Orochimaru's tone grew increasingly certain, his thoughts already racing deeper along this newly opened crack:
"Senior Brother Sousuke, think back on the Hokage's ideals in recent years and the reality Konoha faces.
"The Hokage emphasizes putting people first. In the foreseeable future, large-scale, high-consumption ninja combat will inevitably be restricted to reduce needless casualties.
"Then, when our advantage in manpower must be used cautiously, what will fill the gap in combat power?
"What can maximize our ninja's chances of survival?"
He did not need Sousuke to answer and continued on his own:
"More efficient, deadlier, more specialized tools and weapons.
"The Explosive Tags, Kunai, and Shuriken we currently rely on are far too simplistic and primitive in both form and power.
"If we can successfully contain this unstable, violent electrical energy in a controllable manner and release it in a directed way...
"Imagine it. It would no longer be a broad blast of flame, but a more concentrated, faster, more penetrating means of attack with an added paralyzing effect.
"This could allow one of our Chunin, under specific circumstances, to unleash instantaneous destructive power close to that of a Jonin, or make our tactical options more varied and unpredictable."
As Sousuke listened to Orochimaru's analysis, so calm it was nearly cruel, and saw the blazing researcher's light in his eyes, a chill crawled up his spine.
Yet deep within him, a researcher's desire to explore and a sense of mission that had been ignited began to stir.
"But, junior brother... our project was originally intended for civilian use.
"Wouldn't this shift be..."
"The Hokage has also said that the boundary between military and civilian technology has never been fixed. The two often transform into and promote one another."
Orochimaru quoted the wording from the higher-ups' guiding documents with precision:
"Senior