Chapter 35: The Obsession of Geniuses; The Cloud's Furious Denunciation
Hiruko and Orochimaru arrived at the office together.
They were talking and laughing—a rare sight for the usually somber Hiruko. The pale Jonin had traded his usual brooding gloom for a newfound vibrancy; his skin even had a hint of a healthy flush. He looked like a man who had finally found his place in the sun.
He was no longer just an "invisible Jonin" lost in the crowd. He was a future High Commissioner, a "golden talent" hand-picked by the Hokage himself.
Even if he couldn't match Orochimaru's legendary luck in being scouted as a disciple by the great Third Hokage years ago, Hiruko felt he hadn't wasted too much time. He was finally back in the same "inner circle" as the Sannin.
Orochimaru was equally satisfied.
The Sensei was backing his research with a blank check and had practically named him the Crown Prince of the Leaf—provided he could maintain his lead over the other candidates.
Orochimaru wasn't worried. He didn't believe anyone could match his genius.
Danzo? Orochimaru thought, a thin smirk on his lips. The man has grown a brain lately, but at the end of the day, he's just a stray dog barking in the shadows.
As for Hiruko, Orochimaru viewed him as a vital asset for his future administration. In any government, you need "Factions," and together, they were the founding members of the Research Faction.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Good. Sit. I'll keep this brief."
Hiruzen handed a transcribed copy of Mito Uzumaki's sealing scrolls to Hiruko.
"This is a specialized sealing technique developed by Lady Mito. It creates an artificial chakra field that suppresses cellular and spiritual rejection."
Hiruko's eyes widened. Mito Uzumaki? The Master of Sealing herself? To a researcher, her name was a holy relic.
He felt a surge of adrenaline. He had only submitted his preliminary data a few days ago, and already the Hokage was handing him the "Keys to the Kingdom." This was the kind of support he had spent his entire career dreaming of.
"This should stabilize your current theories on limb reattachment. The village needs a breakthrough for our wounded veterans. We need to lower the permanent disability rate before the next conflict."
Hiruko listened with a gravity that bordered on the religious. It was strange; ever since he'd been named a Commissioner, he found himself actually caring about the "common ninjas."
Authority is a hell of a drug, Hiruko thought. When you have the power to fix people, you start wanting to be the hero.
"Lord Hokage, rest assured! I will give everything to make this work for Konoha."
"Good. Back to the lab with you."
Once Hiruko had left, Orochimaru poured himself a cup of tea, his posture relaxing significantly. "And what about mine, Sensei?"
In public, it was "Lord Hokage." In private, they were family.
Hiruzen looked at the empty cup and then back at his student. "You get nothing. If you want a treat, file a formal request and go copy it in the archives yourself like everyone else."
Orochimaru chuckled, refilling Hiruzen's cup with a practiced, elegant motion. "Always playing favorites, Sensei."
Beneath the banter, Orochimaru knew the truth: the fact that Hiruzen was acting like a grumpy father was the ultimate proof that he was finally back in his master's good graces.
"These are excerpts from Lord Tobirama's private research logs," Hiruzen said, sliding a different scroll across the desk. His tone turned sharp and cold.
"This is Level-Zero Secret."
"Tobirama noted that Senju and Uchiha cells display a unique 'Mutual Suppression' phenomenon. They seem to level each other out. However, he never perfected the mechanics or the synchronization rates."
"I'm giving this to you, Orochimaru. This is the key to the Universal Hashirama Vaccine."
Orochimaru's snake-like pupils narrowed into thin slits. This was exactly the kind of "impossible" puzzle he lived for. Moreover, the massive life-force within Hashirama cells was the holy grail of his quest for immortality.
"I see your vision, Sensei," Orochimaru analyzed, scanning the scroll at a predatory speed. "You want to use Uchiha DNA as a 'biological anchor' to suppress the wild, parasitic growth of the First Hokage's cells?"
The primary danger of Hashirama cells was their "Absorption" trait. They would literally eat the host's chakra and turn them into a tree.
"Exactly. The case with young Yamato is a fluke—one in a thousand. We need a repeatable, industrial process."
"I want you to work from both ends. Extract the 'Antibodies' from Yamato's blood, and find a way to use Uchiha tissue to 'dampen' the raw Hashirama cells."
"The Wood Style is like the Nine-Tails. In its raw form, it's a power the village cannot control. And power that cannot be controlled is just a ticking time bomb."
"So, don't worry about whether the 'Vaccine' allows the user to grow forests. Focus on the Chakra Capacity and Vitality. Even a diluted version would double the average Jonin's lifespan and reserves. That is where the real strategic value lies."
Hiruzen was laying out a masterpiece of misdirection. He truly wanted the "Soldier Buff" for the village, but he was also using Orochimaru to finish the "Neural Bridge" for his secret Izuna-clone in the vault.
"Fascinating. A truly practical application of a legendary power," Orochimaru praised, clapping his hands softly. "Sensei, you really are wasted behind that desk. You have the soul of a scientist."
"Theories are cheap. The man who makes them work is the one with the talent," Hiruzen countered. "Like you, brat."
The two shared a rare, genuine laugh.
In his mind, Orochimaru thought about his nearly perfected jutsu: Living Corpse Reincarnation.
If Sensei knew I was planning to steal bodies to live forever, would he still look at me like this?
The idea of "taking" a body was the ultimate taboo in the Leaf. It went against every tenet of the Will of Fire. But Hiruzen had been giving him notes on the soul for weeks. He had practically invited Orochimaru to discuss the mechanics of the spirit.
He's the student of the man who created the Edo Tensei, Orochimaru reminded himself. Maybe he's more 'open-minded' than I realized.
Orochimaru felt a strange, obsessive need for Hiruzen's approval. He wanted his master to see the whole truth—to prove that a student could surpass the teacher's boundaries.
If he can't understand it, then the bond is just a chain... and I'll break it to be free, Orochimaru thought. But I really, really hope he understands.
At that moment, the door burst open.
Koharu and Homura strode in, their expressions grim.
"Hiruzen, we have a crisis. Danzo is on his way!"
"The Cloud Village has realized we were behind the 'Rampage.' They've just issued a formal, blood-chilling denunciation of Konoha! They're demanding the head of whoever killed Blue B, or they're declaring total war!"
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you