"I am indeed using children who carry half of the Senju bloodline for experimentation," Orochimaru said calmly.
"Tsunade, don't look so stunned.
You only need to understand this — I did not begin this research from scratch. When I inherited the laboratory, a considerable amount of data had already been accumulated.
Those records trace back to the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
During his tenure, under the pressure of the First Great Ninja War, the village had already begun efforts to recreate Wood Release.
Tobirama experimented on the bodies of fallen Senju shinobi. Progress was slow. They were never able to reach the crucial transplantation stage.
Later, he recruited volunteers. Some members of your own clan willingly became test subjects for Wood Release research.
How fascinating…
Senju Hashirama's cells, decades later, are still alive. Still active.
I can only imagine how overwhelming your grandfather's vitality must have been while he lived."
Tsunade's anger flared — but hearing that the research had begun under Tobirama shook her.
Then she caught the flaw.
"That was long ago. I don't know whether any of that is true.
But what you are using now are not corpses. Not volunteers.
You're abducting living children!
How can you speak of this so calmly? How can you do this without shame?"
Orochimaru's gaze remained steady.
"I am being direct with you, Tsunade, because I hope you grow beyond childish outrage.
Whether you approve or not, the village must obtain Wood Release.
You've heard the rumors of Kumogakure's perfect jinchūriki. Without Wood Release, what does Konoha use to counter tailed beasts?
Legends of the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan?
Konoha will never allow a second pair of Mangekyō to emerge. Any Mangekyō Uchiha must die. The village will not risk another Uchiha Madara.
Or shall we pile up the corpses of ordinary shinobi instead?
Or gamble the aging lives of Konoha's leadership?
Can you suppress a tailed beast? Can I?
I admit my methods are cruel. But my objective is undeniably correct — it is for Konoha."
Tsunade realized she could not argue against a logic system that justified itself so completely.
"...However," Orochimaru added, his tone shifting slightly, "since you have come to me personally, I can speak with Danzo and advise him to cease targeting children with Senju blood.
Whether he listens, I cannot guarantee."
—
The next morning, Tsunade intercepted Hiruzen at the entrance of the Hokage Building.
"Are you here about Jiraiya?" Hiruzen asked lightly. "He says he's leaving for intense training. I don't know when he'll return."
"I'm not here about that idiot," Tsunade replied coldly. "Whether he leaves or stays has nothing to do with me.
I want to know whether you are aware that Root abducted children from Konoha — children with Senju blood."
Hiruzen stiffened.
They were still on the ground floor; aides and advisors were already arriving for work.
"Let's go upstairs," he said quietly. "This isn't the place."
Tsunade followed him, her gaze sharp and distant.
Hiruzen saw the look in her eyes and felt a pang.
Why had all three of his students grown into such people?
Why couldn't they show him the same unwavering respect he had shown Tobirama-sensei, even until the Second Hokage's final breath?
"Where did you hear this?" he asked once inside.
"You need not concern yourself with that. I have my own sources."
Hiruzen frowned inwardly.
After Root's recent setbacks, had its capabilities deteriorated so severely that the abduction of ten children had been discovered so quickly?
Sarutobi Kanosuke…
Did such a traitor truly exist within the Sarutobi clan?
The strikes had been precise — always targeting the leadership's weak points.
Danzo's losses had crippled their operations in the shadows.
"You're overthinking it, Tsunade," Hiruzen said evenly.
"Every year, children disappear from Konoha. Some are taken by foreign spies. ANBU eliminates dozens of infiltrators annually — yet other villages continue sending more.
This is how the Five Great Villages operate.
Take Kumogakure — they are obsessed with studying other villages' bloodlines.
I've received intelligence that they captured a child from Sunagakure and succeeded in reproducing Magnet Release.
Magnet techniques are no longer exclusive to Suna.
The disappearance of children with Senju blood pains me — as any child's disappearance would.
Rest assured. I will investigate thoroughly and allocate more personnel. You will have a satisfactory answer."
Tsunade stared at him.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
"When did you become so hypocritical, Third Hokage?"
Hiruzen's expression hardened.
He had shown her patience.
Her tone ignited his anger.
"Tsunade!"
But she did not flinch.
"Orochimaru admitted it last night. He is experimenting on children with Senju blood.
He may be cruel — but he is honest about it. He does not hide behind disgusting excuses.
He has his own logic. I hate him — but I know that if I retrieve those children, he won't obstruct me.
But you?
Why are you lying?"
Hiruzen's voice turned firm — almost severe.
"Orochimaru is conducting a critical experiment. He constantly complains that his test subjects lack the necessary qualities.
Danzo and I had no choice but to tell him the new subjects possessed special bloodlines.
He believes it — but in reality, they are no different from the previous ones, merely captives taken from other villages!
Orochimaru has lost himself in his research. Have you lost your reason as well?"
Tsunade stared at him.
She could not comprehend why he would lie so blatantly.
Then her expression changed.
For Wood Release. For power.
They had gone mad.
Hiruzen, however, remained resolute.
Uzumaki sealing techniques were spreading across the world. The next war might well revolve around tailed beasts.
Before that war came, Konoha must obtain power capable of confronting them.
Even if that meant stepping over the Senju.
Even if that meant standing against Tsunade herself.
The village must endure. It must not be destroyed by some raging beast.
When Tsunade turned and left, her gaze distant and unreadable, Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
He summoned his aide.
"Send for Advisor Danzo and a division captain."
Root was too weak now.
If necessary… he would integrate additional personnel into Root.
Though whether Danzo would surrender control of a division was another matter.
Shortly after, Danzo entered the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen spoke first.
"Danzo. Tsunade already knows Root abducted children with Senju blood.
Increase security. Do not allow her to strike Root a second time."