Ayaka Kimura surveyed the laboratory Lord Orochimaru had just finished setting up.
Behind her stood Jiraiya, his face bruised and swollen. Behind Jiraiya was Shikun Mitarashi, barely able to suppress his laughter.
Jiraiya: "What are you laughing at?"
Shikun Mitarashi: "I was thinking of something happy. My wife..."
"Enough, Zixiao. Start preparing for the cloning experiment."
At that, Shikun Mitarashi shut his mouth and said no more.
"Lord Orochimaru, may I learn this Cloning Technology from you? I believe it could make a tremendous contribution to the village. Too many ninja have been forced to retire because of disabilities!"
"I'm afraid this technology cannot achieve what you imagine."
"Why not?!"
"From the Ninja Academy to becoming a Genin, the village does not need to invest many resources in training a ninja. Even most Jōnin only grow strong by relying on their clans' resources.
But to cultivate a single arm, I have set aside a budget of over ten million ryō. If a Chunin becomes disabled, could he truly afford the medical expenses?
A Jōnin might have some savings, but the other ninja..."
"Unless they are direct retainers, exceptionally powerful, or valuable enough—for example, ninja with sufficient mastery of Sealing Jutsu or Medical Ninjutsu—the village likely would not spend that money either. Ten million ryō is enough for the village to train dozens of ninja.
Out of dozens of ninja, a few Chunin would surely emerge no matter what.
The village higher-ups will calculate this deal very clearly."
Orochimaru laid out the cruel truth for Ayaka.
Ayaka lowered her head, then slowly raised it again and looked into Orochimaru's eyes.
"I still want to learn! No matter what, this will at least give those disabled ninja hope."
"Give them hope first, then show them medical costs they could never earn in