Hashirama Cells and Sharingan

The research base of Root was as gloomy as ever.

Cold steel walls blocked out the sunlight from the outside world, with only dim lights casting flickering shadows in the narrow corridors, stretching human silhouettes into long, eerie shapes.

"Orochimaru, I am pleased that you have come of your own volition."

"The future of Konoha, after all, belongs to you young people."

Danzo sat in the main seat, a formulaic smile on his face, though not a shred of genuine emotion could be discerned in those deep, sunken eyes.

"Danzo-sama, let's skip the pleasantries, shall we?"

Orochimaru pulled up a chair and sat down casually, his golden snake-like pupils watching the other man calmly as he spoke indifferently.

"Oh?"

"Then, Orochimaru, have you already steeled yourself to step into the darkness?"

The smile on Danzo's face faltered for a moment before fading away, his expression turning solemn.

He leaned forward slightly, and an invisible pressure began to permeate the room.

"Darkness?"

Orochimaru repeated the word, as if savoring its meaning.

"The more lush and leafy the great tree of Konoha becomes, the more complex its roots buried deep underground must be, absorbing those nutrients that cannot see the light of day."

"The Hokage stands in the sunlight; he is the face of Konoha, the light revered by all villagers."

"Therefore, someone must always do the things that belong in the shadows, to shoulder the necessary evils."

"I am the root of Konoha, the darkness beneath this land."

Danzo let out a cold snort, his gaze sharpening; his voice was low, yet carried an unquestionable resolve.

"I understand."

"Some experiments, some methods, are indeed not suitable to be brought into the light."

"That much resolve, I possess."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru nodded slightly and replied.

"Very good! I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

"Compared to Sarutobi, you and I are more alike..."

A flicker of appreciation crossed Danzo's eyes, as if he were quite satisfied with this "honesty" from Orochimaru.

He waved his hand, signaling the few Root ninja standing guard in the room to withdraw.

"Follow me."

Danzo stood up, his hunched back appearing somewhat desolate under the lights.

He led Orochimaru deeper into the base.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the empty corridor, and the atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.

"Orochimaru, you should know that a large part of my research was inherited from my mentor, the Second Hokage."

As he walked, Danzo spoke slowly, his voice sounding somewhat hollow in the corridor.

"Ever since the battle between the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha at the Valley of the End, the Second Hokage discovered something amiss."

"On the First Hokage's arm, there remained an unusual scar."

Danzo paused, as if recalling the scene from years ago.

"When the Second Hokage asked about it, the First Hokage only said it was a piece of flesh sliced off by Madara Uchiha."

"This alerted my mentor."

"That area was not a vital point, and given the First Hokage's monstrous regenerative abilities, such an injury should have healed instantly."

"And based on my mentor's understanding of Madara Uchiha, that man would never have made such a meaningless attack."

"Hm?"

Orochimaru was taken aback by these words, a ripple of interest appearing in his pupils.

Could it be...

"So..."

Danzo's footsteps stopped in front of a heavy metal door.

"The Second Hokage kept it from the First Hokage and secretly went to exhume the grave of Madara Uchiha."

"As for the result, you can probably guess."

Danzo turned his head, his gaze burning as he stared at Orochimaru.

"The grave was empty."

"Madara Uchiha did not die in that battle."

"Not only that, his true purpose in that battle against the First Hokage was likely to obtain the First Hokage's bodily tissues..."

Orochimaru took a deep breath, matching the other's rhythm as he slowly exhaled his conclusion.

He thought to himself that this Tobirama Senju was truly terrifyingly sharp.

To think he could deduce such a shocking truth from such meager clues.

In this way, it perfectly explained why Danzo, having inherited the research results of the Second Hokage, would risk universal condemnation to frantically research Hashirama Cells and the Sharingan.

The fundamental purpose was to figure out the schemes of Madara Uchiha and the changes that might occur when those two powers were combined.

Wait...

A flash of inspiration struck Orochimaru's mind.

If this were true, could the death of the Second Hokage also be related to the lurking Madara Uchiha?

After all, those who know too much often do not live long.

Furthermore, if this premise were applied, then the reason the Konoha leadership later decided to eradicate the Uchiha clan seemed even more justified.

The Night of the Nine-Tails was suspected to be the work of Madara Uchiha; after all, he was the only one known to have used the Sharingan to control a Tailed Beast before.

Danzo also knew that Madara Uchiha had fought the First Hokage to the death previously for the sake of obtaining First Hokage Cells.

He even knew through research that the combination of First Hokage Cells and the Sharingan would produce a miraculous chemical reaction.

Thus, the existence of the Uchiha clan, in the eyes of Konoha, had its potential threat magnified infinitely.

After all, no one could guarantee that the vanished Madara Uchiha wouldn't suddenly jump out one day and implant Hashirama Cells into every member of the Uchiha clan.

If it ever reached that point, heaven knows what would happen.

"Correct."

Danzo seemed to see through Orochimaru's thoughts and said in a deep voice:

"This is the original intention behind my founding of Root."

"To inherit the teacher's will and thoroughly eliminate every factor that could threaten Konoha from the root!"

His eyes became fanatical and paranoid.

"So... come and help me, Orochimaru-kun."

"The research materials and equipment you need, I can provide them all."

"We share a common goal, don't we?"

Danzo slowly raised his hand and pressed it against the identification device beside the metal door.

"Click—"

The heavy metal door slowly slid open to both sides amidst a teeth-grinding screech of friction.

Blinding white light poured out from the gap, causing Orochimaru, who had grown accustomed to the darkness, to instinctively squint his eyes.

Behind the door was a massive laboratory, far more spacious than the corridor outside.

Various precision instruments with unidentifiable names flickered with eerie lights, emitting a faint hum.

The air was filled with a pungent, stifling odor, a mixture of formalin and the scent of blood.

And in the very center of the laboratory stood several enormous glass culture tanks.

The tanks were filled with a pale yellow nutrient solution.

Several indescribable, slightly writhing masses of pale flesh were soaking within the nutrient solution.

Even more shocking was that embedded within those writhing masses of flesh were several scarlet eyeballs!

Three tomoe slowly rotated at the base of the crimson irises, emitting an ominous and eerie aura...