Hiruzen listened with complete focus to Hiruko's report.
What he referred to as "cell fusion" centered on injecting heterologous cells into the human body, stimulating the organism to activate heterologous chakra and thereby awaken abilities it previously did not possess.
This line of thinking was close to Konoha's earlier attempts to inject Hashirama's cells to awaken Wood Release.
However, Hiruko's current approach leaned conservative.
He began with cells of relatively low virulence and shared a considerable number of successful fusion cases and methods.
Although these examples—due to a lack of materials and other constraints—did not include any cases involving a Kekkei Genkai, they had already yielded many conclusions regarding cellular compatibility.
The keywords "compatibility" and "fusion" unmistakably caught Hiruzen's attention.
In Senju Tobirama's notes, there had once been a point that greatly puzzled him.
Even he, who was always rigorous, had been startled into doubt, wondering whether it was some cruel twist of fate—why his cells and those of Uchiha Izuna exhibited such astonishing compatibility.
Hiruzen immediately thought of it.
Hiruko's technique might be applicable to that specimen in the secret archive.
To allow the body based on Uchiha Izuna to fully fuse with the Senju Tobirama cells within it, reaching the level of two becoming one—seamless and whole.
As Hiruko continued his explanation, he quietly observed the Hokage's expression.
He was inwardly alarmed.
The Third Hokage was listening far too intently, wasn't he? He looked so solemn it was as if he were carrying out a wartime deployment…
But the more it was like that, the more at ease Hiruko felt.
As a researcher, the results he produced were like crystallized lifeblood—he absolutely did not want them to be looked down upon by others, not even by the Hokage…
Conversely, when he was taken seriously, that sense of fulfillment was beyond words.
'Even if Third Hokage doesn't understand, this attitude alone is worthy of my respect!' This thought flashed through Hiruko's mind, and he held nothing back, pouring out his ideas all at once.
"That's the gist of it, Hokage-sama…" Hiruko said with relish. In the past, the only one he could communicate with was Orochimaru.
Now, being able to speak freely for so long in front of the Hokage…
Leaving everything else aside, just the Third's attitude of respecting his technique—he was getting plenty of emotional value from that.
"Mm…" Hiruzen slowly lifted his teacup, pondering what Hiruko had just explained.
"You drink too. Let me think for a moment…"
Hiruko smiled knowingly and sipped the hot tea the Hokage had poured for him with care.
A cup of tea, really, was nothing…
And yet, he thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being noticed and acknowledged.
"Your line of thinking is very good."
"The external environmental stimulation you mentioned during fusion—I also considered it in my early years."
"Even with cloning alone, the gestational environment of the host body, and the mutual interaction between soul and body, will both affect gene expression."
"If we roughly treat fusion as one stage of cell differentiation, perhaps we can borrow some of the ideas from cloning…"
Hiruzen smiled faintly to himself and proceeded to lay out, step by step, the line of thinking from Senju Tobirama's research notes: "Chakra is both a critical operative mechanism and a potential source of interference… This research is highly significant, but it will also require substantial manpower and material resources to carry out repeated exploratory work."
Hiruzen spoke in broad strokes.
As a leader, how does one appear both professional and seasoned in front of subordinates?
By talking about systems, frameworks, and standards—avoiding overly specific details—and by using data and compliance as leverage, one appears rigorous while also maintaining a high-level vantage point.
What was more, even when it came to the finer details, Senju Tobirama was there to back him up.
The Second Hokage's legacy allowed Hiruzen, this exemplary disciple, to draw ever deeper from it.
As these words were spoken, Hiruko, who had been quietly savoring his tea, unconsciously set the teacup down in his hand, his eyes widening slightly.
Wait—
Third Hokage, you really do understand?
This grasp of the overall direction, this articulation of details, and that seasoned insight revealed unintentionally…
For a moment, Hiruko almost thought the one sitting opposite him was Orochimaru!
"Third Hokage, you… you also have some involvement in scientific research?"
"In my youth, I was very interested, but after becoming Hokage, I realized that I am merely of middling talent, without the energy to attend to both village affairs and research," Hiruzen said with a sigh as he shook his head. "Research requires imagination, focus, and time. In the end, one must rely on young people like you in this regard."
Hiruko felt a twinge of toothache-like discomfort.
Was that really only middling talent?
And yet, it also brought Hiruko a strange sense of relief.
It wasn't that this piece of gold failed to shine—it was that the village's upper echelons were genuinely filled with capable people, and advancement simply required patience.
"Your line of thinking is very good. Do you have any intention of developing it jointly with the village?" Hiruzen asked with a smile as he set his emptied teacup on the table.
"The village intends to strongly support the development of ninjutsu and technical research in the future."
Hiruko hurriedly stood up to refill Hiruzen's cup.
So nervous was he that he even lightly wrapped a layer of chakra around his fingers, for fear of spilling the tea while pouring it for the Hokage.
That would be terribly embarrassing…
"Hokage-sama, if there is a need, Hiruko is willing to offer this technique to the village!" Hiruko responded with keen awareness.
Hiruzen smiled inwardly, but said with a hint of reproach, "You, you…"
"Offer it to the village? I understand a bit of how researchers think as well—these results are the product of your hard work…" Hiruzen shook his head.
"When I say joint development, I mean joint development. The village will provide you with personnel and financial support. The attribution of the technique will clearly mark you as the developer, but the results will naturally be shared with all of Konoha."
"And as for so-called social maneuvering… people doing research just want to focus their energy and let performance and results speak for themselves, right?" Hiruzen gestured toward the teacup in front of him.
Hiruko was a little stunned.
Wait—so not only did you understand research, you even understood the psychology of researchers?
He really understood!
"Y-you… you're absolutely right!" The look in Hiruko's eyes as he gazed at Hiruzen subtly changed.
"The matter of reform—word should have spread through the jōnin circles by now, right?" Hiruzen took a sip of tea and said in a genial tone, "Your research talent is no less than Orochimaru's. This round of reform in the village is precisely meant to uncover talents like you!"
"We can't let you keep slacking off anymore. We need you to shoulder more responsibility—do you have the confidence?"
Hiruko's heart jolted. He sprang to his feet like a compressed spring, his back straightening rigidly.
"I will obey all of the Hokage's instructions!"
Hiruzen waved his hand. "Sit down—let's talk while seated…"
The two spoke for a while longer before Hiruko finally left in high spirits.
He even took the initiative to propose immediately organizing his existing results and submitting them to the village.
This did not surprise Hiruzen.
Honor, respect, and goodwill had all been given. That Hiruko was willing to repay the village was only natural…
"Orochimaru, how is the progress of your soul research?" Hiruzen murmured inwardly as he rubbed the tabletop, lost in thought.
He was waiting for Orochimaru to come and report of his own accord.
It was a small understanding between sensei and disciple, and also a process of gradually building unshakable trust.
...
The next day.
"Hokage-sama, this is a letter for you from Uzumaki Kushina!" An ANBU operative arrived.
Hiruzen's heart stirred.
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