Perhaps it was because he finally figured things out, Hakushi felt much more at ease after returning.
His enthusiasm for research improved significantly, and he could now spend an entire night in the laboratory without any issues.
Setting aside personal matters, his research in the past few days has made substantial progress.
Due to an unexpected discovery, now using Natural Energy processed potions to replace Chakra within the lab mice as Life Energy, the survival rate of these mice has significantly increased.
The surviving mice are larger than typical ones, and their vitality is more enriched. Most importantly, none of them have suddenly died yet.
According to the detection results from the instruments, this favorable growth state can accompany these mice throughout their lives.
There will be no instances of sudden death before their natural lifetimes end.
Processed Natural Energy can replace Chakra's status as Life Energy, allowing life to function normally.
——Therefore, it's time to start a new round of human experimentation.
Exactly.
Hakushi's ultimate goal is not just to alter the mice.
The final phase of this experiment is to apply it to humans.
To help Ayane break free from the Bird Cage, so that when leaving Konoha, she won't be held by the Hyuga Clan's weaknesses.
Although experimenting on mice is not yet complete, there's still an important stage not finished.
That is replacing Chakra with original Natural Energy.
The replacement of mouse Chakra now is processed Natural Energy.
But having discovered the core issue, Hakushi is highly confident he can quickly pass this stage.
Next is the commencement of the new round of human experimentation.
Different from the experiment involving fusion with Natural Energy, this experiment is filled with danger.
A slight mishap could lead to death.
So, how to minimize the risk... In other words, Hakushi's bottom line is that even in case of failure, the test subject survives.
This is also the first issue to resolve.
Hakushi finds it strange; despite not feeling much discomfort during active killings, when it comes to human experimentation, he hesitates.
This might be because the manipulation of life also feels quite unpleasant.
But this is the only path to true science that Hakushi knows.
Whether medical science or other forms of science, often involve inhumane human experimentation; these sciences have progressed in this way.
Ninja Realm's medical ninjutsu is also like this, requiring significant sacrifices to gain the Ninja Village's attention.
The emergence of human experimental guidelines is just to soothe the practitioner's mental state a little.
No matter how you put it, this is messing with others' lives.
This is a psychological activity completely different from directly seizing someone else's life.
"What's wrong, Lord Hakushi?"
An assistant noticed Hakushi was in a daze by the test bench and asked.
"Nothing, just thinking about some trivial things."
Hakushi shook his head.
No matter how much he thought, he couldn't give up the work in his hands.
Therefore, finding a way to minimize the risks of the next round of human experiments is the most meaningful and valuable matter.
Suddenly remembering something, Hakushi looked at the five assistants in the laboratory aiding him and asked seriously:
"By the way, do you want to become ninja?"
The atmosphere in the laboratory fell silent.
After a long while, one of the assistants stammered and asked, "Do you mean being a ninja in terms of..."
"It means learning ninja skills, like ninja techniques and such."
Hakushi casually explained.
"Can we...do that?"
There seemed to be a mix of fear and a lack of confidence.
"Of course you can. Your current physical condition is much better than many active ninja, and even specializing in Taijutsu alone, you could reach Chunin Level in a few years or even surpass it."
Hakushi knew where their lack of self-confidence lay.
Initially, these five were just a group of ordinary bandits, with no systematic training, let alone ninja skills.
Now, with the improvements brought by Natural Energy, their Taijutsu prowess, not considering combat experience with real ninja or tactics, isn't weaker than standard Genin Level.
Achieving Chunin Level or even higher within a few years would be incredible.
But Natural Energy can achieve this.
This is the marvel of Natural Energy.
The method he devised to absorb Natural Energy is all based on the premise of suitable human development, thus creating another developmental system.
Although this system is still in its infancy and has many incomplete areas, it is enough to be endlessly beneficial to people.
"How about it? Want to truly work for me? I can give you some freedom, even let you live better in this world. Even if you were merciless bandits before, you must want to protect your parents and children, right?"
This sentence was like a knife, deeply ingrained in the hearts of the five people.
One of them looked complicated as if recalling some unpleasant past.
"We five actually came from a village; our homeland is the Land of Rain."
"The previous battleground?"
Hakushi knew the place, a location raining all year round.
Called the 'Weeping Country'.
Sandwiched between the three great nations of Fire, Wind, and Earth, once wars erupt among the great nations, the lives of the people there, Hakushi could only imagine.
It resembles hell on earth.
"Yes. Several years ago, ninja came to our village and, though they didn't kill us, took all our living supplies – food, quilts for winter; even houses were sometimes requisitioned..."
Yet living humbly, living humbly.
In this entirely cold world, everyone desperately strives to survive.
Others come to loot one's possessions, thus one goes to steal from those weaker.
All for survival.
"Initially, we had over twenty people, but sometimes the things we did were too dangerous, and many companions were killed… Actually, there's nothing to complain about; everyone fights desperately for survival. There's no regret nor thinking of it as justice, it's merely a struggle for survival…"
The speaker's eyes dimmed, and even his expression grew numb.
For those whose own nation and family are ravaged casually and cannot even guarantee basic needs… Survival is already fighting with all effort, no need to criticize anything.
Under the oppression of the strong, not wanting to die, one can only trample over the weaker and snatch food from them.
Death is merely bad luck, not worth lamenting.
Living means continuing survival until dying from misfortune.
"This is the reality of the Ninja Realm. Seems the books I showed you earlier were somewhat useful."
Hearing Hakushi's remark, the five looked at each other with wry smiles.
Compared to their initial fear, they now respect Hakushi more than fear him.
"What is your choice? I have matters that are difficult for me to handle that I need you to deal with."
"We are willing to serve you."
The five then bowed to Hakushi consecutively.
Their recognition is rooted in rationality.
For survival, and a better living, having concerns about suffering family in the Land of Rain, if not joining Hakushi's camp, only continuing as test subjects remains.
"Okay." Hakushi nodded and continued, "I can stay in Konoha for another month's time. During this period, I'll try my best to help you lay some groundwork. Later, I'll arrange for you to go elsewhere as I have an essential task for you."
——Gathering intelligence outside.
The focus is on the Land of Demons and the Land of Iron.
Now it's time to start planning for the future.
Within the Ninja Realm, these two countries have never been affected by war, maintaining permanent Neutral Country status.
Especially the Land of Demons, due to its unique position, is safer and more secluded than the Land of Iron, and doesn't attract too much attention.
It's crucial to establish a stable foothold before leaving Konoha.
Moreover, in the Ninja Realm, going alone easily leads to disadvantages.
With the method of harnessing Natural Energy in hand, doubting reaching Jonin Level is necessary, mass-producing Chunin Level ninja is hardly an issue.
More importantly, he has an extremely wealthy friend.
In this world, money can solve most problems.