"It's an astonishing discovery, Lord Hokage!"
Seeing Senju Mori approach, another researcher hurried over, unable to hide the excitement in his voice:
"Through cellular-level analysis, we can confirm that their bodies indeed contain an extremely faint but special bloodline trait.
It's highly possible—just as the rumors say—that it originates from the legendary Sage of Six Paths."
"Whatever it truly is, it grants their cells energy conductivity and stability far beyond ordinary shinobi."
He rapidly tapped on a nearby console, pulling up comparative data and presenting it all in front of Senju Mori.
"Look—this is how normal shinobi cells react under chakra flow impact, and this is the reaction of the Gold and Silver Brothers' cells.
Their cellular structure is far more stable, with a chakra tolerance limit dozens of times higher!"
The researcher pointed to the microscopic tissue samples displayed nearby.
"Even more incredible is their adaptability to Nine-Tails chakra."
"We detected high concentrations of Nine-Tails chakra residue within their cells,
yet the cells show no signs of corrosion or damage.
Instead, they've formed a strange, symbiotic equilibrium."
"Their cellular structure seems to have mutated—allowing them to restrain, or even adapt to, the violent chakra of a tailed beast, converting it into their own strength."
Senju Mori stared at the eerie cellular images, a glint of understanding flickering in his eyes.
This must be the secret behind why the Gold and Silver Brothers could devour the flesh of the Nine-Tails and survive, even gaining a portion of its power.
"So the key isn't raw endurance—it's a special kind of restraint and conversion mechanism?"
"Exactly, Lord Hokage!
It's a natural, bloodline-based 'degraded version of a jinchūriki mechanism.'
If we can decipher it, perhaps we could…"
The researcher trembled with excitement.
But Senju Mori placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, interrupting him:
"The matter of jinchūriki can wait."
"Have you considered this instead?
If their cells can adapt to and restrain even Nine-Tails chakra…
could they adapt to the First Hokage's cells?"
"Adapt to the First Hokage's cells?"
The researcher froze, thinking rapidly—
and then his expression lit up with even greater excitement.
"Yes… why didn't I think of that…?"
"The corrosive nature of the First Hokage's cells is also due to massive, uncontrollable energy.
If this restraint mechanism can be applied…"
"Begin the experiment immediately," Senju Mori ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
With the Hokage's command, the entire lab instantly became busy.
Two researchers extracted samples from both cell types;
after a sequence of skillful procedures, they soon prepared two vials of transparent cell-fusion fluid.
Another researcher brought over a small deer, efficiently securing it onto an empty test table.
Once the two solutions were injected simultaneously into the deer's body, the air inside the laboratory grew tense.
Everyone watched with anticipation.
The deer soon began to struggle violently, screaming hoarsely as if in unbearable agony.
To the researchers, this scene was already familiar.
They simply began timing in silence.
Around the three- to four-minute mark, the experimental subject—infused with diluted Hashirama cells and the Gold/Silver Brothers' cells—finally began to calm down, its cries weakening.
But soon afterward, following a series of uncontrolled spasms, it lost all signs of life.
"Six minutes and thirteen seconds,"
the team leader announced as he stopped the timer, quickly recording the new data.
"A failure."
Senju Mori declared calmly, unsurprised by the result.
He had long expected that things would not go smoothly.
The difficulty of experimenting with Hashirama cells was extremely high—absolutely not something that could succeed through a sudden idea or a single attempt.
The research team leader immediately stepped forward, his gloved hand pointing toward a specific spot on the dissecting table.
"Lord Hokage, please look here…"
After some precise probing, he carefully lifted the outer layer of fur, revealing internal tissue that had not completely undergone woodification and still retained the appearance of living flesh.
"Unlike previous experimental subjects, this one's body is only partially woodified.
Its primary cause of death was the systemic collapse caused by the energy conflict between the two types of cells."
"The results confirm your theory.
The special properties of the Gold and Silver Brothers' cells significantly suppressed the woodification process.
Our new challenge is how to reconcile the energy conflict between the two cell types."
Senju Mori nodded.
"Continue researching methods to suppress the First Hokage's cells.
You may also begin cautiously experimenting with fusing the Gold and Silver Brothers' tissue with lower-activity First Hokage cells, testing different ratios."
"You have plenty of time.
Optimize the experiments step by step.
Funding, materials, and equipment will not be an issue."
The recent war had not only solved problems with experimental funding—it had also provided Konoha with an abundance of experimental material.
In addition to top-quality samples like the Gold and Silver Brothers, Senju Mori had brought back many Cloud-nin corpses from the battlefield.
The research leader took a deep breath and said:
"Lord Hokage, the funding you've provided is extremely generous, and our equipment is already in excellent condition…
but what we lack is a sufficient number of suitable living specimens."
Perhaps worried that Senju Mori might misunderstand, he took another step forward and lowered his voice:
"The current animal subjects simply lack the life level and chakra-bearing capacity needed to support such advanced fusion experiments."
"We need… living subjects closer to shinobi—beings with chakra pathways—so we can observe the true cellular reactions under a chakra environment, especially how they adapt to the First Hokage's cells."
He intentionally avoided saying a certain word, but everyone in the laboratory understood exactly what he meant.
The previously energetic atmosphere froze instantly.
The room fell silent except for the researchers' heavy breathing and the faint hum of running machinery.
"I will handle the issue of 'materials.'"
Senju Mori's voice remained calm, unchanged from the beginning.
"You continue your research. Leave the rest to me."
"Also, starting today, the laboratory's security level will be raised to the highest tier.
ANBU will provide uninterrupted 24-hour protection.
All experimental records will be classified as top secret."
With that, Senju Mori turned toward the door and walked out of the laboratory without looking back.