"Wood Release?! Your Hashirama Cells experiment succeeded?" Hiruzen was shaken to the core.
According to the report Danzo had given him, the results of this top-secret experiment had undoubtedly been a failure. In the end, only one baby had been lucky enough to survive.
Although that baby had been able to use Wood Release after growing up, he had shown nowhere near the strength of the First.
As for the Hashirama Cells implanted directly into adults, without exception, they turned the test subjects into tree-like beings covered in branches. Their deaths had been gruesome.
Danzo had actually dared to use Hashirama Cells on himself. Clearly, the experiment had made further progress.
But hadn't Hiruzen ordered the related experiments to stop after driving Orochimaru away? Could Danzo have continued his research in secret?
Hiruzen's gaze fell on the arm, which was visibly mutated. He quickly noticed the Sharingan implanted in it, and immediately understood.
"You said the Uchiha Clan was plotting a rebellion, and I actually believed you. Was it all just so you could complete your experiment?" Hiruzen's eyes widened as he suddenly realized something.
"Hmph! Don't tell me you're going to pin the blame on me, Hiruzen. You were the Hokage who ordered the Uchiha Clan's extermination. What does that have to do with me, Danzo?"
"What about Bishi? Did you target him for his Sharingan, too?"
"Hmph. Being able to contribute to Konoha was his honor."
"You... do you have any idea what you're saying?!" Hiruzen was furious, his face turning terribly grim. It turned out he had been kept in the dark all along.
"The Uchiha Clan had been plotting a rebellion from the start. I merely took advantage of their resentment toward Konoha. Now that we've come this far, I might as well tell you the