Chapter 31: Wait... Lord Hokage, You Actually Understand This?
Hiruzen sat in rapt attention as Hiruko delivered his report.
The core of Hiruko's Cellular Fusion theory involved injecting exogenous cells into a human host to stimulate the body into producing foreign chakra, thereby awakening abilities the host wasn't born with.
It was fundamentally the same logic Konoha had used in its earlier, failed attempts to manifest Wood Style via Hashirama Cells. However, Hiruko's current approach was far more conservative. He started with lower-potency cells and shared several successful cases of stable integration.
While these early trials lacked Kekkei Genkai subjects due to a lack of resources, Hiruko had already drawn significant conclusions regarding "Cellular Compatibility" and "Sync-Rates."
The keywords—Compatibility and Integration—immediately seized Hiruzen's interest.
In Tobirama Senju's notes, there was a point that had baffled even the Second Hokage. He had been shocked to find that his own cells and those of Izuna Uchiha displayed a freakish, almost divine level of compatibility.
Hiruzen's mind connected the dots instantly.
Hiruko's technology is the key to the specimen in the secret vault, Hiruzen realized. It's the missing bridge needed to fuse the Izuna-clone's Uchiha base with Master Tobirama's cells into a single, unified entity.
As Hiruko spoke, he kept glancing at the Hokage, trying to gauge his reaction. He was internally stunned.
The Third is listening so intently... it's as if I'm delivering a high-level military deployment briefing, Hiruko thought.
The more serious Hiruzen looked, the more Hiruko's anxiety began to melt into a deep sense of satisfaction. To a scientist, their research is their life's blood. Nothing hurts more than being dismissed by leadership. Conversely, being truly seen by the Hokage provided an emotional high that was hard to describe.
Even if he doesn't understand the technical side, his attitude alone earns my respect, Hiruko vowed. He dropped his guard and began pouring out his theories with total transparency.
"And that, Lord Hokage, is the general framework," Hiruko finished.
Previously, the only person he could talk to like this was Orochimaru. Being allowed to speak his mind in the Hokage's office for this long... Hiruzen was giving him "Face" in the most profound way possible.
"Hm..." Hiruzen took a slow sip of tea, processing Hiruko's data. "Have some tea, Hiruko. Let me sit with this for a moment."
Hiruko smiled and took a careful sip of the hot tea the Hokage had personally poured for him.
A single cup of tea might seem like a small gesture, but for a man who had felt like a "background character" his whole life, it was everything. He felt noticed. He felt essential.
"Your logic is sound," Hiruzen began.
"You mentioned environmental stimuli during the fusion process. I've considered that variable myself. Even in standard cloning, the interaction between the 'Spiritual Anchor' and the physical 'Vessel' dictates gene expression."
"If we view cellular fusion as a controlled stage of artificial differentiation, we can leverage certain concepts from cloning to stabilize the host."
Hiruzen offered a knowing smirk, weaving in the high-level concepts he'd memorized from Tobirama's secret scrolls.
"Chakra is the catalyst, but it can also be the greatest source of interference. This research has massive strategic implications, but it's going to require a significant amount of labor-intensive iteration to get it right."
Hiruzen kept his lecture to the "Macro-Level."
As a leader, Arata knew how to sound like a professional without getting lost in the weeds. Talk about systems, talk about frameworks, and focus on "Data Integrity" and "Regulatory Standards." It made him sound rigorous and visionary while keeping his "authority" high.
Plus, with Tobirama's notes backing him up, he was essentially cheating. He was standing on the shoulders of the man who invented the field.
Hiruko, who had been listening while sipping his tea, nearly choked. He set the cup down, his eyes wide.
Wait... Lord Hiruzen actually knows what he's talking about?
The Hokage's grasp of the "Big Picture" and his granular understanding of the failure points were terrifyingly sharp. For a split second, Hiruko felt like he was sitting across from a more experienced, more authoritative version of Orochimaru.
"Lord Hokage... you've studied Bio-Engineering?"
"I had a passing interest in my youth," Hiruzen said, shaking his head with a self-deprecating sigh. "But once I took this seat, I realized I was a man of only average talent. I simply didn't have the bandwidth to manage the village and maintain a research career."
"Science requires imagination, obsession, and—most importantly—time. Those are things I have to count on the younger generation for."
Hiruko felt a strange sense of relief. It wasn't that his own light was dim; it was just that the village leadership was apparently a den of sleeping dragons.
"I like your direction," Hiruzen said, setting his empty cup on the table. "How would you feel about a Joint Development Agreement with the village?"
"The administration is moving to aggressively subsidize jutsu R&D and technological advancement."
Hiruko scrambled to his feet, grabbing the teapot to refill Hiruzen's cup. He focused a thin layer of chakra into his fingertips to ensure his hands didn't shake—he'd be damned if he spilled tea on the Kage's desk.
"Lord Hokage, if the village needs it, I will donate my research immediately!" Hiruko said, eager to please.
Hiruzen chuckled but gave him a stern, fatherly look. "Now, now... don't be like that."
"Donate it? I know how you researchers think. This work is your heart and soul." Hiruzen shook his head. "When I say 'Joint Development,' I mean it. The village will provide you with a dedicated staff and a massive budget. You will retain the IP Rights and Lead Researcher accreditation, but the results will be shared with the Hidden Leaf."
"I know you just want to focus on the work without worrying about office politics or 'Face,' right?" Hiruzen gestured to the tea. "You want your results to speak for themselves."
Hiruko was dazed. He doesn't just understand the science... he understands the scientist.
"You... you're absolutely right, sir!" Hiruko's gaze toward Hiruzen shifted from respect to something bordering on religious devotion.
"The word about the reforms has reached the Jonin circles, has it not?"
Hiruzen sipped his tea, his tone becoming intimate. "Your scientific aptitude is on par with Orochimaru's. This reform is specifically designed to find men like you."
"I can't let you 'slack off' in the middle-ranks anymore, Hiruko. I need you to carry some real weight. Do you have the confidence for it?"
Hiruko felt a shiver run down his spine. He snapped to attention, his back straight as a spear.
"I am at your command, Lord Hokage!"
Hiruzen waved him back down. "Sit, sit... let's talk logistics."
They spent another hour discussing the setup of Hiruko's new laboratory. By the time Hiruko left, he was practically vibrating with excitement. He had even promised to reorganize all his existing data into a formal report for the Hokage's review by morning.
Hiruzen wasn't surprised. He had given Hiruko honor, respect, and a future. In return, Hiruko would give him his life.
Orochimaru, how is the soul-mechanics study coming? Hiruzen mused, tapping his desk.
He was waiting for the Snake to make his move. It was a game of trust, built one "Knowledge Bomb" at a time.
The Next Day.
An Anbu operative flickered into the office, kneeling before the desk.
"Lord Hokage. A priority message from Kushina Uzumaki."
Hiruzen's eyes glinted.