With the first successful case confirmed, the following experiments became much simpler.
After that, the work mainly consisted of observation, recording data, and comparing the treatment effects against the possible risks.
As Konoha's leading medical-nin, Tsunade was also assigned by Hiruzen Sarutobi to participate in the later stages of the experiments.
Since this weakened version of Hashirama's cells was intended to be packaged as medicine and sold to daimyō, nobles, politicians, and wealthy clients across the nations, Hiruzen ordered Tsunade and Orochimaru to handle the matter with extreme caution and confirm the level of danger before anything was released.
At the same time, Konoha's higher-ups had already begun preparing for future commercial development.
And their mood could only be described as excited.
Under Kizaru's guidance, everyone from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to the heads of the ninja clans who had invested in the project understood one thing clearly.
This technology could make an enormous amount of money.
More importantly, it was a monopoly that belonged solely to Konohagakure.
There was no one who would be unhappy about such a profitable opportunity.
For a while, the atmosphere among Konoha's middle and upper ranks was almost festive. The clan heads, elite jonin, and officials who knew about the project all wore smiles on their faces every day.
As the person who had led the project, Kizaru had truly gained both fame and profit.
Not only had he secured a fortune for the Shimura clan, but he himself had also become, in the eyes of many shinobi and clan leaders, the most suitable candidate to succeed the Hokage.
He could fight.
He could protect the village.
And he could lead everyone to make money.
Who would not welcome a superior like that?
However, while Konoha was enjoying this success, the village's four highest-ranking officials, led by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still felt a slight sense of regret.
Human desire had no end.
That was true even for someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Orochimaru had developed three versions of the improved Hashirama cells, each one weakened to a different degree.
The version with the strongest effect was the one transplanted into the Uchiha shinobi after their Sharingan had awakened.
This weakened form of Hashirama's cells could greatly enhance a shinobi's physical abilities and chakra reserves. It could even strengthen the power of the Sharingan itself.
Unfortunately, because the cells were still too active, this Hashirama Cell No. 1 could only be used on members of the Uchiha clan.
From this point onward, the village held both the reward and the leash for the Uchiha clan in its hands.
The second version had been developed for non-Uchiha shinobi and was named Hashirama Cell No. 2.
Compared to No. 1, Orochimaru had weakened the activity of the cells even further. The enhancement was reduced, but safety was much higher.
Konoha planned to use Hashirama Cell No. 2 as a special mission reward, something that could increase the strength and future potential of the village's shinobi.
The third version was the civilian version prepared for future commercial development.
It could only slightly strengthen the user's body, but it could also treat illnesses such as physical weakness, chronic fatigue, and declining vitality.
Hashirama Cell No. 3 had the weakest strengthening effect, but its commercial value was by far the greatest.
Each of the three versions had its own purpose.
Each one was extremely valuable.
Together, they could greatly increase Konoha's overall strength.
Logically speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura should have been completely satisfied with the results of the research.
There should have been no regret.
No dissatisfaction.
But as stated before, human desire had no end.
The village's original purpose for researching Hashirama's cells had been to reproduce the First Hokage's Wood Release.
The three improved versions of Hashirama's cells developed by Orochimaru were effective and valuable, but none of them could grant the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai.
Because of that, Konoha's greedy higher-ups gave Orochimaru a separate research assignment.
He was to continue studying Hashirama's cells and create an experimental subject capable of awakening Wood Release.
This research was classified as one of the village's top secrets.
Orochimaru alone would be responsible for it, and the village would provide all necessary support.
After the high-level meeting ended, Danzo immediately informed Kizaru about this top-secret research.
"Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, huh?"
After listening to Danzo's explanation, Kizaru leaned back lazily and gave his own evaluation.
"That sort of thing depends more on the person using it, doesn't it?"
Having watched the anime in his previous life, Kizaru knew very well that Wood Release itself was not as invincible as Hiruzen-sensei and Danzo-ojisan imagined.
Wood Release was terrifying not simply because the Kekkei Genkai was powerful.
It was terrifying because Hashirama Senju himself was powerful.
When the First Hokage used Wood Release, he could suppress the Nine-Tails with one hand and shake an entire nation by himself.
When Yamato used Wood Release later, it was mostly used to build houses with three bedrooms and a living room, along with a little landscaping and greening work.
The true foundation behind a powerful ninjutsu was always the shinobi's talent and chakra reserves.
Even with the same Fire Release ninjutsu, the difference between Madara Uchiha using Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation and an ordinary shinobi using Fire Release was like the difference between a waterfall and a trickle.
"You are not optimistic about this research?"
Danzo narrowed his eye slightly after hearing Kizaru's answer.
Kizaru gave a lazy smile.
"No, no, I'm not saying that. I just think your expectations for Wood Release are too high. The First Hokage's Wood Release was strong because the First Hokage himself was strong."
Danzo fell silent for a moment.
He had seen the living First Hokage before, so he could understand what Kizaru meant.
After a short pause, Danzo nodded.
"Wood Release may not be as powerful as we imagine, but its significance is still important. The village will not abandon this research."
"Oh, I'm not against it."
Kizaru lifted his hands slightly, still smiling.
"After all, it isn't my money being spent. There's no need for me to argue too seriously, is there?"
After finishing the topic of Wood Release research, Danzo brought up another important matter connected to the Shimura clan's interests.
"As for the commercial agency rights of the nutritional medicine, which is the official name chosen for Hashirama Cell No. 3, Hiruzen intends to hand them over to the two advisers. What do you think?"
"Isn't that fine?"
Kizaru smiled in that slow, carefree way of his.
"Something that troublesome is better left to someone else."
"There are enormous profits involved."
Danzo's tone became more serious.
Kizaru looked at him.
"Danzo-ojisan, do you want to take charge of it yourself?"
Danzo nodded calmly.
"For your sake and for the village's sake, the commercial development of the nutritional medicine should be led by the Shimura clan."
Kizaru looked at Danzo for a moment, then shook his head with a helpless smile.
This ojisan of his was capable in many ways, but he was far too greedy when it came to benefits. Whenever something good appeared, he wanted to hold all of it in his own hands.
"You disagree?"
Danzo frowned and stared at Kizaru seriously.
"The Shimura clan has already gained more than enough."
Kizaru's voice remained relaxed, but his words were clear.
"What we need now is not to grab even more, but to share the benefits with others. We need more friends and fewer enemies. That is what the Shimura clan should be doing right now."
Danzo was not stupid.
As long as he was willing to think calmly, he could understand the situation.
Before, his judgment had simply been clouded by greed.
After Kizaru's reminder, Danzo thought in silence for a while. Then he finally understood.
The Shimura clan had already secured the first batch of investment shares.
Kizaru had also been recognized by the village's officials and ninja clans as a future Hokage candidate.
At a time like this, the Shimura clan should keep a lower profile, expand steadily, and build connections.
Continuing to seize profits would only invite hostility.
If one family ate too much inside the village, the other clans and civilian shinobi would naturally become dissatisfied.
After all, the good things in Konoha were limited.
If one clan took everything, what would be left for the others?
"That makes sense."
Danzo finally nodded in approval.
"However, we must still be informed about the transaction involving the agency rights. The accounts in the future must also be supervised by someone trustworthy."
"I will have Root keep an eye on it."
As Konoha's most powerful intelligence chief, Danzo still had confidence in that much.
"I have someone in mind."
When it came to managing money, a certain name immediately surfaced in Kizaru's mind.
"He is very suited for accounting. More importantly, he is quite capable."
After hearing Kizaru's description, Danzo showed some interest.
Danzo did not particularly care about accounting.
There were plenty of people who could handle numbers.
What truly caught his attention was the phrase "quite capable."
"Who is he? Is he a shinobi from the village?"
"A bounty hunter."
"A bounty hunter?"
Danzo's eye sharpened with suspicion.
He could not understand why Kizaru would recommend a bounty hunter from outside the village to supervise the accounts of such an important business project.
"That guy has strength on the level of a Kage."
Kizaru knew exactly what Danzo was wondering, so he threw out the bait directly.
As expected, the moment Danzo heard that the bounty hunter possessed Kage-level strength, his interest changed completely.
"Where is he? What relationship does he have with you?"
Danzo's voice became urgent.
"His name is Kakuzu. He is the bounty hunter I hired when we resisted Kumogakure's last invasion."
Kizaru explained casually.
Letting Kakuzu come to Konoha to handle the accounts was not a sudden idea. It was something Kizaru had considered before.
Although Kakuzu was obsessed with money, he was extremely principled when it came to money.
As long as the price was agreed upon, he would be the finest tool one could find.
In Kizaru's view, a high-quality tool like Kakuzu should be working for him rather than being used by someone else.
In any case, Konoha would not lack money in the future.
Supporting one Kakuzu would be easy.
"What is his character like?" Danzo asked.
"He treats money like his life."
Kizaru smiled.
"But when money is involved, he is more reliable than most people."
Danzo listened, then nodded slightly in his heart.
From that description, Kakuzu did indeed sound suitable.
"Can you bring him into the village?"
"Ooh, stop dreaming, Danzo-ojisan."
Kizaru waved a hand lazily.
"I'm only going to hire him. Let him come over regularly to check the accounts. That's enough."
"What about Hiruzen?"
Danzo immediately raised another issue.
"I'll leave that to you, ojisan."
Kizaru gave him a teasing smile and threw the problem back without hesitation.
Danzo stared at him for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"I understand."
There was nothing he could do.
Kizaru was his own nephew and also his political successor.
After the two important matters were settled, Danzo did not continue disturbing Kizaru. He said his farewell and returned to his residence.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been in an excellent mood recently.
And now, because of the urgent report that had just arrived, his mood became even better.
This urgent report had not been sent by Konoha shinobi.
It had been delivered by a messenger hawk from Sunagakure.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure had joined forces.
The Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, had personally led an unknown number of shinobi troops through the Land of Birds and invaded the Land of Wind.
At the same time, the Third Raikage had personally led another force on a detour by sea, launching an assault from the coastline of the Land of Wind.
Sunagakure, already weakened, was now being attacked from two sides at once.
The situation had become almost impossible to hold.
Driven into desperation, Sunagakure had no choice but to turn toward its final lifeline.
Konoha.
The Land of Fire.
Even though they knew asking Konoha for help was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst, Sunagakure had no other option left.
Between dying while standing and surviving while kneeling, Sunagakure's higher-ups chose survival first.
Hiruzen sat behind his desk, smoking his pipe with a faint smile as he looked at the urgent report in his hand.
Then, without delay, he summoned Danzo, Kizaru, and the two Hokage advisers to his office.
The time had come.
Konoha's chance to bring Sunagakure under its control was right before their eyes.
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