Thoughts He Shouldn't Have!

Although Hiruko was still young and might lack experience, the improvement in his research abilities was undeniable.

All the higher-ups began to value him even more. They believed that, with his talent, the day when Hiruko completely deciphered the First Hokage's Wood Release and truly applied it to ninja was not far off.

Most of them waited eagerly, hoping that the power of Wood Release would become their own.

Especially Danzo, who watched Hiruko every day. Seeing him stroll around so leisurely filled him with anticipation and longing.

When Shimura Danzo saw Hiruko taking that Uchiha brat to wander around dessert shops instead of focusing on training or researching Wood Release—

He wanted nothing more than to lock Hiruko in a little dark room and make him conduct research day and night.

At such a critical moment, the young master of the Uchiha Clan was actually getting close to Hiruko, the hen that laid golden eggs. This immediately aroused the utmost vigilance among Konoha's higher-ups.

Konoha's great clans all knew perfectly well about the Life One medicine Hiruko had developed.

They feared that Fugaku Uchiha might harbor some thoughts he should not have.

The Uchiha Clan had always been proud and unruly, an unstable factor within Konoha. If they gained the power of Wood Release as well, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Hiruko picked up the soft mousse cake on the table, took a gentle bite, then continued, "The Uchiha Clan?"

"Heh heh, I only know a handful of Uchiha clansmen. The data sample is too small for me to draw an objective conclusion.

Besides, clans and individuals are, in my view, things that absolutely cannot be lumped together.

So, Minato, I cannot answer your question."

Come to think of it, Hiruko had greatly despised that sort of regional prejudice in his previous life.

Every place had good people and bad people. How could everyone from one region become bad people, or everyone from one region become good people?

That simply did not exist.

Moreover, aside from genetics, a person's character had an absolute relationship with their environment.

For example, in the ninja world, there might not be much else, but there were definitely plenty of lunatics. Even Hiruko, an outsider, had been assimilated into a lunatic here.

"Senior Hiruko is absolutely right. A clan truly cannot simply be conflated with an individual," Minato Namikaze said after careful consideration.

At that moment, his mind filled with images of his student Obito Uchiha, the rising Uchiha talent Shisui, and his friend Fugaku Uchiha.

Those three were all rather unique individuals within the Uchiha Clan, and they shared one common trait: kindness.

Minato Namikaze asked tentatively, "Then, Senior Hiruko, what do you think of Itachi Uchiha? Would you be interested in taking him as a disciple?"

His tone was gentle, and he wore a smile, completely unlike those older generations with dark thoughts.

As the Fourth Hokage, he had his own ideas and foresight. Given enough time, he believed he could bring everything under control and restore Konoha's vitality.

Unlike Danzo and the others, who guarded against the Uchiha Clan as though they were enemies and even persecuted them, Minato Namikaze held no prejudice against them.

On the contrary, he was more inclined to win over the Uchiha Clan and make them part of the village, nourishment for the village—allowing them to integrate into it rather than isolating and pressuring them.

Because he understood that isolation and pressure would only harm Konoha's interests.

The Uchiha Clan was quite powerful. If they could integrate perfectly into the village, that would be for the best!

Therefore, he did not mind Itachi Uchiha growing too close to Hiruko. Instead, he wanted to use this opportunity to make their relationship even closer.

Minato Namikaze intended to turn Itachi Uchiha and Hiruko into a bridge between the Uchiha Clan and the village.

Hiruko had an extremely close relationship with the Hokage's faction, and his scientific inventions had benefited countless civilian ninja.

Minato Namikaze believed that Hiruko could help them communicate with and understand the Uchiha Clan more effectively, thereby promoting the village's harmony and development.

Aside from Tsunade, Hiruko could be considered one of Konoha's strongest medical ninja, as well as one of its foremost experts in medical ninjutsu.

If Hiruko did not dislike drawing attention to himself so much, he would likely have entered Konoha's true upper echelon of power long ago. No one could ignore his existence.

However, Hiruko was not passionate about power. He preferred tinkering with all sorts of things in his laboratory.

"A disciple?"

Hiruko shook his head. "No, I'm not interested for the time being."

"Itachi Uchiha is indeed very intelligent. He is mature for his age, quick-witted, and exceptionally gifted in combat.

But that does not mean he can achieve anything in scientific research.

Still, he is young and highly malleable. Everything remains to be seen."

Minato Namikaze nodded, indicating that he understood Hiruko's meaning.

Hiruko, who stood on the same level as the Third Hokage, clearly had his own principles. He would never take on a disciple lightly, and this was also a test for any potential disciple.

"Forgive me for asking, Senior Hiruko, but how far has your research into Wood Release progressed?" Minato Namikaze continued.

He himself was somewhat repulsed by the idea of applying Hashirama Cells to the human body in order to achieve Wood Release, because he knew it would definitely require sacrificing a large number of people as test subjects.

But this was an issue personally watched by the higher-ups, even the retired former Hokage.

Minato Namikaze could only ask on their behalf. After all, he had only just taken over Konoha, and for the time being, he still needed to rely on the older generation for many matters.

The wisdom of the older generation was not without merit, either.

Hiruko glanced at Minato and slowly said, "Mastering Wood Release is not difficult. The difficult part is replicating the First Hokage's level of power."

"Wood Release is powerful because the First Hokage was extraordinary. When ordinary people use Wood Release, it is nowhere near as formidable as you imagine, much less capable of casually beating tailed beasts or pacifying an era of war."

At that, Hiruko chuckled and continued, "If you want to see Wood Release now, I can give you a demonstration."

As he spoke, Hiruko lightly stomped on the ground. The floor of his laboratory suddenly cracked apart, and an arm-thick vine shot out from the fissure, wrapping directly around Minato Namikaze's thigh.

Minato Namikaze struggled with all his strength, yet the vine instantly snapped apart.

A faint smile appeared on Hiruko's lips. "That's right, this is Wood Release. But for people at our level, it is simply too weak and has no practical use."

He had not expected Hiruko to have truly developed a method for Wood Release and already mastered its power.

When Minato Namikaze saw the vine at his feet, he froze. Then his pupils could not help but contract. Wood Release!

The ultimate power with which the Senju Clan had dominated the ninja world.

Even he was tempted by it.

Most importantly... did Hiruko harbor certain thoughts he should not have?

What should he do!

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