The night was dark as ink. The forest outside Konoha was wrapped in a thin layer of mist, and moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting broken patches of light and shadow below.
Danzo moved alone through the trees, his footsteps light as a cat, making no sound at all.
His single eye glinted with a cold light, as if it could see through everything even in the dark.
Passing through a dense thicket, Danzo stopped before a large tree that looked perfectly ordinary.
He formed a series of complex hand signs. A hidden door slowly emerged from the trunk.
The door slid open without a sound, revealing a staircase leading downward.
Danzo stepped inside. The hidden door closed quietly behind him.
At the bottom of the staircase was a wide underground laboratory. The walls on all sides were lined with glowing sealing script that provided a faint but steady light.
The workbenches were covered with various instruments and test tubes, and a sharp chemical smell hung in the air.
Orochimaru was standing at a microscope, his golden slit pupils fixed intently on the lens, his hand moving quickly across a notebook.
"You are here."
Orochimaru said without lifting his head. His voice was hoarse and even, as if he had long expected Danzo to come.
Danzo walked to the workbench. His gaze moved over the documents and samples on the table.
"Hiruzen has already ordered the Wood Release experiments stopped. You are still continuing?"
Orochimaru finally raised his head. A meaningful smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
"Can scientific research be halted by a single order? Besides, is that not precisely why Lord Danzo has come?"
Danzo gave a cold snort and did not deny it.
"I need the latest progress."
Orochimaru set down his pen and took a small container from the refrigeration unit beside him. Inside it floated a piece of tissue giving off a faint green glow.
"This is the latest Wood Release cell culture sample. Stability has improved by thirty percent compared to before, but it is still a distance from true Wood Release."
Danzo took the container. A trace of greed flickered in his single eye.
"Not enough. The Wood Release of the First Hokage could suppress Tailed Beasts. That is the level of power we need."
Orochimaru's golden slit pupils narrowed slightly.
"Lord Danzo, scientific research takes time, and it also requires... more resources."
Danzo set the container back on the table. His tone was dark.
"Resources are not a problem. I am about to head to the front lines in the Land of Rain. There are plenty of war orphans and displaced people there. However many test subjects you want, it can be arranged. You would do well to use the opportunity to get Hiruzen to send you to the border as well. If the two of us are there together, it will be far more convenient."
Orochimaru's smile deepened.
"If the opportunity arises, I will apply to go to the front lines. However, I have recently become interested in another kind of power."
"Oh?"
Danzo raised an eyebrow.
"Tailed Beast cells."
Orochimaru said slowly.
"If we could obtain the power of a Tailed Beast, it might accelerate the Wood Release research, and perhaps even lead to the development of a more powerful bloodline limit."
Danzo was quiet for a moment. A flicker of hesitation passed through his single eye.
Tailed Beasts were core secrets of every village. Obtaining their cells would be no easy matter.
But thinking of the power of Wood Release, he ultimately nodded.
"That can be done. However, acquiring Tailed Beast cells carries too great a risk. I can only provide certain intelligence and assistance. The actual operation will need to be carried out by you."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod.
"That is enough. Lord Danzo need only tell me which Tailed Beast is most within reach."
Danzo thought for a moment and spoke quietly.
"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Fukai of Kumogakure. His temperament is impulsive, and he has been appearing frequently near the border lately. However, Kumogakure's defenses are tight. You will need an inside contact to get reliable intelligence on the Jinchuriki's location."
"An inside contact?"
Orochimaru's interest was visible.
"Someone from Root. Yakushi Nono."
Danzo said coldly.
"She is currently embedded in Kumogakure under the identity of a medical ninja, and will be posted to the border before long. I will notify her to cooperate with your operation."
A trace of approval flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.
"Lord Danzo's reach is truly far. Then our cooperation is settled."
Danzo nodded, turned to leave, and dropped one last remark before going.
"Remember, the experiments must be moved to an outside secret base. Hiruzen's Anbu have already begun to have suspicions."
Orochimaru let out a quiet laugh and gave no reply.
His gaze returned to the microscope, as if the conversation that had just taken place was nothing more than idle small talk.
After Danzo left, the laboratory fell silent again.
Orochimaru took a scroll from a drawer and slowly unrolled it. It was filled with research notes on various bloodline limits.
His fingers drifted lightly over the words "Wood Release" and "Tailed Beast." A fevered gleam burned in his eyes.
"Power... the eternal secret..."
He murmured quietly. The words echoed through the empty laboratory.
Danzo's figure had already disappeared into the depths of the forest.
...
Inside Konoha Hospital, the corridor carried a faint smell of antiseptic. Nurses passed by in hurried steps from time to time, carrying medical supplies or patient records.
Uchiha Chiya stood in the center of the lobby, looked around, then asked a medical ninja passing by for Tsunade's whereabouts.
"Lady Tsunade? She is in the laboratory on the third floor."
The medical ninja pointed toward the staircase.
Chiya nodded in thanks, then walked up the stairs at a quick pace.
Reaching the third floor, a bright light showed through the gap of a door at the far end of the corridor.
Chiya knocked lightly. From inside came Tsunade's voice, carrying a slight edge of impatience.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open. The room was filled with scrolls and laboratory equipment piled everywhere.
Tsunade was bent over the desk writing quickly. Her golden hair was loosely tied behind her head, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks. Her flawless face was entirely focused.
Hearing footsteps, she spoke without looking up.
"If it is a report on the wounded, leave it on the desk."
"Lady Tsunade."
Chiya said with a smile.
Hearing the familiar voice, Tsunade's pen stopped. She snapped her head up, surprise flashing through her bright brown eyes.
"It is you?"
Chiya held up the scroll in his hand and smiled.
"It seems I have interrupted you."
Tsunade set down her pen, crossed her arms over her chest, leaned back against her chair, and raised an eyebrow.
"What brings a little Uchiha brat to the hospital? Have you been injured? Do you need me to treat you?"
"Nothing like that."
Chiya stepped forward and held the scroll out to her.
"Lord Hokage asked me to deliver this to you."
Tsunade took the scroll and opened it. Her brow gradually furrowed.
"Medical ninja training plan... you and I are responsible for it?"
"Yes."
Chiya nodded.
"Lord Hokage places a great deal of trust in us."
Tsunade let out a light snort, but the smile at the corner of her eyes was hard to conceal.
She tossed the scroll onto the desk and spoke with a slightly proud tone.
"Training medical ninja is not that simple. Do you think teaching a few healing techniques is enough to handle a battlefield?"
Chiya looked at her slightly lifted chin and the faintly resistant expression on her face, and could not hold back a quiet laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
Tsunade shot him a look.
"Nothing."
Chiya waved a hand. The amusement in his eyes had not left.
"I only thought that Lady Tsunade just now looked a little like she was showing off her expertise."
"Showing... showing off?!"
Tsunade paused, then caught up to what he meant. A flush spread instantly across her fair cheeks.
She slammed a hand on the desk and spoke through clenched teeth.
"You little brat, just because you helped me before does not mean you can speak to me like that. Are you mocking me?"
Chiya shook his head quickly.
"Not at all. I simply thought Lady Tsunade looked rather cute."
"Cute?!"
Tsunade's voice jumped sharply higher. Her face went even redder.
She took a deep breath and forced her composure back, then spoke in a cold tone.
"Enough nonsense. Since the old man sent you to assist me, then tell me, how should this training plan get started?"
Chiya saw the way she was trying to hold a serious expression while clearly flustered underneath it, and laughed to himself inwardly. But outwardly, he turned serious.
"In the current wartime situation, what we need are medical ninja who can be deployed to the battlefield quickly, not experts in deep medical theory. So the focus of the training should be on battlefield first aid, basic healing techniques, and chakra control."
Hearing this, Tsunade's expression eased slightly. She nodded.
"That is a reasonable starting point."
"In addition, we can divide the students into small groups, each led by an experienced medical ninja, and train them directly in a simulated battlefield environment."
Chiya continued.
"That would both improve efficiency and allow them to adapt to battlefield pressure in advance."
Tsunade thought for a moment. A trace of approval crossed her eyes.
"Not bad. Practical training is indeed more effective than theory on paper."
She paused, then added.
"However, precise chakra control is the foundation of any medical ninja. That part must be strictly enforced."
"Of course."
Chiya smiled.
"In that area, there is probably no one more capable than Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade gave a quiet snort, but the corner of her mouth had tilted upward.
"You have some sense after all."
The two exchanged a look. The atmosphere between them eased somewhat without either of them meaning for it to.
"Then, to a good partnership?"
Chiya extended his hand.
Tsunade looked at his hand, then looked at the smile in his eyes, and finally let out a quiet sigh. She reached out and took it.
"Just don't hold me back."
The smile on Chiya's face deepened.
"You have my word. I will do my best to keep pace with Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade withdrew her hand and turned to organize the documents on the desk, hiding the faint warmth that had crept into her ears.
Something in her felt unexpectedly looking forward to the work ahead, though her words remained as unsparing as always.
"Eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Meet at the training ground. If you are late, you know what will happen."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Chiya answered with a smile, then turned and left.
When the sound of the door closing came, Tsunade stopped what she was doing.
She looked toward the door, let out a quiet "hmph," but the smile in her eyes would not be hidden.
"This little brat..."