You Really Understand, Lord Third?

Hiruzen Sarutobi listened intently to Hiruko's report.

The core of the "Cell Fusion" he described was injecting foreign cells into a human body, stimulating the body to produce foreign Chakra and thereby awaken abilities it had not possessed before.

It was similar to Konoha's previous idea of injecting Hashirama Cells to awaken Wood Release.

However, Hiruko's current approach was more conservative.

He had started with less aggressive cells and shared many successful fusion cases and methods.

Although these examples contained no cases related to Kekkei Genkai due to a lack of Material and other reasons, they had already yielded many conclusions regarding cellular compatibility.

Keywords such as "compatibility" and "fusion" undoubtedly caught Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.

Senju Tobirama's notes had recorded something that deeply puzzled him.

Even someone as rigorous as him had wondered whether it was some twist of fate—why did his cells and Izuna Uchiha's cells display such astonishing compatibility?

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately thought of it.

Hiruko's technique might be applicable to that experimental subject in the Secret Archive.

It could allow the body based on Izuna Uchiha to completely fuse with the Senju Tobirama cells within it, achieving a state where the two became one, wholly integrated.

As Hiruko spoke, he secretly observed the Hokage's expression.

He was quietly shocked.

Third was listening far too seriously, wasn't he? He looked as solemn as if he were carrying out wartime deployment...

Yet the more it was like this, the better Hiruko felt.

To a researcher, the fruits of their research were like crystallized lifeblood. They never wanted others to look down on them, not even the Hokage...

Conversely, when their work was valued, the satisfaction they felt was beyond words.

"Even if Lord Third doesn't understand it, this attitude alone deserves my respect!" With that thought passing through his mind, Hiruko held nothing back and poured out all his ideas.

"That's roughly it, Lord Hokage..." Hiruko spoke to his heart's content. In the past, Orochimaru had been the only one he could communicate with.

And now, he could speak freely for so long before the Hokage...

Setting everything else aside, Third's respect for his technique gave him more than enough emotional validation.

"Mm..." Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly raised his teacup, contemplating what Hiruko had just said.

"You have some too. Let me think for a moment..."

Hiruko smiled knowingly and carefully savored the hot tea the Hokage had poured for him.

A cup of tea was not really anything special...

Yet he thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being noticed and acknowledged.

"Your line of thinking is very good."

"I considered the external environmental stimulation during fusion in my early years as well."

"Take cloning alone. The maternal gestation environment and the interaction between soul and body can both affect gene expression."

"If fusion is roughly regarded as a stage of cellular differentiation, perhaps some ideas from cloning can be borrowed..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled quietly to himself as he smoothly laid out ideas from Senju Tobirama's research notes:

"Chakra is both an important mechanism at work and potentially an interfering factor... This research is highly significant, but it will also require substantial manpower and resources for repetitive exploratory work."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in broad terms.

As a leader, how could one appear professional and seasoned before one's subordinates?

Discuss systems, frameworks, and standards. Avoid overly specific details, then use data and compliance as leverage. That made one seem both rigorous and well-positioned.

Besides, even regarding the details, Senju Tobirama was there to back him up.

The Second Hokage's legacy allowed Hiruzen Sarutobi, his fine disciple, to keep understanding it more deeply.

Once those words were spoken.

Hiruko, who had been carefully sipping his tea, unconsciously set down his cup and widened his eyes slightly.

What?

Lord Third, you really understood it?

His grasp of the overall direction, his explanation of the details, and the seasoned insight he revealed so casually...

Hiruko almost thought Orochimaru was sitting across from him!

"Lord Third, you... you've also dabbled in scientific research?"

"I was very interested when I was young, but after becoming Hokage, I realized I was merely of middling talent. I simply did not have the energy to manage village affairs and research at the same time..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head with a sigh. "Research requires imagination, focus, and time. In that regard, we must ultimately rely on young people like you."

Hiruko felt his teeth ache a little.

Middling talent?

But it also gave Hiruko a strange sense of relief.

It was not that gold like him failed to shine. Perhaps the village's upper ranks truly were full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and he simply had to wait his turn?

"Your idea is very good. Would you be interested in developing it together with the village?" Hiruzen Sarutobi set his empty teacup on the table and asked with a smile.

"In the future, the village will strongly support ninjutsu development and technical research."

Hiruko hurriedly rose to refill Hiruzen Sarutobi's cup.

So nervous was he that he even lightly wrapped a layer of Chakra around his fingers, lest he spill tea while pouring it for the Hokage.

That would be utterly humiliating...

"Lord Hokage, if needed, Hiruko is willing to offer this technique to the village!" Hiruko was quick to catch on.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled inwardly, but said with slight reproach, "You, honestly..."

"Offer it to the village? I understand the thoughts of researchers as well. Your achievements are the fruit of your hard work..." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.

"When I say develop it together, I mean develop it together! The village will provide personnel and financial support. The technique's attribution will clearly identify its developers, but naturally, the results must be shared with all of Konoha."

"And all that social maneuvering... Researchers just want to focus their energy and let Performance Metrics and results speak for themselves, right?" Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at the teacup before him.

Hiruko was somewhat dumbfounded.

Wait, not only did he understand research, he even understood researchers' psychology?

He really understood!

"You... you're absolutely right!" The way Hiruko looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi changed somewhat.

"The reforms must have spread throughout the Jonin circles by now, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a sip of tea and said warmly, "Your research talent is no less than Orochimaru's... This round of village reforms is meant to uncover talents like you!"

"We can't let you keep slacking off! We need you to shoulder more responsibility. Do you have confidence?"

Hiruko's heart trembled. He sprang to his feet like a spring, his back ramrod straight.

"I will obey all of Lord Hokage's instructions!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand. "Sit down, sit down. Let's talk while seated..."

The two spoke for a while longer before Hiruko finally left in high spirits.

He even volunteered to immediately organize his existing results and submit them to the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not surprised by this.

He had given Hiruko honor, respect, and goodwill. It was only natural that Hiruko would be willing to repay the village...

"Orochimaru, how is your soul research progressing?" Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed the tabletop as he pondered inwardly.

He was waiting for Orochimaru to come report to him voluntarily.

It was a small tacit understanding between master and disciple, and also part of the process of building unbreakable trust step by step.

The next day.

"Lord Hokage, this is a letter Uzumaki Kushina sent you!" An Anbu arrived.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred.