Chapter 58 – The Shadows Behind the Light
Hokage Tower, Office.
Senju Morin sat alone behind the broad desk, signing off on a newly drafted decree.
Its contents were simple and grand: a public commendation for Shimura Danzō and six others, posthumously awarding them the title of "Heroes of Konoha."
Having lost three precious clan jōnin, the Shimura clan had been grievously weakened by the war—almost overnight, it had declined into a small clan comparable to the Hatake or the Shiranui.
To Morin, the deceased Danzō and his companions were no longer latent threats.
They had become gleaming symbols—gold-lettered signboards that could be displayed without restraint. He could afford to bestow upon them the highest honors without the slightest hesitation.
Over the past few days, Morin had already signed countless documents like this one.
In addition to the rewards and compensation he had previously promised, he had announced new funding for the Konoha Orphanage, the Ninja Academy, and Konoha Hospital.
Funds were also allocated to renovate the Memorial Stone and refurbish training grounds across the village.
He even ordered the establishment of a special shop in the plaza before the Hokage Tower—selling chakra-conductive metals and other rare resources to shinobi at prices far below market value.
As one decree after another was issued, the massive influx of capital injected unprecedented vitality into the entire village.
Everything stemmed from the dividends of victory.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A rhythmic knock sounded at the door.
The office doors opened, and nine figures entered in a line.
"Big Brother Morin."
Hearing that familiar form of address, Morin couldn't help but smile. His gaze slowly swept across their faces.
"Sōji… Tao… Makoto… Enji… Gennosuke… Ran…"
"You're here."
From his original group of twelve, aside from Senju Genma in ANBU, Senju Shin in the Defense Garrison Division, and Senju Yu in the Strategy Department, the remaining nine had all been summoned here.
"There's something special I need you to do."
Morin took a document from the drawer, signed his name at the bottom with his own hand, and slid it across the desk.
The pages were densely packed with more than a hundred names.
Each entry listed a shinobi's rank, basic personal information, and the address of their family residence within the village.
"This is the list of Konoha shinobi who fell in this war," Morin said calmly.
"I want you to go in my place—to every one of these households—and personally deliver the compensation the village has allocated to their families."
Under the slightly surprised gazes of Senju Sōji and the others, Senju Morin straightened his expression and explained calmly:
"No matter how great the legacy the First and Second Hokage left behind, it belongs to the past. As time goes on, even the deepest gratitude will inevitably fade."
"If a clan wishes to prosper in the long term, strength alone is not enough. The entire village must be constantly reminded that we exist."
"Through this opportunity, I want the shinobi of Konoha to remember the Senju clan—to remember each of your faces, and to remember who it was that brought comfort to them at their moment of greatest grief."
The mood instantly grew solemn.
Understanding dawned on everyone at once. Senju Sōji carefully took the list, his expression resolute, and said:
"Rest assured, Brother Morin. We'll personally deliver the compensation to every single family."
…
After seeing Sōji and the others off, Morin soon left the Hokage's office as well.
He was never one to cling to power unnecessarily. With nine departments handling the village's day-to-day operations, there was no need for him to micromanage every trivial matter, and his daily administrative workload was, in truth, quite manageable.
Along the way, villagers and shinobi alike greeted him at almost every turn. Morin returned each greeting with a warm smile, perfectly embodying the approachability expected of a capable Hokage.
A Hokage who had led the village to victory was already immensely popular—let alone one who had just announced a sweeping series of benefits. His prestige had reached an unprecedented peak.
Morin's destination lay in the back mountains of Konoha.
As he walked deeper into the forest, human traffic gradually disappeared. Sunlight was swallowed by increasingly dense foliage, and Morin's figure slowly merged into the shadows.
After another four or five minutes, with no one else in sight, he stopped beside a massive tree stump.
Using a special method, he dispelled a hidden barrier. A pitch-black passageway appeared out of thin air.
Morin descended along the corridor until he reached a heavy metal door at the end.
The moment he pushed it open, a sharp, unpleasant odor rushed toward him—a mixture of disinfectant, preservatives, and faint traces of blood that made one's stomach churn.
This was a secret laboratory, unknown to outsiders, hidden within a vast underground space carved beneath Konoha.
The interior was expansive. Cold white light shone down from above, illuminating rows of precision instruments blinking with indicator lights, as well as more than a dozen figures clad in white lab coats.
Morin's arrival caused little disturbance. The researchers briefly paused their work to bow respectfully before returning to their tasks.
The Second Hokage Senju Tobirama had left behind a remarkably rich legacy. Beyond countless ninjutsu and forbidden techniques, he had also built a small experimental research team. In pursuit of developing new techniques—and forbidden arts such as the Impure World Reincarnation—Tobirama had conducted extensive human experimentation during his lifetime.
He was the first to initiate Wood Release cell experiments, and had even dissected Uchiha corpses to uncover the physiological changes that occurred when the Sharingan awakened.
On the right side of the laboratory stood several massive cultivation tanks, arranged in neat rows.
Pale green nutrient fluid filled the containers. Inside floated chunks of pallid flesh, occasionally twitching faintly, as though still alive.
Even through the reinforced glass, Morin could sense the overwhelming vitality contained within those cells.
"Hokage-sama."
The lead researcher for this section stepped forward and handed him a report.
"Sample A-17's activity remains far beyond controllable limits. Every animal test subject implanted with it becomes fully petrified into wood within ten minutes. We lack a 'vessel' capable of bearing its power."
Morin scanned the data without changing expression.
He knew all too well that such a "vessel" would not truly appear until decades later—after Orochimaru and Danzō carried out countless brutal human experiments, barely producing a single successful case: Yamato.
"Continue testing suppression methods," Morin said evenly.
"Focus on neutralizing the invasive properties of the cells, rather than forcibly implanting them into living organisms."
"Yes."
The researcher quickly recorded Morin's instructions and returned to his work.
Morin then moved toward the left side of the laboratory.
The sight there was even more unsettling.
The bodies of the Gold and Silver Brothers lay on separate dissection tables, their flesh cut open in multiple places, exposing their internal structures.
Even in death, their corpses possessed an unnaturally vivid hue. Their muscle fibers retained a density and activity far beyond that of ordinary shinobi—silent proof of the monstrous power they had once wielded.