Termination

At dusk, Shizune returned from school and headed straight to Orochimaru's room.

She happened to see Orochimaru leaning against the bed, writing something in a notebook.

"Shizune, you're back from school!"

Orochimaru smiled when he saw Shizune push open the door, though his voice was still somewhat weak.

The well-behaved Shizune hurried over to ask after him. After all these years together, Orochimaru had become like a father to her.

"It's nothing. I just haven't rested well lately. Your sister Tsunade's medical skills are the best in the Ninja World, so don't worry!"

As he spoke, he rubbed her head. A daughter really did know how to care for people.

"You and Tsunade will have to sort out dinner yourselves. I can't cook for you today."

Hearing that Orochimaru was sick yet still thinking about their dinner, Shizune obediently said:

"Uncle Snake, get some proper rest. Sister Tsunade and I can just eat something simple. Also, if there's anything you want to eat, I'll go buy it for you."

As the two spoke, the door creaked open.

The newcomer carried a bag of boxed meals and a bag of fruit. It was Tsunade, back from getting food.

Seeing her, Shizune hurried over to help.

"Your body hasn't recovered yet, so I could only get you some light food."

Tsunade placed the meal boxes on the desk in the bedroom, and Shizune quickly carried one box over to Orochimaru.

"It feels pretty nice to be waited on!"

Orochimaru even joked a little, while Tsunade rolled her eyes at him irritably.

"I'm indulging you this once because you've been cooking for us all these years. If you collapse, who's going to cook for Shizune and me?"

"That's right, Uncle Snake. Hurry up and get better so you can make us something delicious..."

The next day, Orochimaru went to the laboratory as usual.

After a day of recovery, the rejection symptoms in his body had gradually subsided, and his fever had broken. However, he still could not use Chakra.

He still looked somewhat listless, but it no longer affected his ability to move around.

As he walked toward the laboratory, Orochimaru had never felt that this stretch of road was so long. It took more than twenty minutes on foot.

When he entered the laboratory, a somewhat stooped figure came into view.

The figure wore a bamboo hat and a long robe embroidered with several large characters: Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, why are you here?"

It was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom he had not seen for quite some time. Orochimaru was somewhat surprised by his sudden visit.

"Mm. I heard you were ill?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and examined Orochimaru, whose complexion was still poor.

"I'm almost fully recovered. I'm sorry to have caused Lord Hokage concern."

In public, Orochimaru still addressed him by his Hokage title. In private, he could call him Teacher. Hearing Orochimaru's somewhat hoarse voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked after him a little more.

"How is the research progressing?"

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the lead toward the laboratory office, with Orochimaru following close behind.

The two talked in the office for half the day. In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi left the office first, while Orochimaru did not see him out.

Orochimaru was currently leaning back in his office chair, looking utterly dispirited. His already sickly complexion had grown even uglier.

So the project was still shut down after all!

That was right. Hiruzen Sarutobi had come this time to terminate the research project. No wonder Orochimaru looked so awful.

He had deliberately controlled the negative effects caused by the experiments. If things had gone as they did in the Original Work, the experiments should only have been stopped after the death toll reached one hundred fifty or one hundred sixty people.

But the current Orochimaru had plenty of data to support him and had already reduced the mortality rate by half. Although thirty or forty test subjects had died so far, another thirty or forty were still undergoing experiments.

The formulas he had developed, the suppressive effects of various clan bloodlines—these were all results anyone could see. They merely needed more time for verification.

It seems the Third Hokage has truly grown old!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was only middle-aged now. It was not that he himself had aged, but that he had begun thinking of retirement.

It would naturally be ideal if he could successfully research Hashirama Cells during his tenure. But if he could not, he was unwilling to take risks during the final stage of his term as Hokage and leave a stain on his career.

Once people grew accustomed to comfort, they lost their drive to advance, especially when that ambition might tarnish their reputation.

That was the conservative Third Hokage. Put nicely, he was cautious; put bluntly, he was indecisive. It stood in stark contrast to that old bastard Danzo's extremism.

Fortunately, the Uzumaki Clan cell fusion agent has already been successfully developed, so this hasn't been a complete waste of effort.

As for the research into Hashirama Cells, although many difficulties had been overcome, there were still many issues requiring verification. Yet there was not much time left now.

Orochimaru sorted through his somewhat chaotic thoughts, rubbed his face, and walked out of the office.

The thirty or forty test subjects still undergoing research would not be stopped immediately, but Konoha would no longer send over any volunteers.

Orochimaru could only obey orders. It seemed he would soon return to his normal routine.

A month later, the experimental project was officially declared terminated.

Orochimaru handed a stack of research reports to the Hokage. They contained the experimental data he had organized, all concerning Hashirama Cells.

Naturally, they also involved research on the cells of the major clans and the effects those clans' cells had on Hashirama Cells.

If the members of those clans learned that the Hokage was researching their clan's cells, they would probably instantly become far more wary of him.

But none of that concerned Orochimaru. After serving as a tool for over a year, he had no interest in worrying about such matters.

Before collecting cell samples from those clans, the matter had been reported to Konoha's upper ranks. They wanted him to come up with a feasible plan, yet they also wanted him to take the blame. What were they thinking?

Only Konoha's leaders, those people who played politics, could do something as shameless as eating from the bowl and then cursing the cook. People who played politics had filthy hearts.

When Orochimaru left the Hokage Residence, no emotion showed on his face.

Fine. Mito's cells have nearly finished fusing anyway. This is the perfect chance to raise my strength by another level.

With that thought, Orochimaru stopped dwelling on it and left with a Sonido.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.

"Hiruzen, why did you terminate the experiments?"

Danzo asked indignantly. Orochimaru's research had been progressing step by step, and results were clearly close at hand, yet he had suddenly received the Hokage's order to terminate the project.

Moreover, Hiruzen had not even discussed it with the other upper ranks. Although the Hokage had decision-making authority, Konoha was not Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal dictatorship!

Facing the somewhat furious Danzo, the Third Hokage explained the impact caused by the experiments, spouting nothing but benevolence and morality.

But Danzo could not take in a single word. In his eyes, what did the lives of a few civilians matter? This was the hope for his Sharingan arm.

The two argued until they were red in the face. Naturally, each clung to his own view, neither agreeing with the other. In the end, as expected, they parted on bad terms!