Konoha.
A secret underground base.
This had once been the place where Orochimaru conducted his secret research.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi exposed him using "Shimura Danzō's dirt," he voluntarily handed it over to the village.
But Orochimaru was quite pleased, because after handing it over, he openly applied to the village for research funding, and it was approved with remarkable ease and generosity...
As a result, the environment here had been completely transformed.
In the past, this experimental base not only lacked proper equipment, but its lighting was dim for the sake of secrecy, ventilation was inadequate, the smell was foul, and the floors were slick—like an underground Exchange Office...
Orochimaru had been quite dissatisfied with that as well.
Just because he was close to "snakes" did not mean he liked cave-like surroundings.
As a scientist, who would not want their laboratory to at least be "sterile and dust-free," with fully equipped facilities?
But things were different now...
His teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, strongly supported his scientific development!
Inside the bright, spotless laboratory, large-scale sterilization and dust-removal equipment, constant-temperature and constant-humidity machines ran at full power, along with high-end centrifuges, microbial analyzers, reaction vessels, chromatographs, and more, all built at no expense...
Every instrument they could possibly need was available.
If it could be bought, they bought the best.
If it could not be bought, Orochimaru bought the finest materials and built it himself. If any instrument needed to be modified with ninjutsu, he could openly call people in to help.
Orochimaru looked at the report in his hand, and the corner of his mouth rose unconsciously.
A laboratory of this level was absolutely one of a kind in the Shinobi World! Not to mention that it would continue expanding...
Just staying here made him unwilling to go home.
Orochimaru felt that he was merely smiling.
But to Nara Shikayama and Torifu Akimichi beside him, this kid had not simply been smiling these past two days—he had remained in a state of intense excitement the entire time!
As if he had taken stimulants...
That was because working in such an environment was a pleasure for Orochimaru...
At this moment, Orochimaru felt more keenly than ever how comforting it was to have Hiruzen Sarutobi's support...
Having a Hokage and a powerful Hidden Village behind him was simply wonderful!
"Everyone, keeping busy?" Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the laboratory wearing a white hooded sterile suit.
"Lord Third!"
"Teacher!"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi arrive, everyone immediately greeted him.
And seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi properly dressed, Orochimaru's eyes flashed as he secretly thought, Teacher truly respects technology...
When he had worked with Shimura Danzō in the past, Orochimaru had asked him to do the same. But this Darkness of the Shinobi World always wanted to show off his special status, barging in without a care.
Over time, Orochimaru simply gave up, and his perfectly good laboratory ended up resembling a slaughterhouse.
"Old brother, what brings you here?" Seeing Torifu Akimichi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up. He strode forward and gave him a hug.
Torifu Akimichi clearly had not expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to be so enthusiastic, and his expression showed a hint of surprise.
For all these years, he had voluntarily withdrawn from Konoha's upper ranks, not because of injuries or illness...
It was because, when Senju Tobirama had volunteered to stay behind, he had unconsciously said this: "A decoy? Then someone will definitely die. Who's going?"
After the Second Hokage died, Torifu Akimichi could never forgive himself whenever he recalled those words.
Whether it was Hiruzen, who led by example and stayed behind; Kagami, who died in battle; Danzo, who rose up after realizing too late; or Hono and Koharu, who had analyzed their chances of breaking through...
He felt that he was not worthy to stand alongside them.
"I heard from Shikayama that you, Hiruzen, were planning a major move for the village, and that you wanted to develop medicine to secure funding..." Torifu Akimichi lowered his head slightly.
"I know it's a good thing. I'm not much use elsewhere, but I know a little about pharmaceutical production..."
"I thought I could contribute something to the village. I was worried the younger members of the clan might not be dependable, so I came myself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt deeply moved.
Ninjas had survived for centuries as tools of killing, but the emotions in their hearts burned fiercely.
Torifu Akimichi's experience made him think of another person from his generation in the village.
Maruboshi Kosuke.
He possessed Jonin-level strength and had been around for a very long time, yet because an early mistake had led to his comrades' deaths, he had willingly remained a Genin and always charged at the front in war.
"With a little polishing, this is excellent Material for the Will of Fire..."
"What great propaganda material..."
Such thoughts flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind as he clasped Torifu Akimichi's hand. "There's nothing to be done about the past, but without you here, I've always felt something missing."
"Among us, you really weren't good at combat, but when it came to managing logistics, you were always the best..."
"Now that you've returned, don't think about leaving again. Do more for the village! If Lord Tobirama's spirit watches over us, he would certainly want you to do this."
Torifu Akimichi nodded heavily.
Why did those words warm his heart so much?
"The laboratory has been set up very well, Orochimaru..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked around, raised a brow, and smiled teasingly. "The equipment is arranged quite thoroughly, isn't it?"
Clearly, many of these devices would not be needed to develop the "Health Secret Medicine" intended for Nobles.
"It was a rare opportunity, Teacher..." Orochimaru blinked. "It wasn't easy! Please rest assured, these devices will all be used for Konoha's development in the future."
"If you need funding or support with techniques, write me a report. The village has your back."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand grandly. "Research naturally requires costs in its early stages. I understand that."
"These investments are necessary. Science and technology are the primary productive forces—I have always believed that."
Hearing those words, Orochimaru turned them over in his mind again and again, and his eyes lit up.
As expected of his teacher...
Even if Shimura Danzō thought for a hundred years, he could never say something like that. He would only haggle endlessly over so-called costs.
He wanted the cow to grow well, but he did not want it to eat grass...
Wasn't that disgusting?
"Let me see your progress. How is it? Do you have a sample yet?"
"Over at the Administrative Department, Hono and Koharu have already begun sounding out the Land of Fire. We're proceeding on both fronts."
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"The preliminary sample is already complete. Using the Nara Clan's secret medicinal compounding manual as a foundation, incorporating Tsunade's adjustments and the ideas provided by Uncle Akimichi, I also made some adaptive modifications."
"First is the fast-acting layer. After consumption, it can stimulate the body, producing a sensation of comfort throughout the body and lightness in the limbs. With Snake Scale Extract, it also achieves a calming effect."
Orochimaru explained in detail.
"Second is the long-term layer. When taken repeatedly on schedule, it has anti-fatigue effects for ordinary people and will significantly improve the user's energy."
"The Toad Skin Oil provided by Mount Myoboku makes the formula's effects gentler and emphasizes nourishment."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with relative satisfaction.
The effects he had requested had, more or less, been preliminarily achieved.
But when the sample was presented before him, he could not help but laugh.
Why did it look so much like a Military Ration Pill?
No matter how good the effects were, it would not fetch a high price looking like that...
Before you continue