundant than when he was in the Land of Rain.
After Orochimaru joined Root and became Danzo's subordinate, the number of times he left the laboratory could be counted on one's fingers.
"Orochimaru, how is the research on the first hokage cells progressing?"
Looking at the huge instruments standing on both sides of the rock wall, and the dozens of experimental subjects whose lives were unknown, Danzo paused, then slowly walked to Orochimaru, who was dissecting on the operating table.
"Pfft..."
Perhaps Danzo's sudden appearance distracted Orochimaru, his steady hands trembled slightly, instantly cutting the experimental subject's vein, and a large amount of blood gushed out, instantly staining the operating table crimson... Seeing the experimental subject in front of him ruined, a hint of coldness flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
"The progress is not smooth. The first hokage cells have too strong a rejection effect on adult males. To reproduce the power of Wood Release, more experiments are needed."
"Additionally, I need an assistant, an assistant who is proficient in Medical Ninjutsu and possesses superb Medical Ninjutsu skills."
"Regarding the experimental subjects, I will send Root to find more... I will definitely select higher quality experimental subjects and send them over."
"But regarding Medical Ninja..."
At this point, Danzo's gaze paused. Root currently... did not lack talent. Assassins, spies, combat types... all kinds of personnel were present.
However, Medical Ninja were almost completely absent. Even if there were any... they were at most on par with Genin and Chunin, clearly unable to meet Orochimaru's requirements.
"Don't even think about trying to fob me off with those rubbish."
"To conduct research on the first hokage cells, a Ninja proficient in Medical Ninjutsu is indispensable. Even if they can't reach Tsunade's level... they shouldn't be too far off."
Although Konoha had begun to allocate resources towards training Medical Ninja in the middle of the war, it was not easy to cultivate a talented Ninja who could stand on their own.
Otherwise, Tsunade... the title of the strongest Medical Ninja, would not have been so widely acclaimed.
And Torune Ryoui, who inherited Tsunade's mantle, would not have been held so tightly by the Medical Division after the war ended.
"I understand such matters. I will consider this carefully, after all... this concerns the success or failure of the research, I will not act rashly."
Although the research on the first hokage cells was progressing slowly, Orochimaru's research results in areas such as Sealing Technique and other fields had brought great benefits to Root... This was why a man with such strong control as Danzo was now indulging Orochimaru.
"Speaking of which... I do have a candidate. I just don't know if you have the guts?"
In the confined space, Orochimaru's hoarse laughter became increasingly grating.
"Who?"
"Tetsuya-kun's lover, one of the current Vice-Ministers of the Medical Division... Jonin Hishigoromo."
"Having inherited Tsunade's mantle, she is fully qualified... to assist us in advancing the research on the first hokage cells to a new level."
"Of course, that's assuming you have enough courage."
"As Tetsuya-kun's former opponent, you should know what kind of price you will pay for provoking someone close to him."
Under Orochimaru's mocking gaze, Danzo left the laboratory with a livid expression.
How could he not understand that price?
However, the research results of the first hokage cells... were something he could not abandon no matter what.
"Ryoma~"
As he murmured, a shadow appeared behind Danzo.
The person who came was the top genius of the Aburame Clan, Aburame Ryoma.
At only seventeen years old, he had mastered the Aburame Clan's strongest secret technique and had become an Elite Jonin early on... Danzo regarded him as an excellent junior who could become his right-hand man.
"Lord Danzo~"
"Ryoma, issue an order to select members from Root who possess Medical Ninja talent and focus on cultivating them."
"I want to see results in the shortest possible time."
Placing all hope on outsiders was never Danzo's style.
Absolute control was what made Danzo feel at ease.
"Yes~"
"Additionally, find out Torune Ryoui's movements in recent days."
"Also, regarding Sakumo Hatake~ the plan can begin. The glory of the White Fang... it's time for it to end."
In these past few months, besides keeping an eye on Orochimaru's research, Danzo's energy was primarily focused on his schemes against Sakumo Hatake.
After the war ended, Sakumo Hatake's great activity not only made the name of the White Fang increasingly famous in the Ninja World, but also caused Sakumo Hatake... to gain increasingly high praise in the hearts of countless Villagers and grassroots Ninja in Konoha... gradually converging into a voice that called for Sakumo Hatake to become the Fourth Hokage!
"...Yes."
Compared to Danzo's first and second orders!
The arrangement of the third order, even Aburame Ryoma seemed a little hesitant... The White Fang, that was a true pillar of Konoha. Did they really have to go that far?
"Ryoma~ this old man wouldn't do something that would destroy his own city walls."
"All I want to do is to damage Sakumo Hatake's prestige and cut off his hope of inheriting the Fourth Hokage~ I will leave him a way out."
"The power represented by Sakumo Hatake must not take power at this time. That... would impact the Village's existing order and throw the Village into an unpredictable state of chaos."
...Medical Division.
Although it was late at night, the top floor of the Medical Division's administrative building was still brightly lit.
"Knock knock knock~~~"
Hearing the knocking sound from outside, Torune Ryoui yawned, then finally raised her head from the stacks of documents on her desk.
"Come in~"
"It's you, Lord Danzo~ This is truly a rare guest~"
Perhaps influenced by Fujiwara Tetsuya's earnest teachings, the moment she saw Danzo, Torune Ryoui instinctively became alert.
"Vice-Minister Ryōi, long time no see~"
"May I ask if Lord Danzo has any important matters to instruct, coming in person at this time?"
"Yes, there is, but~ it's not convenient to talk here. Please follow me, Vice-Minister Ryōi, and I will tell you everything without reservation."
Watching Danzo's retreating back, Torune Ryoui hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed him.
"What? Research on the first hokage cells?"
In a hidden place, Torune Ryoui's expression immediately darkened as she listened to Danzo's narration.
As the Vice-Minister of the Medical Division, after taking office, she had consulted countless important intelligence records of the Medical Division. She naturally understood that matters concerning the first hokage cells were Konoha's true taboo~
Indeed, just as Tetsuya-kun had said, a prejudiced and ambitious man like Danzo would never stop moving forward.
This time, he had actually set his sights on the first hokage cells?
"Yes, research on the first hokage cells~"
"Vice-Minister Ryōi, as a Ninja, watching your lover and rival constantly grow stronger~"
"That feeling of being left behind must be very uncomfortable, right?"
"With the talent of Tetsuya and Uchiha Mikoto, in the future... they will definitely become even stronger?"
"At that time, without any bloodline limit or special physique, you will never be able to catch up with them~"
"As long as you participate in this research, I can promise you... all research results will be provided to you free of charge~ You should know how powerful the First Hokage's Wood Release truly is?"
"That will become the absolute power for you to catch up with them!"
It must be said that Danzo's control over people's hearts had indeed reached a level that ordinary people could not match.
The lack of combat power was indeed a thorn deeply buried in Torune Ryoui's heart~
Born into the Torifu Clan, she did not possess Fujiwara Tetsuya's extraordinary Ninja talent! Nor did she have a terrifying bloodline like the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan... Even with a large amount of resources, it would be extremely difficult for her to break through to Quasi-Kage, let alone... become a Kage-level Ninja.
"I... need time to consider~"
"Of course, you have ample time to make this decision."
"However, I need to remind you that this matter... must not be known to Tetsuya, no matter what~"
"Otherwise, all cooperation will cease, and this old man will not admit to having come to see you!"
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