Hiruko and Orochimaru arrived together.
Along the way, the two chatted and laughed.
Hiruko had shed his usual gloomy air. His fair complexion even seemed to carry a hint of rosiness, looking every bit like someone invigorated by good fortune.
After all, he was no longer an invisible presence among the jōnin.
Instead, he was now one of the future "Konoha Committee" members—personally designated by the Hokage, a shinobi as precious as gold!
Even if he could not match the good luck of Orochimaru, who had been taken in early as a disciple by the Third Lord—so visionary, so adept at recognizing talent—he himself had not wasted much time either.
That was already quite good…
Once again, he stood on the same tier as the three members of the Sarutobi squad!
Orochimaru was also very satisfied with the current situation.
His sensei strongly supported his research and had all but made it explicit that he would become the next Hokage—on the condition, of course, that no one could overshadow him.
After all, one still had to command public support.
Orochimaru had no objections to this. He did not believe there was anyone who could truly contend with him.
Shimura Danzō?
He might look aggressive, and perhaps a little smarter than before, but in the end, he was nothing more than a wild dog lurking in the shadows.
And Hiruko, too, was one of the assistants Orochimaru was preparing for his future tenure as Hokage.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Alright, sit. I'll keep it brief."
Hiruzen handed Hiruko a copied transcript of Uzumaki Mito's fūinjutsu notes.
"This is a fūinjutsu developed by Mito-sama. Its function is to create a special environment that reduces the mutual repulsion between cells and chakra."
Hiruko's eyes lit up.
Uzumaki Mito? It was actually that lady's technique?!
A person's name casts a shadow like a tree—just hearing the name was enough to make Hiruko look forward to it.
He felt even more keenly just how much support one received after joining the village's core circle…
It had only been a few days since he submitted his research results, hadn't it?
"This should probably help your line of thinking. The village has always hoped for a breakthrough in limb reattachment—for those shinobi who have been left disabled."
"And also to reduce the disability rate when there is another war."
Hiruko listened solemnly.
Strangely enough, ever since learning he would become a "Konoha Committee" member, he had, for the first time in a long while, turned his gaze toward the genin and chūnin…
Perhaps this was how "status" forced a shift in "stance"—a mutual binding between authority and responsibility.
"Hokage-sama, please rest assured!"
Hiruko said in a deep voice, "I will certainly make contributions to Konoha…"
"Good. Go get to work!"
After Hiruko left, Orochimaru poured himself a cup of hot tea, his tone much more relaxed. "Sensei, what about mine?"
When someone was present, you still had to use the title.
If no one was around, of course you called him sensei.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly and pointed at the cup in front of him. "Not for you. If you want it, file a report and go copy it yourself from the archive…"
Orochimaru's lips curled upward. As he poured hot tea for Hiruzen, he deliberately complained, "What a biased sensei!"
Even as he said that, Orochimaru was perfectly clear in his heart.
This was precisely proof that his sensei did not treat him as an outsider…
"These are excerpts from Tobirama-sensei's research notes."
Hiruzen handed another scroll to Orochimaru. After taking a sip of the sweet tea, his expression turned solemn.
"This is top secret."
"It records that the cells of the Senju and the Uchiha seem to exhibit a mutually suppressive effect, but Tobirama-sensei did not fully work out the precise causes, mechanisms, or details."
"I'm entrusting this to you, Orochimaru."
"This may be the opportunity for us to apply Hashirama-sama's cells in a broadly viable way."
Orochimaru's slit pupils involuntarily constricted—an unmistakable sign of intense interest.
As a research-oriented genius, aside from matters of longevity, these difficult and peculiar problems were exactly what he enjoyed most.
Moreover, the powerful vitality within Hashirama's cells could not be said to have no connection to longevity.
"Sensei, I understand your line of thinking…"
Orochimaru deftly took the scroll and rapidly analyzed it. "You want to use Uchiha clan cells to suppress the activity of the First Hokage's cells, weakening their violent, rampant nature?"
The difficulty of transplanting Hashirama's cells lay precisely in their exuberant vitality, which carried an element that could be described as 'absorptive.' Those who received the transplant often could not control it and would instead be drained of chakra by this very trait.
"That's right. As things stand, cases like Yamato's are far too rare."
"I was thinking—could we pursue two approaches at once? Try extracting antibodies against the First Hokage's cells from Yamato, and at the same time find a way to weaken the violent nature of those cells…"
"Wood Release, in a certain sense, is similar to the Nine-Tails. When in a complete state, both are forces the village cannot control."
"A power that cannot be controlled cannot be called power at all—it only becomes an uncontrollable factor that undermines the village's stability."
"Therefore, there is no need to worry about whether weakened First Hokage cells can still pass on Wood Release. Judging solely by the chakra and vitality they provide, they already possess extremely high strategic value."
Hiruzen laid out his line of thinking, while also concealing another objective of his.
Limb regeneration and research into Hashirama's cells were, without question, things he truly wanted to accomplish for the village as Hokage. If these two lines of research could succeed…
Then Konoha's long-standing problem of shinobi disabilities, as well as the average chakra capacity of its forces, would both see major breakthroughs.
But on the other hand—
This was also a crucial technology for perfecting that experimental body.
Severed limbs corresponded to damage to the chakra pathways; Senju and Uchiha corresponded to the complete fusion of their respective cells and chakra…
"Interesting. Very interesting—and with real practical value!"
Orochimaru lightly applauded. "Sensei, it's truly a shame you're not doing research full-time. Being Hokage might not actually be what you're best at!"
"It's just an idea. Only those who can actually put it into practice have real talent."
Hiruzen and his disciple exchanged some mutual flattery. "For example—you, you brat!"
For a moment, both sensei and student laughed, the atmosphere exceedingly harmonious.
And in his heart, Orochimaru thought of that jutsu of his that was nearly complete—Living Corpse Reincarnation.
If sensei were to learn of this technique, would he still be able to show such tolerance and care toward him?
Seizing another person's body to undergo reincarnation had almost no practical value for the village as a whole, and it was even more at odds with the core ethos of the Will of Fire, which emphasized inheritance.
But the problem was—
Hiruzen had clearly noticed his research into the soul.
Giving him the portions of the Second Hokage's notes related to the soul, and questioning him about it multiple times, was the best proof of that…
Although Orochimaru felt that his sensei's capacity for acceptance should be quite strong by now, the effects of the enhanced Living Corpse Reincarnation were simply astonishing.
A preliminary form of "immortality" already seemed to be within sight.
'I really wish this moment could last forever…'
Orochimaru murmured inwardly. 'But even if telling sensei is risky, I still want him to know…'
Compared to hiding Living Corpse Reincarnation and casually making up excuses to brush off Hiruzen…
As an unparalleled genius in research, Orochimaru harbored a peculiar kind of obsession in his feelings toward Hiruzen—both sensei and father figure.
He wanted his sensei to understand and support all of him.
It was an impulse, yet also the result of rational deliberation on Orochimaru's part.
How long could he keep it hidden?
If sensei were to see through it, a rift of trust would appear…
Especially after Hiruzen had taken the initiative to reconcile, and had given him resources and full trust, Orochimaru's inclination to conceal things grew ever weaker.
"Even if sensei can't understand, perhaps that's not a bad thing."
"It would prove that bonds are indeed shackles—and I could obtain absolute freedom…"
Orochimaru comforted himself with such thoughts.
Yet even so, deep down he understood that what he truly desired was complete recognition.
And just at that moment—
Koharu and Homura knocked and entered, their expressions grave.
"Hokage, something's happened. Danzō is already on his way!"
"Kumogakure has detected our retaliatory actions and has issued a severe denunciation against the village!"
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