Companions on the Path of Truth

After hearing Hyuga Mirai's words, Orochimaru felt some agreement in his heart, but he would not open up to Hyuga Mirai after just a few words. He had come today because his research had hit a bottleneck, and he happened to see Hyuga Mirai's research report on cells, which gave him some new ideas. That was why he had personally come to see this genius whose fame had spread throughout Konoha.

But Orochimaru had not expected Hyuga Mirai to treat him with such enthusiasm upon their first meeting, as though he had encountered an old friend of many years.

Especially after hearing Hyuga Mirai's words about pursuing truth, Orochimaru felt an even stronger sense of kinship.

Within Konoha, Orochimaru had thought everyone was pushing that rotten windmill that had barely changed at all. Yet he had unexpectedly encountered such a breeze.

It was a weak breeze now, but in the future, it might grow into a hurricane capable of stirring the Ninja World!

As Orochimaru drank his tea, that thought suddenly arose in his heart. Yet even he could not explain why he thought so.

"Orochimaru-sama, how far has your research progressed? Or rather, what problem has trapped you?"

As Hyuga Mirai asked, he also made a guess inwardly. Orochimaru should have already begun experimental research on Hashirama Cells, though it had probably not gone smoothly.

"I obtained a type of cell with powerful vitality. Even though its owner died decades ago, the cells he left behind still possess tremendous activity."

Once the topic turned to research, Orochimaru became absorbed as well. Apart from the name Hashirama Cells and the specific experimental data, he laid out nearly all of his progress and difficulties.

At this point, Orochimaru had not been studying Hashirama Cells for long. Most of his work had followed the experiments left behind by the Second Hokage, and his understanding of Cell Genes remained quite superficial.

After hearing Orochimaru describe his experiments, Hyuga Mirai began explaining Gene Sequence research in a targeted manner, as well as the information he had obtained from the cells of a Hyuga Branch Family member.

Gene Sequences contained a great deal of information. If they were thoroughly understood, they would be of immense help to future experiments.

Hyuga Mirai had inherited all of Dr. Genus's knowledge. Dr. Genus was a top-tier biological geneticist capable of increasing the number of cell divisions and achieving Perfect Clones. Perhaps only Orochimaru in Boruto could compare with Dr. Genus.

Orochimaru, who had only just begun researching Hashirama Cells, was still too young. He had merely stepped into this field.

Yet Orochimaru was exceptionally gifted in this area. In only a few decades, working alone, he could catch up to nearly a century of scientific advancement from other worlds.

Hyuga Mirai even suspected that, if no one interfered, Orochimaru could outlive the Otsutsuki.

The two discussed matters in the Laboratory at Konoha Hospital for several hours. Most of the time, Orochimaru asked questions while Hyuga Mirai answered.

It was not until nightfall that Orochimaru reluctantly bid Hyuga Mirai farewell.

Orochimaru laughed in a hoarse voice. "Mirai-kun, coming to see you was truly an incomparably correct choice. With your answers, I believe my experiment will succeed very soon."

Though they called it a discussion, it was more Hyuga Mirai helping Orochimaru organize his experimental methods.

Orochimaru described the difficulties he had encountered during his experiments. After hearing them, Hyuga Mirai's brows nearly twisted into a knot.

Too crude!

Not only were Orochimaru's experimental methods crude, but they also yielded twice the effort for half the result. Before reaching any conclusions, he wanted to proceed directly to Human Experimentation and use clinical results to rule out the wrong directions.

This crude experimental approach made Hyuga Mirai extremely uncomfortable. It was not that he pitied the lives of the test subjects; this method simply wasted time and was not particularly useful.

Still, after today, Orochimaru would probably research Hashirama Cells more scientifically. Seeing the excitement in his eyes, Hyuga Mirai guessed that Orochimaru would spend the entire night thoroughly studying the Gene Sequences within Hashirama Cells.

"Mirai-kun, I came in a hurry today. Next time, I will bring you some gifts. Then I shall take my leave."

After saying that, Orochimaru immediately rose and left.

Only after hearing that final sentence did Hyuga Mirai feel satisfied. His entire afternoon spent explaining genetics to Orochimaru had not gone to waste.

"But Orochimaru really is smart. With a mind like that, in another world, he would at least start with a Double Doctorate."

After sighing, Hyuga Mirai tidied up the Laboratory before leaving Konoha Hospital.

In the future, he could exchange ideas with Orochimaru a few times. The things possessed by this Sannin far surpassed what Tsunade had.

Setting aside everything else, the Summoning Scroll of Ryūchi Cave alone interested Hyuga Mirai greatly.

He lacked large-scale destructive methods in battle, and the giant summoned snakes of Ryūchi Cave could make up for that weakness. Moreover, Ryūchi Cave possessed a Sage Art inheritance.

Although Hyuga Mirai had no plans to learn the snake-based Sage Art inheritance, it held tremendous reference value and could serve as a basis for developing a Sage Art system belonging to humans.

Although Tsunade possessed the inheritance of Shikkotsu Forest, Hyuga Mirai did not particularly like medical-type summoning beasts such as Katsuyu.

He studied Medical Ninjutsu for research, not to save people!

Orochimaru could access Konoha's Book of Seals. There were quite a few ninja techniques in it that would be of great help to Hyuga Mirai.

After returning home, Hyuga Mirai sorted through his current situation.

His reputation was already sufficient. It had surpassed the category of a youthful genius. After creating the Healing Tag, Hyuga Mirai had proven his value in the medical field.

After Tsunade's departure, no one in the medical field seemed able to compare to Hyuga Mirai. With the Healing Tags he had developed and his superb Medical Ninjutsu, even within Konoha Hospital, only one or two people were better than him at Medical Ninjutsu.

As for strength, although he had never gone all out, Hyuga Mirai was definitely stronger than a Chunin. He simply did not know what his chances of victory would be if he fought a Jonin with all his strength.

"Once our relationship develops further, I can ask Orochimaru-sama."

Hyuga Mirai thought to himself that the strength of a Sannin was enough to give him an accurate assessment.

At this stage, Hyuga Mirai's greatest priority was researching the Hyuga Clan's Cell Genes and finding a way to remove the Caged Bird Seal.

Second was continuing to increase his strength. Otherwise, if he ended up on the battlefield, even a Jonin would have no small chance of dying.

After sorting through his current situation, Hyuga Mirai made a plan.

The next morning, Hyuga Mirai arrived at the Laboratory in Konoha Hospital early. Over the coming period, he intended to focus all his efforts on cracking the Caged Bird Seal Curse Mark.

With the Cell Genes of two Main Family members and the genes of more than a dozen Branch Family members, Hyuga Mirai was highly confident that he could find a way to break the Caged Bird Seal.

Even the Sage of Six Paths' seals had methods of being broken. The Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal could not possibly be so difficult that it had no solution.

Yanzu, did you vote today?