Departure

The Suna-nin were coming in force. The Third Kazekage had just gone missing, and then they had been hit by a surprise attack from the Third Raikage leading a small contingent of elites. Though the newly appointed Fourth Kazekage had driven them back, they were still full of pent-up fury.

On top of that, Chiyo, the Suna-nin Elder who had been invited out of retirement, bore no small grudge against Konoha.

There were only so many people in Konoha capable of leading forces against the Suna-nin, and Orochimaru was the best choice.

He was immensely powerful, one of the Sannin, and had participated in the Second Shinobi World War. He had performed exceptionally well as deputy commander of the Rain Country battlefield, causing the Suna-nin no small amount of trouble.

Having Orochimaru lead the team to the border to face the Suna-nin could not have been more suitable.

Orochimaru himself probably was not very willing. He had just bought a pile of research equipment, and his Clone Experiment had made some progress. Sending him to the front line to fight at a time like this? If it had not been unanimously recommended throughout Konoha and approved by the Third Hokage and the council of Elders, Orochimaru would definitely have found an excuse to refuse and recommended that idiot Jiraiya instead.

"As expected of Lord Orochimaru. You actually managed to use Clone Technology to create your own Clone Embryo in such a short time."

Hyuga Mirai studied the experimental parameters with great seriousness. They would be highly valuable references when he conducted experiments in the future.

"It was thanks to your reminder, Mirai-kun, that I thought of extracting the Gene Sequence from Hashirama Cells to catalyze its growth. At this rate, the Clone Body will finish growing in only two years."

A faintly smug smile crossed Orochimaru's face. Only praise from a fellow scholar who understood his experiments could truly please him.

Otherwise, if Danzo had seen this experiment, he might have blurted out, "Orochimaru, what are you researching this for? Don't you have the Shadow Clone Technique?!"

"Once the Clone Body has finished growing, Yin Release Chakra can be sealed inside it with a Sealing Technique. That would be a true Physical Clone in every sense of the word. With a little training, it would be like gaining another Kage-level combatant."

Hyuga Mirai spoke with considerable envy. Though he had not asked how much Orochimaru had spent, one look around was enough to tell him that Orochimaru had probably emptied all his savings.

Several pieces of equipment were missing. Given Orochimaru's personality, he should have carried out every experiment with perfect preparation, yet he had not even bought all the equipment he needed. It seemed he truly had no money left to buy them.

Hyuga Mirai turned his head and asked, "Lord Orochimaru, you'll be heading to the battlefield soon. What will happen to the research here?"

"I'll have Shin watch over it for now. It will be a good chance for him to learn some basics."

After thinking for a while, Orochimaru spoke. If it were anything else, even an S-rank mission, he would find a way to turn it down. But with the Suna-nin invasion, he truly had no way to refuse.

"I originally intended to use him to try transplanting Hashirama Cells, but with Mirai-kun's guidance, I can have him serve as my Assistant instead. Shin is not very qualified as an Assistant yet, but he is more than capable of watching over the test subjects."

Of the three surviving Hashirama Cell test subjects, two had completely fused with part of the Gene Sequence from the Hashirama Cells, and Orochimaru intended to take them on as subordinates. As for the remaining one, who had awakened the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, he would give him to Danzo.

After all, a considerable portion of Orochimaru's research funding came from Danzo's support.

Moreover, the person who had awakened the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai had only fused with a portion of the Gene Sequence from the Hashirama Cells. He could not possibly recreate the Wood Release that had once pacified an age of chaos, but he was more than enough to fool an amateur like Danzo.

Perhaps when Danzo saw this Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, he would give Orochimaru even more research funding.

This had been Hyuga Mirai's suggestion to Orochimaru. Trading the most useless things for the funds one needed was a common tactic experts used to take advantage of amateurs. Danzo could only blame his own ignorance for being unable to see the true value of experimental research.

Afterward, Hyuga Mirai and Orochimaru discussed genetic research further. Hyuga Mirai even considered creating a Monster Summon himself, but unfortunately, the only materials he could get his hands on were the great snakes of Ryūchi Cave. In the Ninja World, the most suitable materials for creating monsters were still Tailed Beasts and the Ten-Tails' husk.

"Materials from a Tailed Beast? Mirai-kun, you always come up with a brilliant idea every so often. If you need Tailed Beast materials, I can provide you with some."

Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely.

"I obtained an Eight-Tails Horn not long ago, but research into Tailed Beast Cells has never made much progress. If you want to study it, Mirai-kun, I can give it to you. However..."

Hyuga Mirai smoothly picked up the thread. "I will make a complete copy of the experimental parameters for Lord Orochimaru. I never expected that Lord Orochimaru could even get his hands on an Eight-Tails Horn. It truly surprises me."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Compared to Mirai-kun's ideas and knowledge, that is far more astonishing."

The Eight-Tails Horn was not in this Laboratory, and Konoha Hospital did not have the conditions to cultivate Eight-Tails Cells.

Hyuga Mirai's research plan for a "Monster Summon" had plenty of potential, but it lacked research equipment, a Laboratory, and more materials.

Looks like I'll have to make a fortune during the Third Shinobi World War!

The same thought flashed through both Hyuga Mirai's and Orochimaru's minds.

Research required vast amounts of money to sustain. Orochimaru might look prosperous now, but if Hyuga Mirai asked to borrow a million from him, Orochimaru might very well change the subject and start talking about something else.

The cultivation of that Clone Body embryo alone required nearly several hundred thousand in funding every day. Orochimaru only had Danzo's support; otherwise, after buying the equipment, he definitely would not have had the money to proceed to the next step.

After leaving Orochimaru, Hyuga Mirai felt thoroughly satisfied. Every time, he only needed to offer knowledge to trade for what he wanted from Orochimaru. But from another perspective, Orochimaru had profited greatly as well. Knowledge was difficult to measure with money, especially in such abundance.

The next day, after checking his ninja tool pouch, Hyuga Mirai left home and followed the Hyūga Clan toward the Hokage Tower.

People gradually arrived afterward. Once everyone was present, Hyuga Mirai counted them. There were around five hundred Ninja in the first group heading to Kikyo Castle. Fortunately, the street in front of the Hokage Tower was wide enough; otherwise, it would not have accommodated so many people.

Orochimaru stood at the very front. Behind him were the leaders of each Ninja Clan and the various Jonin.

Once everyone had assembled, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Konoha's council of Elders appeared atop the Hokage Tower. They delivered a lengthy, morale-rousing speech to the Ninja about to depart for the front line.

"Wherever the leaves dance, there is fire."