The Konoha higher-ups present all turned toward Nawaki with worried expressions upon hearing Danzo's words. They had been so shocked by Danzo's enormous conspiracy just now that they had failed to notice these details.
If the cloning experiments were truly exposed, not only would Nawaki's reputation take a hit, but Sarutobi would likely be implicated as well. Even Konoha as a whole might be condemned by the shinobi world. Paying such a heavy price merely to convict Danzo would hardly be worth it.
"Leader Danzo truly understands Teacher Sarutobi's character! At first, when Teacher Sarutobi learned that Orochimaru and I had built the cloning laboratory together, he nearly purged us from Konoha." Under everyone's gaze, Nawaki smiled unconcernedly. "However, after learning the truth behind the experiments, he changed his mind and agreed to our plan! In truth, our cloning experiments are fundamentally different from human cloning and human experimentation in the traditional sense! ..."
Next, Nawaki publicly repeated the theory he had used to persuade Sarutobi. The Konoha higher-ups present listened in constant amazement.
"A clone whose soul is removed before the embryo takes shape! That truly cannot be considered a real life!" A strange gleam flashed in Tsunade's eyes. "If this technology can truly be applied to medicine, it will bring an epoch-making advancement to medical standards throughout the shinobi world! In comparison, the moral concerns can be ignored! After all, modern medicine itself is built upon human dissection!"
Among those present, Tsunade, who excelled in Medical Ninjutsu, understood best the significance of clones in medicine. She was also more open-minded in her view of such matters.
"No soul... No wonder I always felt that corpse looked strange that day, yet I couldn't tell what was wrong. Thinking back on it now, it was the difference in its aura.