Early the next morning, before the thin mist had dispersed, the lights were already on inside the Konoha Research Institute's Affiliated Laboratory Building.
Orochimaru was among the first to arrive.
The corridor was silent, with only his footsteps echoing.
At the entrance to the changing room, he encountered the senior student leading this cutting-edge project team, a Jonin specializing in chakra energy conversion.
"Orochimaru, you're here early."
Senior Sousuke adjusted his glasses and greeted him with a smile, a thick stack of documents in his arms.
"Morning, Senior Sousuke."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod, his golden vertical pupils sweeping over the files in the other man's arms.
"Today is a critical milestone for the chakra-simulated electrical power directional transfer and temporary storage project. I wanted to confirm the third group's control parameters early."
"I knew you'd be thinking about that."
Senior Sousuke pulled out the top bound document and handed it to him.
"Here. These are some new ideas I organized last night, mainly based on the Hokage's Overview of Basic Energy Theory.
"There are many... concepts and examples that go beyond the current ninjutsu system."
The two walked side by side toward the specialized laboratory deeper inside. As they walked, the senior student excitedly discussed the matter in a low voice.
"I repeatedly studied the Hokage's section on 'electricity,' and one of its core points is this:
"Electricity in nature cannot be stored in ordinary containers, but its effects can be transferred through specific mediums, guided, and put to use.
"That gave me tremendous inspiration.
"We've been fixated on how to store the electrical energy simulated by chakra. Perhaps the direction itself was somewhat misguided."
Orochimaru rapidly flipped through the documents, his sharp gaze catching the key passages as he replied.
"Just like high-level Lightning Release ninjutsu. Its destructive