Chapter 19: Akimichi Torifu Returns; The State-of-the-Art Konoha Lab
Konoha. A hidden underground base.
This place had once been Orochimaru's secret lair for illegal research. After Hiruzen had used Danzo's "Black Files" to expose the operation, Orochimaru had officially handed it over to the village.
Far from being upset, Orochimaru was ecstatic. Now that the lab was "official," he had applied for village R&D funding—and the Hokage had approved an astronomical budget without blinking.
The transformation was total.
Previously, the base was a dimly lit, damp cavern. To maintain secrecy, it had terrible ventilation, lacked proper lighting, and smelled like a wet basement. It felt more like an underground black market than a research center.
Even Orochimaru hated it. Just because he was associated with "Snakes" didn't mean he enjoyed living in a hole. As a scientist, his dream was a sterile, high-tech cleanroom.
And now, he had it.
His teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was pouring resources into technological development. The new lab was bright and pristine. High-efficiency air filtration and climate control systems hummed at full power. The shelves were stocked with custom-built centrifuges, microbial incubators, reactors, and spectrometers—the most advanced equipment in the Ninja World.
If they couldn't buy it, Orochimaru bought the raw materials and used his own jutsu to hand-craft it. Whenever he needed a specific elemental jutsu to calibrate a machine, he simply put in a request, and the Hokage sent an expert to help.
Orochimaru scanned the inventory reports, a faint smirk playing on his lips. This lab was one-of-a-kind. He loved it so much he didn't even want to go home to sleep.
To a casual observer, Orochimaru was just smiling. But to Shikayama Nara and Torifu Akimichi, the man looked like he was on a permanent high. He was vibrating with manic energy.
Having the absolute support of the Hokage is incredible, Orochimaru thought. This is what it feels like to have a superpower backing your brain.
"How is the work coming along, gentlemen?"
A man in a full-body white sterile suit (PPE) walked into the laboratory.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Sensei!"
Seeing Hiruzen wearing proper laboratory safety gear was a massive point of respect for Orochimaru. In the past, when Danzo had visited, the "Darkness of the Shinobi" would barge in wearing his dusty robes, acting like he was above the rules of science.
Hiruzen's adherence to protocol showed he respected the technology.
"Old friend, it's good to see you," Hiruzen said, walking up to the massive, jovial man in the room and giving him a firm hug.
Torifu Akimichi looked stunned. He hadn't expected such a warm greeting. Years ago, Torifu had stepped away from the village's inner circle. It wasn't because of an injury or illness; it was because of the guilt he carried from the First Great Ninja War.
When the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had asked for a volunteer to be a decoy so the rest of the team could escape, Torifu had hesitated. He had whispered the words: "A decoy? Someone is definitely going to die. Who's going?"
After Tobirama fell, Torifu could never forgive himself. Whether it was Hiruzen, who volunteered instantly; Danzo, who eventually found his courage; or Koharu and Homura, who managed the logistics—Torifu felt he was the only one who didn't measure up.
"Shikayama told me you were making big moves, Hiruzen. Reforming the village, funding the treasury through medicine..." Torifu lowered his head. "I'm not much of a politician, but I know my way around a pharmacy."
"I figured the younger generation might need some seasoned hands to keep the formula stable, so I came out of retirement."
Hiruzen felt a pang of sympathy. He knew that while shinobi were trained to be "tools," their emotions were often more intense than those of ordinary people.
Torifu and Kosuke Maruboshi are two of a kind, Hiruzen thought. One is an elite veteran hiding in a pharmacy, the other is an elite Jonin pretending to be a Genin—both crushed by the weight of the past.
With a little PR spin, these two are the ultimate symbols of the Will of Fire, Arata mused. They are the 'Silent Guardians' the public loves.
"Don't dwell on the past, Torifu," Hiruzen said, gripping his old friend's hand. "Without you, I've always felt there was a hole in the administration. You might not be a frontline brawler, but you've always been the best logistics officer I knew."
"Stay with us this time. The village needs you. If Lord Tobirama were here, he'd want you to put that brain of yours to work."
Torifu nodded solemnly, his heart swelling with newfound purpose.
"The lab looks excellent, Orochimaru," Hiruzen said, glancing around. "You've certainly been thorough with the equipment list."
He noticed that at least half the machines in the room had absolutely nothing to do with making health tonics for nobles.
"It's a rare opportunity, Sensei," Orochimaru said with a wink. "It wasn't easy to source some of these parts. But don't worry, every piece of tech here will eventually serve Konoha's growth."
"If you need more funding or specialized jutsu support, just send me a report," Hiruzen said with a dismissive wave. "R&D costs are part of the game. I understand that Science and Technology are the primary engines of progress."
Orochimaru repeated that phrase in his mind. Primary engines of progress.
He felt a rush of pride. If he had said that to Danzo, the old hawk would have just grumbled about the cost of kunai. Hiruzen was a visionary.
"Show me the progress. Do we have a prototype?"
"The first batch is ready," Orochimaru said, presenting a tray. "We used the Nara Clan's medicinal manual as a base, refined it with Tsunade's clinical adjustments, and stabilized it with Lord Torifu's logistics expertise. I handled the final 'Bio-Integration.'"
"The product has two layers. First, the 'Rapid Activation' phase. Within minutes of taking it, the user feels a surge of energy, limb lightness, and mental clarity. We used a refined snake-scale extract for a sedative-balanced finish, so they don't feel 'jittery.'"
"Second is the 'Long-Term Rejuvenation' phase. With consistent use, it acts as an anti-fatigue tonic, significantly increasing the user's overall vitality and stamina. We used treated Toad Oil from the Myoboku Sages to ensure the potency is high but gentle on the organs."
Hiruzen nodded. It was exactly what he had asked for: a high-end placebo that actually did something beneficial without blowing out a non-ninja's heart.
But when he saw the physical product, he couldn't help but laugh.
"It looks exactly like a Soldier Pill (Military Ration Pill)," Hiruzen said, holding up a small, brown, unappealing ball of compressed herbs.
"Orochimaru, the efficacy is great, but look at this thing. It looks like dirt. You can't sell 'Elite Status' in the form of a brown mud ball. No matter how good it is, we'll never be able to charge a premium for this."