Inside the Research Department's research building.
A faint medicinal fragrance and ripples of energy filled the air.
Shinnō wore a white isolation suit, too engrossed in checking the final results to attend to the sweat running down his temples.
Orochimaru stepped forward to wipe it away for him.
Seeing this, Tsunade went over and wiped Tetsuhiro's sweat as well.
"Thank you. Xiao Gang, are you settling in here?"
"It's no fun at all. I'd rather practice taijutsu with Jiraiya and the others," Tsunade replied, puffing out her cheeks.
"This is something you have to learn. Fighting and killing are only the most basic things. What you're doing can benefit hundreds of millions of lives and change the Empire's future! Keep at it."
"I know already. You've said it over and over so many times I'm sick of hearing it."
Orochimaru gently chimed in. "Tsunade, you're just too fond of playing. His Majesty is right. What we're doing is great, noble! It's..."
"Shut up, Little Dumpling. You nag even more than Grandpa."
"..." Orochimaru shook his head helplessly, his tomoe earrings swaying, and continued observing the test subject.
Orochimaru was still rather cute at this age. With both his parents alive, there was no sign of the extreme madness he would display later.
"The subject's vital signs and all other readings have returned to normal. He will awaken shortly," Noah reported from the computer.
Then Daitokuji's fingers twitched on the examination table, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"I feel so at ease. It's like I'm alive again." Daitokuji assessed his condition and found that he had not only recovered, but was stronger than before, and his mind was clearer too.
He rolled off the table and jogged over, bowing respectfully. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, and everyone else.