Chapter 28: Borrowing Money for Research
After receiving the key to the Konoha Hospital laboratory, Hyuga Mirai did not stay long with Tsunade and directly excused himself.
Dr. Nakano then led him to the Konoha Hospital laboratory.
"Mirai-kun, the equipment here is very expensive, so you must be careful when conducting experiments."
Before leaving, Dr. Nakano patted Hyuga Mirai's shoulder and instructed him.
"Although I don't quite understand what you just said to Lady Tsunade, with your talent, Mirai-kun, you will definitely succeed."
Hyuga Mirai smiled and said, "Then I thank Dr. Nakano for his kind words."
Subsequently, after Dr. Nakano left, Hyuga Mirai entered the laboratory alone.
The room was quite spacious and contained many valuable pieces of equipment. On the left, there were two rows of cabinets filled with various materials. The laboratory appeared to have been unused.
Hyuga Mirai carefully scanned the surroundings with his Byakugan, and only after confirming there were no surveillance devices did he relax.
"If it's brand new, then I've really hit the jackpot."
Hyuga Mirai thought with a slight smile. Konoha Hospital had been built less than ten years ago, and not long after its construction, Tsunade's boyfriend died in the war, causing her to develop hemophobia.
Aside from Tsunade, almost no one else had a need for research. This greatly benefited Hyuga Mirai, as many of the items within were purchased by Tsunade back then, making the collection quite comprehensive.
"Byakugan gene research and Yang Release Chakra analysis can be conducted simultaneously. I wonder if Orochimaru would be interested in cellular genetics at this time; I could subtly probe him."
Hyuga Mirai pondered in his mind. He had to produce something genuinely valuable to show his worth to the higher-ups, so he could secure continuous investment in the future.
Otherwise, the laboratory would not be open to him for no reason. Even within Konoha Hospital, only director-level physicians were qualified to apply.
Hyuga Mirai only got this opportunity because his team brought back a Stone Ninja.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Bang!
Hyuga Mirai created two Shadow Clones. His strength had improved significantly, and since this wasn't for training, the Shadow Clones could last for a long time, so he created two.
"First, calibrate the equipment, then let's begin."
Hyuga Mirai's main body said. The Shadow Clones acknowledged him and then went about their respective tasks.
While the technological development in the Ninja World was somewhat skewed, medical equipment was quite advanced. Even if it couldn't compare to the One-Punch Man world, it was temporarily sufficient for Hyuga Mirai.
After calibrating the equipment, Hyuga Mirai began to research separately.
If some materials were not available in the laboratory, he would send a Shadow Clone to buy them from outside.
Research was extremely tedious, especially given the differences in the number of human cells between the One-Punch Man world and the Ninja World's shinobi. These differences required Hyuga Mirai to constantly experiment and repeatedly test to find the convergence point between the two.
Kaminari Kaede had given them a generous break, a full half-month without mission assignments. As for training, it was left to individual initiative.
This was also because they had taken on too many missions recently, starting with C-rank missions and continuously taking them for several months, finally completing an A-rank mission due to the Stone Ninja.
After gaining access to the laboratory, Hyuga Mirai virtually disappeared from his team. Without him to mediate, Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi also didn't spend time together; one was training Gentle Fist in the main house, while the other was training genjutsu with her father.
Hyuga Mirai had acquired Dr. Kinnos's knowledge and memories. After much thought and experimentation regarding cellular differences, he found a solution.
"There are traces of changes in the molecular structure of cell genes, but these traces disappear when the cells die. Is this the effect of the Caged Bird Curse Seal?"
Hyuga Mirai pondered, realizing through continuous genetic testing of his own cells that there was something unusual.
"The sample is too small. It seems I need to get some cell samples from Hyuga Kiyomi."
The Shadow Clone also spoke, "Main body, we're also running low on materials. Many materials cannot withstand Yang Release Chakra; I need specialized Chakra paper."
Upon hearing this, Hyuga Mirai immediately felt a headache and said, "Chakra paper isn't cheap! It seems experiments truly aren't something a poor person can afford."
In just three days, he had spent all his savings. Apart from money for food, Hyuga Mirai was practically penniless.
Although the Shadow Clone had made some small progress, he now lacked knowledge of Sealing Jutsu. Relying solely on material experimentation, it would be difficult to make significant further progress.
By now, the longest Yang Release Chakra could remain attached to paper was two minutes. After that time, the Chakra would gradually dissipate.
He needed to increase the duration of Yang Release Chakra's retention to at least four minutes before he could present a semi-finished product to the Hyuga Clan or the Third Hokage to request advanced Sealing Jutsu knowledge.
"You two help me record the experiments here. I'm going to borrow money."
Subsequently, Hyuga Mirai walked out of the Konoha Hospital laboratory.
He knew many people in Konoha Village, but the only ones he could ask for money were Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi. Although Dr. Nakano could also lend some, he had a family, so he was not within Hyuga Mirai's consideration.
Kurenai Yuhi's success rate might be higher, so Hyuga Mirai first went to Kurenai Yuhi's house.
When he arrived, Kurenai Yuhi happened to be home and was both surprised and delighted by Hyuga Mirai's visit.
"Kurenai, I won't come in. I came to see you about something," Hyuga Mirai said softly, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Could you lend me some money? I urgently need a lot of money recently, and I'll pay you back later."
Although Kurenai Yuhi was curious about why Hyuga Mirai needed to borrow money, she still agreed.
Combining her childhood savings with mission earnings, Kurenai Yuhi later asked her father, Yuhi Shinzu, for some more, gathering nearly one million ryo, which she then handed to Hyuga Mirai.
After leaving Kurenai Yuhi, Hyuga Mirai returned to the Hyuga Clan Land, found Hyuga Kiyomi, and explained his intention.
Although Hyuga Kiyomi was very displeased with Hyuga Mirai's disappearance for several days, after scolding him, she still lent him a sum of money.
With the money in hand, Hyuga Mirai immediately went to buy many experimental items, and then returned to the laboratory.
After handing everything over to the Shadow Clones, he began continuous day and night experimental research.
This time, when he left the laboratory, Hyuga Mirai didn't get Hyuga Kiyomi's cells, mainly because it was difficult to ask without a suitable reason.
Should he ask for blood or hair? Asking casually would make others think he was offending the main family, and at the very least, he would be scolded, and Hyuga Kiyomi might even mistake him for a pervert.
There would be opportunities in the future. As long as they had time alone, wouldn't it be easy to trick a child?
Hyuga Mirai stayed in the laboratory for another seven days. During this time, Dr. Nakano visited several times, and seeing Hyuga Mirai busy, he would just glance and leave.
It wasn't until the two million ryo worth of materials were almost used up that Hyuga Mirai's Shadow Clone gave him good news.