"This…"
Yamato was no fool; he knew what this situation meant.
Hashirama's cells! This was an "armor" made from Hashirama's cells. It possessed a similar power and aura to his own Wood Style, which was why he could mobilize it so easily.
Ryoho Kyohiko answered.
"You can consider this a forbidden ninja tool."
Yamato swallowed, looking nervously at Orochimaru and Kyohiko, a trace of horror flashing in his eyes.
Orochimaru sneered.
"Don't worry. Your body has already reached a delicate balance. Any slight movement could cause that balance to be destroyed, so it's impossible to do that kind of experiment on you."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Kyohiko.
"I'm going to research the Chakra Armor."
Just as Orochimaru was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back.
"By the way, this person from the Land of Snow, you must send him to me!"
Although this "Yazawa" was just a wandering ninja, to be able to create the Chakra Armor, he was a good talent no matter what. Bringing him to his side would surely be more useful than throwing him into the village. Besides, he had a pile of tasks and research goals on his side and also needed some people to share the workload. Talents like this were what he urgently needed.
A slight smile touched Ryoho Kyohiko's lips.
"Although Yazawa has ability, he is after all from a self-taught background. Senpai, since you're in such a hurry, I have a ready-made candidate."
Orochimaru's mouth twitched slightly.
"I went to see Kabuto. He's six years old. You want him to come directly to my research institute?"
Ryoho Kyohiko reminded him.
"No, no, no! You've misunderstood. I was talking about Sandaime-sama."
As the "Professor of Shinobi," Sarutobi Hiruzen's accumulation of ninjutsu and knowledge was very exaggerated. There was basically no field he didn't understand. For example, the current "Summoning Technique" had been cleverly thrown to him by Hiruzen and Tsunade. He heard it was going quite well. In addition, the monkey test subjects Orochimaru was currently using also had Hiruzen's contribution.
Hearing Kyohiko's mention, Orochimaru was tempted. But thinking of the old man's nagging, he couldn't help but rub his brow in headache.
"Let's just forget it…"
Ryoho Kyohiko chuckled.
"I'm asking this way: if you have any work that is time-consuming and laborious, but not too… sensitive, I can help you transfer it."
Previously, Sarutobi Hiruzen had managed this and that, asking endless questions and worrying about endless things every day. But recently, there was nothing at all, to the point where he wished Tsunade wouldn't look for him. What was the reason? He was busy! With work to do, his energy was consumed, and he immediately became honest. So, if Orochimaru had any research… Kyohiko was very happy to help transfer it.
Orochimaru pondered for a while, unable to answer for a moment. Sage Mode? Curse Marks? Or… Thinking carefully, his research, in Hiruzen's view, was more or less "out of line," belonging to something that one could tell was his work just by hearing about it.
However, after a moment of thought, his eyes gradually lit up.
"You asked me to do in-depth research on Magnet Release before, but I simply can't spare the time now. Why not let the old man help?"
As Orochimaru spoke, he couldn't help but smile. The Magnet Release they had researched was a very crude version. They had been able to defeat the Third Kazekage entirely through brute force. But—if they wanted to use it in various industries in the future, and even achieve such an effect in conjunction with electricity, they had to conduct in-depth and meticulous research to get a more perfect "Magnet Release" plan. Orochimaru had no interest in researching this area. Handing it over to Sarutobi Hiruzen was most appropriate!
"That works too."
Coincidentally, Ryoho Kyohiko also had a need in this area.
He put away the wooden arm and stored it in a sealing scroll.
"I'll put this away for now. I'll try it with lower-level special cells later."
The trees produced by Hashirama's cells, their activation and erosion effects were still too strong. As long as a little chakra was infused, it would immediately begin to expand and assimilate, devouring everything and turning it into nutrients for its growth. This was the secret to Senju Hashirama's powerful Wood Style in his lifetime. But now, it had also become an obstacle to their research and use. Relatively speaking, the corrosiveness and activation degree of White Zetsu cells were not that strong and could be used as a lower-level substitute.
Orochimaru nodded.
"I'll cultivate them and see. We'll discuss it again then."
Yamato was bewildered, but at the same time, he felt fear and nervousness in his heart. He vaguely felt that the two lords were researching something very powerful and formidable, but at the same time, the danger of this thing must also be very terrifying.
Ryoho Kyohiko didn't give him time to ask. With a single Flying Thunder God, he brought him to the outside of Tsunade's office.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in."
A lazy reply came from inside.
Ryoho Kyohiko pushed the door and went in. Tsunade yawned, her eyes sleepy. But the moment she saw Yamato, she immediately sat up straight, picked up her pen, and began to write furiously—fortunately, the pile of documents in front was high enough. At Yamato's current height, he couldn't see Tsunade's condition at all.
Tsunade cleared her throat.
"What is it?"
Ryoho Kyohiko described.
"A while ago, wasn't I researching puppet prosthetics? I was thinking, if we enlarge the prosthetic limb and directly make it into a human shape, and then the person inside can control the puppet outside, wouldn't that be better?"
Tsunade glanced at Yamato, then at Kyohiko, and couldn't help but fall silent. Then, her tone was gentle.
"Yamato, you go and do your own thing."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Yamato lowered his head and tactfully left.
Tsunade rubbed her brow. When the door was closed, she finally let out a breath.
"Alright, what other troublesome thing have you brought me?"
"It's not really…"
Ryoho Kyohiko coughed lightly.
Tsunade was speechless. She slammed a fist on the table and leaned in front of Kyohiko.
"I've been with you for several years. You think I don't know you, brat? Speak, what's the situation!"
"It's nothing…"
Ryoho Kyohiko explained about the forbidden puppet.
Towards the end, his voice became smaller. After all, this thing, strictly speaking, should be a derivative of Senju Hashirama's cells…
Not long after. Boom!
A loud noise was heard throughout the entire building.
Downstairs, Hamano Tachi, who was assigning missions, shivered all over, then looked up. Seeing the bewildered faces of the ninjas, he immediately coughed lightly.
"There should be a ninjutsu experiment going on upstairs. Something probably went wrong by accident. Everyone, don't be nervous. Mm, let's continue arranging missions!"
After assigning missions to several squads, Hamano Tachi looked up and muttered in a low voice—Tsunade-sama hasn't lost her temper for a while. What's wrong?
Upstairs, Tsunade took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.
"I'm not forbidding you from researching, but to have Yamato cooperate with you, isn't that going too far?"
Ryoho Kyohiko answered.
"I tried it first."
Tsunade slammed her fist on his head with a "bang."
"I'm angry precisely because I know you tried it too!"
Ryoho Kyohiko feigned pain—in fact, Tsunade's control over her strength was already meticulous. That punch didn't hurt at all.
"So?"
"But the effect is very good."
"However, with Yamato's ability, it's not enough to control it. It's more appropriate to use another kind of cell. Also, there's the Wood Style puppet…"
Ryoho Kyohiko explained his ideas one by one. The more Tsunade listened, the more she felt that Kyohiko was making a very dangerous attempt. But she still patiently listened to him finish, not rushing to get angry. After all, losing one desk in the room was already tragic enough. She would have to clean it up herself later…
After listening, Tsunade's face gradually became serious.
"Are you sure it's feasible?"
Ryoho Kyohiko asked back.
"At the very least, the idea of having Yamato control a special puppet to amplify his Wood Style can be done. Didn't Obito also gain the ability of Wood Style by transplanting cells?"
Tsunade nodded, then suddenly raised her hand.
"Speaking of which, I remember you transplanted cells into Shisui?"
"Yes. Theoretically, he can do it too."
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
Tsunade frowned.
"So, the people of the Uchiha clan are naturally at an advantage in transplanting it?"
"Yes."
"…"
Tsunade was silent for a moment.
Back then, the Second Hokage had targeted the Uchiha. Looking at it now, Senju Tobirama was right. If the Uchiha were not contained and allowed to expand without order, with the mental state of the Uchiha clan, who knows, someone might do something big.
"Uchiha, Senju…"
"Madara should have been the first generation to know about transplanting cells. Under what circumstances did he transplant them back then? To save his life, or did he know in advance?"
Tsunade's brows were tightly knitted.
If Uchiha Madara had already acted and thrown the shinobi world into chaos, then guessing these things had no meaning. But now, Uchiha Madara was hiding in the dark and not acting, only letting his subordinates stir up trouble… this was different. In the face of Uchiha Madara's meddling, and the alliance of the other great ninja villages, Konoha must become stronger! Then—this matter, she had to think it over.
Tsunade looked at Ryoho Kyohiko.
"If he knew in advance, could the Valley of the End have been deliberately designed by Madara?"
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
"It's very possible. This is a reasonable speculation. Based on this speculation, there must be some secrets between the Senju and the Uchiha, for example…"
Tsunade looked at Kyohiko, but he didn't say the second half of the sentence for a long time. She frowned, and then her eyes suddenly widened.
"You mean to say…"
"Mm."
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded lightly.
Tsunade's face froze, a "buzzing" sound in her ears. This guess… was too shocking!
"But that's their Kekkei Genkai. No one can reach the Mangekyo besides them, right?"
Ryoho Kyohiko didn't answer. The Senju clan could certainly use the Sharingan, but whether they could use it as powerfully as the Uchiha, whether they could achieve the Mangekyo, that was hard to say.
Tsunade rubbed her temples, easing her emotions and the tension in her heart. If the relationship between the Uchiha and the Senju was really like this, then Madara back then must have known some secrets. And this place…
Tsunade said suddenly.
"The Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine!"
Ryoho Kyohiko looked at Tsunade.
"Perhaps the Mangekyo Sharingan can see deeper secrets."
"Is Fugaku hiding something, or…"
Tsunade muttered to herself.
Ryoho Kyohiko shook his head.
"Perhaps he hasn't had time to look."
"That's true. Since the Uchiha's incident, he has been very busy and hasn't left the village."
Tsunade nodded.
Fugaku's personality was indecisive, more than enough to maintain the status quo, but lacked decisiveness when facing major events. But… it was also a good thing it was this way! If Fugaku had a decisive personality, who knows, he might have led the clan down the path of rebellion long ago. If he had acted during the previous war, Konoha's situation would have been hard to imagine.
She looked at Ryoho Kyohiko.
"You go find Fugaku and Shisui, talk to them, and first find out if Uchiha Madara did it intentionally or unintentionally back then."
"Alright."
As Ryoho Kyohiko spoke, he also discussed the matter of letting Sarutobi Hiruzen research "Magnet Release" with Tsunade. Tsunade naturally had no objection. Recently, the number of times the old man had come to the office had greatly decreased. Giving the old man something to do makes everyone comfortable!
***
At the Police Force department.
"Let's change this side again. Not only do we have to train normally, but the patrol dogs also have to be trained, run…"
Uchiha Fugaku directed the layout of the area.
After the expansion, the original layout of the Police Force was completely unsuitable and definitely had to be changed. Although the Uchiha, the Inuzuka, and other newly joined members were not yet completely harmonious in the Police Force, at least the superficial attitude had to be shown.
As he was directing, suddenly, Yashiro appeared with a body flicker.
"Fugaku, Kyohiko is here."
"Kyohiko-kun?"
Uchiha Fugaku was startled.
When he heard the name "Kyohiko," he would instinctively think of that night, the scene of Kyohiko quickly subduing the Nine-Tails. The current Kyohiko, in terms of strength, was already very close to Senju Hashirama—at least that's how it seemed to them. At the same time, Kyohiko was also the captain of the Anbu. For him to suddenly visit the Police Force, it couldn't be just to inspect the work. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
But soon, Fugaku thought of his own identity and situation, and his expression immediately calmed down.
"I know. You watch over things here and direct everyone."
"Yes!"
Yashiro knew what Fugaku meant.
The Police Force had just been reorganized, and the Uchiha were in such a situation. They had to have some considerations. Besides, there were still many clansmen imprisoned in the Anbu. They had to be cautious to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Fugaku walked towards the entrance. Soon, he saw Kyohiko standing there, chatting with Shisui. The current relationship between Kyohiko and Shisui was no longer a secret. Everyone knew that Shisui would become Kyohiko's disciple in the future. For the Uchiha, this was a great advantage.
Uchiha Fugaku walked over with a smile.
"Kyohiko."
"Fugaku-senpai."
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded lightly at Shisui. Then, Shisui walked a little further away.
"Why have you come this time?"
Ryoho Kyohiko asked back.
"You should have also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, right?"
Uchiha Fugaku hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded lightly.
"Yes. That night, I did indeed also awaken these eyes."
"Have you been to the shrine to see?"
"No. I've been too busy recently, I simply couldn't find the time."
Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
He wasn't lying. During this period, he simply couldn't find the time to go to the Uchiha shrine. Also—in his view, the Uchiha shrine was the fuse for Obito's defection before. He really didn't dare to go alone.
"Then let's go together."
Ryoho Kyohiko didn't mind the reason.
He looked at Shisui in the distance.
"I'll go with you. Perhaps the secret of the Valley of the End back then can be found on the stone tablet."
"Alright."
Fugaku nodded.
He also longed to know the truth—provided that Konoha allowed him to go to the shrine. With Kyohiko accompanying him, there was naturally no need to worry so much.
"Let's go."
A shout.
The three of them flickered, rushing out of the village. Before long, at the Naka Shrine, under the guidance of Uchiha Fugaku, they soon arrived in front of the stone tablet. This place was regularly maintained and had not yet collapsed. However, there was a lot of dust inside, and it was clear that no one had been here for a while.