Chapter 133: Hokage? More Like Director of a High-Security Asylum!
Konoha. Central Research Institute.
Hiruko, Orochimaru, and Tsunade followed half a step behind Hiruzen Sarutobi as
he conducted his official inspection of the laboratories. Hizashi Hyuga shadowed
them, his face a mask of solemn gravity, his mind clearly turning over a
difficult problem.
Ordinarily, researchers loathed "leadership inspections." They viewed them as
bureaucratic interference. But Orochimaru and Hiruko were different; they
practically lived for these moments.
For Orochimaru, it was about connection. While his trust in the Hokage was at an
all-time high, he still felt a genuine need to "sync" his mind with Hiruzen's.
Even if the Hokage wasn't a laboratory specialist, his strategic intuition and
"out-of-the-box" thinking were lightyears ahead of anyone else in the village.
To Orochimaru, Hiruzen was the only person in the world who truly understood the
hunger of a scientist.
Hiruko, however, was motivated by a much darker fuel: Anxiety.
He still felt like his current status was a fever dream. To go from an
overlooked Jonin to a High Commissioner and a pillar of the village's scientific
future... he was terrified of waking up. He treated his duties with a level of
obsession that bordered on pathological, constantly checking for "leaks" in his
own loyalty or performance.
Everyone in this world is uniquely fractured, Arata thought, watching his team.
He sometimes felt that his role as Hokage wasn't "Military Commander" so much as
it was "Chief Psychological Therapist." Aside from signing scrolls and training,
his primary job was managing the "beautiful" mental states of his elite
subordinates—keeping the geniuses from going over the edge and the fanatics from
burning themselves out.
I'm the Director of the world's most dangerous high-security asylum, Hiruzen
mused.
"Alright, you two," Hiruzen said, snapping his fingers to break the silence.
"Give it to me straight. What exactly is this Chimera Technique I've been
hearing about?"
Orochimaru glanced at Hiruko and tilted his chin up. The message was clear: The
floor is yours. Don't blow it.
Orochimaru had provided the logistical support and the refined Hashirama Cell
data, but the core "Fusion Logic" was Hiruko's brainchild. As a professional,
Orochimaru had no interest in stealing "Face" from his colleague—especially not
in front of the Sensei.
Hiruko instinctively stepped back, his eyes darting between Hiruzen and the
floor. The Hokage's voice was warm, but Hiruko's brain was already caught in a
recursive loop of self-doubt.
Is he testing me? Is he judging the ethics? Does he think I'm trying to play
god?
Hiruko's brain stalled. The "OCD" kicked in, and he found himself unable to
formulate a simple sentence.
Hiruzen sighed. He walked over and placed a firm, grounding hand on Hiruko's
shoulder. "Relax, Hiruko. I'm not a 'Bean-Counter' looking for a reason to fire
you. I'm the Professor. Talk to me as a student of the craft."
The physical contact seemed to act as a grounding wire for Hiruko's nerves. The
frantic static in his mind settled.
He's my anchor, Hiruko thought, his breathing finally evening out. The Hokage
has officially endorsed the direction of the project. It's sanctioned.
"Lord Hokage... the Chimera Technique is currently a functional prototype,"
Hiruko began, his voice gaining professional clarity.
"The theory is based on a Biological Spirit Array. We use a specialized sealing
field to 'activate' the cells of a bloodline donor and weave them into the
host's system."
"It's difficult to transplant organic Kekkei Genkai like the Sharingan or
Byakugan—those require a specific ocular-nerve infrastructure. But for
'Chakra-Type' fusions? It's perfect. We've been using samples from the Second
Hokage's secret archives as 'Reference Models.'"
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. He knew those archives weren't "sunny." Tobirama had
researched everything from Uchiha anatomy to the biological limits of enemy
clans. It was a dark goldmine.
"We've confirmed the logic through animal trials," Hiruko continued. "By using a
'Dampened' version of the Hashirama Cells as a stabilizer, we can bypass the
standard rejection rates. We call it the Hashirama Base-Layer."
"Even if the host doesn't manifest Wood Style, the fusion grants them a
'Senju-esque' constitution. Their chakra reserves double, their physical stamina
reaches the 'S-Rank' bracket, and their healing speed becomes superhuman."
Hiruzen nodded. This was exactly what he wanted.
Konoha was a village that relied on its elite masters. But wars were won by the
Chunin and Jonin ranks. If he could give a thousand Leaf shinobi the "Konoha
Superman" buff, they would be an unstoppable tide.
"So, where is the bottleneck?" Hiruzen asked. "Don't just give me the highlight
reel. I want the risks."
"The 'Activation Phase' of the array is too violent," Hiruko admitted, his tone
turning somber. "When the foreign cells are injected, they battle the host's
chakra. If the host lacks a certain threshold of mental fortitude or chakra
density, they don't just fail to merge—they implode."
"To stabilize the formulas, we lack 'Live Dynamics.' We need data on a human
host with a high-density chakra system who is voluntarily cooperating."
Hiruko slid a document across the table. "An enemy prisoner won't work. The
psychological resistance creates a 'Chakra-Static' that corrupts the data. We
need someone who wants to be the bridge."
"But the risk of death is currently estimated at forty percent."
Hiruzen frowned. Every Jonin was a precious asset. Losing one for the sake of a
"maybe" was a hard sell, even for him.
Suddenly, Hizashi Hyuga stepped forward. He didn't hesitate. He dropped to one
knee before the desk.
"Lord Hokage! Let me be the subject!"
"I wish to offer this body to the village's progress!"
Hiruzen froze, then quickly reached out to haul the Hyuga to his feet. Hizashi
tried to remain in the "Slave-Position," but Hiruzen's current physical strength
was so massive that he nearly lifted the man off the floor.
"Hizashi, stop with the kneeling. You're a High Commissioner," Hiruzen said
sternly. "In this village, we stand on our own two feet, even when we talk to
the Kage. Do you understand?"
Hizashi looked up, his eyes full of a desperate, burning loyalty.
"I understand, sir. But my talent is a dead end. I have a long-range Byakugan
and a decent Gentle Fist, but in your 'New Konoha,' that isn't enough."
"Danzo is a master of intel. Orochimaru is a master of science. Sakumo is a
master of the blade. Compared to them, what am I? I was picked because I was a
'Political Wedge' to handle the Main House."
"If I don't obtain real, god-tier strength, I don't deserve to sit at your
table. If the experiment succeeds, I become the weapon you need. If I die...
well, Orochimaru and Hiruko get the data they need to save the others. It's a
logical trade."
Hizashi reached for his forehead, unfastening his protector to reveal the green
Caged Bird Seal.
"This mark used to represent my doom. Now, it represents my freedom to choose my
own sacrifice. Lord Hiruzen, let me do this. I've lived as a tool for the Hyuga
for twenty years. Let me spend one year being a hero for you."
Hiruzen let out a long, weary sigh.
I knew this would happen, Arata thought. Hizashi is the 'Martyr' type. He's so
grateful for his freedom that he's looking for a way to pay me back with his
life. He has a 'Debt-Complex' as big as a mountain.
"Hizashi... I appreciate the spirit," Hiruzen said, placing both hands on the
Hyuga's shoulders. "But you aren't a tool anymore. And I don't measure my
friends by their 'ROI' (Return on Investment)."
"However," Hiruzen added, seeing the frantic desperation in Hizashi's eyes, "I
won't stop you if this is your path. But we do it my way."
"First: you aren't married yet, are you?"
Hizashi blinked. "N-no, sir. I've been focused on the Anbu."
"Go get married. Leave a bloodline behind first. I won't have the Hizashi-line
end on a lab table."
"If the experiment fails, I will personally take your child as my Inner-Circle
Disciple. I will ensure they are never marked by the Caged Bird, and I will
raise them to be the leader you were meant to be. That is the Hokage's
guarantee."
Hizashi's eyes blurred with tears. He had been prepared for death, but he hadn't
been prepared for this level of personal care.
"Thank you... Lord Hiruzen," Hizashi choked out.
"Go on. Get out of here. Talk to your father. Pick a bride. You have three
months to settle your affairs before the procedure."
Hizashi bowed one last time and sprinted out of the lab. He was going to get
married tonight if he had to.
Hiruzen turned back to Hiruko.
"Hiruko, I'm giving you a personal task. My younger son, Asuma, needs a
teacher."
Hiruko froze, his jaw hitting the floor. "Me? You want me to mentor the Kage's
son?"
"His talent is average, but he's got a good heart," Hiruzen smiled. "I want you
to be his Sensei. Teach him the value of research and the logic of the system.
I'm counting on you, Hiruko-sensei."
Hiruko felt a surge of pride so intense it actually made his hands stop shaking
for the first time in years. Hiruko-sensei...
"I won't fail you, Lord Hiruzen! I'll make him a legend!"
Orochimaru watched the scene, a thin smirk on his lips. Sensei is amazing, the
Snake thought. He just secured the loyalty of the village's best sensory-ninja
and its most anxious scientist in under ten minutes. He doesn't just run the
village; he owns its soul.
"Alright, that's enough for today," Hiruzen waved. "Don't follow me. I have to
go deal with my Master's 'Uchiha Debut.'"
"Oh, and Orochimaru... if you ever call me 'Old Man' to my face, I'm doubling
your administrative workload."
Orochimaru chuckled. "As you wish... Sensei."
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