Chapter 59: Conversation
"Lord Orochimaru, it's so late. Is there something you need me for?"
Hyuga Mirai's expression wasn't very good, but it wasn't due to fatigue. Instead, it was because he had been interrupted while designing the electromagnetic sensing circuit system for his biomechanical assistant, which put him in a bad mood.
"Hehehe, Mirai-kun, are you working on a new research project?"
Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely. He was all too familiar with Hyuga Mirai's expression. Not long ago, when his research on hashirama cells wasn't progressing well, that fool Danzo would come to ask for updates almost every two days.
At that time, Orochimaru had the exact same expression, perhaps even more severe.
However, Orochimaru found Hyuga Mirai's expression quite interesting. Hmm... Could Danzo have been asking for updates every two days because he saw that expression on him back then?
"I suddenly had an idea, so it's about this matter. Lord Orochimaru, you already know?"
Hyuga Mirai suddenly realized that besides this, there was probably nothing else Orochimaru would call him out for in the middle of the night.
War tactics had nothing to do with him, a Chunin, and the only common ground between them was research and experiments.
Orochimaru said, "You even managed to take the Sand Ninja Village's puppets during your mission. If it weren't for your actions in treating the injured and successfully completing the mission, the interrogation department would probably be looking for you right now."
Hyuga Mirai's mouth twitched. He said, "Such a small matter can be reported? Isn't it only natural to recover Ninja tools during a mission?"
"But you specifically targeted puppet masters. However, these are just minor issues. After all, no matter how much they complain, I'm the one who handles it in the end."
Orochimaru said with a smile. In the afternoon, while Hyuga Mirai was still treating the injured, someone reported Hyuga Mirai's 'crazy' collection of Sand Ninja Village's puppets during the enemy suppression mission.
Someone suggested calling Hyuga Mirai in for questioning, as the Sand Ninja Village's puppets were just a pile of scrap metal without a method of use. And for a branch family Ninja of the Hyuga Clan to collect a large number of Sand Ninja Village's puppets, they considered it a matter worth inquiring about.
On the battlefield, any unreasonable point needed to be carefully considered.
However, Orochimaru rejected all those suggestions. He knew that this deeply hidden young mentor, Hyuga Mirai, would not make any abnormal moves unless necessary. But now, he was ostentatiously collecting Sand Ninja puppet masters on the battlefield, which surely meant he had a new research project.
"A new type of biomechanical assistant. As long as the energy drive problem is solved, its cost, loyalty, and convenience will only be slightly lower than clones. Currently, it's quite suitable for me."
Hyuga Mirai casually tossed the design blueprint for the semi-finished biomechanical limb to Orochimaru for him to look at; this was his second version, with many areas that needed correction, and Hyuga Mirai had already revised it to the seventh version, and it would definitely need further improvements during manufacturing.
"There are too many restrictions in the village. With this assistant, I'll have an extra pair of eyes and ears when I'm outside. Oh, by the way, Lord Orochimaru, do you have any guesses about the village's upcoming reaction?"
"Reaction? It's nothing more than rebuking me. Besides that, can they remove me from my position as overall commander... Mirai-kun, do you have any thoughts on energy drive and the mind control of biomechanical assistants?"
You didn't call me out in the middle of the night just to discuss experiments, did you?
Hyuga Mirai narrowed his eyes at Orochimaru in exasperation, but Orochimaru remained oblivious, still looking at Hyuga Mirai's design blueprint with appreciative clicks of his tongue.
Using mechanical power, no wonder he needed to collect puppets; this idea was good. The human body has pain and many limitations, but the combination of machinery and biology can break this limitation. Perhaps the two subordinates in the laboratory could be modified to increase their strength...
Orochimaru's thoughts drifted far without him realizing it. There were three experimental subjects who had fused with hashirama cells in total. The one who awakened Wood Release was given to Danzo, and the remaining two inherited the characteristics of high cell activity and large Chakra reserves.
At Hyuga Mirai's suggestion, Orochimaru also took these two experimental subjects as his subordinates. Even if they had mediocre talent before, by fusing with the genetic sequence of hashirama cells, they gained the potential to become Jonin.
When he returned, he would mechanically modify and strengthen the weaknesses of these two, and in the future, they would become his capable subordinates.
Orochimaru thought with a surge of excitement. He held the design scroll in his hand, somewhat reluctant to return it: "Mirai-kun..."
"It's yours, Lord Orochimaru. This is just a design concept that's still being improved."
How could Hyuga Mirai not know Orochimaru's thoughts? They were practically written all over his face; for him, it was just an 'outdated' design, and he just happened to have other matters to discuss with Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru, are you short on money?"
Orochimaru's expression froze for a moment before he replied, "Currently, I'm fine, but I'll definitely need a lot of funds later..."
After all, who would complain about having too much money when doing research? If Orochimaru had enough funds, he would create ten clones of himself at once and conduct a large number of hashirama cells fusion experiments.
"In that case, we can completely benefit from this war. You know, war is about resources, and even Ninja are no exception. I'm most familiar with medical supplies. As long as you give me the authority, I can do it in a way that no one will notice. And Shuriken, Kunai, Exploding Tag, and so on..."
The words that came out of Hyuga Mirai's mouth were like the whispers of a devil, opening a new door for Orochimaru. Behind this door was the solution to his research funding problems.
However, at this time, Orochimaru was still a Konoha Ninja. He did not want Konoha to lose the war. Although research was important, he was not without feelings for Konoha.
"It's not about Lord Orochimaru deliberately losing the war and harming the lives of fellow Konoha Ninja. In a camp of a thousand people, if each Ninja simply over-reports two Shuriken, Kunai, and Exploding Tag, that's nearly ten million Ryo in research funds. And with Lord Orochimaru's abilities, I'm afraid the Sand Ninja won't last many battles..."
"If that's the case, Mirai-kun, I will consider it."
Orochimaru's heart stirred a little, but he needed to think this matter over carefully.
Manipulating logistics was not difficult at all, especially since Orochimaru was one of the Sannin. He could arrange everything in the camp.
Seeing that the timing was right, Hyuga Mirai said no more. The rest was up to Orochimaru to decide, but he still had a few requests, which he decided to bring up now.
"Lord Orochimaru, can you give me some more flexible missions in the future?"
"Mirai-kun, what kind of flexibility are you referring to?"
"Long-term outdoor reconnaissance missions."
"I understand. Don't worry, Mirai-kun. Given your squad's abilities, such missions are indeed very suitable for you."
I will write the Ninja World in more detail. Also, I think about three scientist templates would be enough to drag the Six Paths Sage out of the Pure Land and beat him up.