In the Hokage Building, inside the office.
Senju Mori sat alone at a large desk, signing a new document. Its content was a public commendation for Danzo Shimura and six others, bestowing upon them the title of "Konoha Heroes."
After losing three valuable Jonin from their clan, the Shimura Clan was also severely crippled in the war, almost overnight declining into a small Ninja Clan similar to the Hatake and Sarutobi Clans.
For Senju Mori at this time, Danzo and the others who had died were no longer a potential threat, but rather shining golden signboards. He could generously bestow upon them the highest honors.
Over the past few days, Senju Mori had sat in this office, signing countless similar documents.
In addition to the previously promised rewards and pensions, Senju Mori also announced allocations to the Konoha Orphanage, Ninja Academy, and Konoha Hospital, and funds for the renovation of the Memorial Stone and various training grounds within the Village.
He also sent people to open a special shop in the plaza in front of the Hokage Building, selling precious materials like Chakra metal to Ninja at prices much lower than the market rate… With his continuous orders, the influx of massive funds injected great vitality into the entire Konoha.
Everything stemmed from the benefits brought by winning the war.
"Knock, knock, knock…"
A rhythmic knocking sound was heard, and the office door was pushed open from the outside. Nine people entered in a single file.
"Big Brother Mori."
Hearing this familiar address, Senju Mori couldn't help but smile, his gaze slowly sweeping over each person's face.
"Soji, Tao, Makoto, Enji, Gen'nosuke, Arashi…"
"You've arrived."
Among his original twelve-person core team, aside from Senju Genma, who served in the Anbu, Senju Shin, who served in the Defense Department, and Senju Hane, who served in the Staff Department, the other nine were called here by him.
"I have a special task for you."
Senju Mori took a document from a drawer, signed his name on it personally, and pushed it towards them.
The document was densely filled with over a hundred names, each followed by their respective Ninja rank, simple personal information, and their family address within the Village.
"This is the list of Konoha Ninja who sacrificed their lives in this war. I want you to go to each of their homes on my behalf and distribute the Village's allocated pensions to their families."
Under the slightly surprised gazes of Senju Soji and the others, Senju Mori's expression became a little more serious as he explained:
"No matter how many favors the First Hokage and Second Hokage left for Konoha, they are ultimately things of the past. As time passes, there will always be a day when they are gradually forgotten by people."
"If the Clan wishes to prosper for a long time, in addition to maintaining strong power, we must also ensure that the entire Konoha constantly perceives our existence."
"Through this opportunity, let the Ninja of the Village remember the Senju Clan, remember each of your faces, and remember who brought them solace in their darkest hour."
Everyone's expressions tightened; they instantly understood the profound meaning of this action. Senju Soji solemnly picked up the list and guaranteed:
"Don't worry, Big Brother Mori, we will personally deliver the pensions into the hands of every family member."
...After seeing off Senju Soji and the others, Senju Mori also quickly left the Hokage's office.
He was a person who understood how to delegate authority well, and wouldn't insist on questioning every trivial matter. With nine subordinate departments sharing the specific work of the Village, there wasn't actually much official business to handle each day.
Along the way, almost every moment, villagers and Ninja greeted him, and Senju Mori smiled and responded to each one, fully displaying the affability of a competent Hokage.
A Hokage who could lead the Village to victory was already extremely popular, not to mention that Senju Mori had just enacted a series of welfare policies, which almost pushed his prestige to its peak.
Senju Mori's destination was the back mountain of Konoha. When he arrived there, the surroundings gradually became less frequented.
The sunlight was obscured by the increasingly dense trees, and Senju Mori's figure gradually merged into the shadows.
After walking for another four or five minutes, and when there were completely no other people around, Senju Mori stopped beside a huge tree stump.
He used a special method to unlock the barrier, and a pitch-black passage appeared out of thin air. Senju Mori walked down the passage, finally reaching a metal door at the end.
As he pushed open the heavy metal door, a peculiar smell, a mixture of disinfectant, preservative, and a faint hint of blood, wafted towards him, making one feel slightly nauseous.
This was a secret laboratory unknown to outsiders, located within a vast space excavated beneath Konohagakure.
The interior of the laboratory was spacious, with cold white light shining down from the ceiling, illuminating rows of precise instruments with blinking indicator lights, and over a dozen figures in white lab coats.
Senju Mori's arrival did not cause much commotion; all the researchers merely paused their work briefly, respectfully saluted him, and then resumed their busy tasks.
It must be said that the legacy left by Second Hokage Senju Tobirama was very rich. In addition to a large number of Ninjutsu and forbidden Jutsu, there was also a small experimental team.
To develop new Ninjutsu and forbidden Jutsu like Edo Tensei, Senju Tobirama conducted a large number of human experiments during his lifetime.
He was not only the first person to conduct Wood Release cell experiments, but he even dissected the corpses of the Uchiha Clan, learning about the physiological changes that occurred within the Uchiha Clan when they awakened the Sharingan.
In the right-side area of the laboratory, several huge cultivation tanks were neatly arranged.
The tanks were filled with a light green nutrient solution, and several pale flesh chunks were immersed within them, occasionally twitching slightly, as if still possessing life.
Even through the special glass, Senju Mori could feel the surging life force contained within those cells.
"Hokage-sama."
The research team leader responsible for this area quickly stepped forward, handing over a record:
"The activity of sample A-17 is still exceeding the controllable range. Any animal test subject attempted for implantation was completely lignified within ten minutes… We lack a 'container' capable of bearing its power."
Senju Mori scanned the data expressionlessly.
He knew that the so-called "container" would only be found in the future, decades later, after Orochimaru and Danzo conducted countless cruel human experiments, barely yielding Yamato as a single successful case.
"Continue to test different inhibition schemes, seeking methods that can neutralize this corrosive power, rather than merely forcibly implanting it into living organisms."
"Yes."
The research team leader quickly recorded Senju Mori's words, turned and left, and soon became engrossed in the experiment again.
Senju Mori then walked towards the left-side area of the laboratory.
The scene here was even more horrifying—the corpses of the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers were placed on two separate dissection tables, their bodies cut open in multiple places, revealing their internal tissue structures.
Their corpses exhibited an unusually bright color, and even though they were dead, their muscle fibers still maintained a density and activity far exceeding that of ordinary Ninja.