"This is an astonishing discovery, Hokage-sama!"
Seeing Senju Mori approach, another researcher immediately came forward, his voice filled with uncontainable excitement:
"Through cellular analysis, it can be confirmed that they indeed possess extremely faint special bloodline characteristics. It is very likely, as the rumors suggest, the bloodline of the legendary Six Paths Sage."
"But no matter what it is, it makes their cells far superior to ordinary Ninjas in terms of energy conductivity and stability."
He quickly tapped a few times on the control panel beside him and pulled out corresponding comparative data, displaying it all to Senju Mori.
"You see, this is the state of an ordinary Ninja's cells under Chakra flow impact, and this is the reaction of Kinkaku and Ginkaku's cells—their cell morphology is more stable, and their tolerance limit for Chakra is dozens of times higher!"
The researcher then pointed to the slice image under the microscope: "Even more astonishing is their adaptability to Nine-Tailed Chakra."
"We detected a high concentration of Nine-Tailed Chakra in their cellular residue, but the cells themselves were not eroded or damaged; instead, they exhibited a peculiar symbiotic stability."
"Their cellular structure seems to have undergone a mutation, capable of, to a certain extent, restraining and even adapting to the violent Tailed Beast Chakra, transforming it into their own power."
Senju Mori gazed at the bizarre cellular images, a flash of understanding in his eyes. This was likely the key to Kinkaku and Ginkaku being able to swallow Nine-Tailed flesh without dying, and instead gaining some of the Nine-Tailed's power.
"So, the key isn't merely in the capacity to withstand, but in a special mechanism of restraint and transformation?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama! This is a natural, bloodline-based 'degraded Jinchuriki' model. If we can unravel the mystery of this cellular structure, perhaps..."
The researcher's voice trembled with excitement.
"There's no rush with the Jinchuriki matter."
Senju Mori, however, placed a hand on his shoulder, interrupting him:
"Have you ever considered that since Kinkaku and Ginkaku's cells can adapt to and even restrain the more violent Nine-Tailed Chakra, can they adapt to Shodai(1st)-sama's cells?"
"Adapt to Shodai(1st)-sama's cells?"
The researcher immediately froze. After a moment of rapid thought, an even more excited expression appeared on his face.
"Yes, why didn't I think of that..."
"The essence of Shodai(1st)-sama's cellular invasiveness is also an uncontrollable, immense energy. If this restraint mechanism can be effective..."
"Begin the experiment immediately," Senju Mori ordered.
"Yes!"
With the command from him, the Hokage, the entire laboratory instantly became busy.
Two experimenters each extracted some cellular tissue from the materials. After a series of extremely skilled operations, two tubes of transparent cell fusion liquid were quickly prepared.
Another experimenter led in a small deer and deftly secured it on an empty test bench.
After the two tubes of cell solution were injected simultaneously into the deer's body, the air in the laboratory seemed to solidify. Everyone watched the scene with anticipation in their eyes.
The deer soon began to struggle violently, letting out desperate wails as if enduring immense pain.
For this scene, the experimenters present were already accustomed to it. They simply kept silent track of the time.
After about three to four minutes, this experimental subject, which had fused diluted Hashirama cells and Kinkaku and Ginkaku cell tissue, finally gradually quieted down, and its wails significantly weakened.
But soon, after a bout of uncontrolled spasms, it completely lost its vital signs.
"Six minutes and thirteen seconds."
The research team leader ended the timing and quickly recorded this latest data.
"It failed."
Senju Mori announced calmly, not surprised by the result.
He had actually anticipated that it wouldn't be smooth sailing. The difficulty of the Hashirama cell experiment was extremely high; it certainly wouldn't succeed with just a sudden idea or a single simple attempt.
The research team leader immediately stepped forward, his gloved finger pointing to a specific part of the experimental subject on the dissection table.
"Hokage-sama, please look here..."
After a careful examination, he cautiously peeled back the outermost fur, revealing the underlying body tissue that was not yet fully wood-transformed, still in a state of fresh flesh and blood.
"Unlike the state of previous experimental subjects when they died, its body only partially wood-transformed. The main cause of death was a systemic collapse caused by the conflict of the two cellular energies within the body."
"The experimental results confirm your idea; the specificity of Kinkaku and Ginkaku's cells indeed significantly inhibited the wood transformation process. The new problem we now face is how to reconcile the energy conflict between these two types of cells."
Senju Mori nodded and said:
"Continue to research methods to inhibit Shodai(1st)-sama's cells, but you can appropriately try to fuse Kinkaku and Ginkaku's cell tissue with lower-activity Shodai(1st)-sama's cells to test the effects of different fusion ratios."
"You have ample time to gradually optimize the experiments. Research funding, materials, and equipment are not a problem."
The previous war, in addition to resolving the issue of research funding, also provided Konoha with a large number of experimental materials.
Besides top-tier materials like Kinkaku and Ginkaku, Senju Mori also brought back a large number of Cloud Hidden Ninjas corpses from the battlefield.
The research team leader, however, took a deep breath and said:
"Hokage-sama, the research funding you provided is very ample, and various experimental equipment is already very complete, but we lack a sufficient number of suitable... live subjects."
Perhaps worried that Senju Mori didn't fully understand, he took a step closer and added in a lowered voice:
"The current animal experimental subjects, their life level and Chakra carrying capacity, simply cannot support such high-end power fusion research."
"We need... live subjects closer to Ninjas, possessing a Chakra circulatory system, to observe the true reaction of cells in a Chakra environment, especially the adaptive changes to Shodai(1st)-sama's cells."
He deliberately avoided that word, but everyone in the laboratory understood what he was referring to.
The previously enthusiastic atmosphere instantly solidified. The surroundings became so quiet that only the somewhat heavy breathing of everyone and the subtle humming of various instruments could be heard.
"I will solve the problem of materials."
Senju Mori's voice remained calm, seemingly without any emotional changes from beginning to end.
"You continue with the research on related topics; you don't need to worry about the rest."
"Furthermore, starting today, the laboratory's security level will be raised to the highest, and Anbu will also provide continuous 24-hour protection. All experimental records will be classified as top secret."
With that, Senju Mori turned and walked towards the door, leaving the laboratory without looking back.